Dead Witch Walking

Dead Witch Walking
By Kim Harrison
Series: The Hollows #1
Ebook Edition
432 Pages
Published October 13th, 2009
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Creature Feature: Withes, Vampires, Werewolves, Pixies, Fae, etc.
Rating: 4

I actually liked this a lot more than I was expecting.

Dead Witch Walking starts out slow, and I mean very slow. It takes about the first 100 pages for the plot to begin in earnest and another 50 for the action to start. Once the action gains some momentum, it doesn't stop until the end of the book.

There are many negative reviews for this book here on Goodreads, and I have to agree with most of them that it suffers from the "first book in the series" syndrome a...moreI actually liked this a lot more than I was expecting.

Dead Witch Walking starts out slow, and I mean very slow. It takes about the first 100 pages for the plot to begin in earnest and another 50 for the action to start. Once the action gains some momentum, it doesn't stop until the end of the book.

There are many negative reviews for this book here on Goodreads, and I have to agree with most of them that it suffers from the "first book in the series" syndrome and has some issues with the character development and relationships. However, even though the story takes a bit to get started, once it does it is hard to put the book down. I had to finish this last night to find out how it ended. Now, the ending is a bit lack luster, but there is a hint of promise for following books to be exciting. I have also heard that the rest of the series is amazing and this is just one of those books you have to get through to get to the good stuff.

Don't let the slow beginning and lack of hottie love interests deter you form giving this series a try. Near the end we get a glimpse of future interests for Rachel so do not fear!

I will definitely be giving the rest of the Hollows series a try. The lush world and engaging companion characters are well worth it.

Re-Vamp Hee Hee

Hey everyone! Not sure if you're still with me seeing as I've been very absent, however I think I've got a handle on it now. The reviewing pace may be a bit slower than when I first started but, it will be a lot more frequent than once a month. Sorry about that.

On another note, I have decided to give the page a new look very soon. I am going to be working with a new blog theme as my tastes and goals are changing. You could say my blog will be re-vamped. Pun intended.

The new look should be up in the next few days so please forgive me if things look a mess for a bit and let me know what you think of the new theme.

The new theme will coincide with my username on GoodReads that I have recently coined:

Jess ♥ Wickedly Bookish

A total 180 huh?

Kisses!

<3 Jess

First Drop of Crimson

First Drop of Crimson
By Jeaniene Frost
Series: Night Huntress World #1
Ebook Edition
287 Pages
Published: February 9th, 2010
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Creature Feature: Vampires, Ghouls, Demons
4.5 Stars

After reading all those lack luster reviews from my fellow paranormal addicts, I was a little concerned that this book wouldn't live up to its Night Huntress roots. I honestly loved this book. I am always curious about the lives and pasts of the side characters in the series. These characters who are given little attention, but hold so much potential tend to be pushed out of the spotlight once they have served their purpose. I give Jeaniene Frost mega kudos for taking up this spin-off series that has started off with a bang.

I really enjoyed the interactions between Spade and Denise, watching their tepid relationship grow into a romance. I'm really glad we all got to have this extra look into the Night Huntress world and I am excited for more of these side character focused novels. Absolutely love it. My only complaint is that Denise really wasn't my kind of heroine. She came off really insecure and flighty. Her character developed nicely towards the end, and I love a more innocent sweet heroine every once and awhile, but Denise just didn't do it for me. Otherwise, I have no complaints.. Witty and fast paced as always, Frost brings a really enjoyable companion read to her fans.

Succubus On Top

Succubus On Top

By Richelle Mead

Series: Georgina Kincaid #2

Ebook edition

352 Pages

Published: January 1st, 2008

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

Creature Feature: Succubi, Demons, Angels, etc.

3 Stars

I've decided to combine my reviews for the first two books in this series. Before I begin, let me comment that Richelle Mead is one of my favorite authors. Ms. Mead, I totally get that sometimes we have an idea that is great, but it doesn't quite flesh out. I forgive you.

Georgina Kincaid, succubus extrodinare, tries to balance out her job, new contract for exellence with her boss, and love life, with disaterous results. In Succubus Blues, we find out that Georgie here can't have a physical relationship with any man she may be dating because she will inadvertantly suck out their life energy and possibly corrupt their soul leaving them with years off their life.

I felt sorry for her at first, and then the angsty self-pity/loathing led to a whole lot of bitching, whining, and destructvie decision making. Honestly, I'm not sure what to think about this series. It has an interesting premise with a wishy washy heroine. I can see where others would argue that Georgina is a strong female lead, however the girl can not get her shit together. She does not deserve Seth, the dreamy nerd with his cavity enducing sweatness. I love Seth, I think he was well thought out and well portrayed. So well portrayed in fact that I wanted to kick Georgina's ass for him several times. A guy this good deserves so much better.

The plot, of both books, was pretty predictable towards the end and dropped obvious forshadowing hints like one dollar bills at a strip club. Which is to say there were few surprises. So why the 3 star rating? Because I was left with a strange facination with Georgina's fuck ups and the need to see Seth get some much derserved action. Hopefully this series gets better, and by that I mean hopefully Georgina grows the fuck up

The Dead Girls' Dance

The Dead Girls' Dance
By Rachel Caine
Series: The Morganville Vampires #2
Ebook edition
256 Pages
Published: April 3rd, 2007
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Creature Feature: Vampires

So, just out of curiosity I decided to take a peek at the first chapter. I'm in the middle of another book for my year long challenge, but after finishing Glass Houses, I was really interested to see how the cliff-hanger played out. I started reading, and didn't stop until just now at 10:32 p.m. I think it's safe to say this book was enthralling. I had some very teary eyed moments along with Claire and even yearned for Shane and his tortured hero past.

For a YA novel, and I say that with sadness because the YA designation didn't always signify a lowering of expectations, this book is really great. The writing is good enough to keep you from second guessing the passage you just read, and the plot is well thought out and engaging. I'm really enjoying this series and hope that the following installments will be just as all consuming of my time.

Glass Houses

Glass Houses
By Rachel Caine
Series: The Morganville Vampires #1
Ebook edition
256 Pages
Published: October 3rd, 2006
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Creature Feature: Vampires

This was a fun, fast read.

Caine offers a new and interesting take on vampires and their interactions with human society. Claire is a 16-year-old prodigy surviving her freshman year in college at TPU Texas Prairie University in Morganville, Texas. After getting herself into trouble with the campus it-crowd, she looks into renting a room at the Glass House. There she meets her friends and learns that there is much more to surviving life in Morganville than going to class and dodging the homicidal gossip girls.

The one thing I really like about this book, is that Caine lets you get to know these characters as Claire builds friendships or rivalries with them. She doesn't make it overtly obvious who Claire's romantic interest will be right off the bat. You really get a chance to know who the characters are as people first before the main character starts romanticizing them. Sure Claire notices the boys are attractive, but not more so than any other teenage girl would.

The plot is interesting and keeps your attention until the end. Danger and hilarity ensue. Top it all off with a horrendously unfair cliffhanger and you've got a great series starter

City of Fallen Angels

City of Fallen Angels
By Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments #4
424 Pages
Hardcover Edition
Published: April 5th, 2011
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Creature Feature: Vampire, Angel, Werewolf, Fae, Demon

When I heard that City of Fallen Angels was coming out I was ecstatic. A continuation of Mortal Instruments? More Clary and Jace? Yes Please! I could hardly wait even with the bonus of all the pre-release goodies Cassandra Clare was providing her loyal fans.

You are all now expecting my wild praises after having just finished this book. Amazing! Epic! Wonderful! Mind-bogglingly stimulating! Hmmm... That doesn't sound quite right. Ah! I have it now! Actually, it's a bit more like dissapointing! Underwhemling! An epic regergitated mess. Where was the crack injected addictiveness of the previous books? Haven't I read this somewhere before? Yes, yes I have.

Honestly people, after hugely anticipating this book because of my love for the orginal trilogy, I believe this world and chast of characters would have been much better off staying where they were after City of Glass. I would have much rather remembered Jace as his arogant, witty, hunky self from the original books than be left with this pathetic, simpering, pile of self-loathing that has been presented to us in CoFA.

Here is where I get all spoily so please don't read on if you have yet to finish the book.

SPOILER ALERT!

Let's be honest with ourselves shall we? We all knew that Clare was going to pull some "Sebastian Returns!" bull shit. There was absoutely no surprise there. The way she did it through Lilith was creative, but honestly originality it is not. Lilith, the mother of all warlocks is more commonly known as the queen of the succubi, which are better known as...demons who sneak into mens' dreams and use the power of sexuality to weaken them and steal their lifeforce for their own. And what happned to Jace everyone? Lilith uses sexy Clary dreams that end in death to freak Jace out and slowly draw him to her so she can mark him. Ineresting parallel there. And WTF is up with Jace and Clary? Their interactios in this book can be summed up this way.

Clary: Why are you ignorning me?
Jace: I'm really not sure...
Clary: But I love you more than anyone has every loved anything in the entire span of existence! Jace: I know me too... Here let me mumble words in another language to you that you will have to trust mean what I say they mean.
Clary: I don't speak Italian
Jace: I know! I mean... it means something totally sappy that will make you forget you're mad at me.
Clary: Oh Jace! Let's make out now! I will soothe your pain with fondling!
Jace: Finally...

Also, love how she just so happens to advertise her prequel series by placing, and discussing main characters from Clockwork Angel. I guess that can be an interesting tie in, but it just felt plastic. Camille's part in the story started out promising, but fell short near then end reeking insignificance. The abruptness of it screamed insincerity.

END SPOLIER!

Fangirls, don't get all crazy on me. I respect you and your opinions, so please respect mine. I really do love this series, but instead of providing an exciting continuation of the trilogy that we all know and love to death, CoFA brings a downer on the whole franchise. I'm not going to say that I want my money back as so many reviewers have expressed, because I got what I asked for, more Jace and Clary no matter how unsatisfactory. Plus the cover is pretty and it will look good sitting next to the first three on my bookshelf. God, I love the smell of paperweights in the morning!