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Grave Sight (Harper Connelly Mysteries, Book 1)

Charlaine Harris

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 119 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

A Great New Mystery Series - She Finds Dead People 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

A Grave Sight is a well-written mystery that surrounds a young woman, Harper Connelly, who has special powers in discerning the location of dead bodies as well as the cause of death. Harper gained these powers after being struck by lightening. She is aided in her pursuits by her stepbrother, Tolliver Lang, who extends empathy and support as needed.

The story of individuals who live through being struck by lightening is such an interesting topic; I had been unaware of the impact such an event can have on an individual. I found the mystery of the murders in this story to be well concealed in that I was not sure who the perpetrator(s) were until very close to the end. There are no red herrings; more like a large list of equally culpable suspects. It is much fun to read. Only one small complaint - the story could have used just a little bit of comic relief, macabre though it might have been, to lighten the grim load that Harper and Tolliver carry and the storyline in general.

I am looking forward to Book 2 in the series, A Grave Surprise.

Editorial Review:

Harper Connelly has what you might call a strange job: she finds dead people. She can sense the final location of a person who's passed, and share their very last moment. The way Harper sees it, she's providing a service to the dead while bringing some closure to the living-but she's used to most people treating her like a blood-sucking leech. Traveling with her step-brother Tolliver as manager and sometime-bodyguard, she's become an expert at getting in, getting paid, and getting out fast. Because for the living it's always urgent-even if the dead can wait forever.

Summer Knight (The Dresden Files, Book 4)

Jim Butcher

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 78 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

An amazing novel 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Summer Knight is by far the best novel of the Dresden Files. Not only does it continue the overall plot of the series, but it has a fascinating and interesting plot within the novel. The war between the two fairy realms is interesting. I think this is the most creative work I have read by Jim Butcher. Gone are the hard to believe, out of nowhere scenarios. In this novel the actions are believable within the concepts of the novel. Bravo! I really enjoyed this novel. If you are a fan of the first three novels then I encourage you to read Summer Knight.

There has been a murder and a transfer of power is at hand. Whether the Winter or Summer fairies emerge victorious will determine if there is endless winter or endless summer on earth. It is my favorite novel of the series.

Far From the Enchanted Woods 5 out of 5 stars.
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As this book opens, Harry Dresden, Chicago's only wizard, is deeply depressed. For months, he has struggled to find a cure for his girlfriend Susan, bitten by a vampire at the end of book 3 of the Dresden Files. He's let everything else go, including paying the rent and taking a shower, but he's no closer to finding a solution. Little does he know that life is about to get worse. It starts with a rain of toads in Lake Meadow Park south of the Loop and then, to cap off a really crummy day, the new client in Harry's office is Mab, the Winter Queen of Faerie.

She wears a really hot power suit and moderately high heels.

Jim Butcher's the real wizard. From the White Council of Wizards meeting in the McCormick Convention Center to a deadly battle with a foul chlorofiend (plant monster) in the chain link enclosure at Walmart, Butcher enchants with the magical adventures of a wizard who, when the chips are down, taunts his foes with Roadrunner "beep, beep" noises.

Other than that, this is your typical noir, wise-cracking-detective-with-attitude murder mystery set in Chicago. Lots of violence and the occasional werewolf or changling assistant. This book is WICKED good fun.

Editorial Review:

Private detective/wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden is suckered into tangling in the affairs of Faerie, where the fate of the entire world-and his soul-are at stake.

Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 4)

J.R. Ward

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 199 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Best one so far 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This was the book I couldn't wait for once I started the series, since I thought Butch and Marissa's interludes were the hottest thing in the first book, even though they only had a few pages in Dark Lover and the two of them never even got close to having actual sex. Butch is the most interesting of the male leads to date, being a human with human vulnerabilities, and a desperate need for acceptance and purpose in his life, a tough outsider who brings in an outsider's slice-of-life perspective. The banter between him and the brothers crackles with offhand humor and the story of his progressive integration into the Brotherhood shines a fresh light on the society.

The openly homoerotic overtones of Butch's relationship with Vishous are an interesting departure from the previous novels and from traditional romantic fiction in general.

Rehvenge develops into a fascinating character in his own right, so his book will be one to watch out for. Meanwhile, one is almost tempted to pity the Omega, who is clearly attracting a very unreliable class of Lesser in recent books.

Having rooted for Butch as the token human in the Brotherhood's circle, I do find it somewhat questionable that in this series (and in paranormal novels in general) being "merely" human is consistently depicted as an inferior state of existence. Does a hero have to be literally superhuman these days to captivate the reader?
Another caveat is that the female characters in the BDB series generally seem to lack the depth and strength of their male counterparts, which is a bit of a shame - but then, some of those heroines are "only" human, so maybe it makes sense after all.

Editorial Review:

Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard-living ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world-to engage in the turf war with the lessers. His heart belongs to a female vampire, Marissa, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. And if he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers.

But fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, he's found by a miracle, and the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him.

Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, Book 2)

Patricia Briggs

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 147 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Wonderful Series 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I picked up the third volume of the Mercy Thompson series in the library and loved it. I picked up another of her books through Amazon and realized that I loved that book too. So I bought all three of the books in this series so I could own them and read the series from the beginning.

I expected the first two books to be less well written than the third one, but I was wrong. All of the books in this series, and the related Alpha and Omega series are very well crafted. And reading the series from the beginning made a lot of things that I had not quite understood in my first reading of the third book a lot clearer.

This is really a review of the series as a whole. She has built a universe focused on Werewolves, although the main character is not one, but something else somehow not quite related. Mercy is a very strong female character, dominant although she doesn't seem to realize it. In the underlying story arc she is trying to find her own place in a very dangerous world, and also choose between two very dangerous men.

Each of the books in the series has a complex plot, moving through its own story while simultaneously moving through the multi-book arc.

Editorial Review:

Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places-and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.

But this new vampire is hardly ordinary-and neither is the demon inside of him.

Kiss of Midnight (The Midnight Breed, Book 1)

Lara Adrian

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 76 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell’s deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night—or this man—is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed—a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.

Lucan Thorne despises the violence carried out by his lawless brethren. A vampire himself, Lucan is a Breed warrior, sworn to protect his kind—and the unwitting humans existing alongside them—from the mounting threat of the Rogues. Lucan cannot risk binding himself to a mortal woman, but when Gabrielle is targeted by his enemies, he has no choice but to bring her into the dark underworld he commands.

Here, in the arms of the Breed’s formidable leader, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction, and the darkest pleasures of all. . . .

Death Masks (The Dresden Files, Book 5)

Jim Butcher

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 49 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

An amazing novel 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This was a well written novel by James Butcher. The plot was a little weak, but the characters were strong. I like the detail he creates about his villains. But saying that, I wonder if the chief and most powerful demon of the fallen would be willing to undertake this action. So the characters are interesting and exciting, but I question their motives and likelihood to commit the actions in this story. Additionally, the end of the novel has an interesting twist that affects the follwing novels. I liked this novel, but this series is starting to annoy me. I feel the individual strengths of the novels are declining while the overall series is very interesting.

This is the best analogy to describe how I feel about the series. These novels are like a 1 hr show on TV; they are good enough, but not great. People pay forty dollars a month for cable and don't expect anything really good to be produced. They want something entertaining and they want it to be good enough that they look forward to the next episode. That describes the majority of this series. When I read the first one, it was like a movie at a theater. People pay a premium to watch it in theaters because they expect it to be great. So these are good novels, but they don't live up to their predecessor.

Editorial Review:

Second in a new Dark Age trilogy! With the mighty Steel Wolf clan behind her, Anastasia Kerensky plans to seize the planet Northwind, but Ezekial Crow and Tara Campbell are prepared to repel her invasion-and decide the fate of a world.

Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, Book 7)

Jim Butcher

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 100 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Fast-paced, action-packed and witty, a T-Rex of a ride! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Fast-paced, action-packed and witty, a T-Rex of a ride!

First, it starts off with an uncomfortable moment between Harry and Murphy. She's asked him to water her house plants during the weekend ~ while she's in Hawaii with none other than Kincaid. While Karrin deserves a vacation, Harry wishes it wasn't with Kincaid.

To make matters worse, he receives a note from Mavra, a vampire from the Black Court, the vampire that previously tried to kill him. She has pictures of Murphy doing things a cop isn't supposed to be doing while helping Harry and Kincaid, and if Harry refuses to do Mavra's bidding, she'll send the pictures to the police. Harry can't let that happen, and he has only three days to find what Mavra's looking for - all without help.

However, Mavra isn't the only one looking for the Word of Kemmler, a book written by Kemmler himself, a powerful necromancer, that had been taken out ages ago by the White Council. For necromancy is the worst kind of magic, and to use such magic is to break the laws binding all wizards.

Between saving Butters's butt and and fighting off zombies, Harry has to find a way to stop the other six necromancers all wanting what Mavra wants - all of Kemmler's powers. But Harry can't do that job alone and finally calls in the White Council to help, only to find out what three-quarters of all the Wardens have been eliminated by the Red Court. How did the Red Court know where to hit? Is there a traitor among the Senior Council? And why are the necromancers looking for the Word of Kemmler now, of all times? Captain Luccio, the head of Wardens, desperately needs the help, and Harry becomes a Warden, something he never thought he'd accept. But will Harry find the answer and the power to stop what's about to happen? One can only hope.

And true to his word, Harry does.

Action-packed and fast-paced, this novel is a joyride. For three days, there is fight after fight, question after question, all with very little results until closer to the final battle. And just when you think it's hopeless, Harry uses the necromancer's magic against them, with a T-Rex of all things (and I swear, it was the best part of the book!) to fight the good fight.

And just to make matters more difficult, Harry has his own inner battles to fight as well, along with wanting to tell Lasciel (a Denarian from a previous novel) to take a hike and not being able to. Yes, he needs her help, but the cost would be astronomical, and it's a cost he doesn't want to pay. But without any kind of help from her, he knows, deep down, that he won't be able to get the job done.

Along with his witty comebacks and remarks making this reader bark out with laughter, it's darn near impossible to put down any of the Dresden Files novels and not think about them. An excellent read for sure, it has everything that I crave in a good book: mystery, action, suspense, magic, feelings, wit and inner turmoil, all wrapped up together. This is definitely a series for the paranormal/supernatural/sci-fi/fantasy lovers out there who love a good book. High recommendation!

Editorial Review:

The USA Today Bestselling Author's new Dresden Files novel...finally in paperback-and soon to be a Sci Fi Channel movie!
Filled with kickass adventure and supernatural fireworks, Jim Butcher's Dresden Files novels have been compared to Harry Potter. Now, Harry Dresden must save Chicago from black magic and necromancy-all in a day's work for the city's only professional wizard.

Touch the Dark (Cassandra Palmer, Book 1)

Karen Chance

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 134 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Over enthusiastic author bogs down w/ too much plot 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I wish that the author has shown a bit--okay a lot--more restraint in
the plotting of this book. As it is, there is so much going on in
this book that is hard to take in. In this first book alone, there is
more than enough plot for an entire series.

Not that the story or the supernatural world that Cassandra lives in
isn't interesting, quite the opposite. But as a reader, I din't get
to enjoy it very much because I was constantly being crammed with
plot, plot, and more plot (except for the abrupt and extremely
graphic--and long-- sex scene that seemed very out of place given the
tone of the rest of the book).

I would have liked to become more slowly immersed into the world
rather then getting thrown in and never being allowed to come up for
air. I would have read the rest of the series if the former had been
true rather then the latter, assuming that the graphic sex scene
hadn't been included. Oh well.

Editorial Review:

Like any sensible girl, Cassie tries to avoid vampires. But when the bloodsucking Mafioso she escaped three years ago finds Cassie again with revenge in mind, she's forced to turn to the vampire Senate for protection.The undead senators won't help her for nothing, and Cassie finds herself working with one of their most powerful members, a dangerously seductive master vampire- and the price he demands may be more than Cassie is willing to pay.

Proven Guilty (The Dresden Files, Book 8)

Jim Butcher

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 94 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Another intriguing Harry Dresden adventure 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Book 8 in the Dresden File series; another fine addition to Jim Butcher's ongoing series featuring wizard/detective Harry Dresden.

Something unusual is happening at a local horror film festival and Harry is asked to check it out. From there Harry, Murph, Bob (everyone's favorite, well OK mine at least, libidinous skull), Thomas and Mouse (his dog) go from bystanders to main combatants as they delve into the ever expanding 'Horror' situation.

This is my 4th Dresden novel and it continues to use the same simplistic format that has worked well with the rest of the entire series. The outline of this story is identical to the previous books; Harry gets involved with an unusual occurrence, Harry discovers an underlying sinister plot, Harry faces astronomical odds against survival, and finally Harry saves the day. But instead of a rather boring rehash, each new work brings something fresh to the table that provides an unexpected, pleasant revelation of sorts.

Conclusion:
Basically, I like Harry and the host of other characters that Jim Butcher has produced in this entertaining series. The story is fun, fast paced and keeps those pages turning. And for light read, who could ask for more than that.

Ray Nicholson

Editorial Review:

The White Council of Wizards has drafted Harry Dresden as a Warden and assigned him to look into rumors of black magic in Chicago. Malevolent entities that feed on fear are loose in the Windy City, but it's all in a day's work for a wizard, his faithful dog, and a talking skull named Bob...

Blood Rites (The Dresden Files, Book 6)

Jim Butcher

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 58 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Ties of Blood 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book opens with a trademark Harry Dresden move: fleeing a burning building. It's the fault of the giant monkey demons who are hurling napalm pooh. Harry races to his car, which has been eaten by mold demons...With a chortle of laughter, the reader settles in for another wild ride in Chicagoland as imagined by Jim Butcher.

Harry gets to live every boy's dream: he's hired to help out on the set of a porn picture because the director thinks someone has cursed him. In previous books the bad guys popped up with such monotonous regularity one could mark one's page with them. There's more focus and a greater sense of urgency to this plot.

BLOOD RITES is the sixth in the series but it is the first to link strongly to the previous books and the first to explore Harry's past. Harry was given a little more depth in book five, but in this book, without any break in the action, Harry learns things he didn't know and confronts unpleasant truths about his mentor Ebenezar McCoy. I don't want to give any spoilers so all I will say is that Harry helps out his half-brother and gets adopted by a puppy. The ending is solid and as happy as anything ever gets for Harry, but certain elements provide great foreshadowing and sent me racing down to the bookstore to get the next one. Thanks, Jim!

Editorial Review:

Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, takes on a case as a favor to his friend Thomas-a vampire of dubious integrity-only to become the prime suspect in a series of ghastly murders.