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Maybe best to go into it with no expectations and just enjoy it. :)

I saw it too....

Way to go, Coach Laura!!! ;D

Just finished Shadowfever! I am pretty sure that there's no spoilers now and I really hope it isn't! :) It's hard to keep them out sometimes.


Wishlist

Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning 20-01-2011 ★★★★½

I'm not sure how to begin, or even what to say really. Shadowfever was everything I wanted, yet nothing like how I thought it would be. It was one of the worst emotional roller coaster rides I've been on, but I loved all of it.

I can't give it a full 5 star rating though. Some parts felt a bit slow and drawn-out and that little part that I'd been so frustrated with in the first books came back again. Mac's inner dialogues were sometimes too long and she kept holding back information and lying. Kept over analysing. Though I guess I can understand why in her situation. Also annoying was when some scenes were just cut and then just briefly told about in the next chapter. I did love it though and it's definitely a solid 4,5 rating.

The story kept twisting and turning throughout the whole book. As soon as I thought I had some facts under control, it all turned and I was completely wrong. More than once I was shocked by things revealed. Sometimes it even felt as though it evoked more questions than answers. I had had some thoughts about the book before (about Mac, Barrons, the Unseelie King, the concubine, the book, the bad guys), but they kept changing with every page and it felt almost impossible to figure it out. In the end though it did turned out I had actually been on the right track a few times.

All in all, it was a great ending to an amazing series. I had some lose ends that I would have loved to know more about, but it was a happy ending. At least for Mac. The world might still have some work to do.

A good spoiler free review Rebecca. Glad it lived up to expectations, mostly. LOL.

I'm not reading it, anyway. I'll take your word for it. ;) I don't even want an inkling of Shadowfever info in my head before I pick it up. And I want to read Dreamfever again before I do, and I don't have time for them in January with my challenges, so I'm playing "avoid all Shadowfever talk". Lol.


Wishlist
The Ask & the Answer by Patrick Ness finished January 17 ★★★★�

This is such a great series. It is a dystopian YA trilogy about Earth settlers on a new planet. The 1st book is written 1st person from Todd's perspective, a 13 yr old boy, and this book, the 2nd, is 1st person w/two POVs, Todd's and Viola's, a 13 year old girl. And it's my fave kind of fantasy writing--immersion. Where the author just drops you into the world, and you learn little things here and there from the characters eyes & thoughts. No info dump. It makes it more of a mystery--Todd will allude to something and you're like "Tell me everything!" but he doesn't. You just have to wait. ;)

I read something recently about fantasy writing and whether you prefer the info dump or immersion in your world building. And someone made a great comment in favor of immersion. If you were writing about making a piece of toast in the toaster, would you stop and explain what the toaster is, how it works, and when it was invented? No, because it's just a part of your world. The same goes for an imaginary world--if something is a regular part of that world, it feels awkward for the character to stop and explain everything, since that's not a normal train of thought for something that is commonplace to a character. Did that make sense? Lol.

Anywho, there's nothing scifi about this series, besides the fact that they're on another planet. I'm pretty sure the settlers were religious, or anti-government, and left Earth to create their own Eden. But that wasn't the case. It reminded me of a group of people leaving civilization and thinking they would make a perfect little community for themselves out in the middle of nowhere. And after the supplies they brought ran out, they weren't ready. And it turned into a backwater, every man for himself kinda place.

And...the best part. There was some virus on the planet, that only the men are susceptible to, and it makes their thoughts available for everyone to hear. The call it your "Noise". So that's a crazy part of the story--nothing is secret in a man's head. I was so used to the protecting of thoughts, after reading the 1st book that was all in Todd's POV, that when reading the 2nd, I found myself saying "Don't think that! Your NOISE!" and then would remember I was reading Viola's POV. She doesn't have noise. Her thoughts are her own.

Ok, I've rambled enough. If you like dark YA dystopian fantasy, pick this series up.

Free Space - 4/4 completed - stamp awarded

Succubus77 Grimspace finished Oct. 20 ★★★★
Sabrina Fair Stray finished Nov. 18 ★★★★
Laura Lulu Prey finished Oct. 28 ★★�
Rebecca Pleasure Unbound finished Nov. 9 ★★★★



Vampire Romance, I2 - 4/4 completed - stamp awarded

Succubus77 Another One Bites the Dust finished Oct. 14 ★★�1/2
Sabrina Fair Undead and Unappreciated finished Oct. 11 ★★★★
Laura Lulu Eternal Kiss of Darkness finished Oct. 14 ★★�
Sarah Undead and Unwed finished Oct. 24 ★★



Vampire-Werewolf, I4 - 5/4 completed - stamp awarded

Succubus77 The Good, the Bad, and the Undead finished Nov. 4 ★★★★
Sabrina Fair Eternal Kiss of Darkness finished Oct. 30 ★★1/2
Laura Lulu Changes finished Oct. 31 ★★★★�
Sarah Blood and Chocolate finished Nov. 19 �
Rebecca Lover Eternal finished Nov. 10 ★★★★�



Shifters, O4 - 4/4 completed - stamp awarded

Succubus77 Betrayals finished Nov. 22 ★★�1/2
Sabrina Fair Linger finished Nov. 20 ★★�
Laura Lulu Blameless finished Nov. 11 ★★�
Rebecca Pride finished Nov. 18 ★★★★½



Supernatural Romance, G5 - 5/4 completed - stamp awarded

Succubus77 Guilty Pleasures finished Dec. 9 ★★1/2
Sabrina Fair The Darkest Night finished Nov. 25 ★★★★
Laura Lulu The Shadow Queen finished Nov. 29 ★★★★
Sarah Moon Called finished Dec. 11 �
Rebecca Bloodfever finished Dec. 10 ★★�1/2



Urban Dark Fantasy, B4 - 4/4 completed - stamp awarded

Succubus77 Every Which Way But Dead finished Jan. 15 ★★★★1/2
Sabrina Fair Magic Strikes finished Dec. 8 ★★★★1/2
Laura Lulu Amazon Ink finished Dec. 13 ★★�
Rebecca Faefever finished Dec. 13 ★★★★1/2



PNR-AngelDemon-Fae-Wings-Witch-Misc, G1 - 4/4 completed - stamp awarded

Succubus77 Magic Bites finished Jan. 5 ★★★★
Sabrina Fair The Kitchen Witchfinished Jan. 14 ★★�1/2
Laura Lulu Sin Undone finished Dec. 17 ★★�1/2
Rebecca A Caress of Twilight finished Dec. 22 ★★★★



Urban Fantasy-Paranormal, O2 - 4/4 completed - stamp awarded

Succubus77 Moon Calledfinished Jan. 14 ★★★★
Sabrina Fair Spirit Bound finished Jan. 1 ★★★★
Laura Lulu Alpha finished Dec. 25 ★★★★
Rebecca Shift finished Dec. 19 ★★★★



Wishlist, O3 - 2/4 completed

Succubus77 The Replacement
Sabrina Fair Black Wings
Laura Lulu The Ask and the Answer finished Jan. 17 ★★★★�
Rebecca Shadowfever finished Jan. 20 ★★★★1/2

Very good review, LLL. I'll have to look for that series.

Reading your thoughts on world building made me think of the one I just finished - Afterlife. I'm not a fan of describing the toaster, but in the case of this book, there were so many titles (jobs) and things that were never really explained and I felt confused for most of the story b/c of the lack of world bldg. I eventually put most of it together.

Shelf: Wishlist

REVIEW HAS A SMALL SPOILER

The Replacement

****1/2

*happy sigh*
Mackie Doyle is such a sweet guy and you really root for him. Everyone knows something is 'different' about him and he tries desperately to appear 'normal'. This book shows what it means to be human even if you're not.

:) Yay! Glad you liked it Succubus77!

Steph wrote: ":) Yay! Glad you liked it Succubus77!"

I deleted about half of my review because there were too many spoilers.
But I loved the story and the characters and I just wanted to hug the book, you know?

I do. :) Looking forward to reading it myself, more so now.

That was one of those books where the cover grabbed me, I'm glad to hear the inside is as good as the outside. :)

I like this one . "It's 10:00, do you know where your children are?" Remember that service announcement they used to run? :)

Wow, you Americans are funny!! LOL. Using a horror show tag to frighten parents.....

LOL! Yep, we're a bit wonky.

I can remember one from the '60's when the TV station closed - it said something about - time for the kids to go to bed and don't forget to clean your teeth!!!!!! ROFL

LMAO! Guess that's better than freaking out parents. :)

ROFL! Too insane!

I think this means we're ready for our stamp. :) Yay!

Yep! We're ready for our stamp, Megamind, por favor. :)

CONGRATULATIONS, The G.L.O.B.!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'wishlist'.

[Your new BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Good Job!! :D

I just wanted to let ya'll know that I changed my name on my profile. I felt silly having all ya'll call me Succubus77. :P

Lol! Too bad--I was just about to start calling you Succi for short. ;)

Laura Lulu wrote: "Lol! Too bad--I was just about to start calling you Succi for short. ;)"

lol

Welcome, Cristina!!! LOL!!!!

LOL Laura!

Hi, Cristina! :)

If I screw up any of your challenge tracking b/c of the name change, just remind me.

OUR NEXT SHELF IS ..... ''paranormal and urban fantasy'
DIRECT LINK: 'paranormal and urban fantasy''

NOTE: Since all teams have received their 'wishlist' stamp, I am posting our next shelf early. Everyone can start reading as soon as they pick their book.

Poopoo, random.org! No chance of BINGO with this shelf, but it does put us even closer. Maybe next shelf!

Happy Reading, Everyone!!

Yeah!!!!!

:D

Oh wow, awesome shelf. I wish it was a little more beneficial to our bingo card but every little bit counts. ;)

I don't know what I'm going to read yet though because on the first ten pages alone, I own about 20 of those books sitting at home on Mt. TBR.

Oh, damn you random.org--this one doesn't help us at all.

I have one book left to read for this month, Mercy Blade, but it's not on there. The 1st two books in the series are, but not the third. Poop.

So after I read that, I'm rereading Dreamfever in preparation of starting Shadowfever. So Shadowfever it is for me. But it won't be until the first week of February for me. :)

LOL! My thoughts exactly! Maybe next go 'round.

Something from the Nightside has been on Mt. TBR at home forever so I'm going to read that for the paranormal and urban fantasy shelf

Hope you enjoy that one, Cristina. I really loved the earlier books in that series. A fun read.

Being snowed in has perks

Something from the Nightside

***1/2Ìý

There are always monsters. That's the first thing you learn in the Nightside. Some of them look just like you and me.

I liked John Taylor. He was snarky and a little more magic than not. The story was pretty short but a well written little tale in a fascinating world. Most importantly, I felt for him and even Razor Eddie. I too have a thing about creepy crawlies. *shudders*

I'll probably read another in the series but I don't feel a real need to continue the series.

Talk about missing out! I never even noticed a new shelf had been announced and was just planning on asking when we'd get it. Stupid GR and it's notification e-mails. :o I'll have to go through the shelf and pick a book!

I'm thinking Bullet by LKH, if you're allowed to choose a book you've already started (I started it yesterday.) Otherwise it's between Touch the Dark and Vampire Academy, depending on which one I start first (I'll have to try it sometime. ;)

Rebecca, you can choose and start a book anytime after the shelf is announced so Bullet is fine. Go for it.

Well, then I'll go for Bullet then! Thanks.

I'm gonna finish this shelf by the skin of my teeth. I didn't start the month with my Fever reread, I'm just rereading Dreamfever now, and then I'll get to Shadowfever. But I'll finish before the next shelf is announced. Promise. :)

Sorry you missed the announcement, Rebecca. The next shelf will be announced on/around 13 Feb, so you've got time. We're getting close to BINGO! So exciting! :)

I don't doubt you'll finish it before the next shelf, Laura!

Steph: At least I saw it before the next shelf. :) It's getting more exciting with each announcement!

:D

This was my least favorite shelf. I have easily found books I was already planning on reading on all the previous shelves, but this one was hard.

I was on the Shadowfever waiting list at the library, and I guess I was first, because I got it January 23rd. And I wasn't ready for it yet--I didn't have it on my January challenges, and I wanted to reread Dreamfever first. It was due back on Feb. 5th, so I was going to read Dreamfever 1st thing February. But then I got an email from Ruby at and I won her Shadowfever giveaway. Yay! So I returned the library's copy so someone else could enjoy it, and now I'm halfway through Dreamfever and impatiently waiting for my Shadowfever to get here. :)

Great luck on the 1st in line library list and the online win. But, bummer on the timing of it all. Sucks. Hope you get it soon.

I'm so interested to hear what you think of SF. I'll be finishing it today and, right now, all I can say is WOW.

paranormal and urban fantasy

The full review might contain smaller spoilers, or at least general talk about events that could be spoiling a bit of surprise. I'll just post it as a link, so you can choose whether to read it or not! :) (In that case, I'll warn about comments as well.)


Bullet by Laurell K. Hamilton 08-02-2011 ★★★★½

I'm not sure what to say about this one. There's so much I want to get out, but I still don't want to spoil it! I truly enjoyed it. Really. I didn't know just how much I'd missed my Micah, Nathaniel and Jean-Claude! I think I love Anita's men as much as she does. I'm not sure I'd be able to even try to pick one of her men for her to me monogamous with. Good thing I don't!

This book was almost crazy with all of it's unexpected (and maybe expected) events and surprises. Some of them you could have foreseen, but some, I'll admit, took me completely by surprise. Compared to the last two books, this one is much more focused on relationships and metaphysical issues, and the sex is definitely back in full force (not that I'm one to complain!) I have to say though, that it was even more necessary than before. Bullet might not be a full 5 star rating, but it is extremely close! If there's been just a little more action, it would have been almost perfect. I love my Anita & Co. with both action and magic. (And of course some hot romance!) It was enough though, to get me hurrying to pre-order Hit List, and I'm now (im)patiently waiting for it to be released!

Full review:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Good review, Rebecca! I still haven't started that series yet. Never can decide with all the up/down reviews and comments about it.

I completely understand that, I'm almost glad I started it when I hadn't discovered he reviews yet. Personally I've never thought an Anita book was bad, I just think that it's one of those series you either love or hate.. Good luck deciding! Haha :)

LOL! Thanks!