So it's been aaaaaaaaaaaaages since I did one of these posts! Seriously ages. And not because I haven't been reading great stuff; I've just been moving straight from one great book to the next without taking the time to think about them. But there's been a few recently that have really stuck with me, and I think sometimes we're all guilty of raising our voices about shit we hate and not shit we love. So! To remedy that, here's some shit I loved recently.
I just finished Bloodlines yesteday. It's a snarky, fast-paced urban fantasy with a totally unique heroine in vampire assassin Zara, and I adored it. So much so that I didn't know what to read next - I had that kind of book hangover feeling you get when you know the next book will pale in comparison, regardless of what it is. I was already a fan of Skyla Dawn Cameron's Livi Talbot books (which I also highly recommend), so I was pretty sure I'd enjoy Bloodlines, but I really was blown away by how much I loved Zara. She's vain, pragmatic, and brave. Perfect! Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Although Yasmine Galenorn's books can be hit-or-miss for me, I always enjoy her world-building. The Fury series is proving to be no exception, with a gorgeously evocative Shadow Run-esque cyber-punk feel, and an intriguing cast of characters. I enjoyed book two, Fury's Magic, a little more than book one, as the bulk of the heavy lifting on the setting had been done and Galenorn was able to simply dive into the plot (which never lets up!) and further flesh out our heroine, Fury, and the unique world she inhabits. Also, I really love the cover art for this series - almost makes me wish I still read paperbacks!
Every Last Mile is a short but fun (and sexy) intro to the sisterhood of the Mutiny Dolls. A friends-to-lovers/second-chance romance, this novella clearly sets the scene for future books starring the Dolls, but don't look past Stella and Jamie! Riley's writing style is engaging and lyrical, and I loved the tight bond between the Dolls.
Shapeshifters? Check. Fantastic heroine who's out of her depth but keeps fighting anyway? Check. Cute dog? Check. The Wild Rites Saga kicks off with a bang with The Jaguar King. This looks to be a series that's going to keep getting deeper and darker, which I love. I've already picked up book 2, and can't wait to see where Emma and her growing motley crew end up next!
