Book Review: Kelly Gay’s Shadows Before the Sun

Book Review: Kelly Gay’s Shadows Before the Sun

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Shadows Before the Sunin eBook edition on July 31, 2012 and has 252 pages.Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon Fourth in the Charlie Madigan urban fantasy series revolving around a detective who is no longer human. Most of the action takes place in Fiallan, the city of the sirens. My Take Oh, wow. This was so intense with some incredibly, godawful torture. Oh. I just can’t… How people can be that power-hungry, I’ll never know. So awful that I almost got too caught up in these events, but then towards the end, all the new possibilities popped into view. There’s Leander with the “promise” of what he fears. What Tuni will be able to accomplish. It’s bullies again. And people allowing them to get away with it. Interesting backstory on those words of power, the Source Words, and that of the families from which the Malakim are drawn. Even more interesting story about Ahkneri, First Ones, and Disciples. I’m still lost as to why Charlie is so incredibly body-shy. It just seems so […]

Posted April 16, 2013 by Kathy Davie in / 0 Comments

Book Review: Deborah J. Ross’ Children of Kings

Book Review: Deborah J. Ross’ Children of Kings

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Children of Kingsin Hardcover edition on March 5, 2013 and has 375 pages.Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo A novel set in Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover series. The focus is on Regis Hastur’s grandchildren — what they’re doing, how they’re coping — and Regis’ missing daughter. As usual, outside forces are creating problems and the ruling Comyn are struggling to be true to themselves and to their world. This series is easy to read as standalone novels, HOWEVER, if you’re as OCD as I am, I do recommend starting at the beginning of the Darkover series with Darkover Landfall, 1 — partly to see how laran developed, partly to see how the culture changes from this first landfall, and mostly because the geneaology can be so confusing! It’s a fascinating start to this series. My Take This story about Darkover is written using Marion Zimmer Bradley’s stories and notes. And it’s reasonably well done, although a tad juvenile in its character depiction and actions with a slight fumble in that Ross […]

Posted April 15, 2013 by Kathy Davie in / 0 Comments

Book Review: Nicola Upson’s An Expert in Murder

Book Review: Nicola Upson’s An Expert in Murder

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.An Expert in Murderin eBook edition on May 20, 2008 and has 304 pages.Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon First in the Josephine Tey historical mystery series revolving around Josephine Tey and Detective Inspector Archie Penrose. My Take It’s an interesting treatment of history with Upson using a real-life author, Josephine Tey, and her play, Richard of Bordeaux, as the point around which the murders are laid. There’s a beautiful piece in here in which Terry examines the fame and frustration of being in a hit play. He also reminisces over what got him started — this was so sweet. Then of course there’s McCracken’s piece in the police station. Oh. My. God. She’s incredible. I’m not surprised she has such a miserable existence. The murders are themselves dramatic, so fitting for the setting. What’s odd about the story is the coldness, even though the characters have feel so real; it’s certainly interesting “listening in” on everyone’s thoughts about the play, its future, and their own parts in it. This just makes me […]

Posted April 13, 2013 by Kathy Davie in / 0 Comments

Book Review: Felice Fox’s It’s Just Sext

Book Review: Felice Fox’s It’s Just Sext

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.It’s Just Sextin eBook edition on November 26, 2012 and has 20 pages.Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon First in the Right Kind of Wrong erotic romance series. Do be aware that this is a very short, short story; AND that I received this from the author! My Take Fox does well with this snapshot moment in Lauren’s dirty weekend, even if she does leave us hanging a bit at the end, wondering huh what? about a number of issues. I’m, sort of, becoming accustomed to this new trend (new to me!) in writing shorty short stories intended to grab the reader’s attention and steer him/her into purchasing more to find out what happens next. Unfortunately, the trend finds me being pickier about what I will continue on with and skeptical as well. I rather resent buying a short story only to find it’s more of an advertising ploy […]

Posted April 13, 2013 by Kathy Davie in / 2 Comments