Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine

Title: Heat Stroke
Author: Rachel Caine
Rating: 3 Stars

Review: The world building based on the use of Djinn to control the weather and other natural phenomena is very interesting. However, as in Ill Wind, the passages focusing on these elements are overly descriptive and excessively abstract to the point that they detract from the pacing of the book. 

The plot is barely existent until the halfway mark and even though the notion of Djinn being enslaved is gripping and the villainous characters are suitably creepy, it is difficult to muster any real interest in the outcome until the very end - if only the rest of the book were as good as the last few pages.  

Jo has tremendous potential as a snarky, kick-ass heroine although she hasn't quite gotten there yet. Moreover, as a Djinn, she is compelled to act against her free will, a concept that always makes my skin crawl, and she also has an annoying habit of evaluating every male character with an almost lascivious interest.  

That said, Jo's relationship with David is the highlight of the book. It might be the romantic in me but their chemistry sizzles and their emotional interactions are incredible and almost compensate for the lack of plot and problematic writing. 
Hopefully now that the world building has been established, the next installment will focus more on the story  and character development. 

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Dead Beat by Jim Butcher

Title: Dead Beat
Author: Jim Butcher
Rating: 4.5 Stars


Synopsis: In Dead Beat, Harry faces some darker ethical dilemmas as he struggles to prevent a group of Necromancers from attaining godlike powers.

Review: Despite his questionable attitude toward women and his bad habit of getting his ass kicked far too often, Harry has finally wormed his way into my heart and it looks like he'll be staying there for good.

The plot is well paced with some nerve wracking action scenes and gripping developments in Harry's relationships with both friends and foes.

Although Murphy is absent for most of the book, her presence is keenly felt throughout and it seems that for Harry absence might make the heart grow fonder. Harry and Thomas also grow closer and their sibling banter leads to numerous laugh-out-loud moments. Secrets are revealed concerning Bob the Skull's past and Harry's contentious association with the Wardens in general and Morgan in particular comes to a head.  However, the most endearing character is definitely Butters, the timid little coroner with a huge heart who shows that courage can be found in the most unlikely of packages and at the most unlikely of times.

Finally, this review cannot come to an end without mention of Sue, whose contribution to the story cannot be overstated - you just have to read the book to find out why.

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River Marked by Patricia Briggs

Title: River Marked
Author: Patricia Briggs
Rating: 4 Stars
 

Synopsis: Away from the pack on their honeymoon, Adam and Mercy encounter their most dangerous foe yet and Mercy may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Review: To begin with, River Marked is a departure from the other books in the series and ardent fans may be disappointed as the familiar cast of secondary characters is set aside in favor of a completely different group. While Stefan, Warren, Ben and the rest of the gang are missed, the introduction of new characters and concepts related to Mercy's Native American heritage and her role as a Walker is particularly interesting and adds another layer to her characterization, which has been missing up till now.

The book starts off slowly with Mercy and Adam's rather abrupt wedding, which is cute but also kind of cheesy and saccharine. Nevertheless, the story becomes more exciting once the action starts and the plot revolving around an ancient river monster feeding off humans is intense and compelling. 

Mercy and Adam are growing closer as couple and their interactions are a highlight of the book, especially their arguments and Mercy's letter at the end. Unfortunately, Ms. Briggs is still halting their relationship at the bedroom door and aside for one or two hints at intimacy, everything happens off page. If Briggs is uncomfortable with these scenes then why include a romance in the story at all - it does nothing but build up readers' expectations only to leave them unfulfilled.

The focus on Native American folklore is fascinating and the revelations regarding the identity of Mercy's father and the origins of her abilities is very intriguing although Coyote's character is a little too mysterious and enigmatic at times.

Overall, a solid addition to the series but not everyone will be pleased with the new direction.

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Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews

Title: Magic Rises
Author: Ilona Andrews
Rating: 5 Stars


Synopsis: Kate, Curran and key members of the pack travel to Europe to mediate a dispute between the foreign shapeshifters yet nothing it as it seems and betrayal lurks around every corner. 

Review: An intense and emotional ride but worth every minute.

In general, the book is well-written, the pacing flows smoothly and Andrews' trademark action and humor is there in abundance. Moreover, the incorporation of several new characters within the storyline is seamless and never distracts from the continuation of the existing plot arc.

Where Magic Rises digresses from previous installments is in the attention paid to the romance angle, which has a slight tendency to overshadow the mystery and investigation subplots. As someone who enjoys romance in her UF, this didn't bother me one iota although readers who prefer more action than drama might be disappointed.

So lets get down to the nitty gritty: Kate and Curran, who have gone from strength to strength both as individuals and as a team, hit a snag in their relationship and it seems that the Alpha couple still has some trust issues to resolve. Unfortunately, the matter is presented via an annoying and angst ridden plot device that does not necessarily present his Furry Majesty in a good light. Suffice it to say that Curran has several bad kitty moments but he more than makes up for them at the end and is completely redeemed both in Kate's eyes and my own even though his explanation is painfully obvious.

Another issue that comes to the fore is the consolidation of Kate's position within the pack. It has taken time but Kate has carved her own niche and she has her loyal friends in Andrea, Raphael, Derek and Barabas. Things are not as clear with some of the others, and the actions of one character in particular put a damper on my affection for him and troubled me much more than Curran's behavior. There are several more shocking developments but you'll just have to read to find out.

As to the mystery plot, one of the most difficult aspects of the book is keeping the different factions and agendas straight in my head. No one is what they seem and treachery lurks around every corner but the pack politics and machinations make for a compelling story and the ultimate showdown is exciting.

All in all, a gripping addition to my absolute favorite UF series. Ilona and Gordon really know how to shake things up, and Magic Breaks cannot come soon enough.

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Venom by Jennifer Estep

Title: Venom
Author: Jennifer Estep
Rating: 4 Stars


Synopsis: Gin Blanco must come out of her semi-retirement to help a friend in need escape from a sick stalker who just happens to be Mab Monroe's right hand man.

Review: Fantastic world building, appealing characters and an engrossing storyline.

The ongoing story arc is developing slowly but surely toward the inevitable showdown between Gin and Mab Monroe, and the gripping revelations regarding Gin's family and the reasons for their deaths make this conflict all the more interesting. In terms of the book specific plot, Elliot Slater is a truly despicable yet formidable villain and the manner in which he is ultimately dispatched makes for exciting listening.

On the romance front, Donovan Caine has thankfully made an exit and one can only hope that it will be permanent. Now Gin can focus her attentions on a much more deserving, and seriously sexy, Owen Grayson.

The exceptional character development is a highlight of the book. Gin is growing as a person and coming to realize that she is not alone in the world - she not only has a makeshift family in the form of Finnegan Lane and the Deveraux sisters, whose loyalty and faith in Gin is inspiring, but has also found her long-lost sister, Bria, and it will be interesting to see where their relationship goes. Gin is also allowing herself to grow closer to Owen although there is still a long way to go before she trusts him completely.

The one aspect of Gin's characterization that does need work is the use of her elemental powers, which remain underdeveloped within the story line. She has both stone and ice magic but refrains from using them to their best effect, and this distracts from the action scenes as the reader is constantly waiting for her to finally put them to good use.

All in all, the Elemental Assassin series is thoroughly enjoyable and I look forward to Gin and company's next adventure in Tangled Threads.

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Blood Rites by Jim Butcher

Title: Blood Rites
Author: Jim Butcher
Rating: 4 Stars


Synopsis: Harry is hired to investigate a series of mysterious deaths on the set of a porn film and finds himself battling against a ritualistic curse and vampires from the Black Court.

Review: It has been a slow process but The Dresden Files is finally coming into its own as a series and is noteworthy for its excellent world building, exciting actions scenes and wonderful supporting characters. Harry's relationships with Murphy, Kincaid, Thomas and Ebenezer take off in new directions and the revelations regarding his past open new avenues for exploration.

The plot is fast paced and easy to follow although it does suffer from a number of cliched tropes such as the sexpot porn star, the vindictive ex-wife and the megalomaniac villain obsessed with his own self-importance. The solution to the mystery is a little on the obvious side although there are some interesting twists and turns along the way.

In sum, Blood Rites sets up several important plot points and is a must read for fans of the series. I would, however, recommend that newcomers start with book#1 Storm Front so as not to miss out on any of the backstory.

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Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Title: Silver Borne
Author: Patricia Briggs
Rating: 4 Stars


Synopsis: At first Mercy's life seems to have settled down but she soon finds herself embroiled in new conflicts with the werewolves in Adam's pack and with a mysterious Faerie Queen interested in a fae book that has found its way into Mercy's possession.


Review: As with the previous books in the series Silver Borne has its pros and its cons.

Adam is an incredible hero, and he and Mercy have the potential for an intense and spell binding relationship. Unfortunately, Briggs fails miserably on this front as the chemistry that builds up in the first two books never comes to fruition. Any and all intimate moments between the two either fade to black or devolve into the abstract. Yes, this is UF and romance is not the focus but if the author has decided to include this element, she should make a good go of it.

Moreover, the misogynist undertones have not improved. Once again, the secondary female characters are not presented in a good light. Aurelia seems to have accepted Mercy but I wouldn't call her a friend, Mary Jo reveals her true feelings - what a cliche! And Sylvia, who has actually been a sympathetic character up until now, takes a turn in the opposite direction. I'm starting to lose hope that Briggs will write a strong and likable female other than Mercy.

As in the earlier installments, several plot threads are introduced at the outset including the mystery surrounding the fae book, the conflict within Adam's pack, Samuel's emotional issues, and the attack at Mercy's garage. Nevertheless, these all come together quite quickly and the story is the most linear and cohesive in the series thus far. Of particular note is the manner in which Mercy's problems with the pack ultimately come to her aid against the fae and the resolution of Samuel's problems, which does seem to come out of nowhere but is satisfying nonetheless (looks like there is more to Samuel's past than meets the eye).

In sum, while Mercy and gang are an entertaining bunch, my difficulties with some of the ongoing themes in the books are preventing the series from moving beyond the realm of the simply enjoyable and into the realm of the truly spectacular.

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At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost

Title: At Grave's End
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Rating: 4 Stars


Synopsis: Vampire Huntress Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband, Bones, must face their most deadly adversary yet and it is unknown whether they will come out completely unscathed.


Review:
I'm obviously in the minority but Cat and Bones's relationship is still not appealing to me. What little chemistry they had in the first two installments has fizzled out completely and now it seems like they are simply going through the motions. Moreover, it is difficult to summon up any emotional engagement with either Cat or Bones during the more angst ridden section of the book.

In contrast, the secondary characters have far more personality. Mencheres, Ian and Vlad are fleshed out well and Vlad, in particular, is very intriguing. Tate, on the other hand, needs to be sent packing as soon as possible as his character has turned into a whinny whelp. Denise and Spade get very little page time and this is surprising given that they have their own book - one expect their characters to be better developed by now.

The plot revolving around the machinations of a powerful and vengeful Egyptian vampire from Mencheres and Bones's past is solid and the incorporation of magic and zombies make for some exciting action scenes.

All in all, although Cat and Bones are not really my cup of tea, the Night Huntress world building is compelling, Frost's writing style flows and the storylines are engaging enough to continue with the series.

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Blood on Silk by Marie Treanor

Title: Blood on Silk

Author: Marie Treanor

Series: Awakened by Blood (book #1)
Next in series: Blood Sin

My rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis: An academic researching Vampire superstition in Romania, Elizabeth Silk is tricked into awakening Saloman, the most seductive and dangerous of the species. Saloman needs Elizabeth’s blood to survive but finds himself inexplicably drawn to her innocence, and the two soon find themselves on opposing sides of an age old conflict between humans and vampires. Which will be victorious?

Review: The characterization and world building are excellent, and the plot leaves you guessing right up until the end. The book contains elements of paranormal romance but leans more toward the urban fantasy genre with first-rate action scenes and an ongoing storyline revolving around the two main characters. 

The chemistry between Saloman and Elizabeth is mesmerizing and their scenes together often left me breathless. Saloman is a traditional vampire and while some readers may find him evil and repulsive with questionable morals, the fact that he is “old-school” adds a captivating intensity to his character as well as an additional dimension to the heroine’s struggle with her feelings for him.

Elizabeth is an intriguing character who must come to terms not only with the knowledge that vampires are real but with the fact that she has a personal stake in Saloman’s resurrection and the danger that he poses to humanity. It is fascinating to see her transformation from a studious academic to a fully-fledged vampire hunter.

The secondary characters are well-developed with singular identities and motivations. They are integrated smoothly into the overall storyline and never feel superfluous. 

The writing flows smoothly and it is easy to become immersed in the world Treanor has created. I particularly enjoyed Saloman's backstory and the unique explanation of the origins of vampires. Hopefully more details will be forthcoming in the next book, which is set up nicely in the epilogue.

Overall, Blood on Silk is a compelling and exciting read with provocative and thought-provoking characters and themes.

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