Let's knock the rest of this sucker out, shall we?
Day Seventeen – Favorite trilogy or tetralogy: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Day Eighteen – Favorite book cover: Don't have one. Some are more appealing than others, of course, but I don't have just one. They're like potato chips!
Day Nineteen – Best ensemble of characters in a book: Harry Potter and his friends and enemies, definitely. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, Voldemort, Snape, Sirius, Malfoy, etc. The list can go on and on. Rowling rocks!
Day Twenty – Favorite kiss or love scene: The kiss between Darcy and Ethan at the end of Something Blue by Emily Giffin. It had been brewing for almost that whole book.
Day Twenty-one – Favorite fictional romantic relationship: Claire Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne from Julia Spencer-Fleming's awesome mystery series. An Episcopal minister (Claire) and a married police chief (Russ) struggle with their emotional bond and attraction to maintain propriety in their little upstate NY town while they solve murders. Talk about sexual tension!
Day Twenty-two – Favorite ending/climax: Snape’s reveal in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It made me sob like a baby and explained so much.
Day Twenty-three – Most annoying character: Susan Silverman from Robert B. Parker's Spenser series. I love his books but he wrote the most annoying women possible in fiction. Susan is Spenser's longtime girlfriend who is afraid of commitment and baby-talks to her dog. Can we just kill her already?
Day Twenty-four – Best quote: The first lines of Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn. "To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor." What a hook.
Day Twenty-five – A book you plan on reading: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Because every book lover who reads romance should read it at least once. Real original, I know.
Day Twenty-six – OMG WTF? plot: I have no idea.
Day Twenty-seven – Favorite non-mainstream writer: Steve Niles. He writes horror novels and comics and is utterly hilarious. And scary.
Day Twenty-eight – First book obsession: Sweet Valley Twins, Sweet Valley High, and Baby Sitters Club series. I used to collect these en masse and could read them in about five minutes but I hung on every word. I can't wait to read the new Sweet Valley series that comes out in 2011.
Day Twenty-nine – Current book obsession: Audiobooks are my newly discovered literary vehicle and I couldn't get anything done in my house without them.
Day Thirty – Saddest character death: Kisten from Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series. Kisten was Rachel's vampire boyfriend and I still have not forgiven Kim for killing him three books ago. I was so relieved that she finally wrapped up the mystery surrounding his death in Black Magic Sanction but even writing this little about him makes my eyes prickle. R.I.P. Kisten, I had to put you in here somewhere!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Showing posts with label 2010 meme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2010 meme. Show all posts
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Reading Meme, Day Sixteen
Day Sixteen – Your guilty pleasure book
The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J. R. Ward
This is definitely one series I love but could not discuss with my mother. Hot, studly ghetto-speaking vampire men and their mates steam things up in between the bouts of action, strong emotions and humor. The bad guys are formidable even if they do smell like baby powder (how did she come up with that?) and there's an M/M romance a-brewing. Zsadist and Rhage are my favorites of all the warriors. Ward has also written a spin-off series:
I love paranormal romance :)
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Reading Meme, Day Fifteen
Day Fifteen – Favorite female character
It's got to be Stephanie Plum. This jersey girl is a hoot! In every book in Janet Evanovich's By the Numbers series, Stephanie gets into enough trouble for ten convicts. She blows up cars (it would be more accurate to say that other people blow up her car, repeatedly), chases down people who skip out on their court dates, takes her grandma to the funeral home, and has two men who want her. She is commitment-phobic, keeps her gun in her cookie jar like Rockford, and lives on Tastykakes. If you like books that make you smile, I dare you to read One for the Money and not want more. Any woman who is willing to drive a POS car with the word "pussy" spray-painted on the side has got to be a good time.
I will not be watching the movie.
It's got to be Stephanie Plum. This jersey girl is a hoot! In every book in Janet Evanovich's By the Numbers series, Stephanie gets into enough trouble for ten convicts. She blows up cars (it would be more accurate to say that other people blow up her car, repeatedly), chases down people who skip out on their court dates, takes her grandma to the funeral home, and has two men who want her. She is commitment-phobic, keeps her gun in her cookie jar like Rockford, and lives on Tastykakes. If you like books that make you smile, I dare you to read One for the Money and not want more. Any woman who is willing to drive a POS car with the word "pussy" spray-painted on the side has got to be a good time.
I will not be watching the movie.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
It's Called The Reading Meme, The Catch-up Post
In the interest of being lazy and all, I'll be catching up on my reading meme in one post. And I'm not going to put all that much effort into it either. I just wanted to get that out and upfront.
Where was I...oh yeah...
Day Eleven – A book that disappointed you
The first book that first comes to mind is In the Woods by Tana French. I reviewed this one a few months ago (go HERE to see). There was a lot of buzz about Tana French since her newest one, Faithful Place, had just come out, and critics and reviewers were raving about it so I figured I'd check her out from the beginning. Sigh. It is difficult to get through a book with a male protagonist who is a putz. The reader is also teased mercilessly about this unknown horror that our hero witnessed as a child but do we get any resolution? NO! I did like the female lead and she is the focus of French's second book, The Likeness, so I may pick up in the future but In the Woods was not a good way to start a relationship.
Day Twelve – A book you’ve read more than twice
There are a few books that I know I have read more than twice but I didn't want to use them here. Then, while I was at my local library and perusing the book sale shelf (shut up), I saw it:
Now, I don't like this cover and I couldn't find the cover of the copy I had way back in the day. Also, this day's topic could probably cover all of Judy Blume's books (except maybe for Forever even though I know I have read it) as I was a megafan. My third grade teacher read the Superfudge books to us in class but I had already read them all. Reading Deenie, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, and Blubber was a highlight of my teens but Tiger Eyes was always the best. A story about a teenage girl whose father has been shot dead by robbers in his convenience store and her family's subsequent exodus to New Mexico always grabbed me and never let go. I read online somewhere recently that they're making a movie based on it and I'm not sure how that makes me feel. The cast looks pretty good (check out it's IMBD page) but I'm always leery when I hear that Hollywood is using one of my beloveds to make a movie. Judy Blume's son is the director so it might be okay after all.
Day Thirteen – Favorite childhood book
Good Lord, they're mining my childhood to death for this meme! So, the book I'm picking for this day is important. Duh. I gained the whole bookworm moniker when I was a kid. I was outside on a summer day, hanging with the neighborhood kids and friends. Being me and the sort who hates to sweat and be bothered by bugs, I announced that I was going inside. I can't remember what we were all discussing/arguing about but I must have insinuated that I would rather be reading a book than socializing. "Bookworm!" they called me, to which I replied, "Nuh-uh!" I promptly went inside, laid down on my bed and started reading a book.
I'm 90% sure the book I picked up was Matilda by Roald Dahl. (The other 10% thinks it was The Witches, also by Roald Dahl. Both are fantastic.) Who of us who read Mr. Dahl's books didn't absolutely love Matilda? A story about a little girl whose parents didn't care if she went to school so learned how to read on her own and read the whole public library? Heaven! It was certainly my favorite of his; James and the Giant Peach was made into a big deal at my school instead. Years later, while I was in college, my best friend screwed up a bit and wanted to apologize so what did she do? She gave me this:
Only, you know, not a DVD. It was the nineties after all!
Day Fourteen – Favorite male character
This one was super easy. Ready? Spenser. That's right, Spenser from Robert B. Parker's novels. A smartass detective/man-who-can-get-things-done who lives in Boston, Spenser is awesome. He's even more awesome when he works with Hawk. He is the original; Robert Crais' and Lee Child's heroes are awesome too but there will only be one Spenser. If you like books and have never read a Robert B. Parker book then shame! Shame on you for you are missing some beautiful fiction. I was so sad when Parker died last year but his death was perfect for him: he died while sitting at his desk, writing. A massive heart attack robbed the world of this man's future books and his original character, Spenser. Most people have heard of the 1980's tv show Spenser for Hire; guess what it was based on? I discovered Spenser for myself right after I got married, about six years ago, and proceeded to devour every book he wrote, of which there are many. Go HERE to see his page on Fantastic Fiction so you can see them in order. One of my most treasured books is a signed copy of Edenville Owls. My all-time favorite things about Spenser is...we never get to hear his first name. Ever.
So, that's it for today. *sigh* I hope to share more tomorrow.
Where was I...oh yeah...
Day Eleven – A book that disappointed you
The first book that first comes to mind is In the Woods by Tana French. I reviewed this one a few months ago (go HERE to see). There was a lot of buzz about Tana French since her newest one, Faithful Place, had just come out, and critics and reviewers were raving about it so I figured I'd check her out from the beginning. Sigh. It is difficult to get through a book with a male protagonist who is a putz. The reader is also teased mercilessly about this unknown horror that our hero witnessed as a child but do we get any resolution? NO! I did like the female lead and she is the focus of French's second book, The Likeness, so I may pick up in the future but In the Woods was not a good way to start a relationship.
Day Twelve – A book you’ve read more than twice
There are a few books that I know I have read more than twice but I didn't want to use them here. Then, while I was at my local library and perusing the book sale shelf (shut up), I saw it:
Now, I don't like this cover and I couldn't find the cover of the copy I had way back in the day. Also, this day's topic could probably cover all of Judy Blume's books (except maybe for Forever even though I know I have read it) as I was a megafan. My third grade teacher read the Superfudge books to us in class but I had already read them all. Reading Deenie, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, and Blubber was a highlight of my teens but Tiger Eyes was always the best. A story about a teenage girl whose father has been shot dead by robbers in his convenience store and her family's subsequent exodus to New Mexico always grabbed me and never let go. I read online somewhere recently that they're making a movie based on it and I'm not sure how that makes me feel. The cast looks pretty good (check out it's IMBD page) but I'm always leery when I hear that Hollywood is using one of my beloveds to make a movie. Judy Blume's son is the director so it might be okay after all.
Day Thirteen – Favorite childhood book
Good Lord, they're mining my childhood to death for this meme! So, the book I'm picking for this day is important. Duh. I gained the whole bookworm moniker when I was a kid. I was outside on a summer day, hanging with the neighborhood kids and friends. Being me and the sort who hates to sweat and be bothered by bugs, I announced that I was going inside. I can't remember what we were all discussing/arguing about but I must have insinuated that I would rather be reading a book than socializing. "Bookworm!" they called me, to which I replied, "Nuh-uh!" I promptly went inside, laid down on my bed and started reading a book.
I'm 90% sure the book I picked up was Matilda by Roald Dahl. (The other 10% thinks it was The Witches, also by Roald Dahl. Both are fantastic.) Who of us who read Mr. Dahl's books didn't absolutely love Matilda? A story about a little girl whose parents didn't care if she went to school so learned how to read on her own and read the whole public library? Heaven! It was certainly my favorite of his; James and the Giant Peach was made into a big deal at my school instead. Years later, while I was in college, my best friend screwed up a bit and wanted to apologize so what did she do? She gave me this:
Only, you know, not a DVD. It was the nineties after all!
Day Fourteen – Favorite male character
This one was super easy. Ready? Spenser. That's right, Spenser from Robert B. Parker's novels. A smartass detective/man-who-can-get-things-done who lives in Boston, Spenser is awesome. He's even more awesome when he works with Hawk. He is the original; Robert Crais' and Lee Child's heroes are awesome too but there will only be one Spenser. If you like books and have never read a Robert B. Parker book then shame! Shame on you for you are missing some beautiful fiction. I was so sad when Parker died last year but his death was perfect for him: he died while sitting at his desk, writing. A massive heart attack robbed the world of this man's future books and his original character, Spenser. Most people have heard of the 1980's tv show Spenser for Hire; guess what it was based on? I discovered Spenser for myself right after I got married, about six years ago, and proceeded to devour every book he wrote, of which there are many. Go HERE to see his page on Fantastic Fiction so you can see them in order. One of my most treasured books is a signed copy of Edenville Owls. My all-time favorite things about Spenser is...we never get to hear his first name. Ever.
So, that's it for today. *sigh* I hope to share more tomorrow.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Reading Meme, Day Ten
Day Ten – A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
This is going to be more about a genre than a particular book. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn was my first historical romance novel in 2008 and the rest, pardon the pun, is my history. In the past few years, romances have become predominant in my TBR pile, with historicals aplenty. As a dummy unaware of the fabulousness of this subgenre, I, too, stuck up my nose at them until I tripped over this gem and fell absolutely in love. It certainly didn't hurt that Julia Quinn is incomparable. Reading her led me to Lisa Kleypas, Laura Kinsale, Mary Balogh, Loretta Chase, Eloisa James, and even Georgette Heyer. Historical romances rock and I am all the better for having read them.
This is going to be more about a genre than a particular book. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn was my first historical romance novel in 2008 and the rest, pardon the pun, is my history. In the past few years, romances have become predominant in my TBR pile, with historicals aplenty. As a dummy unaware of the fabulousness of this subgenre, I, too, stuck up my nose at them until I tripped over this gem and fell absolutely in love. It certainly didn't hurt that Julia Quinn is incomparable. Reading her led me to Lisa Kleypas, Laura Kinsale, Mary Balogh, Loretta Chase, Eloisa James, and even Georgette Heyer. Historical romances rock and I am all the better for having read them.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Reading Meme, Day Nine
Day Nine – Best scene ever
This one is easy. After I finished this book, I reread the last thirty pages or so with a big fat smile on my face. I am not going to quote any of it so I don't spoil it for those lucky suckers out there who have yet to discover Deanna Raybourn - and they are so in for a treat when they first read these books. The ending of Silent on the Moor, the third Lady Julia Grey novel, made me so happy that first time that I read it three times that night: twice to myself and the third out loud to my husband. (I don't think he got it.) The scene I'm picking here, however, is before the actual ending, taking place near the cottage, just after Brisbane prepares to walk away from Julia, you know, again. Obstinate men are such a pain.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Reading Meme, Day Eight
Day Eight – Your favorite work in translation
Gah. I don't read many foreign books (that I'm aware of) so I'm going to have to go to with Stieg Larsson's trilogy. Translated from Swedish, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest were all absorbing reads. These were difficult books to get through as they are long, violent, and frequently ugly. That all being said, I am glad I read them.
Reading Meme, Day Seven
Day Seven – A writer you don’t like
Nicholas Sparks. To be fair, I have read only one of his books - A Walk to Remember. I can promise you it wasn't.
But that's not the reason I don't like him. Despite the long list of romances he's written over the years, Mr. Sparks claims that he doesn't write romances. As if that is something beneath him, impossible to even consider.
That's okay though. We romance fans don't want him. As far as I and many other romance fans are concerned, he's not good enough for the romance genre. It seems to me that he's a screenwriter. He's reached a point where he's now writing his books for the express purpose of them being made directly into movies; for example, the production of The Last Song. (See this article: http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2010-03-11-lastsong11_CV_N.htm)
Go HERE for a laugh and some instruction on how to make a Nicholas Sparks movie. *snicker* I never noticed the poster thing before. Not a romance writer, indeed.
Nicholas Sparks. To be fair, I have read only one of his books - A Walk to Remember. I can promise you it wasn't.
But that's not the reason I don't like him. Despite the long list of romances he's written over the years, Mr. Sparks claims that he doesn't write romances. As if that is something beneath him, impossible to even consider.
That's okay though. We romance fans don't want him. As far as I and many other romance fans are concerned, he's not good enough for the romance genre. It seems to me that he's a screenwriter. He's reached a point where he's now writing his books for the express purpose of them being made directly into movies; for example, the production of The Last Song. (See this article: http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2010-03-11-lastsong11_CV_N.htm)
Go HERE for a laugh and some instruction on how to make a Nicholas Sparks movie. *snicker* I never noticed the poster thing before. Not a romance writer, indeed.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Reading Meme, Day Six
Day Six – Your favorite writer
Jennifer Crusie. There is no doubt.
Bet Me was one of the frontrunners in the competition for My Favorite Book Ever post from yesterday. I love Bet Me and it's my favorite comfort read. Agnes and the Hitman, Anyone But You, Manhunting, What the Lady Wants, and Crazy For You are all fantastic reads too. Her books are an automatic buy for me unless I can manage to score ARCs of them.
Jenny Crusie does not write romance. She writes chick lit. Romance is an aspect to be sure but not the focus. Her women usually undergo some kind of epiphany about their lives and then manage to Forrest Gump their way to a happy ever after. They meet wonderful men who are completely mystified by them but in the end can't help but fall in love with them. There's always conflict - like the bet in Bet Me or the ghosts in Maybe This Time - but what would a good book be without conflict? There is always humor, that trademark Crusie humor that I love so much.
She's not perfect. With the exception of Agnes, I find that her collaborations tend to be her weakest efforts but are not completely without value.
I bought her last solo paperback a little while ago but *sigh* haven't read it yet.
According to jennycrusie.com and amazon.com, her first book in her Liz Danger series, Lavender Blue, will hit the stores in June 1, 2011. There are four parts mentioned on Crusie's website with the second, Rest in Pink, to come out in July.
Follow THIS LINK to Angieville and read Angie's thoughts on Bet Me. I couldn't have done it better myself. Go HERE to find out more about this meme.
Jennifer Crusie. There is no doubt.
Bet Me was one of the frontrunners in the competition for My Favorite Book Ever post from yesterday. I love Bet Me and it's my favorite comfort read. Agnes and the Hitman, Anyone But You, Manhunting, What the Lady Wants, and Crazy For You are all fantastic reads too. Her books are an automatic buy for me unless I can manage to score ARCs of them.
Jenny Crusie does not write romance. She writes chick lit. Romance is an aspect to be sure but not the focus. Her women usually undergo some kind of epiphany about their lives and then manage to Forrest Gump their way to a happy ever after. They meet wonderful men who are completely mystified by them but in the end can't help but fall in love with them. There's always conflict - like the bet in Bet Me or the ghosts in Maybe This Time - but what would a good book be without conflict? There is always humor, that trademark Crusie humor that I love so much.
She's not perfect. With the exception of Agnes, I find that her collaborations tend to be her weakest efforts but are not completely without value.
I bought her last solo paperback a little while ago but *sigh* haven't read it yet.
According to jennycrusie.com and amazon.com, her first book in her Liz Danger series, Lavender Blue, will hit the stores in June 1, 2011. There are four parts mentioned on Crusie's website with the second, Rest in Pink, to come out in July.
Follow THIS LINK to Angieville and read Angie's thoughts on Bet Me. I couldn't have done it better myself. Go HERE to find out more about this meme.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Reading Meme, Day Five
Day Five – A book you hate
I had read a few other Anita Shreve books before I got to this one and liked them. When I finished The Last Time They Met, I was on a break at work and it was for that reason only that this book did not end up as a wallbanger. I hate books that pull the rug out from under you at the end - the Ha! Made You Look! ending - and Anita Shreve pulls it off so perfectly that you don't see it coming.
This is a book about lovers reuniting, renewing their relationship later in their lives after they find each other again by accident in Africa. I wasn't loving it prior to the rug pulling but the ending was the icing on the cake. Another book that pulled the same stunt: Atonement by Ian McEwan. I didn't like that one either will give it credit for one thing - it bounced pretty well.
Reading Meme, Day Four
Day Four – Your favorite book ever
This is a tough pick for me. I'm not sure I have just one particular book that I love above all others because I love so many. I really had to think about it and it helped for me to go through my catalog on LibraryThing to remember all those books that I've loved and kept over the years. This book popped in my head first off and stuck around after so it became clear to me what my answer would be.
Twelve-year-old Jack Sawyer embarks on an epic quest-a walk from the seacoast of New Hampshire to the California coast-to find the talisman that will save his dying mother's life. Jack's journey takes him into the Territories, a parallel medieval universe, where most people from his own universe have analogs called "twinners." The queen of the Territories, Jack's mother's twinner, is also dying. (from stephenking.com)
That description is rather lacking for such a phenomenal book. I've read a majority of King's books including the Dark Tower series, It, The Shining, and The Stand, but I have always preferred The Talisman over the rest. I have three copies: a hardback with the red cover shown above, an illustrated set of The Talisman and its sequel Black House signed by Peter Straub and Rick Berry, and an ebook that lives in my nook. When my cousin moved from Maryland to California several years ago, I gave her my first beat-up paperback copy (with the original cover) to read on the trip. I liked the irony.
I have always felt that The Talisman was a perfect example of a coming of age story. Jack Sawyer may only be twelve when he begins his quest but he is much, much older inside at completion. Jack must travel on foot to California lest he accidentally flip to the territories. Along the way he makes friends, steals, laughs, cries, vanquishes foes, and grows up. The Talisman is loosely connected to King's Dark Tower series; the character of Speedy Parker, who may be a former gunslinger akin to Roland, is the one who teaches Jack to flip to the territories and sends him on his way.
I have always felt that The Talisman was a perfect example of a coming of age story. Jack Sawyer may only be twelve when he begins his quest but he is much, much older inside at completion. Jack must travel on foot to California lest he accidentally flip to the territories. Along the way he makes friends, steals, laughs, cries, vanquishes foes, and grows up. The Talisman is loosely connected to King's Dark Tower series; the character of Speedy Parker, who may be a former gunslinger akin to Roland, is the one who teaches Jack to flip to the territories and sends him on his way.
I have read The Talisman several times and each time I discover something new. It's an excellent collaboration; I find it near impossible to tell who wrote which parts. The sequel, Black House, revisits Jack after he's all grown up. Rumors around the web claim that King and Straub are starting a third book featuring Jack Sawyer. It's definitely overdue, in my humble opinion. Jack is one of my favorite characters ever, certainly of King's books. I would definitely like to know how his story ends.
Reading Meme, Day Three
Day Three – Your favorite recent book
I saw this one at the library the other day and was intrigued. I've never read any of Cate Tiernan's work before, though I had heard of her, so I brought this baby home and sat down with it that evening. Hours later at about 2 AM, I finished it. What a book! It's interesting that it was published as YA; all the characters might look like they're still in the latter half of their teens but they're all older than that - the youngest of them decades old. Nastasya herself is almost half a millennium young.
At first, Nastasya doesn't seem like much. As mentioned above, she's a party girl, and has been for many years. Living an empty life of bar-hopping and city-hopping with her coterie of friends seemed like a good way for her to stay shallow and unattached, or at least it was until one cold, rainy night in London, she saw her supposed best friend, Innocencio, break their cabbie's spine for kicks with his magic. Her eyes are opened at that moment and by the next morning, she's fled Europe for a little town in Massachusetts, USA. It isn't until Nastasya's been at River's Edge for a little while that we get to see that her frivolous life hasn't been easy after all; in fact, Nastasya's life has been a fairly miserable one. The only surviving member of her ubermagical family, there is a lot that she has to learn about herself and her magic.
I liked Nastasya - Nasty, as her friends call her. She's snarky as hell and I LOVED her sense of humor. Here's a taste, from pages 144-145:
She's not a people pleaser but isn't afraid to reach out if she sees someone who might need her help. She's attracted to Reyn but tells him off whenever she gets a chance. No doormat here. Nasty has a complicated past and we only get pieces of it at a time. The reveal near the end isn't earth shattering by that point, at least not to the reader. The magic element of Immortal Beloved takes a bit of a back seat for most of this book; it's essential in the immortal's lives but for Nasty, it's not as important. In fact, she's rather scared of it, or rather, what it means.
Nasty's friends, including Innocencio, are looking for her and are on their way to River's Edge. I have a feeling that they're in for a big surprise in book two of this trilogy, which is yet to be titled but looks to be released in September 2011. Nasty's coming into her own and isn't what they'll be expecting. Immortal Beloved was a pleasant surprise for me and if you want to read a YA novel that doesn't talk down to you, read it. I hope you like it too.
Last night my whole world came tumbling down. Now I'm running scared.
New name, new town, new life. Nastasya has done it too often to count. And there's no end in sight. Nothing ever really ends...when you're immortal.
Finally disgusted with her meaningless party-girl life, Nastasya heads to River's Edge, a safe haven for wayward immortals. She trades her designer clothes for jeans and flannel, and the hardest drink available is tea. There she meets "the Viking god," the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn. Nastasya desires him, of course, but there's something uncomfortably familiar about him that makes her wary, cautioning her to stay away. But she can't.
Soon Nastasya realizes that this place holds the key to her salvation - and her possible destruction. She's not the only one at River's Edge with dark secrets. And sometimes dark secrets can be fatal - even for an immortal.
Cate Tiernan, author of the popular Sweep series, returns with an exhilarating story of timeless struggle and inescapable romance, in this first book of a stunning new fantasy trilogy.
I saw this one at the library the other day and was intrigued. I've never read any of Cate Tiernan's work before, though I had heard of her, so I brought this baby home and sat down with it that evening. Hours later at about 2 AM, I finished it. What a book! It's interesting that it was published as YA; all the characters might look like they're still in the latter half of their teens but they're all older than that - the youngest of them decades old. Nastasya herself is almost half a millennium young.
At first, Nastasya doesn't seem like much. As mentioned above, she's a party girl, and has been for many years. Living an empty life of bar-hopping and city-hopping with her coterie of friends seemed like a good way for her to stay shallow and unattached, or at least it was until one cold, rainy night in London, she saw her supposed best friend, Innocencio, break their cabbie's spine for kicks with his magic. Her eyes are opened at that moment and by the next morning, she's fled Europe for a little town in Massachusetts, USA. It isn't until Nastasya's been at River's Edge for a little while that we get to see that her frivolous life hasn't been easy after all; in fact, Nastasya's life has been a fairly miserable one. The only surviving member of her ubermagical family, there is a lot that she has to learn about herself and her magic.
I liked Nastasya - Nasty, as her friends call her. She's snarky as hell and I LOVED her sense of humor. Here's a taste, from pages 144-145:
...I was sweeping and humming the mice's song from [Cinderella]. And let's all ponder just how far my life had fallen, in terms of excitement and chicness, shall we? Yes. Pretty damn far.
"I'll drive," Nell's voice said gaily from below, in the front hall. Her light brown head appeared by the stair banister, and next to her Reyn said, "I can drive." I had decided he was the Viking god Odin, god of odiousness.
Nell gave a pretty pout, and the devil grabbed me by the tail. I called down, "By all means, let him drive, Nell. He has a weenie. It makes a huge difference."
Her blue eyes widened and she stared up at me, first as if wondering at my audacity, then in irritation as she realized Reyn was also looking up at me.
I was bored. Time to stir the pot a little. Sweeping busily, I said, "I mean, not with driving, it doesn't make a difference. Of course. But in other stuff. Peeing standing up and all."
Reyn's voice was tight. "Your point?"
"No real point. Just lobbying for your right to drive. I mean, you're old enough, right? How old are you? Like thirty?" Most of him looked barely twenty, twenty-two, except his amazing eyes. His eyes looked hundreds of years old.
He didn't say anything, and Nell frowned. "He's two hundred and sixty-seven. I'm eighty-three. And how old are you?" Her British accent was crisp.
"Older." I went down a step and continued sweeping. I'd gotten it down to an art: one broad stroke across, then two quick vertical strokes to get each corner. How was this saving my soul, exactly? Like, was I sweeping my way to salvation, or what?
"Oh, good, I caught you before you left," said River, coming down the hall from the kitchen. "You two are going to town, aren't you?"
"Yes," said Reyn.
"And Reyn's going to drive," I said. "Because he's a booooyyyy."
She's not a people pleaser but isn't afraid to reach out if she sees someone who might need her help. She's attracted to Reyn but tells him off whenever she gets a chance. No doormat here. Nasty has a complicated past and we only get pieces of it at a time. The reveal near the end isn't earth shattering by that point, at least not to the reader. The magic element of Immortal Beloved takes a bit of a back seat for most of this book; it's essential in the immortal's lives but for Nasty, it's not as important. In fact, she's rather scared of it, or rather, what it means.
Nasty's friends, including Innocencio, are looking for her and are on their way to River's Edge. I have a feeling that they're in for a big surprise in book two of this trilogy, which is yet to be titled but looks to be released in September 2011. Nasty's coming into her own and isn't what they'll be expecting. Immortal Beloved was a pleasant surprise for me and if you want to read a YA novel that doesn't talk down to you, read it. I hope you like it too.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Reading Meme, Day Two
Day Two – A book that you wish more people had read
Black Magic Woman by Justin Gustainis is one of the best urban fantasy novels that I read in 2008 and that is definitely saying something as that was a VERY good year for me, bookwise. In my local library system, there is only one copy of this awesome book for the whole region and every time I check its shelf at my local library, it is always there and I am sad.
There is no romance here. Not that they have time for it but Libby is a lesbian. I found that refreshing; eliminating that factor from the story left plenty of focus on the magic and a foundation of true friendship between Quincey and Libby. The plot moves along at a pace that is neither too fast nor does it allow for boredom to sneak in. It is clever and fresh with plenty of humor. I originally borrowed it from the library but got my own copy afterwards. I also bought the next book in the series, Evil Ways, and do plan to read it someday or whenever I can conquer the curse of the TBR pile.
Book three, titled Sympathy for the Devil, has been in the works for a few years now and has a release date of July 26, 2011 on Amazon.com. Look for Those Who Fight Monsters, an anthology edited by Gustainis with an awesome lineup on March 1, 2011.
Gustainis is also working on Hard Spell, the first in a new series about a supernatural cop who lives in Scranton, PA. Maybe he can check out Dwight Schrute? There has got to be something supernatural going on with that guy.
Occult investigator Quincey Morris and his "consultant", white witch Libby Chastain, are hired to free a family from a deadly curse that appears to date back to the Salem witch trials. Fraught with danger, the trail finds them stalking the mysterious occult underworlds of Boston, San Francisco, New Orleans, and New York, searching out the root of the curse. After surviving a series of terrifying attempts on their lives, the two find themselves drawn inexorably towards Salem itself—the very heart of darkness. (from justingustainis.com)
Black Magic Woman by Justin Gustainis is one of the best urban fantasy novels that I read in 2008 and that is definitely saying something as that was a VERY good year for me, bookwise. In my local library system, there is only one copy of this awesome book for the whole region and every time I check its shelf at my local library, it is always there and I am sad.
There is no romance here. Not that they have time for it but Libby is a lesbian. I found that refreshing; eliminating that factor from the story left plenty of focus on the magic and a foundation of true friendship between Quincey and Libby. The plot moves along at a pace that is neither too fast nor does it allow for boredom to sneak in. It is clever and fresh with plenty of humor. I originally borrowed it from the library but got my own copy afterwards. I also bought the next book in the series, Evil Ways, and do plan to read it someday or whenever I can conquer the curse of the TBR pile.
Book three, titled Sympathy for the Devil, has been in the works for a few years now and has a release date of July 26, 2011 on Amazon.com. Look for Those Who Fight Monsters, an anthology edited by Gustainis with an awesome lineup on March 1, 2011.
Gustainis is also working on Hard Spell, the first in a new series about a supernatural cop who lives in Scranton, PA. Maybe he can check out Dwight Schrute? There has got to be something supernatural going on with that guy.
Reading Meme, Day One
Day One – Your favorite series of books (with more than 3 in the series)
For my answer, I'm going to go with two series because there is no way I can pick just one. I am (more or less) caught up with both of these, which is a minor miracle in its own right. I get so emotionally involved with the leads in both series so it really is a blessing that new volumes come out only once a year. Each is expertly written with strong, well-defined characters.
First up: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
It all started with Storm Front, introducing Harry Dresden, Chicago wizard and smart-ass extraordinaire. Harry's adventures have been produced for television (albeit ill-produced and short-lived) and in a comic book series of original stories, Welcome to the Jungle, as well as the comic book adaptation of Storm Front. James Marsters, aka Spike from BtVS, is narrating them for audiobook and he has truly come to own Harry Dresden's soul.
These books are smart, extremely funny, and filled with action. I always know that when I sit down with one of these books I am in for a wild ride. With each book, Harry breaks my heart a little more. Changes changed everything - nothing will ever be the same for Harry and his friends. I can't wait to see what happens with book thirteen, Ghost Story, out on March 29, 2011.
And second: Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire series
I love Sookie Stackhouse. Charlaine Harris writes Sookie about as real as possible and I think she's one of the coolest chicks in modern fiction today. A mind-reading waitress, Sookie is a favorite of the vampire and were populations in and around Louisiana. She interacts with and gets wrapped up in the troubles of all kinds of supernatural folks. Sookie is a forthright and down-to-earth southern girl who still lives in her grandma's house and works at a local bar. My favorite thing about Sookie is that she always tries to do the right thing, even if it hurts.
Charlaine Harris created a monster with Sookie that turned into a going on eleven volume book series and a highly successful show on HBO called True Blood.
Dead Reckoning will be out on May 3, 2011.
For my answer, I'm going to go with two series because there is no way I can pick just one. I am (more or less) caught up with both of these, which is a minor miracle in its own right. I get so emotionally involved with the leads in both series so it really is a blessing that new volumes come out only once a year. Each is expertly written with strong, well-defined characters.
First up: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
It all started with Storm Front, introducing Harry Dresden, Chicago wizard and smart-ass extraordinaire. Harry's adventures have been produced for television (albeit ill-produced and short-lived) and in a comic book series of original stories, Welcome to the Jungle, as well as the comic book adaptation of Storm Front. James Marsters, aka Spike from BtVS, is narrating them for audiobook and he has truly come to own Harry Dresden's soul.
These books are smart, extremely funny, and filled with action. I always know that when I sit down with one of these books I am in for a wild ride. With each book, Harry breaks my heart a little more. Changes changed everything - nothing will ever be the same for Harry and his friends. I can't wait to see what happens with book thirteen, Ghost Story, out on March 29, 2011.
And second: Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire series
I love Sookie Stackhouse. Charlaine Harris writes Sookie about as real as possible and I think she's one of the coolest chicks in modern fiction today. A mind-reading waitress, Sookie is a favorite of the vampire and were populations in and around Louisiana. She interacts with and gets wrapped up in the troubles of all kinds of supernatural folks. Sookie is a forthright and down-to-earth southern girl who still lives in her grandma's house and works at a local bar. My favorite thing about Sookie is that she always tries to do the right thing, even if it hurts.
Charlaine Harris created a monster with Sookie that turned into a going on eleven volume book series and a highly successful show on HBO called True Blood.
Dead Reckoning will be out on May 3, 2011.
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