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The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes

Neil Gaiman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 129 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Not quite what I expected 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

After reading some reviews and being told this was in the Pantheon of graphic novelizations, I figured I would give it a shot.

I think what I have learned is that I like the idea of graphic novels, but when push comes to shove, I prefer to actually read a good book instead.

This collection (Vol 1) is OK, but I just couldn't justify spending close to $100 to get all of the rest of these and read the whole thing.

Thus, this review is a warning to those in my shoes who aren't familiar with the concept. Don't buy all of them at once... Get one, then decide.

Editorial Review:

"Wake up, sir. We're here." It's a simple enough opening line--althoughnot many would have guessed back in 1991 thatthis would lead to one of the most popular and critically acclaimed comics of the second half of the century.In Preludes and Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman weaves the story of a man interested in capturing the physical manifestation of Death but who instead captures the King of Dreams. By Gaiman's own admission there's a lot in this first collection that is awkward and ungainly--which is not to say there are not frequent moments of greatness here. The chapter "24 Hours" is worth the price of the book alone; it stands as one of the most chilling examples of horror in comics. And let's not underestimate Gaiman's achievement of personifying Death as a perky, overly cheery, cute goth girl! All in all, I greatly prefer the roguish breaking of new ground in this book to the often dull precision of the concluding volumes of the Sandman series. --Jim Pascoe

Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Book 1)

Laurell K. Hamilton

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 462 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Good, not what I expected.. felt a little watered down 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I came across this series and decided to give it a try. I ordered the first four books. This first book left me scratching my head in certain areas.

For example, parts of this book read as though it was the second in the series. It seemed like they would reference something that happened in the past and give you a quick up to speed as to what they were talking about and then move on from there. Something you would see in a second or third book to try to catch the reader up to date. I even went back and made sure I had the right book.

Characterization:

Overall the heroine is labeled as a strong "tough as nails" kind of gal. This I liked. She wasn't whiny and she was very straight forward. I immediately took a liking to Anita Blake. You don't really know alot about her past as it's never explained. Some parts are referenced very briefly as I've said before then forgotten, like we should know where she got that scar, or who this person is and how they came into her life already.

The main villian in this story is a child master vampire who is over a thousand years old. The first thing that came to my mind when it was said she was a child vampire, was Claudia from Interview with the Vampire. From then on that's who popped in my head everytime this child was in a scene. There were several other side villians all working together, but even though they seemed like a big deal to Anita, one even from her past, they were snuffed out very quickly at the end and had little importance in the outcome of the story.

There are a few different characters that are introduced in this book, yet I didn't feel like I got to see them develop or even learn anything about their personalities. It was pretty much "This is _____, he does this" Then they would move on.

Romance:

None. This was kind of disappointing to me since I thought this was a paranormal romance series. I suppose I was wrong. No one to blame but myself there.

Plot:

Decent. I felt it had great potential, but it felt very rushed at the end. Everything came to a head in the last five pages and was quickly solved. The most powerful child vampire went down too quickly and easily for how powerful and scary she was made out to be.

Overall:

I gave it three stars, because I felt like it was missing something. Which I understand it was the first book of the series, yet I felt like it didn't give me the information I was looking for right away. It was rather short and I felt it could have been a bit longer and the characters introduced at a slower pace with some more information of the past given. I felt like I was reading cliff notes on what the book should have been. Perhaps I judged too harshly. Maybe that's why there are so many books in the series. It could be that all of the past information in told in the remaining series. Yet, why make 16+ books of little info when you can write half as many longer and better written books is beyond me. Maybe it's just a way to get more money.



Will I read the other three? Yes. I bought them might as well read them. Perhaps they will get better with time.

Editorial Review:

Published almost ten years ago, Guilty Pleasures marked the debut of a writer who was destined to grow from cult favorite to a major bestselling author. Now, for long-time Anita Blake aficionados and newfound fans, Guilty Pleasures makes its hardcover debut. Readers will learn how Anita Blake started raising the dead-and killing the undead.

And how she met Jean Claude, the master vampire destined to become not only her biggest nemesis, but her greatest lover.

Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 5)

J.R. Ward

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 294 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

If you loved Z's story, you'll ADORE V's!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I was honestly worried that books 4 and 5 in this series would decrease in romantic quality given many of the reviews and criticisms I'd read. I didn't need to worry at all! These two books work together wonderfully to explore the relationship between Butch and V as well as giving them the time and opportunity to find the love that will heal them both. V is similarly tortured as Z was and that internal shame, conflict and sense of self-loathing is one of the things that really got these 2 brothers deep in my heart and hoping they would find the woman who could see the man behind the scars and restore his sense of worth. Jane is the woman who has the brains and bravery to meet V on an equal footing, despite his Dom tendencies. Don't let references to V's BDSM activities scare you off this book, it's really not as graphic as many erotica books dealing in this arena that I've read. It's even pretty tame compared to many romances of that bent. But it's not tame in terms of steamy scenes, it's HOT and completely in character for both hero and heroine. There's also much to be learned in this book about the world Ward has created and several characters' stories are nicely advanced and developed without sacrificing the primary love story between Jane and V. An immensely satisfying read!

Editorial Review:

The ruthless and brilliant brother Vishous possesses a destructive curse and a frightening ability to see the future. As a member of the Brotherhood, he has no interest in love or emotion, only the battle with the Lessening Society. But when a mortal injury puts him in the care of a human surgeon, Dr. Jane Whitcomb compels him to reveal his inner pain and taste true pleasure for the first time-until a destiny he didn't choose takes him into a future that does not include her...

Grave Peril (The Dresden Files, Book 3)

Jim Butcher

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 86 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Butcher serves it up again !! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

If your a fan of the Dresden files you will love this one, if your not you might like to try it. True it is a bit off the wall but it is also loaded with quick wit and humor and enough characterization to make you care about Dresdan and the people he works with and against. I loved it !
Penny

Editorial Review:

Harry Dresden's faced some pretty terrifying foes during his career. Giant scorpions. Oversexed vampires. Psychotic werewolves. It comes with the territory when you're the only professional wizard in the Chicago area phone book.

But in all Harry's years of supernatural sleuthing, he's never faced anything like this: the spirit world's gone postal. All over Chicago, ghosts are causing trouble--and not just of the door-slamming, boo-shouting variety. These ghosts are tormented, violent, and deadly. Someone--or something--is stirring them up to wreak unearthly havoc. But why? And why do so many of the victims have ties to Harry? If Harry doesn't figure it out soon, he could wind up a ghost himself . . .

Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1)

Ilona Andrews

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 127 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Disappointed in main character 1 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I picked up this book because of it's high reviews. I read the first few chapters.. and then started skimming, hoping Kate would be less irritating. Strong, confident heroines are my favorite sort of protagonist but Kate was.. too bitchy, too kickass, too independent, too awesome at wielding her named phallic symbol. Too much of a stereotype. It feels like she's trying too hard to be an anti-hero and ultimately, just coming across as false and smug.

The alcohol, sex, and gore all seemed rather forced in an attempt to be edgy and raw.

I love fantasy/paranormal/scifi literature and I'm glad that so many people enjoyed this book -- I really wanted to find a new author and series to follow but it just didn't work out for my personal taste. Perhaps the high reviews skewed my expectations -- I thought it would be old school Blake, Harrison, Briggs, maybe even a female Butcher's Harry Dresden.

Editorial Review:

Mercenary Kate Daniels cleans up urban problems of a paranormal kind. But her latest prey, a pack of undead warriors, presents her greatest challenge.

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 523 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

B+ 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Featuring the combined writing of two of fantasy's most revered authors, Good Omens had a lot to live up to. Luckily, their styles meshed very well together, providing a narrative that was both sarcastically witty and full of heart. Introducing us to two wonderful characters - an angel and a demon, both of whom are drawn up flawlessly - and a dozen other minor characters, Gaiman and Pratchett give us a humorous take on the apocalypse; an original and highly conceptualized feat that is not altogether perfect. Slow in parts, sometimes meandering to a fault, and images that become monotonous after they are used many times over, the novel is, essentially, a giant wink at pop culture and religion in the modern world. Satire is a strong word, and funny too soft. The authors found that lovely middle ground - a gentle, nudging poke. All of the characters are well formed; the characterization is quite developed. Just don't expect big battles or page-turning adventure...the meditations on good vs. evil, and the other themes of religion-based fiction round out the book to a fine conclusion.

Editorial Review:

According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner.

So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture.

And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist . . .

Fool Moon (The Dresden Files, Book 2)

Jim Butcher

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 108 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Everything you ever wanted to know about werewolves ... and then some! 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Harry Dresden is a hapless, down on his luck wizard. In fact, he's the only licensed wizard in the Chicago phone book. Business isn't exactly brisk so from time to time he acts as a consultant with the Chicago Police Department when the cases drift out of the mundane and into the realm of the paranormal. When Karrin Murphy, one of Chicago's finest, is called upon to investigate a series of murders in which the victims appear to have been viciously mauled by a pack of ravenous animals, she knew it was time to call on Harry's unique skills. With the able assistance of his libidinous and wildly amusing skull-friend, Bob, Dresden quickly finds himself up to his amulet encircled neck in the mythology of hexenwolves, shape-shifters, lycanthropes, werewolves and loup-garous.

"Fool Moon" is an enjoyable novel that almost defies genre classification. While Harry Dresden assumes the role of the angst-ridden, hard-boiled detective with the self-sufficient, anti-authority attitude reminiscent of a John Corey or Harry Bosch, he's also a bit of a laughable bumbler. We've got fantasy, blended with comedy, the paranormal, cozy mystery and thriller. Dresden also cautiously but very temptingly treads on the edges of hot and torrid animalistic sexuality by having his well-endowed female protagonists do much of their heavy breathing and shape-shifting in the moon-lit altogether.

As with any venture into the paranormal, a considerable suspension of disbelief is required. But the willing reader will reap abundant rewards - strong character development; gritty, realistic, easy-flowing, natural dialogue that has lots of lightweight comedic moments; good guys and bad guys that will evoke strong reactions; smiles, chuckles and laughs throughout; a new supernatural universe complete with rules governing the use of magic and an over-riding White Council, the government overseeing the appropriate use of magic as it were; a convincing glimpse at the criminal mind's twisted interpretation of honour and respect; and an enjoyable tale that will provide a few hours of pure entertainment.

Toward the end of the novel, I began to think that Mr Butcher was pushing his luck a little on the length of the novel. Frankly, a bit of judicious editorial pruning would have made for a shorter novel with a higher ability to sustain suspense and interest throughout. But, except for this forgivable weakness, Jim Butcher looks like he has created a lovable enjoyable series with a bucketful of fans, myself included.

Highly recommended.

Paul Weiss

Editorial Review:

Could a werewolf be loose in Chicago? Common sense says no. The grisly evidence says yes. So does Harry Dresden. And with his weird connections, he should know....

Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1)

Jeaniene Frost

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 93 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Move over Anita... 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This being the first book in a series, Halfway to Grave has a few growing pains and a bit of a cliff-hanger ending, but it's still more than worth the read. The characters are engaging, it has a great plot including a social ill that is near and dear to my heart, and a lot of room for more. So on with the show.
Catherine "Cat" Crawford has been different all her life, although it wasn't until about six years ago that she learned just how different. The product of her human mother's rape by a vampire, Cat is of course half-vampire which has made for a difficult life. Now a young adult, instead of studying, partying, and dating, Cat spends every night in bars trolling for vamps to execute. Not only to satisfy her mother's desire for vengeance but as a way to atone for the evil that she feels makes up half of who she is, Cat is living a very lonely existence. And then she meets Bones and things get interesting. Cat bites off a bit more than she and her stake can chew when she picks up vampire bounty hunter Bones thinking he'll be a quick kill. He proves her wrong. In the end they make a deal: He'll train her to be better and she'll help him take out some big marks. Between school, training, hiding her new partnership from her mother, and her growing attraction to Bones she's got a lot on her plate. And it all blows up when she learns about Hennessey, a vampiric crime lord that Bones has been trying to take out for over a decade. Can she and Bones bring him down without falling with him? And will their new found love for one another survive her prejudice against vampires? Well, it makes for a good read!
My only small issue with this book is the occasional burst of graphic violence and sex that seem a little out of place. But then again, isn't that what vampire romantic suspense is about? I myself can't wait to get the next book, and if you like a good story and an Anita Blake style heroine that reminds you of the early days before it was pornography, then so will you.

Editorial Review:

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

White Night (The Dresden Files, Book 9)

Jim Butcher

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 129 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

White Night 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I love all of Buthcher's books. I can hardly wait for the next ones to come out. Very exciting and keeps you up at night until you're finished. Keep up the good writing! I am anxiously awaiting the next one.

The White Night...another good book from Jim Butcher 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

An action packed, Harry Dresden adventure.

This is another in the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. Butcher's hero, Harry Dresden, is a wizard/private investigator who has his own battery of unusual resources and methods of getting things done. Because Harry's 'involvement' usually leads to confrontations, there is always something happening to keep your interest; it makes it easy to read on and on, often well into the night.

In this episode, some of Harry's lesser magical female brethren have being committing suicide, or have they; enter Harry and Murph to get to the bottom of this enigma.

Butcher's tales are fast paced and fun to read. The main plot, not unexpectedly, deals with fighting the evil hordes, but there were other things about this book that I really liked. There are, for instance, sprinklings of humor (often sarcastic or cynical), some eroticism and even some profound musings regarding love (and love lost), loneliness, pain and death. I found it hard not to like and feel some empathy towards Harry; he's probably one of my favorite fantasy figures.

In addition, there are also a number of 'side' characters in this book that I really enjoyed. Especially the lecherous Bob the Skull (my type of nonentity), Elaine, Lash and Lara, each with their own unique personalities and agendas.

Conclusion:
A typical Harry Dresden fantasy adventure; action packed, fast and fun, and with the occasional, ever so subtle, deeper philosophical moments.
If you like Jim Butcher's writing style, you'll love this addition to the Dresden files.

R.Nicholson

Editorial Review:

A sensational addition to the Dresden Files adventures-from a USA Today bestselling author.

Professional wizard Harry Dresden is investigating a series of deaths in Chicago. Someone is killing practitioners of magic, those incapable of becoming full-fledged wizards. Shockingly, all the evidence points to Harry's half-brother, Thomas, as the murderer. Determined to clear his sibling's name, Harry uncovers a conspiracy within the White Council of Wizards that threatens not only him, but his nearest and dearest, too...

Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, Book 3)

Patricia Briggs

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 160 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Overall good book -- but why is sexual assault suddenly popular??? 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I really like Patricia Briggs as a writer. I really liked the first two Mercy Thompson books -- the characters, the setting, the backstories, everything is thought out and well written.

And there were even a lot of things I liked about _Iron_Kissed_, like finding out more about Zee and the fairy reservation.

But for some unknown reason, dark urban fantasy (or whatever this particular genre is called) has developed a fixation with rape. Some series seem to have escaped that, but far too many (the first book in Kate Daniels series, both the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series, others as well) seem to have some sort of contractual obligation to write in a rape or near-rape of either the main character or someone who the main character is close to and helpless to save. I'm not sure why it's showing up in so many series, if it's suddenly become a fad among writers or if somewhere there is a group of editors who think it's the next hot thing, but I personally hate it.

So, trying to not completely spoil everything, I'll say someone gets sexually assaulted in this book, and it's devastating for them, but I won't say who. Patricia Briggs does a good job dealing with it, in that the actual assault is not overly dwelt on in too much detail, the villain gets punished and there's a lot of good writing where the other characters help the victim deal with the trauma and get back on their feet. But I'll be a lot happier when urban / dark urban / contemporary fantasy gets over its fascination with this.

Editorial Review:

When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to shapeshifting car mechanic Mercy Thompson to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not. And she'll have to choose between the two werewolves in her life-whether she wants to or not.