Have you checked out The Pagan and The Pen? If you haven’t, you should probably stop by and take a look. This fairly new site was promotes the work of authors who use Pagan elements in their writing. You know? Witches, gods, fairies… 

This is a great site for paranormal fiction writers to promote their work. While you are there check out my post on Fiction That Celebrates Pagan Culture. Also, check out how to request a review if you are interested. 

Hope to see you there ;)

a friend of mine is selling her twilight proof:

if anyone would like a piece of Twilight History

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230354456932

Things I have lately read and enjoyed...

Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville Series

Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson Series

J. R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series

I have At Grave's End by Jeanine Frost coming in the mail and I am about to finish Scott Westerfeld's Extras. I have started Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series and Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Underworld series but I wasn't very into either. I am looking for something off the wall and/or obscure. Adult or young adult is fine.

 My reviews are up for Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison and Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow (aka Lilith Saintcrow).  Otherwhere Book Reviews

I hope this is okay, as I'd normally pimp something like this at the end of a review, but I've got no UF or PR books in the line-up between now and when this giveaway is over. But I AM offering a giveaway over at my LJ, and it focuses on this genre, so I didn't want you all to miss out in case you're interested. Three books will be given away, one that's classified as urban fantasy, another as paranormal romance, and another in the YA department of those two genres.

Interested? Here's the link: Favorite Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, AND YA UF/PR Giveaway!

Thanks, and have a wonderful day!

Vol. 1 Issue 6 - 6.30.09

Articles
* YA Books for Boys by Brian Kel
* Interview - Lili St. Crow
* Interview - Rachel Caine
* Review - Thirteenth Child by Patricia Wrede
* Review - Hero by Perry Moore
* Review - Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
* Review - Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine
* Review - Shiver by Maggie Steifwater

Fiction:

* Clarity's Companion - Joanna Gardner
* Dance Floor Tragedy - Lilah Wild
* The Gate Between Worlds - Kenneth Mark Hoover
* Got Milk2 + Homework = Magic - Che Gilson
* Powers That Be - Dennis R Upkins
* Quiet Haunts - Kristopher Reisz
* Saints Chosen - T.A. Moore
* The Exorcist - Aleksandra Butowt
* The Proper Way to Eat a Poison Apple - Rich Mallery
* Weaving Threads - Michael Merriam
* Welcome to the Club - Julie Klumb

Surely not! But it's beginning to feel like I can't find anything good to read. When I first signed up here I pretty much asked the same question: What can I read?? You all gave me such amazing recommendations! I literally went out and brought all of them. At the moment I've read:

Mercy Thompson Series - All four, they were too amazing for words.

Sookie Stackhouse Series: 1-4 - Loved the first few, but I feel like they're starting to get a little tired.

The Hollows Series: 1-3 - Man, this is some good urban fantasy! But I stopped reading them. "Why??" I hear you ask, when this was the top recommended book on my first post? I can't stand how depressed Ivy seems right now, and it feels to me like Rachel is just stringing her along. And how many books are there? Maybe 7 or 8 and still no Ivy/Rachel? (I took it upon myself to google whether this was going to happen or not). I just don't know, the books are fantastic, Kim Harisson is a wonderful storyteller but I just can't take how it seems Rachel is using Ivy.

Anita Blake Series: Book 1 (didn't finish it). I tried so hard to get through it. But I couldn't. I figured I might like it seeing as how the Sookie Series seemed love/hate and I absolutely adored them, but I couldn't finish it. Anita is reaaaally annoying, and it seems to me like everyone loves her for no reason.

Scent of Shadows: Book 1 (didn't finish it). It was another tough one to get through. I just couldn't like the character. It seems to me that I prefer the type of characters who LIKE life. This might be another reason for not liking Anita Blake so much. I can't stand the whining! And yet, I've pretty much read all the Elena Michaels books (Bitten, Stolen and Broken) and I really like those.

Sunshine (Robin McKinley). I started and stopped a lot on this one, mainly because the main character got so off topic most of the time, and might have said "Cinamon Roll" a million times. I did like Robin’s portrayal of the vampires though. Not stunningly beautiful and amazing at everything, but actually quite creature-y. You could tell they weren't human. I liked that a lot! It made the romance that much more interesting and forbidden.

Anyway, the point is... can anyone recommend anymore? I'm on the verge of reading Magic Bites. It's getting a lot of good reviews. I think I prefer urban fantasy to paranormal romance still, even though they're incredibly similar. What I probably mean is that I prefer books that have a plot different to the idea that some poor soul falls in love with a vampire/werewolf/demon whichever. Even though I love that idea, I prefer them as a subplot. Also, any books that use Robin Mckinley's "creature" type supernaturals instead of sexy as hell supes who really have nothing to complain about! I mean I don't mind it, but it makes it a little more interesting. Main characters who aren't always competent in the area they've been thrown into also always makes an interesting read I think! For example, even though Mercy from Moon Called could turn into a coyote, I didn't always get the feeling she knew what she was doing, and it made her more human to me. Less, "I can do everything! I'm the best!" and more "I'm going to have to do this, and I have no idea what I'm doing".

And one more thing, a likable character that isn't antsy until they have reason to be!

I'm wondering if any of this is possible?

Please, help if you can! Summer will be incredibly long and boring if I don't have something interesting to read!

I'm on the hunt for some fresh reading material and I was hoping for some recommendations. I'm a sucker for science fiction, fantasy, and horror, but the thing that really rocks my socks is a non-human protagonist. A story told from the perspective of an android, alien, a goblin, a telepath--anything or anyone who has a perspective that's distinctly "Other" and different from our own. (I especially like books with the "Other" character surrounded by humans, rather than a human surrounded by the Other)

There are plenty of books that have a non-human character somewhere in the cast, but they're usually relegated to some second-banana supporting role--cool if they "get a lot of play," but less interesting if they're just jammed in there for cheap exotic flavor. There are also plenty of books that have non-human characters like elves and dwarves, but these characters are often different in name only. The elves and dwarves may be different in subtle aesthetic or cultural ways, but never in a way that would smack you as, "Whoah! Not human. Definitely a unique POV here." I love a book that takes me to another world, but that 'world' is in the character, not just a strange world setting.

Can anyone recommend a good book that fits this xenophilic preference of mine? =)

Other strong likes: Books that break standard gender roles, or preferably reverse them (tough, butch women or meek, sensitive men), flawed but sympathetic characters, positive portrayal of people of faith
Strong dislikes: Misogyny, racism, books that bash on deities/people of faith, stupid or unlikable characters, 'dick flick' machismo characters

Thanks for all comments, discussion, and recommendations! ^_^

Hi All -

I'm wondering if anyone has read this series (books to date are Dante's Girl & The Last Angel) ? What do you think of it so far? Personally I like the series enough to continue it, but it's not  near one of my favorites.

I just finished The Last Angel and it ended on a major cliff hanger. Does anyone know when the next book is supposec to be released and what it is called? I've searched the web (her myspace page, her authors page on scholastic, etc) and haven't found even a tidbit of info.

Paranormal author, Marcia Colette, wrote a great post on the importance of doing research when building a paranormal world. I loved the post and would love to read what everybody has to say about it. So check out “The Truth Is Out There” and leave Marcia a comment with your thoughts. (I’ll be close snooping around :)

Once Dead, Twice Shy (2009)
Written by: Kim Harrison
Genre: YA/Urban Fantasy
Pages: 232

The premise: Madison Avery had a killer prom. Literally. Killed by her date, she's only still kicking because she stole the amulet of the reaper who came for her soul. That amulet's the only thing keeping her "alive," and the reaper isn't too happy about it. He's doing everything he can to get that amulet back, even if it means using her friends and loved ones to do it. But Madison isn't going to take this lying down. She's got the help of another reaper (a light one, a good guy, she hopes), her cute crush, and a guardian angel. Hopefully it's enough to keep her alive and kicking.

My Rating

Buy the Paperback: this is a tricky rating. If I were basing it on unique urban fantasy elements, this book is an absolute must-have. Truly, it's unique, and again I applaud Harrison for giving me a strong heroine and for not setting this series in the same world as her Rachel Morgan books. However, basing the rating on the fact it's a YA novel (which makes me consider the length) and the problems I had working out some of the motivations that pushed the plot forward, I don't feel it's worth the cost of a hardcover. It's a good book, and I'll very seriously consider the next book in the series (and in hardcover, since that's what I started with), but unless you're just a major Kim Harrison fan or the book sounds so awesome to you that you can't wait to read it, wait for the paperback. It's good, but it's not HARDCOVER good.

Review style: for this book, I'm dividing it once more into two sections: what I liked and what I didn't. Expect spoilers in both, because what I like and don't like directly relates to said spoilers. So, if you don't want to be spoiled, stop now. However, if you've already read the book or you just don't care about spoilers, then you may find the full review in my LJ. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Kim Harrison's ONCE DEAD, TWICE SHY

Happy Reading! :)

 My review of Chloe Neill's "Some Girls Bite" is up!  This is the first book in the Chicagoland Vampires series.  Otherwhere Book Reviews

 Hi everyone!

Check out my reviews of La Vida Vampire and Last Vampire Standing both by Nancy Haddock.

I've also posted a giveaway of Gena Showalter's Seduce the Darkness. The contest runs until 11:59 pm on the books release day, 6/30/09.

Wanted to share some exciting news.  Have been a watcher here for a while and it's great to have something to say for a change.  It was announced yesterday that my first book SIXTY-ONE NAILS will be published worldwide by Angry Robot Books in November 2009.  I don't have a cover to show yet, but any writers out there will know just how excited I am.  For the official announcement see the link below: ~

Angry Robot Books

The second book, THE ROAD TO BEDLAM is in development at the moment and scheduled for 2010.  There is some other author news on the post as well for Maurice Brauddus and Matt Forbeck who also have new books on the schedule.  For those unaware, Angry Robot are a new imprint of HarperCollins launching next month with a mix of UF, F, SF and WTF.

What's it about?  NIall Petersen is on his way to work when he has a heart attack and dies on the London Underground.  He is revived by an old lady who tells him that the reason he's not dead is that a creature from another world was trying to possess his newly dead corpse.  To prevent it crossing into our world she has woken the magic within him and restored him to life.  But now it knows him.  It can follow him anywhere, and it wants him and his fourteen year-old daughter dead.

SIXTY-ONE NAILS is out in November 2009.  Yahoo!

Chapter 2 of Guardians is live and kicking!

The Story up to now: Regan, a bodyguard for celebrities and socialites, escorts the mayor’s son to a museum benefit for a religious archeologist seeking more money. Before we get to find out much about the Dr or the people at the party, we find out that her contact Andre is missing, her sister goes out of her way to guilt her into coming to see her the next day and then that something is wrong that an old friend and one of the venue security think she needs to be in on. Find out what happens next in Chapter 2


*xposted*

Exit Strategy (2007)
Written by: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Mystery/Thriller ***
Pages: 480

The premise: Nadia Stafford is a former cop who was shamed out of the force, and now has to deliver justice through unconventional means: she's a hitwoman, but a hitwoman with a conscience. Normally a solo-act, but when a serial killer starts a killing spree across the U.S. and the clues point to a former hitman, Nadia hooks up with others in her profession to find the killer and take him down, before he brings down all of them. To do this, Nadia must use everything experience has taught her, and to transform herself from predator to prey. She's got to catch him, before he catches her.

My Rating

Must Have: now, I can't say whether it's a must-have for a mystery guru, as I'm no regular reader of the mystery genre. But I get ENOUGH mystery in the genres of urban fantasy and even science fiction that I recognize something good when I see it, and when I consider that growing up, my favorite television shows were MacGyver, Profiler, Batman: The Animated Series, and Alias (well, I was an "adult" by time Alias came out, but bear with me), I feel like I know enough to enjoy a good book in the genre when I read it. For Kelley Armstrong fans, this book is DEFINITELY a must, though you won't find it in SF/F/H. I've found this series in both the mystery/thriller shelves and just in regular fiction, so when you're looking in the store, make sure you exhaust all possibilities. ANYWAY: anyone who's a fan of, say, Alias, is going to really enjoy this: Nadia is a fantastic heroine, and the world of hitmen/hitwomen is definitely fascinating. I loved the cast, the level of tension that keeps pages turning at a deliberate pace, and the mystery holding the whole story together of the Helter Skelter Killer was just a lovely excuse (and a well-played plot) that gave me a chance to get to know these people. I promptly bought book two, Made To Be Broken as soon as I finished this one, because while this book is certainly a stand-alone, the writing and characters are too good not to continue as soon as possible. I really, really enjoyed this, and it's definitely worth the time and money. Check it out.

Review style: Stream-of-conscious review style, but don't worry, no spoilers for this one. If you're interested, the full review is in my LJ. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Kelley Armstrong's EXIT STRATEGY

Happy Reading! :)

*** = I know this book isn't urban fantasy or paranormal romance, but it is written by KELLEY ARMSTRONG, who does write urban fantasy, and it's got such a fantastic heroine that it's a shame that Kelley Armstrong fans might miss this. If you don't mind NOT having fangs, fur, or fey, and just want an excellent heroine with a solid mystery, read it. :)