Book Chick City: June 2011

GUEST REVIEW: 'The Iron Hunt' by Marjorie M. Liu

Thursday, June 30, 2011 | Posted by Book Chick City |

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Title: Iron Hunt (Hunter Kiss #1)

Author: Marjorie M. Liu

Publisher: Orbit (UK) | Ace (US)

Publication Date: May 2010 (UK) | June 2008 (US)

Paperback: 352 pages

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Source: Review copy from publisher

Guest Review by Andrea

@viralpunk

RATING: 5/10

SUMMARY:

Silver smoke winds around my torso, peeling away from my ribs and back, stealing the dark mist covering my hands and lower extremities . . . tattoos dissolving into demon flesh, coalescing into small dark bodies. My boys. The only friends I have in this world. Demons.

I am a demon hunter. I am a demon. I am Hunter Kiss.

By day, her tattoos are her armor. By night, they unwind from her body to take on forms of their own. Demons of the flesh, turned into flesh. This is the only family demon hunter Maxine Kiss has ever known. The only way to live-and the very way she'll die. For one day, her demons will abandon her for her daughter to assure their own survival-leaving Maxine helpless against her enemies.

But such is the way of Earth's last protector-the only one standing between humanity and the demons breaking out from behind the prison veils. It is a life lacking in love, reveling in death, until one moment-and one man-changes everything. (Goodreads)

REVIEW:

‘Into every generation a Slayer is born: one girl in all the world, a chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to fight the vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness…’ OK, so “The Iron Hunt“ isn‘t Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but I couldn't help but be reminded of it when reading this. It’s like Buffy for grownups--only without Joss Whedon’s wicked one liners.

I so wanted to love this book, I’m a tattoo collector myself, and love to read anything revolving around tattoos! That combined with one of the best opening lines I’ve ever read had me believing that this novel would be awesome. The first line brought so many images to mind. It is funny, yet dark and disturbing. It had me thinking all kinds of dark, evil plot lines could grow from it. They didn’t really pan out, though the world is an interesting concept in its own right.

As good as the world turned out to be, it had so much scope for more. More, angst, darker; I was a little disappointed when it wasn’t as gritty as I thought it would be, and Maxine seemed to be a rather weak character, living in the shadow of her mother.

Maxine Kiss is a hunter and warden, the last of a long line of hunters that are there to stop the demons who slip through the veil from hurting humans (Buffy fans will see why this made me think of the show).

She was taught to hunt by her mother practically from the cradle, and upon her mother’s demise inherited five demons who take the form of tattoos in the day time making her invulnerable, and then peel off her body in the evening becoming her bodyguards and lethal fighters. From that moment on she let her training slip, let her ‘boys’ take over the fighting and became quite complacent; the demons seem to think she’s some kind of super-hunter, but this never quite comes across. The other characters carry her throughout.

I don’t want anyone to think this was a bad novel, there are some truly wonderful aspects to it, the basis of the world and the different types of demons leave room for so many possibilities. Maxine’s supporting characters are brilliant.

The demons, Zee, Aaz, Raw, Dek and Mal quickly became a bit of light relief, with their childlike glee mixed with ruthlessness. Maxine’s lover Grant is my favourite. He runs a homeless shelter, is an ex priest and can heal souls by playing music. He has a bad leg and walks with a cane, and he believes zombies can be reformed. I just know there’s more to him than meets the eye.

I was really hoping that we’d find more out about Grant, his unusual power and how he and Maxine met, but unfortunately this doesn’t happen, I suppose it could be left for later novels.

“The Iron Hunt” Had many of the elements I look for in urban fantasy, yet it didn’t seem to utilise them to their fullest. Within the first chapter, I found myself rereading the blurb and even checking the internet because I thought maybe it was the second book in the series. I’ve since found out there is a prequel short story in an anthology; this shouldn’t make much difference to “Iron Hunt”, but I think it does. I couldn’t help thinking I’d joined the story in the middle or that I was missing something vital.

Part of this could be because it’s written in first person and as a reader we only know what Maxine knows, and she doesn’t seem to know much, but part of me believes that it was Liu trying to be mysterious and not give away everything in the first novel. If this is the case, it’s clumsily done and could have been executed so much better.

I don’t expect to find out everything in the first novel of an ongoing series, where would the fun in that be? But the world needs to be set solidly. I need to gain a better understanding of the characters and their place in the world--even if it turns out to be a lie at a later date. A first novel should not have me wondering if I’m reading the series out of order.

VERDICT:

I started out thinking I was going to love this book, and although it does have moments of brilliancy, great secondary characters, and a good premise for the world, none of that seemed to mesh properly and I was left feeling like I’d missed something vital.

Read Carolyn's review of The Iron Hunt

You can find out more about the author here:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Blog

Labels: 5/10 Rating, Authors I-L, Book Reviews, Guest Review, Marjorie M Liu, Orbit, Urban Fantasy |

6 comments |

Guest Post & Giveaway with Young Adult Author, Cornelia Funke

Wednesday, June 29, 2011 | Posted by Book Chick City |

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Today I have the pleasure in welcoming Cornelia Funke to Book Chick City - the third stop on her blog tour. Courtesy of Chicken House, you have the chance to win a copy of Reckless, along with a signed book plate - so make sure you enter at the end of the post.

Cornelia is the critically acclaimed, bestselling author of Dragon Rider, The Thief Lord, and the Inkheart trilogy. Inkheart was turned into a major motion picture in 2008. Reckless, the first book in her latest major series, was published in hardback in 2010 and is out in paperback this July. Although a native German, Cornelia now lives in Los Angeles, California, with her family.

Without further ado, please give a warm welcome to Cornelia...

IN THE SHADOW OF FAIRY TALES

Cornelia Funke

Since I have been working on Reckless I have often been asked why I was tempted to use fairy tales as a basis for Jacob Reckless’s adventures. Firstly, I have to say that I never liked fairy tales. As a child they scared me and later I found them to be quite boring. They seemed always to have the same patterns: the storylines were often completely random and the heroes were cardboard characters without any psychological depth. Why, then, are fairy tales so unforgettable? Why do most of us still know who Little Red Riding Hood is, or Snow White or Cinderella? Yes, there are the Disney movies. But that’s not the reason. There are some fairy tales that would be far too dark for Disney.

The more I know about fairy tales the more I am sure that they are an almost limitless treasure chest filled with lots of uncomfortable truths about human nature; our darkest wishes and fears. They tell us tales of shamans and shape shifters; but ultimately they drive home the truth that we are just another manifestation of nature – a truth that we love to forget as it reminds us of our mortality. Fairy tales give us unforgettable images that are timeless and continue to express the pain and joy of human existence.

But fairy tales also fulfill our most ignoble wishes: for endless riches and relentless revenge. They call our mothers ‘stepmothers’ and our sisters ‘stepsisters’ to allow us jealousy and hate. Evil is always ugly and goodness is always beautiful. Fairy tales are reactionary: preserving and defending the rules of the societies that told them.

The Brothers Grimm in Germany or Charles Perrault in France wrote down the stories they heard in villages from the peasants but they changed what they heard according to their beliefs - and suddenly Little Red Riding Hood needs a hunter to rescue her, where once a few women came to her rescue. Suddenly girls are timid, vain, and wait for the prince, whereas in older tales they were fierce and independent; in much the same way, old goddesses became witches.

So, over the centuries, fairy tales have always been a strange mix of rebellion and conformity; of the worst and the best in us; of old and new. They remain a wonderfully embroidered riddle worthy of being deciphered.

Over and over again.

Thanks Cornelia!

You can find out more about Cornelia and her books here:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to Chicken House I can offer you a copy of "Reckless" (with a signed book plate) to giveaway as a prize.

This giveaway is open internationally and ends 6th July 2011.

To enter all you have to do is the following:

1. Read Book Chick City's giveaway policy

2. Fill out this form

3. One entry per person

GOOD LUCK!

Labels: Giveaways, Guest Author |

6 comments |

Giveaway Winners: 'Whisper of Scandal' by Nicola Cornick

Tuesday, June 28, 2011 | Posted by Book Chick City |

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The winners of 'Whisper of Scandal' by Nicola Cornick are...

Irene Jackson

Amanda Rutter

Alexandra Roxana Garcia

Emma @ BelleBooks

Wendy Jamieson-Price

Congratulations to you all!
To CLAIM YOUR PRIZE please fill out THIS FORM.

Note: You have SEVEN (7) days to claim your prize from the date of this post. If you do not claim your prize within this time I will then choose another winner.

Sorry to those of you who entered but didn't win, but never fear for another giveaway will be coming soon! :D

Labels: Giveaway Winners |

4 comments |

BOOK REVIEW: 'They Call Me Death' by Missy Jane

Tuesday, June 28, 2011 | Posted by Book Chick City |

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Title: They Call Me Death

Author: Missy Jane

Publisher: Samhain

Publication Date: 2009

Paperback: 208 pages

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Source: Review Copy

Reviewed by: Carolyn

RATING: 4/10

SUMMARY:

My name is Alexia Williams. In my world, North America is divided between north and south but not the way it's taught in the history books. After losing my family to the shifters, I joined the Combined Human States Army. Now I find myself on the front lines, defending the wall between my species and theirs. My mission is simple: keep the animals on their side by whatever means necessary and I'm good at it. I don't talk to them. I don't sympathize with them. I sure as hell don't admire them until one saves my life.

Andor isn't like any shifter I've ever met. He's a three-hundred-year-old golden eagle asking for help finding missing shifters who may be in my lands. I just have to decide between helping the animals or ignoring signs that my fellow humans aren't what I thought they were. But how can I help a species I hate and fear? Even if Andor makes me feel alive again? In the land of the shifters they call me Death.

REVIEW:

"They Call Me Death" is a very strong title, which means this book had a lot to live up to. It started out well, with a prologue that was pretty intriguing, but unfortunately it fell at the first chapter due to poorly thought-out world-building and unimaginative characters.

In the prologue we are told how the world became what it is; an America divided into North and South between shifters and humans. Alexia is at home with her husband and child and watches a news anchor-man kill everyone in the studio live on TV, after shifting into a cougar.

This suggests that shifters had been living alongside humans for years, taking on human jobs, living human lives. However, further along in the next few chapters the main character, Alexia, tells us how she is able to differentiate between species even in human form due to "canines having overbites" (let me point out here that in another paragraph a few pages on it states 'underbite'), "felines can't hide their teeth when they talk" and "reptilians can be spotted by their skin" - wouldn't this have been noticeable before the shifters declared war and ate their work colleagues?

There is also mention that shifters had families - human families. How is this possible? What about children? Were they born shifters and if so wouldn't the parent have noticed reptilian skin or feline teeth?

The plot is also rather thin. In a nut shell there's a laboratory where shifters are presumably being held for some kind of experimentation. Andor, a Golden Eagle shifter, thinks his daughter is being held there and needs Alexia's help. There are a few twists along the way but that's pretty much it. We are given no explanation as to why the shifters turned on humans so violently and so suddenly.

Most of the story is 'told' rather than 'shown' which makes for tiresome reading, and the author had a habit of skipping chunks of the story by adding "10 days passed", "after two weeks" or jumping to the next day. Wouldn’t it have been better to show us what happened rather than tell us in retrospect in the next chapter?

Being called "Death" by the enemy is a pretty big statement and Alexia had a lot to live up to. Unfortunately she didn't manage it and did absolutely nothing to back it up, as we never get to see her in action. We do see her, however, throwing her weight around with the guys at work. This was a little unrealistic to be honest, especially when she's only five foot eight and the guys she works with are well built and six feet tall. There needed to be more evidence as to why these guys would be scared of her and why shifters nicknamed her "Death".

Alexia and Andor's relationship happens too fast and isn't particularly explosive or toe curling. It took them only a couple of weeks to fall in love and shorter still for Alexia to trust him, even though she has a self-proclaimed loathing of shifters due to them killing her husband and child. The sex scenes were awkward and clumsy and didn't get me hot and bothered at all.

Andor's most appealing aspect is that he shifts into a Golden Eagle, which I think are magnificent birds. The author did try and express how beautiful and powerful Andor is in bird form but didn't quite manage it and therefore I didn't get a sense of how amazing he is.

Also, with just a little bit of research you can learn that Golden Eagles have a flight speed of approximately 30 miles per hour; their wing span can be up to 7 feet and they can carry prey three times their own body weight. Andor in shifter form is 6 feet tall with a wing span on 15 feet - therefore, taking all this into consideration, why oh why were Andor and Alexia running for their lives from the Alpha of the shifter divide when all he had to do was carry her and fly?

Although Alexia didn't get the opportunity to show us why shifters called her 'Death', she did have a tough-guy attitude, but her demeanour changed almost immediately when she met Andor. He kept telling her to keep behind him or wait in the other room. She even leaned into him at times like a simpering wimp! This isn't evidence of a woman called "Death"!

Another aspect I found rather strange was all the shifters seemed to speak in formal English, and yet have mixed with human society for years, blending in, pretending to be human, surely modern day speech would have rubbed off, if not then the human's around them would have found them all rather odd. Alexia starts out sounding like a modern day woman, but for some reason even she begins to speak formally:

I'm not his to command, but I may be death for you unless you explain why you're here unbidden," I replied.

Unbidden?

VERDICT:

I really wanted to like "They Call Me Death" as I am a huge urban fantasy fan, but it had a lot to live up to with such a statement for a title – unfortunately the heroine, Alexia didn't pull it off. The world building and plot needed a lot more thought and better execution. It could have done with being longer with more 'show' than 'tell'. There were too many unanswered questions and hugely noticeable inconsistencies. I was constantly niggled, frowning in displeasure and sighing with annoyance. I may be reading about supernatural beings but it still has to be believable.

However, it wasn't the most awful book I’ve ever read, but would I recommend it? No...there are far too many fantastic urban fantasy novels to be read, so I wouldn’t waste your time with this one.

You can find out more about the author here:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

This book counts towards the following BCC reading challenges:

Book #28 Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge 2011

Book #36 100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2011

Labels: 4/10 Rating, Authors I-L, Book Reviews, Reviews by Carolyn, Samhain, Urban Fantasy |

4 comments |

GUEST REVIEW: 'The Windup Girl' by Paolo Bacigalupi

Monday, June 27, 2011 | Posted by Book Chick City |

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Title: The Windup Girl

Author: Paolo Bacigalupi
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: May 2010
Paperback: 505 pages
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian
Source: Review copy from publisher

Guest Review by Andrea

@viralpunk

RATING: 2/10 - awful, want my time back!

SUMMARY:

Anderson Lake is a AgriGen's 'calorie man' in Thailand. Under cover as a factory manager, he combs Bangkok's street markets in search of foodstuffs thought to be extinct, hoping to reap the bounty of history's lost calories.

Emiko is the Windup Girl, a strange and beautiful creature. One of the New People, Emiko is not human; instead, she is an engineered being, creche-grown and programmed to satisfy the decadent whims of a Kyoto businessman, but now abandoned to the streets of Bangkok. Regarded as soulless beings by some, devils by others, New People are slaves, soldiers, and toys of the rich in a chilling near future in which calorie companies rule the world, the oil age has passed, and the side effects of bio-engineered plagues run rampant across the globe.

What happens when calories become currency? What happens when bio-terrorism becomes a tool for corporate profits, when said bio-terrorism's genetic drift forces mankind to the cusp of post-human evolution? In The Windup Girl, award-winning author Paolo Bacigalupi returns to the world of "The Calorie Man" (Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award-winner, Hugo Award nominee, 2006) and "Yellow Card Man" (Hugo Award nominee, 2007) in order to address these poignant questions.

REVIEW:

I cannot tell you how excited I was to be reading and reviewing this book. It’s been on my wish list since it hit the shelves, it’s won awards, it’s had rave reviews and I was looking forward to delving into a rich and vivid world of ‘heart thudding action sequences, sordid sex and enough speculation for two lesser novels’.

Which is one of the reasons I was so disappointed that I didn’t like it. Don’t get me wrong, the premise for this novel is amazing, and a hauntingly good idea, I just found that I had to work too hard to read it, and in the process any enjoyment I had disappeared.

It’s set in a distant dystopian future where a plague has wiped out natural food sources and only genetically made food is available. This is a great hook--I wanted to know more about this, but the opening chapter starts off with Anderson a ‘Calorie’ man combing the streets of Bangkok on the hunt for new genetic food for his company.

I think the style of “The Windup Girl” is what has me so stumped; because the storyline really interests me. I found it so hard to get into and read, mostly because of the pseudo Japanese words and made up creatures with Japanese sounding names which confused me to the point that I wasn’t sure they were real or made up for the story.

There was no explanation for the world or the food and creatures in the beginning. Nothing to explain the little terms and idiosyncrasies; nothing to make the reading journey smooth so I would slip into the story and become part of it.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want or need everything explained to me straight away, nor do I need great long winded expositions explaining the ins and outs, but I needed something extra than what I was given to help me understand the world.

I’m the first to admit that my knowledge of Asian languages, places and history is very rusty (mind the pun, those who have read this will understand!). Maybe if I had a better understanding of these things then I wouldn’t have found “The Windup Girl” so difficult to read.

By the time Emiko, the windup girl, who is as man-made as the food everybody eats, turns up in the book, I didn’t care. She’s very interesting, and how she differs from natural humans is really clever, and takes the Japanese children’s toys to a whole new chilling level, but my mind had already started to leak by then, that I didn’t get enjoyment of discovering her life and journey than I could have.

She almost reminded me of the robots in the movie AI, but a story based on the seedier side, that’s barely touched in the movie. I really can’t tell you how disappointed I am that I didn’t enjoy this.

Maybe if Emiko’s introduction was the opening chapter I would have been hooked enough to read through the parts I found difficult and not care about it so much, but because it opened with the rather clinical and unemotional Anderson, added to a world more alien than a fantasy world to me, and I found my head spinning and I was having to reread sections because I was unsure what was actually happening.

VERDICT:

To me, a novel should be a joy to read; you should forget you’re actually reading and be transported into that story. Maybe this supposedly SF literary masterpiece was just too clever for me. I know I am disagreeing with many people, but I really felt like it was written with too much self awareness and a dash of pretence. A whole lotta world and not enough world building.

You can find out more about this author here:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Labels: 2/10 Rating, Authors A-D, Book Reviews, Guest Review, Orbit, Science Fiction |

9 comments |

This week on BCC...

Sunday, June 26, 2011 | Posted by Book Chick City |

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Hello! Hope you're all having a fab weekend! We have been enjoying a mini heat wave here in the UK, which means BBQ to me and the hubster :D Yummy BBQ ribs and corn on the cob - yummy!

I have lots of great posts and reviews coming up this week, including a guest post and giveaway from young adult author, Cornelia Funke as part of her UK blog tour - I hope you enjoy :)

This Week on Book Chick City

On Monday Andrea will be reviewing science fiction novel, "The Windup Girl" by Paolo Bacigalupi.

On Tuesday I will be posting my review of urban fantasy 'They Call Me Death' by Missy Jane.

On Wednesday, young adult author, Cornelia Funke will be stopping by with a fab guest post and giveaway.

On Thursday Andrea will be reviewing urban fantasy, 'The Iron Hunt' by Marjorie M. Liu, the first book in the 'Hunter Kiss' series.

On Friday my Kitty Norville event begins! :D

On Saturday 'On My Wishlist' will be posted as usual - you are welcome to join in, just stop by and add your direct URL to Mr Linky. Click here for more info.

On Sunday, I will be posting a special giveaway! ;)

That's all folks! Hope you have a fantastic week! xoxo

Labels: This week on BCC |

2 comments |

Audiobooks Sunday: 'Dangerous' by Diane Palmer

Sunday, June 26, 2011 | Posted by Book Chick City |

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'Audiobook Sunday' is a brand new feature by BCC reviewer, Laura, who will be listening to and then review an audiobook. This feature will be posted monthly.

This month's Audiobook Sunday is 'Dangerous' by Diane Palmer

Title: Dangerous
Author: Diana Palmer
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Audiobook Publication Date: May 2010
Audiobook: 9 hours & 8 mins
Narrator: Phil Gigante
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Own Copy

REVIEW BY LAURA

RATING: 1/10 - One of the worst books I have ever read

SUMMARY

Tall, lean and headstrong, FBI agent Kilraven lives by his own rules. And one of those rules includes keeping his hands off Jacobsville’s resident sweetheart, Winnie Sinclair, no matter the temptation. Shy and innocent, Winnie couldn’t handle a man like him — a merciless man with a haunted past. And this small town may hold not only the woman he fights to resist, but the answers to a cold case that is very personal to Kilraven....

Winnie has had her own share of sorrow and senses Kilraven’s pain. Even though she tries to deny it, the gentle 911 operator feels a connection with the darkly handsome agent. When he makes the disturbing discovery that her family’s unsavory past might have a bearing on his case, Winnie is determined to help him crack it…and the ice around his heart.

As they combine forces in a dangerous investigation, the stakes rise ever higher. Winnie’s life is on the line, and she’ll need Kilraven more than ever. But if they are to have a future together, her ruthless Texan will need to confront his past and risk it all for their love. (Goodreads)

REVIEW

*Warning this review contains spoilers*

I'm not usually one for sweeping statements, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to go with it here. This has to be on the list as one of the worst contemporary romances I've read. I will put a caveat and say that some people on Goodreads have given it 4 or 5 stars so this is my personal opinion, but it was sheer grit and determination that I persevered until the end. I've read a few Diana Palmer books before and I've found them a fun and cosy.

This is the story of FBI agent Kilraven and sweet and quiet dispatcher Winnie. Winnie has had a soft spot for Kilraven for a long time, but having lost his wife and daughter in a shoot out relating to a crime he was investigating, Kilraven does not want to settle down again.

My biggest problem with this novel is that the plot was both confusing and had a lot of holes in it. The murder mystery element of the story gets incredibly confusing. There are lots of characters and sub plots running which makes it very hard to keep track. I ended up getting a little lost as to who was who, and who was a suspect.

Then there were the general plot holes. For example, I found it quite remarkable after in the early chapters Winnie comments on how much she and her estranged mother look alike, so much so that her father used to beat her for it. Then when it turns out that Kilraven has been friends and worked with her mother in the FBI for years, he is stunned to find out she is Winnie's mother. Additionally, Kilraven's brother, also in the FBI, is in charge of the investigation into her wife and daughter's murder. What about personal interest? And there are lots of incidents like this, that just do not add up.

While this book was a contemporary romance, the story would have been much better suited as a historical. Firstly, let's take the reason Kilraven and Winnie 'have' to get married. During the course of the investigation, they will be staying alone in Winnie's family home in the Carribbean. As Winnie is a virgin, Kilraven does not want to sully her reputation by staying with her. So his solution to this problem is to marry her. Of course he then adds that they can then have have a dirty weekend together and then he can just divorce her afterwards! Despite knowing that Winnie has the total hots for him too. Despite my moral objection to Kilraven's view of using and discarding Winnie. Do people really think about women's reputations like this anymore?

Then, while discussing his problems with ex-wife, Kilraven's expresses how upset he was that his wife wasn't a virgin on their wedding night. I can take the fact that in a romance that more often that not the heroine is a virgin is this is part of the formula, and actually I usually find it quite sweet. But, let's face it this is the 21st century and the author needs to treat her readers like modern women.

In terms of the characters, I found Winnie sweet and I very much liked her, but I actually ended up entirely disliking Kilraven, finding him to be a cold and selfish person. Putting aside the implausible reason as to why they had to get married. The very reason he thought it would be acceptable is pretty ghastly. Then let's look at the sex scene itself. Kilraven ends up hurting Winnie so much during their consummation that she cries all the way through it. But this is ok because he hasn't had sex for seven years and couldn't help himself and you know, he made up for it afterwards! Ugh, at this point I did actually shout at my iPod.

The narrator to the audiobook was male. I'm not sure how I feel about male narrators to romance books, or whether I just did not engage with this narrator. But he certainly didn't help with my overall problems with the book. The falsetto voice he used for the female characters was very odd.

VERDICT

I do hate giving negative reviews to books as I am conscious that this is someone's livelihood. But I'm afraid my advice here would be to save your money.

You can find out more about this author here:

Website | Goodreads

Labels: 1/10, Audiobook Reviews, Audiobook Sunday, Authors M-P, Book Reviews, Contemporary Romance, Reviews by Laura |

3 comments |

On My Wishlist (#77)

Saturday, June 25, 2011 | Posted by Book Chick City |

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On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.

This week I found a new publisher - Entangled Publishing - who will be releasing what looks like a bunch of fab urban fantasy/paranormal & sci-fi romance titles, so I thought I'd share...

This looks dark and interesting...

Break Out (Blood Hunter #1)

Nina Croft (Entangled Publishing)

Publication Date: July 2011

Genre: Paranormal|Sci-Fi Romance

Publisher Website

Summary:

The year is 3048, Earth is no longer habitable, and man has fled to the stars where they’ve discovered the secret of immortality—Meridian. Unfortunately, the radioactive mineral is exorbitantly expensive and only available to a select few. A new class comprised of the super rich and immortal soon evolves. The Collective, as they’re called, rule the universe.

Two-thousand-year-old Ricardo Sanchez, vampire and rogue pilot of the space cruiser, El Cazador, can’t resist two things: gorgeous women and impossible jobs. When beautiful Skylar Rossaria approaches him to break a prisoner out of the Collective’s maximum security prison on Trakis One, Rico jumps at the chance. Being hunted by the Collective has never been so dangerous–or so fun! (Press Release)

The cover is a bit cheesy but I like the premise.

Blood of the Demon (Demons of Infernum #1)

Rosalie Lario (Entangled Publishing)

Publication Date: Aug 2011

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Goodreads

Summary:

Keegan lives to exact revenge on the evil demon who sired and abused him. When his father devises a plan to bring on the apocalypse, he and his three half-brothers, interdimensional bounty hunters for the Elden Council, are charged with capturing and delivering their father for punishment.

Art gallery owner Brynn Meyers has no idea that her ability to read memories embedded in objects and drain people of their life force means she has demon ancestry. Unfortunately for Brynn, she’s also the key to raising an ancient zombie army, which puts her on every demon’s Most Wanted List. And no one wants her more than Keegan’s father.

Keegan must protect Brynn from his father by any means necessary, but he’ll have to learn to harness the other half of his genetics—the far deadlier, uncontrollable half—when he starts to fall for the one woman standing between him and the vengeance he so desperately seeks. The one woman he’ll never be able to resist.

I love light paranormal comedy/romance novels and this looks exactly that.

Luck of the Devil

Patricia Eimer (Entangled Publishing)

Publication Date: Aug 2011

Genre: Paranormal Comedy

Goodreads

Summary:

Being the youngest daughter of the Devil isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The days of teenage rebellion and vows of chastity made just to tick off her father are over, and now all Faith Bettincourt wants is a nice, quiet life. Unfortunately, thanks to the unexpected arrival of her demonically-downsized sister, a ditzy succubus roommate, and dear old Dad himself, Faith’s plans for a relaxing vacation spent watching reruns go up in flames.

Now it’s all Faith can do to keep the family reunion from Hell (literally) under wraps, and the angelically-inclined hottie across the hall from realizing there’s something weird about his neighbor. And, thankfully, it’s working. Until an angelic stalker shows up in a bid to steal her powers and take over the world. Forget watching reruns. With the way things are going, Faith will need the luck of the Devil just to survive until Monday.

I don't often read sci-fi romance, but this sounds pretty good.

Paradise 21 (A New Dawn #1)

Aubrie Dionne (Entangled Publishing)

Publication Date: Aug 2011

Genre: Sci-Fi Romance

Goodreads

Summary:

Aries has lived her entire life aboard mankind’s last hope, the New Dawn, a spaceship traveling toward a planet where humanity can begin anew—a planet that won’t be reached in Aries’ lifetime. As one of the last genetically desirable women in the universe, she must marry her designated genetic match and produce the next generation for this centuries-long voyage.
But Aries has other plans.

When her desperate escape from the New Dawn strands her on a desert planet, Aries discovers the rumors about pirates—humans who escaped Earth before its demise—are true. Handsome, genetically imperfect Striker possesses the freedom Aries envies, and the two connect on a level she never thought possible. But pursued by her match from above and hunted by the planet’s native inhabitants, Aries quickly learns her freedom will come at a hefty price. The life of the man she loves.

Not too keen on these type of covers, but it sounds as though this could be a great PNR...

Resurrection (Bringer and the Bane #1)

Boone Brux (Entangled Publishing)

Publication Date: Aug 2011

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Goodreads

Summary:

In one night, Ravyn’s life plunges from barely tolerable to deadly. Forced to flee the only home she’s ever known, Ravyn stumbles headlong into the clutches of a powerful demon intent on stealing her powers. Unfortunately for him, she has no intention of cooperating.

When Rhys realizes the woman he rescued from the Demon Bane is no mere human, his obligation as a Bringer dictates he protect and train her in the ways of his people. But he’s unprepared for the intense desire he feels for the fiery Ravyn. To surrender to his need may mean her death.

As the Demon Bane threat escalates, igniting terror and chaos across the realm, Rhys and Ravyn must embark on a perilous journey to unite the last of the Bringers–and explore a passion too powerful to ignore.

I have a big thing for angels at the moment, so this one definitely went on my wishlist :)

Out in Blue (Return to Sanctuary #1)

Sarah Gilman (Entangled Publishing)

Publication Date: Aug 2011

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Goodreads

Summary:

In a violent world where fallen archangels are hunted for their valuable plumage, Wren knows one thing for certain: the human woman who saved him from a poacher attack will die if she stays with him. The demon responsible for his parents’ gruesome deaths two decades ago pines for the chance to rip apart any woman who stands under Wren’s wing.

Wren doesn’t expect Ginger to stay by his side once she discovers his ability to drain life with a mere touch, yet she lingers. When an unusual talent of her own reveals the location of Wren’s father, Wren’s isolated world implodes. With the help of the demon protectors he’s sworn never to trust again, Wren risks everything to rescue his father, confront the demon who stalks his and Ginger’s every step, and claim his eternity with the most courageous woman he’s ever known.

So, that's what's on my wishlist this week - what's on yours?

Labels: On My Wishlist |

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