Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Review: The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

The Iron Thorn
Author:Caitlin Kittredge
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Iron Codex Book #1
ISBN: 0385738293
ISBN13: 9780385738293
Genre: Young Adult/ Steampunk


In the city of Lovecraft, the Proctors rule and a great Engine turns below the streets, grinding any resistance to their order to dust. The necrovirus is blamed for Lovecraft's epidemic of madness, for the strange and eldritch creatures that roam the streets after dark, and for everything that the city leaders deem Heretical—born of the belief in magic and witchcraft. And for Aoife Grayson, her time is growing shorter by the day.

 Aoife Grayson's family is unique, in the worst way—every one of them, including her mother and her elder brother Conrad, has gone mad on their 16th birthday. And now, a ward of the state, and one of the only female students at the School of Engines, she is trying to pretend that her fate can be different.


I feel so bad but I just could not get thorough the book. I forced myself to read through half of it and just could not continue to read it all and skimmed through to the end. It felt like every page was 10 pages long and everything was way over explained. The more I read the more I found that I just wanted the page to end and get on with the story. The plot was a good plot and the world building was fantastic, but uggh I really just could not connect with it at all. I was going to purchase the book and I'm glad that I decided to borrow it from the library instead.

I gave it 2/5 stars

New Releases March 7- 13


Tuesday Mar 8

 
Wed March 9

Evercrossed (Kissed by an Angel #4) by Elizabeth Chandler
The Hunt of the Unicorn by C.C. Humphreys
Immortal with a Kiss by Jacqueline Lepore
 
If you see a mistake or know of another release that is not listed let me know!! Happy Reading

Monday, March 7, 2011

Review: This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

This Side of the Grave
Author:Jeaniene Frost
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Avon
Night Huntress Book #5
ISBN:  0061783188
ISBN13: 9780061783180
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Danger waits on both sides of the grave.
Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance . . .

With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"—the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war . . . to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.



Cat and Bones are most favorite couple in a book series. I love reading about them and there adventures. They have gone through so much together and it is fantastic that they are at the point that they are happy with there lives and flow and support each other so beautifully. They tackle problems together and still stay strong. Frost brought back the romance, action and drama from other books as she continued Cats story in THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE. All my fave characters made an appearance and worked together to get rid of the problem. THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE was missing something that previous books had but I cant quite put my finger on the words to convey it. The closets I can come to expressing it is to say It didn't get my heart pumping and my mind racing like previous books did. Don't get me wrong the story rocked and all just didn't have that extra element. It really is a fantastic addition to the Night Huntress series and I'm still in love with the books and Jeaniene Frost's writing and plan on purchasing every book she comes out with.



I gave it 4/5 stars

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Week in Review 2/27-3/5

Books Ive Bought/received

* Black Blade Blues by J.A. Pitts- From Publisher for review

* Honeyed Words by J.A. Pitts- ARC- From Publisher for review

* River Marked by Patricia Briggs- Bought from Borders.com

* Under Wraps by Hannah Jayne- Bought from Borders.com


Books I read

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
River Marked by Patricia Briggs
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Under Wraps by Hannah Jayne
Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire

Other reviews posted

Rogue Oracle by Alayna Williams
Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting
Dead on Delivery by Eileen Rendahl
Iron Crowned by Richelle Mead

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*New Releases for the week.

* Alayna Williams stopped by on Wednesday to tell us about The Tarots Hanged Man and offered up a copy of her new book Rogue Oracle which Ends 3/9.

* Dianne Duvall stopped by on Thursday with an Interview and offered up a copy of her new release Darkness Dawns that ends 3/1.


Saturday, March 5, 2011

Review: Iron Crowned by Richelle Mead


Iron Crowned
Author:Richelle Mead
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Zebra
Dark Swan Book #3
ISBN:   1420111795
ISBN13: 9781420111798
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham is the best at banishing entities trespassing in the mortal realm. But as the Thorn Land’s queen, she’s fast running out of ways to end the brutal war devastating her kingdom. Her only hope: the Iron Crown, a legendary object even the most powerful gentry fear…

Who Eugenie can trust is the hardest part. Fairy king Dorian has his own agenda for aiding her search. And Kiyo, her shape-shifter ex-boyfriend, has every reason to betray her along the way. To control the Crown’s ever-consuming powers, Eugenie will have to confront an unimaginable temptation--one that will put her soul and the fate of two worlds in mortal peril…


 A ton happens in IRON CROWNED, good, bad, shocking and I'm so happy I picked up the first book in the series a while ago and started reading it. There might be some mild spoilers to come so read with caution as I'm not sure if I will giving anything away or not. I LOVE that Jasmine and Eugenie get closer in book 3, They are both in a tough situation and Jasmine has really grown up and out of some of her ways and I'm so glad they can now support each other. I knew Eugenie would be in the situation she is in from the beginning but I was shocked at how it actually happened. I really like Dorian and Eugenie together, I was sad at a lot of what happened in IRON CROWNED and their relationship. I can not stand Kiyo. I haven't liked him since the last book though so it isn't much of a surprise to see how much of a douche he is. I can not believe there is only one more book "planned" for the Dark Swan series. I can honestly say I have no clue what is going to happen, but I'm super excited to find out.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Friday, March 4, 2011

Review: Dead on Delivery by Eileen Rendahl

Dead on Delivery
Author:Eileen Rendahl
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Berkley
Messenger Book #2
ISBN:  0425238784
ISBN13: 9780425238783
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher for review


There are two men who have bitten the dust after a delivery from Messenger Melina Markowitz. As she tries to put together the pieces of this puzzle, she discovers that the two victims share common friends, common unexplained absences, and a common crime. Now, dark forces from the local community have been unleashed, drawing Melina into the web of a powerful woman, her voodoo, and her vengeance...

This is a series a came across by accident and dont see very many people who know about it. Hopefully people will see this and get on the Eileen Rendahl  Messenger series band wagon. Book two DEAD ON DELIVERY picks up where DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER left off. Melina is still delivering packages and is now running the Dojo left to her by her late friend and mentor Mae, enjoying her relationship with her cop boyfriend Ted, her roommate Norah is freaking out after book 1 events and will hardly leave the apartment and her ER vampire Dr friend Alex is acting super weird and creepy.


The story is full of mystery, action, twists and turns. Eileen's characters are well developed and easy to like. They all grow a ton throughout the book. Melina has to really open herself up in DEAD ON DELIVERY and start revealing herself to the people she loves as well as accept that she is loved as well. There is a revelation at the end that I can not wait to find out the reaction of. This series is unique with great plots and Inventive situations that will suck you right in.


I gave it 4/5 stars

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Interview and Giveaway: Dianne Duvall

Today UFI is pleased to introduce to you Dianne Duvall author of a new Paranormal Romance Darkness Dawns which is the first book in her new Immortal Guardians series. You can read my review of Darkness Dawns HERE.


Thank you for having me here at Urban Fantasy Investigations! I’ m very pleased to be
here!

* I’ve read your Bio and was wondering what you do to relax when your not writing, or working on one of your other many accomplishments?

Read, read, and read some more. I love romance novels, especially paranormal s, andread them every chance I can get. I also enjoy gardening and find it relaxing . . . much like Sarah, the heroine in Darkness Dawns.

* What is your Favorite part of writing? Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write?

My favorite part of writing is allowing my imagination to roam freely. I’ m actually very rarely bored, even when performing the most mundane tasks, because I’ m always envisioning future scenes. Usually when I sit down at the computer or with my NEO, I’ ve already completed the next scene in my head. And I do have one routine I follow: I always read back through what I wrote the day before, editing and refining it, before I start adding anything new.

*What are some of you Favorite books or Authors in the Paranormal Genres?

Favorite Authors: Alexandra Ivy, Gena Showalter, Kresley Cole, Lyndsy Sands, Alexis Morgan, Maggie Shayne, Sherrilyn Kenyon, J. R. Ward, Christine Feehan, and Lara Adrian to name a few. Favorite Books: Pretty much anything written by these authors, though I am partial to the stories with the tortured heroes.

* According to your Bio you have also written a one-act play, how different or alike
is it to write a play vs a book?


The story arc is the same in both, as well as in screenplays. But plays are far more difficult for me to write. The time and page limits involved are too restrictive. And story can only involve one or two settings that can be recreated on a stage. The number of characters must also be contained, their ages carefully considered because some theaters may not employ child actors. In novels, I have the freedom to explore the main characters’ thoughts through exposition. In plays, I don’ t. The thoughts have to be verbalized for the audience to know them. And even such things as the number of wardrobe changes the actors would have to undergo limit the story. I much prefer to write novels, which is why I’ ve only written the one play :)

* Your Bio also mentions that you design movie posters. Would you share some of
the movie posters you designed? 


The most recent independent film I worked on was a horror feature film entitled Ghosts. This is the poster I designed for it. I’ m actually still working post-production, editing the film, creating the trailer and adding computer-generated effects. I also worked pre- production (casting coordinator) and production (special effects and special effects makeup).

* How would you pitch Darkness Dawns to someone who has never heard of it before?

Logline: Darkness Dawns is the story of Sarah Bingham, a music theory professor who unexpectedly finds herself thrust into a war that erupts between vampires and immortals, then loses her heart to the dark, enigmatic warrior who offers her his protection.

Lengthier Pitch: Darkness Dawns is the first book in my Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series. In it, Music Theory Professor Sarah Bingham wants nothing more than to relax after a long, stressful spring semester. Instead, when insomnia drives her to spend a little time in her garden at dawn, she finds a wounded man staked to the ground, being tortured by two others. Little does she know when she rescues him that Roland Warbrook is far more than a man. Nearly a millennium old, he is an immortal who has acquired a new formidable foe amongst the vampires he hunts, one who has raised an army to defeat him and to destroy the rest of the Immortal Guardians. When Sarah thwarts the vampires by saving Roland, she too becomes targeted by the army and is soon thrust to the forefront of the conflict, aiding the immortals in their quest to defeat the vampires and losing her heart to the dark enigmatic warrior intent on protecting her.

* Which character was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to
write about?


Although I really like Roland (and Seth and David . . .), I’d have to say that Marcus is my favorite simply because he’s been with me longer. Before writing Darkness Dawns, I wrote a time travel romance (which is not yet scheduled for publication) in which Marcus was both a friend of the heroine in the present and the teenaged squire of the hero in thirteenth century England (before his transformation). Knowing him as a cocky, courageous youth in the Middle Ages made me like him as an immortal all the more. The hardest character to write about was Ami because of all that she endured.


* Can you tell us anything about the next book in the Immortal Guardians series?

Night Reigns, the second book in the Immortal Guardians series, is scheduled for release in December. In it, Marcus’ s increasingly erratic behavior draws unwanted concern from his immortal brethren. Cocky on the outside, grieving on the inside, he walks the edge and takes far too many risks. Hoping to divert him from this destructive path, Seth assigns Marcus a new Second (human assistant) . . . one who proves to be immensely distracting and turns his world upside down.

* What Other Projects can we look forward to reading from you?

I’m now working on the third book in the Immortal Guardian series. A fourth will soon follow. I’ve also written a medieval romance with paranormal elements and a time travel romance (the one I mentioned earlier) that I would love to see picked up for publication. Both revolve around gifted ones and can be considered prequels to Darkness Dawns. And I think readers would enjoy seeing Marcus as a teenaged squire in the thirteenth century and witnessing his backstory firsthand. :)



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Darkness Dawns (Immortal Guardians, book 1) by Dianne Duvall



In this dazzling, sensual novel, Dianne Duvall beckons readers into a world of vampires, immortals, and humans with extraordinary gifts. . .where passion can last forever, if you're willing to pay the price. . . 
Once, Sarah Bingham's biggest challenge was making her students pay attention in class. Now, after rescuing a wounded stranger, she's landed in the middle of a battle between corrupt vampires and powerful immortals who also need blood to survive. Roland Warbrook is the most compelling man Sarah has ever laid hands on. But his desire for her is mingled with a hunger he can barely control. . .

In his nine centuries of immortal existence, no woman has tempted Roland as much as Sarah. But asking her to love him is impossible--when it means forfeiting the world she's always known, and the life he would do anything to protect. . .

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Find Dianne and her books

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International
Winner will receive
-One Signed copy of Darkness Dawns


RULES
1)  Leave a comment or question  ON THIS POST for Dianne
2) This giveaway is open to both US and international followers
3) Must leave an email address so I can contact you.

Giveaway Ends 3/10/2011 at 12pm EST
Winner will have 48 Hours to reply to my email with your mailing address or I will pick another
Winner chosen randomly with the help of random.org