Club Dead: Sookie Stackhouse Series 3

Club Dead

(Charlaine Harris)

Teaser: Cozy couple Bill and Sookie have been drifting apart as of late. Bill, who has always placed Sookie on a pedestal, has became increasingly secretive and distant. The situation escalates when Bill goes missing after a mysterious trip to Mississippi. With the help of a new lycanthropic acquaintance, Alcide, Sookie goes to Mississippi desperate for answers.

Short Thought: Great sexy fun, but it slightly inconsistent with the first two novels in the series.

Expanded Thoughts: This story was bizarre, even for this series. We get introduced to a crap load of new characters, while old characters fade. Sweet Sookie changes a lot in this one. She gets a handful of new love interests, new life experiences, and discovers her darker nature.

[Minor Spoilers]

This series' central theme is the shock to the societal system that was made when the vampires decided to 'go public.' Little did we know that vampires were just the tip of the iceberg. We are introduced to the tribal 'Were' network in this novel. There are even nightclubs (hence, club dead) that cater to 'two-natured' patrons. I found that bizarre because it is inconsistent with all the 'vamp hoopla.'

Next, this novel takes a new turn when the solid pairing of Bill and Sookie starts to crumble. Bill is slowing pushing Sookie to the side, and it doesn't sit with Sookie one bit. After he runs off to Mississppi, he leaves his computer system in Sookie's closet with a mysterious database program on it. (The place in which he usually sleeps over.) Okay, I have to comment on this. Bill has a computer?! He has always been portrayed as a guy stuck in the old ways. I just do not see him as the ultra vampire techie geek who would make a program database thing that no one had ever thought to do. It just doesn't fit.

I am not going to give any more away because if you have read the first couple books in this series, you will read this one regardless of what I put on here. So just know this, the story was faster paced than normal with more twists. None of the usual minor characters are in it. (Other than Bill and Eric really.) It leaves behind most of the old developing plotlines, and replacing it with newer, more expansive ones. Despite its flaws, this novels was entertaining as 'all get out.'

Additional Notes: This is the 3rd novel in the Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris. It is also known as the Southern Vampire Mysteries.

Additional Notes: This novel does contain scenes of violence and sexual situations.

Agents of Light and Darkness: Nightside Series 2

Agents of Light and Darkness
(Simon R. Green)

Teaser: John Taylor is back in Nightside and doesn't appear to be returning to the normal world any time soon. He has taken a new job that pays as well as it is dangerous. A mysterious priest has hired him to locate and retrieve the Unholy Grail (the cup from which Judas drank). The task proves to be quite difficult and attracts some of John's most powerful enemies. Angels and Demons, anyone?

Short Thought: Off the wall detective adventure that is as twisted as it is fun.

Expanded Thoughts: What can I say? This book is corny in the darkest, most entertaining way possible. It is just plain fun and shouldn't be taken too seriously. I won't lie; I wasn't too fond of the first book. I thought it was too predictable and cheesy in a bad way. This one was much better, and borders on masterful.

There are many things about it I absolutely love. First, the settings and characters are out of this world. It is like what the world would look like if Quentin Tarantino and a posse of evil clowns took over. I can't even fathom how someone comes up with stuff like this. I thought it was pretty crazy in the first novel. The author takes it a step further in this one.

Second, I love the throwback to old gumshoe stories and film noir. I think it has a brilliant amount of cheesiness added (just like in the old movies) and takes it to the darkside. I could almost picture a movie scene with John Taylor sitting at a desk with a ceiling fan in the foreground. (And oh don't forget the trickling piano music with a hint of muted trumpets.) I feel that it was too forced in the first novel, but it was very balanced in this one.

Lastly, the actual plot surrounding the Unholy Grail retrieval was great on its own. It had twists, turn, and obstacles that built throughout the short novel. All the extra stuff just helped to bring different tones and colors to it.

I only have a few gripes. First, some of the lines are annoyingly repetitive. (...this is the nightside. ...Suzy likes to shoot people. ....people fear John Taylor. ....Alex has a poor disposition.) I just want to scream, I KNOW!, sometimes. Second, what happened to the real world? I don't think that it was ever explained. John had hidden from Nightside for years in the 'real world.' Did he just not return?

In closing, if you want a short and fun novel that appeals to your dark side, you should really check out this series. I believe Agents of Light and Darkness is just a taste of the dark and twisted fun to come.

Additional Notes: This is the 2nd book in the Nightside Series by Simon R. Green.

Additional Notes: This book contains scenes of a dark and violent nature.

Luck in the Shadows: Nightrunner Series 1

Luck in The Shadows

(Lynn Flewelling)

Teaser: Alec has been sentenced to death for a crime that he didn't commit. As his days in prison grow longer and the torture more intense, he is given new hope. One of the prisoners, a curious man named Seregil, plans to escape and agrees to take Alec with him. Alec can't wait to get out, but he fears that his new acquaintance may be even more dangerous.

Short Thought: A dashing fantasy adventure with a great mix of characters.

Expanded Thoughts: Alright, I'm just gonna shoot the 'big elephant in the room' first on this. Yes, it is true that this series' lead couple (Alec x Seregil) is MxM or yaoi. This seems to be one of the major complaints made about this series. The couple is genius though, and I don't really see what their genders have to do with anything. It enhances the brilliant story if anything else. It brings something new and bold to this genre. So, don't be fooled by angry reviewers! This is a great fantasy novel. One of the best that I have read!

So, let's discuss the main characters. First, we have Alec. As the story begins, Alec is a illiterate low class country bumpkin with very innocent and traditional view about the world around him. Next, we have Seregil. He is a thief extraordinaire with a past full of issues a mile long. While young Alec's past is a seemingly open book, Seregil's is clouded with secrecy and darkness. The two learn from each other and help each other as they are confronted with huge obstacles.

As for the story, it really was an adventure. It was like that moment on a roller coaster when your breath catches, and then WHAM! It truly was a well developed, fast-paced ride throughout. It also has all the great elements: high stakes escapes, mystery, political intrigue, thievery, coming of age, humor, and characters with whom you can fall in love.

Honestly, I can't wait for the next one.

Additional Notes: This novel contains gay relationships, violence, and mild language.

Additional Notes: Luck in the Shadows is the first novel in the Nightrunner Series by Lynn Flewelling.

Through the Grinder: Coffeehouse Mysteries 2

Through The Grinder

(Cleo Coyle)

Teaser: Clare Cosi's life is once again taken off its tracks. This time Clare founds out that her daughter is e-dating, and so she decides to sign-up to keep an eye on her. Unfortunately, it leads Clare and the Village Blend into major trouble yet again when Clare finds out that she may have just accepted a date with a serial killer.

Short Thought: Combines my two favorite things: coffee and mystery thrills!

Expanded Thoughts: I am always worried when I read the second book in the series especially if I loved the first one. I didn't need to worry with this one. It was a perfect book 2. It still had the wonderful feel of the first, but handed the reader just a little more of the life of Claire with a few more twists.

I love Claire as the main character. She is a woman that knows how to handle herself, and knows when to tell a guy off. (Especially Matteo, ha!) What I like most about her though is that she faces a lot of the problems that are relevant to women today. In this volume, she is worried sick about who daughter may be involved with and she also deals with dating woes of her own.

Don't let the lightness of this genre fool you either. The mystery plot was solid in this one. It kept you guessing until the end, and you never really knew just how in how much danger Claire was. In the story is included scenes with little snippets of the killer mind. It was great.

Also, can I just say that I love coffee? I mean I LOVE coffee. So, all the the coffee knowledge that I am gaining from these books is just icing on the cake. (A coffee cake!)

I just love it. It is the perfect contemporary, cozy, and light mystery drama.

Additional Notes: This is the 2nd novel in the Coffeehouse Mysteries by Cleo Coyle.

Relentless: Lost Fleet Series 5

Relentless

(Jack Campbell)

Teaser: After having survived numerous battles, explosions, and inside attempts to kill him, John Geary takes some much needed days to make repairs and clear his head. He is trying, with great difficulty, to decide how to precede in the last leg in this journey back to Alliance space.

On top of that, Geary must find out who the traitor is that attempted to destroy the fleet in the battle at Lakota, out think the approaching Syndics, and all the while maintaining his image with the fleet. It is proving to be increasingly challenging as Geary begins having painful flashback episodes of his last battle over one hundred years ago. If anyone can overcome all these obstacles it would be "Black Jack" Geary, and that's what scares him the most.

Short Thought: This book reminded me why I love this series. The best book in the series!

Expanded Thoughts: This novel was excellent. It totally made up for some of the crappier novels in this series. We get a lot of questions answered, real plot progress, a deeper insight into the characters, and great dialogue.

First, we finally get some answers, or at least great progress, for some of the questions raised in the previous novels. To avoid giving too much away, I will just give a little tease. We learn more about the mysterious aliens, the real situation in Alliance space, the Lakota traitor, and other things.

Second, the plot moves on. I was so worried when I read the other novels that it was all going to be set in Syndic Space doing the same things over and over. It was not so in this novel. The pace was great, and we are shown a whole new side to the story.

Next, the characters were great in this one. One of my biggest complaints about this series has been the flat characters that only have a handful of phrases. It just was a different animal in this one. Tanya Desjani was actually more than a bull-headed, Geary worshipper; she was funny, witty, and had a mind of her own. To actually see her character develop and act human was wonderful. Also, dare I say it, Co-President Rione wasn't annoying in this novel. She was actually helpful, and her political knowledge proves to be a valuable asset to the fleet. Jack Geary's character is also enhanced with the addition of PTSD. It gives him a real human side and weakness, and it more true to how a person would be after the trauma he must be suffering as an ancient outsider.

Lastly, the dialogue was great. There were jokes, catty comments, and a good flow to the conversations. (Especially between Geary, Desjani, Badaya, and Duellos) It didn't feel flat or too structured like the novels before it have. You could actually feel the friendships that have built between these people throughout their hard times. And, believe it or not, they were talking to Geary like he was a human. (Gasp!)

In closing, if you weren't sure if you should continue with this series, you totally should! This book is worth the agonizing pace of the other ones.

Additional Notes: This is the 5th book in The Lost Fleet Series by Jack Campbell.