Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Reading ADD, vampires, goths, etc.

When I am suffering a bout of reading ADD I start many books and then tend to finish them quickly once I feel that the reading ADD is over. Here is an update on a few titles I've finished.


Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris - This is the sixth Sookie Stackhouse book. Sookie goes to New Orleans to take care of her deceased vampire cousin's estate. There is quite a bit of intrigue involving the vamp royalty of New Orleans. At this point in the series it is difficult to say a whole lot without giving away details from previous books. I will say that Sookie's male companion in this book, Quinn, might be my favorite so far.






Goth Girl Rising by Barry Lyga - I was so excited when I heard there would be a sequel to Fanboy and Goth Girl. I never thought I would say this but I like the sequel better. This is told from Kyra's point of view starting when she is released from the hospital. Since the reader misses everything that happened while Kyra was in the hospital along with her it is easy to feel what she is feeling when she returns to school. Barry Lyga mentioned in the acknowledgements that there wasn't meant to be a sequel to Fanboy and Goth Girl, so I dare not hope for a follow up to this one, but I love the characters so that I will hope.






Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore - This is the first of a series and the third book comes out in April. Tommy Flood arrives in San Francisco from the Midwest around the time Jody is turned into a vampire. She's looking for someone to take care of her affairs in daylight hours and he is looking for experiences to use as a writer. I have read A Dirty Job previously and there is some character crossover. There is a great twist at the end and I am looking forward to reading the second book, You Suck!

Saturday, November 07, 2009

A Couple of Really Good Books


I'll start with the one I finished tonight. The bff lent me The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey last year but due to the great reading ADD of 2009 I just finished it. I love this woman's writing. This is the first book in her series on elementals. Each book is based on a fairy tale (yay) and this one is based on Beauty and the Beast (YAY!). Rose is an orphan whose father left her with no money. Plus she is a scholarly woman with IDEAS which makes her more unmarriageable than being poor. She receives a post as a governess in San Francisco but arrives to find there are NO children, just a mysterious employer named Jason Cameron who has her translating strange ancient texts through a speaking tube because of his "disfiguring accident." He messed with Magick he shouldn't have and is part wolf. There's intrigue and a horrible, morally corrupt, smarmy assistant and falling in love.

The other great book I finished a few weeks ago is Soulless by Gail Carriger. It's the first book in the new Parasol Protectorate series. It's historical / paranormal / tough kick butt girl / werewolf / vampire / steampunk and I need more! The world building is pretty thorough so I don't want to spill it all here.