Review #4: Undead in My Bed

Title: Undead in My Bed
Author: Katie MacAlister, Molly Harper, Jessica Sims
Series: N/A
Released Date: September 25, 2012
Type: Vampire, Paranormal Romance, Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Humor

****
A sizzling vampire romance anthology featuring enticing novellas from beloved and bestselling authors Katie MacAlister, Jessica Sims, and Molly Harper.

In “Shades of Gray” by Katie MacAlister, Noelle is a Guardian: a demon-wrangler, imp-banisher, and all-round secret protector of humans from the Otherworld. While working on the set of a ghost-busting reality show in a haunted castle, she meets a sexy vampire, and together they prevent a Master Demon from killing everyone in the castle.

In “Undead Sublet” by Molly Harper, executive chef Tess Maitland is banned from her five-star kitchen in Chicago to recover from “exhaustion.” Choosing a random rental house in Half-Moon Hollow to spend time in, she’s unaware that the house comes with a strange man. Even though Sam Masden’s ex-wife has rented the house out from under him, the divorce settlement allows him access to it for another ninety days. With Tess unable to go anywhere else, and Sam unwilling, a war of epic proportions is declared—and romantic sparks and heavy pots fly.

Jessica Sims’s “Out With a Fang” features Ruby Sommers, a lonely were-jaguar who signs up for a blind date through the paranormal dating agency Midnight Liaisons. When she arrives, she finds out that her date, a vampire, was the human she’d been in love with four years ago but was forced to dump.

*****

Shades of Gray - As a lover of the Dark Ones series, let me just say that, again, another good story. Katie MacAlister again applies characteristics to the leading lady here just like the others from past works in the series. Noelle, the leading lady, becomes the Knight or in this case, Lady in shining armor who comes to the rescue of the damsel--lad--in distress. Sorry, Man in distress. With her unwavering faith, determination and confidence in herself, Noelle truly not only one heck of a Guardian, but also a true Beloved. 

Undead Sublet - All I can say is that Molly accomplish something past novels failed to do. It made me want to cry, laugh and be in awe when I was reading this short story. Tess and Sam's journey was rocky at first and I agree with Tess on some things that I think I can relate to. Though I have no current love interest as of now, I too want to strangle Sam for the friend's comment. If he really likes Tess, why can't he just make it obvious?? Not making some insane comment like "...I thought we were friends..." 

Out with a Fang - Like the previous story, this too has the friends-with-benefits assumptions. A shifter with a sweet, somewhat-innocent name like Ruby...the name just doesn't go with the kick-ass-ask-questions-later personality, in my opinion. But I think it adds to her appeal because, as portrayed in the story, looks are definitely deceiving. The guy, Michael, is kinda coming off weak here despite its strong moments compared to the were-jaguar. For me, this story comes off bland, okay maybe a little okay but it just isn't for me. 

Overall rate: 3/5

Review #3: A Tale of Two Vampires

Title: A Tale of Two Vampires
Author: Katie MacAlister
Series: Dark Ones - Book 10
Released Date: September 4, 2012
Type: Young Adult, Vampire, Paranormal Romance

Time isn’t always on a vampire’s side....

Iolanthe Tennyson has had a very bad year—due in part to the very bad men in her life. So she’s accepted her cousin’s invitation to spend the summer in Austria to indulge her photography hobby. Rumors of a haunted forest there draw Iolanthe into the dark woods—and into the eighteenth century....

Nikola Czerny is a cursed man, forced by his half brothers to live forever as a Dark One. But his miserable existence takes an intriguing turn when a strange, babbling woman is thrown in his path. Iolanthe claims to know Nikola’s daughter—three hundred years in the future. She also knows what fate—in the form of his murderous half brothers—has in store for him. If only she knew the consequences of changing the past to save one good, impossibly sexy vampire...

The story...its good if you're one of the vampire-loving kind. Its great, as expected of Katie MacAlister. Just like the rest of her past novels, its witty, with a loveable, chauvinist, Dark One, a funny and in this case, mundane Beloved(who turned out to be more as the story progresses) and some the quirky characters you'd expect from the last books.

Here we are in the time where Ben and Fran are happily together for a few months now, Imogen's interesting live-life with a Viking ghost, and other characters from Ben and Fran's story. Nikola, which turns out to be more than a regular guy in the story, is sweet, endearing and has an adorable habit of writing down everything that confuses him, as as his right seeing that he's a self-proclaimed scientist.

When Imogen's lady-in-waiting, or nanny, or whatever you call her, was introduced as an Christian fanatic who calls Io some devil's partner and other rude stuff, at first I laughed at her but as the story progressed, she got more irritating by the second. I'd strangle her if I was there. Thank God, for Io has a patience of a saint. What's funny about the go-back-time situation was the French pink head, the gay guy who ogles his master's behind. I think that's the reason why Nikola took him as his foreman. I mean, all of Nikola's house staff are either different, or has some really odd quirks. I think that's sweet of him, as much as he tries to deny, and blather about how he wasn't the master of his own castle and being his chauvinist self. :P

Iolanthe, bless her, is as good, as courageous and as interesting as the other female leads in the other novels because they were willing to put up with the martyred expressions of their Dark Ones and are as fiercely protective of them as the guys are to the them. Though, it would've been nice if they did get to meet the past characters from the other books, because I just love reunions!!

And for that, I rated it at: 5/5

 

Review #2: The Lost Prince

Title: The Lost Prince
Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: Call of the Forgotten - Book 1
Released Date: October 23, 2012
Type: Young Adult, Faery, Romance


After waiting for three months, Julie Kagawa's new installment, The Lost Prince, comes out with a bang.

It was thrilling knowing about the prophecy from the Iron Prophecy about Ethan and Keirran fighting to the death and Ethan dying(not sure about that...) and that Ethan, being all broody and suspicious as he was, knew right away that Meghan and later Puck was hiding something that could possibly involve him.

First off, I like the introduction of Ethan Chase as a troubled, broody, anti-social teenager. He comes off the last book as a few years older than a four-year old, serious and like he had a lot a trauma after the kidnapping incident. Too much for an innocent little boy to experience. Later, its revealed that he trained Kali, a type of Filipino martial arts, using sticks as a substitute for knives or swords.


As a Filipino myself, I was really ecstatic that Ms. Kagawa used my country's martial art, showing that Filipino culture and influence interest foreigners no matter how simple and ordinary it may be locals.

Mackenzie St. James. She has one depressingly sad story. Being ignored by her father, who thought probably reminded him of his dead wife, and having cancer... Despite that, I like her spunky attitude, quick wit and her smartness. What I don't like about her is being freakishly nosy. And pushy. Man, that girl is one dog with a bone, and  a pain in the ass. Well, after all she went through, I kinda admire Kenzie for her determination to live life to the fullest even if there is danger lurking everywhere.

Now for that cat...I liked Grimalkin at the past series; his witty remarks, air of superiority, and doesn't-care-for-shit aura. But now, Ethan's reaction to him kind of affected me too. I think. Because now, I'm also irritated with that stupid cat and sometimes want to strangle him for his annoying come backs. But maybe that wouldn't last, maybe he'll change a little in the next book.

I thought Kierran was a nice guy...kind of like Ash with a dash of humanity from Meghan. At least now I know what would probably lead to the foretold event. Why, oh freaking why, would he team up with the enemy? Yes, I could understand that he feels sorry for them, knowing they were only trying to survive...but what the hell?!...These twists of events are really riling me up, which is exactly what Ms. Kagawa wanted(I think). I'm not complaining though, because it keeps readers like myself wanting more of her books. (Awesome!!)

Kenzie and Ethan's story kinda reminds of the novel, then later a movie, A Walk to Remember, where Jamie has leukemia, and the guy, Logan I thinks, kept her happy and make her dream come true. Makes me wonder now, that if Kenzie is nearing her end, what would Ethan do for her? Would he find a way to be with the girl he loves(just like Ash), or would he just treasure each remaining moment with her??

And despite the bleak future ahead for our heroes--and heroines--I'm not giving up hope, so maybe in the end everything would work out for the better. Hopefully.

So, for this book, I rate it at: 4.5/5

Review #1: The Mark of Athena

The Mark of Athena

Rick Riordan

Pages: (including the glossary) 586

Release Date: October 2, 2012
Type: Young Adult, Romance, Adventure, Greek, Roman Mythology
Rating: 4.5

After waiting, and waiting, and waiting for this to come out--a whole year even!! I almost wished that it would come out faster but after reading this, I guess the best novels only comes out after a long time--meaning all that work and waiting was totally worth it.. WORTH IT!!!

Anyway, it really excelled my expectations on this series. I've read some fan-made Chapter ones of this book but not one of them came near to what really happened. Love the cover( Rocco is the BEST!!) and I have to admit, like the boys thought, I wonder who was really stronger, Percy or Jason?

*SPOILERS*

The scene where they worked together--a son of Poseidon and a son of Jupiter--to fight off those Romans..Man, that was awesome. I mean, yeah they were the sons of two of the most powerful Gods--Greek and Roman--why did I think otherwise? If they could control that much power, I can't wait to see what would happen next.

I'm seriously pissed off at that Octavian--all talk and no act--he's just a wimp, a coward, who hides behind others instead of fighting like a real Roman should. He deserves what's coming at him. Another guy I don't like, Bacchus, the God of winos. That guy is so close to Mr. D. than I thought. He's lazy, and full of himself. Well, I guess I can't fault him for that, he is a God after all.

I'm kinda sad about Leo being a seventh wheel. Now that I think of it, he's just like Grover in some ways; sweet, funny, wants to impress everybody(mainly girls), and sometimes feels alone despite having great friends around him. I really wish that by the 4th or 5th book, he'll have someone special who'll appreciate him and see him as more than a friend, who see him as someone who's special in his own way.

I love the way the book ended with a cliff-hanger. As much as I hate those, I still love it because made me want to want more, to know what would happen in Tartarus--was it really beyond horrible as Nico described it? Would there be super hard obstacles that Percy and Annabeth wouldn't be able to pass? Would they succeed in closing the Doors without tragedy following them? Guess I just have to wait it out.

I truly hope that PercyxAnnabeth & PiperxJason would survive this. Frank, Leo and Hazel better get over this love triangle their in; I don't know who would end up with who and I'm not siding until I know who's better because both Leo and Frank are great guys and Hazel deserves one of them. Who will she pick, I wonder.

Not to be mean but the Gods deserve those headaches--after playing with mortals just because they wanted to...its been a long time coming. But since they are powerful and all, they should be able to straighten themselves out by the time the Great battle between Romans and Greeks and eventually against the giants since its already told in the prophecy. Another battle to look forward to.

Overall, this is one of Rick Riordan's great masterpieces. A great book that deserves to be read over and over and I just can't wait for the next books!!!!