Books for March

[indiana_j]

1.  Death's Daughter (Calliope Reaper-Jones Book 1) by Amber Benson - Yes, that Amber Benson from Buffy.  *grins*  It's a fairly good book - first person urban fantasy about Death's daughter getting dragged back into the family business when her dad, sister and the Board go missing.  It's amusing and has a few nice twists in there.  My only big problem was I kept visualizing the main character as Tara.  XD

2.  Watchmen by Alan Moore - Ben loaned this to me the day before we went to see the movie.  I really enjoyed it, even if it did screw with my head.  That really wasn't helped by the fact that I read it in one day (ride to and from work and lunch) and then saw the movie the very next night.  I could see what the fuss was about.

3.  The Glass Harmonica by Louise Marley - Okay, I would have been really happy if half the book hadn't happened.  I thought it was at least 50 pages too long, I really didn't connect or care for either of the main characters and even my love of historical figures in fiction couldn't float me through this.  Very disappointing.

4.  Fire and Fog by Dianne Day - Book two in the Fremont Jones   Just as much fun as the first book, though I have a feeling that the supporting cast is going to keep changing with every book - not all, though.  The mystery part of it was more central to the book, which was nice.

5.  End of the Century by Chris Roberson - This was a very, very fun book.  It spans across three points in time (in the times of the 'real' King Arthur with the focus on Galaad; 18th Century England with Sandford Blank and Roxanne Bonaventure; and now with American teen Alice Fell) and it neatly ties clues and hints in each section.  All the characters are fun, though I'll admit that I wasn't as in love with Galaad and his adventures.  Also, deathpixie , Alice is like an American Amanda!  The end got REALLY weird and gave me a headache but it was still a really good book, even if the explanation gave me that headache.

6.  Nightingale's Lament (Nightshade #3) by Simon R. Green - Ah, the magically inclined detective.  So over done - and, yet, I think Green makes his corner of the genre shine.  I like him almost as much as Jim Butcher; it's more like reading Constantine.  I haven't read the Nightshade series in a while but it was nice to pick up the book and be sucked right back into it.

7.  The Adventures of Inspector Lestrade by M.J. Trow - Awhile ago, doqz  recommended this book to me after I bemoaned the treatment of Lestrade in the makings of various Sherlock Holmes movies/books and it finally appeared on paperbackswap.  I really, really enjoyed it.  It made Lestrade very human but very smart, Holmes was amusing and yet very sad when he appeared in the book, and the seemingly unconnected mysteries at the start proved to be very connected and very intriguing.

8.  Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez - Okay, I just love this author.  I've loved everything I've read by him and my enjoyment just grows and grows.  The Earl of Vampires, who happens to be named Earl, and a Duke of Werewolves, who likes to be called Duke, wind up at a diner that's having a spot of supernatural trouble.  Soon they're up to their necks in evil teenagers, a take no prisoners waitress, zombies, ghouls and ghosts.  And it's completely cracktastic but believable as well.  My hat is off to Martinez for taking two of the most overdone types of characters (werewolves and vampires) and making them fun characters while laughing at the pretty boy images.

9.  The Bohemian Murders by Dianne Day - Book 3!  Once more, very much in love with the two main characters - and there are hints at returning supporting cast, which I love - and loveable new supporting cast.  It seems with every new book, Day's mysteries blossom and grow from the previous two books.

What do I recommend?  Everything but The Glass Harmonica; what I would recommend the most, however, are End of the Century, Gil' All Fright Diner and The Adventures of Inspector Lestrade.

Comments

[technophobia.livejournal.com]

I'm really hoping Amber Benson does a signing near me so I can go and be a fanboy and get an autographed copy. Have been kind of holding off getting/reading until then.

[indiana-j.livejournal.com]

Even if you get a copy now, you can always take your copy with you. That's generally allowed. :)

[seraangel.livejournal.com]

Oh God, Simon R. Green I have no idea why I like these books, considering how over done the wordage can get. But I just can't stop reading them. There's really good story behind the badly done writing of said story. If that makes sense.

Also, series I think you might like if you can get it there: http://www.penguin.com.au/lookinside/spotlight.cfm?SBN=9780140178548

[indiana-j.livejournal.com]

I don't think they're that badly written. The only quibble I've had with his writing was the tendency to harp on that Seeing Eye of his.

Hmm, that looks intriguing.

[seraangel.livejournal.com]

For me it was more the constant repeating of things.Which I suppose could be his way of trying to make his series readable from any book but if you've read more then one, it can get repetitive. YMMV. :)

[indiana-j.livejournal.com]

That's true; I found it helpful because I hadn't read the books in years but if you're picking them up back to back, I can see why that's annoying. I just wish he stopped the "my third eye, my private eye". ARGH, just call it the sight and get it over with!

OTOH, Dead Boy is fantastic.

[seraangel.livejournal.com]

Exactly right. And yeah, 'the sight' would be a lot less annoying. I think he has author's disease in that they get a little too enamored of a certain phrase and like to add it in anywhere they can. I do it myself from time to time, although I try very hard not to.

Dead Boy is awesome. I think you'll like the further books too. You've only read up to Nightingale's Lament? The further books you actually learn who his mother is, and why everyone is a little terrified of him. It all gets incredibly interesting. I need to read the newest ones, actually. I'm about two books behind now.