A Hard Day's Knight

Title: A Hard Day's Knight

Author: Simon R. Green

Series: Nightside, Bk 11

Publisher: Penguin

ISBN: 9781101475232

Length: 304 pages

Obtained: Library OverDrive ebook copy

Comments:

The Nightside and Arthur, Camelot, and the Knights of the Round Table - or in this case, the London Knights.

The series is coming to a close and you can feel it in this book.  Threads that have been lingering are being tied up, and the Nightside is in a strange place between staying the same and changing, complete with the beginning stages of a major war.  Of course, that isn't unusual for the Nightside.  John has already been through two other wars recently.

I only read one book prior to this one recently to remind me of what is going on, so you probably could just jump in.  However, I would definitely recommend starting from the beginning of the series so you can both watch John's growth and get a good feel for the Nightside and all its characters.  I'm both excited and dreading the next, and final, book of this series - The Bride Wore Black Leather.

Coyote Tales

Title: Coyote Tales

Author: Thomas King ; Illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler

Publisher: Groundwood Books

ISBN: 9781554988358

Length: 56 pages

Obtained: Library Hoopla ebook copy

Comments:

Thomas King was recommended to me as a Canadian author from a co-worker.  He was born in the US and but has lived and worked in Canada for decades; he is from Ontario.  Byron Eggenschwiler is an illustrator from Alberta, Canada.

Coyote Tales includes two stories.  The first is "Coyote Sings to the Moon" a story that explains both the coyote's cry and the different phases of the moon.  The second is "Coyote's New Suit" in which the most tricky and scheming character is actually Raven.  Both stories contain black and white illustrations along the way to contribute to the story.

Both stories were brief and fun.

The Boneless Mercies

Title: The Boneless Mercies

Author: April Genevieve Tucholke

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Macmillan)

ISBN: 9780374307066

Length: 352 pages

Obtained: Download from Edelweiss+

Comments:

I just signed up for Edelweiss and was whitelisted for all Macmillan titles.  I was picking my first book and wanted to make sure it would be one I would definitely read... the right one.  When I saw this one includes girls in "the death trade" and was a standalone, I just had to read it.  My interest in assassin-type books is apparently never ending.

The Boneless Mercies are girls and women trained in the art of the "mercy killing."  For those who are frail and dying, they can seek a quick death by inviting these girls, marked by their cloaks, to finish their lives - for a price.  Ever since the Mercy that trained them passed, Frey, Ovie, Juniper, and Runa have been growing weary of their work in the death trade.  But they've recently heard of a beast that remains undefeated despite many warriors fighting to stop it.  This is their chance to change their futures.  Meeting with cruel men, Sea Witches, and others along the way, they will fight for what might be.

I liked Frey and her fellow traveling companions.  Each of the girls and Trigve, the young man they had added to their group along the way, reveal their different characters and (mostly tragic) backgrounds as the story progresses. 

I also appreciated the bits about Norse culture and mythology that was interspersed throughout the story, including their attitudes toward death and strong oral history.  The Boneless Mercies are quiet and not mentioned in the tales, but Frey wants to make an impression that will be passed down like the other sagas and chronicles that the Norse share.

While not necessarily what I might have expected, I enjoyed the story and finished it quickly.

The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny

Title: The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny

Author: Simon R. Green

Series: Nightside, Bk 10

ISBN: 9781101171455

Obtained: Library ebook copy

Comments:

I decided it is about time I finish this series.  Unfortunately, I forgot that I had already read this one.  All worked out, though, because while scenes were vaguely familiar as I read them, I remembered nothing in advance.  I do have a post from the first time I read this, but I will not be reading it until after I've written this one so I can provide fresh impressions.

I felt like I had already been through the bulk of the story, and then saw that I had just finished chapter 2.  The majority of this book was like that.  Loosely linked together with some connected threads, but told in what seemed more like short stories or episodes.  I do still enjoy this series, but I can tell I've forgotten a lot.  In that sense, the way this is written allowed me to be reintroduced to a number of characters that I recognize from throughout the series, but didn't distinctly remember.

And now I am ready to read book 11, A Hard Day's Knight.

I've gone back and re-read my first post, and I thinking I may need to re-read the other books in this series as well.  Apparently, I last read this in 2010.  What was I thinking to let such time pass by!

A is for Alibi

Title: A is for Alibi 

Author: Sue Grafton

Series: Kinsey Millhone, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781429901345

Obtained: Library ebook copy

Comments:

It took me awhile to finish this not because of the story, which I found interesting and enjoyed, but because of the format.  Until the day I finished it, I was pretty much only reading it when I could cram it in on the desk at work, which has been very busy lately.

Anyway, I did find myself noting some very small parts that were dated (primarily, the lack of cell phones meant Kinsey's job traveling from place to place left her using answering services and scrambling to keep up with any calls or clues she received in her investigation).  But overall the story seemed to age pretty well.

I has issue with the dog scenes.  I can't go into too much detail, but apparently Kinsey doesn't care for dogs - or at least large ones - and that bothered me.  The sex scenes startled me with their presence, but they were pretty brief, presumably because the main focus of these books isn't romance.

I look forward to starting B is for Burglar.  Perhaps that will be my next ebook, or perhaps I will wait for things to calm down.

Elementary, She Read

Title: Elementary, She Read

Author: Vicki Delaney [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Eva Gates [Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Series: Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781683310969

Obtained: NetGalley

Why this book?:

I loved the cover, the Shelock Holmes Bookstore idea was appealing, and I've read and enjoyed Vicki Delany's books before.

Comments:

I enjoyed this book.  I liked Gemma, despite that manner that likens her to Sherlock.  The setting was fun (I've always liked the idea of owning a bookstore, and the Sherlock bit was particularly interesting to contemplate).  And while I did not have good feelings about the bad guy, I also didn't guess that he/she was the bad guy; I thought he/she was just not a likable character.

I look forward to reading more in this series.

Death by Chocolate Lab

Title: Death by Chocolate Lab

Author: Bethany Blake [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Kensington Books

Series: Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781496707383

Obtained: NetGalley

Why this book?:

I was drawn first to the title, then to the description, and the cover is cute too.

Comments:

Daphne Templeton has a deep love for animals and a pretty laissez faire attitude about life.  She lives (mostly rent free) with her sister, has a beat down van on its last legs with painted side panels advertising her business (kinda - painting vehicles isn't her friend's forte), and a junky phone that isn't always charged or functioning.  She also has a doctorate in philosophy and a vegetarian lifestyle.  Her vet sister has placed a cap on how many dogs/animals she can have in the house at a time, and she's only allowed to keep one - her basset hound, Socrates.

I find animal cozy mysteries enjoyable to start with, though they can sometimes get a little "preachy" - this one didn't feel preachy at all.  I was also strangely envious of how Daphne could be strapped for cash and yet calm and not stressed.  She's obviously intelligent and yet doesn't feel pressured to "succeed" even when her mother and sister both fuss at her.  And then there was the humor which kept me going strong, reading into the night and not reading my book discussion book when I ought to have been.

With all that, the mystery didn't even matter as much, but fortunately, I found that interesting too.  Daphne's sister's ex has been murdered, and while he was basically not well liked by anyone, her sister is the prime suspect.  So Daphne pokes around, causing trouble and showing that she can be determined when she wants.

Some people don't like romance in their mysteries.  I do, as long as it doesn't overtake the rest of the story, so I found the interaction between Daphne and Detective Jonathan Black interesting and fun.

Anyway, I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Dial Meow for Murder... I've already requested my library purchase both books.

And Then There Were None

Title: And Then There Were None

Author: Agatha Christie [Website] aka Mary Westmacott

Publisher: Harper

ISBN: 9780062073471 and 9780061739255

Length: 247 pages

Obtained: Library book kit copy and Library eBook

Why this book?:

I was interested in the story, I enjoy Agatha Christie, I wanted to attend the book discussion that this was being read for.

Comments:

I've never read this before or watched the movie, and while I had a general idea that it had one person die after another, I was not aware of the ending.

The characters were interesting, though being who they were, some of their thought processes were unfathomable to me.  Also, I found the play on levels of guilt and whether the characters are really guilty of accusations or not fascinating.  The setting and poem/rhyme added a fun aspect to the mystery and how it was unfolded to the reader. 

I really enjoyed this story and trying to puzzle it out.  I have read one Hercule Poirot book, and two Miss Marple books, but now I know I need to pay particular attention to some of Agatha's stand alone novels as well.  I also enjoyed the discussion and will have to check out some of the movie variations, as they were frequently mentioned.

The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden

Title: The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden

Author: Jonas Jonasson [Website] ; Translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles [Website]

Publisher: HarperCollins

ISBN: 9780062329134

Obtained: Library ebook copy

Why this book?:

Really enjoyed the first book I read by this author, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.

Comments:

Loved it.  Jonas Jonasson is becoming a must read author for me.  His books have fabulous humor, touch on worldwide politics and events without getting bogged down, feature characters in the most unlikely scenarios, and have that great story-teller 'what might be based on a semblance of truth and what is ALL fiction?' thing.

Jonas has a third book, Hitman Anders and the Meaning of It All, that I am interested in reading as well.

Bright Blaze of Magic

Title: Bright Blaze of Magic

Author: Jennifer Estep [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Kensington

Series: Black Blade, Bk 3

ISBN: 9781617738296

Obtained: Library ebook copy

Why this book?:

Love the author and series.  Thieves!

Comments:

I loved this book (of course).  Lila is a great character who (as I've come to expect of Jennifer Estep's protagonists) has excellent problem solving skills and will do what it takes to protect family and friends.  Devon, Felix, Deah, and the rest are also great.  There is darkness and evil, and then there are those who stand up to it.

So anyway, while there is potential for future books (please, let there be more!), this rather felt like the end of a trilogy rather than the 3rd book in a longer series.  Hopefully, it was just the end of a story arc.  That's certainly happened in the Elemental Assassin series.  Not that I wish more craziness for Lila, but I don't want it to be over!

The Body in the Library

Title: The Body in the Library

Author: Agatha Christie [Website] aka Mary Westmacott

Publisher: HarperCollins

Series: Miss Marple Mystery, Bk 2

ISBN: 9780061739521

Obtained: Library ebook

Why this book?:

I needed a "book published 15 years ago or more" for the Summer Reading bingo.  I decided to interpret that as original publication date.  Plus I had read the first in both the Miss Marple and poirot series, but hadn't gone further.

Note:

I just read back my commentary about the first book in this series, The Murder at the Vicarage, and realized I claimed I would read them all in audio.  Obviously that didn't happen.

Comments:

I enjoyed this mystery.  It flowed better for me than some vintage mysteries have, and I enjoyed the story line.  I was, of course particularly interested in the body being in a library.  I'm no Miss Marple and I did not detect the circumstances.  Which meant I was able to enjoy the unraveling of the plotting and scheming that goes hand in hand with this type of story.  Fun; I'll have to be quicker about reading the next book.

Undone Deeds

Title: Undone Deeds

Author:  Mark Del Franco [Website][Facebook]

Publisher: ACE Fantasy (Penguin Group)

Series: Connor Grey, Bk 6

ISBN: 9781101578667

Length: 336 pages

Obtained: Library ebook copy

Why this book?:  The is the final book in the series.  I had to see how it all ended.

Comments:

As it turns out, I do not really know what to say about this one.  Connor is scrambling, things are crumbling.  The world is on the verge of war, starting in Boston.  A war between Celtic fey, Teutonic fey, the Dead, Solitaires, and humans.  The end is a whirl of confusion that, quite frankly, was difficult for me to follow.  And "that's all there is; there ain't no more."  Because I have no other thoughts on the matter.

Uncerain Allies (Connor Grey, Bk 5) AND New Tricks ; Unleashed ; Play Dead (Dog Days, Bks 2-4)

Uncertain Allies (Connor Grey, Bk 5)

Author:  Mark Del Franco [Website][Facebook]

Publisher: ACE Fantasy

Series: Connor Grey, Bk 5

ISBN: 9781101514078

Length: 308 pages

Obtained: Library ebook copy

Why this book?:  I've been reading the series.

New Tricks (Dog Days, Bk 2)

Author: John Levitt [Website] aka J. R. Levitt

Publisher: Ace Books

Series: Dog Days, Bk 2

ISBN: 9781440642814

Length: 320 pages

Obtained: Library ebook copy

Why this book?:

I've been reading the series.

Unleashed (Dog Days, Bk 3)

Author: John Levitt [Website] aka J. R. Levitt

Publisher: Ace Books

Series: Dog Days, Bk 3

ISBN: 9781101151532

Length: 304 pages

Obtained: Library ebook copy

Why this book?:

I've been reading the series.

Play Dead (Dog Days, Bk 4)

Author: John Levitt [Website] aka J. R. Levitt

Publisher: Ace Books

Series: Dog Days, Bk 4

ISBN: 9781101477786

Length: 304 pages

Obtained: Library ebook copy

Why this book?:

I've been reading the series.


Comments:

I was on something of a Urban Fantasy kick, finishing up some series I had started.  I read all of these in December 2014.

Uncertain Allies - More of the world tearing apart and Connor being blamed for at least some of it.  By this point I was ready for Connor to get a break.

New Tricks - Mason doesn't clue in about something pretty big, and his poor judgment of character was very annoying.  But otherwise I guess the book was okay.

Unleashed - The title says it all.  Bad stuff has been unleashed on the world.  Mason must fix this (not only to save the world, but because he is at least partially to blame).

Play Dead - The cliffhanger ending, combined with the fact that this is likely the last book (no more are planned), has overwhelmed the rest of the story for me.  What on Earth?

Anyway, this meant the end to the Dog Days series, and I finished the final Connor Grey book, Undone Deeds, in the new year (post to come).  You know what I was thinking as I read these?  I want another Twenty Palaces book by Harry Connolly (another series that is gone).  ::sigh::  Maybe I'll finally read some of the Dresden series soon (as almost EVERYONE refers to it when speaking of male-author urban fantasy series).

Dog Days

Title: Dog Days

Author: John Levitt [Website] aka J. R. Levitt

Publisher: Penguin

Series: Dog Days, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781101208663

Length: 304 pages

Obtained: Library ebook copy

Why this book?:

I saw another book in this series on Wowbrary and it caught my interest.  But I read series in order, so this one needed to come first.  I didn't want to wait for ILL so I requested my library purchase the ebook.

Comments:

Mason is a magic practitioner with a dog-like companion (an Ifrit) name Lou/Louie.  He's not very invested in his magic.  He uses it sure, but he doesn't put much into it.  Music is more his thing.  But someone seems to have a problem with him, and he's found himself in some sticky situations.  Situations that may or may not be related to some strange goings-on.

I enjoyed reading this, though I had trouble with one part.  The reasoning in the book is that people familiar with magic and Ifrits just expect things to happen a certain way, but... Well it bothered me, but I moved past it, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series, New Tricks.

Finding Noel

Title: Finding Noel

Author: Richard Paul Evans [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

ISBN: 9780743298339

Length: 320 pages

Obtained: Library ebook version

Why this book?:

It is the December book club selection.

Comments:

When I first learned that we'd be doing this book for the discussion (when I took the group back in June or so), I was like "great" (dripping in sarcasm).  When I read the description for the publicity I switched to intrigued.  When I started reading it I zipped through.  I found the writing to be fluid.  The story interesting.  The characters likable.

Mark is living Salt Lake City, Utah.  His life is crumbling... he's lost his scholarship and is out of school, he received a letter from his girlfriend of 4 years breaking their relationship off because she met someone else and is engaged.  He has a crummy car that just stopped working and a crummy job that will make affording car repairs difficult.  But most of all his beloved mother has passed.  Then he meets Macy and life events start snowballing, though maybe for the better this time (Is that possible?  For things to snowball uphill rather than down?)

Anyway, I saw some of the reviews on Goodreads, and I know not everyone agrees with me about the quality of this book/story.  But we are barely into December (at the time of writing this), and I've already finished the month's book.  So I look forward to hear what any of the other participants think.

And while I won't be doing so soon for time reasons, I wouldn't have any problems trying another book by this author.

Shakespeare's Christmas

Title: Shakespeare's Christmas

Author: Charlaine Harris [Website][Facebook][IMDb]

Publisher: Penguin Group

Series: Lily Bard Mystery, Bk 3

ISBN: 9781440635014

Length: 241 pages

Obtained: Library ebook copy

Why this book?:

I'm working my way through this series and this ebook was convenient.

Comments:

While most of this book is NOT set in Shakespeare, I still enjoyed it as a look into Lily's family, as well as her budding relationship.

Lily's sister is getting married and Lily has come home to face the whispers and fill the part of bridesmaid for her sister.  It's stressful, but she's managing.  It helps that her romantic interest has surprised her by showing up and offering moral support.  The problem?  Oh, just a case of a kidnapped child and some murders.

While I tend to prefer reading holiday book around the holiday taking place this one wasn't too overwhelmingly Christmas and I still enjoyed it.  I did guess the bad guy, but it was a gut feeling and not something based on the clues (though I'm sure they were there).

Anyway, I will be continuing the series with Shakespeare's Trollop.

Hexed, Hammered, Tricked, Two Ravens and One Crow, Trapped

Title: Hexed

Author: Kevin Hearne

Publisher: Ballantine Books Del Rey

Series: Iron Druid Chronicles, Bk 2

ISBN: 9780345522498

Obtained: Library copy

Title: Hammered

Author: Kevin Hearne

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

Series: Iron Druid Chronicles, Bk 3

ISBN: 9780345522542

Obtained: Library ebook copy

Title: Tricked

Author: Kevin Hearne

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

Series: Iron Druid Chronicles, Bk 4

ISBN: 9780345534637

Obtained: Library ebook copy

Title: Two Ravens and One Crow

Author: Kevin Hearne

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

Series: Iron Druid Chronicles, Bk 4.5

ISBN: 9780345535436

Obtained: Library ebook novella copy

Title: Trapped

Author: Kevin Hearne

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

Series: Iron Druid Chronicles, Bk 5

ISBN: 9780345535627

Obtained: Library ebook copy




Comments:

I was reading this series one after the other in a whirl so to some extent they have become blurred together in my mind.  I have to admit I was a bit startled and even somewhat offended by the portrayal of Christianity and Jesus in Hexed.  The portrayal may fit some, but not myself or my beliefs.  The lumping together bothered me.  But moving beyond that I continued to enjoy the series.  Atticus makes some stupid decisions in Hammered.  He seems to become further and further embroiled in a mess as his story makes its way through Tricked.  So I was startled when, in Trapped, time had jumped 12 years.  I realized I had missed something very important and backtracked to the novella Two Ravens and One Crow.  There are short stories that I missed that belong within this timeline, but apparently they aren't as vital to the story.  The novella in question is important though, and you don't want to miss it.  Once I had read it I moved back into Trapped where the consequences of Atticus's decisions and choices become more glaringly obvious.  But there is no choice now but to keep moving.

I have not moved on with the series yet because Hunted was not readily available, but I look forward to reading both it and Shattered.

Hounded

Title: Hounded

Author: Kevin Hearne [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Del Rey Ballantine Books

Series: Iron Druid Chronicles, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780345522474

Length: 289 pages

Obtained: Complimentary copy provided at a signing at a convention

Why this book?:

I took it because it was free, the series sounded interesting from a panel I had heard Kevin Hearne speak at, and I wanted the author's signature.

I read it because I was in the right mood and remembered it sounded interesting from the panel.

Comments: 

I enjoyed this book and immediately found (in ebook format), and read, the short story that comes before it, Grimoire of the Lamb, once I'd finished it.    

But I'm jumping ahead, so let me backtrack.  Hounded features the Druid currently called Atticus O'Sullivan.  He's lived thousands of years.  He's been pretty much on the run (if you can call it that) with a highly coveted magical sword from an angry Celtic love god. But now he's found a comfortable place and is starting to develop roots.  Which means he is ready to stand his ground and fight.

And all the earth-related phrases I just used were unintentional but surprisingly accurate.  Because as a Druid, Atticus is very connected with the earth and actually draws his power from it.

Anyway, I'm excited to read the 2nd book in the series, Hexed, which has finally came in at the library.  I just needed to write this up first before the series becomes a blur in my head.

Title: Grimoire of the Lamb

Author: Kevin Hearne [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Del Rey Ballantine Books

Series: Iron Druid Chronicles, Bk 0.5

ISBN: 9780345548290

Length: 76 pages

Obtained: Library ebook copy

Why this book?:

It comes before Hounded and I like to read books as much in order as possible.  Plus it was available that night.

Comments: 

This is a story of Druid meets (or meets again) Egyptian mythology.  It was quick, fun, and interesting.

The Graveyard Book

Title: The Graveyard Book

Author: Neil Gaiman [Website][MouseCircus][IMDb][Twitter][Tumblr]; Illustrated by Dave McKean [Twitter][Website][MouseCircus]

Publisher: HarperCollins

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

This was one of my eBook selections for my England trip.  I've been meaning to read it since I first bought my hard-copy at the library book sale room a few years ago.

Comments:

The book was a mixture of cute and interesting, light and dark.  It starts with most of a family being coldly murdered.  But the baby happens to crawl off and ends up in the graveyard before the murderer can get him too.  There he is named (Nobody or Bod for short), raised, and taught by ghosts.  He has been given the power of the graveyard.  That is, as long as he stays in the graveyard he is protected.  he can remain hidden and do other things like the dead.

Each chapter is like it's own little adventure.  Like a serial, really, but combined to make one book.  Everyone in the graveyard contributes to his education and development.  Of course, he's a young and curious boy and so he gets into his share of scrapes.

I enjoyed the book and the characters.  It has won a number of awards, and though I'm not sure about all that, I'm glad I read it.  I'm also glad to have finally tried something by Neil Gaiman, and I wouldn't hesitate to read more.

Trailer:

Harper Connelly and Lily Bard Series by Charlaine Harris

I'm going to be frank.  I read a blur of Charlaine Harris eBooks, moving immediately from one to the next, and most of them on my stay in Europe.  I don't have many impressions of individual books.  But I'll give overall impressions and comments of the series (so far as I've read them).

Author: Charlaine Harris [Website][Facebook][IMDb]

Obtained: All the eBooks were library copies.  But I do own the hard copies for the Harper Connelly series.

Series: Harper Connelly, Bks 1-4

Grave Sight
Grave Surprise
An Ice Cold Grave
Grave Secret

I have mixed feelings about the characters.

Harper tends to hold herself back with the reader as much as the other characters in the book.  And when she wasn't distant, as the narrator, she was graphic (more so than I appreciated, though I'm sure others wouldn't mind).

Tolliver was okay, I guess.  He had jealousy issues, but then with Harper's combination of obliviousness mixed with her wishy-washy commitment (there were all these comments about how she found Manfred so tempting), I guess I can't entirely blame him.

I did like Manfred, which is good because he has his own new series (trilogy) - Midnight, Texas - starting with Midnight Crossroad.

Series: Lily Bard, Bks 1-2

Shakespeare's Landlord
Shakespeare's Champion

I've heard GREAT THINGS about this series.  So I was kinda surprised about Lily.  She's possibly even more withdrawn than Harper.  This is perhaps more understandable considering her background - brutal rape, etc.  But it does make it harder to connect with the character.  I was also thrown by the weight-lifter thing, although I get it, again considering her background.  But because of this background she makes choices I don't understand.

Like in the very beginning of Shakespeare's Landlord, Lily witnesses a body being disposed, and she tampers with evidence (!!!) because it could point to her.  Maybe that sounds common sense to you, but it caught me off guard.  I guess maybe because I'm used to amateur sleuth types immediately reporting the bodies they find.  (Because while I wouldn't call these books cozy, Lily does play the amateur sleuth role.)

Anyway, I will continue to see how the series progresses with Shakespeare's Christmas.