War for the Oaks by Emma Bull

War for the Oaks by Emma Bull

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Terrific book from the introduction straight through to the appendix where the author includes scenes from a screenplay that she and her husband Will Shetterly wrote, scenes that didn't appear in the book.

Aside from the great extras this story has everything I'm looking for in an Urban Fantasy book, a quick introduction to the magic that makes it "Fantasy" and great characters that you really care about. I read this because it's a URBAN FANTASY GROUP BOOK OF THE MONTH -February Group Read. A terrific choice by it's members that's why I joined the group to get different recommendations of great books to read.


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Heart Of Stone (The Negotiator Trilogy, Book 1) by C.E. Murphy

Heart Of Stone by C.E. Murphy

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
"Talking to you in the park the same night that girl died was an unspeakably bad coincidence" Alban to Margrit



That's just one of my problems with this book, he watches her for 3 years and speaks to her on the night of the 1st murder. 2nd coincidence Cara another of the old races comes to her for help, why because she was on TV. She arrives on the same day that Grit wins the pardon and is on TV isn't that awful fast. BTW Cara is a squatter, does she even have a TV or power to run it? 3rd bad coincidence her mother already knows the vampire. 4th coincidence her sometimes boyfriend is in charge of the murder investigation. I take it that later in the series perhaps the author is going to reveal why all these coincidences take place. My other big problem with the book is the length of the opening before much of anything "fantasy" takes place. The first 75 pages read more like a legal thiller than an "urban fantasy novel" I think that the info in those pages might better have been presented later in the story and get right into the puzzle/action with the background added later. Just my opinion but I think I would have enjoyed the book more that way if it had started out in the night club.






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Friend me over at Goodreads

I'm new to Goodreads and looking for Friends that enjoy the same types of books I do, such as High Fantasy, like LOTR, Urban Fantasy like the Kim Harrison Hollows series, funny Urban Fantasy like Undead and Unwed or Thorne Smith's Topper, gritty realistic fantasy like The Blade Itself (The First Law Book One) by Joe Abercrombie, fantasy with a mystery theme like Nury Vittachi - The Feng Shui Detective, kick ass witches like Magic Lost, Trouble Found (Raine Benares, Book 1) by Lisa Shearin, YA like Artemis Fowl. If your tastes run the same, friend me so we can trade recommendations. My Goodreads profile can be found here.

The Graveyard Book The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Great book, I love Neil Gamian's work from Sandman to Neverwhere to his work with Terry Pratchett in Good Omens and later solo novels.

Best News is that today, it won the John Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to children's literature.

I'd highly recommend the audio book version read by the author. I watched everyday as he crossed the country promoting the book, in different bookstores reading a chapter a day the video was then posted online. Thank You Neil, I ordered my copy of the audiobook after seeing you read the first chapter, but it was great not having to wait for it to be delivered before hearing and seeing more.


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Undead and Unemployed by MaryJanice Davidson

Undead and Unemployed by MaryJanice Davidson

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I liked that the sex scenes were cut back from book one, but it just wasn't as funny as the opener "Undead and Unwed" which had me laughing out loud, something pretty rare for me even though I read a lot of tongue and cheek stuff. This book is still a great read but I recommend starting at the beginning so you get the full storyline about how "Elizabeth Taylor", no not that E.T., becomes a vampire and how it changes her life or death depending how you look at it.


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Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson

Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
What a funny book, this is a 4 9/10 star book at the least, the only reason I took a star away because I thought the sex scenes intruded on the storyline, not every scene but enough that I wished they were cut back on. The high point of the Ms. Davidson's novel for me is her characters and their dialogue. Only other complaint is that it's too short but I'd rather finish a good book wanting more rather than a mediocre book that I think is padded for length.


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Dead Witch Walking (Rachel Morgan/The Hollows, Book 1) Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I couldn't believe it when I began this book on of the first urban fantasies I'd read. When into a bar walks a witch Rachael an investigator for Inderland Security (sort of a supernatural FBI) , with her pixy partner Jenks who works as her backup. She sits and drinks with another I.S. investigator, Ivy, a living vampire as she tries to spot the leprechaun who's " accused of fabricating a rainbow for the purpose of misrepresenting the income generated from said rainbow, failure to file the appropriate requisition forms for said rainbow, failure to notify Rainbow Authority of said rainbow’s end-" . Set in a fantasy modern day Cincinnati.


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Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori, Book 1) Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn

Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Loved all four books of the Asian fantasy series, and any fans of Shogun are sure to enjoy this series. While the setting isn't medieval Japan, all the character's could have stepped out of the Shogun's household either as ninja assassins or magic users. This first book introduces us to Takeo, a boy who's village is destroyed by the currently ruling Shogun.


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The Hobbit

Kevin's book montage

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book data from Goodreads
characters
Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, Thorin Oakenshield, Smaug
setting
MiddleEarth
Written for J.R.R. Tolkien"s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when first published more than sixty years ago. Now recognized as a timeless classic with sales of more than 40 million copies worldwide, this introduction to Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the Wizard, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth tells of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent.

I've loved reading fantasy since the late 1960's when I picked up a copy of The Hobbit in my library and my life was changed forever.