Lord Highfire, Battle Dragon

~Highfire~
By Eoin Colfer
Amazon ~ Powell's

In the days of yore, he flew the skies and scorched angry mobs — now he hides from swamp tour boats and rises only with the greatest reluctance from his Laz-Z-Boy recliner. Laying low in the bayou, this once-magnificent fire breather has been reduced to lighting Marlboros with nose sparks, swilling Absolut in a Flashdance T-shirt, and binging Netflix in a fishing shack. For centuries, he struck fear in hearts far and wide as Wyvern, Lord Highfire of the Highfire Eyrie — now he goes by Vern. However...he has survived, unlike the rest. He is the last of his kind, the last dragon. Still, no amount of vodka can drown the loneliness in his molten core. Vern’s glory days are long gone. Or are they?

A canny Cajun swamp rat, young Everett “Squib” Moreau does what he can to survive, trying not to break the heart of his saintly single mother. He’s finally decided to work for a shady smuggler — but on his first night, he witnesses his boss murdered by a crooked constable.

Regence Hooke is not just a dirty cop, he’s a despicable human being — who happens to want Squib’s momma in the worst way. When Hooke goes after his hidden witness with a grenade launcher, Squib finds himself airlifted from certain death by…a dragon?

The swamp can make strange bedfellows, and rather than be fried alive so the dragon can keep his secret, Squib strikes a deal with the scaly apex predator. He can act as his go-between (aka familiar) — fetch his vodka, keep him company, etc. — in exchange for protection from Hooke. Soon the three of them are careening headlong toward a combustible confrontation. There’s about to be a fiery reckoning, in which either dragons finally go extinct — or Vern’s glory days are back.


So I've read almost all of Colfer's YA fare, plus a couple of his adult books now, and can I say I wasn't thrilled with the cursing in this one? I don't know if it was just part of the dialect or if it was included to make the book 'more adult', but there seemed to be an inordinate amount of cursing at times, which just put me off. I think once I knew the characters better it wasn't as jarring (and again, that may be due to my familiarity with the author's family-friendly writing), but it took a while to get to that point.

Mage & Vampire, Light & Dark, Blue & Red

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books in the Sabina Kane series or don't mind knowing major spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

~Blue-Blooded Vamp~
Sabina Kane
Book 5
By Jaye Wells
Amazon ~ Powell's

Sabina Kane is on the hunt. Her prey: Cain, the father of the vampire race and the one who murdered her family and her friends. Unfortunately, Cain is hunting Sabina, too.

The one man who holds the key to defeating Cain is, of course, Abel. A mage with secrets to spare and, hopefully, the power to match it. Unfortunately, for Sabina, he's in Rome and may not want to be found.

Sabina sets out for Italy with her friends, Giguhl and Adam Lazarus, to track down the only man who can get her the revenge she hungers for. But will he help her or oppose her? And just who is Abel, really? Worst of all, when Sabina figures out the goddess Lilith has a plan for her she realizes this trip is getting deadlier by the minute. As they say: when in Rome - SURVIVE.


Another series down in the records. Gotta say, it's a bit bittersweet to let go of these characters after 5 books together. On the one hand, it's nice that I don't have to witness their perpetual torture, but I also don't get to see them taking names and kicking ass anymore either.

The Case of the Fowl Twins’ First Magical Adventure

~The Fowl Twins~
Book 1
By Eoin Colfer
Amazon ~ Powell's

One week after their eleventh birthday, the Fowl twins--scientist Myles, and Beckett, the force of nature--are left in the care of house security (NANNI) for a single night. In that time they befriend a troll who has clawed his way through the earth's crust to the surface. Unfortunately for the troll, he is being chased by a nefarious nobleman and an interrogating nun, who both need the magical creature for their own gain, as well as a fairy-in-training who has been assigned to protect him. The boys and their new troll best friend escape and go on the run. Along the way they get shot at, kidnapped, buried, arrested, threatened, killed (temporarily), and discover that the strongest bond in the world is not the one forged by covalent electrons in adjacent atoms, but the one that exists between a pair of twins.

It seems I haven't yet reviewed most of Colfer's books on here yet, despite having read (nearly all of) and loved (most of) them. Seems I'll need to rectify that someday...

Picking up a few years after our last foray with the Fowl family, the more things change the more they stay the same. The Fowls are still involved with their own hobbies, operating mostly within the law but finding it best to ask forgiveness than permission. Artemis has turned his attention to space, and is actually on his way to Mars at the moment. But Myles and Beckett are about to discover that the bedtime stories he told them weren't as fictional as they assumed.

Welcome To Artemis

~Artemis~
By Andy Weir
Amazon ~ Powell's

Jazz Bashara is a criminal.

Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you're not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. So smuggling in the occasional harmless bit of contraband barely counts, right? Not when you've got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent.

Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down. But pulling off the impossible is just the start of her problems, as she learns that she's stepped square into a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself—and that now, her only chance at survival lies in a gambit even riskier than the first.


Having not read Weir's previous book, The Martian, I didn't know what to expect. Would it be too science-y to get into? Would I get lost in too much detail? I heard it was about "a heist on the moon" but would it be enough to keep me engaged? Well...yes.

It's Part of the Game When You're an Inquiry Agent

~The Inquiry Agent~
By William King
Amazon

London 1841: a city on the edge. Corruption is everywhere. The poor are starving in the streets. The wealthy fear an explosion of anarchy and insurrection.

Amidst the turmoil, a wealthy merchant and his spoiled, beautiful ward hire former Bow Street Runner Jack Brodie to recover incriminating documents from the lawless rogues that robbed them. It is no easy task even for a man with Brodie's criminal connections because an old and vicious enemy has returned from the penal colony of New South Wales seeking vengeance for the slaying of his brother. As Brodie hunts through the thieves dens hidden in the rookeries of Dickensian London, it is only a matter of time before their paths cross and murderous violence ensues.


Got this free on Amazon ages ago. Looking for stand-alone books to serve me in the middle of other series, I finally got around to reading it.

He Gave Me the Devil’s Own Smile

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books, Red-Headed Stepchild, The Mage In Black, and Green-Eyed Demon, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

~Silver-Tongued Devil~
Sabina Kane
Book 4
By Jaye Wells
Amazon ~ Powell's

Now that the threat of war has passed, Sabina Kane is ready to focus on the future. Her relationship with Adam Lazarus is getting stronger and she's helping her sister, Maisie, overcome the trauma of her captivity in New Orleans. Even Giguhl is managing to stay out of trouble thanks to the arrival of Pussy Willow and his new roller derby team. But as much as Sabina wants to feel hopeful about the future, part of her doesn't believe that peace is possible.

Her suspicions are confirmed when a string of sadistic murders threatens to stall treaty negotiations between the mages and the vampires. Sabina pitches in to find the killer, but her investigation soon leads her down dark paths that have her questioning everyone she thought she could trust. And the closer she gets to the killer, the more Sabina begins to suspect this is one foe she may not be able to kill.


It's been a while since I was last in Sabina's world, but it took no time at all to ease myself back into their story and get hooked again.

Getting a Green Light from the Universe

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books, Red-Headed Stepchild & The Mage In Black, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

~Green-Eyed Demon~
Sabina Kane
Book 3
By Jaye Wells
Amazon ~ Powell's

Things to do:

1. Rescue sister.
2. Murder grandmother.
3. Don't upset the voodoo priestess.

The clock is ticking for Sabina Kane. Her sister has been kidnapped by her grandmother, the Dark Races are on the brink of war, and a mysterious order is manipulating everyone behind the scenes.

Working on information provided by an unlikely ally, Sabina and her trusty sidekicks--a sexy mage named Adam Lazarus and Giguhl, a Mischief demon--head to New Orleans to begin the hunt for her sister. Once there, they must contend with belligerent werewolves, magic-wielding vampires and - perhaps most frightening of all - humans.

But as much as Sabina is focused on surviving the present, the past won't be ignored. Before she can save those she cares about most, she must save herself from the ghosts of her past.


I had a feeling I'd get to add a LGBT tag to one of these, and I was finally right! Absolutely LOVED Brooks as soon as he came on page. While arguably not a main character, Brooks and Giguhl's interactions were gold, and with my own sibling in a similar situation, I'm happy to add the tag. It didn't feel tacked on at all, as Brooks did play a major part in the story, and his history was nicely fleshed out. Overall, I wish Brooks could continue in the series...

Black With the Shadow of Fear

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous book, Red-Headed Stepchild, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for it.
SPOILER ALERT

~The Mage in Black~
Sabina Kane
Book 2
By Jaye Wells
Amazon ~ Powell's

Sabina Kane doesn't have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, the leader of the vampire race, just tried to kill her. When she arrives in New York to meet the mage side of her family, the reunion takes the fun out of dysfunctional.

On top of that, the Hekate Council wants to use her as a pawn in the brewing war against the vampires. Her mission will take her into the bowels of New York's Black Light district, entangles her in mage politics, and challenges her beliefs about the race she was raised to distrust. And Sabina thought vampires were bloodthirsty.


A nice, quick read following a tortuous series of ugh. You know, it's nice to be reading a book and actually enjoy what's going on. And it's another plus when the % complete ticker actually moves up at a decent pace. It took me 5 days to read this book, whereas the last took 5 months. And that book was YA!

All Vampires Have Red Hair

~Red-Headed Stepchild~
Sabina Kane
Book 1
By Jaye Wells
Amazon ~ Powell's

In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she's on. She's never brought her work home with her---until now.

This time, it's personal.


You know, I'd forgotten what it was like just to read something without analyzing it. I really didn't have to think about much of anything, just go with the flow. But then, kick-ass female protagonists in paranormal romance are kind of my fluff genre.

Murdered on the First Day of Comic-Con

~The Con Artist~
By Fred Van Lente
Amazon ~ Powell's

This illustrated mystery will appeal to comic book fans and anyone who appreciates an unconventional whodunit.

Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, seeking sanctuary with other fans and creators—and maybe to reunite with his ex—but when his rival is found murdered, he becomes the prime suspect. To clear his name, Mike will have to navigate every corner of the con, from zombie obstacle courses and cosplay flash mobs to intrusive fans and obsessive collectors, in the process unraveling a dark secret behind one of the industry’s most legendary creators.

I didn't know anything about this book before I saw it shared by it's publisher, Quirk, on their Facebook feed, but I picked it up at exactly the right time. Coming just off the heels of this year's Comic Con (no, I didn't attend - I'm not that nuts! Or wealthy) it was easy to smirk at the plethora of references to current 'announcements', events, and typical Con behavior.

Full of Joy and Triumph and Victory

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous book, Grave Mercy, or don't mind knowing some spoilers for it. Dark Triumph, however, will remain spoiler-free.
SPOILER ALERT

~Dark Triumph~
His Fair Assassin
Book 2
By Robin LaFevers
Amazon ~ Powell's

Vengeance is Divine.

Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. Naturally skilled in the arts of both death and seduction, Sybella, the convent realizes, is one of their most dangerous weapons.

But those assassin's skills are little help when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?


Hold on to something because this book hits the ground running. Coming fresh from Grave Mercy, I knew a little of what to expect, but that introduction threw me for a loop. Whereas book one started slowly, building up the world and introducing the characters one by one, Sybella's story starts right in the thick of things and doesn't slow down once. Even continuing straight off the last book, I still had to take a breath, get my head in the game, and start over after the fourth chapter.

But enough of comparisons, let's get down to what this book offers on its own.

This Girl Is Destroying Me

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous book, Shatter Me, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for it. Destroy Me, however, will remain spoiler-free.
SPOILER ALERT

~Destroy Me~
Shatter Me
Book 1.5
By Tahereh Mafi
Amazon ~ Powell's

Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.

Set after Shatter Me and before its sequel, Unravel Me, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.


Okay, Mafi, I'll say it. You've got balls.

I believe I said in my review of Shatter Me that Warner was a character I hated to love. He was that kind of stalker boyfriend who thought he owned you and you should be grateful for his affections, but even when you made it abundantly clear you were fine without him, thank you very much, he just shrugs off your complaints as playing hard to get, being childish, or not knowing what's best for yourself. He made a great villain, someone easy to root against.

And then this novella happened.