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: 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: Witch Fire - Anya Bast

My Rating: G, B, L, X Released: June 2007 Publisher: Berkley Sensation Author's Website: anyabast.com Available @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Mira Hoskins doesn’t know she’s a natural-born witch who possesses the rare – and powerful – element air. And she never expects to find herself tied to a mahogany bed frame, captive of a man who aches to fulfill her every desire and let loose the magick that dwells inside her… Heat emanates from elemental fire witch Jack McAlister. The Coven, a governing authority of witches, has sent him to protect Mira from a band of warlocks who drains witches of power…and life. Long ago, he saw Mira’s parents murdered by this same dark magick. He’d like to quell his guilt and offer her everything she deserves. But she’s the long-lost cousin of his boss - making seduction off-limits. With Jack’s strong guidance, Mira is luring forth her inner magick. But this sense of duty is quickly swelling into insatiable hunger. He was warned about the natural attraction between air and fire. Now he risks being consumes by the woman he shouldn’t want – but can’t stay away from… Witch Fire is the first in the Elemental Witches series. It is a sizzling, hot novel that will leave you begging for your seat to be touched. This story will have you hooked and will make you keep turning those pages just to find out what happens next. I have to say that I enjoyed every minute of this book. I felt as if I was part in the story, I felt everything that Mira and Jack felt – so much I was nearly blushing at certain parts. It’s a magical feeling (no pun intended) when an author can make you feel like this through their written words. I am used to reading novels that involve vampires, werewolves and all those other beasties that go bump in the night. But this story focuses mainly on the witch world which is interlinked with humans. There is the odd mentioning of demons here and there but nothing too specific. These witches have managed to live amongst humans and have gone unnoticed. The main character, Mira, is an easy character to relate to in the sense that every woman at some point in their life has been low on their self esteem and unsure of who they really are. She doesn’t know her family as she was brought up by her godmother and all her life she never knew she was a witch – let alone a very strong and much sought after Air Witch. Enter Jack. This is a man who knows what he wants and can’t help himself but have it. I’m sure after you read this story you will be wanting your very own personal Jack. It’s kind of hard to describe Jack as a character. In the beginning you get the idea he is a womanizer, but deep down he has just never met the right woman. He has a very bad relationship with his father, one that cannot be resolved. Jack witnessed Mira’s parents death at a tender age and has blamed himself since. He is full of remorse and guilt for what he witnessed and this reflects in this actions towards Mira. The villains in this story are the kind that you really don’t want to mess with. They have magickal powers just like Mira and Jack but they use theirs for evil. They are also infamous in the human world as wealthy businessmen. They are corruptive witches, known as warlocks, and will stop at no means to get what they want and that’s Mira and her powers. Witch Fire’s plot is easy to follow and quite straight forward. It’s not one of those in depth stories that you have to sit and read about five chapters to understand what is going on. There were times throughout the book that I was able to guess what was going to happen next but don’t let this deter you from enjoying the story. I think I managed to guess what was going to happen because I have read so many supernatural books and have probably come across a similar story outline, either that or I am an ace detective . I think what makes this book so easy to read is the storyline, the fact that it involves action, love, romance and quite a bit of lust, everything you want from a supernatural romance novel. This book is definitely not for young people, but maybe the more mature teen and adults due to the sexual content. Witch Fire is an ideal book that you can read anywhere…when you are on holiday or snuggling up in front of the fire (at least then you have an excuse for the redness of your cheeks). Disclaimer: I have not bought this book or been given it free of charge and I am not receiving any money to review this book. I borrowed this book from the local library and everything I have said is based on my honest opinion.