Stuff I've been reading

I promise I will document what has been going on, but not yet, I'm not ready to. I'm still having nightmares.

But, just to prove I haven't been completely slacking, though I kind of have, here's a list of stuff I've read/been reading in no particular order.

Jim Butcher

Storm Front
Fool Moon
Grave Peril

I only got through book 3 of the Dresden files. I have book 4, but really haven't been interested enough to read it. I really like the world Butcher creates, but truthfully, I can't stand Harry Dresden. He comes of as arrogant and yet too stupid to live. It's seriously impressive. I would love these books if Harry would just die. The folklore system is original and I love all the dumb geek pop culture references and I love Bob. Harry just gets in the way to me, and it's just sad. Saying that though, I have no prolem recommending these to folks who are fans of the paranormal mystery genre becasue I'm pretty sure my issues with Harry are just me.

Simon R. Green

Something From The Nightside

I was casting about for another series of paranormal mysteries (seems a popular trend these days) and this series came up. It's perfectly servicable, but I should NOT have read the Amazon reviews. On reviewer complained that the author constantly used the phrase "in the Nightside". He does. I may not have been as bothered if I hadn't been somewhat looking for it, but as it was it became glaring and almost comical how often that phrase was used. If you can get past that though, this is a very original look at a dark para-dimension that we in the normal world can sometimes slip into. My other issue however is it is EXTREMELY unclear what the series order is. It is not marked ANYWHERE on the books. That alone was enough for me to not bother reading further than the first book.

Lilith Saintcrow

Working for the Devil

Sound like a made up pen name? Yeah, does to me too. I ran across this title in my grandmother's copy of Romantic Times Book Club Magazine. I don't care what anyone says, this is one of the best review magazines for genre fiction I have ever read. Obviously, they center on romance and books with romantic subplots, but still. They are extremely thorough and TRUTHFUL. If a books sucks, they tell you and then explain why. They are not like Publisher's Weekly who seem to give every popular book a good review.
As far as this book is concerned, it was pretty OK. I'd probably read more by this author or about this character. It is a paranormal mystery. The Devil is in it. The main character is a Necromancer. There is a romantic subplot. It does not take place in our world. I had some problems with the other world thing at the begining, there were some sci-fi tendencies that were bugging me, but those issues eventually faded as the story got moving.

Edward Lee

City Infernal

This book was describe in some review, I have no idea where now, as an X-rated Neverwhere. I really still have no idea what that means. CI was very, very grusome. It is about a teen who, for various reasons, goes to Hell to find her twin sister who commited suicide. This is not a pretty or romantic vision of Hell. It is about as horrific as one can imagine. Rather well done I think too. The writing is certainly nothing to rave about, but the story was interesting and kept me reading. Despite the severe, and I do mean severe, content, I could see handing this book to older male teens. You know, those ones who end up with a bizzare fascination with serial killers for reasons I will never understand. It's like the teen version of the trucks or dinosaur phase.

Susan Sizemore

I Burn for You
I Thirst for You
I Hunger for You
Master of Darkness

If you couldn't already tell, these are romance books. Cheesy covers and all. I really have no excuse for these other than my grandmother told me to check them out. They are vampire books. But they are also very standard formula romance books. I admit, the vampire lore in these is very original and well constructed, we just don't see whole lot of it. I will pick up the next one comingout this month. They are very good vampire candy, if that's all you expect from them.

Anne Bishop

Sebastian

First book in a new series. Doesn't hold a candle to the Black Jewels trilogy, but and interesting new world from Bishop. I will be checking out the rest of the series when it comes out. Yes, the main character is a half-Incubus.

Jeff Lindsay

Darkly Dreaming Dexter

I loved it. This was fantastic and I have been telling everyone I know to read it.