Review - My Wicked Vampire by Nina Bangs

A new review has been posted on the website for My Wicked Vampire by Nina Bangs. This is the fourth installment in The Castle of Dark Dreams series.
http://darquereviews.com/12612/274675.html

You can also visit the author's page:
http://darquereviews.com/14912/102017.html

Please feel free to share any comments on this book here on the blog post. :)

Kimberly Swan, DarqueReviews.com

Movie Review - Thicker than Water by Writer/Director Philip Messerer

A new review has been posted on the website for Thicker than Water. This is the first of three movies in the Vampire Diaries Trilogy by Writer/Director Philip Messerer.
http://darquereviews.com/15017/253033.html

Please feel free to share any comments on this book here on the blog post. :)
Kimberly Swan, DarqueReviews.com

Q & A - Marta Acosta

Marta Acosta is about to have her third Casa Dracula release hit the shelves with The Bride of Casa Dracula. While she was kind enough to grant an interview last year, I thought it would be fun to do a short Q & A to see what she’s been up to, and where she’s going with her writing. She was kind enough to share more of her time.

Hi Marta…It’s great to have you back at Darque Reviews!

Q. The Bride of Casa Dracula will be available September 16, 2008 from Pocket Books. Can you tell us what project fills your days now?

A. I am in that crazy place where I’m trying to finish up my next novel, a romantic comedy, and also publicize The Bride of Casa Dracula. I have a new dog and a foster dog and a house filled with my son’s friends. I call them the dog pack and the boy pack. Today I tried to make a birthday pie for one of them and the results were tragic. I’m married to a wonderful man who puts up with all my nonsense and obsessing about my books.

Q. Your Casa Dracula series is set apart from most vampire reads, what makes Milagro and her world special?

A. When I started the first book, I didn’t approach it as a vampire novel. I thought about the books I loved and what made them special to me. I love comedy and my favorite characters are those who are well-intentioned, but make mistakes and then try to correct the mistakes. I love ambiguity, so my characters misunderstand one another. (If you go back and reread a book, you’ll see those intentional ambiguities.) I try to weave my plots and subplots tightly so that there are no dangling threads.

Milagro’s special because she is good-hearted, but a little clueless, as most of us are as young adults. She hasn’t the experience that would make her cynical, but she is capable of learning. She’s had a very lonely upbringing, but she’s always hopeful. She’s also funny and finds humor no matter what her circumstances.

Q. If you could choose a specific trait from any of your characters who would it be from, and what would it be?

A. Oh, gosh, I would have to say Mercedes, the nightclub owner. She’s Milagro’s “moral compass” and she’s always calm and sensible.

Q. It’s easy to see how important the readers are to you by your online presence and interaction with them. Where can readers who have just discovered your work find you on the web?

A. I am all over the frickin web. There’s my website, my author blog, Vampire Wire, which is my paranormal entertainment blog, MySpace, FaceBook, and god knows what else I’ve signed up for. I like to visit several blogs every day –and Darque Reviews is one of my faves. I drop by the Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books blog frequently. And you’re right – it is important to me to connect with my readers. In fact, that’s what makes it all worthwhile.

Q. Aside from becoming published, what was your biggest goal when you began writing, and has that goal changed through the years?

A. My biggest goal was to survive as a writer. But I’ve got my fifth book deal and still don’t feel secure. My new goal is to be successful enough that I don’t have to worry so much and so I can focus on reaching out to those who love humor, but might shy away from something they perceive as just a shallow read.

Thanks for having me here, Kimberly! I love your blog and visit every day.

Thank you so much for joining us Marta, and I hope you see the best sales ever with The Bride of Casa Dracula!

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Review - The Bride of Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta

The Bride of Casa Dracula
Casa Dracula, Book 3
Marta Acosta
Pocket Books
September 16, 2008
ISBN# 978-1-4165-5963-4

From the author’s website:
Milagro de los Santos is having serious problems planning her wedding to fabulous Oswald Grant, M.D. Her future in-laws loathe her, her dog just died, and Oswald’s family has a genetic anomaly that makes them crave blood. Then her extravagant best friend hijacks the role of wedding coordinator, and the secretive Vampire Council assigns conniving Cornelia Ducharme to guide the couple through the ancient vampire marriage rituals.

To top it all off, Milagro’s career is on the skids. She’s reduced to ghostwriting the memoirs of a loony little man who claims to be a shapeshifter. And why does Cornelia’s decadent, way too attractive brother, Ian, always show up whenever Milagro is away from Oswald?

When a series of accidents interferes with wedding plans, Oswald worries that Milagro is cracking under the pressure. Is she just paranoid, or is a hidden enemy trying to make sure Milagro doesn't wed the undead?

My thoughts:
Milagro De Los Santos is a writer, a gardener, and soon to be wife of Dr. Oswald Grant. Her life could be perfect if there weren’t so much meddling going on, but since her best friend Nancy has taken over as wedding coordinator, Milagro has high hopes that at least this area of her life will play out without a hitch. Then the Vampire Council steps in to insist that they perform a vampire marriage ritual as well, and sends the worst candidate possible to help Milagro through the process.

As things appear to be coming together, Milagro takes on a writing job for a strange little man and soon after finds herself the target of an unknown enemy. Add to that the ever increasing annoyance of working with Cornelia Ducharme, and the chance meetings with her brother Ian, and the wedding may be the least of Milagro’s problems.

In this third installment of the Casa Dracula series, Milagro jumps in with both feet to plan her future as Oswald’s wife, taking fans on a mishap studded journey to the alter. Ms. Acosta adds new blood to the list of characters and ensures a wild and emotionally bumpy ride. The pace is fast and the plot is peppered with humorous misfortune, but it’s staying true to the characters that make Casa Dracula such a well loved series. Readers will find that the skillfully executed twists in The Bride of Casa Dracula make this the most surprising installment to date.

To learn more about The Bride of Casa Dracula, please visit Ms. Acosta’s website: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Promo - Bite Me Magazine

Bite Me Magazine
The Journal of the Vampire and its Kin
Arlene Russo – Editor
BiteMeMagazine.com
Issue 20 – Out Now

I recently had the good fortune of winning a copy of Bite Me Magazine by entering a contest on fellow paranormal and urban fantasy reviewer, AmberKatze’s, blog. Thank you Amber, I thoroughly enjoyed your print review debut! What a special treat really, because I’ve never seen anything like Bite Me.

This high quality magazine has so much to see. From regular departments that range from Vampire News to Book Reviews by Amber, to fabulous articles submitted by ghost hunters and a New Orleans correspondent, there is something for everyone interested in vampires, gothic fiction and things that go bump in the night.

Some of my favorites in Issue 20 is the beautiful paintings by artist Anne Sudworth and the creepiness of Phil Gomm’s write-up on Dolls & Puppets. There’s also a short story by Nancy Kilpatrick to keep fiction readers entertained.

If you have the opportunity, then get yourself a copy and see for yourself what a brilliant job Arlene Russo, editor and author, has done. Ms. Russo also has a book titled Vampire Nation that will be available next month (September 2008). Take a peek: Here


You can purchase Bite Me Magazine in the UK: Here

Look for Bite Me Magazine in the US at your local Borders Store.

Visit Ms. Russo’s Vampire Nation on MySpace: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Promo - True Blood: Invitation to the Set (HBO)

Review - Bitten to Death by Jennifer Rardin

Bitten to Death
Jaz Parks, Book 4
Jennifer Rardin
Orbit
August 12, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-316-02208-8

From the back cover:
Jaz Parks here.

My latest mission has taken me to the ancient Greek city of Patras; but instead of soaking up its splendor, I'm here to infiltrate a Vampere Trust.

Only two vamps have ever escaped the tightly bound communities and lived to tell the tale: Edward "The Raptor" Samos, the most reviled criminal mastermind in recent memory, and Vayl, the CIA's number one assassin who also happens to be my boss.
The Raptor is trying to take over Vayl's former Trust. Unfortunately the Trust's new leader has her own plans.

This job is going to be the death of me.

My thoughts:
Jaz Parks embarks on a new mission with her boss Vayl, the CIA’s top assassin. In their continued efforts to stop Edward Samos, The Raptor, they find themselves at a Greek villa in Patras, where the Vampere Trust Vayl once belonged to resides. Samos has plans for the Trust and his efforts to infiltrate it could be their best chance to stop him once and for all.

Vayl left the Trust long ago, and Samos was the only other who dared. Agreeing to a deal with the Trust’s leader, the Deyrar Hamon Eryx, they arrive to find that he’s been replaced. Vayl has old ties to the new Deyrar, Disa, and is surprised to see her alive let alone in a position she shouldn’t have had the strength to hold. As their time at the Trust grows darker, Vayl will uncover secrets beyond anything he imagined while he fights to destroy Samos and hold on to any future he may have with Jaz.

This is the fourth book in the Jaz Parks series. Jaz, Vayl and the team continue their main objective, to eliminate the threat of The Raptor. They’ll also have to set to right a Vampere Trust that has been taken over by something beyond Vayl’s fellow vampires. Ms. Rardin packs this character-driven story with danger-filled action and a dark secondary plot that challenges the fragile bond between her main characters. Bitten to Death is a fast moving tale that’s infused with high emotions and the ever present chemistry that fans of the series know and love.

To read an excerpt from Bitten to Death, please visit Ms. Rardin’s website: Here

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

His Forgotten Forever by Michele Hauf

His Forgotten Forever
Bewitching the Dark, Book 3
Michele Hauf
Silhouette Nocturne
July 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-373-61791-3

From the back cover:
Truvin Stone no longer remembered his victims…

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Or his enemies. As he fought for survival, the only person Truvin could trust was an outsider to his world, an innocent foolish enough to nurse him back to health.…

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Truvin's past was one story Lucy Morgan couldn't stop chasing, even after she discovered he was a vampire. Drawn in by his dark side, Lucy was one bite away from feeling the true power of his embrace—and his eternal curse. Standing in the midst of a new war, Truvin was the key to tipping the balance between vampire and witch. Yet returning to his old, evil ways would destroy Lucy… and deliver to him a fate worse than death.
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My thoughts:
Truvin Maximilien Stone becomes aware of his surroundings in a wet, slushy alley and has no memory of how he got there. There’s a lump on his head, no wallet in his pocket and nothing more than a note telling him were to go. His memory is gone, and now he finds himself on the run from strangers who want to see him dead. Dashing in front of a car and putting distance between him and the strangers in pursuit may have saved his life for the time being, but now he’s involved an innocent woman, Lucy, in the mess he’s forced to call his life.

Lucy Morgan is tired of interviewing people who claim they’re vampires for the show Myth: Confirmed. After two years of chasing myths she’s lost her enthusiasm for making the stories fun. Just as she comes to the realization that she wants something more, a stranger carjacks her in desperation and entangles her in a life he can’t remember. Drawn to a good mystery, Lucy soon finds herself immersed in Truvin’s life, a dangerous place for her to be.

This is the third book in the Bewitching Dark series, and written to enjoy as a stand-alone. When Lucy went looking for something more out of her life, finding herself with a devastatingly handsome, amnesiac vampire hadn’t entered her thoughts of possibility. Truvin provides her with everything she could have hoped for in excitement and a whole lot more. Ms. Hauf pens an action filled adventure with an intriguing mystery, and turns up the heat with chemistry soaked romance. His Forgotten Forever is fast, entertaining and sexy as sin.

You can read the first chapter of His Forgotten Forever: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Dragon Wytch by Yasmine Galenorn

Dragon Wytch
Sisters of the Moon, Book 4
Yasmine Galenorn
Berkley
July 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-425-22239-3

From the back cover:
We’re the D’Artigo sisters: savvy—and sexy—operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. But being half-human, half-Fae short-circuits our talents at all the wrong times. My sister Delilah shapeshifts into a tabby cat whenever she’s stressed. Menolly’s a vampire who’s still getting the hang of being undead. And me? I’m Camille, a wicked-good witch, trying to juggle faulty magic, gorgeous men, and the demonic war in which we're embroiled. Sometimes, it’s hard to know just who we can trust…

The Equinox is coming, and mayhem rules. A crown-prince unicorn offers us a legendary gift, but it vanishes. Goblins and trolls swarm the streets of Seattle. And now Smoky, the sexiest dragon alive, decides to stake his claim--on me. Overshadowing it all, the third spirit seal surfaces and Shadow Wing's after it. But I've discovered a secret that could change everything. A new power is rising—a dangerous force from the past--one that intends to restore balance to the worlds…whether we like it or not.

My thoughts:
Searching for a way to battle the unwelcome Otherworld denizens that are pouring through the portals into Seattle, Camille D’Artigo has been offered a way to help boost her talents by adding a different type of magic. As she struggles to manage her own unpredictable gifts with her mixed human-fae blood, she’s happy to accept the offering from Feddrah-Dahns, a crown price unicorn. The third spirit seal is about to become known, and they’ll need every advantage they can manage to stand against those who side with their demon lord enemy, Shadow Wing.

Smokey is collecting on the bargain he struck with Camille for a week to do with her what he pleases. He’s patient for a dragon, but even he has his limits, and while Camille feels protected in his presence she still has a level of fear. As the battle heats up all around them, and the D’Artigo sisters find themselves in the midst of OW and Earthside chaos, Camille will find that bargains may be all that can save everyone she loves.

As readers have learned in the previous Sisters of the Moon installments, Ms. Galenorn has a great gift for spinning a compelling story. The supernatural action is a great blend of both fresh and familiar, the characters are each charming in their own way, the heroine’s love-life is scorching and the worlds they all live in are well-defined. Dragon Wytch is the fourth book in this urban fantasy series and while some threads in the storyline are wrapped up, many more will emerge to keep fans in suspense.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Small Favor by Jim Butcher

Small Favor
The Dresden Files, Book 10
Jim Butcher
Roc
April 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-451-46189-6

Harry Dresden is a wizard making his way in the world as a private investigator. While working with his apprentice, Molly Carpenter, they’re hit with an attack of gruffs. Furry, white and goat-like, the gruffs are enforcers for Queen Titania of the Summer Court of faeries. It seems that Titania wants Harry out of the way, and the surest way to achieve that is with his death.

Owing a favor is never a good thing when it comes to the faeries, and Harry owes the terrifying Queen Mab of the Winter Court more than one. She’s offered to help him by removing a favor in exchange for Harry finding the robber baron, Gentleman Johnnie Marcone, a Chicago crime lord that’s gone missing. She’d also like him to become her Winter Knight, but that’s a job that Harry refuses to consider. With little choice in taking on the Marcone case, Harry sets out to find answers to the kidnapping, and to get the matter resolved as quickly as possible without it costing his life.

Harry’s streak of luck without near-death experiences has officially ended, and now even the Knights of the Blackened Denarius would like a piece of him. With his brother Thomas at his back, Harry has every intention of solving the case and surviving everything the faerie courts send his way.

Small Favor is the tenth book in The Dresden Files. Willing or not, Harry is on a new case to locate a local crime lord. If he can stay alive through the process he’ll have one of his remaining favors removed by the queen of the Winter Court. Mr. Butcher sets a fast-pace in his latest Dresden adventure and this page-turner doesn’t disappoint. With a heavy dose of the sarcastic dialog that readers have come to know and love, an entertaining new case ensues. Small Favor is a danger-filled and magical read that will keep fans riveted from page one.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Embrace the Night by Karen Chance

Embrace the Night
Cassandra Palmer Series, Book 3
Karen Chance
ROC
April 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-451-46199-5

As the reigning Pythia, Cassandra Palmer has new responsibilities as well as new talents. Her will to remove the geis that’s determined to bind her to Mircea leads her on a quest to recover the Codex Merlini. The Codex is a book of powerful spells that would be too dangerous in the present, but a trip to the past to uncover a counter-spell may be Cassandra’s only chance to stop the geis of reaching its goal.

Mircea is a master vampire that’s slowly going insane. His only hope for survival is to carry through with the magical binding of the geis, or have the spell removed. It’s a difficult task in his current state, but when Cassie uses her powers to shift to the past the Mircea of another time will help her accomplish the quest. There’s still no guarantee that the spell will be broken, but the possibility outweighs the risk in trying.

Pritkin is a war mage with a long and secretive past that’s quickly catching up to him. While he generally keeps to himself, he’s taken on helping Cassandra find the Codex. His reasons will strain the tentative relationship he has in helping Cassie, and leave her to wonder if he’s really friend or foe. For reasons he had planned to keep to himself, Pritkin must find that Codex and ensure that no one gains the power that resides within.

Embrace the Night is the third book in the Cassandra Palmer series. Cassandra can’t risk becoming a servant to Mircea or the vampires, so she needs the Codex Merlini. Once found she’ll have to guard it with her life, because the spells it contains could endanger the entire world. Ms. Chance continues to expand her well-built world with time-travel, fantastical beings, steamy romance and the non-stop action her wonderful series provides. This is a fast-moving read that’s hard to set down, and it will no doubt leave readers eager for future installments in the Cassandra Palmer series.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom

50 Ways to Hex Your Lover
Linda Wisdom
Sourcebooks, Inc.
March 1, 2008
ISBN#978-1-4022-1085-3

Jasmine Tremaine was banished by the Witches’ High Council and has been on her own for close to 7 centuries. With each offence comes time added to her banishment, and the Council is more than happy to remind her.

Driving her classic T-Bird, complete with a ghost named Irma, Jazz makes most of her money as a Limo driver for Dweezil, and picks up extra cash by removing curses. She has a very human roommate, Krebs, a hungry pair of bunny slippers, and a thunderous temper. Then there’s Nikolai Gregorivich, the sexy vampire who has been in and out of her life for nearly 300 years. Theirs has been anything but a smooth relationship.

When vampires start disappearing, Nick seeks Jazz’s help. After decades of being apart the spark between them is stronger than ever, and staying focused on the task at hand becomes more and more difficult. When an old enemy they believed dead resurfaces, the possibility that he’s responsible for the missing vampires quickly becomes the most likely answer. Now Jazz and Nick will have to find a way to stop him without losing their own lives along the way.

50 Ways to Hex Your Lover is the first in a new series. Ms. Wisdom carves her niche in paranormal romance with unique characters, a sizzling romance, and a supernatural mystery to solve. With a strong magical element and a nice touch of humor, when push comes to shove there’s no stopping this witch from getting things done. Readers can look forward to Hex Appeal, coming this fall.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Fangland by John Marks

Fangland
John Marks
Penguin Books
January 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-14-311253-2

As an associate producer for the television news show, ‘The Hour’, Evangeline Harker is given the job of traveling to Romania to meet with an Eastern European criminal figure, Ion Torgu. Soon after her arrival Evangeline mysteriously disappears with little trace. Her associates believe her dead, but her father and the fiancé she left behind hold on to the hope that evidence will be found to the contrary.

Back at the offices in New York, accusations fly over who’s to blame for sending the young unaccompanied Evangeline to what may have been her death. As one of the staff is fired, another dies of an unexplained virus, one suffers from guilt, and a growing darkness descends on those working on the show.

The discovery of Evangeline in a Transylvanian monastery comes as both a shock and relief to those who care about her and she’s soon reunited with her family and coworkers. Trailing further death and destruction in her wake, Evangeline’s perception of right and wrong has shifted. The barriers between the living and the dead are dissolving, and there may be no one left to save them.

Fangland is an unnervingly creepy story that’s telling is pieced together from personal emails, journals and other surviving notes from the staff of ‘The Hour’. When Evangeline Harker left for Romania she was a happily engaged woman looking forward to a bright future, but the woman who returned was darkness personified. They say that authors should write what they know, and this author has done just that. By using his experience at a television news show to form the backbone of his story, Mr. Marks lends a sense of reality to an otherwise dark vampire tale. The well-built plot and wonderful detail will leave a lasting impression, and the realistic setting may leave readers jumping at shadows.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Lord of the Night by Robin T. Popp

Lord of the Night
Night Slayer, Book 4
Robin T. Popp
Forever – Grand Central Publishing
December 1, 2007
ISBN# 978-0-446-61785-7

Kacie Renault has come home to Winslow castle in Hocksley, England to pack a few of her things. She plans to move to the states with her boyfriend, Ben. When she arrives she finds that her father is away and there is only Erik to greet her. Erik’s a vampire, and not exactly at the top of Kacie’s list of friends with her pastime as a slayer, but Erik is about to become the only one who can save her.

Accused of slaying Sedrick, the brother of Erik’s friends, Michael and Ty, she’s about to find out what little tolerance vampires have when one of their own is killed. Michael is demanding Kacie’s life for his brother’s and Erik has refused, making it clear that he will protect her at all costs. The pact between Erik and Michael’s lair is now in jeopardy, and without it there will be little protection for the local humans.

A bit of snooping provides a startling discovery for Kacie, and armed with nothing more than the information she’s found she plans to use it to her benefit. The local chupacabras have hidden and gone undisturbed for centuries, but Kacie’s meddling could once again shatter the delicate balance between man and beast.

Lord of the Night is the fourth book in the Night Slayer series of paranormal romances. Kacie has her life all planned out, and wants no part of a vampire regardless of how sexy he is. Erik is about to show the slayer a side to vampires that she’ll never forget. Ms. Popp pens a well-detailed vampire tale and adds some intriguing twists. A fast moving storyline builds the tension that links slayer and vampire, while the sizzling chemistry between them quickly boils over. While part of a series, this book is easily read as a stand-alone.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews