Horror Themed Adventure

While these books are not actually scary per se they are centered around or based on horror elements. In these books often have vampires, werewolves, and zombies as characters vs. adversaries. Other cross genre types that will be included in this section are paranormal mysteries and paranormal comedies.

This is the first book in the Shadow Reader urban fantasy series, a series with intricate world building and a well-devised story arc. The primary supernaturals are the fae, who move between their Realm and mortal earth, but are unknown to most mortals, except for vigilantes, who try to kill all fae and their human assistants. The fae king, Atroth, is attempting to put down a rebellion. His best weapon is his human shadow reader, McKenzie Lewis, the series heroine. McKenzie was born with the ability to track a fae’s movements by reading the shadows during a fae’s fissure—their teleportation between dimensions. McKenzie can also see through fae illusions, so the fae can’t make themselves invisible to her.

McKenzie is kidnapped by the rebels because they hope to persuade her to turn against Atroth. For the past ten years, McKenzie has had a romantic (but not consummated) relationship with Atroth’s sword-master, Kyol Taltrayn. They love one another, but the king has forbidden affairs between fae and mortals, and Kyol is such a man of honor that he refuses to go against his king. The rebel leader is the sexy Aren Jorreb, and soon enough, sparks (literally) fly between Aren and McKenzie. In this world, when a fae and a human have skin-on-skin contact, the result is chaos lusters, which are extremely pleasurable miniature lightning bolts that zigzag across the skin. So...very early on, we have a love triangle that isn’t resolved until the very end of the book, although you can see which way things are going much sooner than that. The love triangle is similar to Twilight’s Edward-Jacob rivalry, with Kyol being the dark, brooding, serious one and Aren being the fierce, sardonic, blond one.

Aren knows that McKenzie’s biased beliefs about the rebels are the result of her brainwashing by Atroth, and he is determined to make her understand his side of the story by teaching her the forbidden fae language and telling her the truth about events of the past and present. The story follows McKenzie as she is jerked back and forth from one side to the other, never knowing quite what, or who, to believe. At times, McKenzie comes across as a strong and independent urban fantasy heroine, but at other times, she is a fragile female who must be rescued by one of her big, strong boyfriends. She definitely gets beat up, strangled, shot, and stabbed more than any other character in the story. The overall theme is that the truth is frequently hidden in gray areas that are difficult to see through.

This is a well-constructed mythology with strongly defined characters. The story is told in the first person from McKenzie’s point of view, and the author handles the first-person point of view quite well. Recommended.

This is the first book in the Kat Redding urban fantasy series. In this world, humans (aka purebloods) are considered prey by the vampires and werewolves who live among them. Vamps and shifters own the night, while the purebloods generally take care of their business during the daytime. Most vamps live in Houses, each headed by a vampire count or countess, and most werewolves live in servitude to the vampires, serving as their daytime protectors.

This vampire mythology includes several traditional elements: sun sensitivity, strength and speed, and a deadly allergy to silver. However, these vamps depart from the usual tradition regarding their fangs. Each time a vampire’s fangs descend, they break through the gums and bleed very heavily. Other non-traditional characteristics include their inability to share the blood of other supernatural species and the painfulness of their bites.

The series is set in Columbus, Ohio, where a female vampire—Kat Redding—has made it her mission to kill as many evil vamps and shifters as possible. Known as Lady Death, she slinks around taking down entire vampire Houses. Kat and her brother share a tragic past- they were kidnapped by vampires, and her brother was turned into an insane shifter monster. When Kat escaped, she rescued Ethan, a teenager who is now her agoraphobic assistant, and creates specialized weapons for her nightly hunts.

As the story opens, Kat receives an invitation to visit the Luna Cult, a group of werewolves and purebloods who glorify the werewolf lifestyle. A local vamp House has captured the cult’s leader, and the Cult wants Kat to help them get him back safely. The plot follows Kat as she and the Luna Cult leader plan their strategy and carry it out with disastrous results for almost everyone. A complication arises when a former member of the Luna Cult, who left because it wasn’t militant enough, returns to convince the other werewolves to revolt against the vampires.

Kat’s character is unlikeable and unbelievable. She is just one single vampire with no unusual powers, but somehow she is able to sweep through entire vampire Houses, killing all of the vampires and werewolves without getting a scratch on her. She has a one-note personality- a solitary mood of relentless grimness topped off with a permanent, ferocious scowl. Her knee-jerk reaction to every event is flat-out rage. Since Kat has absolutely no friends or acquaintances (except for poor Ethan, who frequently bears the brunt of her anger), we don’t see her interact with anyone in a friendly way—or even in a neutral or civil manner—at any point in the entire book. The story line itself isn’t bad; in fact, it got better as it progressed. But the total lack of dimensionality and credibility in the main character spoiled the story for me.

This is the first book in the Dark Breed urban fantasy series, although there is an ebook prequel to the series entitled “Before the Fall.” Set in Florida, the series takes place in a post-apocalyptic world just weeks after the gates of Hell have opened to allow all manner of horrific creatures to wreak havoc on the earth. In control of all of the supernaturals is the Ancient Order, which employs immortals as warriors to keep the Dark Breed (rogue Vampyres, demons, and shape shifters, aka lychen) from decimating the human population. My initial impression is that this series, rather than being fresh and inventive, is an attempted knock-off of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Ones series, but with way too much convoluted world building and not nearly enough humor and character development.

This world has three realms: Above (mortal earth where all mortals and a few nonhumans reside), Below (where nonhumans conduct their daily business), and Beyond (home of the gods, aka Olympus). The supernaturals at the top of the pecking order are the Greek gods and goddesses, from Ares and Artemis all the way up to Zeus. The powers of the gods and goddesses are waning, and the search is on for their replacements, the Chosen. Unfortunately, a mysterious serial killer is murdering the Chosen.

The series heroine is Kyana, a half-Vampyre, half-Lychen tracer for the Order. She and her fellow tracers must track down the missing Chosen before they are murdered. Kyana has no love for humans, but she protects them nonetheless, by hunting down and disposing of Dark Breed.

Kyana is directed to retrieve the key to the gate of Hell so that it can be locked up to prevent more hellish creatures from escaping Above. The key was stolen eons ago by the long-dead Cronos, who was banished because he tried to murder his sons so that they couldn’t take away his power. Cronos wants to come back so that he can take out his vengeance on all the gods and goddesses. Kyana’s partner is the demi-god Ryker, son of Ares. Kyana and Ryker had a sour romantic moment years ago, but they are still attracted to one another. Two other key characters are Haven (a powerful witch and healer) and Geoffrey (another tracer). The four friends collect and interpret a myriad of clues as they search for the mystical key. The book ends with a twist and a cliffhanger, which plays out in book 2.

Ascension spends a great deal of time on complicated world building, because this series tries to cram in a little bit of everything—from the Greek gods to traditional supernatural creatures to Underworld mythology. Kyana is a stereotypically foul-mouthed, headstrong heroine who is hard to warm up to. The plot has a few serious holes, with the main characters jumping to hugely spontaneous conclusions based on small (or no) amounts of factual information.

This is the second book in the Dark Breed urban fantasy series. The story begins just a day or so after Ascension ends, with Kyana trying to accept the fact that she will ascend as the new Goddess of the Hunt. Kyana’s primary problem is that her friend, the witch Haven, is out there somewhere in her new vampyre/lychen form, possessed by the spirit of Cronos, and Cronos is still determined to collect all of the Eyes of Power (e.g., Zeus’ staff, Poseidon’s trident) so that he can return to his corporeal form and take revenge on his sons—not to mention his plans for world domination.

With the world-building out of the way, the plot of this second book is more action-oriented than the first book, although the action is predictable. Kyana and Ryker search for Haven/Cronos, and capture her/him briefly before she/he once more escapes their grasp. Then they start the search-capture-lose sequence anew—and then again, which begins to get tedious. In the midst of all of this repetitive searching, we also have lots of repetitive angst, as Kyana constantly worries that she can’t commit to a long-term relationship with Ryker, and Ryker endlessly agonizes that Kyana will never see him as anything more than an outlet for casual sex. Kyana also reflects endlessly on her guilt for being the cause of Haven’s monstrous condition.

Meanwhile, back on Olympus, the aging gods and goddesses are becoming weaker and weaker, and some of them as yet have no Chosen to replace them. This problem directly affects Kyana’s small group of friends when, one by one, they are tapped by the gods to be their Chosen—either temporarily or permanently. The ending leaves the Cronos situation hanging in the balance. Midway through the book, the author apparently tries for humor when she has Nettles, an elderly seer, dress for bed in “pink pajamas...covered with tiny gray mice and there were feet...sewn in, a hood stitched into the back.” To top this off, the hood has mouse ears. This little episode is tossed in as an attempt to lighten things up, but the scene is so awkward that it is more annoying than entertaining.

Although the series mythology is over-the-top complex, it is well-defined and works well enough with the story line. The weakness lies with the shallow and predictable characters. The gods and goddesses are like paper cut-outs, with their brittle beauty, fine clothing, and superficial personalities. Kyana is the most predictable of them all—reacting to almost every situation with stubbornness and rage. Ryker is always his lovesick self, trying to believe that Kyana has the ability to be the best that she can be. (I kept thinking of the old commercials for the U.S. Army.)

This is the first book in the Hessius Mann series. In this world, dead people can be brought back to life. Unfortunately, the newly revitalized person has none of the attributes of a live human being. Instead, it has the traditional characteristics of a zombie: persistent rotting, lack of emotion, stiffness of motion, dry skin, and wonky memories. Coming back from the dead is called getting ripped: from the acronym for the process: radical invigoration procedure (RIP). Ripped persons are called chakz. Real live people call themselves livebloods to differentiate themselves from the chakz.

Two more new words have found their way into popular usage: The first is D-cap (short for decapitation), which is the main method used to get rid of the chakz that livebloods don't want around anymore. The second new word is hakkers, the name given to drunken gangs of armed livebloods who head for the chak shantytowns on Friday nights to slash and hack as many chakz as possible while the police look the other way.

The main character is Hessius (Hess) Mann, a chak who was executed for murdering his wife when he was a human police detective, but was later partially exonerated and then ripped. This type of ripping is now common due to the Revivification as Restitution Act (RAR), which requires that the wrongfully executed be brought back as chakz. Now, Hess ekes out a living as a private detective, with mostly chakz as his clients.

As the story opens, Hess is hired by a liveblood attorney named William Turgeon to track down a chak named Frank Boyle, another unfortunate man who was mistakenly executed and then ripped. Frank's father has died and left him a fortune, and Turgeon has been tasked with finding the heir. The plot follows Hess as he locates Frank, only to find that Turgeon is not exactly what he has portrayed himself to be. In the meantime, Hess has been following the TV coverage of a series of murders in which dismembered chakz are discovered around the city—all missing their heads. Eventually, Hess realizes that he has stumbled into a nightmare in which he is on the list to be the next victim of a sociopathic killer.

Although there are a few inconsistencies and illogical events in the plot, this is a fascinating world. Hess is a great character—trying to maintain as normal an existence as possible, but always on the verge of going feral. Petrucha establishes a dark sardonic tone as Hess ruminates about his “life” and wonders how long it will last. Hess's relationship with Misty, his liveblood assistant, whom he saved from crack addiction, is quite heartwarming as they carry out their everyday tasks (e.g., Misty stitching Hess's fallen-off bits and pieces back together) and prove their loyalty to one another. Although the villain is crazy bad and we know his identity early on, there is a nice twist at the end that will probably surprise you. Petrucha has wonderful skills with language, particularly with his gritty metaphors.

In book three of the Jake Helman Files, Jake is hired by Marla Madigan, wife of New York City’s mayor. Marla believes her husband is cheating, and she wants Jake to gather evidence so she can use it as leverage for a divorce. Jake decides to take the case, but what he finds the mayor doing is far worse and much more sinister than just sleeping around.

When Jake follows the mayor on a weekend retreat to upstate New York, he witnesses a ritual murder and is chased by creatures that could only have been created in a lab by Nicholas Tower, who is now deceased. It seems the mayor has become part of the Order of Avademe, a group of powerful industrialists who have steered major world events for hundreds of years. Led by Karlin Reichard, the Order, made up of eight men, worship a powerful being. In order for Jake to bring them down he must join the Order. He doesn’t believe Avademe exists until he is visited by an emissary from the Realm of Light, and then one from the Dark Realm. The Realms are looking for a creature that has been eating souls for centuries. Somehow this “destroyer of souls” and the Order of Avademe are connected, and Jake must once again deal with the supernatural.

Gregory Lamberson is on a roll with the Jake Helman Files. Well-written and with excellent pacing, Cosmic Forces is a wild ride of Biblical proportions. Jake Helman is an engaging character, rough around the edges and on par with Kolchak (from the Night Stalker series). Lamberson’s storytelling is nice and tight and never predictable. I was completely surprised when the nature of Avademe was revealed. Cosmic Forces can stand on its own as a novel but I strongly recommend starting from the beginning, with Personal Demons and then Desperate Souls, so you get a real feel for some of the characters and what Jake Helman is all about. This is a must-get for fans of paranormal detective stories, and I think most horror fans will enjoy it as well. Recommended.

Meet Lord Waxillium Ladrian, a twinborn with the powers of Allomancy and Feurchemy. He’s been a law keeper in the Roughs for two decades, but family tragedy has forced him to resume his post as a high lord of his octant in the sprawling metropolis of Elendel. With the wild life of good guys versus bad guys behind him, Wax must return to his roots in high society; however, it’s not long before his life as a law keeper catches up to him, and requires him to use his skills to solve a rather complex series of heists and kidnappings. To face the dangers ahead, and to defeat the enemy, Wax must use his Allomancy power, which allows him to push on metals, and his Feurchemy power, which allows him to alter his weight to become heavier or lighter as needed. But are these enough when facing other twinborns out to kill him?

The Alloy of Law follows Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy, but it is not necessary to have read the trilogy prior to reading this title; it stands alone wonderfully on its own. It’s a western meets dark fantasy meets steampunk with some history, science fiction, and romance thrown in for good measure. Lots of action, suspense and dialogue keep the story moving at a pretty quick pace. The story is strongly character-driven with clearly identifiable good guys and bad guys. The Alloy of Law is an incredibly fun read with a great universe built in the background that sucks you in immediately. It’s written for adults, but could easily be accessible by the YA audience.

Kramer is one of my personal favorite readers. His reading is smooth with great intonation and a wide array of voices and accents that are clearly discernable from one another. He is a perfect choice for The Alloy of Law as the story has numerous characters, one of which, Wayne, is a master of accents. Wayne’s role as Wax’s sidekick has him donning a variety of disguises, complete with slight accent deviations, and Kramer impressively wields these deviations with a beautiful lilt. The audio production quality is of the highest standard; audiobook lovers will not be let down with this title.

Both the audiobook and physical book are highly recommended for public libraries.

I read a lot of serious, professional, technical books and articles for work, so when it is my vacation time I prefer to read books that don't take themselves too seriously and are on a familiar topic. I'm looking for books that are candy for my brain.

While I was visiting friends I picked up a copy of Bobby Singer's Guide to Hunting and started to read. I'm from Wisconsin, where the book is set, so seeing familiar places named as settings for this book in the first few pages gave me even more incentive to read. I quickly discovered that I was actually reading the journals of a desperate man who is trying to record everything he knows before his mind is wiped. Bobby hopes the process of writing down what has happened to him will help his sort out his reality. In essence, he is talking directly to you through his journal entries. His memories focus on some of his more powerful experiences, such as the demonic possession of his wife Karen; hunting down supernatural Ondine on a Trans-Pacific journey; and his eventual acceptance off the supernatural. The entries jump around in time as he flashes back to different points in his life: these memories often trigger his practical side, leading to entries that are more instructional with tips for hunting Angels and ghosts, as well as describing different types of demons classified by eye-color. As I am familiar with Native American Trickster folklore, I particularly enjoyed the entries about Bobby's experience with Anansi who had retired and was playing bridge at the local retirement community.

Bobby Singer's Guide to Hunting pokes fun at trends in popular fiction. I have noticed that the mystery section at my public library was filling up with what I describe as “craft-based” mysteries: books in which the protagonist not only is enthralled in a mystery but also finds time to share a recipe for apple turnovers or directions for a cable knit sweater that was mentioned in the story line. So when I discovered that this book also included a recipe for the readers I burst out laughing. I have also read a number of “how to survive a zombie apocalypse” style books as well watched various zombie movies and TV series so I found the tip sections humorous.

It wasn't until I was already 70 pages into the book that my dear friend's husband pointed out that the book I was reading was related to the TV show Supernatural. I have never seen the show so I don't know how well the book supports the show’s themes, but I didn't feel lost with the characters. Maybe the whole “I'm recording everything I know before my memory is gone” device allowed the author to present more background on the characters than normal. I have read books based on TV and movies I have seen before, and the author’s approach can vary. Some books, such as Chronicles of Riddick, are an SAT vocabulary rehash of the movie plot; some, like the CSI books, assume that you already know the characters' back-story from the show; and others, like the Mr. Monk series, are written so you can see the connections and enjoy the story even if you aren’t an avid fan. This book fell into the last of these categories. I found it an easy and compelling read even though I wasn't familiar with the related TV series. Highly recommended.

Ghost Story: A Novel of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, narrated by John GloverRecorded Books, 2011
ISBN: 9781461805625 (MP3 audio)
Available: New Hardback, multi-format audio, and multi-format ebook

The only wizard to advertise in the Chicago yellow pages has been assassinated, but a little thing like being dead won’t keep Harry Dresden down. When offered the chance to track down his killer, Harry accepts and is returned to Chicago as a ghost. He discovers he has some really cool ghostly abilities, which he slyly compares to the X-Men’s mutant powers. Harry learns that his memories (being only recently dead, he still has all of his) are not only attractive to other ghosts, who want to feed on them, but are also a source of power to any ghostly entity, including himself. Unfortunately, his powers can’t help Harry contact his friends, who are not able to see or hear him, nor can he touch anything. On top of everything else, the great and powerful wizard-detective finds that ghosts can't do magic! Harry then learns ex-cop Karrin Murphy, his apprentice Molly, and all his friends are involved in a desperate battle to defend Chicago against a vicious new enemy, without him there to help.

The previous titles in the Dresden Files series have all been narrated by James Marsters (remember Spike from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel") but due to a scheduling conflict he was unavailable this time. The audio publisher, Recorded Books, chose instead to have actor John Glover record Ghost Story. Some may recall him for his portrayal of Lionel Luthor (Lex Luthor's father) in TV's Smallville. Glover is a great narrator match for Harry, delivering the right emphasis to Harry's usual sardonic wit and providing rich individual voices for each of the other characters. The pop culture references from the last four decades of TV and movies had me chuckling and even laughing out loud at times! Glover also does an excellent job of rendering ghost Harry's soul-searching, as he remembers various events from throughout his life.

Over the course of the novel, Harry either encounters or reminisces about almost every character (friend or foe) who has appeared in the Dresden Files series, giving Ghost Story very much of a 'life passing before your eyes' feel. And, as mentioned earlier in this review, memories do have power and readers will get to know their true power when Harry identifies his murderer! Ghost Story: a Novel of the Dresden Files is highly recommended in any and all formats (audio, print, or ebook) for series fans and libraries, especially those holding the previous titles. New readers of urban fantasy might also enjoy this ‘walk down memory lane’ introduction to Harry and the Dresden Files series. My one cautionary note, related strictly to the audio edition, is that fans of the James Marsters recordings may object to John Glover as the narrator for this title.

Contains: Language, violence, and some gore

Reviewed by: Lucy Lockley, the RAT Queen

The Last Seal is the first book in Richard Denning’s Praesidium series. Set in seventeenth-century London against the backdrop of the Great Fire, the book is a YA historical fantasy that tells the story of schoolboy Ben. Orphaned Ben is a pupil at Westminster, but decides to play truant one day after an altercation with his headmaster. Looking for something to pass the time in the city, Ben wanders into a bookshop and is drawn into a magical and dangerous adventure. Befriending a thief, a bookseller and a doctor, Ben learns of an apocalyptic battle between two secret societies – and discovers more about his own family history and the role he must play to prevent the catastrophic events to come.

The main strength of Denning’s book is the meticulous research that has gone into its creation. The author has clearly devoted a great deal of time and effort into understanding the history and geography of London in 1666. From fabrics and building materials, to iconic London landmarks such as Newgate Prison and St. Paul’s Cathedral, historical details are described with care throughout the book.

Sadly, this strength is also a weakness. Throughout The Last Seal, storytelling, pacing and characterization are sacrificed for historical detail. Tense chase scenes are weakened by constant lists of streets and landmarks; characters’ backstories are cluttered with somewhat clumsy history lessons. Outside of the historical detail, the story is, unfortunately, rather flimsy and predictable. For me, the balance between storytelling and historical research was not struck, and I found it difficult to identify with any of the characters. Added to this was the rather frustrating use of ‘spell words’ (or ‘Words of Power’ as they are called in the book), made up of words from different languages. These – such as ‘Kipofu-Lumen-Glimt’ – read a little awkwardly, and sounded too much like imitations of the spell words used in the Harry Potter series.

However, it is worth noting that The Last Seal is a YA fantasy novel with a male protagonist, and these are still too few and far between. Denning’s schoolboy hero is a dependable, brave and intelligent, and will appeal to young male fans of Rowling’s Harry Potter. There is only one female character in the book, so I think it’s fair to say that this is very much a boys’ book, which will appeal to male readers (particularly those interested in history) aged 10-13.

Fatal Circle is the third book in the Persephone Alcmedi series. Persephone Alcmedi is the Lustrata, a fabled witch said to bring balance and justice to the magical world. In the last book she was outed to the other witches of her city and she was forced to save her foster daughter and grandmother from a murderous fae. Now the fae are using her actions as an excuse to declare war on the human magic users. Persephone is forced to publicly disown her family, take a position as a vampire court witch, becoming a pariah to protect herself and her fellow witches. It’s an obligation that only one called to equality and fairness could bear.

Robertson's Circle series is less violence and battle-based than a lot of urban fantasy. For readers that prefer mystery-based paranormal romance, this series is good one. It's dark, emotional, and meaningful, without a lot of the gore or graphic sex. Robertson's lead, too, is set apart from other urban fantasy leads. Persephone is a woman embedded in family and responsibility, not to save the world, but just to do what is right. Fatal Circle is a breath of fresh air in the magical worlds of paranormal fiction, and will whet readers’ ravenous appetites for more. It's a good crossover title that should appeal to readers of both fantasy and romance, and a great addition to public collections.

One night in a dark alley Karla Black is stabbed by a man who doesn't want her money, her body, or even her life. Instead, he wants to activate her angel side and help her take up the mantle of an angel of death. As if this isn’t traumatic enough on its own, Karla then finds herself stuck with her mysterious not-killer and sucked into a centuries-old drama involving his jealous ex-lover and a series of curses (and nothing is as jealous as, or sets curses like, an angel) More is at stake, though, and Karla, the other angels, and the world at large are in some serious danger.

Death Sword is not perfect. I'd have liked to see some smoothing around the edges, both in the writing and in the emotional content of the story. But it's a lot of fun to read about your home city suffering the vengeful wrath of angels, and Turner has a very interesting take on angels. There’s a great love story, which will make this a pleasurable read for paranormal romance fans, and also a good addition to digital paranormal romance collections.

This is book 17 in the Dark-Hunters Series. In Retribution, we are definitely not in New Orleans anymore; instead, we're in the American West. Kenyon switches her mythological pantheons completely as she delves into Native American mythology to tell the story of Jess (Sundown) Brady, a Dark-Hunter, and Abigail Yager, a human who has been infused with Daemon blood and brainwashed into believing that Dark-Hunters are evil killers. Supporting characters for the good guys include Sasha, a werewolf; Choo Co La Tah, Guardian for the North; and Renegade, a Dark-Hunter. The primary villain is Coyote, who is assisted by Snake and a bevy of monstrous magical insects and daimons.

As the story begins, Jess has been tasked with tracking down a serial killer who has murdered several Dark-Hunters. When he discovers that the killer is a young human girl who looks just like his long-lost love, he's not sure how to react. Then, he learns that along with her Dark-Hunter victims, she has also killed Old Bear, Guardian of the West, which has let loose the horrors that Old Bear was guarding. During a horrific magical wasp attack, Jess and Abigail begin to bond, and the romance kicks in. Both Jess and Abigail are haunted by their tragic pasts. He became a Dark-Hunter to wreak revenge on the man who killed him and raped his fiancée. Abigail is an orphan who was raised by Apollites after the murder of her parents, and she has been told repeatedly that Jess is their murderer. The conflict involves the building of trust between Jess and Abigail and the defeat of Coyote, who is trying to take advantage of Old Bear's death to make a power play of his own. Unfortunately, towards the end of the book, events begin to get convoluted and hard to follow. I read this as an audiobook and kept wishing I had a print copy so that I could look back and double check past events in order to better understand the ending, which involves love, revenge, death and reincarnated spirits, with several confusing flashbacks (confusing, at least, in audiobook form).

As is usual in Kenyon's stories, the humor comes from the sarcastic, wise-cracking dialogue among the characters. The character of Jess is well developed and likeable. The character of Abigail is not so great. She makes one bad decision after another and whines about the consequences throughout the book. I had a hard time believing that Jess would so quickly fall in love with this petulant, pouty woman, especially after she murders not only several of his brother Dark-Hunters, but also a Guardian.

The part of the book that most DARK-HUNTERS fans will love the most is the "Bonus Section," which describes the birth of Ash and Tory's baby.

Sympathy for the Devil is part of the Morris & Chastain Supernatural Investigations series. In this series, Quincey Morris is the namesake and great-grandson of the rich young Texan of the same name who lost his life in the final battle with Count Dracula in Bram Stoker’s novel. The modern-day Quincey investigates occult disturbances with his partner, white witch Elizabeth (Libby) Chastain. The author includes lots of genre-related in-jokes that add humor to the stories.

As this book opens, Harold Stark, a right-wing senator from Ohio, is running for U.S. President when he is possessed by the demon Sargatanas. That kicks off a complex plot in which Quincey and Libby must stop Stark/Sargatanas with as little collateral damage as possible. Quincey is still recovering from a Hellburn he received during the climax of the previous book, and that scar will come back to haunt him in this new book. The story unfolds in a series of related, escalating scenes, each focusing on one of several different characters’ involvement with Stark/Sargatanas.

Malachi Peters: A former covert government assassin who died, went to hell, and has now been brought back by the demon Astaroth to kill Stark/Sargatanas.

Nestor Greene: a political dirty-tricks specialist hired by MM to get rid of Stark's political competitors.

The Grocer's Son: an assassin Nestor hires to take out the final competing presidential candidate.

Quincey and Libby are separately drawn into the Stark/Sargatanas situation, and then work together to solve the problem. Gustainis hopscotches from one character to another to carry the story along, with each scene building up more and more suspense. All of the characters are well developed, even the two exorcists who get dragged into the mess. Gustainis excels at creating well-constructed, action-packed stories woven from many disparate threads, and this is a prime example. The ending is full of twists and surprises that will keep you guessing up through the last paragraph. Highly recommended for all public libraries.

Contains: frequent scenes of sexual innuendo. Libby has been known to swing both ways, and the demons are sex obsessed, but all of their sexuality is limited to talk and/or aftermath descriptions. Language in some scenes is provocative and profane. We are, after all, dealing with demons here.

As a concept, I am fine with the idea of urban fantasy. One of my favorite reads last year was King Maker by Maurice Broaddus, which was basically a gangland version of King Arthur’s court set in modern Indianapolis. The Crow is another fine example.

     This broad and diverse anthology features three sections: Mythic Fiction, Paranormal Romance and Noir Fantasy. Each section comes with an introduction about that particular sub-genre of urban fantasy, and honestly, those essays were my favorite part of the book. The Mythic Fiction essay was written by Charles de Lint, the Paranormal Romance essay was by Paula Guran(a long time editor, agent and Cemetery Dance columnist), and the Noir Fantasy essay was by bestselling author Joe R. Lansdale.

     As for the stories, I rolled my eyes a lot. Many of them were less than memorable, which led to a lot of subconscious skipping around. There were some excellent choices as well, though. My favorite stories were the bizarre surrealist tale “Bible Repairman” by Tim Powers; “Haunted House of My Very Own” by Kelly Armstrong; and the classic by Joe R. Lansdale, "On the Far Side of the Cadillac Desert with Dead Folks”, which I first read when it was released in Skipp and Spector’s classic zombie anthology The Book of the Dead. I was too young to understand the story then, so it was awesome to relive it. These stories seemed more like horror tales than urban fantasy, though, and horror is my preferred genre, so I’m biased.

     I do think that, regardless of my opinion as a reader and a critic, this book SHOULD be in every library collection. This is a growing new subgenre and I think this book is an important look at how and why it exists.

     It should be noted that if you’re looking for gritty urban horror and noir of the fantastic, Tachyon published a collection by Joe R. Lansdale called Crucified Dreams. While it might not be a good fit for all urban fantasy readers, I think it was a far superior collection.

     Bey Logan is well known to kung fu movie nerds like me, as the expert voice on the commentary tracks for Dragon Dynasty's line of DVDs. I have listened to every one of them that has come into my hands. The man knows everything there is to know about kung fu movies. He has also worked as a screenwriter, producer and actor, so when I first heard about his novel I wasn’t surprised to learn it had started life as a screenplay. The film was directed by and starred cult movie star Michel Biehan.

     In the forward, Logan wrote that he was happy with the finished film, but he enjoyed the story the way he wrote it before two other screenwriters altered it, so he adapted his own screenplay into a novel.

     It is the story of a woman, Deva, a warrior given the job at birth to protect a Dalai Lama-like holy man named the Karmapata. When the holy leader is nearly killed on a diplomatic mission to Thailand on Deva’s watch, there is a desperate search for anyone with a matching blood type. One by one, a bizarre cult of zombie-like warriors kill everyone in the country that can provide the correct blood for a transfusion. Based on a vision, Deva heads into the far north of Thailand and finds John Tremayne, a burnt-out American former special ops solider. As luck would have it, he has the same type of blood needed for the transfusion. Together they must battle strange cult warriors across the country, racing against the clock.

     Logan is a screenwriter, and he speaks the language of the action film fluently. One of my favorite reads of last year was Chuck Hogan and Guillermo Del Toro’s Vampire Apocalypse novel The Fall, which also read like a movie. There is a feeling and pace that filmmakers bring to novels. They use quick cuts and don’t waste words. I really liked that about Blood Bond, which felt in every way like a Hong Kong action film that had to come in at 90 minutes exactly, to have the most viewing possible in the day.

     Blood Bond isn’t deep: it’s a fun read, and fans of Logan’s work and Asian action films will see it as a very clear movie in their heads. That is not to say that Logan did not give the novel some touches film cannot. The warrior Deva’s back story is nicely woven into action, and one brutal scene on page 74 painted a wonderful picture, and gave great depth to a side character in the narrative. Fans of Asian action films in contemporary settings will not want to miss this potboiler novel.

The Knights Templar are the secret military arm of the Vatican. The Templars stand between ordinary people and the supernatural forces of darkness that most folks are unaware of. Cade Williams, leader of Echo Team, the best black-ops team the Templars have, will do whatever it takes to protect the world. He is also searching for The Adversary, the creature that killed his wife and left him not only scarred, but the recipient of strange powers.

The Templar Chronicles contains three novels: The Heretic, A Scream Of Angels, and A Tear In The Sky. Each book tells a separate story about Cade Williams and Echo Team, weaving Williams' quest for The Adversary throughout. In The Heretic, Echo Team must keep the Spear Of Destiny from falling into evil hands. In A Scream Of Angels, the team must find out what went on in a top secret research facility. Finally, in A Tear In The Sky, Williams and Echo Team discover an invasion force gathering on the Otherside, preparing to attack our world. All the while, Williams searches for the truth behind the death of his wife and the origins of his unnatural abilities.

In Cade Williams, Joseph Nassise has created a fantastic character. This is the kind f hero that I love: a broken man, still trying to do what he can to make the world a safe place. Williams follows his own code, and has no problem breaking the rules of the Templars, if that's what it takes to get the job done. He's loyal to those who have earned that loyalty. His love for his wife drives him forward, ever searching for answers.

The members of Echo Team are well fleshed-out, each unique. There are no cookie cutter characters here. The history and organization of The Templars if interesting, and the forces of darkness they face are scary as Hell. Nassise blends action and character moments deftly, keeping a steady pace throughout. He writes with a clean style, never getting bogged down in overly descriptive passages, yet he doesn't skimp on the details. This is Stephen King meets Tom Clancy, with military action and horror served up in equal portions.

I hope that Nassise writes more adventures for Cade Williams and Echo Team. This is high quality writing that I highly recommend for libraries and fans of great storytelling.

Warehouse 13 is a top secret government facility, where agents track down and store items of supernatural power (think Ark Of The Covenant). Peter Lattimer and Myka Bering act as agents in the field, while Artie Nilesen, Claudia Donovan, and Leena work at the warehouse (most of the time), doing research, inventory, and providing support for Peter and Myka. When a psychic healer, with powers that really work, shows up on the radar, Artie sends Pete and Myka to track her down. What they find is that she has a glove with the power to heal. But gloves come in pairs, and unbeknownst to the agents, there is a man with a strange glove traveling up the east coast, leaving sickness in his wake. Meanwhile, Artie, Claudia, and Leena have problems of their own, when an artifact "awakens" and breaks out of the warehouse.

Warehouse 13: A Touch Of Fever is a media tie-in novel, based on the original SyFy series, Warehouse 13. Greg Cox, king of the media tie-in, does a fine job or recreating the feel of the show. The characters behave as they do on the show; the dialogue sounds right (I could practically hear the voices of the actors as I read); and the plot moves along briskly, bouncing between Pete and Myka as they are running down the gloves, and the other characters dealing with problems in the warehouse. The history of the artifacts is plausible (you know, for a supernatural story), and the resolution involves plenty of pulse- pounding action.

The problem with media tie-ins is that you KNOW nothing permanent is going to happen to the main characters. It's not the fault of the writer, it's just the nature of the beast. Cox does what he can to create tension, but when you can't maim or kill your characters, the tension can only go so far. Still, it's a fun book, based on a fun show, and i recommend it for fans of the show, people looking for a fun story, and libraries looking to build their media tie-in section.

My biggest complaint about the Southern Vampire Mysteries series so far has been the lack of detectiving. Sookie doesn't so much sneak around to try to find out what's going on as she ends up sucked into it, often by someone targeting her or someone she loves. But this book is different. The first chapter opens up with someone firebombing Merlotte's. Then Sookie and Eric have a fight over vampire politics that might just be leading to a break up, and the vampire in charge of the area makes it very clear he wants Sookie, Eric and Pam all dead.

Sookie's been on the edge of a paranormal burn out for a while, and while she rallied back from being tortured two books ago, she's lost a lot of her tolerance with people lying and manipulating her, but unfortunately seems to be too weak to actually take control of her own life (and seeing as that life includes fae royalty, alpha werewolves and powerful Viking vampires, it's not a surprise).

Dead Reckoning has a somber tone, as if Harris is headed for a wrap up of her series. Her strength is still in an amazing level of character building, often in sneaky ways. While before Sookie always seemed to land on the side of happy-for-now it almost feels as if she's headed for a sad end, an element that will keep readers tuned in for more. Dead Reckoning deserves a spot in public collections not just because of the series' popularity, but because it's a good, off-beat tale with a fair amount of re-read value.

The king of complicated, Chicago's only professional wizard is back in Butcher's fifth Dresden Files novel. Harry agrees to go on a paranormal talk show to meet a man who's been searching for Susan, his half-vampire love. But he gets more than he bargained for when all the other guests are there to meet him as well. There's a count of the Red Court there to challenge Harry to a duel in an effort to end the war between the Red Court vampires and the White Council, which rules the wizards. There's also a priest from the Catholic Church who wants to hire Dresden to find the stolen Shroud of Turin. On the way out, a hit man from Chicago's top mob boss tries to kill Harry, and Detective Murphy calls, wanting Harry to help out with a strange murder case.

Harry's not alone though. Susan shows back up (and saves his skin a number of times) with half-vampire powers. And Michael is back, with the other sacred sword-wielding Knights of the Cross. The latter is an element that's done especially well as Butcher manages to take a world where fairies and werewolves and vampires are real and also write beautiful, strong Christian characters instead of flat, stereotypical antagonists wearing crosses.

The Dresden books are quite popular, and despite being cautious in a urban fantasy-over run world, are very good as well. Dresden might have started out as a parody of UF, but Butcher's strength in complex storytelling and just as vivid and complex characters pushed this series up to a ringleader of the UF gang. It's also a fantastic addition in the sense that it brings a much needed male point of view to the genre, without excluding female characters as strong and capable on their own. Highly recommended for public collections, as these books give back a great amount for their purchase price.

In this fresh take on the vampire myth, FBI Special Agent Jace Valchek is a 30-something, non-magical, human profiler specializing in the criminally insane. One night, she is snatched up from her earthly home and pulled through a portal to an alternative earth: same cities, countries, geography; similar history; similar technology. Here's the big difference: the population is composed primarily of vampires (called pires), were-creatures (called thropes—from lycanthrope), and golems (called lems), with a tiny minority (1%) of humans, many of whom have magical talents. The humans are treated like most minorities, with disdain and with restrictions on their civil rights. Some of the pires and thropes also treat them like prey, nicknaming them OR, for Original Recipe. Naturally, there is a human resistance movement: the Free Human Resistance (FHA).

In Dying Bites, Jace is forced to sign a contract promising to locate and capture the human leader of the FHA, who is suspected of carrying out a series of hideously violent murders of pires and thropes. If and when she captures the killer, she can go home. Jace's search eventually leads her to an encounter with an ancient god who comes (literally) straight from the works of H. P. Lovecraft.

The supporting characters for the series are Charlie (Jace's wise-cracking lem partner, animated with the spirit of a Tyrannosaurus Rex); David Cassius (Jace's cute pire boss and a possible love interest); Pete Adams (a handsome thrope medical doctor with a mysterious past and also a possible love interest); Gretchen (a pire team member and Jace's BFF); and Damon Eisfanger (a thrope forensic scientist).

The story line is generally engaging, but as in all first-of-the-series books, there is a lot of necessary exposition to introduce the world and the characters. The humor comes primarily from the sarcastic, teasing dialogue between Jace and Charlie, who is the most sentient (and best dressed) golem I've ever encountered. Recommended.

This is book 2 in The Bloodhound Files series. In Death Blows, FBI Special Agent Jace Valchek, transported from our world to one inhabited by supernatural creatures, must solve a series of killings that are closely connected to comic book art. Comics are illegal in this world since an incident decades ago when they were a source of murderous magic that caused a number of deaths.

The villainous serial killer who is Jace's ultimate target is Aristotle Stoker (named after you know who), a tall, handsome, and dangerous human who lives off the grid and knows how to keep himself hidden at all times. He challenges Jace to turn her back on her contract with the supernaturals and join the human resistance movement to save her own species.

The story line is generally engaging, except for where the plot bogs down in a plethora of comics history. If you love comics (e.g., Bizarro, the Flash, Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol and Invisibles, Alan Moore's Watchmen), this won't bother you at all, but if (like me), you're not a comics enthusiast, you may find that the endless metaphysical intertwining of the mythos of comic art with the ongoing criminal investigation functions as a plot detractor rather than enhancer. The humor comes primarily from the sarcastic, teasing dialogue between the characters. Recommended.

Melissa Marr is the author of the Wicked Lovely series of young adult novels. This is her first novel for adults.

No one ever really leaves the small town of Claysville. Most folks live there from birth to death, and those who move away come back before they die. In this creepy (but romantic) horror story, Byron Montgomery recently returned to help his father in the family undertaking business, and early in the book, Rebekkah Barrow comes home for her grandmother's funeral. Beka's grandmother, Maylene, was found dead in her kitchen, seemingly mauled by an animal. Strangely, the local sheriff doesn't plan to investigate the "accident”: whenever he thinks about it, he gets a migraine headache. Byron and Beka ask a lot of questions, but get no answers as more bloody bodies accumulate, and a mysterious, hungry teenage girl roams the town. As it turns out, in Claysville the lands of the living and the dead are closely accessible to one another. Under the town lies a shadowy, dangerous land ruled by the arrogant Mr. D (aka Charles), master of the dead. It is up to Byron and Beka to return some hungry dead to their proper place and to make peace with their new roles in life.

Beka is the step-daughter of Maylene Barrow's son, so she isn't really Maylene's blood relative, but the two became close over the years. Maylene frequently took Beka with her as she visited the town's many cemeteries, sprinkling a mysterious liquid on the graves from a silver flask and whispering, "Sleep well, and stay where I put you." If you take that quote and match it up with the book's title, you can figure out what Maylene's role was. Beka believes that her grandmother did this out of the kindness of her heart, but, she soon learns that Maylene’s motivation was much more complex.

Beka's relationship with Byron began when he was her sister's boyfriend back in high school. Although Beka and Byron were attracted to one another, he already had begun a romance with Ella, so when Ella committed suicide shortly after she saw Byron kissing Beka, Beka felt, and continues to feel, so guilty that she has never been able form a relationship with Byron, even though she has always loved him.

Marr does a good job of building suspense, all the way to the end. Her lead characters are well developed, if a bit bland and humorless. Beka has so much guilt and angst built up inside her that she is almost painful to watch. I'd love to have read more about Mr. D, particularly his relationship with Alicia, one of the former Graveminders. The two of them are a much livelier and amusing pair than Byron and Beka—and kind of scary. A sequel is in the works and the book is now in development for a TV series. Recommended for all libraries.

Melissa de la Cruz is well known for her YA vampire series, Blue Bloods. Witches of East End is her first series aimed at adults. Honestly, the writing comes across as a little self-conscious- even her prologue does more telling than showing, and although adult readers might have more breadth of knowledge and vocabulary than the YA audience, it’s hard to get lost in the first few pages of a book when you’re trying to figure out what or where Brigadoon is or how a town can be a conundrum. Many of the characters in the book are drawn from Norse mythology, which is kind of neat, but also isn’t immediately obvious because de la Cruz doesn’t identify which witch is which. Names like “Joanna” and “Norman” don’t even give a clue to the origin of the circumstances of the main characters. Even though mistaken identity is central to the plot, it would have been nice to get some background information.

The story begins with the three witches, Freya, Ingrid, and Joanna, breaking the restrictions that have been placed on them by the Council. At first, their actions are beneficial, but things get out of control, and all three of them make some extremely bad judgment calls. Their decisions caused severe consequences, and I kept waiting for the shoe to drop. Really drop. But, even though they were questioned by the police, charges and remonstrations seemed to just melt away. And since the mythical characters weren’t ever really identified or connected in a clear way, I felt very confused as to what was actually happening, although near the very end some of this was clarified. Secondary to the events directly affecting the witches was a storyline about a magical toxin in the water with the potential to bring about Ragnarok.

De la Cruz can tell a great story and create compelling characters, and that sometimes shines through here, particularly with Freya (I had some issues with her stereotypical representation of Ingrid as a librarian). A lot of the time, though, it seemed like she was lost in the mythology of the world she’d created and the tangled lives of minor characters, or trying too hard to capture her target “adult” audience. In an effort to fit everything in, the ending seemed rushed, although the cliffhanger ending will definitely leave readers wanting more.

De la Cruz already had crossover adult readers with her YA books, and they may enjoy this, especially because there are brief (and intriguing) appearances of some characters from Blue Bloods, but I think she’ll be more likely to lose readers than gain them with this book. Still, with the popularity of the Blue Bloods books and the genre, Witches of East End is highly recommended for adult fiction collections in public libraries.

The third book in Ann Aguirre's Corine Solomon series, Shady Lady expands the world setting (a curiously vampire-and-werewolf-free universe that still has plenty of magical conflict to spare) tenfold in this one volume. Home after defeating the demon that ran the town she grew up in (and had a hand in her mother's death), Corine is ready to settle back into her role as a thrift shop owner and explore the new extent of her powers, gifted to her by mother postmortem. Then Kel, the mysterious killer who claims to be the Hand of God, shows up and tells her he's there to protect her from a notorious Mexican cartel leader who is out for Corine's blood.

Aguirre pulls no punches with this book. Her characters pop off the page, making the conflict all the more real, and her style brings so many places, from the streets of Mexico to the depths of the jungle to vivid life. (And the classic macho movie addition of a gun-laced chase scene shows girls can play with action tropes as well.) Aguirre's books are the place to go for raw action and grit, threaded through with a sense of human tenderness. Highly recommended for public and private collections, especially those oriented toward paranormal or urban fantasy tastes, but this series also holds a strong appeal for readers who love a good action flick.

Tess is a forensic cop (kinda) in a world populated by demons, vampires, and mages. Her most recent case is a dead vampire with no signs of trauma and the address of a thirteen year old girl in his pocket. The girl, Mia, reminds Tess very much of a childhood friend who died traumatically in a fire, giving Tess plenty of fuel to protect Mia and make sure she doesn't end up like the dead vampire.

Close to the end of the book the bad guy says to Tess, "You couldn't do your job right if your life depended on it...You screwed up paperwork, botched evidence, showed up late, clocked out early, got hopelessly confused on your way to the bathroom, and you couldn't even work the photocopier." I don't remember Tess trying to use a photocopier, but sadly the rest is true. Tess is a extremely weak character. She blatantly ignores protocol (despite constant warnings), irritatingly complains about being too old and not powerful enough (she's 24), leaves crime scenes when she's supposed to be in charge, takes an underage suspect to her house after she's been banned from contact with the girl, and almost gets her killed. Everyone, including Tess, gets wrapped up in science tech talk, which would be fine for a forensic novel, but the voice is exactly the same every time, which makes characters sound like parrots of each other. And instead of “sciencing up” the magic, Battis mucks up the science, saying that magic (or materia) is really just dark matter and mages can manipulate it..magically.

While there are good ideas here, like the demons, they aren’t enough to save the book. As a reader, one can see why Tess hasn't advanced anywhere in life, and I had to wonder if Battis wasn't just writing the wrong thing, trying to hammer a more classic fantasy or horror novel into an urban fantasy shape. In short, there are better urban fantasy and paranormal procedurals out there for public and private collections.

Anya is an arson investigator in Detroit who has just discovered a ritual symbol and a countdown on the floor of a burned warehouse. She's also a Lantern, charged with elemental fire magic, and a devourer of wandering spirits (a gift she reluctantly puts to use in her off time work as a ghost hunter). Her private and professional lives are about to collide when she finds out her firebug might be a Lantern too.

Embers is different in a number of ways. Detroit and its decay play a very important role in the tale. Anya herself isn't just a private detective, she has an official role in the law enforcement of the city. Also, the villain in this book is one of the most human, sympathetic bad guys to be found in urban fantasy. Embers also simultaneously deals with traditional occult such as demons, ghosts, paganism, as well as more exotic, fantasy occult such as Lanterns, elementals, and Ishtar. Plus, it has one of the cutest, best sidekicks ever, a salamander (fire elemental) named Sparky. Recommended as part of paranormal romance and urban fantasy collections, public and private.

Jim thought when he escaped from Serena, the vampire that turned him he would be free of her and her companion, Metcalf, but he hasn’t been that lucky. Jim and his girlfriend Carol keep moving on to new cities, Jim feeding on the dregs of society, with Carol acting as bait. Serena has continued to search for Jim since his escape. She sets a private investigator on Jim and his feeding pattern is discovered, leading Serena right to him. While Serena is occupied with Jim, Metcalf has continued to carry out his sadistic experiments. A vampire himself, Metcalf wants to know exactly what can and cannot kill a vampire. His tortuous experiments are carried out on people he has infected. Those poor individuals deemed unworthy to be turned are instead forced to be “cattle”. Strong language, gore, violence, and sexual situations give the first book in Dave Zeltserman’s series a high-octane feel. The fight scenes are graphic and leave you feeling as breathless as the characters. Highly recommended.

Selina Wolfe and Martin Crowe work for the FBI's Paranormal Operations Division. Each has special abilities that make them perfect agents for taking on gargoyles, werewolves, ghosts, and anything else that goes bump in the night. A string of bizarre murders in Indiana pulls Wolfe and Crowe into a mystery involving demons, angels, and a plot that could rip asunder the veil between heaven, hell, and this little mudball we call home.

Descendant is like the bastard lovechild of The X-Files, H.P. Lovecraft, and Doctor Strange; and I mean that in the most loving way possible. "Book One" is almost a miniature anthology. Four separate adventures are tied together by an underlying subplot. It’s a nice introduction to Wolfe and Crowe, highlighting their personalities and abilities, and introducing characters that will become integral to the main story. Whether using guns or magic, these agents kick ass. This is high-octane action that still manages to be creepy as hell.

"Book Two" is the meat of the story, a mystery/horror/ mythos hybrid that delivers on every level. Twists and turns abound, and just when you think it's over, THERE'S MORE! Freeman keeps the story moving at a good clip, with barely a chance for readers to catch their breath.

I'm a fan of H.P. Lovecraft and other authors of the classic pulps, but they can be a bit verbose. I was concerned that Bob Freeman would fall into this category, but, though his writing has a bit of that pulp flavor, his is a refreshingly modern take. His characters are fully formed with interesting back stories, and he leaves out just enough to leave the reader begging for more. The supporting cast is just as intriguing as Wolfe and Crowe. And the twists! Oh, the twists. You can (almost) never be sure who is good and who is working for the downfall of humanity. When an author can keep ME guessing, that's good writing.

I can't wait to find out what is next for Wolfe and Crowe and their cohorts. I highly recommend Descendant for libraries and, well, everyone.

Note: The author Bob Freeman is a reviewer and contributor at MonsterLibrarian.com

The second in Robertson's Persephone Alcemdi series, Hallowed Circle follows solitary witch Persephone as she deals with her new roles in life as a guardian of a friend's orphaned daughter; caretaker of her aging grandmother, the mysterious Lustrata; girlfriend to a werewolf rock star; and a vampire-bonded contestant in the bidding for High Priestess of the area coven. The contest for High Priestess has a real Clue feel, which will draw in mystery lovers. Persephone balances magic with a day job and mortgage making for a solid, enjoyable read. Full of magic, murder and mystery, Hallowed Circle is grounded in a theme of responsibility, not necessarily to save the world, but to do the right thing for the people and community.

Less dark or brutal than other urban fantasy on the shelf, Hallowed Circle will definitely have crossover appeal to paranormal romance readers. Its price and solid readability make it a good choice for public collections and private readers who can't get enough of paranormals.

It’s been two years since the dead began to rise, pissed off and looking to murder any living humans they could find. Whatever survivors remain are struggling to stay alive by any means necessary. A necromancer, Harlan Cole, is determined to set things right or die trying.

I literally read this 42-page book in just over an hour. I love post-apocalyptic zombie stories, and this one is no exception. I also enjoyed the added element of angry spirits….although they’re not all angry. Harlan is a necromancer who has a friendly spirit guiding him in his mission to “close the breach”, and his motivation is apparently the peaceful rest of his dead wife and child. This is the first installment in a series so we are only told so much, but it’s quite an excellent tease. There’s a great scene in a grocery store where thousands of maggots are manipulated by an angry ghost to attack Harlan. It was wonderfully descriptive and disgusting—I loved it.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Long Road. If Tim Marquitz continues to write the coming books in Sepulchral Earth as well as this one then he and Damnation will have quite a hit on their hands. The cover art by Jessy Lucero is fantastic. Highly recommended.

Harlan Cole’s story began in Sepulchral Earth: The Long Road and Tim Marquitz has continued his story with Temple of the Dead. Harlan is a necromancer on a mission. Two years after the uprising of the dead, Harlan is determined to close the rift between dimensions that allowed the spirits of the dead to come back and inhabit corpses. This rift was created through a combination of technology and magic.

Harlan’s spirit guide, the Professor, has led Harlan to one of the facilities responsible for the rift. This facility, called Delphi, contains The Oracle, which provides a window into the dimension of the dead. Walter, another guiding spirit inhabiting a corpse, will lead Harlan and his newfound companion Cam to the Temple, where the rift is being held open. Unfortunately for them, the necromancer Alejandra will do everything to stop them.

I loved The Long Road and couldn’t wait to read Temple of the Dead….I was not disappointed. Tim Marquitz has packed a load of blood, gore and heartbreak into a 40-page novella. There is no filler- it’s all action. The writing is fantastic and the story flows very nicely. There is also some beautiful cover art by Jessica Lucero. When I reached the end of the story I was shocked. It’s a huge twist that I certainly wasn’t expecting. I’m REALLY looking forward to the next installment. Temple of the Dead gets a rare five stars out of five from me. Highly recommended.

When five young women are brutally killed in Belfast, Ireland, and all indications point to a supernatural cause, Hiram Grange is on the case. With his usual bag of tricks, magical items and low-tech weapons, the Jodie Foster-obsessed Grange must deal with tentacled beasts, perverted school officials, and Mab, Queen of the faerie folk. What does all of this have to do with an innocent young art student, and why does Mab think she would be better off dead? If Hiram doesn't find some answers soon, it could mean the end of the world.

Hiram Grange And The Chosen One is the fourth book in the Hiram Grange series, but, as with all the others, it can be read on its own, and if you are a fan of classic pulp adventure, or just want to lose yourelf in a fun, scary story, read it you should. The action is nearly nonstop, as wave after wave of threats rain down on our lovable antihero.

It can be tough to fight real demons when your inner demons are doing a fine job of beating you down. Hiram is a very flawed man, and it is those flaws that make his heroism that much greater. Kevin Lucia grasps this concept and runs with it. His writing is clear and focused, bringing new depths to the character, and his monsters, steeped in Lovecraftian tradition, ooze with menace. Why are tentacles always so creepy? While Lucia doesn't answer that particular question, he does create a fast-paced, magic-drenched, and tragic new chapter in the Hiram Grange mythos.

In this second installment of The Jake Helman Files, the former cop, now private investigator, has discovered that zombies really do exist. While looking into the disappearance of a woman’s grandson Jake discovers that the drug Black Magic is turning its users into zombies….literally. Prince Malachi and his voodoo sorceress girlfriend Katrina have run all of the other drug lords out of business and they are poised to take over the entire city. They have also eliminated the availability of any other street drug in order to push Black Magic. Jake has found himself in the middle of one of the most vicious crime sprees to hit the city, due in part to a bad economy, cuts to services and a threatened strike by the cops. After Jake is almost killed by a gang of zombies—twice—he is determined to find out what is behind their existence and the emergence of Black Magic. With a little help from the psychic next door and Jake’s ex-partner Edgar, who is investigating a series of gruesome machete murders, Jake hopes to rid the city of this threat to its stability.

Part paranormal fantasy, part crime drama, and part horror, Desperate Souls is a great read. The character development is spot-on, and Jake himself is very likeable. The pace of the story holds up the whole way making for quite a page-turner. Greg Lamberson has done his homework, making sure that police procedure is realistic and the voodoo-created zombies quite believable. There are twists to this story that left me saying “holy crap!” and that was even before the unpredictable ending. While you don’t need to have read Personal Demons (book one of The Jake Helman Files) to follow the story in Desperate Souls, I do recommend reading Personal Demons first. With plenty of action, gore and the supernatural, Desperate Souls is highly recommended.

Vampires, werewolves, pirates, human sacrifices and cannibalism with intermixed explosions – the perfect horror combination. In Edward M. Erdelac’s novelette Red Sails, set in the early 1700s, a vampire captain and his crew of pirate werewolves sail across the ocean taking down ship after ship, stealing their cargo and murdering most of the crew, but saving a few to dine upon or to hunt for sport. Domincan priest Timoteo and British marine Jan’s ship has been destroyed, with the crew savagely murdered in the process. Unfortunately for Timoteo and Jan, the vampire captain, Absolon Vigoreaux, has chosen to save them as a treat for the werewolves to hunt in sport on a remote island. With the help of a native on this island who desperately wants to save her tribe from having to continually deliver up human sacrifices, Timoteo and Jan devise a way to overtake the captain and his brood and possibly save themselves.

The pace is quick starting within the first few pages, and it never relents. The fight scenes are grisly, the pain is raw, and the landscape is beautiful. The contrast between its destruction and beauty is poetic.

I thoroughly enjoy reading Erdelac’s works, as he is a master craftsman. His knowledge of the subject matter shines through and his prose is unparalleled. He writes almost lyrically with incredible detail and care taken in choosing each of his words. Red Sails is a fine example of a wonderfully written piece. I highly recommend Red Sails for an adult horror collection.

Fallon is a private eye during Prohibition, and is used to dealing with the dregs of society. But when he agrees to act as bodyguard for the daughter of a powerful criminal, Fallon enters a dark world that he never knew existed; a world outside of our own, filled with unspeakable horror.
I love mixed genre stories, and with Wings Over Manhattan, Don D'Ammassa has a winner. He takes a hard-boiled detective story and mixes in a generous helping of horror, Fallon is a down on his luck P.I., whom D'Ammassa imbues with all the grit of Phillip Marlowe or Sam Spade. He's quick on his feet and quicker with a gun. But guns won't help him when the author goes from Raymond Chandler territory into a neighborhood better suited to the likes of H.P. Lovecraft. D'Ammassa writes both genres well, bringing to life both the Prohibition-era streets of the city and the shadowy corners where evil dwells. Gangsters and demons share the page without overshadowing each other. My only complaint is that the book is so short. I could have spent quite a few nights with Fallon as he fought danger both natural and supernatural. I can only hope that D'Ammassa writes more stories featuring this compelling character. Highly recommended for library collections and horror fans alike.
Contains: Strong language and violence.
Review by Erik Smith

Betrayal begins in a fantasy, medieval world where Sorea seeks to defend her land and her family the only way she knows how: with a sword in her hand, under the guise of a fearsome male mercenary, Gareth. She and her companion Daryn traverse the earth in search of the evil sorceress Valina, who kidnaps and subsequently sacrifices children to amplify her dark magic powers. Through their travels, Sorea and Daryn experience brutal battles, bloodshed, and the slaughter of friends and family as they try to ignore their deep-rooted love for one another.

As a female reader, the inclusion of the word “rape” several times in the first six pages was extremely jarring and I immediately became concerned that this would be a central focus to the novel. While rape is definitely an underlying theme in Betrayal, it did not remain “in your face” past those first six pages. Sorea never forgets the rape of her sister, as it was this pivotal action that set her on her path as a warrior. Since Sorea is in disguise as man, she is always concerned with the potential risk of her own rape should her identity as a woman be revealed. Michelle Acker creates a beautiful world as the setting for Betrayal and incorporates powerfully deep characters within it. With a sound plot and expressive language, the reader connects with the characters? pain, love, loss, and anger. At the end of the story, a slew of questions remain to be answered in the next installment of the series. Recommended for adult fantasy horror readers and public libraries.

In Blood Oath, White House staffer and political superstar Zach Burrows is suddenly assigned to be the partner and liaison to Nathanial Cade, a 140 year old vampire bound to serve the President of the United States. In their first mission together, Zach and Cade find a shipping container of body parts, determine that a near unstoppable supernatural threat is about to be unleashed upon the country, and they race to prevent it from occurring and find out who is behind it.

Blood Oath combines action, suspense, mystery, and horror to create a paranormal/occult thriller. It is the first book in a series, and has the feel of an introductory book, with exposition giving the reader background on how Cade came into the President’s service and introducing other, presumably recurring, characters. Despite this, I was hooked. Blood Oath is not a character-driven book- both Zach and Cade are fairly stereotypical- but Farnsworth keeps a gripping plot moving along. The story is a page turner from the very beginning, and future stories promise more of the same. Horror and paranormal genre readers will find familiar story elements in Blood Oath, but although it is a tale with familiar tropes, it is told very well and worth picking up. Blood Oath also has the potential to reach beyond paranormal and horror genre readers, and may appeal to thriller readers as well. Highly recommended

Hiram Grange And The Digital Eucharist by Robert Davies (Book 3 in The Scandalous Misadventures Of Hiram Grange)

When Hiram Grange, a hash smoking, absinthe drinking, sex-addicted investigator of the paranormal, is asked to look into the Occlusionist Movement, not only does he have to deal with an all new threat to life as we know it, but old enemies return to make things even more complicated. Demons, cultists, and The Digital Eucharist all push Hiram to the edge. The question is: does he have what it takes to make it back?

Hiram Grange And The Digital Eucharist is the third book in the five book Hiram Grange saga. Each novel is written by a different author, and Robert Davies certainly holds his own in comparison to the first two. He has a crisp style that never gets bogged down. Without a word wasted, Davies clearly conveys everything we, the reader, need to know about Hiram and those who populate his world. He writes scenes of graphic horror with the same skill he uses to create scenes of humor so dark a gallon of cream coudn't lighten them.

The story moves at a quick pace, and my only complaint is the ride is over too soon. From the sacrificial Jodie Fosters (you have to read it), to brainwashed cult members, Hiram faces one challenge after another, with barely a moment to catch his breath. If you like lots of action, in an old-fashioned pulp style, this is the book for you.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention the cover and interior artwork by Malcolm McClinton. It is beautiful work that deserves to be appreciated on it's own. I would love to see Shroud publish a book of Hiram Grange artwork.

The Butcher of Box Hill/Monster Town by Logan Savile
Bad Moon Books, 2010
ISBN: N/A
Available: New
The Butcher of Box Hill/Monster Town is a collection of two novellas, both following the tale of monster hunter JD Enron. Enron is a member of the Brotherhood of the Hand, a clandestine Catholic organization set up to capture and kill monsters that threaten humanity. In the first novella, The Butcher of Box Hill, JD Enron is a newly promoted Section Chief, who receives intelligence that there is a nest of monsters in the isolated town of Box Hill. In Monster Town, which takes place after the events of Box Hill, Enron, now a private monster hunter, is hired to by a mysterious woman to track down her daughter who has run away to Monster Town, where all the monsters that the Brotherhood of the Hand has captured have been incarcerated. Enron comes across as a stereotypical action hero; he has amazing combat skills with a smart-ass attitude. I actually found the secondary characters in Monster Town more interesting than Enron himself. The stories are very fast and readable, and Monster Town has some enjoyable twists. The weakness of the titles is Enron, who fails to ever break out of the mold for a stock action hero. The author, Logan Savile, is actually two authors, Steven Savile and Brian M. Logan, and they have developed an interesting world. There is a promise of a Monster Town novel at the end of the collection, and I will be curious to see if they are able to do more with Enron in a longer form.

Shift by Rachel Vincent
Mira, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7783-2760-8
Available: New and Used

Faythe and her werecat family and friends are back in yet another adventure in this fifth installment of Rachel Vincent's werecat series. During the continued debate from the previous novel, Prey, regarding whether Sanders will keep his spot as Chair of the Territorial Council or not, the clan is attacked by a new group of shifters, the Thunderbirds. It appears that the Thunderbirds are specifically targeting the tabbies of the group, so they try to sneak off to safety, only to end up having the youngest, Kaci, and also Faythe, snatched away. Faythe convinces the Thunderbirds to allow her to seek out the person they are truly hunting and in return asks for herself and Kaci to be set free. They agree to this and let Faythe go in order to fulfill her mission. Faythe's father sends both Marc and Jace to help her. Here the tension builds as, if you recall from the previous book, Faythe and Jace had a one night stand that Marc (who is Faythe's boyfriend) does not yet know about... and of course, that one night stand has led to some mixed and confused emotions for Faythe. Will the trio being able to complete their mission, or will all of the emotions come crashing down on them, and cause them to get delayed in completing the task at hand?
The werecat series continues to enthrall me, which means I'm going to be saddened once I read the next and final book. The Thunderbirds were a great addition to the "cast" of this series and I am suspecting we will hear more about them in the next novel. There was a major emphasis on the Thunderbirds, obviously, since they were the big "baddies" of the book, but there was also a major focus on the love triangle that is going on between Marc, Faythe, and Jace. I kept waiting for Faythe to finally spill the beans to Marc regarding what had occurred between her and Jace and was shocked by how the story finally got laid out on the table. Not nearly as shocked as Marc, of course, but this sure built up the tension level in the book! I'm not sure whether Marc will ever forgive Faythe, and yet I don't know if she truly could love Jace after knowing how things are between her and Marc now. There are many loose ends regarding this and also the battles going on between the various groups within the series for Vincent to wrap up in the final novel of this series. I'm highly looking forward to it. Shift, along with the rest of this series, would be a great addition to any library's urban fantasy collection. Vincent is a must read to this genre's fans!
Contains: Adult Situations, Adult Language, Violence
Review by Rhonda Wilson

Charlaine Harris' 9^th installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series is a big transition book for the Were population of the small town of Bon Temps. At the start of Dead and Gone the Weres finally decide to go public. This is a huge deal, and the reactions of the townsfolk vary greatly. However, shortly after the announcement is made, there is a murder behind Merlotte's, and a Were has been crucified. The question is, is the murder related to the big announcement, or is there another reason for this horrible killing?. Sookie, with the help of her two favorite vampires, Eric and Bill, does everything she can to track down the person responsible, yet, as always, seems to put herself in more danger in the process.

The Sookie Stackhouse series is still going strong with this latest novel. I enjoy the way Harris balances out the mystery, humor, and romance in all of her books. She seems to know just what the perfect mix should be! I didn't enjoy this book as much as some of the earlier ones because it wasn't as focused on the vampire community as it was on some of the other characters in the series, and I am hoping that Harris will go back to spending more time at Fangtasia (the vampire bar) and other vampire hang-outs in future books. But other than that complaint, I have none! I always look forward to Harris' books and am already eagerly awaiting the next one. Highly Recommended!

John Shirley is an underrated trailblazer in both science fiction and horror, Shirley's cyberpunk predates William Gibson, and his psycho-sexual splat punk horror predates Clive Barker. While Shirley doesn’t have the sales they do, he has the respect and blurbs of his peers. I suspect in this culture where TV and movies carry more weight than cult novels, one great adapatation is all it will take for Shirley to be discovered and freed from the genre ghetto. The project that is most likely to do just that is Bleak History, Shirley’s most mainstream novel, more easily tagged in the popular highly marketable genre of Urban Fantasy.

The plot sounds simple on the surface. The thin line between the world of the living and the dead is breaking down. Certain people like Gabriel Bleak the main character have powers over the supernatural. There is an agency that is monitoring the magic outbreak and recruiting people. I admit I was yawning a bit in the early pages. It is the extremely weird and original plots of Shirley's novels (check out City Come a Walking or Three Ring Pychus for out-there plots) that set his work apart from standard science fiction or horror.

I should have trusted Shirley to rise above and make a very original piece. Once the story starts to unfold, amazing things happen. I dog-eared page 159 as the page where my imagination started cooking. It's not that exciting stuff doesn’t happen before that, it's just that's when the story really takes flight.

The hard part for me as a reviewer is that a reader deserves to discover the details as the book unfolds. As the thin line between the natural and supernatural falls apart the thin line between our rights and tyranny also falls. In many ways Bleak History is about how we as a society or a country deal with threats. What if the threat was not terrorists, but magic? What would a country that has two political parties supporting the Patriot Act and one defending the use of torture, do to protect itself from a world where the power of the supernatural was really in the hands of people?

Shirley has written a novel containing intelligent action, horror and fantasy that will appeal to readers young and old. Bleak History should be in libraries around the country. Highly recommended.

In this “weird western” novella Karen Koehler introduces us to a wild and untamed post-apocalyptic world. In the midst of this chaos, female bounty hunter Alice West is hell bent on making it in a male dominated society by any means necessary, even if it means teaming up with a front man to give her “business” some legitimacy. Enter Mr. Treen, an albino card hustler, who does more than just lend a face to her enterprise. Populated throughout with interesting characters culled from an endless parade of similar fare, Ace of Spades reads like Tombstone on acid.

At little more than forty pages, Ace of Spades is lightning paced. The reader comes away with an interesting snapshot of the author’s vision for a world gone wrong, and what it takes to survive living on the edge of civilization. It feels comfortable and familiar, which lends the story some weight. All in all, a fine start to what will certainly be an ongoing series.

Suitable for public and private collections, Ace of Spades is peppered with violence and adult language, but not to the extreme.

Nekropolis by Tim Waggoner
Angry Robot, 2009
ISBN N/A
Available: Coming Soon
    Tim Waggoner has expanded upon a previously released novella, Necropolis, to take readers on a wild ride with a zombie private eye name Matt Richter. Richter lives in a shadowy realm known as Nekropolis that is made up of various beings such as vampires, lykes, demons, etc... Richter meets up with Devona, a half-vampire, who is distraught about losing a special artifact of her father's called the Dawnstone. Richter offers to help her retrieve said artifact. Of course, that's easier said than done, and Matt and Devona run into all sorts of trouble along the way!
    Nekropolis is an urban fantasy that also weighs heavily on the mystery angle. Waggoner did a wonderful job with this story and I'm thrilled to hear that there will be two follow-up novels. Waggoner’s writing is very descriptive. While reading I was able to picture all of the various beings included in the story and see them battling it out. Nekropolis would be a great addition to any library. Fans of the paranormal will also enjoy Nekropolis, as it crosses several genres. Recommended.
    Contains: Mild Violence, Drug Usage, Profanity
Review by: Rhonda Wilson

The Black Act by Louise Bohmer
Lachesis Publishing, 2009
ISBN: 978-1897370162
Available: New

The Black Act is set in a richly detailed fantasy world and tells of the adventures of the fifth generation of Wise Women. The book centers on twin sisters, Claire and Anna. At the beginning of the book, Claire witnesses her Guild Mother's death while Anna is out. Before Anna discovers that Claire learned the truth from their Guild Mother before her passing, Claire runs off, seeking more information to go along with what she has learned. Anna tries to uncover the secrets from her own scribe teacher, Rosalind, and also find her sister. In the meantime, Claire's methods of discovery have reawakened a curse as well as a battle between the Wood People and the Dalthwein Clans. Anna and Claire must find the truths they need to know about their pasts in time to figure out a solution to end the present battle.
The Black Act is a very creative story that keeps the reader wanting to know how things are going to turn out. Bohmer describes the world and all of the various groups of people in vivid detail. You can really picture them in your mind, especially the Wood People as she detailed them to every root! Throughout the book there are a lot of flashbacks, which tend to get a little confusing. Still, The Black Act flows well and is very enjoyable. Horror fans, especially those that like a lot of fantasy mixed within will really enjoy this new author. I highly recommend that libraries get a copy to introduce readers to Bohmer's writing style.
Contains: Sexual Situations, Violence

Pride by Rachel Vincent
Mira, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-7783-2649-6
Available: New

Third in Vincent's Werecat series, Faythe Saunders is facing challenges more intimidating than ever. You'd think being a werecat is difficult enough, but in this book she is facing the werecat tribunal, on trial for her life as they believe she has committed murder! Not only that... there is a new tabby in town and this tabby is different than any they have ever seen. Faythe is on a mission to help herself and the tabby keep their lives!
Faythe is definitely not a young tabby anymore! Pride shows how much Faythe has grown up by how she takes control of so many situations and makes decisions without waiting for the Alphas to give her the go ahead. She is head strong and definitely heading in the direction of taking over her father's position one day. This book seems to be a "key" book in the series to show what her role will be one day. There is a good mix of paranormal, dark fantasy, and mild horror within this book... as well as a touch of romance and humor so it should fulfill the wants and desires of most readers. I highly recommend it as an addition to any library.
Contains: violence, adult situations, adult language

Kate Daniels is a mercenary hiding a dark secret. Science and magic are waging war in post-apocalyptic Atlanta, and shapeshifters, vampires, and stranger things, have established themselves successfully, while skyscrapers are crumbling and electronics are useless pieces of metal. The creatures of the city are mere pieces of debris caught up in the drift.

In Magic Bites, Kate’s mentor, a Knight of the Order of Merciful Aid, has been killed in one of a series of bizarre slayings that has set the Masters of the Dead and the city’s shapeshifters at each other’s throats. The Order is unwilling to put itself in the middle, and doesn’t hesitate to exploit her personal grief to settle the problem, appointing her as an emissary. To find her mentor's killer she must face down the Beast Lord as well as the Masters of the Dead, necromancers who ride vampires around from the safety of their citadel. Magic Bites is a strong mix of fantasy and horror spiced with dark humor. It's something different for dark fantasy, paranormal horror and fantasy fans, which should earn it placement in private and public collections alike.

    Set in a post-apocalyptic Atlanta broken by a dominance battle between elements of science and magic, book three in the Kate Daniels series precariously and expertly balances the growing romance between the Beast Lord and Kate, the revelation of Kate's dark secret, and an underground Bloodsport-style competition between supernatural creatures.
    When Kate's friend Derek is beaten, brutalized and left to die Kate's investigation leads her straight to the Midnight Games, where the strangest creatures of the magical world battle for a legendary gem. But the Reapers, who are prime suspects in Derek's attack, are after the gem for other reasons, reasons that would be very, very bad for the magical and non-magical inhabitants of Atlanta alike.
    The most focused of the series so far, the time in this book is split well between Kate's emotional attachments and past and the miasma of death, blood and battle that surrounds the Midnight Games. Rarer still, Andrews brings quite a few elements in from all over the globe, establishing her world as one of the few to deviate from a primarily white-Western-European mythical world. The inclusion of Greek, Nordic, Japanese and Indian elements makes this book a fine addition to libraries striving for a more multicultural collection.

Mercy Thompson is unconventional from the beginning. She's a mechanic for a small town, not to mention a tattooed skinwalker who can become a coyote at will. Mercy was orphaned by a magical father before she was born, and fostered by werewolves, and although she doesn’t truly belong with them, Mercy feels a connection to the wolves, no matter how intense and violent they might become.
When a stray werewolf shows up at her shop begging for a temporary job, she gets sucked into a plot that threatens the lives of the area alpha as well as the werewolf Merrok (ruler) who helped raise Mercy. Mercy is not necessarily violent or intense. She is weaker than most of the supernatural creatures around her. But her calm, somewhat defiant persona makes her an easygoing viewpoint character surrounded by werewolves and vampires that are straight out of horror movies. Mercy is the calm point of the dark, violent world. She knows
when to fight back, when to let strong characters handle things, and how to quietly defy the big bads without having their ire crash down on her.Something of a softer dark urban fantasy book, due to Mercy's charm, the world is no less bloody, violent or horrific than most other werewolf books. This one is likely to catch the eye of readers who love dark fiction that's not unrelenting in terror or gore.

Kitty Norville is the newest member of her local pack, and by fluke, starts a late night advice show for supernaturals that takes off in ways she never anticipated. Both her alpha and the local vampire lord want her show shut down, but in a rare act of defiance Kitty fights for it, which ends up costing her.
Kitty and the Midnight Hour is a very uncomfortable book. The pace is off, parts feels skipped over entirely, there's no real resolution, and, worse, Kitty herself is a overly submissive woman in an abusive relationship with everyone in her pack. It's very hard to get into this one and the repeated sexual and emotional abuse is enough to seriously put off some readers. However the Kitty series appears to have a large following, and it may be necessary to include Kitty and the Midnight Hour in public collections due to demand. However, readers buying for their private collections should read before buying to see if Vaughn's style is to their tastes.
Review by Michele Lee

The Sacred Book of the Werewolf by Victor Pelevin
Viking, 2008
ISBN: 078-0-670-01988-5
Available: New and used

A Hu-Li is a two thousand year old Chinese werefox in the body of a fifteen year old girl playing the role of a Russian prostitute. After
falling for an insatiable Russian werewolf she finds herself caught up in the epic quest for the super-werewolf, a fabled creature among were-beasts, who will someday appear and reveal the truth of all things.
The Sacred Book of the Werewolf isn't a horror novel, but a skeletal core built mostly of a love story, twined with esoterica and padded with meaty social and political commentary. It's a slow read, a hard read with many asides, which while darkly humorous are hard to digest en masse. But there's a beautiful end, where even A Hu-Li shucks the pretensions of sex and beauty and even tails, that will resonate with readers who can make it that far.
Review by Michele Lee

Poor cover art may turn many away from this book… a poor synopsis on the back will discourage many more. In fact, the synopsis on the back is completely irrelevant.

In this second book in the Midnight Eye Files series, PI Derek Adams and his agoraphobic sidekick are hired by an old woman to head to a small town in the north and retrieve her son so he can attend his father’s funeral. What follows delves deeply into the ancient Norse mythology including sirens, Odin, Loki, a shape shifter and some not-so-friendly locals.

Although this is classified as horror, and it does contain a monster, this book is more of an irreverent supernatural crime thriller. If it weren’t for the heavy use of profanity, I would recommend this as a young adult novel. Even though it lacks gore and isn’t really frightening, it is a fun book. If you are looking for a light read that doesn’t take itself too seriously, then reading this can make for an enjoyable time. The gore is light, and there are references to past sexual contact (and men with the wounds to prove it). The book does contain heavy profanity from a specific character, adult subjects such as suicide, and gore.Age appropriate for 15 and up.

Evil Ways is a sequel to Black Magic Woman, and the second installment in an urban fantasy series starring paranormal investigator Quincey Morris, great grandson of the infamous Texan who battled Dracula alongside Van Helsing in the Stoker classic, and his partner, Libby Chastain, a practicing white witch.

Evil Ways is a plot-driven story, and the author creates a near frantic pace as he establishes an intricate mystery with a broad cast of characters. There’s plenty of character development to draw readers in and keep them coming back for more, both for the protagonists and for federal agents Dale Fenton and Colleen O’Brien, who appear as recurring characters. Mr. Gustainis shows considerable skill in keeping the reader invested in the story with atmospheric storytelling, and his spartan prose keeps the serial from becoming bogged down.

Gustainis utilizes many of the conceits found within the urban fantasy genre, but brings enough of a unique voice through to elevate this series above the majority of its peers. Plenty of action and an explosively intricate plot combine to make Evil Ways a novel well worth reading. Readers advisory note: fans of urban fantasy and occult detective novels , particularly of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files, will enjoy this book. Recommended for private and public collections.

In Gypsy Blood, we meet Carnival, a half gypsy who is a fortune-teller and also a part-time slayer of demons and other creatures. His dead father’s soul is trapped inside him, and acts as a guide, counselor, and foil for Carnival. In Gypsy Blood Carnival falls in love with a vampire, and promises to take care of her, which includes killing people to provide her with blood. As Carnival searches for a way to “cure” his vampire lover, he is embroiled in larger demonic plans. Carnival is an interesting character, who, despite his impressive occult skills, is deeply flawed in his decision making. Steve Vernon has an amazing imagination and his storytelling skills work their magic here, making Gypsy Blood an engrossing read. Readers advisory note: This is a no-holds-barred story, with graphic depictions of gore, sexuality, and rape, so be cautious in recommending it to readers of dark and urban fantasy. However, it may appeal to readers who normally wouldn’t consider reading fantasy, such as those who enjoy the more extreme and graphic horror of Edward Lee or Tim Waggoner.

The Chronicles of the Planeswalkers Part I: Alliances is a fantasy tale that takes place on the plane of Vaaluna. Although the title says 'part I' this is not actually the first part of the story arc(part zero precedes it), and readers who start with this book will feel like they have missed something.

The story follows Aerines, a Krayn elf, on his search for a magical book that will help him learn to use his magic and find his destiny. He is accompanied by a wizard and his bizarre staff, a giant, an odd little fellow from another plane, a father he doesn’t get along with, and several other battle-hardened elves. Their trek takes them across Vaaluna, a plane on the brink of war, where dark elves, chitinous creatures, and half man/half dire beasts are preparing to take over the world. Adding to the chaos, assorted pirates and villains are seeking the pieces of an elfstone tied to an ancient god.

The Chronicles of the Planeswalkers Part 1 has some original ideas that separate it from the crowd. For instance, the wizard’s staff is sentient- able to talk and even cast spells. The wide variety of characters and scenes, and the intriguing plot twists will hook readers and keep them turning pages. The developing relationships between friends and enemies are suspenseful and sometimes surprising, and give the story a fresh feel. At times, though, the book is confusing. There are several point of view shifts, and some of the names are similar enough that it was easy to mistake who was speaking, such as the wizard Aeligion and the elf Aerines. Even so, the book is a pleasure to read, and brought me back to my Dungeons and Dragons days. The Chronicles of the Planeswalkers Part I would certainly make a nice addition to any fantasy collection.

The Last Wish is a translation of a collection of related stories about Geralt de Rivia, a witcher. Witchers are mutant sorcerers who hunt monsters for pay, but Geralt has a conscience when it comes to his job, and his strength of character is sorely tested in these stories. The Last Wish is more of a dark fantasy than a true horror novel, and some of the tales have a touch of fairy tale to them. The story “A Grain of Truth” provides a unique look at Beauty and the Beast, and “The Lesser Evil” presents the reader with a twisted Snow White-like character. The Last Wish is an action packed, monster filled book with exciting and interesting characters and solid plotting. Recommended for the dark fantasy section or general collection of any library. Note: The popular video game The Witcher is based on this book, making it a potential bridge to reading for video game lovers. The Last Wish was originally published in Poland in 1993, and has just recently been translated into English. More of Sapkowski’s work is being translated into English and published in paperback, so readers who enjoy The Last Wish will have plenty to look forward to.

There are some writers with so much talent that they transcend their subject matter. Such is the case with Tim Lebbon and A Whisper of Southern Lights. For those who have followed The Assassin Series from the start, this is another action-packed thriller in just the manner that we’ve come to expect. At only 65 pages, Lebbon fills every nook and cranny with an overwhelming input of sensory data. Every step of the way you feel like you’re a part of the story, that you’re in the Japanese work camp, in the thick of the jungle, in the sewage line… and Lebbon makes you truly feel the weight of the centuries old conflict between the Demon Assassin Temple and Gabriel, whose thirst for revenge for the murder of his family spurs him on. I cannot recommend this series highly enough. Tim Lebbon is a treasure. This book is for readers with a thirst for high-octane adventure stories, fans of historical horror (World War II), and anyone who enjoys well written prose.

Proven Guilty is book eight of The Dresden Files, a series of detective novels featuring Harry Dresden, the only wizard listed in Chicago’s yellow pages. In Proven Guilty, Dresden and his partner Karrin Murphy battle phobophages, supernatural creatures that feed on fear. These appear during a horror film convention, where they take on the shapes of movie monsters and attack the attendees. This is a great set-up for a story, but Butcher never really follows through. Instead of battling monsters, the novel’s pace slows to a crawl as Dresden spends his time playing politics with other wizards. Readers hoping for the wizard-detective versus monsters battle the story promises will be frustrated. The “fear-monster” conflict never takes center stage, and when it does materialize, it’s not very frightening. Butcher’s tongue-in-cheek style, while occasionally amusing, disrupts the action and takes the bite out of situations that might otherwise have built to genuine suspense. The story is also interrupted by unnecessary and intrusive exposition and narration.

Unfortunately, Proven Guilty can not stand on its own merits. Butcher does not include enough background information, so newcomers may find themselves lost. In fact, halfway through I found that I had no idea what was going on. Additionally, the story trails off, with nearly every conflict introduced in the novel left unresolved. The book really feels like a place holder between books 7 and 9, and does set up the next book nicely, so fans of The Dresden Files will probably want to read it. Newcomers, however, will want to start at the beginning and work up to this one, if they’re still interested when they get here.

Warning: This is book eight in The Dresden Files, which is a series of detective novels featuring Harry Dresden, the only Wizard listed in Chicago’s yellow pages. This series is also the basis of the show “The Dresden Files” on the Sci-Fi Channel.

FBI agent January Blackburn and Father Dorian Scarletti,a dhampir (half human/half vampire) working for the Vatican, are off on two new adventures. The first involves the investigation of a murder in New Orleans that has a supernatural angle to it. In the second story Blackburn and Scarletti investigate the supposed haunting of a soap opera set that has Scarletti facing demons of his past. Koehler continues to deepen the relationship between Blackburn and Scarletti, and also explores Blackburn’s bond with Scarletti’s mentor, The Jackal, who saved her life in the first volume by making her his ghoul. The writing is solid with continued character development and exploration. Koehler presents interesting individual stories that feed into the larger story arc. The Blackburn and Scarletti Mysteries, Volume II, will appeal to wide range of audiences, including those who enjoy paranormal mysteries and urban fantasy as well as horror readers. Recommended for public libraries.
Contains: Violence

If only every author’s first novel could be so fun. And that’s exactly what you get with Bryon Morrigan’s debut, a fun and exciting “man versus monster” story that invokes elements of Aliens and Top Cow’s short-lived comic series Inferno. Set in Iraq, The Desert is one part military drama and one part horror novel as we follow soldiers into Hell, and we’re not being metaphorical here. Morrigan handles the military angle with a deft hand and his characters are very believable. You can tell that the author is writing from experience, as the people and places they populate leap off the page. The overall story is engaging, though the pacing is a bit off at times. What’s most compelling about this novel is that it is not your run-of-the-mill horror story. It is original and draws you to the edge of your seat on more than one occasion. Bryon Morrigan has the right stuff and is well on his way to becoming an exciting new face in a genre in desperate need of just that. Readers advisory note: Fans of military fiction, as well as readers who appreciate a good monster tale, will enjoy this book. Highly recommended for public library collections. Contains: Adult language, Violence .

Tapestry of Dark Souls by Elaine Bergstrom
TSR, 1993(reissued 2007)
ISBN: 1560765712
Tapestry of Dark Souls is one of a series of books set in TSR’s supernatural roleplaying universe, Ravenloft. The first third of the book is written in first person by a merchant’s wife. She describes monks who spend their entire lives in a hidden monastery guarding a magical tapestry with the ability to capture and contain evil beings. The most powerful creature within the tapestry, Morgoth, wants out, and calls out for help from those willing to venture into the evil land. A greedy merchant and his wife answer the call, but before they can return home, the merchant is trapped in the tapestry, and his wife bears Morgoth’s son, Jonathan. When disaster strikes the mother, the monks decide to raise the child themselves. In the meantime, Morgoth watches over his son and tries to influence him. The rest of the book concentrates on Jonathan and his story. When the boy leaves the monastery, he travels to a nearby village to start a life of his own. Werewolves, goblins, witches, and other dangerous creatures live in the woods around the village, sometimes even taking villagers who wander into the forest during the daytime hours. In the midst of these events, Jonathan is plagued by the mistrust and jealousy of the townspeople. Eventually, he is tricked into helping Morgoth escape from the tapestry, causing the fall of the monastery’s guardians and the possible rise of an evil high lord who sees people merely as food for his vampiric needs. Tapestry of Souls had many plot twists and surprises, and was a suspenseful and entertaining light read. Tapestry of Souls is a must for anyone collecting Ravenloft books, and would make a nice addition to a horror section of any library. Review by Bret Jordan
Contains: Violence, Gore . Review by Bret Jordan

Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon- Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner
Berkeley Trade, 2005
ISBN: 0425202526
Available: New and Used
Julie Kenner turns the world of a stay-at-home mom on its head to present us with a fun, fast, and entertaining read. Kate Connor retired from demon hunting long ago, but when a demon crashes through her kitchen window and attacks her, battling evil must, reluctantly, go to the top of her to-do list. Balancing the needs and wants of her teenage daughter, her toddler, and her loving (if politically ambitious) husband, already a challenge, becomes even more difficult when she must deal with the demands of demon hunting and the secrecy required. Kenner is right on target in describing the situations and emotions mothers deal with, like leaving a child in day care for the first time, Some readers will find that she’s a little heavy on the foreshadowing, so the “mystery” of the story isn’t much of a puzzle, although there’s plenty of action in between playdates and grocery runs. Carpe Demon is lighter in tone and less graphic than other books in the “chick lit with fangs” genre. While readers of the Sookie Stackhouse and Betsy Taylor sagas may enjoy Carpe Demon for its paranormal angle, Kenner writes the kind of screwball humor that fans of Jennifer Crusie might appreciate. On the whole the book stands alone, but I was glad to see the author left room for a sequel. With any luck, Kate Connor will continue to navigate the treacherous waters of motherhood, marriage, and demon hunting with wit and success, and take us along for the ride. Carpe Demon could fall into general fiction or romance collections as well as paranormal fiction. Highly recommended for public libraries, and a good choice for teen readers looking for something to follow up their Buffy reading spree. Contains: mild language, references to sex, violence(on several occasions Kate fights and kills demons in human corporeal form) kidnapping and threats to small children, and references to a parent or spouse dying.
Sequels are: California Demon
Demon in my View (due to be released in July 2007)
Review by Francesca the Librarian

This is the first book in Simon R. Green's excellent Nightside Series. John Taylor is a man with an uncanny knack for finding lost things. In this book, John returns to his birthplace, the Nightside, to find a missing girl. The Nightside is the dark center of London where's it's always 3AM and gods and demons wander the streets with more ordinary mortals. John's life in Nightside isn't exactly easy: he's being stalked by creatures intent on killing him for no apparent reason and when that's not happening, he's being hailed as the future king. And there's the pesky timeslip that John and his client fall through, showing the end of the world as we know it and the uncomfortable news that John caused it. Currently, there are seven books in the series, the majority of them held together by the plot thread of whether John finding out who his mother is really will destroy the world. This series is great for combining horror with high humor (if your sense of humor is skewed and a little dark) and the supporting cast is great. Recurring characters include: Razor Eddie, Punk God of the Straight Razor, Deadboy, Shotgun Suzie (more often called "Oh god, run, it's her!"), and a surreally perky secretary. Highly recommended. You can find this series in the sci-fi/fantasy section of the bookstore. Review by Havoc

Jack Burke is a man with connections, a former special forces operative who makes ends meet by doing various odd jobs for the mob, the government, and private individuals. Jack is hired to investigate the particularly grisly death of horror novelist Peter Stryker by Stryker's daughter. The police want to rule it as a suicide, but she isn't convinced. Jack's investigation leads into the world of the occult, where he faces a menace that seeks to kill most of the people on the planet. Shannon has put together a solid horror tinged adventure, with elements that will appeal to readers in different genres, including mystery, action/adventure, and occult fiction. Jack is an intriguing and fascinating character who will draw readers in. Jack is complex- he doesn't think in terms of black and white and must make certain ethical compromises in order to survive and thrive. Fast-paced and engrossing, The Pressure of Darkness is a book readers will want to finish in one sitting. Burke has very much the feel of F. Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack character and fans of Wilson's books will definitely enjoy The Pressure of Darkness. Recommended. Contains: Violence and Gore

Alabaster is a collection of short stories about Dancy Flammarion, a young albino girl from Georgia who is on a mission to slay various monsters and demons. Dancy is directed in her mission by an unseen angel who only Dancy can hear. Even the reader is not privy to the angel's words or instructions. In addition, Dancy has the occasional conversation with animals both dead and alive. Caitlin Kiernan paints Dancy as a reluctant, unassuming, supernatural assassin who is focused on her target and will walk away from other malevolent creatures. The monsters in the book remind me of James Bond villains, down to the gloating monologues. They all have unique features and characteristics and are imaginatively drawn. In addition, they all seem to know about Dancy and her monster slaying deeds, but instead of killing her quickly they tend to talk to her or toy with her and die because of it. Where Alabaster falls short is in the action department. Kiernan builds up the tension, so the reader expects action, but she doesn't follow through. Kiernan has developed an incredibly interesting and sympathetic character in Dancy Flammarion, but the execution is awkward, and Dancy's adventures would benefit from more descriptive detail about and emphasis on the action.

Zack Fury, feeling all alone in the world with no hope for the future, takes his own life with the help of a twelve gauge shotgun. Instead of finding himself in either heaven or hell, Zack wakes up in the world of Holcyon, where suicides go. Zack meets Melody, an Australian singer who committed suicide by enticing a crocodile to kill her. They find themselves in the middle of a war between the forces of good and evil, with the fate of the whole dimension hanging in the balance. Johnny Ostentatious has created a fantastic world in Holcyon, blending traditional mythological elements such as the gorgon Medusa and the Egyptian god Anubis with creatures of his own design. Instead of giving us the usual stock hero, Ostentatious gives us Zack Fury, a rebellious punk who can't seem to do what he is told. Unfortunately, there is an awkward and confusing detour in the plot that interrupts the flow of the story, but even so Afterlife Battlefield is a really fun read, with a touch of the absurd. While the author populates Holcyon with people who have committed suicide, it is clear in the story that the author has an anti-suicide message without getting too preachy about it. Recommended. Contains: suicide, violence

No, this book isn't about a teenage vampire slayer from Sunnydale. Karen Kohler instead introduces Alek Knight, a half-human, half-vampire who works for the Vatican, enforcing the rules that vampires and other supernaturals have to live by. Alek is one slayer in a coven, or collective, of slayers. Alek uncovers a secret concerning the genesis of the vampires and the church's plans for them that pits him against his mentor and the other slayers. Koehler does a great job of creating her world with a balance of the Roman Catholic Church policing the vampire community with the slayers. Alek is tormented on many levels, in turning against his mentor and father figure, dealing with tragic events in his past, and his conflict over his companion on his quest, Sister Theresa. This erodes his image as a take-no-prisoners mega-slayer. Alek comes across as more fragile than tragic, and the exposition spent on his various torments stops the forward momentum of the story. The story is populated with colorful and interesting characters and the world she creates is an intriguing one. This is one book of a number set in this world which lends itself to many potentially fun tales. Koehler's books set in this world have the potential to become a staple of the genre. Other titles set in this world include The Blackburn and Scarletti Mysteries, Vol. 1, and Dark Miracle. Contains: scenes of sexuality, gore, and strong language.

The Blackburn & Scarletti Mysteries, Vol I consists of two novellas. The first novella, Sins of the Father, introduces us to FBI agent January Blackburn and her new partner, Father Dorian Scarletti, vampire and agent of a special division of the Vatican that deals with the paranormal. Scarletti and Blackburn team up to solve a particularly gruesome murder of a Chicago thug with the words "I REPAY" written on the mauled body. In the second novella, The Hyde Effect, Blackburn and Scarletti track down a vicious killer who leaves wolf hairs by the body in another supernatural murder mystery. In Blackburn and Scarletti, Karen Koehler has given life to her protagonists, creating them with frailties and foibles. Scarletti's affiliation with the Catholic Church also adds a twist to the stories. The plots of the novellas move at a good pace and does a great job of keeping the reader involved in the story while providing background on characters and past events. Readers will be hooked by the characters and the many unanswered questions introduced in this first volume. Koehler has presented a very strong start to a new horror mystery/adventure series. Recommended. Contains: Violence and a little gore.

Tim Waggoner presents a horror based mystery/adventure tale in Necropolis. Necropolis is a city created in another dimension where all sorts of supernatural creatures have migrated, fleeing humans. Matthew Adrion, a once-human cop killed in Necropolis, has returned as a zombie with a soul, who works as a private detective for the various denizens that inhabit the dark city. Devona, a half vampire, asks for Matthew's help in recovering the Dawn Stone, a powerful artifact in her care. In his quest to retrieve the Dawn Stone, Matthew travels all over Necropolis, meeting all sorts of interesting creatures. Waggoner does an excellent job of crafting a complex supernatural world that flows seamlessly into the story, making it easy for the reader to get caught up in the action rather than lost in minutiae. Necropolis is one part mystery and one part adventure with a brilliant horror base. Highly recommended. Contains: Violence

Shadows Over Somerset is the first book by Hoosier author Bob Freeman. Freeman's ambitious first novel introduces us to the Cairnwood Clan, a family with an ancient and terrible secret. Michael Somers is the youngest of the Cairnwood family who was removed from the family by his mother when he was young, he is unaware of his family's curse. Michael is brought to the Cairnwood family mansion in Somerset, Indiana at a time when an ancient evil threatens the family. Freeman fits a great deal into the book, including vampires, werewolves, and witches. His story has a serious tone rather than the humorous banter that characterizes the work of Wm Mark Simmons, but there are definitely some entertaining moments! I thought that vampire flunkies Dawn and Eve were wonderful characters and stole the show for some of the book. Reading Shadows Over Somerset is like putting together a puzzle. Freeman introduces different characters and events at the beginning of the story, and it takes time to understand how they all fit together. Shadows Over Somerset is intended to be the first in a series, and it has enough open plot lines to intrigue the reader. It will be interesting to see how Freeman develops the series. Contains drug abuse, sexual situations, violence to children, and gore.

The second book I have read this week with the main character named Cal, coincidence...why yes. In this book Cal is short for Caliban, a half human half elf with an elf father and a human mother. Elf in this case doesn't mean friendly beautiful pointy eared D&D character, rather a dark malicious creature with lots of pointy teeth dedicated to violence. Cal is on the run from his father's people with his older brother Niko trying to keep him alive. Along the way they meet all sorts of creatures from fairy tales and myths including trolls, vampires, and a banshee. As a character it is hard to really like or sympathize with Cal, he seems to be very much the perpetual victim and it is really the secondary characters , like Niko, that carry the story. This is Thurman's first book and I look forward to reading his next offering. His imagination comes through in his writing, which makes the story fun to read . Contains: Violence and a little gore.

Available: New and Used
Poor Chris Csejthe. He can't remember last night, and now he finds that his wife and daughter are dead and that he is slowly turning into a vampire. This is the first in a series of books centered on Chris and his adjustment to life in the very complex and hostile world of vampires, werewolves, and the supernatural. Simmons is a talented writer and includes some classic dialogue. Contains some violence and sexual situations.

Dead on My Feet by WM Mark Simmons
Baen Books, September 6,2005
ISBN: 1416509100

Available: New and Used
The continuation of the misadventures of Chris Csejthe. In this book Chris has been tracked down by both East Coast and West Coast vampire communities, in addition to having to deal with zombies, paramilitary groups, and a virus that threatens humanity. Simmons has a knack of for packing as much into his books as possible. On top of all of the undead action, there are also passages where characters spend time philosophizing about the existence and nature of God. Second in the series. Contains violence.

Habeas Corpses by WM Mark Simmons
Baen Books, November 1, 2005
ISBN: 1416509135

Available: New and Used
The third installment of the misadventures of Chris Csejthe, who is now head of the New York Domain of Vampires. He has to battle not only rivals for his leadership for the New York Clan of Vampires but a mysterious other who is out to spill Chris’ blood for a different reason altogether. Simmons packs a lot in his books, and this one includes not just vampires but Native American spirits and the Third Reich. Somehow he brings it all together in a coherent plot that is fun to read. I will be looking forward to his next book. Third book in the series. Contains violence and sexual situations.

Heretic: The Templar Chronicles by Joseph Nassise
Pocket Books, September 27, 2005
ISBN: 0743470958

Available: New and Used
While Simmons' books mentioned above contain fun dialogue and humor. Massise’s book is a no nonsense horror adventure novel. The book is centered on Cade Williams, a man who has supernatural abilities and is a member of a special operations unit of the Knight Templars a division of the Church meant to battle the supernatural and protect humanity. In this first book the Knight Templars are under attack by necromancers attempting to find the powerful relics. Contains violence.

Infernal: A Repairman Jack Novel by F. Paul Wilson

This is the ninth in the Repairman Jack series, the continuing saga of Jack, a fix-it man who solves problems that normally can't be resolved through legal means. Jack finds himself in the middle of a conflict between two extra dimensional forces. In this book, Jack finds himself having to help his brother, who has gotten himself into trouble. Jack must track down who has killed a member of his family. A fine addition to the Repairman Jack series that leaves you wanting more. Contains violence

Kelley Armstong’s “Women of the Otherworld” Bitten, Stolen, Dime Store Magic

Mercedes Lackey “Children of the Night” “Jinx High” “Burning Water” “Sacred Ground”

Vamps: Tanya Huff's Blood books. There are five books, about the adventures of retired cop Victory Nelson and Henry the vampiric bastard son of Henry VIII. Really. Also includes demons, werewolves, mummies, zombies, and ghosts. And, of course, the shortest yet most deviant sex scene ever: We kicked the dead bodies out of the way so there would be room on the floor. Go, Vicky! Found in sci-fi/fantasy. This series continues with the Smoke books, featuring Tony. So far, wizards and ghosts. Some people will probably care that the lead character is gay and lusting after an increasingly less straight guy.


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