Collared by T.A. Moore

Collared by T.A. Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's been a while since I read a book in one sitting, but I devoured this book in one session.

Jack, a damned ex-priest, is not a hero by any measure, nor is his demon, Math. They are, however, bound by a great deal more than a simple contract for jack's soul. The heat between them is incandescent. And while Jack doesn't bother often with hope, he still feels like this one time, he needs to do the right thing. There's a little girl involved, an innocent.

This isn't a long book, although I wanted more of it. Ms. Moore is an artist who paints with words. Her prose is rich, and savage. It grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. I could see what she described, smell it, taste it. Ms. Moore has a gift, and while some people might think it's a bit dark, I thought it was delicious.

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I've been reading...

Well, reading and finally managing to review as well. So, here goes!

Sword Dance by A.J. Demas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love ancient history, and I love historical fiction, so this book seemed like a perfect read. How very right I was, because I loved this book from the very first page.

AJ Demas has created a marvelous world, and Damiskos and Varazda are incredibly well written. They have an abiding humanity, with profoundly moving pasts that make their alliance both unlikely and yet inevitable. As they grow to know more about each other, they fumble through misunderstandings, and stumble around their deepening friendship, while neither one wants to admit the attraction that is slowly building. The plot is well done, with plenty of intrigue and misdirection, and the supporting cast of characters is tremendously fun. (Personally, I adore Aradne, Nione's steward.) Maybe the villains were just a tad too villainous, but that wasn't enough to spoil the book for me at all.

I'm looking forward eagerly to the rest of this trilogy!

View all my reviews The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm a sucker for historical fiction, and fantasy, and magic, and this book hit all my high points. Lots of plot, lots of utterly delicious sex, witty banter, and chills up my spine kept me reading like a greedy child. I'm late to the party, I know, but as someone else said, that means I get to read the rest of the series right away, which is the icing on my magpie cupcake.

Color me smitten!

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Into This River I Drown by TJ Klune

Into This River I Drown by T.J. Klune
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't think I can find enough superlatives for TJ Klune. This is the fourth book I've read by him, and once again, I'm absolutely in awe of his lucid prose, and his utterly human characters.

Benji Green is drowning, in grief, in regrets, in life. He mourns his late father, Big Eddie, with a ferocity I can understand. I lost my father five years ago, and I still talk to him. I keep an old phone so I can re-read his texts. I completely understand Benji.

Benji's need calls down his town's guardian angel, Calliel, who is impossible, and improbable, all at once. He is also impeccably human at his core, and he loves with all the innocence of a child, and all the ferocity of heaven.

There are plots, and sub threads, and I won't spoil them. There is nothing simple in this book, but I could not, or more accurately would not put it down.

Read this book, if you believe in love, and even more so if you need your faith in the power of love restored.

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The Dead Book - D.M. Pulley

The Buried Book by D.M. Pulley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read the book because I'd read, and loved, The Dead Key. It was a wise choice on my part.

To put it simply, I could not put this book down. I needed to find out, along with Jasper, what had happened to his mom, and I needed to know with an urgency which kept me up way too late.

The author does a wonderful job capturing the prevailing opinions and mood of the period in which the story takes place. I'm sure many readers will find the overt bigotry of some of the characters uncomfortable, but at the time, it would not have raised an eyebrow. Kudos to D.M. Pulley for not sanitizing history.

I will go back and read this book again. It's one of those books I won't forget.

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The Ocean at the End of the Lane review

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was astonishing, and completely engrossing. Maybe because I was one of those bookish kids myself, happier in my fantasy worlds than in the real world. Maybe it was because even in the heart of a bustling city, you can still feel alone.

The nameless narrator reminded me of so many things from my own youth, not the least of which was how much I would have wanted to be like Lettie-fearless and independent. The juxtaposition of his home life, with the discord between him and his father, and the affair with Ursula behind his mother's back, and the welcoming warmth of the Hempstock farm creates the sort of tension in a reader that keeps you turning pages. The language is almost lyrical, and the recurring imagery of the moon and the ocean adds a gloss of tranquility over the turbulence that is existence.

Love this book, love this author. Read it.

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Xperiment by Dan Skinner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the things I've come to enjoy in reading anything by Dan Skinner is his unflinching need to see the world as it really is, even in this not so dystopian novel. The setting is St Louis, and I'd be hard pressed to see much difference between his version and the city I could visit next week, right here, and now. It's an ugly place, filled with prejudice, and hatred, and fear, and populated by small minds and smaller consciences.

Geoff Markham is a lonely, quiet man, awkward and unsure of himself, gay in a city where he feels out of place, unattractive enough to court mockery and rejection. His boss is a bully, his job unfulfilling, and the only saving grace is being far away from his abusive stepfather and drunken mother. After a typically awful day at work, he runs home in a rainstorm, with only a newspaper to provide cover, a newspaper containing an ad which catches his eye. He can join an experiment, take supplements which will improve his health, and get paid, too. What does he have to lose?

I don't want to spoil this novel, because it deserves to be read in full, and not in a cliff-note version via review. But what I will say is Dan's eye for imagery lends a power to his words, a lyrical pull which draws you into Geoff's world. The pills open his eyes, and as Geoff discovers who he really is, I couldn't help but get lost in the gorgeous prose. Geoff finds love with a blind street musician, Chris, learns about the beauty in life, and in the process, kindles hope in his own heart, and in mine.

Dan Skinner has offered up a glimpse of a world where evil cannot triumph, as long as we are willing to embrace everything we can be, and never lose hope. It is a vision which feels all the more welcome in these strange days, when we've allowed the ugliness of which he writes to taint our world. I hope we find the same wisdom as Geoff.

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Things I never thought I would do...

So, today was DMCA day. I'm unpublishing myself, so to speak, on what I hope is a temporary basis. I'll find new homes for my books, and I'll tweak them a little, make them fresh again before I send them off to be read, and hopefully liked. They're MY books. It's the first step to moving forward again.

But in the interim, I'm really angry, and frustrated, and upset because I was taken in by stories and an inclination to think the best of folks. 

And also because, as a small business owner myself, I know better.

Let me say that again. I. Know. Better. I saw the signs, and I told myself, "It's publishing, it's not quite the same thing as what we do, really, it's going to be fine." Revenue flow fluctuates, but if they're putting aside enough money every month to cover royalties at the highest possible rate, plus a bit extra, they won't have a problem.

But the truth is when you stop paying people, that's a problem. 

When only one person knows how to do something, that's a problem.

When no one answers the calls, or emails, that's a problem. 

You can damned well bet if I was sick, my partner would step in, and fill in. And while I might not grab a bag of test equipment and go run an inspection, or service a panel, I make sure I have subs I can call because my clients can't wait. And I have subs I can call because they know they get paid at the end of the week, no question. NO QUESTION. They get paid before I do. That's how it works.

So if anyone reading this thinks there's still a chance Torquere will pull it out, and things will get better, think again. 

Things I never thought I would say...

When I published my debut novella back in 2013, I was elated. It wasn't so much the idea of being a new author, because I wasn't. I'd been writing for a while, and publishing online for free. I didn't think I was good enough to put myself out there, and send something to a publisher.

A dear friend talked me into it, and Torquere Press Inc. took me on. It was honestly one of the best times of my life, and despite all the rollercoaster moments of editing, and worrying about whether or not I was ready, I felt like I was part of an amazing family. The owners of Torquere made me welcome.

I submitted a novel in 2014 and it was accepted for publication. Cue more elation, and once again, despite the bustle to clean up the manuscript and turn it into something proper, it felt so good to be part of this publisher's team of authors.

When they decided to sell Torquere Press Inc. to focus full-time on their own writing, I wasn't worried. I trusted their decision to sell to their general manager. She knew the business, and she knew the authors. My novel was about to be published, and I was riding high.

Apparently not. In case you haven't seen it, let me share this with you all:

Writer Beware

Let's just say I've been happier. This is a fitting end to a year that's seen far too many gifted and wonderful people pass on, and a human Cheeto elected to the highest office in our country.

And this morning, it feels like the world has gone mad...

I understand the anger. I understand the sense of marginalization which drove people to vote for a man whose entire campaign was based on hatred, fear, and divisive language. I understand feeling like burning down the house because there's no other way to get rid of what's wrong with it.

I understand, because I'm a woman, and I have children who aren't textbook perfect, and I have friends who are black, Hispanic, Muslim, Jewish, gay, trans, or otherwise outside the comfort zone of those very angry people who just made Brexit look sane. 

My autistic son will become one of their targets. He certainly won't get services, if they have anything to say about it. Too expensive, too great a burden for us to care for those who, by virtue of a genetic roll of the dice, aren't "normal," who are innocent to a degree the rest of us have lost.

My trans child faces a world where violence is seen as acceptable, where fear of something one cannot understand means beating it out of a body. Will I relax when my child leaves the house now? Probably not. My phones will become harbingers of dread once again, as they were when my father was dying, and all the news was bad.

All we can do now, those of us who can't fill our hearts with hatred, is to live, and live in a way which shows we will never surrender to hatred. We cannot let fear win, and we need to reach out our hands to all those who will be left out of the new definition of what makes America great.

Crisped + Sere by T.J. Klune
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Crisped + Sere picks up where Withered + Sere left us, and I was immediately swept back into the bleak and terrible world Cavalo and Lucas inhabit. In twenty-one days, the leader of the Dead Rabbits, Patrick, will return for Lucas, and Cavalo has choices to make.

These characters are complex, and hurt, and yet even in their broken state, they have a powerful beauty. Their imperfections keep them human in a setting where it is all too easy to lose sight of one's humanity, as the Dead Rabbits have done. Even Patrick, nemesis and villain, has moments of clarity, when his humanity surfaces. It only magnifies his darkness, but it also makes him believable. The relationship between Cavalo and Lucas isn't tender, but it is love, as close to it as either of them could bear, anyway, and perhaps it's even redemption. I want to think so, for their sake.

I am in awe of the skill with which TJ Klune portrays this world, and its flawed, magnificent inhabitants. These are books I will read again, and I know I will find new things each time I do so. I recommend this book, and the prior book, without reservation.

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Withered + Sere by T.J. Klune
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am not at all adverse to reading dark things, but very few authors have been able to hold my attention the way TJ Klune did in this book. It's not terribly long, but it's so powerful, I'm not sure I could have borne it were it longer.

The characters are all damaged--Cavalo, BadDog, SIRS, and the young Dead Rabbit, Lucas. There is a bitter, biting wit in how they all see their damage: bees and breaking rubber bands. Love is a luxury, and emotions are as dark as the world they inhabit, a world where hope and any notion of a future are faint recollections of a fabled Before.

This is not a love story. It is not a romance. It is not even remotely uplifting. But it is powerful, captivating, and ultimately unforgettable.

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Heart of the Forest by Christina Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've had the pleasure of seeing this book in its infancy, so to speak, before the manuscript was submitted, and it's a tremendously engaging read. How could I not rush to buy it once it was published?

Valentina, the narrator, is a strong woman, intelligent and resourceful, and her courage is what makes this story resonate. She doesn't need to be rescued, not really. She's fierce, and I fell in love with her indomitable spirit. Aneurin, the elf she heals, and falls in love with, is far more than he appears, as is his brother, Yorwrath, an elf as fierce as Valentina, and as unforgiving.

The story has many twists and turns, and each one takes you deeper into what is an impeccably drawn world of elves and men, dwarves and dragons, and magic both dark and light. Nothing should be taken for granted, and the shadows hold many things.

Ms. Quinn made me laugh, made me curse, and broke my heart in this first novel of what is proving to be a trilogy I will never forget. I'm in love with her characters, and this subtle, powerful world of hers.

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Some shameless self promotion...

I have a short story coming out this week, and I'me very excited to share the news:

 
So, please, head on over to Torquere Press to pre-order a copy, and save 15%. 

In addition to my story, there are some amazing authors featured in this collection of tales, and I know you won't be disappointed!

Black Magic Friday by E. J. Frost
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a completely delightful little snippet from the world of Neon Blue and Tsara Faa, and a perfect reminder to me of why I never shop on Black Friday.

Wonderful, wonderful read!

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Danse Macabre by Christina Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm not normally a fan of vampire fiction, but I love ballet, and I love the idea of vampires being dancers. I was not at all disappointed by this book, which has the best of both worlds.

The vampires in Ms Quinn's world are cold, often cruel, and they kill. They are not nice vampires. But they can, and do, love and frequently they find love with a mortal. In this case, a brilliant dancer, Aleksi, finds love with the mortal Autumn, but his position within vampire society makes their relationship fraught with misunderstandings, and even outright peril.

There will be inevitable comparisons drawn between this book and another trilogy that's attracted much attention. I would not, however, let that detract anyone from reading this book. Despite some small formatting issues, it's a marvelous read and the plot twists are well done.

I'll be looking for the sequel when it's released.

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The Emperor's New Clothes: An Interstellar Heist by Aldous Mercer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely adored this book, and I have to second another reviewer's comment comparing it to Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat series. It's full of deft humor, completely ludicrous situations, and a really sweet love story between Royce Ree and his ex-husband, the very aristocratic Les'Anther Dai-Sarn.

The supporting cast of characters is as well done as the protagonists, and while the entire mission becomes a dark comedy of error after error, there is a perfect charm in the relationship between Royce and Les that makes it seem entirely reasonable.

I'll be looking for more of this series.

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Sit Pretty by R.J. Price
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Aren's story continues as she takes the throne, or perhaps it's the throne that's taken her. The plots and subplots of this very complex society kept me on the edge of my seat, and I'll admit to growling along with Av more than once. Aren's parents cast their own unique pall over things, and Jer is a solid presence throughout. Honestly, I have trouble putting these books down, and I'm sure my husband will forgive me (some day!) for making him wait in the car while I finished the chapter before I drove him home...

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Trouble by R.J. Price
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's amazing how quickly I found myself engrossed in this strange, yet familiar world Ms Price has created. Her characters are marvelously real, full of quirks and foibles, and prone to making the sort of mistakes I've found myself committing. It's refreshing to meet real people in books.

Aren is both clever and naive, looking only to find herself a refuge, a cottage by a lake. The last thing in the world she wants is to be noticed, and if she didn't have to be at court in order to give her younger sister the opportunity to attend court as well, Aren would have happily avoided the minefield that is Em's court.

Em is a mad queen, full of rage and fear in equal measures, and sees plots in every corner, Her caprice is tempered by her mate Jer, and his brother Av, but even these two can only do so much to control Em. Even Em's daughter is at risk from the wrath of the queen. Em is failing, and both men know it. While they dread Em's instability, there's no guarantee that the next queen to sit the throne will be any better.

Av barely notices Aren at first, to Aren's satisfaction. But when he does, it sets in motion a chain of events no one could have predicted. I'm not going to leave spoilers, but the twists and turns are superb, and kept me reading often later than I'd planned. I started out disliking Av, but he managed to redeem himself by the end of the book. Av's full of contradictions, and it just makes him that much more a flesh and blood person rather than a stock character.

This is the first book in a series, and I'm entirely delighted, because I really, really want more of Av and Aren, of Jer, and of Telm, not to mention Mar and Ervam. Oh, hells, I just want Ms Price to write more!

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The Merry Executioner Returns by Alyx J. Shaw
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This installment of the series had me on the edge of my seat more than once, and I'll admit that I cried more than once. I was honestly that caught up in the tale, and I've come to care that much about this assortment of marvelous people.

I really don't want to spoil this book for anyone, but I found the resolution of this story line refreshingly well done. Evil is defeated, yes, but not entirely, and that's a touch of veracity that I truly appreciate. There's happiness, sorrow and hope, and a small part of me hopes that Alyx Shaw will return to Dargoth one day, and let us know what comes next.

Please?

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Coming home to Dargoth...

The White Palace Awakens by Alyx J. Shaw
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Returning to Dargoth felt like coming home, and I found myself staying up far later than I should have, unable to put this book down. This is such a gorgeously written world, and the characters that populate it are so vivid and real that I feel like they've become friends.

This novel brings out the talents and strengths of this disparate Court, and lets us see more of the intricacies of their loves and friendships. I'm looking forward to the third book, and I know I'll be moved to tears, and to laughter.

Just wonderful! :D

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