Review: Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris

Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris (UK cover)

Title: Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse #13)
Author: Charlaine Harris
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Gollancz (7th May 2013)
Blurb:

Sookie Stackhouse has one last adventure in store.

Life has taken her from waitress in Merlotte’s Bar, Bon Temps, to part owner, from social outcast to the heart of her community; from a vampire’s girlfriend to the wife of one of the most powerful vampires in the state. She has survived explosions, revolutions and attempts on her life.

Sookie has endured betrayal, heartbreak and grief … and she has emerged a little stronger, and little wiser, every time.

But with life comes new trials…

The question is, in the end: who will love, who will live, and who will be dead ever after?

Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

Dead Ever After is the final book in Charlaine Harris’s Southern Vampire Mystery/Sookie Stackhouse series. After thirteen books, and lots of adventures we are finally saying goodbye to Sookie. I started reading this series pre-True Blood and I’m somewhat sad that things have been drawn to a conclusion, but also glad that Harris didn’t decide to continue the series perpetually.

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Review: Affliction by Laurell K. Hamilton

Affliction by Laurell K. Hamilton (UK edition)

Title: Affliction (An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Novel, #22)
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Headline (2nd July 2013)
Blurb:

HAD EVERYONE BITTEN TONIGHT CAUGHT THIS? THE OTHER BITES HAD NO LOOKED LIKE VAMPIRE BITES. THEY’D BEEN ZOMBIE, OR HUMAN LOOKING. WAS THIS INFECTION SOMETHING THAT VAMPIRES AND SHAPESHIFTERS COULD CATCH? IF IT WAS, THEN IT WAS SOMETHING NEW.

Some zombies are raised. Others must be put down. Just ask me, Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter.

Before now, I figured I could handle them. Before now, I had never heard of them causing human beings to perish in such agony. But that’s all changed.

Micah’s estranged father lies dying, rotting away inside from some strange ailment that his doctors whispering about ‘zombie disease’.

I make my living from zombies – but these aren’t the kind I know so well. These creatures hunt in daylight, and are as fast and strong as vampires. If they bite you, you become just like them. And round and round it goes . . .

Where will it stop? Even I don’t know.

Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

AFFLICTION is the twenty-second book in Laurell K. Hamilton’s epic ANITA BLAKE, VAMPIRE HUNTER series. It has been twenty years since the first book in Hamilton’s series GUILTY PLEASURES was published in 1993, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for writing this series for so long. In AFFLICTION the action hits a little too close to home. Anita gets a phone call from Micah’s estranged family that his father is dying from a strange rotting disease and has days to live. Once out there, Anita gets dragged into a very strange case.

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Review: Archangel’s Storm by Nalini Singh

Archangel’s Storm by Nalini Singh (UK cover)

Title: Archangel’s Storm (A Guild Hunter Novel, 5)
Author: Nalini Singh
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Gollancz Fiction (13th September 2012)
Source: Local Library
Blurb:

With wings of midnight and an affinity for shadows, Jason courts darkness. But now, with the Archangel Neha’s consort lying murdered and her rage threatening cataclysmic devastation, Jason steps into the light, knowing he must unearth the murderer before it is too late.

Earning Neha’s trust comes at a price – Jason must tie himself to her bloodline through Princess Mahiya, a woman with secrets so dangerous, she trusts no one. Least of all an enemy spymaster.

With only their relentless hunt for a violent, intelligent killer to unite them, Jason and Mahiya embark on a quest that leads to a centuries-old nightmate . . . and to the dark storm of an unexpected passion tht threatens to drench them both in blood.

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

Archangel’s Storm is the fifth book in Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series. The story focuses on Jason, one of the Archangel Raphael’s Seven. Singh introduces us to Princess Mahiya, who has ties to the Archangel Neha and who lives at her court. Singh also continues Dmitri and Honor’s story from Archangel’s Blade through occasional chapters.

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Review: Serpent’s Kiss by Thea Harrison

Serpent’s Kiss by Thea Harrison

Title: Serpent’s Kiss (A Novel of the Elder Races, 3)
Author: Thea Harrison
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Piatkus (5th July 2012)
Blurb:

In the lastest Novel of the Elder Races, a queen on the brink of sanity has no one to rely on except the Wyr warrior whose conviction is every bit as strong as his passion . . .

In order to save his friend’s life, Wyr sentinel Rune Ainissesthai made a bargain with vampire Queen Carling – without knowing what she would ask from him in return. But when Rune attempts to make good on his debt, he finds a woman on the edge.

Recently, Carling’s power has become erratic, forcing her followers to flee in fear. Despite the danger, Rune is drawn to the ailing queen and decides to help her find the cure for the serpent’s kiss – the vampyric disease that’s killing her. With their desire for each other escalating just as quickly as Carling’s instability spirals out of control, the sentinel and the queen will have to rely on each other if they have any hope of surviving the serpent’s kiss . . .

Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

Serpent’s Kiss is the third book in the Novel of The Elder Races series, although it is not a direct sequel to either Dragon Bound or Storm’s Heart. Instead Serpent’s Kiss takes characters from both books and draws them on to the centre stage. We see Rune in both Dragon Bound and Storm’s Heart, though Carling doesn’t appear until Storm’s Heart. It is interesting to see both Rune and Carling step forward and become the protagonists in Serpent’s Kiss, and to read Harrison fleshing the characters out. Like Dragon Bound and Storm’s Heart, Serpent’s Kiss is very definitely a book – and a series – which is aimed at an adult audience.

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Review: Written in Red by Anne Bishop

Written in Red by Anne Bishop

Title: Written in Red (A Novel of The Others, 1)
Author: Anne Bishop
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: ROC (5th March 2013)
Blurb:

No one creates realms like New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop. Now, in a thrilling new fantasy series, enter a world inhabited by the Others, unearthly entities – vampires and shape-shifers among them – who rule the earth and whose prey are humans.

As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut – a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard – a business district operated by the Others.

Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide whether she’s worth the fight between humans and Others that will surely follow.

Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

Having read Anne Bishop’s The Black Jewels series and loved the first books, but been left pretty ambivalent about the later ones, and read her The Tir Alainn Trilogy and thought it was okay when I heard the first whispers of Written in Red I was intrigued. Once I read the blurb I knew I wanted to read to read the book, and I was not disappointed.

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Review: Hidden by P.C. and Kristin Cast

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE HOUSE OF NIGHT SERIES AS HIDDEN IS THE TENTH BOOK IN THAT SERIES.

Hidden by P.C. and Kristin Cast (UK cover)

Title: Hidden (House of Night #10)
Author: P.C. and Kristin Cast
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Atom (16th October 2012)
Source: Local library
Blurb:

I’d known it before we saw the fire trucks and the smoke. I’d known all hell had broken loose at the House of Night the moment it had been proven beyond all doubt that Neferet was on the side of Darkness. Only now I had a terrible feeling that outing Neferet would serve more to free her than to force her to pay the consequences for her lies and betrayals.

At last, Zoey has what she wanted: the truth is out. Neferet’s evil has been exposed, and the High Council is no longer on her side – but she’s far from done wreaking havoc in the vampyre.

With the seeds of distrust sown and Darkness breeding chaos at the House of Night, everyone must band together – but that’s proving to be more difficult than ever before. The twins are barely speaking and the House of Night’s former enemy Kalona has now become their warrior, pushing their trust to the limits. Zoey knows that following her instincts might be just what they need to defeat evil . . . but if she’s wrong, it could cause the destruction of those closet to her.

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

Hidden is the tenth book in the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. After reading the ninth book Destined I was really looking forward to getting my hands on this book and diving straight in.

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Review: Gates of Paradise by Melissa de la Cruz

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE BLUE BLOODS SERIES AS GATES OF PARADISE IS THE FINAL BOOK IN THAT SERIES.

Gates of Paradise by Melissa de la Cruz (UK edition cover)

Title: Gates of Paradise (Blue Bloods #7)
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Atom (15th January 2013)
Blurb:

They’re Young, Fabulous and Fanged . . .

Schuyler Van Alen is running out of time. The Dark Prince is storming the Gates of Paradise, intent on defeating Schuyler and the rest of the Blue Blood coven for good. This time he has his greatest angles by his side, Abbadon and Azrael, or, as they are known in this world, Jack and Mimi Force.

Will Bliss and the wolves she has recruited to join her win the battle for the vampires? Is Schuyler prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice?

Love and vengeance, duty and loyalty, life and death, are all at odds in the gripping, heartbreaking finale of the Blue Bloods series.

Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

The final book in a series that you have loved, I always find, is hard to pick up. Gates of Paradise was no different for me. I’m sad to see the end of Melissa de la Cruz’s brilliant Blue Bloods series at an end; that Schuyler, Mimi, and Bliss’s stories are over – though I’ve heard a rumour floating around Twitter that this is not the last we shall see of this world, but we shall see.

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Review: House Rules by Chloe Neill

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRE SERIES AS HOUSE RULES IS THE SEVENTH BOOK IN THAT SERIES.

House Rules by Chloe Neill

Title: House Rules (Chicagoland Vampires #7)
Author: Chloe Neill
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Gollancz Fiction (14th February 2013)
Blurb:

In a city full of vampires, trouble never sleeps. At the tender age of 27, Merit becomes a sword-wielding vampire. Since then, she’s become the protector of her House, watched Chicago nearly burn to the ground, and seen her Master fall and rise. Now she’ll see her mettle – and her metal – tested like never before.

It started with two . . . Two rogues vanishing without a trace. Someone is targeting Chicago’s vampires, and anyone could be next. With their house in peril, Merit and her Master, the centuries old Ethan Sullivan, must race to stop the disappearances. But as they untangle a web of secret alliances and ancient evils, they realise their foe is more familiar, and more powerful, than they could ever have imagined.

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

House Rules is the seventh book in the Chicagoland Vampires series, and it continues Merit’s story. I think Merit is a really interesting character, not at all what you would expect to find as a main character who is a vampire.

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Review: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

Title: The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3)
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Penguin Books (12th February 2013)
Blurb:

AN ANCIENT MAGIC.
A HEART-WRENCHING DECISION . . .

SYDNEY SAGE IS AN ALCHEMIST.
SHE PROTECTS VAMPIRE SECRETS –
AND HUMAN LIVES.

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she is struggling to decide between following her Alchemist teachings – or her heart.

Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch, a former Alchemist who is now on the run. As Marcus pushes her to rebel, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought.

There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as Sydney searches for the person attacking powerful young witches, she realizes that she must embrace her magical blood – or else she will be next.

Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:

The Indigo Spell is the third book in Richelle Mead’s Bloodlines series, and it continues Sydney’s story. I really enjoyed the first two books in the series, so much so that I then went back and read Mead’s Vampire Academy series from which the Bloodlines series is a spin-off.

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Women of the Otherworld Challenge: 13 + International Giveaway!!

Each month beginning March 1st, 2012, challenge members will read or re-read the title for that month. In addition, challenge members will either post a review, their reading experience, character castings or anything else related to that title. You have freedom to have fun with your monthly post so be creative! Seeing as this series is 13 novels long, this challenge will last 13 months.

So this is it. The final book, and my final post for this challenge.

13 by Kelley Armstrong (UK cover)

13 (Women of the Otherworld #13)
by Kelley Armstrong
Published: 24th July 2012

13. The breath-taking, explosive finale to the Women of the Otherworld series.

War is coming to the Otherworld. A sinister cult known as The Supernatural Liberation Movement is hell-bent on exposing the truth about supernaturals to the rest of the world. Their violent, ruthless plan has put everyone at risk: from werewolves to vampires, from witches to half-demons.

Savannah Levine – fiery and unpredictable – stands at the heart of the maelstrom. There is a new, dark magic inside her, granting her the power to summon spells of terrifying strength. But whether this magic is a gift or a curse, no one knows.

On the eve of battle, all the major players must come together in a last, desperate fight for survival – Elena and Clay; Adam and Savannah; Paige and Lucas; Jeremy and Jamie; Hope, Eve and more . . . They are fighting for their lives. They are fighting for their loved ones.

They are fighting for the Otherworld.

You can find my 4 out of 5 star review for 13 here.

I had really mixed views about 13 when I first heard about it. I wasn’t totally convinced that I wanted to read it – after all, 13 represented the end of an era for me as well as the end of one of my favourite urban fantasy series.

The Women of the Otherworld series had been such a large part of my reading life since my mid/late-teens that I was somewhat disappointed to discover that there were going to be just 13 books in the series, and that the final three books were going to be Savannah’s arc. As I’m sure you know by now, if you’ve been following these posts, Elena is my favourite character. She started the series, and I was hoping that she would end the series – full circle so to speak, but that kind of already happened in Frostbitten so I’m not too disappointed.

In the end I think 13 provided a good ending to the series, and that Savannah was a good choice to lead the final arc of the series. I’m still a little sad to see the series end, but as I own a copy of all 13 books I have plenty of opportunities to re-read them – opportunities which this challenge offered me, so thank you Moonlight’s Gleam for organising and running this challenge!

>>Giveaway!

As this is my last post for the Women of the Otherworld Reading Challenge I have decided to offer ONE lucky person the chance to win ONE copy of their choice from one of the books listed below (to find out more about the book click on the link and it will take you to its Goodread page). To enter click the link to the Rafflecopter form, but don’t forget to read the rules before entering!

You could win a copy of . . .

RULES

  • To enter this giveaway you must be 18 years or older (this is due to the fact that some of the giveaway prizes are aimed at an adult audience).
  • This competition is open internationally (except where prohibited by law).
  • ONE winner of this giveaway will recieve ONE copy of a book of their choice from the list above.
  • The giveaway opens on 14th March 00:00GMT and closes on 11th April 00:00BST. Any entries recieved outside these dates will not be eligable for entry.
  • Only one entry per person is allowed.
  • The winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of the end of the giveaway.
  • The winner will need to respond to the email within 72 hours of recieving the email or a new winner will be chosen.
  • The Flutterby Room is not responsible for contacting or forwarding prizes to entrants who provide unclear or incomplete information or for entries lost, misdirected, delayed or destroyed.
  • The Flutterby Room is not responsible for any loss or damage of the prize in transit.
  • The Flutterby Room reserves the right to cancel this competition at any time without any prior warning.
  • The Flutterby Room reserves the right to disqualify any entry at any time.

PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY IDENTIFYING DETAILS (SUCH AS FULL NAME, OR EMAIL ADDRESS)  IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW. ALL SUCH COMMENTS WILL BE DELETED AS SOON AS THEY ARE NOTICED.

Link to Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck everyone!