Magic on the Hunt

Magic on the Hunt
Devon Monk
Penguin, 2011
368 pages
 
Allie Beckstrom and her lover and Soul Compliment, Zayvion Jones, have returned from Death - wearied and beaten, but alive. Though perhaps not for long - an ally in the Authority, the group who determines how magic is used, tries to kill them; the head of the Authority is kidnapped; and three magical prisoners have escaped from the most secure prison in the world. When allies become enemies, and enemies are not who you think they are, it's no wonder that even the leaders of the Authority are under scrutiny by their superiors.

Based in an alternate version of Portland, Oregon, the Allie Beckstrom novels are fast-paced, high-action reads from beginning to end. For readers new to the series, I would recommend starting at the beginning with Magic to the Bone, as each novel continues the story from its predecessors.

Book Count: 25 read, 175 to go!

Storm Front

Storm Front: Book One of the Dresden Files
Jim Butcher
Penguin, 2000
384 pages

Meet Harry Dresden - Private Detective and the only Wizard in Chicago. Wizarding is hard business when almost no one believes in it, but Harry's relationship with Lieutenant Murphy in the Chicago PD at least helps keep bread on the table. Most of the time.

But Harry's in for a rough time - he's been hired to find a missing person that might not actually be missing, and trying to help the police with a grizzly double homicide. Problem is, the couple was killed with strong, dark magic, and Harry is the only Wizard in town with that kind of power - something his superiors are only too aware of. Harry has mere days to find the real killer and prove his innocence before he is killed - either by his superiors, or the killer who has also set his sights on Harry's life.

I've been meaning to read these novels for quite some time as they blend my two favourite genres together - fantasy and mystery. I loved the short-lived TV show version of these novels, although I have now realized how much they differ from the novels. The books, of course, are better! I enjoy the quirky, slightly geeky Dresden, his ability to get himself into, and out of, ridiculously dangerous situations, and the wide array of supporting characters that make up his reality. Mystery lovers will enjoy the inter-woven cases in this novel, and fantasy lovers will enjoy learning how a lone wizard can survive in modern Chicago.

Books Count: 24 down, 176 to go...

Change Anything

Change Anything
Kerry Patterson et. al.
Grand Central Publishing, 2011
288 pages (digital edition reviewed)

How many of us have set out to lose weight, conquer an addiction, or improve a relationship and failed. How many of us have blamed that failure on the lack of willpower? Yup. Me too. More than once!

Patterson and his cohorts, however, argue that willpower is just one, rather small aspect of what keeps us from changing things in our lives, and it is not genetically given. So willpower is not our answer, it's a trap. What does affect our ability to make changes in our lives? Both our motivation and skill level in three areas: personal, social and structural. If we can understand these aspects of our situations, we can change them!

Quite honestly, I do not read non-fiction very often. My life is non-fiction, I would like to escape occasionally, thank you very much! I picked up (downloaded, actually!) this book for a session at a conference I attended this month and was pleasantly surprised by its contents. Based on years of research in the United States, I found the book to be both informative and inspiring. If you are looking to change something in your life, this book is worth reading - if only to get another perspective on what you are intending to accomplish.

Book Count: 23 down, 177 to go.

Legend

Legend
Marie Lu
Penguin, 2011
336 pages

June and Day both live in the Republic, but that is where their similarities end. June is the daughter of a highly regarded family and has entered into the military to serve the republic that she so strongly believes in. Day's family lives in the slums and has already survived an attempt on his life by the Republic even though he is but 15. Thrown together after June's brother is murdered - seemingly by Day - the two opposites find out how truly similar they are, and how the Republic is far from what either of them imagined.

While this is a decent dystopian teen novel, Legend pales in comparison to the works of Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins, and Scott Westerfeld. This first novel in the series certainly sets up an interesting model of our future, but one that seems to be made piecemeal of the futures we've been shown by other authors. A fun read, but not as engaging as it was hyped up to be.

Book Count: 22 down, 178 to go!

Courting Darkness

Courting Darkness
Yasmine Galenorn
Penguin, 2011
336 pages

Camille D'Artigo has a problem - several, actually. Demons are trying to break the seal between worlds so they can take over Earth, and only she and her sisters have a chance of stopping them. Her fae father has disowned her for joining forces with the Earthside fae Queens. And her father-in-law intends to kill her. After he breaks her - body and spirit.

While darker than the previous novels in this urban fantasy series, no character is stronger than the half-human, half-fae Camille. With the support of her sisters and husbands (yes, she has three - common for fae), even these horrific trials can be overcome. I love these novels for the ease in which you can relate to the three sisters. For although they are half fae, it seems that their hearts are just as strong and as fragile as a human's. If you enjoy a little darker fantasy, give this series a try with its first novel, Witchling.

Book Count: 21 read, 179 to go...

Cat's Claw

Cat's Claw
Amber Benson
Ace, New York, 2010
320 pages

Calliope Reapers Jones has another problem. After facing the betrayal of her older sister in the series first book, Calliope finds herself in a race against time to find the lost soul of an ancient Egyptian man. At stake: her freedom and soul - not to mention the lives of her younger sister and her father's assistant! But Callie is Death's daughter, and with that comes some responsibility, even if all she wants is a new pair of shoes...

While I really enjoy Benson's novels (they are quirky and fun), by the end of the second book I was hoping for a little bit more character development by way of Calliope. The girl just needs to suck it up and get on with accepting the fact that she is stronger than she thinks, and needs to do something proactive with that strength rather than reacting to hurdles thrown her way every day or two. I get that life (and death) is difficult - for some more than others - but the character needs to do  some serious growing up! I do intend to read the next book in the series, however I'm hoping for a vast improvement from this second book. 'C'mon, Benson - I know you can do it.

Book Count: 20 read, 180 to go.