Bad Moon Rising

Jul 292009

I don’t know how Sherrilyn Kenyon does it, but I’m so glad she does.  Bad Moon Rising is the 18th book in the Dark-Hunter series and it’s showing no sign of stopping yet.  You fear with such a long running series that it will start tailing off, the author starts to get bored or runs out of steam and continues for the sake of it, but there is just no sign at all of that happening here.  You feel the love and care she writes with, her characters larger than life but so real and that shines through in every book.  It raises them from a good read to an amazing one.

Bad Moon Rising has everything you want in a Dark-Hunter book and then some.  It’s Fang’s Story beginning with his history, something you know a little of from his brother Vane’s book (Night Play),  through to where Fang is in his apparent coma and then it all takes off.  You get to see some old friends again which is always great and another thing I love about the Dark-Hunter books and how they often blend in together, seeing another story from a different angle.  New enemies, betrayal and revenge feature heavily as always and fast paced action across it all.  But the thing we all want and need the most, is present in abundance.  Love.

I have to say (and try not to spoil anything), the ending is a shocker and I think it was really brave of Sherrilyn to do what she did there and I admire her for it.  I don’t mind admitting I cried, as I imagine others will too.

I really can’t wait for the next one!

Rating: ★★★★★ 

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Genesis

Jul 152009

On a stormy night in Atlanta, Georgia, a naked woman stumbles into the road and is hit by a passing car.  It’s clear her injuries aren’t all from the accident and at the hospital, Dr Sara Linton examines her and is horrified to find evidence of brutal torture.  Agents Will Trent and Faith Mitchell from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) are assigned the case, with the local police being unhappy and obstructive.  On a search of the area, they are shocked to find another body in a nearby tree.  When other women go missing, matching the profile of the first victims, they realise they have a serial killer on their hands and it becomes a race against time to find them before they can be subjected to the same horrific brutality as the first victims.

I was both sad and excited when I started Genesis.  It was great to meet Sara Linton again but I did have some reservations. After Sara’s tragic loss, would she still be the same compassioniate, sweet natured and feisty woman we used to know and love?  I loved that GBI Agents Will Trent and Faith Mitchell were teamed up in this book as well, two characters who I enjoy very much.  Your heart can’t help but go out to Will and you love Faith and get exasperated by her in equal measure.  They make a formidable threesome, and while they weren’t strictly working with Sara on the case, she was the doctor caring for ‘Anna’ so had a lot of input and admits she missed working cases as she did when she was the M.E. in Grant County.  I’ve missed that side of Sara too.

I have to admit that after Skin Privilege, I wondered if Karin Slaughter had shot herself in the foot.  Even though it was a fantastic book, it was a brave and risky move to kill off one of her major and much loved characters.  I wondered if we would ever see Sara Linton again, so when I heard Genesis was being released I was ready to reserve judgement and see what would be made of it.

I should have trusted that Karin Slaughter knew what she was doing and has again produced a brilliant book with strong characters all with their own inner demons, fighting against the depths of human depravity.  With flair, a clean and crisp writing style that is so easy to read, and a plot that keeps you turning the page, hoping that they will all make it through, the book delivers an exciting read.

The only negative thing  I have to say about Genesis is the ending felt a little flat but I’m going to trust Karin Slaughter this time and hope it leads into another book because I really would like to see Sara Linton, Will Trent and Faith Mitchell in the same book again, they make for an explosive mix.

Rating: ★★★★½ 

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Page layouts fixed

Jul 122009

I’ve fixed the layouts on the content pages so they work in newer browsers. Grete’s currently reading a bunch of new stuff so expect some more reviews soon!

Page layout looks odd

Jul 062009

Hi, I’ve just noticed the page layout on the Review – by xxxxx pages looks broken in newer browsers. It’s not laying out the text correctly and leaves the pages looking a mess, I’m trying to work out if the theme or the plugin is the cause, and if I can correct it, until then please accept my apologies!

Through Violet Eyes

Jul 062009

The Violets – rare people born with violet eyes who can channel and communicate with the dead, allowing them to occupy their bodies for a brief time.  Fully documented and scientifically proven, they are often used in court to allow a victim or deceased criminal to speak, allow a dead composer to continue his work, an artist to continue painting.  Unfortunately someone is now killing them and FBI agent Dan Atwater is assigned the case.  Paired with Violet Natalie Lindstrom, they are in a race against time to uncover who wants such vengeance against the Violets and to stop any more from dying.

I really wasn’t sure what to think of it when I started this book, I read both crime and urban fantasy and I wasn’t quite sure if this would work and in all honesty it’s the best blending of crime and urban fantasy I’ve ever seen.  For fans of crime novels, this would be a good introduction to urban fantasy and vice versa.  To fans of both already, this would be a rare treat.

The writing is very smooth, easy to read and the plot has just enough twists to keep you turning the pages, needing to know what happens next.  The pace of the story unfolding was just right, each revelation furthering the plot, keeping you on your toes and guessing.

The characters were outstanding.  I loved the two main ones, Natalie and Dan, they were very easy to empathise with and you come to care about them a great deal.   You get glimpses into their pasts but without being bludgeoned over the head with it or it repeatedly getting in the way of them doing what they need to.

Something I found unique is that some of the dead characters were as entertaining as the living and you come to like some of them just as much, even though you get to meet them briefly.  Also getting an insight into what comes after in the world of the Violets was interesting, especially their fear of it.

I think Stephen Woodworth has really created something special with this novel and there are two more books to come.  I can’t wait!

Rating: ★★★★★ 

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