The Demon Librarian

Wowzers.

How freaking awesome does this look? I think I just had a bookgasm. Netgalley better say yes!

Short SwordThis short story is, I believe, intended simply to set up the worldbuilding of the Alaia Chronicles, and also to offer a small sample of the writing. It's very brief - just 27 little pages - and didn't really work for me as a stand alone book, but if it was perhaps offered for free, it would make a very good "taster" book, or perhaps as extra background for those who were already enjoying the series.The story chronicles the life of immortal twins after a tragedy strikes. It seems to be a world where having multiple wives is acceptable, and indeed, the first full-length novel, Kismet's Kiss, also mentions the hero having a harem. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I see some of my friends have read and enjoyed it so I'll reserve judgement for now.3 Stars ★★★ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Find more reviews at The Demon Librarian.Letters From HeavenSet a few centuries later than most Scottish romances, THE LADY AND THE LAIRD has a more dignified, refined feel to it. More like a Regency romance. As a lover of the more rugged, warrior types and more basic way of life, this aspect didn't really work for me as well as I'd hoped it might, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless.The premise of a scandalous erotic letter ruining Robert Methven's chance at a marriage that would have secured his family's lands, causing him to seek retribution - and a replacement wife - in the letter's author, was fun and not something I've read before. The idea that a virgin would know how to write such salacious offerings? Well, you may have to suspend your disbelief a little on that one, but it was definitely an interesting idea. I found the stuff involving Lucy and the Blue Stockings Society quite entertaining as well, and the sexual tension between her and Robert during that time was thick. Cornick wasn't shy with her sensual scenes, either, and there were some seriously scorching chapters!After appreciating the tension and slow build of Robert and Lucy's romance, I then found the pacing and tempo towards the end of the book a little quick for my liking. There were some emotional scenes as well that I wish we could have slowed down and explored further. But, it's no secret I'm slightly masochistic in my desire to be emotionally drained by my books, so that could well just be my opinion, and mine alone.All together THE LADY AND THE LAIRD was a bit of a mixed bag for me personally, but Cornick is definitely an author to watch - particularly for fans of Regency style historicals.3.5 Stars ★★★1/2ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Find more reviews like this one at The Demon Librarian.Virtual Reality BitesA mixture of sci-fi and fantasy, FEYLAND asks readers the question: what if those fantasy worlds within computer games were real?I've never been much of a gamer. I had a brief period where I was addicted to Gran Turismo - totally wupped my husband's butt, too - and another bout of trying to get that cow Lara Croft to do as she was told. But other than that, it's not really my thing. It was enough, however, to understand the mindset of the kids in this book and their addiction and love of it. Jennet is the daughter of a game developer and as such, has access to the latest technology, including a beta version of a new full immersion Sim game called Feyland. Pretty soon, it becomes evident that the simulated world is actually a gateway to the real, if alternate, world of the fair folk of myth and legend, and that what happens in the game has real life consequences.Overall, I enjoyed Feyland, although I don't really feel like I was its target audience because despite the fact that I've read and loved a lot of YA novels, I suddenly felt very old reading it. I'd describe it as VYA (very young adult) as it was super squeaky clean content-wise and something I would let my 12-year old daughter read. Nothing inappropriate at all with regards to violence or romantic situations. This doesn't stop it being a good story, of course, it just made me feel set apart from it; as though I was reading it simply for review purposes rather than for my own enjoyment.Like I said: not its target audience.There is a lot of good here, though, it has to be said. Interesting characters; particularly Tam and his difficult home life. Also the burgeoning relationship between he and Jennet was sweet. He's a bit of a nerd, she's a bit of a princess. From opposites sides of the track, as it were, in what appears to be a rather frightening speculative America full of gangs and violence on one side, and technology-rich luxury on the other.I'm settling on 3 stars for this which means "I liked it", although I have no plans to read the next instalment. Maybe my daughter will, though;)3 Stars ★★★ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Find more reviews at The Demon Librarian.Stone Cold and Hot as HellWhat a thoroughly enjoyable read! Walking the razor's edge between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, STONE GUARDIAN has a love story that simmers and action scenes that will knock your block off. Full of colourful characters, interesting supernats and dangerous adversaries, as well as many tertiary characters that are just screaming for further exploration, I'm really excited to see where Monsch will take the Entwined Realms series.Here in STONE GUARDIAN I had the absolute delight of meeting Terak, our gargoyle main character. Such an underused, fascinating and pretty freakin' sexy (if Terak is any indication) supernatural class to explore. Monsch brings us a version that's dignified, steeped in tradition and in many ways, held apart from the rest of society. Humans included. That is until the Oracle tells Terak he must watch one particular human - school teacher Larissa Miller. Why? Well, that's what Terak would like to know. But like most Oracles, clear and concise answers are not her forte and she's being very vague about what makes Larissa so darn special.But let me tell you, Larissa is special, as a main character. Hurrah for non-stupid heroines! Heroines that know their limitations, that don't run headlong into danger or try to commit suicide by stubborn! She was wonderful, charming, engaging, and very likeable. Born on the day the worlds collided, Larissa's family (Dad + four older bothers, all cops) all lost something precious that day - Larissa's mother. For that reason they have no love for any of the supernatural races and live in the human only area. This makes Larissa understandably a little ignorant when it comes to supes, so imagine being thrown into their world head first with EVERYONE trying to kill you, and only a stern-looking gargoyle for protection.I loved the romance in STONE GUARDIAN. It was sweet, unhurried, tender. Just gorgeous. I hope to see more of Larissa and Terak in future books even if they're not the main characters next time. I also enjoyed several other characters, including some feisty female members of The Guild who brought some comedic relief.All together a wonderful addition to the paranormal playing field4.5 Stars ★★★★1/2ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.Incidentally, another author who does this UF/PNR mashup brilliantly is Kate SeRine. You should check her out, too, if you haven't already;)

MacAlmostThis was a very sweet tale with very nicey nice characters and a somewhat chaste romance. The story was well-written but dull, especially considering the potential. You have a betrayal that could have wrought a lot more heartache than it did - it was all too easily brushed aside. You have paranormal stuff with the guardianship of the targe that's over before it gets going. And you have a villain who is off page too much to present any real sense of danger.I'm going to recommend this to readers who don't like too much sex in their Highlander romances but enjoy sweet, gentle character exploration and development.3 Stars ★★★ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Find more reviews at The Demon Librarian.Cloak and Dagger... and DressesThis series is an all-rounder for me. It has a wonderful, effortless feel to the writing, a romance subplot that I'm clinging to with a desperate hope that will not be denied, a protagonist that can be a ruthless, cold-hearted assassin one minute, and a vulnerable, frivolous female the next - and switch between the two sides of her nature with ease. It has terrific story scope and a lot of detail and foreshadowing that shows tremendous thought and planning. It has action, court politics, humour, love, betrayals... Everything I love all in one nicely-wrapped package, basically. And CROWN OF MIDNIGHT was no exception.Speaking of Celaena's colder side, there's something that happens here in CROWN OF MIDNIGHT that causes her to... devolve, shall we say, back to that creature we met in the first book, fresh from the mines. Someone so filled with rage and grief that she's all but blinded by it and becomes as much a danger to herself as she is to others. And, let's face it, she's pretty dangerous to others. I worried for her a lot in this book. What's great in Maas's delivery is that through experiencing the three different POVs - Celaena, Chaol, and Dorian's - we get an unfiltered view of Celaena when she's gone over to this dark side and, whoo boy, it's not pretty. I think there's probably even more heartache to come for her too, which I find thrilling from a reader's POV, but terrifying on Celaena's behalf.Although the imminent threat of death present throughout book one was somewhat lessened here thanks to Celaena's more powerful status within the castle - indeed, she now outranks most people - that's not to say all danger is gone. Far from it. It's just that this time Celaena is the one putting herself in danger through her deceptions. If caught, death would be her best option by far, which is a sad and sorry state of affairs.One character you get to know a lot more about in CROWN OF MIDNIGHT is Chaol. While he's the quieter, more unassuming of the two men in the series, he's my favourite pick for Celaena. He's just so...good; so honourable and decent. He balances out some of Celaena's rougher edges (assassins have those). I enjoyed the time dedicated to getting to know his character and am greedy for yet more still in books to come.That's not to say dear Dorian didn't get time to shine also. Although, with him, the romance angle is the least of his current worries. The stuff happening with him came as a surprise, but a welcome one because I confess I had been wondering what his role might be now that "shameless flirt" is off the table. Having said that, he clearly still carries a torch for Celaena. I think it's because she's so real with him, lacking in any pretenses, that he feels such a connection to her. She would never fawn over him just because of his title like the rest of the ladies at court. Which, although not what he's used to, is just what he needs, I think. I find it reassuring that he can be humble like that, and isn't a power-hungry fiend like his father. If he survives long enough to rule one day, he may turn out to be one helluva king because of it.One thing I did find unusual in this instalment was the author's decision to keep certain things about Celaena a secret, not only from other characters, but from us readers as well. Not until one character discovers some truths do we have it confirmed for ourselves. This is an unusual method of delivery - you'd normally expect to know such things from the narrative and be "in on the secret". And it was a whopper of a secret, too, and is going to mean BIG changes for Celaena's character in books to come. Of which I sincerely hope there will be many.A great continuation of one of my now favourite fantasy series - 5 Stars! ★★★★★ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

So, I'm a bit late posting this review because, frankly, I'm at a loss for words. Well, you know, except for these ones. And Janice already did such a stellar job with hers for the blog, that my inferiority complex kicked in and left me quivering in the corner. So, if it's all the same to you, try not to think of this so much as my review, but more like a rambling set of probably pointless observations.What, just like all your other reviews?I heard that!Ahem.Soooo much happened in Shooting Scars, and a lot of it was stuff I really didn't want to happen, if I'm being honest. And yet, it didn't seem to lessen my enjoyment of the book because in some weird, twisted way I feel like I understand every action, every mistake, every wrong choice Ellie made. I also get the frantic desperation that was driving Camden throughout the book. The knowledge that he's crossing lines he never would have crossed before Ellie (B.E), but that he's unable not to cross now because the alternative is giving up on her - something he'll never do, no matter what.The only person I don't understand in Shooting Scars is Javier and that's because HE'S A RAVING PSYCHO! And a sociopath, and a cold-blooded murderer, and a liar, and a cheater and...and...if I understood how his mind worked, I'd be worried. But what I do understand about him, is why Ellie is so confused. Being around any ex can be weird, but an ex with their history? Their all-consuming, grossly unhealthy intensity? And with Ellie's already rock bottom self esteem (something she'd been working so hard on in Sins & Needles!) getting another knock, well... I understand is all. Me no like! But me understand. Me started talking like Cookie Monster.I really don't understand all the love Javier is getting. At first, I thought people were joking... Like "Yeah, we're on Team Javier, lolz". But apparently they're deadly serious. Which is apt. Oh, well, each to their own psycho, I guess. I'll take mine with extra nerd glasses, rock hard abs and tattoos, and less of the stabbity murder death kill.Thanks.I'll leave you now with a picture of my babycakes. Mr Camden - Knight in shining G.T.O - McQueen. Lynsey out.

Die, Javier, die!!!!!!

Find more reviews at The Demon Librarian.River Road to HellGreat continuation. That was my first thought when reading River Road, that it passed the book two test with flying colours. Building on the strong start of book one - Royal Street - River Road was all that and more. Using her established template, Johnson was able to now focus more on developing relationships and characterization to great effect. I loved it!River Road also gave us a new supernatural species to explore - Mer people. I know! So cool!Not being wizard's greatest fans (Oh, who am I kidding? Wizards don't have fans in this series!) having to work side-by-side with two warring Mer clans to solve a series of grisly murders would be a perilous venture for most people. DJ handles it with aplomb in her no nonsense, forthright manner that seems to garner respect, however begrudgingly, from everyone she meets. Using all resources available, she again proved to be the smart, competent protagonist I so enjoyed from book one, with the added bonus of using her new uber wizarding powers as provided by Charlie, her elven staff.One thing to note for readers moving on from book one, is that there is a 3-year time jump from the end of Royal Street. I think I know why the author did this, and that it was a good idea, but it did of course create some instances of having to play catch up. Alex and DJ, for example, have gone from almost strangers to best friends. Only friends. I can't say that didn't disappoint me, but their friendship is so lovely I'm not too disheartened. And don't think I don't see that sizzle still burning in their eyes sometimes...Just friends my ass.Other progression on the romance front was interesting in its complex, this-can't-possibly-be-going-anywhere way. Jake is in a bad way after the the events at the end of RS, but he's still a good guy and clearly attracted to DJ. I feel for Jake I really do, I want to reach into the book and soothe him somehow. They say bad stuff happens to good people. It does and it sucks every time. Poor guy!Jean Lafitte is another character that is transforming before my very eyes. I'm so confused about him. Should I like him this much? Is he a bad person that occasionally does good things, or a good person forced to do bad things to survive? He isn't of this era, so that affects his personality and I forgive him for his occasional trespasses into sexism, but other than that, I just kinda like him. As a pirate, you might want to dismiss him as an ignorant thief with no morals. But that's so far from the truth too. Stupid he ain't. I look forward to more of him in the next book.The mystery and its conclusion were gripping and exciting and overall, this was just a great read. Solid writing, great character development and an engaging lead. What's not to like?5 Stars ★★★★★ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Find more reviews at The Demon Librarian.Mist the Mark.I have conflicted feelings on this one. I happen to love all things Norse mythology and have read several great series that feature it. But where other series merely borrow from the mythology to add flavour to their worlds, Mist is infused with it from root to tip. It's both its biggest asset, and its greatest downfall. And I'll try and explain why.Kicking off with a prologue set in World War II era Norway, Mist wastes no time packing in the mythology. Within the first 5 pages we've been bombarded with several god's names, a brief run down of their role in things and what they're capable of. I was instantly overwhelmed and trying desperately to memorize things in case they were important later on. It was just a lot to absorb. If there's such a thing as UF lite, then this was UF heavy to the extreme, and rather than making it seem more rich and colourful for it, it just felt dense and bogged down instead.Following on from that, the first couple of chapters were actually much easier to follow as we join Mist in present day San Francisco, and at this point in the read I was even feeling pretty confident that I could enjoy Mist if I was willing to put in some work. The basic set up is that she and a few of her Valkyrie sisters are the only ones from the Old World left on Midgard after Ragnarok. Or a failed Ragnarok, as it happens. For those who don't know what Ragnarok is before reading this book, well, you're going to struggle, frankly. I at least have a passing knowledge of it from reading a couple of other series that mention it, but even I was getting bamboozled a lot of the time.Anyhoo, each Valkyrie has been given a treasure to keep and protect such as Odin’s spear, Freya's cloak, or Thor’s hammer. Mist has the spear - arguably the most valuable of all the treasures. Why Mist? Well, you'll find out, as she will, that there's more to Mist that being a mere Valkyrie.I found this aspect hard to fathom as well. Mist is two millennia old. To have someone at 2,000 suddenly find out all these things about themselves that they never even suspected, smacked of implausibility to me. I suppose if you consider how cut off she's been from her kind and that she's not had much cause to test herself, it kinda makes some sense, but I was still giving the book the squinty eyeball at times.Mist is written in alternating POV’s, much like traditional fantasy which also made if feel different to the many other UF series I've read. I'm used to having a smart, snarky main character to experience things through, often in first person, but sadly that wasn't the case here and I didn't really connect to Mist in the way I'd hoped. There were some interesting characters, however. The Alfar, Dainn, was an fascinating chap. Probably the most complex and conflicted of the bunch. Sadly, he's also somewhat weak - a beta to Mist's alpha - which in this instance didn't work for me either.My last complaint (I honestly didn't think this review would be so whiny when I started it, sorry!) is that there was just too much dialogue. And I love dialogue! Usually. But here there were pages and pages of paragraph-long diatribes which, although well-written, just weren't exciting. Another thing that added to the weighty feeling of the book.So, do I recommend Mist? Well, maybe if you are a superfan of Norse mythology and literally don't think there's such a thing as too much, then yes.  For the rest of us mere mortals, I'm afraid I can't in all honesty give Mist the Demon Librarian Seal of Approval and I won't be reading the next book in the series.3 Stars ★★★ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Find more reviews at The Demon Librarian. Elysian Fields ForeverBook three in the Sentinels of New Orleans series is by far the most blood-soaked story thus far, so naturally it would be my favourite, right? Featuring an axe-wielding serial killer, no less. One whose crimes are getting disconcertingly closer to DJ's neck of the woods. Coincidence? Yeah, she wishes. And so once again our favourite female wizard is in the centre of a shitstorm of epic proportions, and if only that were the worst of her problems!Oh, I loved this one. Here is a book that's not only a satisfying read in its own right, but also plants seed after seed of future intrigue as Johnson introduces her Long Game. And I have to say, judging by this book, I simply cannot wait to see where she's planning to take us next!As well as dealing with the Axeman of New Orleans in his undead but frighteningly corporeal form, DJ has some very interesting personal issues to address in Elysian Fields. Some good, some not so good, and some that she's just been plain avoiding for far too long. There was also a lot more emphasis made here on the elves this time around. They've been somewhat in the background up until now, wanting little to do with the rest of supernatural kind, but when they step out of the shadows they sure do it in style! And with some humongous repercussions for DJ, I might add. Not happy with her bond with Charlie, the elven staff, they make their feelings known in true elven tradition: trickery, sneak tactics, and mind games.Dealing with the elves proves a challenge for DJ. I've mentioned before that she's quite forthright - no wallflower is our Dru - but this poses a problem among the elves who, as a race with a very healthy superiority complex, see her as little more than a mongrel mutt. While not the most violent of the races as a general rule, that doesn't mean their methods of getting their way are a walk in the park. Mental torture being just as effective as the physical kind. Yes, our girl is put though the wringer in this one alright. She may never be quite the same again...As well as all that, there's another gigantic development. I wish I could tell you what it was, seriously I do. It's a plot twist worthy of the only best UF writers. Not necessarily something you wanted to happen ( like, not at all), and yet you'll be d y i n g to see how it all pans out. You've been warned!On a slightly more frivolous note, this pesky serial killer malarky doesn't stop DJ from finding time for some romance in Elysian Fields. Nuh, uh. And what a fine hunk of man she picks for her playmate! I bet you want to know who it is, don't you? Hee hee! I'm not telling, but I'm happy. Take from that what you will :)To sum up, this was yet another great read in a series shaping up to be one of the high flyers of its genre. Absorbing from page one, I couldn't have asked for more.5 Stars ★★★★★ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.You might also like to read my reviews for the first two books in the series below:

Find more review at The Demon Librarian.Wizarding wizards!What a treat this was. I've had my eye on this series for a while now. Doesn't it have the most fabulous cover art? Thankfully, I found the inside of the book just as appealing as the outside. If you like any of the following in your urban fantasy, you should get along with this book (and series) very well:Sensible, non-stupid protagonistInteresting, complex and well-written secondary charactersJust enough romance to appeal, without overtakingVillains you kinda-sorta have a crush on on the slyInteresting hierarchies within the supernatural communityMagicky woo woo stuffA well-plotted mystery with a thrilling conclusionVibrant and easy to visualize settingGreat dialogue and engaging narrationWizards, weres, vamps, shapeshifters, and my favourite of all: historical undeads kept alive by the magic of memory (so. freaking. cool!)If you don't like any of those things...WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?Just kidding. But seriously, this is a great start and I enjoyed Drusilla - DJ - Jaco very much. I also have my beady eye on the hunk of man goodness that is Alex, and Jean Lafitte? What an interesting fellow. I'll reserve judgement on him for now until I delve deeper into his delicious undead brain.Ew...I also really enjoyed the focus being on wizards for a change. And a female wizard to boot. Such a great idea to have your main character have an almost limitless potential for awesome. As long as she knows the spell for it, and can summon enough power, she can do pretty much anything. Which is so much more exciting than if she were, say, a werewolf or something.What can you do? I can be a wolf.What can you do? ANYTHING!Which would you pick? Yeah, me too.So I hope I've convinced you to go check it out. It should be on the shelf of every UF lover, without exception. I will not accept excuses.Lynsey out.4 Stars ★★★★

Hmm...Gross. Decent-ish mystery, if a bit slow and actionless.Gross.Not nearly as funny, or really, not funny at all, as I'd been lead to believe.Gross.No real desire to read book two after that floppy ending (no cliffhanger, praise be).Gross.Likable, flawed protag. with self esteem issues.Did I mention it was gross?Don't think I'm carrying on with this one.

Find this and more reviews at The Demon LibrarianMove over Urban Fantasy. Stick your vampires where the solar rays don't penetrate, and bring on the hot aliens!Wow. I can't get over how much I enjoyed this book! I picked it up on a whim, really, and after having a rather lacklustre reaction to another Sci-fi title earlier this year, wasn't overly optimistic that I'd enjoy it that much. Boy, was I wrong! I'm so glad I gave this a try because it was just so redonkulously entertaining and interesting and sexy and...gah! It was just amazeballs!Cassiel Winters is a space cadet with a secret. She experiences what she thinks of as "deja vu episodes" and strange glimpses of overlapping time sequences that she doesn't fully understand. The only thing she does comprehend is that her older brother Daz - a fully-fledged member of ESE (Earth Space Exploration) and her only remaining family - is missing, and that someone left her a note telling her to hide. Having joined ESE herself in the hopes of finding Daz, we join Cassiel towards the end of her cadet training on board a spaceship about to take her final tests for the second time. Being the first cadet ever to fail her original tests is not something she feels particularly proud of, so imagine her surprise when she is asked to undertake a special mission by her commanding officer.This mission is where it all kicks off and from here I was sold on the story hook, line and sinker. You couldn't have pried the book from my hands with a crowbar. You couldn't have enticed my eyes from the pages with the promise of naked Ryan Gosling. Seriously, it was just fun, ya know? Pure entertainment. I'm thinking SKY'S END is probably going to appeal to the ladies rather than any hardcore Sci-fi fanboys because it was very sexy and sensual in places with many a descriptive passage detailing the hotness of a certain alien race's male members (heh, I said members), and Cassiel's narration is also very female and girlish - wondering if her butt looks too big in her Spandex space suit, for example - which would probably drive guys nuts, but which I found funny. You would though, right? Head-to-toe freakin' Spandex or whatever the hell spacey equivalent there is? I know I would.These inanities and Cassiel's charismatic, lively narration in general, all added to her appeal and drew me into the story by giving me something recognisable to grasp onto amongst all the Sci-fi whoosimawhatsit which, as a noob to the genre, was all very alien to me (heh, I said alien). That's not to say of course that Cassiel was a perfect character. She could certainly be annoying at times, and unreasonable occasionally, and a bit immature, and possibly too impetuous as well. But she needed those flaws. If not for those she would have come off far too "Special Snowflake," because there was a definite theme going on here of everyone fancies Cassiel, which might potentially annoy some readers. It was explained away by the female-to-male ratio on board the ship being seriously out of whack, and later by the unusual mating rituals of the alien race, but I know some people will take issue with it. I just find that I don't care though. I see it, I recognise it, but I give no shits. Observe how many shits I do not give. I was entertained, and that's all I care about. The set up might have been a total ploy, but it was a fun ploy. In fact, discovering more about this alien race's relationships, or lack thereof, with its female counterparts was one of my favourite things about the story, and led to much contemplation on my part. Well, that and the pew pew pew pew spaceship racing! So like, joint favourites. 'Cause, you know, I'm a dork.Speaking of spaceships, I found all the Sci-fi stuff complex enough to be interesting, while at no point overwhelming me, and the finer details such as the technology, weaponry and cool gadgetry, all added flavour to what was already a pretty damn tasty cake, so that was great too.I suppose the best thing of all about SKY'S END was that it kept surprising me. I couldn't have predicted one single bit of it, and that was just so goddamn refreshing! Even with Cassiel, as much as I liked her and thought I had her all figured out, even she would surprise the heck out of me by doing the unexpected. I thought some of her decisions were very brave and admirable, and my respect for her grew as I read on. She may actually be a Special Snowflake! Stranger things have happened.I don't know much about book two yet other than that it's set to be called Sky's Surrender, but I can tell you one thing about it: When it's released, I will be reading it. Oh, yes I will. If you build it, they will come. So says the Costner.Can't wait.5 Stars ★★★★★ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.