Category: B+

spike?

Posted on by Greig

Rosemary & Rue

Seanan McGuire

rosemary and rueI don’t normally re-read books so quickly but I was looking for something to divert me at lunchtimes now that I no longer eat at my desk. This, the first Toby Daye book, just happened to be on my phone.
It’s a very enjoyable urban fantasy novel that sets up the series with a deft hand. There’s a lot of seeds planted in this first book that go on to pay off with interest in later volumes and it was fun to catch that this time around.
If you have any tolerance for urban fantasy please check out this series – it starts well and gets better.

Rating: B+

potato?

Posted on by Greig

This Lullaby

Sarah Dessen

this lullabyRemy is a cynical young woman about to graduate from high school and escape her home town to Stanford for college. Convinced love is a sham following her Mother’s many marriages she jumps from boyfriend to boyfriend without ever getting emotionally invested. Then she meets Dexter – the singer of an indie band newly arrived in town and things stop being so cut and dried.
This is an expertly constructed and very enjoyable slice of teen romance. Recommended by a fellow fan of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries I raced through this in a couple of days.
It nicely hits that funny, smart romantic tone that I’m sucker for in films and TV without ever getting too melodramatic.

Rating: B+

racquets?

Posted on by Greig

Fletch

Gregory Mcdonald

FletchIM Fletcher is a reporter. While under cover as a beach bum investigating a drug ring he’s approached by a wealthly stranger with an unusual proposition.
This is a well constructed and sardonically funny thriller.
Fletch is the epitome of the likeable asshole and the central mysteries remain compelling right until they’re wrapped up in a satisfying fashion at the end.
Recommended if you like entertaining, fast-paced comic thrillers.

Rating: B+

hellion?

Posted on by Greig

Sandman Slim

Richard Kadrey

sandman slimStark escapes from Hell intent on the murder of the circle of magicians responsible for the death of his girlfriend and his exile to the demon’s arenas.
This is an enormously entertaining mix of urban fantasy and noir thriller. The protagonist is a likeable asshole that the author manages to avoid turning into a walking set of cliches.
There’s nothing truly original about this novel but it’s a lot of fun and lays enough groundwork for future sequels for you to care about the world he’s built.
If you want a well constructed piece of urban fantasy with an ass-kicking lead character then this is definitely a book for you.

Rating: B+

rafters?

Posted on by Greig

Midnight Blue-Light Special

Seanan McGuire

midnight blue light specialThe second InCryptid book returns to follow Verity Price as she looks to defend New York’s Cryptid population from a Covenant purge.
Like the first book in this series (Discount Armageddon) this is a fun, action filled piece of urban fantasy.
It’s all wee bit generic but way too entertaining to quibble about it.
Recommended for urban fantasy fans.

Rating: B+

borogovian?

Posted on by Greig

Redshirts

John Scalzi

redshirtsEven though this is the first time I’ve physically read this book I already knew the story as I listened to it as an audiobook first.
What initially looks like an affectionate parody of Science Fiction TV cliches (mostly Star Trek) turns into a rather meta piece about the reality of fictional characters.
The main novel rattles along at a good pace and is very readable – just less clever than it thinks. The three codas are interesting experiments. The strongest one is easily the best thing about the book.
Recommended if you like Scalzi or media parodies.
I also note here that I recently read the first episode of the serial novel that Scalzi’s releasing this year (The Human Division). While I enjoyed reading it I decided to wait for the completed work, due out in May.

Rating: B+

gingerbread?

Posted on by Greig

Discount Armageddon

Seanan McGuire

This daft, delicious piece of urban fantasy stars the ballroom dancing cryptozoologist Verity Price.
The plot is kind of mental but it’s a lot of fun.
McGuire writes compulsively readable books and heroines are always ridiculously compelling.
I prefer the Toby Daye books but I’d still recommend this one without hesitation particularly if you love urban fantasy with a twist of absurdity.

Rating: B+

dampener?

Posted on by Greig

Ashes of Honor

Seanan McGuire

The latest Toby Daye book finds her using her investigative talents to find another missing teenager.
This girl is a changeling teleporter whose powers threaten to damage the physical realms of the Fay.
Another enjoyable read, with a much happier ending than the last book in the series.
Recommended for fans of the series – start at the beginning if you’re tempted.

Rating: B+

scraps?

Posted on by Greig

One Salt Sea

Seanan McGuire

War is brewing in Faerie when the children of the rulers of the neighbouring sea Kingdom are taken and the Queen of Mists court is implicated.
Toby’s investigations gain an extra degree of urgency when her own daughter is kidnapped too.
A thoroughly satisfying read, with a heartbreaking ending.
To repeat myself once again – if you’ve read the earlier October Daye books then you really do want to read this one.

Rating: B+

pearl?

Posted on by Greig

Late Eclipses

Seanan McGuire

Toby finds herself under suspicion when friends and allies begin to be poisoned and she can’t prove that notorious murderer Oleander de Merelands is back and up to her old tricks.
This is another hugely entertaining entry in the series by McGuire. The main plot is very satisfying and the background plot arc grows ever more intriguing.
If you’ve read the earlier Toby Daye books – you have to read this one.

Rating: B+