Books - Page 9 of 10

July 30, 2014 Books, Reviews, Urban Fantasy Post a Comment

AGAINST THE DAWN by AMANDA BONILLA – Review

The Shaede Assassin series continues

Amanda Bonilla

Book 4 of the Shaede Assassin series shows no sign of fatigue. After the emotional turmoil in book 3, the first few pages of Against the Dawn act as sort of an intensive care ward for Darian’s wounded soul. She takes stock and reconnects with Xander and Ty. While she’s hesitant to give any sure-fire indication as to which way her heart beats, the Shaede king and the jinn grab the opportunity to prove themselves.

Along the way the author serves up a number of road blocks and surprises. The resulting zigzag is also reflected in the characters’ journeys. Not only do we dig deeper into the people in Darian’s life, Darian herself reveals her true mettle.

And like any good book, this isn’t all about who’s making out with whom. Plenty of action and plot-twisting awaits us, including the appearance of an unwelcome face from Darian’s past. After the introspective start, the pace doesn’t as much gallop as hurtle head-over-feet-over-head to the ending, providing just enough respite to let us catch our breaths.

A word about the ending. I prefer it if the author wraps everything up into a lovely, tidy parcel. Cliffhangers and loose threads get you all hot for the next instalment, then leave you hanging for many months as you wait for the conclusion.

That said, biting into a pillow while grunting your impatience is a lot of fun, too. And this truly is the mother of all cliffhangers. Either way, I will sit by my Kindle app, on the look-out for book 5.

tl;dr
Should you read it? Hell yeah.

Reviews

July 28, 2014 Books, The Write Path 6 Comments

THE WRITE PATH with Laurie Gifford Adams

THe Write Path

Laurie Gifford Adams

In this series, guest bloggers tell us about finding their way through the writing landscape. My guest today is Laurie Gifford Adams. Her latest book Over The Edge is out now.

So let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Laurie’s.

Laurie Adams

1. What made you want to be a writer?

I don’t think anything made me “want” to be a writer – I just always felt like I was one. I do know that any time I read a really great book when I was a kid, it would inspire me to write. Then, even into adulthood, that has happened. I guess reading the work and words of others encourages me to share my own. I LOVE telling stories.

2. What is the toughest part about writing?

Fleshing out the idea is the hardest part of the writing process for me. I tend to be a pantser. I plan what I think the book is going to be about and how I think the plot is going to flow, but every book I’ve written (except for the non-fiction Internet safety book) has taken a curve and gone in a whole different direction than I’d planned. I have to let the story go where it’s meant to go, though. It just feels more natural that way. Often the characters surprise me. They’ll say something so totally unexpected and I just have to sit back and laugh. I want to say, “Hey, I’m creating you. You can’t tell me what to do.” But they do anyway.

Do I have weaknesses? I think all writers do. My weakness is identifying too much with the characters. This definitely has an effect on the first draft. Fortunately, I have critique partners who spot those things that don’t quite ring true, and I have to go in and fix them. I’m sure I have many more weaknesses, but I hope my strengths outnumber the weaknesses.

I’m also not as good at promotion as I should be. I’ve always been a people pleaser personality, so if I think something might annoy people, I avoid it. I do love interacting and engaging with people, though, so social media is a great way to do that.

3. Have you experienced an aha moment, a piece of advice or a moment where something fell into place?

I have MANY “a-ha” moments when I’m in the midst of a project. Like most writers, I live the story in my head when I’m doing other things in my life, and as a result, I’m constantly mulling over the characters’ motivations for doing and saying what they do. Like most people, it’s often when I’m lying in bed trying to fall asleep or driving (so I can’t write) that the “a-ha” moments happen.

Also, I read and re-read my manuscript so many times throughout the process. I used to worry on the first draft that I wasn’t “bulking it up” enough, then, especially with Over the Edge, I realized the way my mind works. I always see more that needs to go in when I’m going through the manuscript in a condensed time frame at the end. At that point, those characters and their lives are so ingrained in my mind, that I can suddenly see that I had Dylan respond to his younger brother in a way that isn’t consistent with his character. So, now, I try to set aside several hours after I think I’m done just to read straight through again, looking for inconsistencies, weak areas, confusing dialogue, etc.

Other “a-ha” moments come as a result of reader expectations. When my critique partners or beta readers say, “Well, I thought this – or that – was going to happen,” I always stop and consider if that’s an important idea to explore. Many times I’ve changed or added scenes based on their expectations. This really makes it fun for me.

One more kind of “a-ha” moment was when I finally learned that if I get “blocked,” I needed to just come up and start writing anyway. Even if it takes me ten minutes to write one sentence, and even if that sentence is going to get deleted later, it’s progress. It helps me continue when I feel like I don’t know what to write next.

4. Whose style do you admire, or is there a line you wish you’d come up with?

I absolutely LOVE LaVyrle Spencer’s writing. Her heartwarming stories about regular people, in regular lives with regular struggles, are keepers, and I’ve read most of them multiple (and I mean multiple) times. There’s nothing pompous about her style. I went into mourning when she announced she was retiring. What a loss in my life!
I also really like Diane Chamberlain’s books. Her characters are also very realistic with problems, fortunately, most of us wouldn’t ever have to face. But she deals with these situations beautifully.
For really well-known authors, Sandra Brown is a favorite.
When it comes to YA or middle grade authors, I’m all over the place. I don’t care who wrote it as long as it’s a great story. I’m not a fantasy reader, though, so I never got on the JK Rowling or Suzanne Collins bandwagons. I read some of their books just to see what my students were reading, but I’m more interested in realistic fiction.

5. Describe your ideal reader.

My ideal reader is someone who loves a good story and wants to root for the character and his/her struggles. The reader realizes life isn’t all good, and that to appreciate the good we have to deal with the negative, too. I’ve been writing for the younger teen group because I hope to capture the reluctant readers.

My first book, Finding Atticus, was specifically written for my students because they were always complaining about what they didn’t like about the books we read in school. One of their biggest pet peeves was the characters or animals dying in the books. They like being on the edge of their seats with concern, but they also want everything to work out in the end. Who doesn’t want that? Why wouldn’t we want to feel GOOD when we put a book down? Even if there are tears (which my readers always tell me I’m good at pulling out of them), they’re good tears, not tears of sadness. (Well, okay, I do have to sprinkle in a little of that, too, so the characters’ lives don’t seem unrealistically perfect.)

I think I deliver real characters with real issues. I always hope readers will come away with their own “a-ha” moment when they get the point(s) I’m trying to make. I guess that will always be the teacher side of me. My books entertain, but they also teach a “lesson.”

A little about me. I was born and raised in the Finger Lakes of western New York. After graduating from Keuka College, I moved to Connecticut and married Jim, who is from there. I taught middle school English for 26 years and LOVED it. Those kids were definitely an inspiration for my writing. I got my Masters degree from the University of Connecticut at Storrs (Go, Huskies!) I also freelance write for the Reiman Publications magazines and for Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, a tourism promotion office for Ontario County, NY.

Jim and I have two kids, Carrie Beth and Nick and I LOVE my animals, too, so I always, always have a dog in my life, and right now that’s Mollie. I love to ride horses, so now I have Sasha, a palomino, and Lacey, an appaloosa. I also have a grandkitty named Scooter. Jim and I moved back to the Finger Lakes in 2011 and love living back in this area. Connecticut was good to me, but I love being “home” again.

When I wrote that about Sasha above, it reminded me of this. When I was a kid, I dreamed of having a palomino. Except for a couple of years, I always had horses or ponies, but never a palomino. They seemed out of reach, but that didn’t stop me from dreaming about owning one. I even made up stories as a kid when I’d tell my friends I was sure I was getting a palomino for my birthday or Christmas. The closest I got was a little chestnut pony. In my late forties, I finally made my dream come true when I bought Sasha. My point is, don’t ever give up on your dreams. Make them happen if there’s any way possible. After my horse died in 1997, I waited 13 years before I got Sasha, because I was determined I would own a palomino. I could have bought any number of horses in between, but I had a dream, and I stuck with it.

It’s the same way with my writing. I always dreamed of having people eager to have my books come out, and now that it’s here, it seems pretty surreal. There were lots of times in the past 30 years when I let my writing slide because I was busy with other things, but I never let it go completely because I had this goal I was pursuing, and now I’m enjoying every minute of it! It’s an awesome feeling.

My next goal: to make a best seller’s list. And I’m determined to get there.

I have three books out right now:

Laurie Adams
FINDING ATTICUS – an older middle grades novel that has also found a vast audience among adults, which I think is pretty cool…

Laurie Adams
www.RUinDanger.net – is an Internet and technology safety guide co-written with a former undercover cop (He approached me to co-write the book with him because he saw the need to educate kids and their parents)…

Laurie Adams
…and my newest is the YA novel, OVER THE EDGE. The issues I tackle in this novel are near and dear to my heart, so this story is very special to me. I feel like the story doesn’t only entertain, but it also has the potential to change someone’s life. (Long story with that.)

Where to find me or how to contact me:

My web page is www.lauriegiffordadams.com
Facebook is Laurie Gifford Adams – Author
Twitter: Laurie G Adams
I can be contacted through my website, and I LOVE to hear from people. I respond to everything – and I mean everything. I hope to hear from some (or ALL) of you!

July 27, 2014 Books, Reviews, Urban Fantasy 5 Comments

INVISIBLE ALLIES by Mary Buckham – Review

Invisible Recruits Novella

I’ve talked a lot about Mary Buckham’s ability to put you slap bang in the middle of the scene. Writers have a term for it. Hell, they have many terms for it. Deep Point of View. Show don’t tell. Active settings and descriptions. As a reader, I don’t care. Because I’m right there, letting “the bird songs of a Missouri afternoon” swell around me, standing next to Kelly as she confides in Alex.

In short, Mary Buckham is an expert in 3D writing. Of course, the plot of Invisible Allies is everything you expect it to be, too. It’s fast, tense and twisty. Too many authors neglect the plot, especially a few books into a series. No short-cuts here.

But what stood out most were the characters, notably Alex and Kelly. They might have a lot on their plate tracking down a young witch, but their friendship is so tight, it glues the two together through tough revelations, were attacks and yes, a right old dressing down by their Agency Director.

Interestingly, this didn’t feel like a novella. Sure, it was a quick read, but that’s what happens when you can’t put a book down. This outing by our favorite Invisible Recruits is equal to a book in every respect, from storyline to character development.
Reviews

July 24, 2014 Books, Reviews, The Read Path 12 Comments

THE READ PATH with Tricia Drammeh

The Read Path – Tricia Drammeh

In this series, guest bloggers spill all about their roles as gatekeepers between authors and readers. They review books on blogs, websites, podcasts or booksellers’ webpages, influence buyers and connect with authors. My guest today, for the second time this week, is Tricia Drammeh, this time with her fabulous review site Authors to Watch.

Let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Tricia’s.

1. Why did you start a book review site?

My review site, Authors to Watch, evolved from my desire to help other authors. I started by doing interviews on my personal blog, and eventually bought a separate domain for Authors to Watch. Word spread, and I began getting requests for promotional features on a daily basis. When authors began asking me to review their books, I decided to do reviews as well as interviews.

2. What’s the best aspect of owning a book review site?

The best aspect is connecting with readers and authors. I’ve met so many fantastic people through Authors to Watch and have discovered books I wouldn’t have discovered if it wasn’t for the blog.

3. What’s the worst aspect?

One of the most difficult aspects of having a promotional blog is trying to balance my obligations. I work outside the home, have a husband and kids, have my own writing, and yet I still need to make sure I post interviews and reviews in a timely manner. I have run into some problems with authors who are extremely demanding. A few have emailed me multiple times throughout the day to tell me to shuffle the order of questions, to add a link they forgot, or to mention an award they won.

One author asked very detailed questions about how many blog views I got each day and wanted to know exactly what I planned to do to promote his interview. He treated his request to appear on my blog like a job interview, which would be understandable if he were paying me to promote him, but since I was basically working for him for free, I found his interrogation rather annoying. Most authors do understand that book bloggers aren’t getting paid for the work they do and are helping writers in their spare time, but occasionally an author will come along who acts like a diva.

4. Why should readers check out your website?

If you don’t check out Authors to Watch, you might run the risk of missing out on some seriously amazing books. I’ve been known to fall so deeply in love with a book I’ve read, I will actually track down the author and beg them to do an interview. So, it isn’t all about blog tours on Authors to Watch. You’ll meet authors you won’t see anywhere else.

5. Out of all the books you’ve read, which two are your top must-read recommendations?

Only two? Oh, boy. I would definitely recommend The Green Woman series by Jane Dougherty. She’s published the first two books in the main trilogy, but has also published short stories and other supplements to the series. Jane’s blog is an absolute gem. She does author interviews, publishes incredible poetry, and regularly includes short stories that are related to her series.

The other series I’m absolutely in love with is the Amaranthine series by Joleene Naylor. If you’re looking for extremely well written vampire fiction, Joleene’s books are a must. She’s published six full-length novels and several short stories. Like Jane, Joleene has an incredible website with excerpts, artwork, character profiles, and much more.

Though these two series I mention are in completely different genres, there is something special that sets them apart, and that is the fact that the authors have created more than a book series—they’ve created an entire world the reader can get lost in. While I am definitely a fan of standalone novels, I do enjoy a good series. Both the Green Woman and the Amaranthine series are self-published, and I think this has given the authors the flexibility to take their books to a new level. In this day and age where self-published novels are being released in droves, readers are looking for something that sets these books apart. I think Jane and Joleene have really achieved that “something special” quality and their blogs/websites are a huge part of that.

Links:
Website: www.triciadrammeh.com
Authors to Watch: www.authorstowatch.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorTriciaDrammeh
Twitter: twitter.com/TriciaDrammeh

To buy Tricia’s book, click here: Amazon.com: Better than Perfect eBook: Tricia Drammeh: Kindle Store

July 23, 2014 Books, Reviews Post a Comment

HELLBOUNCE by Matthew W. Harrill – Review

HELLBOUNCE

Matthew Harrill
The most important thing to me when it comes to books is an engaging plot. Let’s put a needle in that for now and begin with the craft itself. Wow. This guy has talent. Serious talent. Putting aside genres and other pigeonholes, Hellbounce is an extraordinary feat of writing. It pulls you in, mangles your emotions and pushes your senses to the brink, and when you’re done, you need a drink and a good night’s rest. With the lights on.

Which brings me to the plot. Any plot would seem believable under this writer’s treatment. Combining elements of fantasy with every-day normality seriously taxes your ability to put down the book to meet your usual human needs. Like getting food or a reassuring hug.

Reviews Okay, so this is not a genre I usually read. Truthfully, reading this was mentally exhausting. But see, here’s the trouble. Somewhere along the line, the characters went from ‘just believable’ to ‘downright real,’ and so did the story. And I care about what happens next. Strike that. I NEED to know what happens next. Sigh. So I sit and wait for the sequel, feeling just a little bit brainwashed. But in a good way.

Interested in finding out more about the author? Check out my recent interview with him here.

July 14, 2014 Books, Reviews Post a Comment

TOP SIX SUMMER CLASSIC BOOKS

Five “classic” novels that stayed with me and deserve to be rediscovered

Classic books

Summers are about barbecues, parties and, of course, about lounging outside with a cocktail in one hand and a fantastic summer read in the other. I’ve stocked up on coals, bought the outfits, and my mojito is ready and waiting. This year my to-read list includes some of the classics I fell in love with many years ago (I won’t say how many, so don’t ask me).

The genre I write in is urban fantasy, but I also read paranormal romance, sci-fi, epic fantasy and a little bit of crime. Back at college, when I thought fantasy was for eight-year-old boys, my book diet contained predominantly Penguin classics, with the odd Agatha Christie novel (for roughage!). Now I’m ready to re-explore the stories to find out why they had such a huge impact on me. Why don’t you join me? If you’ve never read a “classic” and expect a big bag of dull, you’re in for quite the surprise. There’s a reason millions of people rate them.

So, will I be devouring the big hitters, like War and Peace, Anna Karenina, Crime and Punishment, Pride and Prejudice, Moby Dick, or The Old Man And The Sea? Erm, nope. Although they’re certainly books to get your teeth into, some of the stories, especially War and Peace, are twisted and overly complicated, while others seem a little simple (Moby Dick). But mostly the writing is…long. The style so adored in those days differs drastically from today’s commercial fiction. To me, these are winter reads, appropriate for long evenings in front of the fireplace. For the summer, I want pure entertainment without having to write out complex charts and tables to keep track of the plot.

The first one I’ll open is Vladimir Nobokov’s Lolita, one of the plain meanest books ever written. On my first attempt, after the first fifty pages, I chucked the book into a corner. Not because the writing wasn’t great. Quite the opposite. The lead Humbert Humbert is such a sympathetic character, I found myself liking him. And that was the problem. He does despicable things, and I liked him. Humbert Humbert is not a hero. Neither is Lolita, the twelve-year-old girl with whom he is obsessed. Yet the writing lured me back, and second time around, I finished it in one sitting. Lolita is best described as a tragicomedy full of wry observations about America and people. In short, it’s one of those books that stayed with me.

John Buchan’s The Thirty-Nine Steps is the first of five novels about man-on-the-run Richard Hannay, an ordinary guy who’s drawn into an unlikely spy-and-mouse game. With a convoluted plot and a hero who develops into a more than capable spy, you can’t go wrong. It was one of the first “classics” I ever read and it put James Bond to shame. Seriously. It’s a nail-biter.

George and Wheedon Grossmith’s The Diary of a Nobody is one of my all-time favorites. The diary records the lives of a London clerk, Charles Pooter, his wife, son and friends and acquaintances. The delicious wit turns a book about the dullest person with the dullest job and the worst sense of humor into a must-read.

Jack Kerouac aptly called his book about his travels across America On the Road. His take on the “Beat” generation and its illustrious characters is full of humanity and longing, but also streaked with the despair and anger that follows some artists and poets around like a bad onion smell. Kerouac initially wrote his masterpiece on a “scroll,” a series of sheets taped together to form one stream of consciousness. I wonder what my editor would say if I tried that… The book has now been released, as originally intended, in one long chunk of text, for those who are feeling brave. Whichever format you choose, it’s an intense read, and the characters will live on in your mind for years.

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a Pulitzer-Prize-winning read about rape and racial equality, but told with such warmth and humor, its cult status is well deserved. I once heard that Lee considered calling the book “Atticus,” after the moral hero of the story. She later changed the title, because it was so much more than just a character portrait. I agree. There’s a lot here to grab on to, but most I recall the atmosphere Lee conjures with her writing, gritty and naked, yet always suffused with a deep sense of hope.

Finally, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby sticks most in my mind for the emotions it evoked at the time—the Jazz area, a bit of a wild ride—but the details are kind of blurred, making it a perfect re-read this summer. I do remember it as a book that starts with glamour and confidence, then descends into tragedy, making pit stops at love and infidelity along the way.

Of course there are many other classics I love. Little Women, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, basically everything Jack London has ever written, but these five are this year’s must-re-reads. Why only six? Because, as much as I love the classics, life is too short to regurgitate plots you already know. Not when there are so many new stories just waiting for you to discover.

However you choose to spend your summer, keep reading.

July 9, 2014 Books, Divide and Conquer, Urban Fantasy 2 Comments

DO-IT-YOURSELF BOOK COLLAGE FOR facebook

NEW facebook PICTURE UNVEILED

Just wanted to quickly share my new facebook picture for my new facebook page with you (pop in for a chat or simply to ‘like’ me any time). I tried to combine as many elements of my book Divide and Conquer as I could. The atomic model represents Lea’s interest in physics, the Seattle Space Needle indicates the setting, Nieve’s hanbo (fighting stick) and Lea’s dagger hint at the action-packed nature of the story, with the constant threat from their opponents, the Shades, in the form of a dark, billowing fog pulling in from the left.

Sure, at some point I will receive my real book cover. Trust me, there’s going to be a party. A big party. There may even be hats. Until then, my homemade little collage will do.

How would you represent your own book or your favorite book as a collage? Come on, there are no silly answers, I promise.

July 6, 2014 Books, Urban Fantasy, Writing craft 4 Comments

GEEKS AND FICTION – A MATCH MADE IN STO-VO-KOR*?

MEET MY INNER GEEK. SHE’S CALLED LEA.

I have never been into cosplay, am only slightly obsessed with characters from my favorite sci-fi or fantasy shows, I read a few comics every week, keep myself updated on some branches of particle and optical physics, and play and invent tabletop games. So I’m not what you might call a big-time geek. But those areas where the fangirl in me does peek out are precious to me. They run side-by-side with my other hobby, writing books.

Many writers start out writing fanfiction, short or long stories playing out in the fiction universe of their choice. I wish I’d started like that. Fanfiction readers are plentiful and highly observant, interested more in the made-up world and the characters than in literary devices and comma placement. Outside of fanfiction, authors must rely on their fellow writers, who will examine their manuscript with the eagle eye of a grammar enforcer or a proponent of so-and-so’s layering technique. They will throw words at you like “filter,” “echo word,” and “deep POV.” Useful advice designed to smooth the reading experience, but often as removed from the plot and the joy of writing as the deep-sea jellyfish is from dry land.

The two sides of me were destined to remain apart. Until I met Lea, that is. Lea is a character in my book Divide and Conquer. She’s a physicist looking for…something. Her career isn’t going as she’s hoped. She wants to work in a lab and unravel the mysteries of the universe. You know, do something that truly matters. Instead, the only jobs available to her since graduation have been barista at Starbucks and technical translator. She meets Nieve, a straight-talking, straight-thinking female warrior from a different world who makes all sorts of weird claims about Lea’s heritage and her fate. Before she knows it, Lea’s life changes. Being on the geeky side has always set her apart from friends, and even with the promise of a glowing destiny to bolster her confidence, it’s hard for her to relate to people who’ve never watched Stargate or delighted in playing World of Warcraft.

As depressing and lonely Lea might seem, she’s actually one of the funniest people around. Her wit and her smarts make me smile. I get her. Many of my readers prefer Nieve’s no-nonsensitude and her budding romance, but I relate particularly to Lea’s search for meaning and belonging. And to the joy she gets from immersing herself in an alien world, where adventures are exciting and uplifting and the hero ALWAYS wins.

Over the months, I’ve met quite a few fellow geek authors and readers. It’s gratifying to know I’m not the only one. We might be a minority, but we share the one strength that distinguishes geeks from the rest of the population. We’re dedicated to our particular object of geekdom.

That’s not to say I don’t identify with Nieve. She’s the person I wish I were, someone with discipline and a deep sense of loyalty and honor.

What I’m wondering is how you communicate with those that don’t share your particular obsession with a particular author or character or universe or hobby? Are you able to compartmentalize? Or do you force your geek on others, secure in the knowledge that once they understand just how wonderful and rich your chosen area is, they are sure to fall in love with it the way you did?

*Sto-vo-Kor = Klingon afterlife/heaven

July 4, 2014 Books, Reviews Post a Comment

THE CHRONICLES OF FARO – Review

THE CHRONICLES OF FARO – Chapter 1

“A 84 page graphic novel with 12 pages of bonus material featuring pin up art by Elias Chatzoudis, Monte Michael Moore, and many more!!”

This description from the HooligansCO Kickstarter campaign piqued my interest in August 2013.

The time has come. It’s done and ready for purchase, folks. Instead of the promised 84 pages, the project has become a whopping 100 page extravaganza. Is it worth spending your hard-earned bucks or quid (or whatever currency you use) on? Heck, yes.

Featuring famed cover artist FRANCHESCO, acclaimed artist ELIAS CHATZOUDIS (e.g. Grimm Fairy Tales covers), Star Wars, Marvel and DC artist MONTE MOORE (see The Arrival), and mural designer BRANDEN LUKES, FARO truly is a feast for the eyes. It also showcases a large number of other artists. In fact, the entire list of talent included in these pages would send your head spinning. Even though each artist imbues their Act with their unique artwork, there’s cohesion, a particular atmosphere, among the scenes that pulls everything together.

I value art, but I’m looking for more when I read comics and graphic novels. It’s the same thing I’m looking for in novels. I like plot twists, in my writing as much as in my reading. And this story has plenty. The first comes in the first act, when Professor Kane travels back in time to prevent President Lincoln’s assassination. And fails. Big time.

And yet, this is not the end for our main character. He returns as FARO, destined to be an eternal warlord, with an entirely new agenda. The plot quickly becomes a story about love, second chances, the nature of man, and the consequences of one’s actions.

I loved every page. It’s everything I hoped it would be. And more. Literally more. It’s brave, out there, sexy, over-the-top, eye-popping fun.

The Chronicles of Faro comes in three variant covers, with various levels of heat, depending on whether you buy a print copy or a digital copy. I’m so glad Kickstarter gave me the chance to support its creation.

Want to find out more about The Chronicles of Faro, Part One, or the upcoming Part Two? Why not visit their facebook page?

June 30, 2014 Books, Urban Fantasy Post a Comment

15 URBAN FANTASY AUTHORS YOU SHOULD READ

15 Urban Fantasy Authors I Love

I prefer Urban Fantasy to Paranormal Romance, although Urban Fantasy typically also contains a generous helping of romance. In fact, the line between the two genres is so smudgy, writers, aka me, get confused about where to place themselves. Since my focus is on the ‘fantasy’ plot rather than the ‘boy-meets-girl’ plot, I declared myself an Urban Fantasy Author years ago, and I’ve stuck with it since. This is the definition on which I based this article.

Last month, I published a short list of my five favorite urban fantasy authors. Of course I realized my mistake quickly. How can you possibly distil a whole world of exciting plots and delicious characters to five lousy entries? It just won’t do. So in full awareness that this collection is not complete either, here a more exhaustive attempt at introducing some of my favorite writers, in no particular order, together with my favorite series. Among them you will find some of the most popular Urban Fantasy writers, and hopefully a few names you haven’t yet read, but are eager to check out.

Patricia Briggs Her Mercy Thompson series is an exercise in smart, interesting urban fantasy. She has also published other series, but Mercy Thompson was the first of hers that got me hooked. You can’t beat werewolves, can you?

Kim Harrison Kim’s series The Hollows got me started in Urban Fantasy. Her quirky characters, intricate relationships and heart-pounding plots make her books a real joy. Witches, vampires, demons, werewolves — there’s no need to choose just one. To date, The Hollows is still one of my favorites.

Darynda Jones When Darynda came on the scene, I was stunned. Here was finally someone who wrote like me. An immodest thought, but one borne out of deep admiration. In all fairness I should say I want to write like her. Her main character, Charley Davidson, can see ghosts and helps them cross over. It’s fun, original, and with plots that keep you interested.

Jim Butcher Jim Butcher’s wizard Harry Dresden is a flawed and therefore all too likeable character. The plots are highly imaginative, and the characters as quirky as can be. What’s not to love?

Jennifer Rardin’s Jaz Parks series is a winner. Yeah, I know, some people like their Urban Fantasy sexy and serious, but if you’re after sexy and snarky, you’re at the right address. Sadly, Jennifer Rardin passed away in 2010, but her books are as readable as ever.

Laurell K. Hamilton Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series, at least the earlier books, are must-buy reads. Anita Blake raises the dead and is a licensed vampire executioner. She’s tough, funny, and very sexy. Halfway through the series, Laurell changed the genre from Urban Fantasy to, I guess, Erotic Paranormal. I don’t mind sex in books, but plots always come first, and hers were getting a little thin in that department. That said, anyone who likes Urban Fantasy should give her books a go.

Amanda Bonilla Amanda’s Shaede Assassin series is a breath of fresh air. I was hooked from book one. Here we have fantasy that didn’t involve werewolves or vampires or any other creatures from lore. Nope, Amanda made up a whole new world for us, with the main character being an assassin. Hey, a girl’s gotta eat, right?

Jennifer Estep Jennifer’s Elemental Assassin series features Gin Blanco, the feared ‘Spider,’ an assassin not to be trifled with. As a rule I never trifle with assassins, but Gin Blanco knows her stuff, that is to say her elements, which makes her all the more dangerous. Really fun read.

Rachel Caine Another writer who steps away from the more traditional mythologies. Joanne Baldwin is a Weather Warden who always seems to be running from or toward things. There’s never a dull moment when she’s around.

Jaye Wells Jaye Wells gave the old witches and vampires genre a fresh twist with her Sabina Kane series, and although I adore the main character, her mischief demon Gigul steals the show every time.

Mary Buckham Mary’s Invisible Recruits series took me unawares. I’m an avid reader and my favorite authors simply couldn’t keep up with my demand. I was always looking for new stuff. Mary’s a great teacher, so out of curiosity, I gave her books a try. Well, I love, love, love her character, Alex Noziak. Talk about kick-butt. With twisted plots that keep you guessing, Mary’s books make her another author to add to my must-read list.

Kate Griffin Kate Griffin’s book A Madness of Angels stole my breath from the very first paragraph. Matt Griffin is a 21st century sorcerer of urban magic. I don’t want to give too much away, but it is one of the most stunningly beautiful Urban Fantasy books I’ve ever read. And as I mentioned, I read a lot.

Keri Arthur Keri Arthur’s Guardian series with Riley Jenson is fresh and littered with three-dimensional characters. Riley is no prude, thanks to her werewolf genes. The same genes that make her such a powerful investigator. With each book, Riley’s personal circumstances get more complicated, and the plots more twisty and turny. Isn’t Urban Fantasy great?

Faith Hunter Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock is a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who makes her living hunting vampires. Something about Jane, and her alter ego Beast makes her an incredibly compelling character. Perhaps it’s her wit, or her no-nonsensitude. Definitely worth reading.

S.J. Day Sylvia Day’s Marked novels immediately sucked me in. Eve Hollis is Marked, which means she can identify infernals (demons) and, if need be, eliminate them. She’s constantly torn between Abel and his brother (your guessed it) Cain, and there’s enough intrigue and mystery to keep me interested. Sadly the series is quite short.

I’ve also read some fantastic new authors recently, but the above is a compilation of the crème de la crème IMHO. Clearly I’ve missed out authors whose books I devour, some because they’re outside what I call the Urban Fantasy genre, some because their names escape me for the moment (I apologize). All of them have helped shape my writing, in terms of plot, style and humor. More than that, through their delicate relationships, vivid characters and solid plots, they still make me read as a reader and not as a writer. I hope I’ll never lose that ability.

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