Love in the Time of Dragons - could not continue

Love in the Time of Dragons by Katie MacAlister


I can't continue. The narrator is annoying and the story is too lame to work to follow the confusing way it is written. I'll save it for a day when I'm completely out of anything to listen to.

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Daughter of Smoke and Bone - audiobook review

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. This book is on sale at Audible right now - and I totally scored with this one!

Wow. Wow! Wow. I thought it was amazing!!!!! (5 exclamation points!)

characters: Karou, Akiva, Zuzana, Madrigal,
setting: Prague (Czech Republic) and "Elsewhere"

I liked Karou from the beginning and her friend Zuzana brought some humor and sweet human girl-friendship to the story. I am not in love with Akiva, but I cared about him. The many unique "monsters" who were Karou's family were intriguing and vividly described. I liked the way the story unfolded and glimpsed backwards. I did not love the ending, but it was fitting for a story about a world at war. Although I thoroughly loved this book, I'm left wondering if I could let it end here. Not that things are wrapped up, just that it feels so perfectly tragic.

GoodReads summary:
Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Quotes from this book:

“Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well.”

“Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there's no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.”

"For the way loneliness is worse when you return to it after a reprieve--like the soul's version of putting on a wet bathing suit, clammy and miserable."

“Wishes are false. Hope is true. Hope makes its own magic.”

"As she walked, clock towers across Prague started arguing midnight, and the long, fraught Monday came at last to a close."

“Your soul sings to mine. My soul is yours, and it always will be, in any world. No matter what happens. I need you to remember that I love you.” -Akiva

“Oh, Hell. Must. Mate. Immediately.” -Zuzana

“Hey! My body may be small, but my soul is large. It’s why I wear platforms. So I can reach the top of my soul.” -Zuzana

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Currently reading listening to:

Currently reading listening to:

 
Daughter of Smoke and Bone

UNABRIDGED

• By Laini Taylor Narrated by Khristine Hvam
• Length:12 hrs and 32 mins
• Release Date:09-27-11 4.2 stars (473 ratings)

Audible Regular Price:$18.89

Audible Member Price:$13.22 or 1 Credit

Sale Price:$5.95! ...I couldn't resist!

GoodReads Description

4.12  ·  rating details  ·  21,942 ratings  ·  4,787 reviews

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Rachel Morgan, The Hollows series by Kim Harrison

Oh how I love this series!




I can't recommend this series enough for anyone who loves urban fantasy. You can quickly get started on this series by clicking on the amazon Buy Now link below (clicking through to Amazon from this link for a purchase will support my personal book fund)

Here's the reading order for this series including the shorts (which I haven't read)

	Dead Witch Walking
	The Good, The Bad, and The Undead
	Undead in The Garden of Good and Evil--Ivy novella in the anthology Dates From Hell.
	Every Which Way But Dead
	A Fistful of Charms
	"Dirty Magic"--Mia short story in the anthology Hotter Than Hell.
	For A Few Demons More
	"The Bridges of Eden Park"-Kisten/Rachel short in the US mass market edition of For a Few Demons More
	Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel--Robbie/Rachel/Pierce novella in the anthology Holidays from Hell
	The Outlaw Demon Wails (retitled Where Demons Dare in the UK)
	"The Bespelled"-Ceri/Al short story in the US mass market edition of The Outlaw Demon Wails Also in anthology Demons, edited by John Skipp
	White Witch, Black Curse
	Ley Line Drifter--Bis/Jenks novella in anthology Unbound
	Black Magic Sanction
	Pale Demon
	Hollows Insider -- Hollows world book
	A Perfect Blood
	Harrison Anthology -- Into the Woods (October 2012)
	Ever After (Spring 2013)

Drink Deep (Chicagoland Vampires #5), by Chloe Neill

Drink Deep (Chicagoland Vampires #5), by Chloe Neill

I don't know how to review this without a spoiler - suffice it to say, this book is AWESOME! The twists were shocking, the characters endearing and real. Loved it!!! 6 stars.

AWESOME!! Vamps, Sorcerers, Fairies, Nymphs, Siren, Weres... humans with prejudices born of fear and humans with political agendas. Grief, Friendship, Loyalty, Betrayal, Mystery and Hope. This is not vamporn. This is a love story. If you haven't been drawn into this series yet, I highly recommend you get book 1 immediately!
You can buy it from Amazon by clicking on this link:

The Night Huntress Series

I LOVE THIS SERIES! 

It's definitely in my top 5 of all time. I adore the characters, the story, the witty humor, the well written love scenes - all of it!

There are 6 books in the Night Huntress Series + a spin off series (Night Huntress World) with 2 books AND AND AND Once Burned, the first book in the new spin off series (Night Prince) comes out June 26, which is TOMORROW!! I can NOT wait!!! I'm so excited (can you tell from all the exclamation points?)

Once Burned's male vampire lead is Vlad. Vlad is a side character in the Night Huntress series who I could love for his humor alone, but of course, he's hot hot hot (literally, he controls fire!)

"Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula." -editorial description of Vlad

Here is my favorite Vlad quote. It makes me laugh out loud every time I think of it! 

“Much slower, I turned around to see Vlad examining his fingernails, as if his hands weren't still ablaze in the flames that had blasted the ghoul's head off moments before.
'what the hell was that?' I gasped.

 'Premature inflammation,' He replied. 'Happens sometimes. Very embarrassing, I don't like to talk about it.' ”

― Jeaniene Frost, This Side of the Grave 

 Ah, but you can't start with Once Burned to fully enjoy what the brilliant author, Jeaniene Frost, has created for us. Well you can, but why? Why would you deny yourself the full pleasure of starting from the beginning and savoring every moment of this outstanding 9-book story?

So start with Halfway to the Grave, and start it soon! Cat will intrigue you and Bones will sweep you off your feet.... 


----- SuperMomx3 original review, May 2010 ------
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Audiobook Finished 5/26/10

Just what I wanted: Laugh out loud funny, steamy sex, a good vs. evil battle, a sarcastic-heroic-kickass leading lady, and a super-sexy male lead. Perfect. The only criticism I have is for the narrator's portrayal of Bones (the male lead). She did not pull off sexy Englishman at all. But I was able to look past it and I'm head over heals for Bones! He might just be the hottest male vampire ever! (My apologies to Edward, Eric, Bill, Jasper......)

*update - the narrator's portrayal of Bones gets better, or my imagination over rode what originally bothered me about it. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The order of how the series and its spin offs should be enjoyed are as follows:

	Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1) by Jeaniene Frost 5 stars
	One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress 2) by Jeaniene Frost  5 stars
	At Grave's End (Night Huntress, Book 3) by Jeaniene Frost  4 stars
	Destined for an Early Grave (Night Huntress, Book 4) by Jeaniene Frost   5 stars
	First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Book 1) by Jeaniene Frost   5 stars
	This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 5) by Jeaniene Frost  5 stars
	Eternal Kiss of Darkness (Night Huntress World, Book 2) by Jeaniene Frost   5 stars
	One Grave at a Time: A Night Huntress Novel #6) by Jeaniene Frost   5 stars

And this brings us to Once Burned. Look at the cover! Hot. I look forward to reviewing it for you soon! 

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I can not wait for the next Sookie book. Come on Charlaine.... hurry!

The title listed is Dead Reckoning and the synopsis is as follows …

With her knack for being in trouble’s way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte’s, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. But Sookie suspects otherwise and she and Sam work together to uncover the culprit – and the twisted motive for the attack. But her attention is divided. Though she can’t ‘read’ vampires, Sookie knows her lover Eric Northman and his ‘child’ Pam well – and she realizes that they are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, she is drawn into the plot -which is much more complicated than she knows. Caught up in the politics of the vampire world, Sookie will learn that she is as much of a pawn as any ordinary human – and that there is a new Queen on the board . . .

Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 3)by J.R. Ward
My rating: 5 Stars
This series is what I call VamPorn. The sex scenes are quite graphic.
*note to self: keep this series locked away from any kids! This is exactly the kind of book I would have hunted down as a teenage babysitter in the home of some unsuspecting neighborhood mom.

They also include more violence than I normally go for, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the characters and their relationships. The only criticism I have for this one is that the ending wrapped up at a pace quicker than the rest of the book, but I loved how it all came together and I'm intrigued by the teasers regarding where the next book will take me.

I see that there is a novella available on Amazon, but it appears it is only available in Kindle. I'm not a huge fan of reading on the computer screen, but I might do it to get a little more of Bella and Zsadist.

On to book 4 - these are great summer reads with plenty of heat, regardless of our Northwest summer weather.

_________________________________________________________

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Another captivating story that swept me away. I adore Sookie.

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