Pure Blood by Caitlin Kittredge

Pure Blood
Nocturne City, Book 2
Caitlin Kittredge
St. Martin’s
August 26, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-312-94830-6

From the Back Cover:
In the shadows of Nocturne City, witches lurk and demons prowl, and homicide detective Luna Wilder must keep the peace—while living life as a werewolf. Now bodies are turning up all over town, the brutal murders linked by a cryptic message:We see with empty eyes…
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To make matters worse for Luna, she can’t get wolfishly handsome Dmitri Sandovsky out of her mind. The last time he helped her with a case, Dmitri suffered a demon bite that infected him with a mysterious illness…and now his pack elders have forbidden him from associating with Luna. But she’ll need his help when high-level witches start turning up slaughtered. Because a war is brewing between rival clans of blood witches and caster witches—a magical gang war with the power to burn Nocturne City to the ground.
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My thoughts:
Luna Wilder is a homicide detective for the Nocturne City Twenty-fourth Precinct. She’s also Insoli, a werewolf without a pack, and is in need of some help that Dimitri could give. That’s if he were still talking to her. After she played a part in his accidental demon bite, his pack elders forbid him from seeing Luna. They’ve also made demands on his future, not wanting him tainted further by an Insoli. Now something bad is coming and someone from her past has surfaced. Luna’s partner is way too close to the problem, so unless she can convince Dimitri to help, she may not survive.

Dimitri Sandovski was the alpha of the local Redbacks when he met Luna, but circumstances have turned his life upside down and ripped them apart. He’s just returned home, and despite the warnings and threats from the elders, he finds himself drawn to Luna’s side to protect her. She’s gotten herself involved in an age old war that’s coming to a head. Witches are dying, and the feud between blood witches and caster witches has just turned deadly. Anyone foolish enough to enter the fray may not make it out alive.

This is the second installment in the Nocturne City series and it’s as action-packed with danger as the first. With Luna’s job putting her in the thick of a longtime quarrel, there’s plenty of supernatural death and romance to keep readers glued to the pages. Caitlin Kittredge expands the world she’s created and adds new characters to tempt and torture in a lethal combination. Jump in with both feet and hang-on tight because Pure Blood is an emotion filled ride that’s anything but smooth.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Before I Wake by Kathryn Smith

Before I Wake
The Nightmare Chronicles
Kathryn Smith
Avon Books
July 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-06-134027-7

From the back cover:
You may call it a dream job . . .
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And in some ways, you'd be right. I actually get paid to study people's dreams. It comes much easier than my employers at the Sleep Center suspect; after all, I, Dawn, am the daughter of the king of the dream world, and I can roam the dreams of others, battling the nightmares that plague them.
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I call it a nightmare . . .
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Honestly, I could use a good night's sleep. But ever since I met Noah Clarke, I'm even more torn between the two worlds: smart, sexy, and able to control his own dreams, Noah could be my perfect man—except he's being stalked in his sleep by an unearthly evil, hell-bent on destroying him . . . and the entire world.
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My thoughts:
Dr. Dawn Riley works as a specialist of sleep and dreams, but she was born a Nightmare. With a human mother and a father who’s King of the Dreamkin, Morpheus, Dawn is cursed to straddle both our world and the world of dreams. In her human form she hides her ability to enter and alter dreams, but when a patient believes he’s being hunted and will be killed within his own dreams, Dawn has little choice but to help Noah in any way she can.

Noah Clarke is an artist with a fertile imagination, and he’s always been a lucid dreamer who could maintain some control over his dreams. Now something in his dreams is fighting him, and he fears that the goal is his death. His only hope is his doctor, Dawn, but he’ll have to let her in beyond the walls he’s erected, and that’s something he’d much rather not do.

Kathryn Smith has created a fabulous world for her characters, and added unrest among the ranks of the Dreamkin to fuel the plot. This fast moving tale has all of the right details that make it a captivating read that’s difficult to set down. Before I Wake will have readers eager for the next in The Nightmare Chronicles. This is a book that I’d happily recommend.

To learn more about The Nightmare Chronicles and to read an excerpt from Before I Wake, please visit Ms. Smith’s site: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Razor Girl by Marianne Mancusi

Razor Girl
Marianne Mancusi
SHOMI – Dorchester Publishing
August 26, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-505-52780-6

From the back cover:
THE WORLD HAS ENDED, MOLLY.
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WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW?
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Molly Anderson is not your average twenty-one-year-old. It’s been six years since she and her family escaped into a bunker, led by her conspiracy theorist father and his foreknowledge of a plot to bring about the apocalypse. But her father’s precautions didn’t stop there. Molly is now built to survive.
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Yes, Ian Anderson’s favorite book gave him ideas on how to “improve” his daughter. Molly is faster, stronger, and her ocular implants and razor-tipped nails set her apart. Apart, when—venturing alone out of the bunker and into a plague ravaged, monster-ridden wilderness—what Molly needs most is togetherness. Chase Griffin, a friend from her past, is her best bet. But while he and others have miraculously survived, the kind boy has become a tormented man. Together, these remnants of humanity must struggle toward trusting each other and journey to the one place Molly’s father believed all civilization would be reborn: a magic kingdom, where everyone knows it’s a small world after all.
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My thoughts:
After six years of being hidden away in a bunker, the time-locked door has opened. The date is July 1, 2036 and Molly Anderson has just said goodbye to her mother and to her captivity. She’s free to follow through with the plans her father set out for her, and her journey to reach him will soon begin.

The world is a different place now, with humans turned zombie looking for their next meal there are few untouched people remaining. Having been altered by her father to improve her chances of survival in the plague wasted world, Molly is fortunate to meet up with Chase, someone she knew before. Her destination is Florida, where her father believed that Magic Kingdom was the place for humanity to once again flourish. What they find when they arrive isn’t quite what she bargained for.

Ms. Mancusi fast forwards time and plunges readers into what appears to be the aftermath of armageddon. As the heroine’s father predicted, she has an important journey to make, but it may not be the one he had planned. Razor Girl combines science-fiction, horror, romance and more. The author does a fine job of telling the story in alternating segments between the years 2030 and 2036. The storyline is written in a believable manner, but I did have a hard time with Molly following her father. At her age, and knowing that her father was fanatical in his theories, she shouldn’t have been naïve enough for things to play out the way they did. The matured Molly on a mission was much improved in character. The overall story moves quickly and has some unique qualities that are often quite humorous. I won’t hesitate to read another of Ms. Mancusi’s books, and will continue to enjoy Dorchester’s SHOMI line.

To read an excerpt from Razor Girl, visit Ms. Mancusi’s website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

First Blood - Anthology

First Blood
Anthology
Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy,
Chris Marie Green & Meljean Brook
Berkley
August 5, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-425-22400-7

From the Publisher’s site:
You never forget your first blood...Susan Sizemore returns to the universe of her Laws of the Blood novels with a sizzling story of the relationship between a vampire enforcer and a werewolf.
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Erin McCarthy’s Sasha Checkikov flees the bright lights and dangerous slayers of Vegas for New Orleans, where she is saved by a vampire haunted by his past—and hungry for passion.
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Set in the Vampire Babylon world, Chris Marie Green’s story puts the bond between twin female vampires to the test when one of them falls for her prey.
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Meljean Brook’s vampire Annie Gallagher needs help to save a young human girl, but she doesn’t expect the help to come from the FBI agent she loved—and had to give up—when she was transformed.
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My thoughts:
Cave Canem by Susan Sizemore weaves a tale that begins in the past as the first hellhounds come into being. A litter of pups in the present are threatened and it’s up to a strigoi, Dan Conover, to do everything he can to protect them, even if that means trusting the werewolf-witch Tess Sirella, to help.

Russian Roulette by Erin McCarthy opens with a vampire being held against her will. She’s been betrayed, but with little choice Sasha Checkikov will have to trust in her savior, Alister Kirk, to keep her safe.

Double the Bite by Chris Marie Green follows Ben as he tracks down the events that led to his brother’s death. He meets Ginny and Geneva, seductive vampire twins, and his future is changed forever.

Thicker than Blood by Meljean Brook brings Annie Gallagher to the last man she’d ever consider going to for help. With a young girl on the run and in danger, Jack’s FBI contacts may be the only hope for finding Cricket, even if facing him is one of the hardest things Annie’s ever done.

First Blood is a collection of vampire tales from four of today’s popular urban fantasy authors, and what a mix it is. Each story is an interesting contrast to the next. Ms. Sizemore shares a dark tale of hellhounds that, while it is shapeshifters, may be disturbing for sensitive readers. Ms. McCarthy creates a more romantic read. The ending feels a little rushed, but the events leading up to it are enjoyable. Ms. Green gives readers a trip into the dark side of her Vampire Babylon world with vampiric twins who have two very different agendas. Ms. Brook ends this anthology on what will surely be a favorite with readers. Her engaging characters and great detail in this short story really end the compilation on a high note.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Frostbite
Vampire Academy, Book 2
Richelle Mead
Razorbill
April 10, 2008
ISBN# 978-1-59514-175-0

From the back cover:
Rose Hathaway's got serious guy trouble. Her gorgeous tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason has a huge crush on her, and she keeps getting stuck in her best friend Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian.

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Then a massive Strigoi attack puts St. Vladimir's on high alert, and the Academy crawls with Guardians - including the legendary Janine Hathaway...Rose's formidable, long-absent mother. The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks. This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

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But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only provide the illusion of safety. When three students run away to strike back against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. Only this time, Rose - and her heart - are in more danger than she ever could have imagined...

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My thoughts:
Going on a road trip to test with a legendary Strigoi slayer was reason enough for Rose to be nervous, but what they found when they arrived was far more than she bargained for. The Strigoi have stepped up their attacks and the academy fears the worst. The safest place they can take everyone is to an isolated ski resort where there’s less chance of the Strigoi finding them.

Once settled in with little care by most of what’s going on in the outside world, a few students get it into their heads to make a stand. With information on Strigoi whereabouts, and guessing where her friends have gone, Rose sets out with Christian’s help to track them down and stop what could be a senseless battle.

In this second installment of the Vampire Academy, Rose, the guardian dhampir in training, and Lissa, the Moroi princess she protects, will face life altering challenges long before either is ready. Ms. Mead advances her storyline with high tension, deadly conflict and the lure of forbidden attraction. Engaging characters and the creative plot in Frostbite add just the right touch of realism, keeping the reader’s attention throughout the story. Shadow Kiss, the third book in the series, is scheduled to release on November 13, 2008.

To read an excerpt from Frostbite, visit the author’s website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy
Vampire Academy, Book 1
Richelle Mead
Razorbill
August 16, 2007
ISBN# 978-1-59514-174-3

From the back cover:
Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires--the ones who never die.

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The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir; she is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.

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After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking Academy hearts.

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Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's - inside the Academy's iron gates, their world is even more fraught with danger. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals, and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever...

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My thoughts:
Two years ago Rose Hathaway thought that the best way to protect Lissa Dragomir was to run from St. Vladimir’s Academy and hide where no Strigoi could find them. Lissa is a vampire, a Moroi princess, and Rose is a Dhampir who has sworn to protect her. Their freedom comes to an end when the guardians finally track them down and return them to the school.

Now Lissa must reestablish her social standing among their classmates, which isn’t too difficult a task with such a fickle lot. Rose on the other hand will be doing double duty to make up for the time she’s missed him her training, and the academy has just the man for the job. She could learn a lot from the guardian, if she could just keep her mind on practice.

This is the first in the Vampire Academy series, and is a great read for teens or adults. Lissa would be lost without protection, and Rose is dedicated to insuring Lissa’s safety, regardless of any personal cost. Ms. Mead introduces readers to her vampire world with a fascinating and fun crash course in her brand of vampires that makes for an adventurous ride. Vampire Academy has a steady pace, the characters are intriguing and the action will have you coming back for more.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Death's Half Acre by Margaret Maron

Death’s Half Acre
A Deborah Knott Mystery, Book 14
Margaret Maron
Grand Central Publishing
August 20, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-446-19610-9

From the back cover:
As family-owned farms and lush fields in North Carolina's picturesque countryside start to give way to shoddy mansions and housing developments, discontent begins to rile the inhabitants of Judge Deborah Knott's beloved Colleton County. Beneath the surface of her seemingly peaceful town, a tide of corruption is rising, and even her strong-willed father might be led down a dark path. In the meantime, the murder of a controversial, high-profile woman commissioner leads Deborah and her husband, Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant, into the shadows of the past, where even the most prominent townsfolk have something to hide, including the honorable judge herself. Intent on protecting those who love her most, Deborah must balance her own concerns with her commitment to justice, and the knowledge that a vicious killer is still on the loose.
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My thoughts:
As developers reshape the area of Colleton County, NC, Judge Deborah Knott sees more and more cases in the courtroom caused by those changes. Housing developments coming in mean more people used to city living have to learn to accept and respect the farmlands that back the property in many of those neighborhoods. With so much going on it’s easy to sometimes miss what her family is up to, as is the case with her father, Kezzie Knott. Deborah has no idea what he’s gotten into this time, but whatever it is it can’t be good. Unless she can discover what it on her own she may never know, because he has no intention of talking.

When Candace Bradshaw is found dead, Deputy Dwight Bryant becomes involved with the case. Many of the townspeople are shocked, especially the deceased’s ex-husband. As a business owner and chair of the board of commissioners, power was what Candace was after and she had worked hard to get to where she was. Taking her own life just doesn’t add up. It’s not long before the Sheriff’s office is investigating a murder, rather than a suicide, that sends them on a hunt for a well-hidden item that could contain nearly all of the answers they’re looking for.

This is the fourteenth installment in the Deborah Knott Mysteries. Deborah is a judge who sees her town changing with little she can do to stop the process. Love and protection for her family comes first, and with a killer at large Deborah will do everything in her power to help her husband discover who may have had a secret dark enough for murder. Ms. Maron has built a strong world for her characters and she mixes in murder, mystery, and family values in a comfortable country setting. Death’s Half Acre will appeal to readers who enjoy a good mystery and love a small town atmosphere.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Seaborn by Chris Howard

Seaborn
Chris Howard
Juno
August 3, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-8095-7281-6

From the Publisher’s site:
All Life began in the ocean.The tides, the salt, the rolling waves are in our souls.The sea will always have the power to call us home.
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There is a world deep under the sea, a kingdom that has endured thousands of years without the modern world knowing it exists. Those who dwell there are Thalassogenêis: SEABORN
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Kassandra is the Seaborn king's granddaughter--the one he wishes he'd killed when he'd had the chance. She comes from the sea, but she has spent her whole life in exile on the surface, learning to control strange and frightening powers she barely understands. But now she's ready to declare war on the murderous king.
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Corina Lairsey is a scuba-diving Californian who has freed herself from a controlling relationship...and finds herself in another. Only this time, Aleximor, an ancient Seaborn sorcerer, is literally inside her head and wearing her body. Corina must strive for control of her self, fighting against time as Aleximor trades pieces of her life away in exchange for power over the path between the worlds of the living and the dead.
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Aleximor wants revenge for his 400-year imprisonment and his dangerous machinations threaten to destroy both young women and the world of the Seaborn.
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My thoughts:
Born to a royal family, but exiled to live among the land dwelling surfacers, Kassandra is gathering her power to exact revenge on her grandfather, the king. Little does he realize that some of the power she gathers through Bleeds is coming from a source that may surprise him, and there’s nothing that he can do to stop it. With the help of her family and allies, Kassandra will lead an army to secure the family’s rightful place in society as well as her own.

Corina spends her free time diving off of the California coast, and her penchant for doing those dives alone is about to change her life in a very dark way. Her introduction to the Seaborn comes at the hands of Aleximor, a sorcerer who was imprisoned and is bent on revenge. As he takes over Corina’s body it becomes a battle of minds, one she can’t win against a being who gathers his strength through the dead.

Seaborn is the first novel for Chris Howard, and what an amazing tale it is. From the underwater society to the surfacers on land, the detailed account of preparation and battle is vividly drawn. There are instances, especially when they involve Aleximor, that are graphic in nature, but they’re well within character. The story is well-paced, action-packed and laced with tension filled emotion. There are also two distinct threads that come together as they lead up to a climactic battle, and the author has done a great job of keeping them equally exciting. This is a book I’d recommend to fantasy readers, but horror fans should enjoy Aleximor and Corina’s tale as well.

To learn more about the author and Seaborn, visit Mr. Howard: Here


Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews