Affichage des articles dont le libellé est Seanan McGuire. Afficher tous les articles
Affichage des articles dont le libellé est Seanan McGuire. Afficher tous les articles

jeudi 21 juillet 2016

Pocket Apocalypse ( InCryptids 4) by Seanan McGuire

Hello to all,

 While my Country is celebrating his national day i opted to take some much needed time to read but it doesn't mean that i'm forgetting you. With the heat wave that hit us earlier this week i couldn't come online to share with you my opinion on a book but here it is, delayed but online.

Today i sharing with you my opinion the next book in the InCryptids series as i couldn't wait any longer... i love this series ans even if it's not my favourite character this time i couldn't miss it

Happy reading
Publisher: DAW
Publication: 2015
ISBN:  0756408121
Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: strong

Language: mild
sex: none ( allusion only)
Public: 16+
Source: gifted ( thanks Amber!)

Description from goodreads :

 Endangered, adjective: Threatened with extinction or immediate harm.
Australia, noun: A good place to become endangered.

Alexander Price has survived gorgons, basilisks, and his own family—no small feat, considering that his family includes two telepaths, a reanimated corpse, and a colony of talking, pantheistic mice. Still, he’s starting to feel like he’s got the hang of things…at least until his girlfriend, Shelby Tanner, shows up asking pointed questions about werewolves and the state of his passport. From there, it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump to Australia, a continent filled with new challenges, new dangers, and yes, rival cryptozoologists who don’t like their “visiting expert” very much.

Australia is a cryptozoologist’s dream, filled with unique species and unique challenges. Unfortunately, it’s also filled with Shelby’s family, who aren’t delighted by the length of her stay in America. And then there are the werewolves to consider: infected killing machines who would like nothing more than to claim the continent as their own. The continent which currently includes Alex.

Survival is hard enough when you’re on familiar ground. Alex Price is very far from home, but there’s one thing he knows for sure: he’s not going down without a fight



My opinion:
          Alex sure has a busy life especially since he met Shelby but while i've warmed up to him  he still  is far behind Verity in my favourite list . In this story i discovered how loyal ( that runs in the family) and determined he can be...the way he go against his worst fear is admirable but...i'm still not liking some of his decision.. i don't know, i find that there is less humour when he is concerned...in fact there was even one moment i was on the verge of crying ( could have strangled him then).

I did love to see Shelby family and i sure hope she will want to stay with Alex family instead....hers is sure too biased in my opinion to be good crytozoologists even if Australia does look like a wonderful place to study. The story was well written but i guessed the culprit too easily for my tastes even if Seanan managed as always to keep my interest, i do regret the lack of info about the local cryptid, some are cited but Alex doesn't described them as much as he could have.


This is a good instalment in the series but i'm really glad to change the main character once again ^^


Score:  4/5

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


Challenges:
2015TBR

jeudi 26 mai 2016

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:
2015TBR

lundi 2 mai 2016

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:
2015TBR



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?

mardi 26 avril 2016

IM ( InCryptid 3.2 ) By Seanan McGuire

Hello to all,


Since my mother's state didn't improve ( more the opposite if i want to see the reality which i don't) i didn't have a lot of reading time so i decided to focus on a couple of novellas or shorts story that i had in my pile and that i could read waiting for the appointment.

Thanks to Amber i've got the books i was missing in the Incryptid series so i didn't have to wait any longer to check the free novellas the author offers us....it just made me even more impatient to go back to the main series so soon you will see more of my opinion on the InCryptid series.

Happy reading!

Publisher: Seanan McGuire
Publication: 2014
Found: on Seanan’s Website
Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: mild

Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 18+
Source:free

Description from goodreads :

 Arthur Harrington's situation is...special, thanks to having an incubus for a father and a semi-stable grasp of his "special powers" (if you can call them that). As a consequence, he's always been allowed to stay somewhat sheltered from the family business, communicating with the outside world largely via the computer and his cousins.

Then Sarah got hurt. He's been climbing the walls ever since, trying to think of something he can do to help—but when no one really understands the way a cuckoo's mind works, what can he possibly do to make things better? Especially when she's in Ohio and he's in Oregon?


All he wants is a sign that she's going to be okay...and that she's still going to be the girl he thinks no one knows he's in love with.


My opinion:
          I was really curious to read this novella because if we do hear about Artie in the series, we know nearly nothing about him, he is just cited once or twice and it made him quite mysterious.
This short is in fact his point of view about what happened to Sarah and the consequences since it takes place months after.

I really enjoyed discovering him that way and  i hope we will see more of him in the future.

It was very short, too short but a really moving story and i couldn't help and shed a tear

 Really a great bonus for those following this series but in this case i do recommend to read this after book 3 hall-off Ragnarok, it would make more sense ( yes i have read it in order i just need to write the review)



Score:  4,5/5

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


Challenges:
2015TBR


jeudi 14 janvier 2016

Chimes At Midnight ( october Daye 7) by Seanan McGuire

hello to all,

                      It's well time that i post my review for this week but depites my best effort so far  i'm not really managing my time easily . It's one of my resolutions for 2016 so too early to give up as well^^

Still today, in the deep of the night, i'm sharing with you my opinion of an instalment in one of my favourites series since i've decided to read a little more in the sequels part of my TBR pile.


Happy reading!
Publisher: Daw
Publication: 2013
ISBN:  0756408148
Genre: urban fantasy,fae
Violence: strong

Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 18+
Source: bought
 


Short description from goodreads :

 Things are starting to look up for October "Toby" Daye. She's training her squire, doing her job, and has finally allowed herself to grow closer to the local King of Cats. It seems like her life may finally be settling down...at least until dead changelings start appearing in the alleys of San Francisco, killed by an overdose of goblin fruit.

Toby's efforts to take the problem to the Queen of the Mists are met with harsh reprisals, leaving her under sentence of exile from her home and everyone she loves. Now Toby must find a way to reverse the Queens decree, get the goblin fruit off the streets--and, oh, yes, save her own life, since more than a few of her problems have once again followed her home. And then there's the question of the Queen herself, who seems increasingly unlikely to have a valid claim to the throne....

To find the answers, October and her friends will have to travel from the legendary Library of Stars into the hidden depths of the Kingdom of the Mists--and they'll have to do it fast, because time is running out. In faerie, some fates are worse than death.


October Daye is about to find out what they are.


My opinion:
          If you are looking for a urban fantasy series about Fae, this is the one i would recommend without a doubt. Chimes at Midnight is book 7 and  Seanan Mcguire still captes my attention from the first page to the last one  it’s full of action with a big dosis of humour and so, so many fae species.
I love to learn about new ones in each book  - i’m fond of Cu sidhe now ; )  - and how they interact with each others even if i hate most of the nobles politics at the same time...fae can be so cruel

I’m really fond of Toby as she did mature a lot from book 1 ( getting trickier at the same time but with a Cait sidhe at her side that’s quite normal i guess^^). She is so fiercely loyal and wanting things to be fair.....but also getting in the worse situations possible...
Tybalt is here and so protective as well as Danny ( he alone would make you change your mind on trolls forever), we do get to see a lot of the Luiadeg as well which is always a moment a savor.

This time, wanting to protect Changeling, and Faerie in general, from a deadly drug, Toby manages to get exiled by the Queen (such a b*****)....since it would mean also big consequences for her friends she is determined to change the situation even if it means going against the monarch... and at the same time she is discovering how numerous her allies are and how glad she is for them.

 I don’t want to reveal too much as the mysteries slowly revealed are part of what makes these books so captivating but  i can tell you that once again i’m anxious for the next book as well as fearing it . You see Toby tend to do a lot of things that can have consequences in the long run and once again she jumped head first in a binding that could be so, so disastrous that i really want to discover what will be asked  while a little afraid of what will happen... that’s the magic of this author... in each book you get answers ( big one this time^^) and at teh same time more questions nearly driving you insane ^^

So definitively  great instalment and soon  i will read the next book ( or see if a short story doresn’t take place between this book and the next as i don’t want to miss anything)


Score:  4,5/5

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


Challenges:
2015TBR







Did you decide to formulate some resolutions/goals for 2016?Which Ones?

samedi 26 décembre 2015

The Ghosts of Bourbon street ( Incryptid 3.1) By Seanan McGuire

Hello to all and with a little delay

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!


 i hope you all had a great moment!

On my side i've been really busy and sick and sadly i can't relax yet as i still haven't finished all i want to send  but most have been sent and several already received.


 Now i still need to post something to complete some challenge i've entered so i'm taking a few minutes to share with you one of my last reads ( from when i could get a couple of minutes betwseen projects^^)


Happy Reading!
Publisher: Seanan McGuire
Publication: 2014
Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: mild

Language: mild
sex: none
Public: 16+
Source: Free


Short description from goodreads :

 Verity Price and Dominic De Luca are currently putting their relationship through what can only be termed the ultimate stress-test: they're traveling from one side of the country to the other in a rented U-Haul, accompanied only by Verity's colony of Aeslin mice and the contents of her iPod. (Dominic is receiving a crash course in modern dance and pop music.)

But what's a road trip without a hidden purpose? Verity knows she's driving Dominic toward the biggest confrontation of his life—her parents—and that means she needs to start easing him in gently. What better way than with a stop in New Orleans to drink layered cocktails and meet her fun-loving Aunt Rose, who just happens to be a Predeceased American?


Poor Dominic didn't set out to become part of a ghost story, but it looks like that's exactly what's happening, as the old, new, and undead collide all over Bourbon Street.


My opinion:
          I’m really fond of this universe an even more of Verity so even if I haven’t gotten book 3 yet ( changed on Christmas, thanks Sullivan!) and despite that this novella is set after I needed to read it without delay. I’m so glad I did! Yes there is a very small element that could be considered spoiler for book 3 but you are so deeply engrossed into verity and Dominic adventures that you put aside what isn’t the most important right now. Even better ^^ the setting is the New Orleans and I’ve become quiet addicted to it.

This was simply fabulous, funny and also informative because Verity is organising a meeting between Dominic and her aunt, the ghostly one, Rose who is no one else than the heroine of Seanan Ghost series with “Sparrow hill Road” ( which I have! ^_^)….i do think Rose is a character I will love greatly, she is as snarky as Verity but even manage to make her blush^^…we also learned of the different kind of ghosts in that universe all while keeping that part quite mysterious as Rose put it “ Daylight isn’t for living one” so we get a glimpse of it and of part of its rules but nothing more . It was really great!

 I can’t tell you a lot if I don’t want to make big spoiler since it’s a novella only but if you are reading the Incryptid series you have to read this! The only detail I missed were the mices, only cited I missed them but for the rest  just fabulous!



Score:  4/5

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


Challenges:


vendredi 23 janvier 2015

Ashes of Honor ( October Daye 6) by Seanan McGuire

Hello to all

                        For my reading of this beginning of the year i decided to alternate between new authors to me that i had on my TBR pile waiting for me and some series i really loved but somewhat fell behind.

 This time i go back to a series that i tend to enjoy more and more after each installment : The October Daye seeries... i'm missing some books in it and it's the reason i stopped reading it for a time and slowly i got even more behind. Now i'm trying to get back on track ( to be at least up to date at the end of the year^^;;)

Happy reading!
Publisher: DAW
Publication: 2012
ISBN:  0373277210
Genre: urban fantasy, fae
Violence: strong

Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 18+
Source: bought


Description from goodreads :

 It's been almost a year since October "Toby" Daye averted a war, gave up a county, and suffered personal losses that have left her wishing for a good day's sleep. She's tried to focus on her responsibilities—training Quentin, upholding her position as Sylvester's knight, and paying the bills—but she can't help feeling like her world is crumbling around her, and her increasingly reckless behavior is beginning to worry even her staunchest supporters.

To make matters worse, Toby's just been asked to find another missing child...only this time it's the changeling daughter of her fellow knight, Etienne, who didn't even know he was a father until the girl went missing. Her name is Chelsea. She's a teleporter, like her father. She's also the kind of changeling the old stories warn about, the kind with all the strength and none of the control. She's opening doors that were never meant to be opened, releasing dangers that were sealed away centuries before—and there's a good chance she could destroy Faerie if she isn't stopped.

Now Toby must find Chelsea before time runs out, racing against an unknown deadline and through unknown worlds as she and her allies try to avert disaster. But danger is also stirring in the Court of Cats, and Tybalt may need Toby's help with the biggest challenge he's ever faced.


Toby thought the last year was bad. She has no idea.

My opinion:
          It has been a moment since I’ve read Toby’s adventures but it was really easy to join them once again. The story works wonderfully well as a whole with enough info from precedent books to remind you or teach you important elements so you are not lost and at the same time you can understand the story really easily without having read the other books. It’s really well done.

Now I would still recommend you to start at the beginning but only for the relationship (kind of) between Toby and Tybalt.  Really it’s a pleasure to see them banter, have their kind of hate relationship but still be there when the other needs it and in Ashes of Honor finally you have more ^^ ( chutt I won’t tell you more)

Tybalt is sure one of the elements which made me love this series so much, he is really a cat with its way to annoy you to the fullest but still manage to have you around his finger with a simple look ( all those whit a cat understand that I’m sure^^;;). This time we get a deeper inside of his relation with his nephew Raj and the mechanic of the Cait Sidhe court which is quite special.

We do have a huge dosis of Fae politic as well but the adventure focus on Toby and Tybalt while they try to save a young changeling Chelsea…

As often it’s not an easy series to explain as a lot of little elements seemingly insignificant gets really important either in this book or for the future ones. However I can tell you that Toby went a long way in maturing in this book especially after all that happened before and…what could be strange for those who follow the series… this is the first book with a real HEA! Yes really for once the book close on happy element not on something dreading letting us know it will get worse….
Now I even want to read the next book more as strange as it sound but I know it can wait as no cliffhanger or something of the sort has me on edge.

Seanan McGuire really surprises me this time and it’s one of the best additions in the series!




Score:  4,5/5

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


Challenges:

samedi 18 janvier 2014

One Salt Sea ( October Daye 5) by Seanan Mcguire

Good Weekend too all^^

Seanan Mcguire is one of the few authors who can keep me so captivated by a story despite me being sick like hell or exhausted beyond common measure… this time didn’t change that and I couldn’t stop turning the pages, devouring Toby’s adventures… a great start for this year and I’m so impatient to read the next one though I’m also glad I waited since I’m slowly getting up to date with the release… so that’s mean resisting the urge to read them back to back without delay.

[On a side note, after finishing this one I had to read the novella that were set after this story and those I couldn’t resist…sadly I discovered that they weren’t my cup of tea and fortunately they are not essential for the series so you can pass them if you are not into f/f ( In Sea Salt tears ) or m/m (Forbid the Sea) but if you are interested you can check the review for those on my goodread account.]


 Now this review will perhaps be a little short because I can’t reveal too much without spoilers but let see what I can tell you.

Happy reading!
Publisher: DAW
Publication: 2011
ISBN:  0756406838
Genre: dark urban fantasy
Violence: strong

Language: mild
sex: mild
Public: 18+
Source: won

Short description from goodreads :

 October "Toby" Daye is settling into her new role as Countess of Goldengreen. She's actually dating again, and she's taken on Quentin as her squire. So, of course, it's time for things to take a turn for the worse.


Someone has kidnapped the sons of the regent of the Undersea Duchy of Saltmist. To prevent a war between land and sea, Toby must find the missing boys and prove the Queen of the Mists was not behind their abduction. Toby's search will take her from the streets of San Francisco to the lands beneath the waves, and her deadline is firm: she must find the boys in three days' time, or all of the Mists will pay the price. But someone is determined to stop her-and whoever it is isn't playing by Oberon's Laws...

My opinion:
          October will never get a real reprieve, despite nearly dying several times on regular basis she has too much on her plate to rest. Now a Countess against her wills, she must learn that role, while taking in charge part of Quentin’s training, and less formally Raj’s. Add to that, the fact the Luidaeg comes to collects debts when a war is on the verge to explode and you have the recipe for a disaster.

Oh, disaster there are how could it not when children are taking from their homes, tortured and with their life threatened? October couldn’t let that kind of crimes unpunished, children are too sacred and if it means having to fight against the Queen or at least to be diplomatically correct and doing others things she would dreams of never doing ( like approaching water) so be it because before being a countess she is a knight.

 I was really happy to see her having the start of a normal life even if I deeply inside new it couldn’t last and to be honest I didn’t like her lover’s choice but still I wanted her to have a bit of happiness…. I loved Spike and her cats which we just learned are really spies for Tybalt (someone had doubt about that fact, really?!), finding May, Quentin and Raj living (or nearly) with her was simply fabulous…it was a great way to see how she matured since the first book.

She also had to adjust to the event in the last book and how it affected her, that part was interesting and I wasn’t expecting it to be so difficult for her but Seanan managed to make the situation really comprehensible and described Toby’s feeling so well I just wanted more. In this book we learn more about the fae.. so far we learned about the land faeries we got a glimpse of others like the luidaeg and selkies but that’s all.  This time we learn about a complete new range of aquatic faes and discover that there are also some aerial ones nothing catch my attention better it was really interesting to discover them from Toby’s perspective.

What made this book even better was the constant presence of the cait sidhe Tybalt, more often in his cat form than I saw in the past.  He wasn’t his humourous self and he didn’t antagonised October but the situation was too dire for that. In any case he was loyally at her side, fought by her side and for her and never let her down ( the perfect mate I’m telling you). We also learn a lot about the Luidaeg and saw a more vulnerable side of her which drew me to her, she always was fascinating now she is more “human”… she suffered a lot and still do I think.

This book has heartbreaking moments, I nearly cried several time but the author balances all the elements in the story at the perfection and it was never too much or not enough. You get to see and feel things from October’s point of view… yes sometimes I wanted to strangle her at other time I wanted to hug her or cry for her but all along I wanted to be by her side. If you love dark urban fantasy with a touch of romance, fae and shifters  really this is a fabulous series, a must read however I can’t recommend you enough to be careful and read all the books in order ( include the free novella if you want it’s even better) it’s the only way to get completely immersed and have all the insights to follow the red lines ( but each book have some closure so far even if the ending just make you want more since it doesn’t answers all questions) this one was a perfect addition to the series with moving moment, adventures, magic and all the rest


Score:  5/5

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


Challenges:

dimanche 24 novembre 2013

Rat- Catcher (October Daye 0.1) by Seanan McGuire

Hello to all,

                    So here the situation is still quite unsure since my mother will only have ( or at least hope so) some answer tomorrow after her scanner, meaning i'm still completly in the expectative. When i will manage to read ( and write my review on what i read), when i will manage to craft again ( my hands are both improving and worsening -_-) all i know is that i will do my best with as a priority the christmas parcels and letters then the reading and of course both of these after my family health.... so far the motivation is still here and that's a lot.

So i couldn't read but i managed to write the review on a novella i finished before all these happened...( and i will perhaps try novella first since i have less time it could be a great idea) anyway  you know how i've come to love the October Daye series and the authors is kind enough to add several short stories to help us learn more about secondary characters.... my favourite being Tybalt i couldn't miss the first novella about his past  published in the anthology " A fantasy Medley2" but don't worry there are a lot of free ones on the author website ( like the second novella about Tybalt!! but better to be read after book5).

Since it's a novella my opinion will be short because i don't want to reveal too much but i enjoyed reading it even if i hoped for a little more ( perhaps novella 2 will correct that;) )

Happy Reading!

Publisher: Subterranean Press
Publication: 2012
Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: strong

Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 18+
Source: bought

Short description from goodreads :

 In the year 1666, a young Prince of Cats named Rand dwelt peacefully in Londontown with his beloved sisters, Jill and Colleen. He spent his nights at the theater, drinking in the works of Shakespeare, and had no interest in the day when he would be expected to rise up, challenge his father, and take his place as a King of Cats. For Rand, kittenhood was a wonderful dream, and one that he hoped would last forever.

Dreams end.

All stories have to begin somewhere, and this is where the story of Tybalt, King of Dreaming Cats, began: with a boy, and his sisters, and the city that he loved and never planned to leave. When duty calls, can he make the choice that will keep them all safe, without giving up everything that he has ever wanted from his life?

Rat-Catcher can be read at any point, as it is background for the series. It is best read after at least two volumes of the main series, to give a firm grounding in the character.


Rat-Catcher was originally published in the anthology A Fantasy Medley 2, released in December of 2012. This limited-edition volume can be obtained directly from Subterranean Press.



My opinion:
          As a fan of Tybalt , I was expecting a lot from this short story… I wanted to know how he became who he is, why he is so different etc….. perhaps I was expecting too much. Oh I liked this story no problem on that side and it’s true I would never expected him to become king like that but at the same time it wasn’t enough ^^ perhaps too short for my taste even if there isn’t a cliffhanger and the story is complete. It’s a really emotional read and while the humour is there it’s not as present as in the series and we learn a lot more about the cait sidhe customs which aren’t as kind as we could hope ( hey they are a kind of fey so it’s quite understandable)

Perhaps I was simply disappointed he didn’t try harder with the actors….he did try yes but since he was already breaking the rules couldn’t do it a little more just to be sure they knew and understood? However he is still young here and perhaps he simply couldn’t^^ after seeing all proud and powerful and compassionate in the series it was strange to see him as a kitten only  but at the same time all these events did built him as the Tybalt we all love.

I’m really glad I waited to read this because it’s true you enjoy it more when you already know the characters from the main series…. Now I’ve learned there is another short story about Tybalt and I can’t wait to have the time to read it  but I must advance in the main series first since it’s recommended^^. I won’t forget to let you know about it. If you love the October Daye series those shorts stories are really excellent bonus but, thankfully , you don’t have to read them to enjoy the main series it’s just some extra if you can’t wait until the next instalment^^.



Score:  3/5

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

Challenges:


mercredi 30 octobre 2013

Midnight Blue-Light Special ( InCryptid 2) by Seanan McGuire

Hello to all!

            i hope you have a better weather than us because here it's so cold ( and rain...) ....oki an excellent time to stay near the fire with a good book and a cup of tea but sadly it's not on my list for today, the special event at the roleplaying club is only a few hours away so we must do the shopping, finish decorating and a lot of other details ^^ busy day.

Busy yes.. enough that i don't participate in Brenda's event The Ghoulishly Good Monster Mash Mix up? No ^^ and today is about dragon so it will the next thing i do... but first like promised i continue to share with you my october reading discoveries....and  Brenda planned well because this book does have dragons too so...
 Happy reading!

Publisher: DAW
Publication: 2013
ISBN:  0756407923
Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: strong

Language: normal
sex: mild
Public: 18+
Source: won (thanks Brenda!!!)

Short description from goodreads :

 Cryptid, noun:
1. Any creature whose existence has been suggested but not proven scientifically. Term officially coined by cryptozoologist John E. Wall in 1983.
2. That thing that's getting ready to eat your head.
3. See also: "monster."

The Price family has spent generations studying the monsters of the world, working to protect them from humanity--and humanity from them. Enter Verity Price. Despite being trained from birth as a cryptozoologist, she'd rather dance a tango than tangle with a demon, and when her work with the cryptid community took her to Manhattan, she thought she would finally be free to pursue competition-level dance in earnest. It didn't quite work out that way...

But now, with the snake cult that was killing virgins all over Manhattan finally taken care of, Verity is ready to settle down for some serious ballroom dancing—until her on-again, off-again, semi-boyfriend Dominic De Luca, a member of the monster-hunting Covenant of St. George, informs her that the Covenant is on their way to assess the city's readiness for a cryptid purge. With everything and everyone she loves on the line, there's no way Verity can take that lying down.


Alliances will be tested, allies will be questioned, lives will be lost, and the talking mice in Verity's apartment will immortalize everything as holy writ--assuming there's anyone left standing when all is said and done. It's a midnight blue-light special, and the sale of the day is on betrayal, deceit...and carnage.

My opinion:
          After reading Discount Armageddon, I couldn’t wait to get more of Verity and Dominic as well as the Aeslin Mice.  If I could have rushed my precedent reads to get to this one earlier I would have done it but it’s not my style so I had to be patient and it was more than, worth it! I really enjoyed this book, I’m not giving it an higher score though and I can’t really tell you what I found missing even if I will try .

So first this story takes place some weeks after the events in book 1 and Dominic and Verity are still not sure where they stand together. Trust isn’t completely there but they do have a sort of relationship. Dominic isn’t trusted by the cryptids but he does prove to be concerned for some and trying to adapt to Verity’s company which can be really confusing, not every one would be comfortable with speaking mice or a telepath you can’t remember.
He has reason to be perturbed by all this new knowledge since it’s the completely opposite of how he was raised but he is trying for the sake of Verity and she is not making things easy for him. To be honest I really enjoyed how his personality was constructed because a sudden change wouldn’t feel right and how the author managed to make him sound is just the right one. I love him, he is so human and trying to do things right I couldn’t be angry with him for his hesitations and doubts.

Verity is also trying to adjust to having someone other than family to trust and she is really difficult about it, she keeps fighting Dominic and trying to put him ill at ease. I had a little difficulty to understand that since she was the one to make the relationship move to the next level and I don’t like the idea she could make love to him without any trust or love soothe fact that after she acts like it’s nothing bothered me.  At the first occasion she doubt him. She is at a time of her life when she must decide what really counts for her and that’s her primary focus and as often if facing adversary that you can really discover yourself and what is important for you. I enjoyed seeing her determined, trying to help the majority and how she was persevering the torture was really interesting. She isn’t a super woman, yes she had a special training, yes she has some abilities but  no super powers at the end she is still a young woman who doesn’t like suffering, who can be terrified… so human but it’s her humanity that make her want to fight for the cryptid population despite the risk, she could flee but she stays and do what she believe in even if it means sacrificing herself, and not without thinking about other solution. She isn’t a coward, she wants to life but she can see farther than herself and it’s what makes her a Heroine. ..; at that time I was really admiring her.

Another part that interested me was the way the cryptid community acted after learning the danger….it was so natural in a sense some afraid run away some want to fight to protect what is their. It was something I could understand perfectly and I loved to see some wanting to stay and trust Verity… I mean they have some doubt about her because she is a Price but they can admit what she has done for them and trust her when necessary. Kitty is a good example at a time she sound like against Verity at all, selfish to the worst levels but she is the one taking a stand to protect the community and offer refuge, helping in negotiations and such. It’s when facing difficulties that you discover your true friends and allies…. And here it’s really a good example. Istas and Ryan as well as the dragons are there, some with a little persuasion but there are there.

 We also see more member of the Price family and learn about their history, I can tell you I was probably more disappointed with that part ^^, her parents send to Verity uncle Mike as backup but the way he nearly gave up at a time had me frustrated and angry. He should have been the one to believe ion verity but no. Sarah did all the work and for a normally peaceful character it was really something. 

 I still enjoyed as much as before the little advices or proverb from Verity‘s ancestry, there are ringing so well^^ and never miss to make me smile, like the way Seanan McGuire at the beginning of each chapter put in bold the place where the action takes place…it could seem to be a detail but can’t recommend enough to pay attention to them.


The romance is there and not just in a few pages, action is gripping and  non stop so you are really left wanting to keep reading until the last page  but perhaps what make me sad is that you feel it’s the last book on Verity adventures. I don’t mean she will never appear again in the series but the next two book will focus on her brother not her and  I wanted more, a lot more of Verity and Dominic and the mice ( as well as Sarah of course).. it’s hard to explain without giving too much info… there is a ending, a happy one but it’s kind of an open ending set in a proper place yes just I wanted more ^^;; I can only hope we get what happen after last page in a novella because it could be so fun that I don’t want to miss that^^

 In resume, it an excellent book full of humour, tension and romance, that will catch you in the story and not to let you go until you have finished it. I enjoyed it a lot, I even loved it but it could have been even better I think ( how I absolutely can’t tell^^;;) and I will read the rest of the series hoping for more Verity ( and I can’t wait to meet Antimony^^) a must read if you love urban fantasy with humour and original creatures

Score:  4/5

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

Challenges:
Ramblings of a Daydreamer
Page Count Contest


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Do you want more Dragon reads? Then check Brenda's giveaway for today ^^ you can win either "How to date a Dragon" or an ebook in the DragonFury series. Enter here before 2d november. Good luck