Urban

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Confessions of a Bookslut

June 3, 2010 in Fantasy, Thriller, Urban | Comment

Or, What Haven‘t I Done?

I get around a lot.

But shockingly, there’s a lot out there I haven’t done.

First, I have never listened to an audiobook. Secondly, I have not yet read Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series. I know, I know!! Bear with me here.

Last month, I did something amazing. Something unbelievable. Something naughty. I signed up for Audible.com. The first thing I downloaded was Charlaine Harris’ Dead Until Dark. I got sucked in (haha, get it?). Now I got it bad, for both audiobooks and Ms. Harris alike.

But aren’t audiobooks just for listening while driving? Au contraire, dear readers! I thought that too, not so long ago. Dead Until Dark, a delightful 8 hours, kept me entertained while I:

  • walked/played with the dog
  • worked in the garden
  • prepped and cooked dinner
  • tried to fall asleep
  • folded laundry
  • prepared boring spreadsheets at work
  • drove

Now, normally, I would never be able to read while doing some of these things. Many a time have I wished I could walk the pup while reading a book (though I have a feeling it would end in disaster). Of course, for safety, I walk with only one earbud in so I can still hear what is going on around me.

This has been a breakthrough. Of course, I knew audiobooks existed, but for some reason (mostly $$) I never really got into them. I am furious at myself now for not experimenting earlier! When I was in college, it was a 3 hour drive to get home to see my parents. The time wasted trying to figure out new radio stations when I could have been immersed in a book! While driving! Ugh. Well now I know better. Now, with a long distance wedding coming up next month, a lot of driving, and a dog that needs exercised, I couldn’t be happier about this choice.

What about Sookie??

The Dresden Files: Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes! Or, what happens when you get comfortable

May 10, 2010 in Fantasy, Urban | Comment

First, apologies to Mr. Butcher. While The Dresden Files are one of my all time favorite series, in my last review on Turncoat, I mentioned this:

Side Note: In this sense, the books are a little formulaic, but that’s what makes them so ‘comfortable’ to me– Someone comes to Harry for help. Big baddies come after Harry while he investigates. Help is going to take a lot more than Harry anticipated. Harry outsmarts/outlucks/outmaneuvers baddies. Harry saves the day.

Oh boy. I couldn’t have been more wrong *looks contrite*. Changes begins in the usual Dresden manner–fast, gritty, and in your face. You are left sputtering “Harry has a daughter????? With Susan???” (not a spoiler, it’s on the back cover!) and the book just keeps getting better from there.

The beginning of the aforementioned formula begins to weave itself together, and I can almost see Jim’s face while he says “Ha! Take that!!” while pulling out the rug from under the reader’s feet. Just when you begin to fall under plot’s hypnotic spell, everything Changes. The book title is significant in that Harry’s relationships with many supporting characters also undergo some form of Change. He learns that Mouse, while often a great help in a tight spot, has even more to offer. He finds out about his mother’s relationships and how they affect him and those in his care. He discovers Susan’s reasons for keeping such a life altering secret, and the list goes on.

Finally, there is a HELL of a cliffhanger ending that kept me reading right into the author’s note. I realized that Jim’s living arrangements and vicious guard dog have nothing to do with Harry’s story, and had to go back a few pages and reread. I simply kept on reading because I assumed there would be more!

I’ll end with that, as MORE is what I am left wanting. Maybe that will be the next title (Eh? Think about it, Jim!).

The first four chapters can be found on Jim Butcher’s site.

Changes are Coming!

March 8, 2010 in Fantasy, Urban | Comment

Jim Butcher’s latest addition to the Dresden Files will be out in April! You may recall the fun I had reading Turn Coat, and I expect Changes will be no different.

Long ago, Susan Rodriguez was Harry Dresden’s lover-until she was attacked by his enemies, leaving her torn between her own humanity and the bloodlust of the vampiric Red Court. Susan then disappeared to South America, where she could fight both her savage gift and those who cursed her with it.

Now Arianna Ortega, Duchess of the Red Court, has discovered a secret Susan has long kept, and she plans to use it-against Harry. To prevail this time, he may have no choice but to embrace the raging fury of his own untapped dark power. Because Harry’s not fighting to save the world…

He’s fighting to save his child.

You can check out the first few chapters on Jim Butcher’s site here!

Tempest Rising

October 26, 2009 in Fantasy, Urban | 1 comment

final-cover-185x300In the tiny village of Rockabill, Maine, Jane True—26-year-old bookstore clerk and secret night swimmer—has no idea that her absent mother’s legacy is entry into a world populated by the origins of human myths and legends.  It is a world where nothing can be taken for granted: vampires are not quite what we think; dogs sometimes surprise us; and whatever you do, never—ever—rub the genie’s lamp.   For Jane, everything kicks off when she comes across a murder victim during her nightly clandestine swim in the freezing winter ocean.  This grisly discovery leads to the revelation of why she has such freakish abilities in the water: her mother was a Selkie and Jane is only half human. With this knowledge, Jane soon finds herself mingling with supernatural creatures alternately terrifying, beautiful, and deadly—all adjectives that quite handily describe her new friend Ryu.  When Ryu is sent to Rockabill to investigate the murder, he and Jane fall hard for each other even as they plummet into a world of intrigue threatening to engulf both supernatural and human societies.  For someone is killing half-humans like Jane.   The question is, are the murders the work of one rogue individual or part of a greater plot to purge the world of Halflings?

Jane True is a character that the reader begins to empathize with almost immediately. She is fun, sarcastic, and just a little unsure enough to make her downright lovable. Jane spends her days caring for her father and going through the same motions day in and day out, all the while never directly asking questions about her mother. In fact, the first few pages gave me sudden Twilight flashbacks (Bella cooking for her dad) but the comparison ends there (thank god).

Given that Rockabill, Maine, is such a small town, everyone remembers Jane’s mother, who showed up in the middle of town one day completely naked. Her father offered her a jacket, and the rest is history. Except her mother disappeared a year later, leaving her young daughter to fend for herself in a town that was more that happy to see their fears about ‘that woman’ confirmed.

Read more about Jane!

Soulless

August 26, 2009 in Fantasy, Urban | 3 comments

PrintAlexia Tarabotti is a fatherless spinster living with a self serving mother, stepfather, and two half sisters. To add insult to injury, Alexia has inherited her father’s Italian blood, making her much darker than is considered “fashionable”. Oh, and she has no soul. This doesn’t make her much different from other people, except that she can negate supernatural abilities, and she often speaks her mind in a very unladylike way, occasionally even using such terms as “You pea-brained lack-witted ninny-hammer!”

Alexia is quite used to being ignored on the fringes of the ballroom, and often escapes to the library in avoidance of such social prejudices. However, things go from bad to worse when her sanctuary is disturbed by a vampire who attempts to bite her (without an introduction!!). In a combination of self defense and anger at her attacker’s advances, she smartly taps him with her trusty parasol, thus killing her attacker. When the arrogant Lord Maccon (who is also a werewolf) appears at the scene to investigate on behalf of the queen, Alexia isn’t sure which is worse: his bark or his bite. So she fakes a faint (but not before comfortably inserting a pillow between her and the floor). From then on, the relationship between Alexia and the insufferable Lord Maccon begins to get stickier than treacle tart. Further, werewolf loners and vampire roves all over London have been disappearing at a most alarming rate. To make Lord Maccon’s job even more difficult, Alexia begins to investigate on her own. Who is behind the disappearances? And where did Alexia last leave her trusty parasol?

Soulless is an absolutely delightful debut that combines “urbane” fantasy, romance, and a hint of steampunk. The world building is well done, and I expect it will be fleshed out even more in future books. Victorian era London houses vampires, ghosts, and werewolves, along with its high society. The characters were enjoyable–from a flamboyantly gay vampire who speaks in italics to Alexia’s stoic butler (inherited from her dead father) who quickly and efficiently ushers the “Young Miss” out the servant’s door during her escapades.

Soulless is a laugh out loud ride for the thrill seekers among us–full of  twists, turns, and werewolf fur. Just don’t spill your tea.

Gail Carriger’s Soulless will be released in the US September 29, 2009, though many copies were given out at this year’s BEA. Two more books are slated to be part of the Parasol Protectorate series, with Changeless (Book #2) coming out in April of 2010.

A Madness of Angels

July 8, 2009 in Fantasy, Urban | 2 comments

9780316041256_388X586Matthew Swift is awake. While this may be run of the mill to most of us, it isn’t if you have been dead the past two years. Mr. Swift is an urban magician who was brutally attacked by a shadowy creature known only as Hunger. We meet Matthew Swift without knowing anything about him, but through his actions and occasional hints in his dialogue, we piece together what he is. Matthew has come back with funny case of pronoun confusion: he replaces I and me with we and us, which has to do with his talent to hear the “electric blue angels” in the telephone lines. His former mentor has built a massive organization called the Tower, and Matthew begins to dismantle it, brick by brick, in the search for the truth. Essentially, A Madness of Angels is a story about vengeance and retribution. It is also Kate Griffin’s debut from her usual YA category writing into writing for adults.

As an urban magician, Matthew pulls magic from the mundane: the city streetlights, the fumes of cars, etc. He is able to weave spells by simply reading a railway ticket and lay curses with just a touch (if that). Kate Griffin’s world has so many new twists on “Urban Fantasy”, such as the clan of bikers and the Beggar King, all of whom have very excellent (and sometimes scary!) passages.

Read More!

Santa Olivia

June 17, 2009 in Fantasy, Misc., Thriller, Urban | 1 comment

n296917Santa Olivia by Jaqueline Carey defies description. It’s best categorized as a hybrid YA-romance-urban fantasy-thriller. I have heard excellent things about Ms. Carey’s writing and so decided to up this book on my reading list. While it is enjoyable, I didn’t find it completely believable.

Santa Olivia is located in a “no man’s land” between Mexico and the US, when it was cordoned off during a pandemic. Santa Olivia is a military outpost and the locals have no hope of ever leaving this highly secured area–in fact, the rest of the world doesn’t even know they exist. Computers, television, and other luxuries are practically mythical.

The story begins with Carmen Garron, a waitress who falls in love twice. The first time she bears her son Tommy, and the second time her daughter Loup. However, her daughter is very different–she is stronger, faster, and feels no fear–traits she inherited from her father Martin. Martin is a legendary “Lost Boy”, the victim of genetic experimentation in Haiti. He is clearly different from the other villagers and when suspicions arise, Martin is forced to leave town, though not before he explains to Carmen and Tommy what Loup will become and how to best protect her. As she grows, Tommy does his best to tell her to be careful. This involves not telling anyone about her father, and watching her actions. Loup moves preternaturally fast and must slow down in order to look like a regular person. She also has to think about consequences, since she lacks fear.

Eventually, Carmen dies, and Loup must live in the local orphanage.  She creates a sort of vigilante team, with herself doing the most dangerous feats while taking up the mantle of “Santa Olivia”, the city’s patron child-saint.

Santa Olivia is also centered on boxing, which is the only way to get a ticket out. There are regular boxing matches held by the general, and the winner is given two tickets out of Santa Olivia. Many locals try for this prize, but the story really turns when Lou begins training for it herself. There are some excellent scenes, like when Loup is finally unveiled as the “mystery contestant”:

The crowd quieted, uncertain, seeing only a smaller-than-expected figure in a vivid blue robe. She pushed back her hood. It could have been a loose white kerchief slipping from her hair.

The soldiers in the bleachers erupted in howls of laughter, hoots of derision, and catcalls of disappointment. But among the Outposters in the square, there was a hush as her name went around, its meaning dawning on them…

And on the heels of that revelation, a second significance dawned. A girl in a blue dress; a girl in a blue robe.

“Santa Olivia!” someone shouted.

Others took up the cry. “Santa Olivia! Santa Olivia!”

I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Carey’s twist on the whole werewolf theme. Tommy affectionately refers to Loup as lou garou (french for werewolf), and she is stronger, faster, etc., but from genetic mutation rather than any sort of supernatural means.  Loup’s attraction and eventual relationship with Pilar is absolutely beautiful because it is so different from the standard, and Ms. Carey simply treats it as it should be–absolutely normal.

The downside was that I felt the characters were cliched. Tommy plays the concerned and good-natured “big brother”, becoming embarrassed when Loup unabashedly tells him she learned about sex. Loup’s coach is a gruff, taciturn man whose only love is boxing. Miguel Garza is a street-thug-turned-friend, who slowly warms up to Loup as they becoming sparring partners. Further, it was repeated over and over how Loup had to be “careful” and keep her identity secret–only to have her blab to the first kid that’s nice to her at the orphanage, who of course turns around and tells the rest of the orphans. Later, as she begins training, she nonchalantly tells both her coach and and another boxer about her big secret: “I dunno exactly..It’s some kind of genetic engineering thing. My dad was an experiment who ran away…”

Finally, Loup’s first act as Santa Olivia is vengeance for fellow orphan Katya, who is raped by a solider. I understand it would have to be something huge in order to push her (and the other orphans) towards their first vigilante act, but I thought it was a cheap way of achieving those means.

This is especially true as another act of “Santa Olivia” is to punish a dog killer. Yup, a soldier who maliciously killed a dog. An evil dog killer. If the vigilante acts continued to punish rapists, murderers, etc., that would be one thing, but the sudden downgrade from humiliating a rapist to punishing a dog killer leaves quite a bit in between.

Overall, an average read but extra points for simply being so different (werewolf-esque, boxing, etc.). I wonder if the author’s clout alone makes this a popular book–fans will definitely be flocking to pick this up, though I wonder if it will be as acclaimed as the Kushiel series.

Welcome to the Jungle

May 14, 2009 in Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Urban | 2 comments

I picked up Jim Butcher’s graphic novel, Welcome to the Jungle last weekend at my local Downtown Comics store.

welcome-to-the-jungle-3My excitement was so great I began reading it on the way home (Not to worry, the honey was driving, while shaking his head that anyone could be so excited about ‘a comic’). It can definitely be devoured in the course of 30 minutes or so, but I took my time, examine the panels, and probably took closer to 45 :-) .

In terms of a time line, the novel takes place before the events of Storm Front (Book one of the Dresden Files). Harry Dresden, Wizard, Sleuth, and All-Around-Awesome-Guy, is called in by Lt. Murphy of the Chicago PD to investigate the mauling of a night security guard at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Using his “third eye” or Wizard’s Sight, he sees that this is no ordinary animal attack and begins searching for the supernatural cause of death.

A number of characters are also present–Murphy, Carmichael, and even Mister. I especially enjoyed the dialogue between Murphy, Carmichael, and Harry. Remember, this is before Murphy warms up to Harry! Another panel I enjoyed was Harry, alone, brainstorming possible culprits and discarding each one when they didn’t fit the M.O. welcome-to-the-jungle-2

Overall, the artwork is excellent, as is the writing: perfectly Dresden-esque, especially for Jim’s first foray into ComicBookLand. While the story isn’t as deep and multifaceted as the books, Butcher still delivers Classic Harry with the humor and cynicism we know and love. For those who are curious about The Dresden Files, Welcome to the Jungle is an excellent introduction/jumping off point.

The Dresden Files-TURN COAT

April 7, 2009 in Fantasy, Urban | 4 comments

I love being a wizard. Every day is like Disneyland.

So says Harry Dresden, caught in the midst of a White Council meeting gone bad. The search for a turn coat in the White Council is Harry’s current predicament. It all started when Harry, (now a warden of the White Council) finds a badly injured Morgan on his doorstep, begging for help (uh, you may recall Morgan as Harry’s Number One Antagonist and Constant Evil Shadow). A White Council member, LaFortier has been murdered, and Morgan was found at the scene of the crime holding the murder weapon. Now, we all know that Harry has gotten by partly on luck and his extreme paranoia. Is Morgan for real? Does this mean Harry’s suspicions about a supposed “Black Council” is true? (After all, we know that “someone” has been causing trouble–giving wolf belts to FBI Agents, riling up Red Court Vamps, and making Faerie Queens idealistic and overthrowing Faerie’s status quo, the list goes on. Basically everything that has happened since book one!)

But first Harry must deal with a powerful a Skinwalker, a Native American nightmare, drawn by Morgan’s weakened state.

Side Note: In this sense, the books are a little formulaic, but that’s what makes them so ‘comfortable’ to me– Someone comes to Harry for help. Big baddies come after Harry while he investigates. Help is going to take a lot more than Harry anticipated. Harry outsmarts/outlucks/outmaneuvers baddies. Harry saves the day.

So, Harry finds a Skinwalker (promptly dubbed Shagnasty, Dresden-style) after him while he tries to follow the clues in LaFortier’s death, leading him to ally with his old werewolf friends Billy and Georgia, as well as Lara Raith, head of the White Court vamps. On the home front, Harry has to deal with his apprentice Molly (who has grown up fast!) and her interest in dark magic. Also, it’s worth noting that Harry has gotten used to relying on Thomas for backup. In Turn Coat, Thomas suddenly goes missing and Harry has to deal on his own. We also find out that Mouse, Harry’s Foo dog, has quite a few abilities, including acting.

Turn Coat involves a myriad of characters, leading to a sprawling plot line. However, it ensures that the action never quits and that we learn much more about characters who were previously sidelined, including leaders of the White Council, Captain Luccio and more. As usual, Harry’s sardonic sense of humor will make you laugh out loud. Overall a fun, excellent read—just what the wizard ordered.

51kp1vk4pol_sl160_My only regret is that Bob the skull only made one appearance, and a late one at that—you won’t see him until Chapter 29!

Preview the first five chapters, posted on Jim Butcher’s website, and make sure to enter my giveaway!

The Dresden Files-Turn Coat Giveaway!

March 23, 2009 in Fantasy, Giveaway, Urban | 1 comment

51kp1vk4pol_sl160_Thanks to the great people at ROC, I have two copies of Jim Butcher’s TURN COAT (Book 11 of the Dresden Files) for giveaway!

Contest open to everyone.  Just send an email to me at dayapillaiATgmailDOTcom with “Turn Coat” in the subject line and your full mailing address. I will draw names April 12, so have your entries sent in by April 11.

The two winners will be notified by email—good luck!

Don’t forget to check out the first five chapters on Jim Butcher’s site.

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