The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett
The Desert Spear is Peter Brett’s very worthy follow-up to his excellent first novel, The Warded Man. The Desert Spear may not be quite as consistently good as The Warded Man, but it remains a strong book in its own right, more than avoiding the pitfalls of that dreaded second novel curse.
One way Brett avoids the second problem is by focusing at first on a character (Jardir) and setting (Krasia) that we were only briefly introduced to in book one.
May 18th, 2010. Bill Capossere´s rating: 4.5 | Peter V. Brett | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
Ghosts & Echoes by Lyn Benedict
I’ve never met a Lyn Benedict/Lane Robins book I didn’t like, but Ghosts & Echoes is the best of her work to date. There’s a ton of urban fantasy out there, ranging from the stellar to the egregious, but this is the kind of book I like to wave at people and say, “This is what urban fantasy can be.”
Sylvie “Shadows” Lightner is back in Miami, recovering from what she calls the “Chicago clusterf*ck” that took place in the previous novel,
May 16th, 2010. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 5 | Lyn Benedict | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Jaye Wells is getting better. Mage in Black is the sequel to Wells’ debut novel, Red-Headed Stepchild. In Red-Headed Stepchild, Sabina Kane foiled a plot by the head of the vampires (her own grandmother) and is now on the run from vampire assassins.
In Mage in Black, war is brewing between mages and vampires. Sabina, who was raised by vampires, is caught in the middle.
March 26th, 2010. Stephen B. Frank´s rating: 4 | Jaye Wells | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
In this charming sequel to Soulless, Gail Carriger brings us back to the world of Alexia Tarabotti, who now happens to be Lady Maccon. When a mysterious occurrence in London leaves vampires without fangs and werewolves incapable of shifting forms, Alexia springs into action, determined to find the source of this dangerous power. Whether or not her husband approves, she gathers her allies, rides a dirigible, is the target of assassins, and has to confront the (possibly eternal) side effects of her soullessness.
March 23rd, 2010. Ruth Arnell and Kat Hooper´s rating: 3.5 | Gail Carriger | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
Never wear your good shoes to Hell
In Cat’s Claw, Amber Benson picks up right where she left off in the tumultuous life of Calliope Reaper-Jones: office drone, wannabe fashionista, and daughter of Death himself. As the novel begins, Calliope learns that her maybe-boyfriend Daniel may not be as dead as he seems, Cerberus wants a favor in return for the hellhound puppy Calliope stole, and her parents have enlisted an eccentric “aura specialist” to train her in magic.
March 8th, 2010. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 3.5 | Amber Benson | SFF Reviews | no comments |
A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire
I was a little disappointed in Rosemary and Rue, the first OCTOBER DAYE novel, but I could see tons of potential there and looked forward to the rest of the series. A Local Habitation (2010) blows it out of the water, and blows most of the urban fantasy on the shelves out of the water while it’s at it.
In this installment, Duke Sylvester Torquill asks Toby to check up on his niece,
March 6th, 2010. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 4.5 | Seanan McGuire | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
Thirteen Years Later by Jasper Kent
CLASSIFICATION: Like its predecessor Twelve, Thirteen Years Later is a “vibrant blend of detailed historical fiction” and vampire horror. Think Bernard Cornwell meets Bram Stoker meets Anne Rice’s THE VAMPIRE CHRONICLES meets Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire.
FORMAT/INFO: Thirteen Years Later is 500 pages long divided over three Parts,
March 5th, 2010. Robert Thompson´s rating: 5 | Jasper Kent | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Dragon Factory by Jonathan Maberry
CLASSIFICATION: Like Patient Zero, The Dragon Factory is an exciting, action-packed techno-thriller in the vein of James Rollins’ SIGMA FORCE novels and 24. Instead of the Resident Evil/28 Days Later-like zombie/horror elements though, the book brought to mind 80s-era G.I. Joe and James Bond due to the villains and their outlandish ideas.
FORMAT/INFO: The Dragon Factory is 496 pages long divided over four titled Parts,
February 24th, 2010. Robert Thompson and Terry Weyna´s rating: 3.5 | Jonathan Maberry | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Hallowed Circle by Linda Robertson
Linda Robertson’s first novel, Vicious Circle, was a fun read, and its sequel, Hallowed Circle, is even better. In this second installment, Robertson spins a highly original plot (if this has been done in urban fantasy before, it was in a book I missed!), further develops her characters and the relationships among them, and as an added bonus, passes the Bechdel Test with flying colors.
Persephone Alcmedi is still reeling from the discovery that she is the Lustrata,
January 27th, 2010. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 4.5 | Linda Robertson | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
A few short weeks after Skinwalker ends, Jane Yellowrock is in trouble again. Leo Pellissier, the leader of New Orleans’ vampires, is mad with grief after the recent events, and in his madness, he blames Jane for his losses. And this time it’s not just Jane who’s in danger. Her witch best friend, Molly, and Molly’s two children are staying with Jane now, and Leo’s grudge could cost them their lives.
As if this weren’t enough trouble for one girl (and one Beast),
January 12th, 2010. Kelly Lasiter´s rating: 4 | Faith Hunter | SFF Reviews | 4 comments |
Do it! One of the best things I've read in recent years.
This reminds me. I want to read Addie LaRue.
We’re in total agreement David!
I felt just the same. The prose and character work was excellent. The larger story was unsatisfying, especially compared to…
Hmmm. I think I'll pass.