Review - Barely Bewitched by Kimberly Frost

A new review has been posted on the website for Barely Bewitched by Kimberly Frost. This is the second book in the Southern Witch series.

http://darquereviews.com/12612/258412.html

You can also visit the author's page:
http://darquereviews.com/14912/258454.html

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

Kimberly Swan, DarqueReviews.com

Review - The Highwayman by Michele Hauf

A new review has been posted on the website for The Highwayman by Michele Hauf. This is the first installment in the Wicked Games series.
http://darquereviews.com/12612/183159.html

You can also visit the author's page:
http://darquereviews.com/14912/183222.html

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

Kimberly Swan, DarqueReviews.com

Review - Casual Hex by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Casual Hex
Big Knob, Book 3
Vicki Lewis Thompson
Onyx
March 3, 2009
ISBN# 978-0-451-41268-3

Book Blurb:
Gwen Dubois lives in Indiana, but her heart is in France with Marc Chevalier, a man she met online. Now he’s come to Big Knob to show Gwen the meaning of amour and spirit her back to Paris. But stiff competition is coming from another part of the world—if not exactly this world. Prince Leo of the Atwood fairy kingdom has his own plans for Gwen, creating a romantic mishap that only Big Knob’s resident witch and wizard can untangle.

My thoughts:
Gwen Dubois runs the local floral shop in Big Knob, Beaucoup Bouquets, and lives a quiet life. She has little experience in relationships, but when she meets a botanist from France online she thinks he could be exactly the kind of man she’s looking for. There’s just one problem. Gwen has a sexy dream man who’s not inclined to leave her alone.

Marc Chevalier is a Botany Professor in France, but a Chicago conference is bringing him close enough to Big Knob to spend a few days seeing what could be a rare find in plants and getting to know Gwen in person. His arrival stirs excitement in the small Indiana town, but Marc’s main focus is on Gwen. When strange goings on around town catches his attention, Dorcas and Ambrose Lowell step in to help, but getting rid of the threat to Gwen and Marc’s happiness could prove to be more than they bargained for.

This is the third book in the Big Knob series, and the Lowells are spreading the love once again by playing cupid. Ms. Thompson weaves a romantic tale that’s sprinkled with magic and reinforced by love. Casual Hex is a fast-paced read, and a great addition to the enchanting world of Big Knob. Readers will be looking forward to seeing who falls under the spell of the town’s magical match-making duo next.

To learn more about Casual Hex, please visit Ms. Thompson’s website: HERE

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Review - White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison

White Witch, Black Curse
Rachel Morgan, Book 7
Kim Harrison
EOS
February 24, 2009
ISBN# 978-0-06-113801-0

Book Blurb:
Some wounds take time to heal . . . and some scars never fade.

Rachel Morgan, kick-ass witch and bounty hunter, has taken her fair share of hits, and has broken lines she swore she would never cross. But when her lover was murdered, it left a deeper wound than Rachel ever imagined, and now she won't rest until his death is solved . . . and avenged.

Whatever the cost.

Yet the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and when a new predator moves to the apex of the Inderlander food chain, Rachel's past comes back to haunt her.

Literally.

My thoughts:
Rachel Morgan can’t let go of her search for Kisten’s killer, and she refuses to stop until someone pays. With the help of Ford, a psychiatrist who may be able to help her remember, and the help of her partners Ivy and Jenks, she’s getting ever closer to discovering the shocking truth.

There’s a banchee and her family causing deadly trouble, and Captain Edden’s son has landed in the hospital from his brief encounter with them. Edden wants her caught, but even Rachel may not have the kind of power it will take to see that happen. In the midst of it all, Rachel’s demon dealings are about to affect her life on a broader scale and lead her further down what could become a very lonely path.

This is the seventh book in the Rachel Morgan series. Ms. Harrison works her writing magic, providing plenty of action to sweep readers up in the fray. White Witch, Black Curse is a roller coaster of emotions with an important story thread being resolved and new questions emerging. For fans of the series there are some pleasant surprises, but for every enjoyable moment the heroine has, there is something dark and potentially deadly just around the corner. Once you start, you won’t want to set it down.

To learn more about White Witch, Black Curse, please visit Ms. Harrison’s website: HERE

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Review - Would-Be Witch by Kimberly Frost

Would-Be Witch
Southern Witch, Book 1
Kimberly Frost
Berkley
February 3, 2009
ISBN# 978-0-425-22577-6

Book Blurb:
In the small town of Duvall, Texas, the only thing more troublesome than gossip — is magic.

The family magic seems to have skipped over Tammy Jo Trask. All she gets are a few untimely visits from long-dead, smart-mouthed family ghost Edie. But when her locket—an heirloom that happens to hold Edie’s soul—is stolen in the midst of a town-wide crime spree, it’s time for Tammy to find her inner witch.

After a few experiences with her dysfunctional magic, Tammy turns to the only person in small-town Duval, Texas, who can help: the very rich and highly magical Bryn Lyons. He might have all the answers—and a 007 savoir faire to boot—but the locket isn’t the only heirloom passed down in Tammy’s family. She also inherited a warning: stay away from Lyons.

My thoughts:
Tammy Jo Trask grew up believing that she was the only one in a family of witches who learned the dos and don’ts while inheriting none of the magic. When the locket containing the ghost of an ancestor is stolen, she’ll do everything she can to get it back, even if it means breaking one of the rules.

Bryn Lyons is handsome, wealthy and knows all about magic. It’s too bad that he’s on the list of don’ts, but it’s not long before Tammy Jo has gotten herself into a heap of trouble that not even her ex-husband can get her out of. The only option she can see is going to the one man she shouldn’t for help, and Lyons isn’t about to let her forget.

This is the first installment of the Southern Witch series. Ms. Frost blends myth with a whole lot of magic, giving readers a wildly entertaining read. Would-Be Witch has its dark and dangerous moments that should satisfy the reader’s appetite for action, and the heroine’s unresolved love life adds seduction and love to the mix. I’m looking forward to Tammy Jo’s next adventure in magic.

To learn more about Would-Be Witch, please visit the website of Ms. Frost: HERE

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Review - Hex Appeal by Linda Wisdom

Hex Appeal
Hex, Book 2
Linda Wisdom
Sourcebooks, Inc.
November 1, 2008
ISBN# 978-1-4022-1400-4

Publisher’s blurb:
The second book in the Hex series features feisty witch Jazz and her drop-dead gorgeous vampire cop boyfriend in a new installment. On again, off again for over 300 years, Jazz and Nick are finally back together, but then Jazz thinks Nick has bitten her. Separated again, upset and angry, the two of them start having violent, recurring dreams in which each one figures in disturbing and menacing ways. They can’t sleep, they can’t eat, and they finally figure out they’d better get together and discover who’s poisoning their dreams—and their relationship.

My thoughts:
Jazz Tremaine wakes feeling certain that her vampire boyfriend has bitten her, even knowing that her blood could make him seriously ill. That’s just the beginning, because Jazz soon finds herself fighting to save Fluff and Puff, her snarling slippers, from a murder wrap, and someone is out to get her. She has no idea where to begin looking for her enemy, but she’s convinced the answer is there in her suddenly disturbing dreams.

In addition to being a vampire, Nick Gregory occupies his time as a private investigator. Things are changing in the vampire community and some of it he’s not at liberty to share with Jazz, it makes for a sore spot in their relationship. With an unknown force stalking his girlfriend’s dreams, his own dreams are heading in a troubling direction. Apart they may not have a chance, but together Jazz and Nick have the ability to track down their assailant and put an end to it before one of them stays trapped in their own worst nightmares forever.

Hex Appeal is the second installment in the Hex series and is as fast moving and fun as the first. The characters are well defined, the dialog is witty, and the romance is steamy. Ms. Wisdom shares her fictional world populated with fiery witches, sexy vampires and a variety of supernatural beings that are sure to charm and entertain readers from the start. Hex Appeal can be read as a stand-alone, but as with most series books I’d recommend enjoying the Hex series from the beginning.

To learn more about Hex Appeal, please visit Ms. Wisdom’s site: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Promo - Witch High - Anthology (edited by Denise Little)

Witch High
Anthology
Edited by Denise Little
DAW
October 7, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-7564-0513-7

Book Blurb:
move over, hogwarts...High school is different for everyone. For some, it’s a time to shine, and for others, a time to survive. Then there are the students who attend those special schools for the gifted. But what if there was a school that catered to those rarest of students—those who can do magic?These fourteen tales explore the challenges that students of the magical arts may face in a high school of their very own. If you think chemistry is tough, try alchemy. If you ever fell victim to a school bully, how would you deal with a bully gifted with powerful magic? And if you needed more time to study, what spell could give you all the time you desired?These are just a few of the magical adventures that will await you when you enter Salem Township Public High School #4— otherwise known as Witch High...

*Authors included in this anthology are: Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Laura Resnick, Phaedra M. Weldon, Pamela Luzier McCutcheon, Christina F. York, Jody Lynn Nye, Sarah Zettel, Debra Dixon, Esther M. Friesner, Bill McCay, Pauline J. Alama, Karen Fox, Sarah A. Hoyt, and Diane Duane.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Interview - Caitlin Kittredge

Darque Reviews welcomes Caitlin Kittredge!

Hi Caitlin, thanks so much for sharing your time with Darque Reviews! We’re looking forward to getting to know you and your work better.

CK: Hi Kimberly, and thanks. I love talking…er…doing interviews.

Can you tell us how long you’ve been writing and what inspired you to write urban fantasy?

CK: I’ve been writing seriously since 2005, but I was writing fanfiction and infant-stage novel attempts since I was 13, so…ten years, really. I’ve always loved fantasy, from the time I was just learning how to read—my mother gave me a big book of Greek and Norse myths, and I learned largely on those and on Grimm’s fairy tales. It seemed natural that I’d write fantasy when the time came, and I love shapeshifters, so I created a world where my werewolves could thrive and it turned out to be contemporary. Urban fantasy hadn’t quite blown up the way it has nowadays, so I was pretty much writing blind, but I was happy to find that this strange book I’d turned out had a niche.

Night Life was released March 4th, 2008 by St. Martin’s Press, can you tell us a bit about Luna Wilder and Nocturne City?

CK: Luna Wilder is my heroine, who is a werewolf and a homicide detective in Nocturne City, where the story takes place. I always say that Luna could only exist in Nocturne, and Nocturne could only exist because of Luna. They’re the perfect noir couple: a grim, dark city with a tarnished heart and a tough, street-smart detective who hasn’t lost her sense of justice. Luna is a bit of a departure from “kick-ass” heroines—she makes mistakes, she gets herself into bad situations with her big mouth, she has trouble paying her bills, she has job stress. But she’s also incredibly strong, because I was inspired by some very strong women growing up and I wanted to translate that unsinkable, unshakable heart into one of my characters. Luna is a survivor, and that doesn’t always lead to happy ending, especially in a place like Nocturne City, but she does the best she can.

Pure Blood is scheduled for release on August 26, 2008, by St. Martin’s Press, what can fans expect to see Luna up to in this second installment?

CK: Pure Blood takes readers deeper into what I call the Hexiverse (after the Hex Riots, which outed supernatural creatures to the larger world in the 1960s), with an exploration of witchcraft and Luna on the trail of a killer who’s a much, much better predator than she is, and has bad plans for the future of the city. Any more would be spoiling, but I guarantee that if you enjoyed Night Life you’ll love Book 2!

What are you working on now, and what can we expect to see in new releases coming up?

CK: Right now, I’m writing Book 5 of the Nocturne City series, tentatively entitled Spell Bound. I’m also pleased to report that I sold a new series to St. Martin’s, the Black London adventures, about a psychic mage and his police inspector partner on the trail of missing children, hungry ghosts and black magic in an alternate version of London where demons are commonplace and nothing is what it seems. Street Magic, first in that series, will be out in June of 2009, and the Nocturne City books will continue to release every six months.

What’s the most difficult/enjoyable part of the writing process for you?

CK: The most enjoyable part is definitely plotting, and writing that first draft of something totally new. I love playing around with ideas until I hit just the right combination. I’m a musician, and it’s a lot like playing with chords until you get just the right progression. Writing a draft is very freeing…you can toss anything in and not have to self-edit. My least favorite part is probably copyediting, because then I not only have to deal with my mistakes, but I know that someone else read the manuscript and caught them all!

What genre do you enjoy reading? Who are some of your favorite authors?

CK: I’ll read absolutely anything that catches my fancy. I love nonfiction, particularly about music, Victorian culture and fashion. I read a ton of urban fantasy because I get a ton of free books (bonus!) and I love mysteries and thrillers as well. Right now I’m reading a mystery by a Japanese author, Natsuo Kirino, entitled Grotesque that’s just fabulous. Some of my favorite authors are Raymond Chandler, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and H.P. Lovecraft. For urban fantasy, I really enjoy Cherie Priest, Stacia Kane, Richelle Mead, Holly Black, Jackie Kessler, Kat Richardson, Mark Henry and Jim Butcher.

Is there something special you do to reward yourself each time you’ve finished writing a book?

CK: Yes! This is silly, but I’ m a vegetarian and usually fairly strict about my diet (outside of the chocolate), so when I finish a book I take a day off, pop in a movie, and order up a pizza or cook a big plate of cheese fries. Comfort eating is definitely my reward.

What is a typical day for you like, and how much of it do you spend writing?

CK: I’m a night owl, so I usually wake up, er…late. I pour some tea into myself so I can be semi-coherent, and spend about an hour answering email, reading blogs, and doing what I call “administrivia” to wake my brain. Then I grab food, figure out what I need to write by reading my outline and settle down for about 3-4 hours to get in my wordcount for the day. Ideally, I hit the gym and do responsible, grown-up things like go to the post office and buy groceries, but more likely I go play in the garden or load up Rock Band for my Playstation…what can I say? If I’m on tight deadline, I write for another hour or two after dinner, or work on copyedits, page proofs, etc. I usually go to sleep between 2 and 3 a.m. to do it all over again. I write full time, so I don’t really get “days off” unless I’ve just finished something.

How do you spend your free time when you find some?

CK: I love to garden, so I spend a lot of time battling weeds, slugs and all of the other wonderful pests we have here in Washington. I catch up on my reading, or my Tivo, go to movies (I’m a huge movie geek, so I go once or twice a week), go thrift-shopping, go out places with my friends, or find interesting spots to take pictures. I have a Flickr stream that’s linked on my web site if anyone’s interested.

Where can readers find you on the web?

CK: I have a web site, www.caitlinkittredge.com, and there’s my blog, which is www.caitlinkittredge.com/blog (so exciting!) I’m on LiveJournal, Myspace and Facebook, which are all linked on my site. Feel free to friend me…I like the false sense of importance that comes with online social networking.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers or with aspiring writers before we go?

CK: Readers: Thank you so much for reading my books. Really. I know there’s a vast selection and the fact that you read/will read mine is a huge thing. You make my career possible, and I love each one of you from the bottom of my neurotic writer heart.

Aspiring authors: A crappy finished manuscript is better than a perfect manuscript that’s not done. You can always go back and edit the damn thing. That’s the best advice I ever got (other than “Don’t be an idiot”, which is sound advice any way you slice it.)

Thanks so much for joining us, and the best of luck with both your Nocturne City and Black London series!

CK: Thank you, Kimberly!

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

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

My Wicked Enemy by Carolyn Jewel

My Wicked Enemy
Carolyn Jewel
Forever
July 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-446-17823-5

From the back cover:
A desire to be controlled…
Carson Philips is a witch on the run. For years, the notorious mage, Alvaro Magellan, has held her as his psychological prisoner. But once Carson gets a glimpse of the true extent of his evil, she flees Magellan's mansion--stealing a stone talisman of unimaginable power on the way. Her only hope for survival is a demon who ignites a voracious hunger in her she can't deny, a longing she can't resist...
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A hunger that can’t be sated…
Nikodemus is a warlord with a mission: Kill Magellan and his green-eyed witch at any cost. But when he meets the desperate Carson, the pull of her magic takes his breathe away. He's not sure he can trust this tantalizing woman--she is his enemy--and less sure he can keep his hands off her. But Magellan will stop at nothing to reclaim what belongs to him. Can Nikodemus stop him before his desire for Carson destroys them both?
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My thoughts:
Raised by the powerful mage Alvaro Magellan, Carson Philips recently realized what a truly bad man he is when she witnesses a murder. As she runs from the mansion she grabs a valuable artifact, and if Magellan isn’t angry enough over her espcape, he’s fuming when he realizes she’s stolen the talisman. Battling headaches that she’s certain will kill her, and fearing for her life, she’s run to San Francisco and right into the arms of someone who sees her as the enemy.

Nikodemus thought it was his lucky day when he spots Magellan’s witch, Carson, but taking the opportunity to rid his kind of the threat she poses has just gotten complicated. He’s a Warlord, born to be a leader among his kind. Saving his people from a life as mageheld fiends that are controlled by mages and witches is a priority in his life. With Carson on their side, Nikodemus may have found the key to freedom for his kin. Now he just hopes she’ll choose to stick around.

Carolyn Jewel takes readers on a dangerous journey with Carson, an untrained witch who finds strength through Nikodemus. Together they can stop the mage who threatens their existence and fills Carson with fear. My Wicked Enemy unfolds at a steady pace and offers up a host of characters that keep the deadly action flowing. The storyline is fresh, the characters are entertaining, and the romance is delightfully steamy.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

The Wild Road by Marjorie Liu

The Wild Road
A Dirk & Steele Novel
Marjorie Liu
Leisure Books
July 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-8439-5939-0

From the back cover:
Lannes Hannelore is one of a dying race born to protect mankind against demonic forces. And while those who look upon him see a beautiful man, this illusion is nothing but a prison. His existence is one of pure isolation, hiding in plain sight, with brief solace found in simple pleasures: stretching his wings on a stormy night, long late drives on empty highways, the deep soul of sad songs. But when Lannes finds a young woman covered in blood—desperate and alone, with no memory or past—he will be drawn into a mystery that makes him question all he knows. And though it goes against his nature and everything he fears, Lannes will risk his heart, his secrets, and his very soul, in order to save someone who could be the love of his life...or the end of it.

My thoughts:
A woman wakes surrounded by a horrifically bloody scene and has no memory of what’s happened or who she is. She runs from the room and finds herself with Lannes, a man with his own secrets who’s willing to help. Together they try to unravel her past with little to go by. As clues emerge they follow them to their end, revealing a decades old mystery that has a bizarre connection to the amnesiac woman’s current situation.

Lannes is a gargoyle whose race is dying off with little hope for their future. Hiding away after being kidnapped and tortured by a crazy witch, Lannes has little contact with the outside world. When he ventures out to visit a friend, his life takes a sharp turn in the form of a woman he catches in the act of trying to break-in to his car. She’s a woman in need of rescue and protection, and that’s a combination Lannes can’t resist.

The Wild Road takes readers on a wild ride from the opening to the surprising end. While the characters have endured difficult times in their lives, their strengths are well described and shine through the shadows that surround them both. Ms. Liu has quickly become one of my favorite authors with her solid writing and engaging tales. The Wild Road is heavy on paranormal mystery and realistic in its romance. The creative twists and turns made it impossible to set down and I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter. This is listed as the 8th Dirk & Steele story in the series, but is easily read as a stand alone.

You can read the first chapter of The Wild Road by visiting the publisher’s site: Here

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox

The Accidental Demon Slayer
Demon Slayer, Book 1
Angie Fox
Love Spell
July 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-505-52769-1

From the back cover:
It’s never a good day when an ancient demon shows up on your toilet. For Lizzie Brown, that’s just the beginning. Soon her hyperactive terrier starts talking, and her long-lost biker-witch Grandma is hurling Smuckers jars filled with magic. Just when she thinks she’s seen it all, Lizzie learns she’s a demon slayer—and all hell is after her.

-

Of course, that’s not the only thing after her. Dimitri Kallinikos, a devastatingly handsome shape-shifting griffin, needs Lizzie to slay a demon of his own. But how do you talk a girl you’ve never met into going straight to the underworld? Lie. And if that doesn’t work, how dangerous could a little seduction be…?
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My thoughts:
All Lizzie Brown wanted for her thirtieth birthday was a night out with her friends. What she got instead was a surprise visit from a spell-casting grandmother she never knew, and Xerxes, the demon who appeared on her toilet. If that wasn’t the shock of her life, finding out that she’s a demon slayer coming into her powers was enough to make Lizzie want to run in the opposite direction.

With demons hot on her trail, Lizzie has little choice but to hop on the back of her grandmother’s Harley with her dog, Pirate, and ride for the safety of grandma’s coven. Unfortunately, the road becomes a very dangerous place and they’re forced to take the help of Dimitri, a gorgeous man who has been making plans of his own when it comes to Lizzie.

Dimitri Kallinikos is a shape-shifting griffin in desperate need of Lizzie’s help, a fact he doesn’t share with her when he offers training and protection. Training is slow going and often dangerous for anyone in the general area, but Dimitri isn’t about to give up when it’s the lives of people he cares about on the line. What starts out as a plan to seduce the slayer into helping him, quickly changes the griffin’s life as the two join forces and stand against a whole lot more than they bargained for.

This is the first book in the Demon Slayer series, and a fabulous beginning it is. From a demon slayer with ties to a coven with a penchant for road-kill, to a shape-shifting griffin, there is non-stop action from page one. Ms. Fox details her world with colorful characters that have mysterious pasts, and keeps readers engaged with humorous mishaps, blossoming romance and spells gone awry. The Accidental Demon Slayer is a fast moving good time that will quickly gain fans looking for book two.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

From Dead to Worse
Southern Vampire Series, Book 8
Charlaine Harris
Ace
May 6, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-441-01589-4

In the town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, Sookie Stackhouse waits tables at Merlotte’s, a local bar owned by her shapeshifter boss and friend, Sam. She lives life the best that she can with a telepathic gift that she’s not always happy to have. Last month she survived a life claiming explosion at the vampire summit, and Sookie is trying harder than ever to get her life back on track. With her ties to both the vampire and werewolf communities leading an uneventful life is next to impossible.

Sophie Anne’s rule over the Louisiana vampires has been further hindered by her extreme injuries sustained from the explosion, and someone sees this as their chance to make a change. Meanwhile, Sookie’s weretiger boyfriend, Quinn, hasn’t contacted her since just after the explosion and Sookie is growing more concerned each day.

Tempers rise in the werewolf community, and the vampires find themselves in turmoil that takes them by surprise. As power becomes the main objective Sookie will once again discover she’s surrounded by supernatural battles, but in the midst of it all she’ll meet an unexpected visitor who has special significance in her life.

In this eighth full-length installment of the Southern Vampire Series, Sookie’s loyalties to her friends and family will be tested and she’ll continue the struggle to piece together the puzzle of her life. With supernatural action that never slows, Ms. Harris takes readers on a new thrill ride filled to the brim with fabulous detail, characters that will charm their way into your heart, and the magic of never knowing what might come next. Tension filled, and laced with romantic possibilities, From Dead to Worse advances the storyline as it ties up loose ends and opens new doors. This series is a must read for fans of urban fantasy and should be read from the beginning.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Romancing the Dead by Tate Hallaway

Romancing the Dead
Garnet Lacey, Book 3
Tate Hallaway
Berkley Books
May 6, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-425-22133-4

Garnet Lacey’s life tends to be a busy one, but things were finally settling down. The Vatican assassins are no longer on her trail for being a witch, and she’s getting ready to marry Sebastian Von Traum, her vampire fiancé. They’re forming a new coven, and Garnet’s meeting with her boss to put in an offer on Mercury Crossing, the occult bookstore where she works. Just as everything seems to be going well for her, Sebastian disappears and her life is suddenly in danger.

When Sebastian doesn’t show for a scheduled speech to the Horticultural Society, Garnet begins to suspect that he’s decided to cozy-up with one of the new coven members. The arrival of her future stepson, and their growing concerns, force them into an alliance to discover his whereabouts. With no real leads to follow, Garnet begins questioning the ghouls Sebastian sees for his feedings.

As her search for Sebastian becomes more frantic a new threat emerges. One of the new coven members develops more than a passing interest in Lilith, the goddess who lives within Garnet. If she’s not careful her relationship with the goddess could be damaged beyond repair and without Lilith’s power she may not have the strength to save the man she loves.

Romancing the Dead is the third book in the Garnet Lacey series. Ms. Hallaway provides another exciting adventure in her unique series, and adds fascinating new characters to the mix. Readers will meet Micah who’s charming, sexy and altogether captivating, even when his actions are less than honorable. Garnet, who is generally a strong character with all she’s weathered, becomes more flawed and human as she deals with the shock of her missing fiancé, accepts help from the future stepson she loathes, and suffers the insecurities of contemplating the future she’s about to share with her vampire lover. Romancing the Dead starts off slowly, but it’s really the only chance readers get to catch their breath before they’re swept up into the melee and left looking forward to more of the same.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Blood Moon by A. W. Gryphon

Blood Moon
Witches Moon Series, Book One
A. W. Gryphon
James A. Rock Publishing
April 28, 2008
ISBN# 978-1-59663-609-5

At the young age of seven, Amelia Pivens is left without a mother when a group of men attack their coven and leave Grace Pivens dying before her daughter’s eyes. When Grace’s body is released by the officials, William Pivens takes his daughter back to his family in London.

Many years pass and Amelia has recently taken a job at the London National Gallery when she meets Wolfgang Kreutzer, a classical pianist from Europe. They’re married less than a year later, but within a few short years tragedy would once again enter into Amelia’s life.

Already devastated by her previous losses, the death of her father sends Amelia’s life in a new direction as she’s forced to reenter the world of The Craft. Believed to be ‘The One’, Amelia’s life is in constant peril. She’ll have to stand against The Organization, a group whose current goal is to prevent her from gaining power, and the opposing witches who practice the darker arts. As her 28th birthday approaches they all await the final outcome.

Blood Moon is the first book in the Witches Moon Series. Amelia has lived most of her life away from The Craft that she felt took her mother’s life. As her Samhain birthday approaches, Amelia will be left to decide if revenge is worth the price she’ll pay. A. W. Gryphon weaves a tale of witchcraft, power and death that blurs the line between those who practice for good and those who practice with a darker agenda. Moving through the years of Amelia’s shadowed life at a fast clip, readers find themselves at the final showdown where what you think you know when you arrive may be far from what you’ll actually find. Blood Moon is an engaging suspense that’s fueled by the magic of witchcraft.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Season of the Witch by Natasha Mostert

Season of the Witch
Natasha Mostert
NAL
March 4, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-451-22335-7

Gabriel Blackstone makes his living by stealing information for those who are willing to pay. He also has the gift of remote viewing and at one time worked for Eyestorm, a group of remote viewers who put those talents to good use. A case gone bad caused him to leave, and now Gabriel is being asked for help by one of his former team members.

Frankie wasn’t just a teammate, she was his lover, and his conscience won’t allow him to just say no. William Whittington is a man of wealth whose son, Robert, has disappeared, he’s also Frankie’s husband. While it’s not unusual for Robert to take off, they believe he’s come to harm and need Gabriel to use his talents to discover the truth.

With his partner Isidore’s help, Gabriel’s quest for answers leads him to Minnaloushe and Morrighan Monk, powerful witches who may have the talent to commit murder and get away with it. Gabriel is certain that one of them is a killer, and he will find out which one it is even if it means risking his own life for the answer.

Season of the Witch is a murder mystery with a mystical edge. After years of careful avoidance, Gabriel will use his talent to slam a ride and hope to find the answers he seeks on behalf of the Whittingtons. What he never expected was to be caught up in a deadly game within his own mind and the mind of the killer. Ms. Mostert weaves a mystery overflowing in the arts of alchemy and witchcraft. Season of the Witch is a seductive rollercoaster ride of power, love and murder.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Like a Charm by Candace Havens

Like a Charm
Candace Havens
The Berkley Publishing Group
February 5, 2008
978-0-425-21926-3

All Kira Smythe ever wanted was to get out of her hometown of Sweet, Texas and make her mark in the world. She achieved the success of a contract attorney with Zeb Corp., but when a client takes her own life the tragic experience is too much to bear. The death is blocked from Kira’s memory and lands her in the hospital with little choice but to return home and recover.

In the time that Kira has been away from Sweet a few things have changed. The parents she once saw as hippies are now successful business people, and the town she once felt alone in has become much more inviting. Luckily for Kira the best things she remembers have stayed the same. Lulu’s is still the best place for a great meal, the bakery is still a welcome temptation and Mrs. Canard is still the town librarian.

When tragedy strikes once again, Kira’s world is thrown even further into turmoil. With ghostly encounters that leave her thinking she must be crazy, and one too many job offers, Kira has some decisions to make. Then there’s Caleb, a carpenter who stirs her interest, but has secrets of his own. For Kira, making the right choice will prove to be a very difficult task.

Like a Charm is a delightful romance. In a town full of people who always seemed special, a life of being less than ordinary was something Kira felt she had to leave behind. When she returns to Sweet, Kira finds that she’s no longer the ordinary girl she was, and the years have given her a new outlook on the place she once again calls home. Ms. Havens combines the allure of small town living with magical residents. Well-written, fast-paced and filled with enchanting characters, Like a Charm is a fun escape that captures the reader’s attention and thoroughly entertains.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison

The Outlaw Demon Wails
Rachel Morgan, Book 6
Kim Harrison
EOS
February 26, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-06-078870-4

Rachel Morgan is still reeling from a devastating loss and trying to come to terms with the part she feels she played in it. With a killer on the loose, and no memory of the murder, Rachel and her partners, Ivy and Jenks, have made little progress in solving the crime.

With life changing all around her, Rachel learns that her mother has a secret that will both shock and disappoint her. Her elfin friend, Cerdiwen, has a surprise of her own, one that will lead Rachel to jump to the wrong conclusions. Cincinnati has a new master in their city, Rynn Cormel. The master vampire has taken a special interest in Rachel and her relationship with Ivy, but with Trent Kalamack manipulating her to cross the lines into the ever-after to retrieve something he needs, Rynn Cormel is an issue that will have to wait.

In his constant pursuit of Rachel, Al discovers a whole new way to torment her. In order to protect the family and friends she cares so deeply about, Rachel agrees to Al’s plans. Their relationship is about to move to a new level.

The Outlaw Demon Wails is the sixth book in the Rachel Morgan series. Rachel’s talents have continued to grow and with it the danger she attracts has grown as well. She’s about to be put in a position that she never saw coming, but it could hold the answers to lifelong questions and the key to unlocking more power than she ever dreamed possible. It’s a risk she’s willing to take. Ms. Harrison works her magic and delivers a new danger filled tale sure to captivate readers. The storyline touches on the possibility of a future romance, but it’s the well kept secrets being revealed that fuel this fabulous addition to life in the Hallows. While the ending in the previous installment was shocking, readers will be surprised to find that the climax in The Outlaw Demon Wails will take the heroine’s future in a whole new direction that will have fans counting down to the next release.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Darkling by Yasmine Galenorn

Darkling
The Sisters of the Moon, Book 3
Yasmine Galenorn
Berkley – Penguin Group (USA)
January 2, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-425-21893-8

Born half-human and half-faerie, the D’Artigo sisters work for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency, Earthside. Exiled from Y’Elestrial by the Queen, Menolly D’Artigo and her sisters are in hiding until the war in OW is over and Queen Lethesanar is vanquished.

When Menolly fell victim to a vampire she was investigating, she found herself forced into a torturous change that nearly drove her mad. Dredge, the evil vampire in question, sent her home to slake her hunger on her family. It’s taken a long time to gain control, but the memories and nightmares of what the Elwing Clan did to her continue to haunt her.

Someone is creating new vampires. As humans in Seattle are being killed only to rise again, it seems that Dredge may be the evil behind it. With little choice, Menolly will have to face her worst fears, but first she’ll travel to Aladril and the Temple of Reckoning to meet with Jareth. He has the power to offer her an option that may be her only chance for the strength she needs to survive the confrontation with her sire.

With her friends, family and new ally Roz by her side, Menolly will take the lead in finding Dredge. She’ll have to draw on every shred of strength she can to confront him and put an end to his dark existence once and for all.

Darkling is the third book in The Sisters of the Moon series and focuses on Menolly. With the war in Otherworld still going strong, Menolly and her sisters are doing all they can to prevent it from spilling over and destroying the human population. With newly-turned vampires out on the hunt, and a mastermind behind them, Menolly will need all the help she can get to win this battle and return what safety she can to the people of Seattle. With more action than ever, Ms. Galenorn takes readers on a well-detailed adventure. Intriguing new characters, a world that’s easy to visualize, and a tasty touch of romantic possibilities make this a fabulous series for readers to get hooked on.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews