Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire

October "Toby" Daye, a changeling who is half human and half fae, has been an outsider from birth. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the Faerie world, retreating to a "normal" life. Unfortunately for her, the Faerie world has other ideas...

The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose pulls Toby back into the fae world. Unable to resist Evening-s dying curse, which binds her to investigate, Toby must resume her former position as knight errant and renew old alliances. As she steps back into fae society, dealing with a cast of characters not entirely good or evil, she realizes that more than her own life will be forfeited if she cannot find Evening's killer.






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For those who like their faeries to be a bit on the dark side, this is a good book for you (the entire series as well I'm sure). As the blurb says, the denizens of the Summer Lands aren't entirely good or evil, though there are certainly representatives of both extremes to be found there. Toby may disdain fae society to a large degree, but she definitely knows how to navigate it and how to play by its rules when such is required. Full of human snark and sass, with more than a bit of a chip on her shoulder due to her status as a changeling as well as the specific things she's had to endure because of events in faeriedom, Toby is a refreshing character who treads that not-good-or-evil line herself.

Stroke of Midnight by Robin Danner

It’s New Year’s Eve… What’s a fairy to do?

The king of the Fairies has granted his daughter Mariel one year in Regency London before she must return to their realm to be married. Several hours before midnight on New Year's Eve, a fairy is sent to fetch her home—her childhood love, Rhys. Even though part her is glad to see the dark, handsome fairy again, she knows he’s been sent by her father to collect her. And she’s not about to give up her last precious hours in the world she’s grown to love. But when Mariel learns that her father has chosen Rhys as her husband to unite their two clans, the idea of marriage sounds much more appealing. Especially once her new husband takes off his clothes and leads her to bed…
 



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Etopia Press

This was a sweet little story, though a somewhat confusing one at times and also a bit lacking in substance. While I enjoyed the story, and liked the characters, I don't feel as though I really got to know them very much and thus never truly became invested in their tale. Still, it made for a pleasant half hour's reading.

Severed Colours by Dawna Raver

Warning: This book is not your mother's fantasy. If you thought Arik Morgaine was hot in Colour Wielders, wait until you see him now. He's had a taste of Quinn and now he'll do whatever it takes to keep her even if it means crossing the line between right and wrong. Don't let the cover fool you. This book is hot!

The epic continues…

Quinn Sinclair trusted Arik Morgaine until he betrayed her. Scared and alone, she finds herself delivered into the hands of the evil Morgana le Fay. When Quinn discovers Morgana's plans are beyond demented and seriously depraved—making life with the Changeling seem like a day at the beach—she wonders if death is a better option?

Arik Morgaine vowed he'd save Quinn no matter the price. When his well thought out plans go terribly awry, a desperate and heartbroken Arik is forced to beg the cruel Triarchia for help. Unwilling to go on without his Älskling, he answers a question that irrevocably alters their lives.

Can Arik and Quinn find a way back to each other, or will the price of saving her rip them apart forever?

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This book picks up pretty much right where the first book left off and fairly quickly clarifies the uncertain situation that existed at the end of book one. It becomes apparent where loyalties really lie, though not clear whether or not it will matter. The initial dire situation resolves itself, but just when they think they've made it through ok new complications are introduced that make the situation much worse. Sorting out those new wrinkles occupies the rest of the book.

Colour Wielders by Dawna Raver

Warning: This book is not your mother's fantasy. It's a modern story with a sexy alpha male who's tired of waiting for what he wants. Once he gets her, he's not afraid to take on the Universe to keep her. Don't let the cover fool you. This book is hot!

Behind the Faerying Mysts, hidden from Mortal eyes, is a land where gods and creatures of myth and legend dwell. And in the Mortal Realm, their Princess is hidden away.

Quinn Sinclair lives an ordinary life with her less-than-loving mother in Conifer, Colorado, clueless of her true nature. On the night of her birthday, a staggering betrayal sends her life spinning out-of-control. As she struggles to pick up the pieces, a vision of a man with haunting tourmaline-blue eyes begs her for help, and she is transported into a Magykal battle-forever changing her life.

Arik Morgaine-Demigod bad boy and outcast of the Magykal Realm-tried to avoid contact with Princess Quinn for eighteen years, not wanting to make good on an old threat. But the fates have other plans. Arik can no longer deny his growing desire for Quinn, or the need to protect her from those wanting to control her burgeoning powers. Can the two of them come together and save the Magykal Realm from being destroyed by the Darkest of Magyks?

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This book was far more than I really expected, especially given that it's the author's first novel. While it does suffer a bit of freshman-effort awkwardness at times, the depth of the worldbuilding and the intricacy of the interwoven plots shows a strong grasp of the craft of story writing even at such an early stage of her career. There are so many layers here, and characters and creatures that are familiar from well known mythologies, yet are handled in unique and unexpected ways that keep the reader guessing and slightly off balance. By the end you're still not entirely sure who to trust, and whether or not this story will make it to the sort of HEA you'd normally expect from something that is so heavily a romance story.

Warlock's Pawn by Tara Quan

Foreseeing the warlock’s destiny, Alia saves the man her sister plotted to kill. He returns five years later to conquer her city. A pawn in a battle for desert waters, Alia resigns herself to a political marriage and an empty bed. But when Duncan demands more than just her name, she chances losing her heart along with her freedom.

Determined to reclaim her kingdom, Anora parlays her body to remain at Duncan’s side. From within the Helicon court she spins her web, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Alia is all that stands between her and the throne. Her sister must cease to breathe before the warlock’s affection wanes.

A master tactician, Duncan has no qualms about making Anora his courtesan and Alia his queen. But it is Alia’s eyes that haunt his dreams, and she soon becomes his only weakness. With the perils that haunt the Helicon court, caring for the fey is absolute folly. A warlock’s love is a fatal curse, and Alia’s death will be his undoing.

Inspired by The Arabian Nights, Warlock’s Pawn is a romantic suspense replete with political intrigue, magic, and a sword-wielding alpha male.

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Liquid Silver Books

Right from the start of this book you're made aware that Alia is not a heroine that's going to need someone to save her. She'll save herself and her man, thank you very much. Though she's also not your typical kick-ass female warrior fantasy character, for she's really very self-effacing, a bit shy, and more than content to leave the spotlight to those who want it. Given her choice, she'd prefer to stay in her temple, doing her work as a priestess and healer and not get involved in the politics of the realm at all. Even though events force her to take a part in them, she still sits back and lets things unfold around her for the most part, only taking action when she must. That she is not afraid to take action when necessary, and does not hesitate to do so when the time comes, shows her strength of character.

The Mirrored Gate by Somerset McCoy

A Saturday shopping trip changes Alice's life forever, as she stumbles upon the gateway to a faerie otherworld in a department store mirror. Lost and alone in a place where dark forces are taking control, she must place her trust in the only one willing to help her, and join the fight against a phantom queen who wants to steal both of their hearts. Literally.

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Note: I received a free copy of this from the author in exchange for an honest review.

A cute story spun from equal parts fantasy, light romance, and whimsy. Patterned after Alice in Wonderland, it is still quite unique, for this "wonderland" is really a part of the Faerie realm that is a sort of mirror imaged version of London. Many familiar characters can be seen throughout, but they get blended with figures from Irish/Celtic folklore regarding the Fair Folk, and the end result is something that really only makes respectful, playful nods at the original tale then proceeds to go its own way.

Merlin's Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton

When I was yet a very young woman I threw my heart away. Ever since then I have lived heartless, or almost heartless, the way Humans think all Fey live.

Among the towering trees of magical Avalon, where humans dare not tread, lives Niviene, daughter of the Lady of the Lake. Her people, the Fey, are folk of the wood and avoid the violence and greed of man. But the strife of King Arthur's realm threatens even the peace of Avalon. And while Merlin the mage has been training Niviene as his apprentice, he now needs her help to thwart the chaos devouring Camelot. Niviene's special talents must help save a kingdom and discover the treachery of men and the beauty of love...





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A different take on the Arthurian legend, this book tells the story from the viewpoint of Niviene, a fey mage whose mother is a friend to Merlin. Through Merlin, Niviene eventually becomes caught up in human affairs, particularly those of King Arthur. Familiar events play out through the course of the story, but with a different twist to them, the true identities of some of the players, or the relationships between them, having been changed. Through it all, the writing manages to conjure up the mystical feel of the land that is part fantasy and part legend.

"Sporting Wood" by Cindy Spencer Pape

Sporting Wood by Cindy Spencer Pape
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A cute story. Thin on characterization, as these type of short stories tend to be, but the characters are given enough personality and individuality to make them more than just sterotypes. The sex is good, but not as sizzling as some. A worthwhile quick read if you're just looking to kill a half hour or so with something steamy.

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Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows...

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This book was an improvement over the last one in my opinion, as it seemed to stay more focused, and clearly was leading to one main conclusion. Sure there are still plenty of loose ends, and as many new questions raised as were answered, but a few of the nastier loose ends from previous books are taken care of finally. I can't say I'm entirely happy with how everything played out, or with some of the changes that have occurred, but some of them might well turn out to be for the best in the long run. Time will tell. Overall, a good, if somewhat disturbing and unsettling addition to the series.

• Dead Reckoning on Goodreads
• Charlaine Harris's website

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

It's all about family ...

Sookie Stackhouse is dealing with a whole host of family problems, ranging from her own kin (a non-human fairy and a telepathic second cousin) demanding a place in her life, to her lover Eric's vampire sire, an ancient being who arrives with Eric's 'brother' in tow at a most inopportune moment. And Sookie's tracking down a distant relation of her ailing neighbour (and ex), Vampire Bill Compton.

In addition to the multitude of family issues complicating her life, the werewolf pack of Shreveport has asked Sookie for a special favour, and since Sookie is an obliging young woman, she agrees. But this favour for the wolves has dire results for Sookie, who is still recovering from the trauma of her abduction during the Fairy War.


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While I still thought this book was good, I didn't think it was quite as good as some of the earlier ones in the series. None of the threats that Sookie faced in this book seemed to have quite the immediacy of the previous threats she's weathered. There wasn't the sheer terror she faced during the faery war, or the monumental scale of destruction and loss of life that she went through in Rhodes. True, she often says she's very scared in this one, but somehow it's lacking a level of believability in most instances. Perhaps because of the way she's changed given her previous experiences. Whatever the case, while I think it was still a valuable addition to the series in many ways for some of the storylines it advanced, still I found it somewhat lacking compared to some of the others.

• Dead in the Family on Goodreads
• Charlaine Harris's website

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

The vamps have been out for years, and now the weres and shifters have decided to follow the lead of the undead and reveal their existence to the ordinary world. Sookie Stackhouse already knows about them, of course - her brother turns into a panther at the full moon, she's friend to the local were pack, and Sam, her boss at Merlotte's bar, is a shapeshifter.

The great revelation goes well at first - then the horribly mutilated body of a were-panther is found in the parking lot of Merlotte's, and Sookie agrees to use her telepathic talent to track down the murderer. But there is a far greater danger than this killer threatening Bon Temps: a race of unhuman beings, older, more powerful, and far more secretive than the vampires or the werewolves, is preparing for war. And Sookie is an all-too-human pawn in their ages-old battle...



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Another good entry in the series. Sookie continues to become more and more entangled in the supernatural world, most likely irrevocably so at this point (actually that point probably came several books ago.) And along with her growing entanglement in things, so too do her emotions take more and more of a beating as she has to deal with yet another series of crises, this time some that hit a bit too close to home. It seems that each book changes her just a bit more, but I think the events in this book are going to have changed her quite a bit by the time we see her again. It will be interesting to see how she came through it all once she's had more of a chance to let the dust settle.

• Dead and Gone on Goodreads
• Charlaine Harris's website

A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris

Now, for the first time, here is every Sookie Stackhouse short story ever written—together in one volume.

Stories include “Fairy Dust,” “One Word Answer,” “Dracula Night,” “Lucky,” and “Giftwrap.”

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Interesting anthology. Most of the stories are mainly fluff - lighthearted "asides" from Sookie's main story in the books - but are enjoyable nonetheless. "One Word Answer", the third story, which tells the story of how Sookie finds out that her Cousin Hadley has died and left her estate to her, does actually provide some useful background for the book that follows it chronologically that tells about Sookie's trip to New Orleans to clean out Hadley's apartment. Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading about Sookie Stackhouse and her supernatural friends.

• A Touch of Dead on Goodreads
• Charlaine Harris's website

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

After the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina and the manmade explosion at the vampire summit, everyone—human and otherwise—is stressed, including Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who is trying to cope with the fact that her boyfriend, Quinn, has gone missing.

It’s clear that things are changing—whether the weres and vamps of her corner of Louisiana like it or not. And Sookie—Friend to the Pack and blood-bonded to Eric Northman, leader of the local vampire community—is caught up in the changes.

In the ensuing battles, Sookie faces danger, death, and once more, betrayal by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood finished flowing, her world will be forever altered.



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I really enjoyed this book, and in many ways I'd consider it the best one so far in the series. It definitely was much more of a page turner than the others have been for the most part. In some ways it reverses the order of things from previous books, in that it starts off tense and dramatic and kind of tapers off to a slow relaxed mood for the last part instead of starting slow and building to a crescendo as the others have done. Also, instead of one major, traumatic event for Sookie, she instead has to endure a series of smaller tempests that each are more limited in scope, and reach a swifter conclusion, but are perhaps more intensely traumatic in some ways because of their quick intensity. And as the blurb says, each leaves its mark on the world Sookie knows, and that world has changed in some significant ways by the end of the book. Whether this will ultimately be for the good or the bad remains to be seen.

• From Dead to Worse on Goodreads
• Charlaine Harris's website