Tabitha Tomala

This is the BEST dark fantasy I have ever read. The sheer agony the characters go through and all the despair and darkness, this is a true dark fantasy. And the plot twists!!! So many things towards the end you think you know, were all lies throughout the entire book. I cannot wait to read the next one!

Enemies never seem to leave Joanne and David alone. When word leaks that the two are engaged, a new threat appears, one the Djinn are unable to see. Someone has found a blind spot for the powerful beings, and the wardens aren’t strong enough to fight alone. Joanne must find a way to make the Djinn see the threat to Mother Earth. With each attack, the Earth is thrown into further chaos, and innocent lives are lost. But without a united front, there will be no winning this time.

Despite Gale Force being book seven in the Weather Warden Universe, there's still plenty of world-building. David will finally part ways with information on the Djinn giving Joanne and readers long sought out lore. And as events begin to spiral out of control, the outside world begins to realize something is amiss. The carefully hidden world of Wardens and Djinn may not be so hidden anymore. Reporters begin to hound Joanne and David, trying to expose what is happening behind the scenes. Between dodging the press and staving off the newest threat, everyone has their hands full.

Rachel Caine has a way of planting seeds for later conflict into early plot lines. There they sit cultivating over the course of a few books before bringing them back into the forefront of the main plot. This was done expertly in Gale Force as old opponents rear back up with new challenges for Joanne and company. And while Joanne may have gained quite a bit of power since last facing them, she has a long way to go before she can harness her full potential. Both the Wardens and Djinn will be tested as their enemies launch an assault no one could have predicted.

And even with the extra boost in power Joanne receives, Rachel Caine makes sure she has to develop as a character before being able to fully use it. There are no easy choices for Joanne to make. And though there is still a bit of her old self tossed into the story, Joanne’s a lot less focused on designer clothing and much more focused on survival. No longer a solo act, Joanne has a team at her side and her relationships run deep. She’ll do all she can to protect those she loves. Gale Force is appropriately named, as the action never lets up and there are some powerful emotional hits that will assault the reader. Brace yourselves, this one is going to twist and turn, never letting up and breaking off mid conflict. Readers will be left demanding to read the next book.

Not too bad considering its not my typical read. It was on sale so I decided to give it a shot since it was a nutmeg nominee and I was impressed. :)

This is THE BEST Anita Blake book so far. Hamilton just has this way with words to make it so horrific yet so emotional. As I got towards the final chapters I just had this urge to finish it as quickly as I could to find out what happened to Anita and her lovers. I can't WAIT to read Blood Noir!

The writing style was way different than her other books, and the main character wasn't a supernatural. I liked the book, and it was a nice twist to the series but I hope this is the last book written with like 5 different narrators and 3 page chapters.

Magic has not only physically marked Allie’s skin, but it’s also implanted the remnants of her father’s soul inside her mind. The two never had a good relationship while he was alive and now he’s living inside her head. Allie’s only hope of exercising her father is the secret magical organization called The Authority. But they may wipe her ability to do magic quicker than they will help her. Allie must prove to The Authority she isn’t a danger to herself or society. All the while waging a mental war with her father.

Knowing Allie’s father is living inside her mind, and most likely able to see and hear everything she does, brings an extra level of unsettledness to the story. Allie herself begins to feel awkward and insecure as she begins to question everything she does in her personal and professional life. Of course, it doesn’t help that Allie has no way to escape her father whispering condescension in her ear. Not to mention the memories Devon Monk introduces to the storyline of his treatment of her and his misuse of Influence, making Allie do things in life (and now in his death) she hated.

Though some of the comments he makes about her choices aren’t entirely unfounded. Emphasis on some as his character is entirely controlling and slimy. Allie throws herself at danger. Thankfully she has characters who support her and look out for her well being. But it would help if she listened to their advice. Magic in the Shadows is an action-packed ride, but the incentive for the action needed to deviate away from Allie’s bad choices. It seems to be a common theme throughout these reviews, but the plot is littered with repetitiveness. Between Allie doing everything people told her not to, and the disturbing imagery from her father and the Veiled, the writing needs a refresh.

But there is a plethora of new information given to the reader on the nature of magic and its uses. Not to mention some underlying tension and mystery from secondary characters who make their first appearance in this novel. With an abundance of potential, it’s hard not to demand the next book just to see what direction the story will take. Here’s to hoping with all the exciting new threads introduced, the story will grow less repetitive.

There is only really a few words to describe this book....WEIRD, funny, RANDOM. lol

Once ruled by a King, Ixia has been overtaken by the Commander. All magic has been outlawed and any found to possess it will be put to death. A new Code of Behavior has been put in place, and while it may seem like a harsh world to outsiders, everyone has their place in the newly built society. And the new Code has saved Yelena’s life, allowing her a slim chance of freedom. Imprisoned for murder, Yelena is sentenced to death. But as she is led to the gallows she is given a choice. As the next slated for execution she can either proceed to her appointed death or become the new poison taster. Grasping at the chance to live, Yelena agrees to become the new taster. But there are those who will never forget the murder she committed. As Yelena must stay on guard against poisoned food, she must also protect herself from those who would exact their revenge.

Poison Study is a unique story, where much of the politics and back door deals are heard in snippets from Yelena’s viewpoint as she taste tests the Commander’s meals. Some of the political drama does involve her directly, and as such she runs into quite a few mishaps. But she is determined to stay alive and is quick to think on her feet. It also helps there is a mystery surrounding her and the circumstances that forced her to commit murder. With each new encounter, she finds ways to strengthen her resolve and build her skill set. Yelena refuses to be easily overtaken.

Readers will also spend time with Valek, one of the Commander’s advisors. Maria V. Snyder does a fantastic job building up a harsh character who follows a strict moral code. His defenses are high, and very few are able to see beneath the rough exterior. Yelena and Valek are well matched and their clashing provides entertaining animosity. While Yelena tries to push the rules, seeing where there might be the tiniest of cracks, Valek is quick to snap back and try to keep her in line. If only to keep the poison tester alive long enough to not have to train another one.

The one downfall of this novel was the way Yelena built a romantic relationship. It seemed to snap in place without much of a lead into the reasons behind it. Yelena’s flustered feelings were quite easy to depict, but the other party needed a few more hints to drop. Body language, or some sort of dialogue scattered throughout the story to leave a bit more of a breadcrumb trail to what was going to happen. Whereas the friendships she formed took time to develop, over the course of missions and shared pursuits. I quite enjoyed Yelena participating in training with her friends and sharing sarcastic jabs with them.

This is a high fantasy story driven by loads of character development and it does not have an overdose of politics. Yelena is a strong female lead to follow and I was pleasantly surprised by the representation in it. I first read Poison Study 12 years ago and I easily enjoyed it just as much as I did the first time.

This was a really good book. Definitely a nice light and funny read. I can't wait for the next one to come out.

I love how they brought Porthios into the plot line. I had thought he had just perished with the dragonfire. Amazing, his stability, and will power.

Awesome book but if I had a kid I would not let them read it till like Junior year of high school.

The Lost Chronicles is an interesting approach to writing a trilogy. Instead of creating three stories that flow into one another, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman have created stories to take place in between the original Chronicles. In this way, they allow readers the chance to see what happens to side characters involved in the war. Dragons of the Highlord Skies takes place between books one and two, telling the stories of Kitiara and Derek Crownguard.

Kitiara, the confident cruel woman readers have come to know in The Chronicles, is seen in a different light in this novel. While Kit is known as the Blue Lady, she wasn’t always an ally of Lord Soth and her rise to power is one strewn with many mishaps. Kit is tasked to set in motion a string of events that will lead to the downfall of Solamnia. She will have to travel to Icereach and work with the Highlord Feal-Thas. And though they may both be Highlords, there is no loyalty between them. Feal-Thas is loath to give up his dragon orb, even if it means the end of Solamnia. Never one to be told no, Kitiara does everything within her power to see that the plan is successful. And makes new enemies along the way.

As Kitiara’s story unfolds, readers are shown the emotional side of the Highlord. While she seems cool and confident as a secondary character, being allowed inside her mind opens readers up to a whole new Kitiara. I enjoyed witnessing her internal struggles and the mistakes she made as emotions overruled common sense. It brought a level of humanity to Kitara’s character that wasn’t present in the original novels. Seeing her vulnerability and the betrayal that leads her to Lord Soth explains how she can perform her later deeds in the Chronicles without remorse.

Derek Crownguard journeys to Icereach in search of the dragon orb. With it, he believes the Solamnic Knights will be able to gain an edge against the chromatic dragons. But his path is plagued by ambition and ego. Derek is a hard character to follow, as his skewed beliefs and prejudice do not make him a likable character. But he is an example of how the Oath and the Measure can be twisted. And as Sturm enters the picture when their paths inevitably cross, the vast difference between the characters is easily recognizable. While both claim to uphold the rules and morals of the Solamnic Knights, one is certainly more honorable than the other. And even Derek’s friends comment on how Derrick has changed due to the ongoing war. Moving farther and farther away from the person they once knew.

War and hardship take their toll on people in different ways. Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman have captured this concept throughout Dragons of the Highlord Skies with both Kitiara and Derek’s storylines. As a long-time fan of Dragonlance, it’s great hearing about the in-between tales. And while they may not focus on the original companions, they are still providing vital information about what’s been happening in the background.

They just keep getting better and better! I can't wait for the next one to come out! I hope Stark turns out good though :( I hate what happened to him.

Joanne’s been in tough spots before, but this is the first time she’s had her memories stolen and been left out to die in the middle of a winter storm. When Lewis and David find her, it doesn’t take long for them to figure out something’s wrong. A demon has awakened, and gained the stunning resemblance of Joanne. One could say she’s almost an exact copy.

After hearing about demons throughout the series and catching glimpses of what they can do, it was great to finally see one awakened. But despite the demon being the main antagonist, very little is seen of it until the end. I would have liked to see a build-up of encounters throughout the story. Instead, a string of events takes Joanne away from the demon, fizzling out the conflict before it truly began each time. The only way Joanne knows it is slowly gaining strength is through hearsay from other characters. And while this offered the opportunity for loose ends leftover from the past novels to reach their ends, it also made them feel like filler.

Admittedly Joanne isn’t at her best, without memories she can’t exactly use her abilities, but she’s been resourceful in the past. Those base instincts are still there, even if she doesn’t immediately realize it. This novel shows a new version of Joanne, one that needs help and is willing to take it without much of a fight. Thin Air shows her vulnerability in ways she hasn’t been before. After so many times seeing Joanne take charge and bring down adversaries, seeing her in this new light was what the story needed.

There are also a few twists I didn't see coming. The utter confusion and surprise brought to Joanne were priceless. The new directions these plot developments promise will entice readers to keep reading the series. Knowing how Joanne reacts to people who cross her, I can’t wait to see what the next book brings. Despite a few hiccups, Thin Air was another wonderful addition to the Weather Warden series.

Really good storyline, waaaaaaaaaaay too descriptive though, I mean there is only so much detail and deep meaning people need...and the immortal guy didn't seem to really have much of a purpose other than offing people. I want a dog like Einstein! I loved the scrabble pieces idea, and I wanted to cry when the Outsider got to him.

I absolutely loved this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brent Weeks is an extremely talented author in the gothic/dark genre of fantasy. The main character in this book goes through so many harsh turns and yet still remains in a way innocent and good. Kylar is certainly now one of my favorite characters. Every time I would pick this book up it would be hard to put down.

I loved this book! There was some text missing because I read the Advanced Copy but it was really good! At first I didn't think I would like it, but as the book progressed the reading level increased and the depth.

This was so much better than Hunted! It started a bit slow but picked up speed as soon as they returned to the House of Night. Can't wait to see what happens with Stevie Ray in Burned. A cliff hanger ending that makes me want to read the next book!

I could not put this book down, I literally stayed up nearly all night finishing it! This book certainly has a twist to it and leaves you begging for more. I kept hoping Dimitri would be different, not Strigori but just pretending to be acting it. I can't wait for the next one!

OH MY GOD THIS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!! There are so many twists and turns and unexpected events! I could NOT put this book down unless forced to! It is a must read!

I didn't like this book. Humans are dog like animals, and regular humans as we all know ourselves are, are called vodsels and are captured and fattened to feed the “humans”. I understand the point the author was trying to get across, but it should have been a much shorter book and a better ending.

Not as good as Holly Black but I still loved the way she incorporated the different fae courts and the storyline between characters. I was so afraid something would happen to Seth! And I am glad that it never got as far as the Summer Court becoming like the Dark Fae.

This book was really good. Holly Black definitely knows how to combat tough subjects in an artful way. I like how she mentioned events that happened in the first book as well. Combining the dark side of both humans and faeries adds together to create an epic read!

I loved the short stories by Karen Chance and Patricia Briggs, being that they are two of my favorite authors I figured I would. The Eileen Wilkes one was ok, great concept but a little too light of a read for me. The Sunny one just plain SUCKED. It was all about sex and I hate stories that do this. It was romance ewwwwww, give me the blood and violence like in Karen Chance's and Patricia Briggs and hold the romance. Gag.

All I can say is wow! I flew through this book because I just couldn't wait to see what happened between Bella and Edward. The love Edward has for Bella is so amazing. He is willing to give up everything even Bella herself for her to be happy. I can't wait for the next one.