Charmfall

Hello, fellow book-devourers!

Book 3 in Chloe Neill's series the Dark Elite finally managed to get off my to-read shelf and into my currently reading one (I love Goodreads).
Lily Parker, an Adept with firespell is all psyched up to go to the school dance with her werewolf boyfriend. There hasn't been a lot of activity lately from the Reapers, so the only thing on her mind is her dress. Then, when an attack happens at the school, Lily's powers are gone. Who's taken all the powers of the Chicago Dark Elite, and why? And can Sebastian be trusted to help?

This book was engrossing enough to pull me away from the daily worries, but not so much that I had to finish it before I did anything else. The relationships here are done really well, much better than the first two books (in my opinion) There's the tension between Lily and Jason when the Sebastian issue is brought into the open is really good, and seems true to the characters. I also like what happens with Veronica. Either she subconsciously knows that she owes Lily, or Nicu is just a good influence (I know, we're all laughing) but she seems a whole lot nicer in this book. As a character, I think she's got a whole lot of potential, particualrily when we learn why Nicu is drawn to her.

According to Chloe Neill's website, there are 'no current plans for a fourth book.' I think the series still had a way to go, but maybe she'll come back to it later :)

Many witty ripostes,
Astarte

Children

Hello, fellow book-devourers!

Generally, these books will be for the 8-13 age group. They do have chapters and aren't picture books. Just so you know.

Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code

Many witty ripostes,
Astarte

Artemis Fowl Series

Hello, fellow book-devourers!

Artemis Fowl is (at the beginning of the series) a 12-year-old Irish boy who happens to be the heir to the Fowl Estate, worth millions, since his father is missing and his mother is going through some psychological issues. Artemis also happens to be a child genius, and he comes up with brilliant schemes that include fairies. Artemis Fowl is the creation of Irish children's author Eoin Colfer.

Artemis Fowl Series:
Artemis Fowl (1)
Artemis Fowl: The Artic Incident (2)
Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code (3)
Artemis Fowl and the Opal Deception (4)
Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony (5)
Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox (6)
Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex (7)
Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian (8)
Many witty ripostes,
Astarte

The Eternity Code

Hello, fellow book-devourers!

Artemis returns to us in the third book of the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer. Artemis, being the far-too clever child he is has created an amazing little electronic device that is pretty much all your current ones put together. Personal computer, mobile phone, mp3 player, as well as all those necessary 'optional extras' such as satellite tracking, hacking and instant download from any device whether DVD, phone or cables in a building. This C Cube, as it's called, is a hybrid from the Fairy technology he stole some years ago mixed with a little bit of his own work. Artemis calls a business executive so he can make money. However, the C Cube is stolen and Butler is injured. It's vital to get the C Cube back, otherwise the Lower Elements will be exposed, but how can he do that without Butler?

I liked it. When I read about what happened to Butler, I was all 'no, not Butler!' I'm glad Artemis managed to do what he did, but I wish it had been done later in the book, so the suspense over Butler was drawn out a little longer. But hey, maybe for the age group this book is aimed at, it was too long. I did like the inclusion of Juliet though. I'm looking forward to see where she goes.

3.8 stars

Many witty ripostes,
Astarte

Rachel Vincent

Hello, fellow book-devourers!

Rachel Vincent is the author of the Soul Screamers series, Shifters series and the Unbound series. My favourite part so far from looking her up to write this post is something on her website, which you find here, which is she 'remains convinced that for every day she spend writing, one day will be added to her lifespan' I like the originality of that.

Unbound Series:
Blood Bound (1)
Shadow Bound (2)
Oath Bound (3)

Soul Screamer Series:
My Soul to Lose (0.5)
My Soul to Take (1)
My Soul to Save (2)
My Soul to Keep (3)
Reaper (3.5)
My Soul to Steal (4)
A Day in the Afterlife of Tod (4.1)
If I Die (5)
Never to Sleep (5.5)
Before I Wake (6)
With All My Soul (7)
Shifters Series:
Stray (1)
Rogue (2)
Pride (3)
Prey (4)
Shift (5)
Alpha (6)

On top of all these, she's also got stuff in a bunch of anthologies.

Rachel Vincent website: http://www.rachelvincent.com/
An older blog, last updated July 2012: http://rkvincent.wordpress.com/
Her new blog: http://www.rachelvincent.com/blog/

Many witty ripostes,
Astarte

Black Wings Series

Written by Christina Henry, these books follow Madeline Black, an Agent of Death who must battle for her freedom and those she loves

Black Wings (1)
Black Night (2)
Black Howl (3)
Black Lament (4)
Black City (5)
May this series leave you no longer bored for books!

Many witty ripostes,
Astarte

Christina Henry

Black Wings Series
Black Wings (1)
Black Night (2)
Black Howl (3)
Black Lament (4)
Black City (5)

Christina Henry's website: http://www.christinahenry.net/

Get your fix of Christina Henry, guaranteed to cure any bored for books symtoms!

Many witty ripostes,
Astarte

Black Lament

Hello, fellow book-devourers!

Just gobbled up Black Lament by Christina Henry. This is the fourth book in the Black Wings series starring Madeline Black.

Gabriel, her husband, has just been murdered in front of her and Maddy's grief stricken. Her strength to carry on is mostly because Lucifer (yes, THAT Lucifer) her many-times-over-grandfather reveals that she is pregnant. Never-the-less, there's a blood price on her head that the fairy courts are more than happy to try to claim, her father, Azazel, to extract vengeance upon, Agents to rescue, old enemies to reconcile with and her Agency gig to keep track of through space-time portals, all whilst trying to figure out how she'll raise her child.
In short, Maddy's a pretty kick-arse heroine.

I cried at the end of the last book in this series, Black Howl, and was hoping for more of that emotive writing in this one. I didn't get it though. Maddy's emotions are mostly pushed to the side in order to survive all the battles that she faces. What emotion is in there is rather poorly written, being rather obvios such as complaining of hormones, stating that she is sobbing, and many, many comments on how confused she is about Nathaniel.
This isn't to say that the book was bad. There was still lots of wit that left me howling with laughter, and plenty of action. I just would have liked a bit more grief over Gabriel.
The characters stayed true to the most part. Maddy has changed a lot since Black Wings, but you couldn't expect anything less. Nathaniel had some character depth building scenes, which will be quite interesting to see where that goes.

Overall, 4.5 stars

Book 5, Black City, will be released on the 26th of February, 2013. Until then, there are new books being put up, so you won't be bored for books!

Many witty ripostes,
Astarte

Welcome

Rather excited as this is my first post in my new blog. Hopefully there will be many to come.
Until then, stay tuned, because the first books are coming up, so you'll no longer be bored for books!

Many witty ripostes,
Astarte