The Alpha Showdown bracket is being assembled. We’ll launch it mid-May, but you can keep an eye on the Alpha Showdown 2012 page for bracket info, nominated alphas and their champions.
Changeling snippet Kelly Meding posted a snippet from her upcoming Metawars novel Changeling (releases June 26). And it sounds so good. Will you be reading this one?
Cover Alert: The Ripple Effect
J.A. Saare shared the cover art for her third Rhiannon’s Law novel, The Ripple Effect. The second book, The Renfield Syndrome, was one of my favorites from 2011, so I’m super excited to know this one is coming soon.
Futuristic goodness from Lauren Dane
Lauren Dane just sold a futuristic-themed duology. The official sale news:
Lauren Dane’s LAND’S END, about a lawman who patrols a dangerous landscape run rife with brigands and thieves and the woman who fights to break free of the sheltered life she leads after a deadly siege brings them together, for an upcoming untitled duology, to Leis Pederson at Berkley Heat, in a nice deal, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.
A pretend trip to RT
Last week was the RT Booklovers Convention in Chicago. Twitter exploded with photos of authors and readers having an awesome time. There were panels and book signing and apparently a lot of shenanigans. But I couldn’t attend. Neither could Carolyn Crane.
Archangel’s Blade (Guild Hunter #4) Nalini Singh
Published: Sept. 6, 2011 (Berkley)
Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon
Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars
I have had Archangel’s Blade on my shelf for months. And I put off reading it purposefully. It wasn’t my typical series anxiety where I’m all “oh, please don’t screw this up” but hesitation. I wasn’t head-over-heels for the last Guild Hunter novel. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t the same fiery writing from Nalini Singh’s earlier books. I just wasn’t game for a ho-hum read.
But now I feel like an idiot, because Archangel’s Blade was engaging and heartbreaking and sweet and feisty and, yes, sexy.
Instead of focusing on Raphael and Elena like the previous novels, Archangel’s Blade focuses on Dmitri, the vampire who leads Raphael’s Seven. Dmitri is ruthless and demanding when it comes to his job of policing the vampires and guarding Raphael’s turf. He’s also a bit of a playboy. He has no interest in love. He had it while alive with a wife and children. Nothing will tarnish that memory for him.
And then there’s Honor. She’s a different person after being kidnapped and tortured by rogue vampires. Still, she works as a Hunter. When she’s paired with Dmitri on a brutal murder case, it’s terrifying. She had lusted after him before, but now the idea of being in a room with any vampire scares her.
The dance these two do in avoiding their feelings is intense. Honor brings out feelings Dmitri didn’t know he was still capable of experiencing, and she can’t understand why she feels safe around him. There’s a nice destiny twist in the HEA for these two, and watching them come to accept it is a delight. You’ll fall in love with Dmitri alongside Honor. In addition to the romance, Honor’s character growth is well done and the mystery elements are twisty enough to keep things from ever being obvious.
As a bonus, because this is the first story focusing on Dmitri solo it can be read as a stand alone.
I have to come right out and say this: I had no idea that G.A. Aiken and Shelly Laurenston were the same person. Or different sides of the same person. Or one body, two peeps. However you want to look at it. Seriously, guys, no clue. I was about 10 pages into this book and it kept tickling the back of my head that the writing style seemed familiar. So I, in my infinite wisdom, read the about blurb on the back cover and had this total light bulb moment. Right. The reason the witty banter is so awesome is that I fell in love with Shelly Laurenston’s dialogue back in her Magnus Pack books (which also feature some sassy, dirty-fighting, strong-willed ladies, BTW). Whew. Glad I figured that out!
As far as this book goes, coming into the fifth book in a series that has such a large cast of characters was a little daunting. Between trying to keep their names straight and trying to figure out how they were related to one another, I was fumbling around a bit. That said, the world building is phenomenal. There are so many layers to this world that I was blown away. On top of that, there’s never a dull moment with these dragons. Fighting! Mayhem! Danger! Oh, and watching Rhona and Vigholf dance around one another was incredibly fun. I do enjoy cluelessness during a courtship.
A strong she-dragon, one bottomless pit of a male and more fighting than you can shake a stick at made this a fun read. My one complaint is that the big story arc took us away from Rhona and Vigholf more than I liked. Still, it was highly enjoyable on many levels
Red, White, and Blood (Nathaniel Cade #3) Christopher Farnsworth
Published: April 26, 2012 (Putnam)
Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon
Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars
The thing I love most about Christopher Farnsworth’s Nathaniel Cade novels is just how plausible he makes the supernatural. In Red, White, and Blood he manages to link serial killers throughout history to one supernatural element: The Boogeyman.
The Boogeyman is essentially the patron saint of serial killers. This means ritual killings bring him over to our world. Cade has sent him back repeatedly — usually after he’s spawned new urban legends — but he’s yet to be able to kill this creature yet.
When the Boogeyman rises again, Cade’s on alert for the normal pattern. Only this time a former member of the Shadow Company, a group determined to bring down the U.S. government via occult methods, intends to manipulate things to make sure the Boogeyman succeeds and takes out Cade.
The supernatural elements in Red, White, and Blood are excellent and plenty creepy, Cade remains incredibly ‘other’ and Farnsworth included some wonderful one-liners about vampire fiction. (My favorite being a reference to what vampire bites should really look like, suggesting authors should look at their own teeth.) Those elements made the first half of the novel incredibly strong. Click to continue reading Early Review: Red, White, and Blood by Christopher Farnsworth
After a hiatus last week, Book Bits has returned! First a few housekeeping things.
VBC is in the Independent Book Blogger Awards over at Goodreads. It would make for a very happy VBC Team (mostly Chelsea), if you vote for us.
I’ve been blogging once a week over on my writer site. Typically these are YA- or writing-focused posts, but I thought you might like a heads up. This week I did the unthinkable and put Buffy and Twilight in the same post. I’m a rebel.
Alpha Showdown nominations end this weekend. If you haven’t already gotten your recommendations in, now is the time!
Seanan McGuire short story posted
Seanan McGuire posted a new InCryptid short story. It’s about Jonathan and Fran and what comes next when they make it to a destination.
Keri Arthur excerpt
Get a sneak peek at the next Dark Angels book over on Deadline Dames. Keri Arthur posted an excerpt from Darkness Devours, which releases in July. Expect talk of vengance and some general reaper goodness.
All Jeaniene Frost e-books are now $5.99
After publisher/bookseller drama that you don’t need to read about, we’ve learned all of Jeaniene Frost’s novels — Night Huntress and Night Huntress World, folks, on the recommendations page — are now $5.99 each. It’s a two-dollar savings from the print copies. So, dear readers, if you have yet to start one of my most favorite series. Maybe now is a good time todownload Halfway to the Grave.
Enemy Mine prologue posted
Aline Hunter (the sexy side of J.A. Saare) posted the prologue to her upcoming shifter romance Enemy Mine. Even just this snippet makes me certain Emory is going to be a big winner with readers. We like the alphas at VBC. Enemy Mine releases next week.
Oracle’s Moon (Elder Races #4) Thea Harrison
Published: March 6, 2012 (Berkley)
Purchase at: Book Depository, B&N or Amazon
Review by: Candace
Rating (out of 5): 5 stars
I started counting time for you.
I want to change who I am for you.
You are my Grace.
He was too full and there weren’t enough words.
He said, “I did not know I needed grace until I met you.”
A few select titles count as blockbusters this year. These stories could reinvent and resell a series if the books before hadn’t done the job. Oracle’s Moon is one of those books.
If you have not been fortunate enough to discover the Elder Races series before now, do whatever you have to do to start them now. Thea gave us a phenomenal intro to Elder Races with Dragos and Pia in Dragon Bound, kept the ball rolling with Tiago and Tricks in Storm’s Heart, continued her paranormal romance mastery with Rune and Carling in Serpent’s Kiss and now she did the unthinkable and wrote the hottest character yet — hotter than Tiago.
When I opened Oracle’s Moon, I asked my husband (who has a certain amount of paranormal knowledge) exactly what he knew about Djinn. He said, “Scary jokers, bad news, part demon, not to be messed with. Why?” Because we have the hero of Oracle’s Moon Khalil is a Djinn. For fans of the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost, Khalil’s power reminded me a lot of Mencheres. Immortal, has been around since the beginning of time, otherworldly beauty. And Khalil has found himself to be enamored with the Oracle.
Around this time last year, I advised hardcore fans of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series to give Larissa Ione’s Demonica series a try. Well, you should be caught up on Demonica at this point (and our reviewer Candace would remind you to start her Lords of Deliverance series, too). Now what to read?
I have you covered, dear readers. If you’ve devoured the demons and hunters within the Demonica world, you’re going to enjoy Eve Silver’s Otherkin novels. Each book in her Otherkin series — it was a trilogy, then added a penultimate fourth novel that is amazing — features one of four soul reaper brothers. These guys are the princes of the underworld, but have to do Dad’s bidding and reap souls. They can’t be killed, but somehow one of the brothers has gone missing. They’re out to find him and the parties responsible. Amid the journey, they meet their matches in each book. And these destined mates just happen to be out to kill them. Falling in love with the other side isn’t easy for either part.
All the women in the Otherkin series are strong. They won’t be pushed around, and when it comes down to it they do what is right. That means saving lives and accepting maybe a soul reaper can do the same.
Excellent sexytimes.
Stunning world-building, particularly in Body of Sin.
Heroes worthy of serious swooning.
Heroines you want to be friends with.
…well, you can see why I’d say Demonica fans will adore Eve Silver’s paranormal romance series. The Otherkin series starts with Sins of the Heart.
I am a big fan of Julie Kagawa. Her Iron Fey series is on our YA recommendations page with good cause. And now the same woman who gave us a half-faerie girl on a mission to save the world (and, you know, a hot boy with a sword) has turned her attention to vampires with very noir and dystopian tones.
And. I. Am. Excited.
The Immortal Rules, the first book in her new Blood Eden series, hits shelves on April 24. (Pre-order it!) While I have a review coming for you guys, I want you to be just excited for this one as I am. As such, I’m including the trailer to give you a glimpse of the awesome. Below that, you’ll find the details on a chance to win a hardcover copy of The Immortal Rules.
Under a Vampire Moon (Argeneau #16) Lynsay Sands
Published: April 24, 2012 (Avon)
Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon
Review by: Candace
Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars
FINALLY! The Argeneau novels by Lynsay Sands are incredibly entertaining. They bring a humorous bite (pun-intended) to the vampire romance genre. But they were beginning to be repetitive and one had to wonder exactly how many times we could read about blood being delivered to an Atlantean descendent. We needed fresh air breathed into this series. Back when Marguerite and Julius’ story was told, I had a feeling that fresh air would come in the form of the Notte family.
Enter Christian. Hard rock violin player extraordinaire with a drop-dead gorgeous father and a mother who is her very own fangy psychic friend’s network. Christian has been alone for centuries. He’s only recently rediscovered his mother, Marguerite, when she came back into his life a few years ago. Marguerite was horrified to discover she abandoned her life mate and their son. The fact that her jerk of a deceased husband arranged it to be this way was little consolation. Christian is more than 500 years old and does not have a life mate. His mother, as fans of the series know, will stop at nothing to find that woman.
As I’m recovering from a crazy travel week, Book Bits will be back next week. In the meantime, I’m assembling a fictional hit squad over at Heroes and Heartbreakers today. Something tells me you guys can back this plan.
We’ve talked about damaged heroines and bad friend heroines, but what about the baddest bitches on the block? As much as we track their relationships, most urban fantasy heroines should be best known for their ability to kick ass and take names.
As such, I’m assembling my fighting team. I’ve picked five of the strongest, most lethal urban fantasy heroines to watch my back. Not only could this group of women take out the Cobra Kai, but also they’ll save the world. Repeatedly.
Archangel’s Blade (Guild Hunter #4)
The Dragon Who Loved Me (Dragon Kin #5)
Red, White, and Blood (Nathaniel Cade #3)
Seanan McGuire short story posted
Oracle’s Moon (Elder Races #4)
kept the ball rolling with Tiago and Tricks in 
continued her paranormal romance mastery with Rune and Carling in 
and now she did the unthinkable and wrote the hottest character yet — hotter than Tiago.
While I have a review coming for you guys, I want you to be just excited for this one as I am. As such, I’m including the trailer to give you a glimpse of the awesome. Below that, you’ll find the details on a chance to win a hardcover copy of The Immortal Rules.
Under a Vampire Moon (Argeneau #16)
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