Re-read Review ~ Storm Front by Jim Butcher

TITLE: Storm Front
AUTHOR: Jim Butcher
COPYRIGHT: 4/1/2000
TYPE: urban fantasy
PAGES: 322
SERIES:  Uh YES
1. Storm Front
2. Fool Moon
3. Grave Peril
4. Summer Knight
5. Death Masks
6. Blood Rites
7. Dead Beat
8. Proven Guilty
9. White Night
10. Small Favor
11. Turn Coat
12. Changes
13. Ghost Story

REASON FOR READING: Uh duh I got Ghost Story and its been too long so I decided to re-read to refresh my memories LOL

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

Harry Dresden--Wizard
Lost items found. Paranormal investigations.
Consulting. Advice. Reasonable rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, Parties, or Other Entertainment.

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the "everyday" world is actually full of strange and magical things--and most of them don't play too well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a--well, whatever.

There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things start to get... interesting.

Magic. It can get a guy killed.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:

First and foremost this book reminded me of how much I love thee Harry Dresden, and Bob, and Murph and well hell the whole gang! This book introduces us to Harry and how he is the only wizard openly practicing in Chicago. It helps to set the stage and introduce us to Harry’s world. Crap it even reminded me that Murph and Harry didn’t always have an unshakeable trust and friendship that in the beginning it was actually hit or miss.

This book also introduces us to the dark side of magic and what can happen if magic is used in the wrong ways. I have to say it was a great first book and really gives you a good feel for Harry and why he has made it to 13 books AMAZING and now it has inspired a re-read of the whole series so I’m off to check out Fool Moon because I do not own this one or that one LOL but pretty much all the others.  

Oh side note for the Dresden books: ALWAYS remember people you never know when they are going to pop back in later and be important as I have discovered over the years LOL



Challenges:
Out Do Yourself Challenge
Re-Read Challenge

Re-Review ~ Unshapely Things by Mark Del Franco

TITLE: Unshapely Things
AUTHOR: Mark Del Franco
COPYRIGHT: 1/30/2007
TYPE: urban fantasy
PAGES: 305
SERIES: Yes first in a five book series so far

REASON FOR READING:
I apparently read this the first time in September of 2007. Since I had the next ones in the series I thought I should re-read it in order to remember for the next books.

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
In the alleys of the decrepit Boston neighborhood known as the Weird, fairy prostitutes are turning up dead. The crime scenes show signs of residual magic, but the Guild, which polices the fey, has more "important" crimes to investigate and dumps the case on human law enforcement.


Boston police call in Connor Grey, a druid and former hotshot Guild investigator-whose magical abilities were crippled after a run-in with a radical environmentalist elf. As Connor battles red tape and his own shortcomings, he realizes that the murders are not random, but part of an ancient magical ritual. And if Connor can't figure out the killer's M.O., the culmination of the spell might just bring about a worldwide cataclysm

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
For some reason the first time around I was absolutely madly in love with this book. I thought it was awesome. Since my second reading of this book my thoughts have changed. I thought it moved really slowly in parts. I felt like a lot was being set up and a lot of history was being told.

Now that I’ve said all that please keep in mind it could be because this was a re-read so I might have been remembering the book over and over again. I did enjoy the characters I did enjoy the mystery aspect. I liked that Connor Grey reminded me a lot of Harry Dresden but not so much that I was rolling my eyes and constantly comparing him to my Harry.

I liked that Connor had something wrong with him something that took him from being SUPER powerful to an almost human like state. And he had a good group of friends that stood by him and helped whenever possible.

What I didn’t like is how whinny he came off sometimes. Poor me, I can’t do this, wow I was so powerful and now I can’t do anything. It got a little old after a while and I wanted nothing more than to reach through the page and shake him. I am glad that eventually he learned that while he didn’t have all the power he did have some uses.

The mystery was good enough that I couldn’t remember who did it which is because I usually remember things like that but for some reason this time I just couldn’t and that was nice. It’s also a big fear when re-reading that I might remember everything and thus not enjoy the re-read. Once I got to the middle part I was back on track and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? This will depend on the second book if I enjoy it I will keep the series if not I will put it on the giveaway list.

Would you recommend this book? I do think so far this series is pretty good. If you like the Harry Dresden books then this will be right up your alley



Challenges:
Re-read Challenge
Out Do Yourself Challenge

Reviewing Next:
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley

Review ~ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

It’s Harry Potter errr week here at Sara Is Reading What and since we’ve reviewed Deathly Hallows Part 1 I thought I would catch you up on my review of book 4 and 5

TITLE: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

AUTHOR: J. K. Rowlings

COPYRIGHT: June 1, 2003
TYPE: YA Fantasy
PAGES: 870
SERIES: yes
1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

REASON FOR READ: I wanted to re-read the books before movie 7 and then I got sucked in.

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
The fifth hefty installment to J.K. Rowling's renowned Harry Potter series takes a uniquely psychological and intensely dark turn, bringing the boy wizard at odds with his own identity and friendships as he continues to fight He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Now fifteen years old with four Voldemort battles under his belt, Harry feels frustrated about the growing public skepticism about the Dark Lord's return. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Magic is also voicing its doubt, and all of Hogwarts comes under the watchful eye of an oppressive Ministry representative. Despite the additional problems of looming O.W.L. exams and Hagrid's inexplicable absence, Harry's main preoccupation is his vivid dreams that take him to places -- and make him witness events -- that horrify and intrigue him. These dreams provide a shocking clue to his very existence, and when eventually they lead Harry to confrontation, the wizard must cope with a tragic death and a telling prophecy about his future.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
I have to admit this is my Favorite book out of the series so far. The first time I read through this series I was more of a fan of the Goblet of Fire. This time I have changed my mind. Harry is growing up he isn’t perfect and well everyone around him who knows him sees it. He’s more selfish, his immaturity really shines here, and his frustrations as a teenager suck you in. I really feel that this is the book that Harry can fully grow into his own and we as the audience get a sense of what is to come. Honestly after this book I didn’t think that the chosen one was such a great thing.

THINGS I LIKED:
I love that Harry is becoming the man he is suppose to be. That being said Ms. Rowlings kept him a teenager by making him feel left out, forgotten, him against the world, selfish thoughts even though he thought he wasn’t being that way. Harry to me became more like a real 15 year old boy instead of the poor boy who lost his family.

I love the Order and discovering who is in and who isn’t. Learning about the first time that Voldemort came and how they barely managed to survive. To me this helps us understand the real danger out there.

I loved how Ron and Hermione became even better friends with Harry sticking with him through all the doubt that the magical world had. They were doing everything they could to make him not feel alone. They took the laughter and ridicule too even though they didn’t have to. They really proved to Harry and us no matter what they are with him through it all.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
Everything I disliked about this book was more like I hated how everyone doubted Harry until he proved it kind of things. Nothing is wrong with this story there are parts where it drags. Parts where I wanted to shake Harry and tell him to get over it and well parts where I wanted to stand up and yell at people making fun of Harry. But, there was nothing over all wrong with this story its still a favorite of mine and one I am sure I will re-read again.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? This is a keeper for me

Would you recommend this book? Yes I would recommend the whole series.

Challenges:
100+ book challenge
Re-Read Challenge

Reviewing Next:
I Dream of Genies by Judi Fennell

Re-read Review ~ Heir to the Shadow by Anne Bishop

*New review posted in Purple*
TITLE: Heir to the Shadow
AUTHOR: Anne Bishop
COPYRIGHT: 1999
TYPE: Fantasy
PAGES; 496
SERIES: Yes this is the 2nd in the trilogy
My review: Daughter of the Blood

REASON FOR READING: Loved the first one couldn’t pass on the 2nd

SUMMARY: {From Goodreads}
In Heir to the Shadows, Jaenelle's vampiric, adoptive father, Saetan, and her foster-family of demons shelter her. To restore her memory and emotional balance, they move to Kaeleer, where Jaenelle befriends the kindred--animals with magical and communicative powers--and gathers a circle of young Queens. She also heals Lucivar, Daemon's half-brother, who offers a brother's love and a warrior's fealty. As she recovers strength and memory, Jaenelle resolves to restore Daemon and cleanse Terreille.
Bishop subverts readers' expectations; the "darkest" powers reside in virtuous characters, demons and vampires are kindly, and Jaenelle's adolescence is more comically normal than horrific. Her vibrant characters and descriptions will keep readers hooked, anxiously awaiting what promises to be a riveting conclusion.
THOUGHTS/OPINION:This book was just as dark as the first and had a little more story line that was easier to follow. We know that Daemon has gone mad and thinks that he’s the one that rapped Jaenelle. *FYI I really hate that 8 years of his life was wasted the thing that sucks the most is his own brother sent him down the spiral path by listening to what an evil corrupt queen told him and taking it as truth. OMG I wanted to throttle him!! We learn that this isn’t true. Everyone is treating Jaenelle with kid gloves b/c of the rape and she knows something happened but can’t remember which equals that she can’t remember Daemon either so he goes on lost in the Twisted Kingdom (madness) for a couple of years. I understand the need to protect the one you love but really you waited almost 8 years to let her discover the truth on her own? SERIOUSLY?!?! Did you think that would be better for her? To know that this whole time the one person she loved the most was lost all because she wasn't around to help?

Also it takes Jaenelle about 2 years to come back herself from the Twisted Kingdom during which she fixes the part of her that is broken. Also in this book we learn that Lucivar is alive and eventually comes to serve the woman he has always thought of as Queen. *Wow can I just say how emotionally wrenching this was to read. Lucivar thinks that his Queen is dead by his own brother's hand no less and decides its time to break free. But why does he want to break free to destroy himself on the final run for all warriors. And boy does he and let us not forget the fact Jaenelle healed him completely which had to have taken a lot out of her! That just went to prove how much of Witch was in this little girl.
We also learn that a lot of Jaenelle’s friends that she made as a child are very powerful witches and warlords which will come in handy at the end. Without giving too much away for a second book I thought this was just as good as the first if not better. It answer a lot of questions. Gives a better look at our characters and shows us where the story is heading. Everything a good 2nd book should do. *this is a basic 2nd book in a fantasy trilogy which means we set everything up for the final. The hero or in this case the heroine has face one great obstacle only to discover many more lined up for her*

Things I enjoyed:I really enjoy watching Jaenelle come into her own. She was violated as a child and survived and *the sheer fact that Ms. Bishop showed all of the horror only to show us the good was reassuring* Ms. Bishop showed it wasn’t easy, it isn’t easy and she is still trying to cope with what was done. She still gets angry enough to destroy, she still hurts, she still has nightmares but most importantly she isn’t giving up on herself or her powers. Jaenelle is becoming the woman we all want her to be in this book and I think that it shows a nice balance between her pain and her love for those around her. *seeing Jaenelle fight through this was heart-wrenching, I was crying, laughing and at times angry with her. Everything she had to deal with up to the point of defending those she loved and then to turn around and be tricked once again by the very people she should trust shows how strong of a character she was. She did it all and not just b/c she was witch but because she was Jaenelle!*

I also love how Ms. Bishop made sure to give Jaenelle a nice group of friends and support system that a lot of people don’t normally receive. Because of this Jaenelle is able to move on and learn how to cope with all the horrible things that are happening around her. *Jaenelle was surrounded by strong men who loved her but didn't treat her as just a mere child. She had strong females that didn't allow her to wallow or go to far and she had a strong Father figure that kept her grounded when she needed to be. This entire combo made Jaenelle into a woman you could respect and admire. I really think had I lived in this world Jaenelle would be one I would serve willingly and one I would want to be friends with.
Another thing I enjoy is the fact that Ms. Bishop has made Jaenelle this unlimited power but hasn’t made her power hungry and the reason she isn’t is b/c of all the horrors she witnessed as a child. This is good. Usually this would be unbelievable b/c as they say absolute power corrupts absolutely but this time I can believe it didn’t. *Jaenelle or witch had the chance to disappear within herself and that choice was tricked out of her by D in the last book. And yet when she finally came too she didn't want to destroy everyone in fact she did just the opposed and continued to help those in need. Like the kindred who really did need a champion to step up and defend them from the corrupt Queens. Seriously that part in the story was HORRIBLE I almost died I was crying so hard. Those poor animals.
Things I didn’t care for:There are very few things I didn’t care for in this book. One of those is the world building that I have grown to love. Ms. Bishop has made such a complex world that its hard to keep up with all the different creatures and people. *Second time around and I still couldn't keep straight the 3 Queens and their males and who all come from different parts of the world and they all look different. I think that a good dictionary or encyclopedia would be helpful LOL* In this book alone we are introduced to the court that Jaenelle will pick and that’s 12 people/creatures with names and different cultures. Then add to it you are being introduced to more and more and more it’s just hard to focus on the story and the rich world all at once.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping *Yes still keeping it and will re-read yet again!*

 

Re-read Review ~ Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop

*New review/thoughts in Purple*
TITLE: Daughter of the Blood
AUTHOR: Anne Bishop
COPYRIGHT: 1998
TYPE: Fantasy Romance
PAGES: 416
SERIES: Yes the first in a trilogy

REASON FOR READING: Everyone rants or raves about this book and I thought *shrug* why not join in.

SUMMARY: [from Goodreads ]
Anne Bishop's debut novel, Daughter of the Blood, is like black coffee--strong, dark, and hard on delicate stomachs. Within the Blood (a race of magic-users), women rule and men serve, but tradition has been corrupted so that women enslave men, who seek to destroy their oppressors. Female children are violated before they can reach maturity; men are tortured and forced to satisfy witches' sexual appetites.

Bishop's child heroine, Jaenelle, is destined to rule the Blood, if she can reach adulthood. Her power is hidden; her family believes her mad. Saetan, High Lord of Hell and most powerful of the Blood males, becomes Jaenelle's surrogate father and teacher. He cannot protect her outside Hell, where he rules. She refuses to leave Terreille, risking herself to protect or heal other victims of violence. Can Daemon, Saetan's estranged son, keep her safe from the machinations of the evil High Priestess? Or will he lose his battle to control his destructive urges and endanger her?
THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Okay at first this book confused the hell out of me literally. I should mention that I tried reading this book the first time in the Urgent Care where I was working so it's no wonder it confused the hell out of me. Secondly this book opens with a vision in a world I didn't know yet. However, after saying all that I think that it started right where it needed to. I couldn't figure out what was going on. Why this was so important and how the hell one 7 year old could mean so much to so many people. After a while I finally caught on to this complex world the Ms. Bishop has created. Warning: this is not a book to read in spurts you need to have time to sit down and fully enjoy her imagination and story line. And what an imagination it is. HOLY COW to not only create this vivid world but the characters who all have different features, different places they live, different customs. OMG her head must have been swimming while writing this.
Warning 2: this is not a story to read before bed your dreams will be very dark. This is actually a book that many have had a hard time getting into with all the darkness and violence that surrounds the main characters. Seriously up until the very very end this book makes you cry out in pain at what they are all put through. Warning 3: LOTS and LOTS of violence in this story that will either turn you off or if you stick with it help you understand this violent world and why things are the way they are. I'll admit I'm the freak of nature who likes violence b/c I will believe the story line better. The easier the characters have it the more I tend to roll my eyes and pull away. The more they suffer the more I'm invested. It is worth the violence if you can handle it.

Things I enjoyed:
there were quite a few things I enjoyed about this book that others didn't. I have heard people complain that Janelle was this Mary Sue heroine that grated on their nerves. While I personally found her refreshing. Now I'll be the first to admit that she does come off a little innocent when you first me her but COME on she's 7 and she's been told her whole life that everything she believes isn't real and that she isn't good enough b/c she can't do basic craft. So when she tries to help those out in need its out of a longing to belong and a need to help others b/c she can. Living in the time period she did surrounded and violated the way she was she still managed to keep some innocence around her. In her world she managed to keep the happiness and good that they need in a future queen. Had she given in to the darker urges this book would have been done and over with in a couple hundred pages. And really quite boring had this happened. The fact that she could depend on those around her to help her keep this happiness is a great thing.

As it is she is going to grow into a powerful woman if she can survive. I also enjoyed the men that surrounded her and made her appear to be the Mary Sue type. They loved her, they are and were willing to lay down their lives for her and they understood why her innoncence was so important. And all they wanted to do was keep her pure so that others wouldn't abuse her and so that she could turn into the woman she needed to be. They appreciated seeing a being that wasn't corrupt, a person that would fight with honor not fight to gain strength or greed. Because of this she made the King of Hell bow before her.

His sons who have been dealt a fate worse than death fell in love with her goodness and vowed to do whatever it took to keep her alive. This is key b/c together they could've destroyed the evil in their lands for a while but it wouldn't be enough. They lived knowing that one day they would be with a Queen who deserved and respected them.

I also enjoyed the fact that Ms. Bishop didn't hold back. She showed us a world so ugly, so repulsive that it almost made me feel dirty to be reading about it and unable to stop it. She made me feel anger and hurt but at the same time I felt that all would be righted if only we could get the proper Queen to power. I felt as if I was one of her subject just wanting her to get to the proper place to help clean up this world. And OMG did she take long enough for it to happen LOL but oh it was so worth it!

That's how powerful of a writer Ms. Bishop is.

Things I didn’t care for:
the thing I didn't care for was the same thing I respected in the book. The violence and the way the little girls were treated. I'm sure you can figure out what that is so I won't go into details. It was very hard to get past these parts, it was hard to continue to read without getting angry but I managed. Barely even the second time around I found myself getting angry at what these little girls had to suffer and how they were treated out of fear. The whole idea of breaking a person on purpose before they get "too" powerful nearly sent me on a soap box I wouldn't get off of. And because I managed and worked through the hard emotions I discovered that the book was richer for it. Could I have done without the violence? yes however, it was needed to show a richer world.

Would I recommend this book? Yes I would highly recommend the first and I will let you know about the rest. In fact anytime someone ask me what book I should read I suggest this series to them. Although half of the time they hand it right back LOL

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping Yeah this didn't help to clean out the TBR shelf at all. In fact I want them in Hardcover LOL

Re-read Review ~ The Shadow Queen by Anne Bishop

OLD REVIEW in black new thoughts in Purple

TITLE: The Shadow Queen
AUTHOR: Anne Bishop
COPYRIGHT: 2009
TYPE: Fantasy
PAGES; 448
SERIES: oh yeah
1. Daughter of the Blood
2. Heir to the Shadow
3. Queen of Darkness
4. The Invisible Ring (need to read)
5. Tangled Web (currently Reading)
6. Dreams Made Flesh (read 2 of the 4 in this anthology)
7. The Shadow Queen
8. Shalador's Lady (coming out real soon!!!)

REASON FOR READING: I fell in love with the trilogy and had to read everything that has to do with the characters I’ve grown to love (Since the newest book is about this story with Cassie and Grey I thought I should re-read it to catch up that and b/c I just rec'd this book in the mail!)

SUMMARY: {From goodreads}
Dena Nehele is a land decimated by its past. Once it was ruled by corrupt Queens who were wiped out when the land was cleansed of tainted Blood. Now, only one hundred Warlord Princes stand—without a leader and without hope.

Theran Grayhaven is the last of his line, desperate to find the key that reveals a treasure great enough to restore Dena Nehele. But first he needs to find a Queen who remembers the Blood’s code of honor and lives by the Old Ways. The woman chosen to rule Dena Nehele, Lady Cassidy, is not beautiful and believes she is not strong. But she may be the only one able to convince bitter men to serve once again

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed catching up with J and D. I loved seeing S & L and learning where they were at in life. Aymless has a review posted that I tend to agree with. While I enjoyed reading and catching up with old friends their story tended to interfere with the new story revolving around Gray and Cassie. Whom I totally adore and what to know more about, I felt their story was rushed at the end and could have been a totally separate book from the others. (My thoughts are still the same I throughly enjoyed this book. I did feel as if D and J took up a lot of the story simply b/c that is who we know in the series the best! Really though they could've left that out and focused more on Cassie's story it was interesting enough to stand alone.)

Things I enjoyed:
Like I stated above it was really nice getting to see where the old friends where in life and seeing little flashbacks here and there of their lives previous to the trilogy. However, I would have liked either a book about them or a separate book. Or I would have even enjoyed another short story book like Dreams Made Flesh to catch up.
I liked seeing Cassidy and Gray interact and felt there wasn’t enough of that interaction. I loved watching Gray struggle with his past to be the man that Cassidy needed in order to heal herself and I felt that in a way that was missing b/c we kept going back to D & J’s relationship.
I did however, like how all the men from Sadi and Lucivar as well as the other warlord princes interacting with Cassie. Showing her how she should be treated as a Queen but never letting her get to big of a head. However, knowing Cassidy that wouldn’t have been a problem she was damaged not in the same way as Gray but still hurt bad enough that she needed healing too.
(I loved watching Grey advance from a hurt scared child into a Warlord Prince. I really did enjoy the dinner scene where Grey explains that he has scars to Daemon and Satean and they understood. It is true had Grey not been tortured Theran would be completely over shadowed by him and I am beginning to think that is already happening.
One of my favorite scenes that I didn't mention last time was the fight scene with Cassie and the non-bloods she attempts to protect. B/c of her standing up to a warlord prince she brings the people together even more. I really admire how she stood up for what's right and didn't except the fact her lower jewel might loose the battle.)

Things I didn’t care for:
I did not, under any circumstance did I, enjoy Theran he was a complete and total ass through out the whole damn book. Is seriously kept hoping Lucivar would kill him. My God what a horrible person and try as I might I just couldn’t like him. He didn’t do anything that made me want to like him and if it wouldn’t have broken up her court I would have continued to wish him dead till the end. Hell even at the end I don’t feel as if he changed all that much. If there’s another book I hope it involves his death and his replacement. BLECH
(YEP Still hate him I tried really hard to see his side and yet still couldn't. I hated that it took Cassie finding a treasure that explained to him that she was the only way his land would be cured for him to realize what an excellent treasure she was. The whole time he kept going on and on about how disappointed he was that her jewel was so light and how weak she was. Hell he didn't even help her when she was battling to protect the non bloods b/c they weren't good enough for him. I really hope in the new book that comes he grows a little more and possible matures.)

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Sadly enough folks this was a library book but it is going on the To Be Bought pile as soon as it comes out in paperback. (I um own it now so yeah for sure keeping!!!)


Anything Else: .You do not have to read the series to understand this book. HOWEVER, in order to fully appreciate the richness of the world Ms. Bishop has created you really should start at the beginning. (I sort of lied about this b/c at the time I hadn't read The Invisible Ring now that I have I highly recommend you read that one first so that you understand what treasure is being discussed and Lia and Jarod who are the main characters in the ring book. They are the ones who Grey and Therian are related to and to know the history really enriched this book for me.)