Last Breath
Morganville Vampires #11
Author: Rachel Caine
Source: Library Loan
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: NAL Hardcover
November 1, 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0451234872

With her boss preoccupied researching the Founder Houses in Morganville, student Claire Danvers is left to her own devices when she learns that three vampires have vanished without a trace. She soon discovers that the last person seen with one of the missing vampires is someone new to town—a mysterious individual named Magnus. After an uneasy encounter with Morganville’s latest resident, Claire is certain Magnus isn’t merely human. But is he a vampire—or something else entirely?

Oh Morganville,  I have missed you!  This is one of those series that just keeps pulling you in with each story the author creates.  I just love revisiting Morganville and the town to get my vampire fix!

The book starts out with the planning of Eve and Michael’s wedding.  They are trying to get the permission needed in a vampire/human marriage from Amelie while also trying to get the humans to agree to it as well.  During the process of the planning, vampires start to disappear when a new face shows up in town named Magnus.  Magnus is not human, but he is not quite vampire either.  When Claire starts to piece together who he really is, the town is already in battle and beloved characters will be lost to the fight.  While Amelie wants the vampires to run and find a new home,  Claire and her friends are determined to save their town.

I have to say that this book in the series I think is my favorite so far.  Not only did so many things happen that the reader will not expect, but the way the author changes the Point of View around was greatly satisfying.  The series has been focused mainly on Claire’s Point of View (POV), but in Last Breath we get to read from Shane, Eve, Michael and Amelie as well.  We got to see glimpses of what each character was feeling and thinking throughout the story.  The only character that I hoped she would include was Myrnin, but we never get to see inside his crazy head. Hopefully in the next book she will explore his mind as well.

If you plan on reading this book from the series, have some tissues on hand and be prepared for your emotions to be thrown all over the place.  You will cry, gasp in suspense, cringe in fear and be yelling for your favorites to win!  One of the best in the series of eleven so far!

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

Magic Burns
Kate Daniels #2
Author: Ilona Andrews
Source: Personal Purchase
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Ace (April 1, 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-0441015832

As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels knows how waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta’s paramilitary clan of shape shifters, she quickly realizes much more is at stake. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug of war between two gods hoping for rebirth, and if Kate can’t stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive.

Wow!  After reading the first book in the series Magic Bites,  I was still a little wary about getting to excited for the next books.  I was unsure since I have said before that I prefer Paranormal Romance because I want a little romantic tension with my characters.  Urban Fantasy doesn’t focus on the romance usually, but with Magic Burns the author definitely kicked in the romantic tension along the journey.

Kate proved to be more than just an ordinary mercenary in this one.  She showed compassion, strength, determination and weakness of emotions.  I was cheering for her all the way until the last word in the last chapter.  Kate definitely was a better character in this installment than the last.  I also enjoyed previous characters making an encore appearance as well.  Derek was involved more in this story which was definitely a plus!  I also thought the interaction between Derek and Ghastek was at times hilarious and I look forward to them being left alone together in a room with no holds barred.

The revelation of Andrea’s personal secret was interesting and the author handled Kate’s discovery of it great.  I loved how Kate stood by her and told her that it didn’t matter to her what that secret involved.  Aunt B even showed a little compassion and made me like her a little bit when helping Andrea when needed.  Julie was a great compliment in the character of Kate.  I liked how Julie brought out the mothering instinct in Kate, but she also had secrets of her own.  When Kate takes her under her wing, you just know that Kate would die for her if needed.

While Curran is starting to grow on me even more, I only had one problem with him in this book.  Where the heck was he for most of it?  I was disappointed in the fact that he didn’t really get any story time until the last half of the book.  I needed my furry Curran fix!  And that ending featuring Kate and Curran at her house was perfect!  I couldn’t have asked for a better ending for this book.  It made me jump up and grab the next book so I could dive back in and see what happens.

Overall I think this book was much better than the first.  Now that the world the author has created is set up and all the players have been in place, I find myself swept up in the magic and story.  I can’t wait to see what the author brings next!

“You shouldn’t provoke me.”  His voice dropped low.  He suddenly looked slightly hungry.  “You never know what I might do if I’m not fully in control of myself.”
Mayday.  Mayday.  “I shudder at the thought.”
“I usually have that effect on women.”
Ha!  “Is that before or after they pee on themselves and show you their furry bellies?”
–Kate and Curran, page 94

The vampire stared at me, his mouth slack as Ghastek assessed his options.  I took a couple of forms from my desk, put them into the vamp’s mouth, and pulled them up by their edges.
“What are you doing?”
“My hole puncher broke.”
“You have no respect for the undead.”
–Kate and Ghastek, page 117

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Magic Bites
Kate Daniels #1
Author: Ilona Andrews
Source: Personal Purchase
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Ace (March 27, 2007)
ISBN-13: 978-0441014897

Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for magic . . . 


One moment magic dominates, and cars stall and guns fail. The next, technology takes over and the defensive spells no longer protect your house from monsters. Here skyscrapers topple under onslaught of magic; werebears and werehyenas prowl through the ruined streets; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst of knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds. In this world lives Kate Daniels. Kate likes her sword a little too much and has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, she must choose to do nothing and remain safe or to pursue his preternatural killer. Hiding is easy, but the right choice is rarely easy . . .

After hearing a few other bloggers I know rave about this series, I finally decided to cave and give it a try.  The main reason I was so hesitant in reading this series is because I am not a huge reader of urban fantasy.  I prefer Paranormal Romance over Urban Fantasy because I enjoy the romance over the blood.  With everyone talking about Curran and Kate though, I figured there must be some sort of romance in the story that would make it pleasant for me to read.

What I completely forgot about in Urban Fantasy though is the roughness of the characters for lack of better word.  Kate is strong, but she isn’t living a perfect life you find in most stories.  She is a mercenary — paid to kill things — and has a serious magical boost in her veins.  This world that you venture into is filled with magic, necromancers, shapechangers and vampires that are completely different than my usual norm of reading.  They are meaner, stronger, and at times grotesque with no hint of sparkle anywhere.

There was a lot of information packed into this book and made it a little too much for a casual reader of this genre.  I enjoyed the character of Kate and her strong will. She was determined to find the person responsible for the death of her guardian.  Curran was a strong leader and was a great opposite for Kate.  They both kept each other in check and didn’t put up with the others snippy attitude at times.  Derek was fun, but I wish we could have read about him a little more.

The person I suspected of being the killer was not the correct guess on my part.  I could have sworn it was a possible love interest of Kate’s, but the author threw me for a loop and took off in another direction that I wasn’t really expecting.  I love how an author can lead you down one path with bread crumbs and then push your theories back in your face with a new path.

While it was not my favorite book,  I will say that this book captured my interest enough to keep me going with the future books.  I am curious to see if Curran and Kate will develop a bigger relationship than just friends.  I am also curious to see what the author can come up with in the next book.  A new Urban Fantasy series to add to my list!

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

The Reckoning
The Fahllen #2
Author: M. Leighton
Source: Author Submission
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: CreateSpace (November 17, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-1467956598

Carson Porter thought she’d had one of her most challenging years to date when she began her transformation into a reaper, but little did she know her battle had only just begun. Faced with changes in her boyfriend, Derek, the fear of her sister being able to steal her powers through mirrors and having to fight her every step of the way to rescue even one soul, Carson was nearly ready to throw in the towel. Only she can’t. During a visit from an angel, Carson learns that her destiny is far more important than even she realized—and far more deadly. Can she dig deep within herself for the strength and the perseverance that she’ll need to carry out her mission? And will she have to do so without Derek or can she recover the man she’d once loved so desperately?

After reading the first book in this series, I became an instant fan of author M. Leighton.  I fell in love with her writing and the characters that were presented to us within the pages of her work.  While this is classified as a Young Adult story,  adults will find themselves swept into the mystical world involving Carson and the power of reaping.

Carson is back and facing even more problems than before.  She is now gifted with the job of reaping souls for Heaven.  Add in the fact that she is also struggling to beat her sister Grey in reaping souls for evil, but she is also out to steal Carson’s powers of earth and fire by killing her.  Derek is also back in this book but Carson is having problems with that relationship as well. Derek is acting strange towards Carson and she is not sure why.  In the midst of high school graduation, old prophecies, an evil twin sisters, and an aloof boyfriend and you can imagine the struggles Carson is having to deal with.

I can honestly say that this book surpassed my expectations of amazing.  The authors writing captures you from the first page with her imaginative scenes and descriptions and doesn’t let you pull out of the fantasy world.  Carson is strong and determined which is hard to find in some young adult heroine’s.  Redemption, love, and the fight over good and evil is what made this book overcome the greatness of the previous book.  I am sad the story has ended, but the author didn’t hold back in giving the readers a conclusion worth the wild ride!

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

Bleeding Hearts
Drake Chronicles #4
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Source: Gifted
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens Books (October 3, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-1408814970

Lucy’s cousin Christabel has come to live in Violet Hill, and adjusting to the difference between life in a small mountain town and her home in the city is difficult enough. The strict curfew that Lucy’s parents enforce is the worst part. Something really dangerous couldn’t possibly happen in this tiny town. But Christabel has noticed some mysterious happenings, and it seems like Lucy, her boyfriend Nicholas and his brother Connor are all in on a secret that Christabel doesn’t understand – one that seems deadly serious. Although she won’t admit it, Christabel would love to be in on any secret with Connor Drake. But after Christabel is kidnapped by the ruthless Hel-Blar vampires, Lucy and Connor finally fill her in on all the undead drama. Together, they must find a way to stamp out the Hel-Blar for good.

In this novel we get to read about Conner Drake.  He is the computer and all around tech brother of the group.  I will admit that I wasn’t too thrilled to step back into the Drake Chronicles since my favorite brother is now taken. I was a huge Logan fan and wasn’t really into Conner in the other books.  Even though it isn’t the sexy Logan this time, I still sat down and finished this book in one day.

We also get to me Lucy’s cousin, Christabel.  She is opposite to Lucy in the fact that she would rather be sitting down reading instead of out socializing with friends.  Give her a copy of Pride and Prejudice and she is a happy camper.  When a different breed of Hel-Blar kidnap Christabel instead of Lucy by mistake, the Drake’s set out in search of her and have choices to make with the Na-Foir.

While I love the writing style of Alyxandra Harvey and her world revolving around the Drake family, I just couldn’t get into this book as much as I did with the previous ones.  I never could feel the spark between Conner and Christabel.  The writer doesn’t disappoint though on action considering the first few pages of the book jump directly into it!

While this wasn’t my favorite of the series, this series still has plenty of potential.  The writing is still great and getting better with each one along with the fact that she is including many of the characters from previous books.  The author also does a wonderful job of explaining things without going overboard in case a reader happens to read them out of order.

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!