Snake in the Glass ( Incryptid 3.3) by Seanan McGuire

Hello to all,

                    the sunny weather reminded me that i still needed to give you my opinion on the novellas sequel to Half-off Ragnarok....as you know the InCryptid series is one of my focus this month so it was time that i shared this one with you ( but my favourite is the next one^^) so i could jump on the next book.


so Happy reading!

Publisher: Seanan McGuire

Publication: 2015

Found: on Seanan’s Website

Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: mild
Public: 18+

Source: free

 Description from goodreads :

 After New Orleans, Verity and Dominic are continuing to put their relationship through what can only be termed the ultimate stress-test: after all, there's a lot of country left to cover before they get to Oregon, and it's not like Verity is picking the most direct route. After all, she'd like him to meet her extended family before he meets her parents. Her parents are more likely to let him live if he has a few letters of recommendation.

The Carmichael Hotel in Chicago has long been a favorite destination of the Price family when they need a home away from home, and what better way to test Dominic's evolving attitudes toward the cryptid world than by dropping him into a nest of gorgons? Besides, any excuse to see Uncle Mike and Aunt Lea is a good one...although there may be a few complications. There always are.

When the modern world meets tradition and tradition meets practicality, it will be down to Dominic and Verity to show that sometimes, the ways you think are best are the ones that won't do anything to save you.

My opinion:

          What a pleasure to see Verity and Dominic again, those two are really my favourite so far. verity is on the road to reach her home but taking the side roads to visit monument and family members or allies along the way which takes months^^. Mostly it's to show Dominic what he gained by switching side for her, better to learn step by step or stop after stop.

Dominic is trying to adjust and we can see it well in this short story; he did learn but still stay a bit prejudiced though we discover his romantic side as well.

Verity is enjoying poking at Dominic buttons, it's so funny.

Now it was also great to discover other gorgons after those we met in the book " Half off ragnarok", these ones sound friendlier or at least more accessible.

I spent a great time reading this but it's not one of my favourite because it lacked some action, with Verity i tend to expected a lot of fights but this one was sweeter, sadly too the Aeslin mice while there are nearly silent...so not fun. These are the reason  it's only a 4/5 because all the rest was simply not to be missed^^.

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

Hunter, Hunted (The Spire Chronicles 1 ) by Ashley Meira

Hello to all!


Since today is an public holiday in my country, i decided to use my limited free time to share with you my opinion on a new book earlier than expected.

I discovered "Hunter, hunted"by Ashley Meira during a giveaway if i remember well and i was very attracted by the cover so i had to learn more..when the author kindly offered us the opportunity to check and review the book i couldn't resist and i'm glad i didn't try^^

So happy reading!

Publication: 2016

Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: mild
Language: mild
sex: strong allusion
Public: 18+

Source: earc for review

 Description from goodreads :

Talented witch and monster hunter extraordinaire, Morgan Maxwell has spent most of her life killing deadly paranormal creatures - and searching for any information related to the mother who disappeared from her life when she was four. Following a deadly encounter, Morgan is stuck on bed rest in her hometown and has resigned herself to a few months of binging on TV shows.

But when a straightforward murder investigation takes an even worse turn with the discovery of another body - one that leaves Morgan brokenhearted and lusting for revenge - she's forced to do something she never wanted to do: work with the sexy and insufferably sweet man who came to put her in handcuffs - and not in the fun way.

Oh, and she has to kick a ton of bad guy ass, but that's something she's always happy to do.

Hunter, Hunted is the first book in The Spire Chronicles urban fantasy series, and is 52,000 words of fast paced action!

The Spire Chronicles series in reading order (with more to come!):

Hunter, Hunted
Ties that Bind
King's Gambit (Coming late April 2016)

My opinion:

          Great discovery!  The first thing that caught my eyes for once is the cover, i loved the colors and i was in the mood for magic users and urban fantasy so after reading the blurb this book seemed perfect for me. I wasn't disappointed to say the least.

This is a new universe where Hell and Heaven have agents keeping "peace" on earth along with an hunters order...we even get some information about how it happened which is something i really like ( great background setting always make a story better in my opinion) so to resume you have humans, normal one, some magic users working with demons ( good ones)...we also learn that vampires and werewolves exist in this universe.

The main Character is Morgan, an hunter talented in elemental magic and friend with Ipos, the second of lucifer himself she also lives with a talking cat , mentor and maternal figure in a sense) named Rowan.

When a caravan  is attacked  Alex, another hunter, is in charge of the investigation thanks to his power to speak to the dead which leads him to Morgan. Starting from that point it's non stop action ^^ you jump from one investigation to the next and the author manage to slowly offer you more information  on the universe, Morgan, Rowan etc without cutting the rhythm of the action. It's really a pleasant and more reads one that leave you with more questions but  not in an anguish because of a  cliffhanger either so it's simply perfect.

The only element i wasn't fond of is Morgan attitude....even now that i've finished reading this story  it's still bother me. I love my characters being loyal and i guess then exclusive. Morgan is jumped to bed with everyone she fancies...worse in my opinion she even do it with people she doesn't know for more than a few hours and in a house where someone dear to her died..... For me she could be Ipos girlfriend , yes he is a demon etc but it wouldn't hurt me as much as Morgan jumping from one to another even in the same day. It's a personal opinion of course and that aside the main plot and secondary characters make me want to read more ...i just hope she will end up choosing and sticks to her choice.

Ipos is funny and doesn't hide his demonic nature...i really loved that you could imagine that their races doesn't determine if they are good or evils. Alex is...in fact i can't really have an opinion on him yet he can act tender but he has a lot of secrets.Rowan made me laugh...she may be a cat but her personnality is hilaring and she can be very inventive in her threats.

All put together this is a series i would like to continue but if you are someone who doesn't like demons in your stories  you may want to skip this one as they are a lot and a lot of reference to it. It's really  good urban fantasy

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: Source: a copy in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was received.. all opinion are my own

Challenge:

Visions in Silver ( The Others 3) by Anne Bishop

Hello to all!!


i know i'm late to post but between mother's day, my mother's multiple medical appointments etc i really need  more than 24h in a day.
So with the sun shining, i decided to make a break in the InCryptid universe ( wouldn't want you to get fed up of it) and jump back in the universe created by Anne Bishop in her " The Others" series...the next book is only available in hardback for now so it will probably be long before i get my hand on it but  i will for sure

Happy reading!

Publisher: Roc

Publication: 2016

ISBN:  0451465741

Genre: urban fantasy, YA
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 18+

Source: gifted
 

Short description from goodreads :

 The Others freed the  cassandra sangue  to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before—both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.

Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.

For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep…

My opinion:

          Finally! finally i could read this,  the wait was so long but it was worth it ( Thank you once again Carien!!)

The author is really talented to keep the series entertaining  giving us more info on the Others but also making us more curious by adding more secrets and tension. The relationship between Meg and Simon or Meg and the Others in general is still very interesting with a lot of funny moments.

However i must also admit that Anne Bishop wrote this one a lot darker than the first books, yes there were still humor but it seemed less with the tension and more profound moment....i don't want to spoil anything to you so i won't explain just telling you that your heart will constrict at time and perhaps tissue will be needed. No fear though those moments  are spaced and in between you have fun, action and all you need. Meg, in a sense, is becoming more mature, trying to understand her need better to help others girls like her of course that doesn't go as smoothly as we would have wished for her.

We still see Sam and Skippy ^^  both still so adorable, the girls gang is still fierce together (Vlad really prefer to have them one at a time coming to speak to him than together^^ yes we can be worse than a vampire). Simon is acting like a real leader....as well as like a puppy at a time ( too , too funny^^)

The story is fascinating, the tension between and into each group  is growing and loyalties are tested...letting us know that we will see more later.( And that's teh reason i should never start a book in this series in teh evening because i can't stop reading it even if it's way too late ( or too early in this case)

So this is a series i really want to continue and i can't wait to get my hand on book 4 and waiting for book 5 already.

Score:  4,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenge:

Half-Off Ragnarok( InCryptid 3 ) by Seanan Mcguire

Hello to all!

 May is there with the sun to make things easier for everyone ( people sound happier when it's sunny don't you think?) so a new month but not a new series to start it. As i told you  i'm enjoying the InCryptid universe quite a lot lately between the novellas and the novel so i opted to stay a little longer in it while i could.

Today i offer you my opinion on the 3rd novel "Half-off Ragnarok".

Happy reading!

Publisher: Daw

Publication: 2014

ISBN:  0756408113
Genre: Urban fantasy

Violence: mild
Language: mild
sex: mild
Public: 18+
Source: gifted

Short description from goodreads :

When Alex Price agreed to go to Ohio to oversee a basilisk breeding program and assist in the recovery of his psychic cousin, he didn't expect people to start dropping dead. But bodies are cropping up at the zoo where he works, and his girlfriend—Shelby Tanner, an Australian zoologist with a fondness for big cats—is starting to get suspicious.

Worse yet, the bodies have all been turned partially to stone...

The third book in the InCryptid series takes us to a new location and a new member of the family, as Alex tries to balance life, work, and the strong desire not to become a piece of garden statuary. Old friends and new are on the scene, and danger lurks around every corner.


Of course, so do the talking mice.

My opinion:

          I was a bit hesitant to read this book because the author  focus on another member of the Price family as the main character and i was quite fond of Verity. The universe is obviously the same and the story is wonderfully written but it took me a moment to warm up to Alex...

Alex is a Price so danger isn't new to him but he is also a scientist so his persona is calmer, more discreet than his sister's.

I particularly loved his miniature griffin: Crow.... this one is a side character i would be glad to learn more about as i do wonder how Alex got him and how he managed to make it accept the Aeslin mice without wanting to make them his snack^^  so yes it's a call for a free short story/ novella about that time

But let's go back to the present and Alex's adventures. Working in a zoo in theOhio to work in secret on some cryptids projects ( like  breeding basilisks), Alex is going out  with a colleague, newly  arrived like him but from Australia, Shelby. Alex works with reptiles, his lifetime passion ( oki perhaps it was one of the reason i wasn't too fond of him at first^^) , Shelby is working on the big cats, felines.

However, Alex is far, far from the perfect boyfriend for sure and Shelby isn't enjoying being left down on several occasion.

The truth is that Alex has a lot on his plate, his "official" job at the zoo, his secret projects, and helping his family. He is living with his grandparents and Sarah which if you have followed the series has been deeply hurt and now need constant care. I loved how loyal he was to his family and how a bad boyfriend he was because of lack of time and secret, that made him quite cute.

Shelby is a strong mind for sure, very independent, speaking her mind and afraid of few things ( looks like Australia is a very, very dangerous place to live in this universe).She can be quite commanding when she wants attention but also be very patient and gentle when taking care of the felines and other animals.

Their relationship was really funny and they made excellent partners.

The plot and investigation was as each time captivating and very enjoyable with the right amount of humour, action and suspense. I love to see all the creatures and discovering new ones each time. I do wonder though how the Price managed to make so many enemies and at the same have a lot of allies , which don't always trust them fully either. At time i admire them because it would have been so easy just  to let them be and not taking risk for them but it's not who the Price family is .

The author also make the links with some free short novella and with the precedents instalment, so we can easily keep the time line and see how everything is linked together, but taking place in different setting. Also, The grandparents, Martin and Angela are definitively some i want to read more about too^^ they are so funny (and terrific too)

This is an excellent story and since it's the beginning of a new cycle kind of way  you could i think start with this book and not feel lost at all but just for the pleasure i would recommend you to start with book 1 as you would get more of the Aeslin mice and those are irresistibly cute and funny. A great urban fantasy for sure!

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

Do you sometimes enjoy to  follow a series back to back ( and novellas) without alternating with another series or authors or you prefer to change with each reads?