Book Review: Wicked

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is not a bad book. I feel I should preface this review with this. Wicked is an interesting book with a very different view on the Wizard of Oz. The problem is that the book is slow. It takes time to build and time to decline and at times you can feel very lost in regards to things. So it makes things complicated. So I'm kind of fifty-fifty on recommending the book. I definitely wouldn't steer anyone away from it, but its definitely not my first choice to recommend either.

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Review: Moon Called

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I had actually kind of stumbled upon the Mercy Thompson books a few days ago when I heard a book trailer playing for the newest one several times. It was something that sounded interesting, but at the time, I couldn't find the first book and several other things stopped me from actually reading book number one until very recently. And then I picked up a copy on Tuesday and dove into this new world head first. It is fascinating. An amazing adventure full of new people and theories.

Picture a world where we know about the fae. We know that they exist. But we know this on their terms. We only see what they want us to see. But underneath the surface there are still werewolves and other things that are lurking in the shadows. The main character, Mercy Thompson, is a walker. She can take the form of a coyote and resist magic and isn't pulled by the moon's urges. Her next door neighbor is a werewolf and really, that's just the beginning. Ths book is something that I highly recommend. Sure there are probably hints of romance to come, but this book is fascinating in that is not the main premise. This is a fantasy with a strong female lead ready to do what is necessary to help others as well as to keep herself strong.



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Review: Lover at Last

Lover at Last by J.R. Ward

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Another amazing book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Lover at Last brings us the story of Blaylock and Qhuinn and before those of you who don't know anything about the series go jumping to conclusions, both of the main characters are guys. And I suppose once upon a time that might have bothered me, but I very much enjoyed their story. Even if the whole time I was standing there wanting to smack and/or strangle them for their stupidity. But I think that's just normal when it comes to characters in novels. They do stupid things. They have to find themselves, after all. They have to be given time. In this case that time is just about six hundred pages which also combines the stories of several other very prominent characters.

But I do like that aspect about Ward's writing. I love that she brings in these other characters that you can follow as you are granted a fuller picture of the world that these beings occupy. And it also leads very well for setting up other books which I always look forward to.

Moments of humor offset some very heavy and monumental moments in the book. Some characters you adore, while others make you wish you could reach in and strangle them or ask them to simply reevaluate their lives. Not that it would probably do much good. The males (and females) in these books do tend to be pretty stubborn, even if it isn't in their best interest or for their own good. All one can really do on that front is shake their head, finish reading the book and then go onto the next book in the series...if it's out. And what do you know. The King is out. I believe I know exactly what I'll be reading next ladies and gentlemen.



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Review: Grave Peril

Grave Peril by Jim Butcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Alright, so I'll admit it, I still have a long way to go in this series, but I'm working on it slowly but surely. I'm getting there. In this case, alright this book took me a while which is why I'm not giving it the full five stars. But it is still an excellent book. Full of twists and turns and making you guess for a lot of the way, Jim Butcher once more draws us into Harry Dresden's Chicago where the ghosts are walking around in agony. Sure I suppose there are a couple of elements that you can probably guess, but as you meet new characters and some of the threads start to fall in place, you can't help but wonder what will happen next. Around the middle I got a little distracted I'll admit, but it was definitely worth it to get off my behind and keep pushing through.

With the right dash of fantasy, mystery, thriller, and even a dash of romance, Jim Butcher allows you to feel for the characters that he creates. He knows when to put on the pressure and when to pull back. If you haven't started the Dresden Files, you should definitely give it a chance. IT's woth the read and clearly I need to keep going. I have more than ten books to go before I catch up!



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Review: The Mummy

The Mummy by Anne Rice

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I'll admit, I haven't ever read much Anne Rice. I highly respect her and I have dabbled a little in the Vampire Chronicles Series, but this book caught my eye a while back and so I discretely bought it and then left it in to read pile which includes well over five hundred books (and probably always will). But due to a challenge I'm going through with some friends this year, I decided to take a little risk and venture a little out of my comfort zone of fantasy and romance and dig into something a little dark. It was nice to see that the book fulfilled my challenge to read a book from the year I was born (something I didn't realize until I finished it and was trying to figure out if there was ever a sequel written: We're waiting Anne...please dear God give us the sequel?)

This book was a touch slow to start off with, but I loved the constant changing of perspectives. It made it very easy to delve into the story. The various characters had their own little oddities and quirks that made them come alive. You could love them or you could hate them. But as I read the story, I loved Ramses the Damned. Ramses the Immortal. I do love him. Through the pages he charms and woos the reader fascinating and captivating even when he isn't present. It's like you can feel him coming and that is something that is impossible to ignore.

A touch dark and tragic, The Mummy is a story I recommend if you enjoy romance, historical, horror, or thriller. It has a touch of everything for everyone. Throw in a solid plot and characters that are wholly fallible and utterly relate-able no matter the year that they were born and you have a book that is sure to thrill and entrance.



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Review: Darkfever

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Alright so I'll admit, this is a book that I'd been putting off reading for a while. And that probably had to do with the fact that I originally read the Highlander Series and I wasn't sure how everything would translate over and so I put it off and put it off. And then I decided that this year, I was just going to take a chance. I was going to give it a try and see how things worked out. And honestly, I'm really glad that I did. Despite being featured in the romance section of about every bookstore I've ever seen, this book doesn't dwell very heavily in that area, but rather delves into the lore and mythology which Karen Marie Moning started to build in the Highlander books.

And I adore that.

It brings a kind of richness to the story and to the world and it gives you a fuller appreciation for what Miss Moning has been building all of these years. I'm a little disappointed with myself that I didn't take the chance on these books sooner. They're certainly worth it. With a touch of mystery, loads of magic, and a fair bit of sexual tension lacing the pages, Darkfever was certainly not what I expected, but it was that in the best sort of way. And I will admit it, I can't wait to read more about Mac and Jericho in the rest of the series!



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Review: Persistence of Memory

Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Another wonderful fantasy presented by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. I discovered this particular author quite by accident several years ago when I picked up the book <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30335.Demon_in_My_View">Demon in My View</a> in the library. Since then, I've read everything by her that I can find with the Persistence of Memory being my latest acquisition. The story of a seemingly normal girl...who just happens to suffer from schizophrenia and a vampire over five hundred years old. This story is definitely anything but normal. Wonderfully crafted and exciting, I was pleased to find that few of my guesses were ever right. This book had me absolutely hooked from beginning to end.

Filled with a touch of romance, a hint of adventure, and loads of magic, this is a quick read which will leave you feeling very satisfied.



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