Review: Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead

My Rating: E, B, L

Published: 2007
Publisher: Bantam Books

Author's Website: richellemead.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Succubus (n.) An alluring, shape-shifting demon who seduces and pleasures mortal men.
Pathetic (adj.) A succubus with great shoes and no social life. See: Georgina Kincaid.

When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they can often pay with their souls, but why get technical?

Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid’s life is far less exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies, and she can’t get a decent date without sucking away part of the guy’s life. At least there’s her day job at a local bookstore – free books: all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can’t.

But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle’s demon underground. And for once, all her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won’t help because Georgina’s about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny...

Succubus Blues is the first instalment in the Georgina Kincaid series by Richelle Mead. This story will keep you on your toes and have you turning the pages non-stop. Fallen angels, imps, vampires, succubi and other creatures that go bump in the night. What more can a girl ask from a supernatural book series?

After reading Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy, I have been hooked by her style of writing and thought I would give the Georgina Kincaid series a try. I wasn’t disappointed as I was hooked from the first page.

Georgina Kincaid is a lonely succubus that can only continue her immortal existence by sucking the life substance from mortals. This is also her job description in which she has to fulfil quotas. To make sucking the lives out of mortals more bearable, Georgina preys on sinful mortals, those who deserve it, this displeases her boss. Our heroine has friends in many forms; mortals, vampires, imps. She however doesn’t have a beau; Georgina has relegated herself to the single life, not getting close to any innocent mortals that may stray onto her path.

In Succubus Blues, an immortal seems to have a vendetta against Georgina as everyone she comes into contact with, friend or foe, end up being beaten up or worse, dead. Leaving mysterious notes for Georgina and her boss is just the tip of the iceberg. As Georgina discovers what they are up against, clarity regarding the actual villain is delayed. Does Georgina’s belated knowledge of the killer help or hinder her in the end? I will leave you to read the book to find out about that one.

My favourite part of this book was the never knowing who the villain was. I thought about it constantly throughout the book each time disaster struck and I was never sure who it was. Everyone seemed to have an alibi. Eventually I figured it out but only moments before Georgina did.

Favourite part of the book had to be the discovery of the villain or the flirty talk between Georgina and Seth. The witty repartee between Georgina and Seth had me giggling. The unveiling of the villain was rather dramatic. What does a succubus do once she finds outs who has been hurting her friends? Well I will let you find that out for yourselves also but all I will say is it’s definitely not what I would do.

Overall, Mead’s Succubus Blues was entertaining, toe curling and exciting. It was definitely a page turner and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Succubus on Top. I’m sure it will not disappoint.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book, it belongs to my local library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

Review: Kitty Goes to Washington by Carrie Vaughn

My Rating: G, B, L

Published: 2006
Publisher: Fantast, Warner Books

Author's Website: carrievaughn.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

The country’s only celebrity werewolf, late-night radio host Kitty Norville. Prefers to be heard, not seen. But when she’s invited to testify at a Senate hearing on behalf of supernaturals, her face gets plastered on national TV. Kitty’s been in hot water before, but jumping into the D.C. underworld brings a new set of problems. And a new set of friends and enemies, including the vampire mistress of the city; an uber-hot Brazilian were-jaguar; and a paranoid, Bible-thumping senator who wants to expose Kitty as a monster. Kitty quickly learns in this city of dirty politicians and backstabbing pundits, everyone’s itching for a fight.

Kitty Goes to Washington is the second book in the Kitty Norville series by Carrie Vaughn. This book is full of mystery, fun and death. What good book doesn’t’ have these elements?

Kitty is currently hosting her talk show in many locations as she left her pack, who also run her out of town, in Denver. This is the first time hat Kitty has been on her own since becoming a werewolf. The pack gave her the feeling of family, stability and made her feel safe. Now she is out in the big old bad world by herself. Trouble seems to follow Kitty wherever she goes, although this time she was subpoenaed into it. She has to go Washington D.C. to testify to a committee on the subject of paranatural biology.

During her stint in D.C. Kitty meets some interesting characters. First there is the scientist called Dr. Paul Flemming, the Mistress of the local vampires, Alette, a werejaguar named Luis who is also Kitty’s love interest of the week, a werewolf named Ahmed who owns a very special club called Crescent that has a very unique and restricted clientele and a psychic called Jeffrey Miles who can see people’s auras and speak to dead people.

Some mysteries unfurl in this book. We find out who Elijah Smith is. The scientist’s hidden agenda is unveiled. A vampire’s underhandedness is found out but he causes a trail of destruction behind him before his maker finds out. Also, we find out more about Cormac and Ben and how they came to know one another.

My favourite part of the book was when Kitty, Jeffrey and a news reporter, Roger Stockton, go on a reconnaissance mission to find out more about Elijah Smith. They get more than they bargained for and come up against a horde of vampires and werewolves. This is how we find out who Elijah Smith really is and then we get to see Kitty get her hands dirty with help from her comrades.

I think there is more to come of Kitty in this series. She is only just beginning to develop as a character. In the first book she was finding her feet and beginning to stand up for herself. In this book she is standing up for others who are not known to the humans. These creatures keep themselves to themselves and they have let Kitty speak for them – not that she had much choice in the matter. But Kitty does the job in a business-like and graceful manner. Kitty is just beginning to breach the surface of her potential as a radio DJ with her talk show. She has a lot more talent that I think we have yet to see.

Overall, I enjoyed this book even thought I couldn’t read it as often as I wished so when I picked it up I did get a bit confused as to where I was. Once I found my place I was able to enjoy the adventures that Kitty was on. I liked the fact that she found others like herself and felt like she was part of something and that she wasn’t just the lone wolf.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book, I borrowed it from my local library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

Review: Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

My Rating: E, P, B

Published: 2009
Publisher: Orbit

Author's Website: patriciabriggs.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Car mechanic and sometime shapeshifter Mercy Thompson has learned – the hard way – why her race was almost exterminated. When European vampires emigrated to North America, they found Mercy’s people had a hidden talent for vampire slaying. Unfortunately for Mercy, the queen of the local vampire seethe has discovered her true identity.

The undead queen is also furious when she learns Mercy has crossed her and killed one of her own. Mercy may be protected from direct reprisals by the werewolf pack (and her interesting relationship with its Alpha), but that means Marsilia will come after Mercy some other way. So Mercy had better prepare to watch her back.

Bone Crossed is the fourth novel in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. Once again I wasn’t disappointed by this series. We see action, quite a lot of action, and some amorous moments.

Mercedes Thompson is still getting over the attack from a few months ago but with the help of those around her she manages to slowly overcome her panic attacks and starts to enjoy life again. Whilst this is going on, Marsilia, the Mistress of the local vampire seethe, finds out about Stefan’s disloyalty by covering for Mercy when she killed not only one but two vampires. She doesn’t take too kindly to this revelation and punishes those who are guilty of wronging her.

We meet a new character that is from Mercy’s past in this book under suspicious circumstances but yet Mercy helps her which leads her into more trouble. But all this unravels as you read the book. I wasn’t able to put this book down for long before I had to start reading it again.

My favourite part of this book was when Adam was helping Mercedes get over her anxiety attacks. I don’t want to say what or how he helps her as this will give away some of the story. But I like his methods. Oh and finding out something interesting about Ben, that was a nice little tid bit of information.

Finally my suspicions were confirmed in this book about Mercy’s suitors. I was right that she had three love interests at one time. I’m interested as to what is next for Mercy. She has had a bad life as it is with all the people that have been coming after her, left, right, centre and from behind. She never seems to have a minute alone to herself or have a day where nothing bad happens. Even on a date, something bad happens and she has to rush in to help.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I have the series and can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Patricia Briggs is one hell of a writer and I love the characters she has created.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book, I borrowed it from the library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

Review: The Lunatic Cafe by Laurell K. Hamilton

My Rating: E, P, B

Published: 1996
Publisher: Orbit

Author's Website: laurellkhamilton.org

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

‘You don’t volunteer for slugfests with vampires. IT shortens you life expectancy.’

And you don’t fall in love with a werewolf. It interferes with your work. Especially when you’re a preternatural expert, like me. My business brings me up close and personal with all shapes and sizes of monsters. And not all of them want to kill me.

Take, for instance, the local pack of lycanthropes – they’re werewolves to you. A number of them are missing and they’ve come to me for help. Maybe because I’m dating the leader of the pack. I’ve survives a lot – from jealous vampires to killer zombies – but this love thing may kill me yet.

The Lunatic Café is the fourth novel in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton. Once again this series doesn’t disappoint, we have a glorious love triangle going on for our heroine Anita Blake, a murder mystery and some crazy cops.

Well, what can I say? This book did not disappoint me at all. I enjoyed every minute of reading this book. We meet the local werewolf pack in this story and they are as vicious as they are made out to be, beasts, not human. Well some of them are, there are some nice ones, like Richard. Anita is once again left fighting for her life, and it’s in quite a precarious situation but then it would have to be, it’s Anita.

Anita has a bit of a challenging time in this book. She has two men vying for her love and attention but they are both monsters, going by her definition. Who will she choose? Anita has a murder mystery to help solve with the preternatural squad as well as chastise her boss constantly about the type of clients he is sending her. They are not her usual cases and she refuses to take any more, she’s an animator and vampire executioner not a private investigator. Bert however just sees the dollar signs and says yes.

Edward makes a reappearance in this book which I am happy about. He’s such an intriguing character. There’s a hidden depth underneath that homicidal exterior. What I want to know is what makes Edward tick? We know he kills for money and for the challenge of things, but what makes him mad, what does he do when he’s not with Anita or out killing his targets? I hope we get to find out. I don’t think anything will happen between him and Anita, they are just sort of friends. When he isn’t thinking about torturing or killing her if she doesn’t give him the information he wants.

Richard, this is a guy I could grow to like. I liked him in the first book for a while until I remembered he was first introduced as a naked guy having some kind of sexual relations with another werewolf. He was quite comfortable in this situation which I thought was rather odd. Anyway, in this book, Anita and he are still dating but the strain is showing. Richard tries to be overprotective a bit too much for Anita, but then she is being slightly hypocritical. Will their relationship last?

This leaves Jean Claude. He’s our ultimate bad guy, but he is so charming about it. Jean Claude is still trying to win Anita’s affection by being underhanded. But then what do you expect from a master vampire? I don’t know what else to say about him except that he is a viable suitor for Anita, but I’m not sure he will be the one she ends up with. Then again, I could be wrong. I can’t wait to find out as I read the series.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will continue to read and review the series. I would recommend this book/series to anyone who enjoys a more in depth plot line that involves all shapes and sizes of the supernatural.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book, I borrowed it from my local library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

Review: Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

My Rating: E, P X

Published: 2008
Publisher: Orbit

Author's Website: patriciabriggs.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

It wasn’t hard to follow the scent of blood to the living room where the fae had been killed. It had been a violent death, perfect for creating ghosts.

Mercy Thompson enjoys being a mechanic, but life is never simple given her increasing closeness to the local werewolf pack, and her ability to change into coyote form at will. And when a member of the fae community calls in a favour, needing her skills for a covert murder investigation, she jumps into the hunt.

But the dangers multiply and she clashes with shadowed creatures of great power. When her old boss Zee is charged with a brutal assassination, Mercy finds herself fighting alone. There are those who love her, who would keep her safe, but she is way and holds her freedom precious. Until, that is, she has nothing left to lose but her life…

Iron Kissed is the third novel in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. Mercy is one tough nut and it takes a lot to get her down but we see a different side to her in this story. This book is full of action and torment for Mercy, as she tries her hand at detective work and her heart is aching with a question she doesn’t know the answer to.

Mercy has a tough time in this book as she faces creatures she has never come across in her walker life. She comes face to face with some fierce fae and they don’t take to her very well. All those fairytales won’t help you out much against these fae.

This series is one of my favourites. It’s more focused on the plot than romance but we see the romance card is being used quite a few times in this book. To me there are three love rivals but we don’t see the third at all in this book, makes me wonder where he has gone and if he will be back. The other two, Adam and Samuel, are at the fore front of Mercy’s thoughts. She doesn’t know who to choose though and continues to debates this throughout the book.

I think my favourite part of this book was at the very end after everything was over and done with (I don’t want to give out details in case you haven’t read the book/series yet) and Mercy was with a certain someone. It ends on a suggestive note that leaves you wondering what happens next.

I really didn’t like reading the last few chapters. Something happens to Mercy and I found it hard to read because trying to imagine what Mercy had gone through was too horrific to even think about. I know it’s most likely essential to the plot line but I can’t see how yet, that will probably all pan out in the rest of the series. Or was it to show that Mercy can be weakened and that she isn’t the super duper heroine we all think she is?

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I have liked the series as a whole so far. I would recommend this book/series for anyone that is a young adult upwards. I wonder what Mercy is going to get up to next in Bone Crossed will have to wait and see.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book, I borrowed it from the library. I am not paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

Review: The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton

My Rating: G, P, X

Published: September 1994
Publisher: Marvel

Author's Website: laurellkhamilton.org
Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

After a few centuries, the only death ‘big enough’ is a human sacrifice. I know because I’m an animator. My name is Anita Blake.

Working for Animators, Inc. is just a job – like selling insurance. But all the money in the world wasn’t enough for me to take on the particular job Harold Gaynor was offering.

Somebody else did, though – a rogue animator. Now he’s not just raising the dead...he’s raising Hell. An it’s up to me to stop it.

The Laughing Corpse is the second book in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton.

A rogue zombie is going around killing people as its’ animator has lost control over it. Someone tries to hire Anita to raise a very old corpse but she won’t do it as this requires a human sacrifice, even with their persuasive techniques she will not do it. Jean Claude is trying to rein Anita in as his human servant but Anita is having none of it – she submits to no one.

I can’t say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was kind of hard to get a handle on the plot to begin with so I think this threw me off big time. I think I finally started to get into the book about three quarters of the way through. Once I got into it, I enjoyed the plotline and the characters. My favourite bit is the interaction between Anita and a copy at a murder scene.

I’m scared for Anita and her future as what happens in this story changes her and I don’t think this change is going to be good for her. She has gone one step too far.

I was hoping Jean Claude would make an appearance again. I grew to like him in the first book. Hopefully Anita and Jean Claude get together at some point – would make the whole Master Vampire and human servant link rather interesting. Seeing as Anita is blatantly not submissive.

Where was Edward in this book? I was hoping he would turn up and help Anita kill the zombie, I see him as a sort of sidekick. He has more of a violent streak than Anita though.

Overall, the story was a slow start for me and eventually I got into it but I would only recommend this to the right reader. If you want to read a more in depth novel in regard to plots and characters then this book series is for you.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book. I borrowed it from the library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

Review: Burned - PC & Kristin Cast

My Rating: E. P, B

Published: April 2010
Publisher: Atom

Publisher's Website: pccast.net

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Zoey Redbird is the youngest High Priestess in the House of Night history and is the only person-vamp or fledging – who can stop the evil Neferet from raising all kinds of immortal trouble. And she might just have a chance if she wasn’t so busy being dead.

Well, dead is too strong a word. Stevie Rae knows she bring her BFF back from her unscheduled va-cay in the Otherworld. But it’s going to take a lot more than hoping to bring Zoey back. Stevie Rae might have to give up a few secrets of her own...

Burned is the latest instalment in the House of Night series by PC and Kristin Cast. It’s deliciously exciting and will keep you hooked.

I really enjoyed the journey that this book takes you on. It deals with friendship, loyalty, love and above all else, honour.

We see Zoey and her friends on a journey to their own self-discovery. And on the way they realise that there is only one way this can go or else it will be the end of the world as they know it.

Zoey is busy trying to keep get to grips with herself and keeping a hold on Heath, her first love and consort, whilst Stark, her Warrior, is mad with grief over what has happened to his High Priestess. He is extremely furious with himself as he feels he was unable to protect her by choosing the wrong path.

Stevie Rae is on a mission to help get her friend back by finding out as much as she can about the Otherworld but nothing is ever simple. Her life gets rather complicated and causes her to lie to the ones she cares about.

Aphrodite is about the only one that’s keeping it altogether and trying to get everyone on the same page in her bid to get Zoey back into the real world. And as usual she is being her usual bitchy self about it all. But we expect that of her – wouldn’t want her any other way.

Other than the main plot to this book, I feel there is a huge underlying meaning within the story, one that applies to us all - we all may be broken at one stage in our life for whatever reason, but in the end we have to pull ourselves together with a little help from our friends.

On that note, I would like to say that this is a great series to read and the latest addition to is nothing but brilliant writing. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the series and enjoys reading about the vampire world. This book that can be enjoyed by all. I can’t wait for Awakened to come out now...I wonder what’s in store for the fledglings.

Disclaimer: I did not get paid to review this book. I borrowed this book from my sister. Everything I have said is my own honest opinion.

Review: Undead and Uneasy - MaryJanice Davidson

My Rating: E, L, H

Published: 2007
Publisher: Piatkus

Author's Website: maryjanicedavidson.net

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Betsy Taylor, undead vampire queen, has been given a new nickname by her nearest and dearest: Bridezilla. Because whether you’re alive or undead, planning weddings is a bitch. Especially when your groom thinks the whole thing is a waste of time.

Betsy’s also dealing with a full house: she lives with a ghost (Cathy), a werewolf (Antonia), a gay physician/human (Marc), her fiancé and vampire king (Eric Sinclair), her best friend (Jessica), and a recovering Fiend (Garrett). But when Sinclair disappears and then, one by one, her friends go missing, Betsy begins to get seriously uneasy…

Undead and Uneasy is the sixth installment in the Queen Betsy series. This book is full of witty comments, action and baby sick.

I don’t know how MaryJanice Davidson does it. Every time I read one of her books I’m constantly giggling to myself. Betsy’s humour , wit and ability to get into trouble no matter what she does just leaves me in hysterics.

Betsy has some trying times in this book but it’s nice to see that she is able to sort out some of her previous problems from the other books in the series. She finally makes amends with John Delk, who was previously a Blade Warrior who killed vampires, and they become friends again. We learn more about Antonia’s pack. Marc finally finds love or more like lust at this stage, but finally he is getting some action.

The book starts with Betsy and Eric looking over wedding announcement cards and as usual Eric shows no enthusiasm for this task. We then go on to Betsy looking for her wedding gown which isn’t successful. Then something terrible happens that affects Betsy deeply and then everyone starts to go missing.

Betsy is alone for the majority of this book apart from the odd phone call from Tina, who is stranded in another country and garbles phones calls from Marc that makes no sense and sounds like he’s in danger. The Vampire Queen is working hard trying to figure this mess all out when she is attacked. Once the attack is over, she is finally able to move on to try and find her loved ones.

Finally clarity hits Betsy, in the strangest of places, during a phone call with her mother. Seriously I think it’s so funny how Betsy comes up with the answers to everything. But even this enemy seems too strong for Betsy. Does she find her loved ones and rescue them? Well I’ll leave you guys to read the book to find out for yourselves.

Again, I have enjoyed this book as I have all the previous book in the series. I think this book is exceptional, highly entertaining, full of antics and baby sick. What more do you want from a book? Well maybe less of the baby sick. I would recommend this book for young adults and upwards and is definitely worth the read.

Disclaimer: I have not bought this book or been given it free of charge and I am not receiving money to review this book. I borrow this book from the local library and everything I have said is based on my honest opinion.