A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin

I have been absent of writing reviews because I'm busy with the hefty tome pictured above. Yes I am a Game of Thrones fan. I am partial to the Tyrion chapters. He is my favorite of all the characters because of his wit and snide remarks. He is the most clever and the one I wish were sitting on the iron throne so I did not have to remain tied to my Kindle for at least a week trudging thru the craziness that is the world G.R.R.M has created. I apologize for my absence but... I guess those words are wind.

Review: The Angel Stone by Juliet Dark

The Fairwick Chronicles has come to an end with The Angel Stone. I hate to see Callie go but after 3 books I'm beat. Anyone who is interested in reading this book should read the first two The Demon Lover and The Water Witch. Juliet Dark does supply readers with ample background information but it's really necessary to go discover it all first-hand and not in the abridged version provided in this novel. With that being said let's move on to my thoughts... yes!

Juliet Dark begins The Angel Stone a few months later from where the plot ended in The Water Witch. Those who have followed the series know that Callie's incubus has been killed after becoming human briefly. Duncan Laird, the evil wizard of the 9th order, and his nephilim, have taken over the Fairwick College and have big plans for the student body. Callie and the others left in Fairwick after the door was closed, devise a plan to take back their school as well as their lives. This is the goal at least until Callie finds another guy...

Callie must be the hottest woman on earth because she gets laid constantly. Sorry to be so brash but she's really romping it up and when she isn't she's dreaming about it. That was the most annoying aspect of The Water Witch. Lucky me (insert sarcasm here) Juliet Dark continued to keep up with that bizarre limbido of Callie's. I needed to get that gripe off my chest and move on to the good.

Juliet Dark's writing is still top-notch with this novel. I feel like I've escaped to another dimension every time I pick up a Fairwick Chronicle book. The setting is well described with a supporting cast of characters worth getting to know throughout the 3 books in this series. 

Overall, I am saddened that my time with Callie is over but I am still relieved. It's so tiring that Callie finds any reason to let a hot piece of tail distract her from saving Fairwick. I have enjoyed this journey and has made me a fan of the fantasy romance genre. I recommend The Angel Stone to anyone who's read the other two first, and lives for the romance in a fantastical world.  ****

Review for The Lives of Tao by Wesley Chu

The debut novel by Wesley Chu The Lives of Tao is definitely a fun read. I'm a novice at the science fiction genre so I don't have all the references needed to compare this novel to others and for that I apologize but this novel was enjoyable nonetheless. The Lives of Tao begins with the death of a revered agent for the The Prophus cause named Edward. Inside Edward's head is Tao of the Quasing alien race. Unless Tao finds a new vessel soon, he will die as well. This leads Tao to Roen. Roen is an overweight, IT technician, desk jockey who's main ambitions are frozen pizzas and sleep. He is the antithesis of an agent which makes him perfect for Tao.

The Lives of Tao moves at breakneck speed and doesn't slow down at all. When not being entertained by the whitty banter between Roen and Tao, the pages are laced with action scenes. Although some of these scenes last for a blink it seems, they are still necessary and well described. There is no meandering in this novel of which I am thankful! Wesley Chu manages to carefully place information about the wars between the Prophus and the Genjix without losing the interest of the reader.

One other thing done well with this novel is the character development between Tao and Roen. They each compliment each other in a way that make duos so loveable. I challenge Chu to make the secondary characters come to life the way Tao and Roen have in his next novels. The secondary characters seemed like caricatures at moments and I didn't really care if they lived or died.

Finally, The Lives of Tao was an amusing, entertaining sci-fi read that is approachable and worth the time. Chu provides us with another theory on why we have war and who our elected officials may really be. ****

Review of Heaven's Night by Harry Aderton

I don't know where to start with my review so I'll just say that I loved this book. It's not often that I find myself glued to my Kindle except when I'm playing Diner Dash or reading epic books of this nature. I thank Harry Aderton for writing such a wonderful chronicle of the most famous war ever fought given from the point of view of one of the archangel's Sariel.

The novel begins with Sariel telling his story of how he's fallen out of God's favor and has become a fallen. The war between good and evil had been raging for 50 centuries already but it took on  personal meaning for Sariel once the women he loved, Requel became a victim of this war. Thinking God has forsaken him, Sariel journey's to find his soul mate and their child. This love story is pure and is used as the driving force of determination for Sariel through his adventures, but it works well and does not get so sappy that the reader thinks they are reading just another romance novel mixed with fantasy.

I don't want to give too much away about this novel but there were a few things that stood out to me that I thought were very interesting. The novel splits the planes of creation into the Causal plane where the highest angels are born for example Sariel, Michael, Sammael (Lucifer), and Gabriel- Archangels. They refer to each other as brothers and have the most strength since they are most God-like. The next plane is the Astral. This is where the angels are. They are made up of 16 spheres which Lucifer tries to overtake during the war. The third and most important plane (in my opinion) is the Physical plane. This plane is pretty much known as God's playground... where humans preside. I loved this breaking up of heaven. It helped to get a mental picture of where everyone was and what the effects of the war had cost the fallen and angel alike.

Another thing that I found pretty interesting about this novel is that it deals with spirits, incarnation as well as reincarnation. It explains how we are all souls and what we do in one life translates how the other lives will be handled. I think this is a great message because so many people get caught up in their religion being the ultimate instead of realizing that there is only one God and the rest is just circumstance. Faith, love, and forgiveness are above all the greatest weapons and this is one point I have taken from this book. And there are many, but it's one of the ones that resonated most.

Aderton has a well written book that I found to be extremely engaging and worthy of the forthcoming sequels.  This was an exceptional take on the beginning of creation and war. With extremely great imagery and narrating this book is gauranteed to hook readers of fantasy. The battle between good and evil are always great stories that people love to read and I think anyone looking for one should throw this debut novel into the fray. I thank Harry Aderton for writing such a great novel that I'm sure will be on my mind until the next comes out. *****

Heaven's Night, Hell's Mourning

Currently I am 30% in Heaven's Night by Harry Aderton. I am hooked. The story begins with Sariel giving us background information on why he is one of the fallen. Everyone knows the story about the devil, Lucifer, and how he left the comforts of God's grace bringing a legion of 1/3 the angels in the astral sphere. Sariel is an archangel who's soulmate Requel is in dire distress by the fallen. She tries to let Sariel know the atrocities that are happening in the lower sphere's of the astral plane. Eventually, Sariel sets out on a journey of retribution and love. But how far is he willing to stray from God's good graces?

I must say once more that I am hooked. I don't want to give too much away about part one of the book because so much has happened and it would not be fair to future readers. It is obvious that this novel is well researched and planned. Attention to detail and imagery is highly appreciated (Thank you Mr. Aderton). The fight scenes so far are epic and the amount of themes already surfacing are truly a testament to how great this novel will be (fingers crossed). Good vs evil, free will, and love are heavy contenders so far. I don't know what the rest of this novel has in store for me but I feel I should get back to it. Sariel is a wonderful narrator and his inner struggle between good and evil seep from the pages profoundly. I have to findout who wins in this war of good vs evil.

Heaven's Night by Harry Aderton

Work begins with Heaven's Night by Harry Aderton. This is the ultimate battle of good vs. evil, dark vs. light, God vs. Lucifer... or at least that's what the book jacket claims. This is a step away from my normal reads but I find the further I step away from my normal reads, the more I enjoy and appreciate novels outside of my comfort zone. After Lucifer challenges the throne of God, it throws the serenity of Heaven into devastation and ignites an extremely long war... decades long. With the help of fellow demon warriors it appears that Lucifer just may win the battle... but Archangel Sariel is hoping to win the war. Yes! Epic! Fantasy! Wow! I'm actually pretty excited to read it. I haven't read any reviews for it yet and don't plan on it but it is highly rated on my favorite website Goodreads.com. Let's read!

Review of Charla by Alexander Beresford

*Let me start by thanking Alexander Beresford for providing this novel to me. It was a treat to read and I'm sure it will haunt me for days to come.

Charla is the story of a mother who is hell-bent on making her daughter Amelie's life a living hell. She's so intent on causing as much pain and discord for Amelie that she summons a demon into their home to do her dirty work for her. Before long, the demon does his job, all too well, and Amelie's blissful existance begins to crumble. The novel is short so I don't want to give too much away but yes! Amelie goes through it all because her mother hates her (has always hated her) and what she feels is Amelie's "perfect" life.

Beresford does a great job at fully developing Charla so much so that I actually feel sorry for her. I know she's evil, bitter, insane, cunning and in no way deserving of my sympathy but anyone with that much hate and guile makes me feel sorry for them. To be consumed with that much animosity takes the life out of any normal person and frankly is too much energy and time wasted. I also feel like Charla is a coward. She shouldn't have enlisted the help of a demon to cause her daughter harm. She should have had the courage to do it her self and live with the consequences of those actions. Instead she places blame on others around her even when the evidence of her intent is obvious to certain onlookers. I also wish I had a little more info on her relationship with her own mother.

Amelie, a dimensional character as well, rightfully has my sympathy. She is in her early 20s and has no clue that her mother despises her. It goes against everyone's idea of a mother. Mother's are supposed to take care of us, be affected when we're in pain and not be the cause of it. I also feel that she's gullible in this sense or at the least blinded by her own love for her mother. It's hard to admit the one we love is causing us the most pain. She didn't know her mother was scheming against her, but is it really possible to be that naive? Her father was able to see her mother for the manipulative bit#& that she is, so I'm concerned with why she wasn't able to.

I feel that this horror novel deals with a lot of  themes and issues that are prevalent in society. The relationship of a mother and daughter and what it's supposed to be. The hate that we let into our homes. Trust, honesty, and envy are all there. Beresford is able to make these issues relevant in an extremely fast paced, fun horror novel. These evils we invite in our homes manifest in the worse ways possible and ultimately destroy our lives.  So in conclusion, I am happy I read this book and I can't wait until his next book comes out.  I thank him once more for providing the book. I recommend this book to fans of horror novels. ****

Charla by Alexander Beresford

I begin work on Charla by Alexander Beresford. The author is pretty cool in providing a copy to me. I am always excited when I read a debut novel by an author and I can't help feeling like I'm there with them on their journey (in spirit). One review at a time, one person at a time, and one great rating at a time. With Charla I will be returning to a genre I haven't had the privelege of reviewing in a long time which is horror. Pure horror and all it's blood, guts, and gory.

Charla is a story of a mother who isn't the conventional doting mother. She seriously hates her daughter and is on a mission to make her life miserable. This hatred drives her to summon a demon in hopes that she won't have to get her hands dirty in taking down her daughter Amelie. Let's read!

Review of The Water Witch by Juliet Dark

Let me start by saying I really enjoyed this book. The Water Witch is the second novel in the Fairwick Chronicles and by far the most exciting. Given how well written The Demon Lover is, I had high hopes for The Water Witch as well. Dark/Goodman does not skip out on any opportunity to paint a vivid picture of the enchanted town of Fairwick. The imajery and attention to even minor details just enhances the experience of reading this book. I find my self lost in Fairwick as well as Faerie with every turning page.

The town of Fairwick is being threatened by the Grove. A group of powerful witches that Callie and her grandmother belong to. This group of witches are hellbent on closing the door to Faerie. The dangers of closing the door will be a loss of Aelvesgold which is a necessary source for the fey and witches of Fairwick. So the fey of Fairwick are faced with deciding whether or not to stay in Fairwick or return to their home in Faerie. For many of the fey, this depletion of Aelvesgold means their race. Callie, being a doorkeeper is in the position of being able to help her friends in Fairwick by keeping the door open.

When the novel begins, it's a few months later from where The Demon Lover left off. It's becoming apparent to Callie that if she wants to go up against the Grove, she needs to enlist the help of someone who can help her summon her magical powers. Enter Duncan Laird. Of course he's handsome, dreamy, and whenever he's around things get a little hot between the two. And now we find my major issue with this novel.

I understand that this book is primarily a romance novel and a lot of the romantic preludes help in tying together some loose ends in the climax. I felt that our little sex-kitten Callie is doing/getting WAY too much. I'm no prude but this girl gets luckier than Hugh Hefner. It is almost distracting where and when Dark decides to place the sex or sexual innuendos in this novel. Don't get me wrong, the sexy scenes are vivid and all too well described. I just didn't think there would be so many. I thought once she banished her incubus Liam, she wouldn't have so many... um... hookups.

In conclusion, this novel leaves us with a great cliffhanger and I can't wait to continue this journey with The Hallowed Door. I must advise that anyone reading this novel before reading The Demon Lover should stop. I can appreciate The Water Witch so much more because I get to see the growth in strength and resolve in our heroine Callie.  The Water Witch is a must-read for lovers of paranormal romance and fantasy enthusiasts. Dark/Goodman is extremely gifted and I can say I am a fan. ****

The Water Witch Runs Deeps

I expected that at 60% in this book, I would be singing it's praise to the high heavens given the high standard The Demon Lover set for its successor. I mean, c'mon... The Demon Lover was atmospheric, enticingly vivid, picturesque, absolutely engaging, and all the things that set standards for fantasy/romance books that will follow. The Water Witch is just as well-written and even more fast-paced. It goes even deeper into conflicts between the Grove and Fairwick. I love all that the pulling of either way Callie could go in her alliance. My only main drawback for this novel is its ever-present eroticism.

The Demon Lover had it's fair share of beautifully written erotic prose encased in a surreal gothic feel. This novel on the other hand tends to overdo it. We understand that Callie is falling in love with the incubus Liam but does she really need to dream about the sex-life they could be having moments after they've already engaged in intercourse in Faerie? I don't know and maybe I'm being nit-picky but I really feel that her magic training is more interesting than her lovelife. I'm interested in finding out where the second half of this enchanting novel will lead because it remains well-written, atmospheric, and engrossing. I can't wait to findout what side Callie takes and how it will all unfold.

The Water Witch by Juliet Dark

I just finished The Demon Lover and as I promised, I'm jumping right into The Water Witch. Hopefully this begins where the last book left off. Callie, although a little too trusting at times for my liking, is a great heroine. Dark/Goodman really has developed her well. This enchanted town is interesting as well and I can't wait to find out who wins in whatever battles are coming.

Synopsis:  After casting out a dark spirit, Callie McFay, a professor of gothic literature, has at last restored a semblance of calm to her rambling Victorian house. But in the nearby thicket of the Honeysuckle Forest, and in the currents of the rushing Undine River, more trouble is stirring. . . .


The enchanted town of Fairwick’s dazzling mix of mythical creatures has come under siege from the Grove: a sinister group of witches determined to banish the fey back to their ancestral land. With factions turning on one another, all are cruelly forced to take sides. Callie’s grandmother, a prominent Grove member, demands her granddaughter’s compliance, but half-witch/half-fey Callie can hardly betray her friends and colleagues at the college.

To stave off disaster, Callie enlists Duncan Laird, an alluring seductive academic who cultivates her vast magical potential, but to what end? Deeply conflicted, Callie struggles to save her beloved Fairwick, dangerously pushing her extraordinary powers to the limit—risking all, even the needs of her own passionate heart.

Review of Demon Lover by Juliet Dark

I must admit when I first saw the cover of The Demon Lover, I was completely under the impression that it was just another poorly written YA take on the Twighlight series. I am pleased to say I was very wrong and I guess that's why they say never judge a book by it's cover.  Judging a book by it's cover may keep me from reading a gem of a novel and getting the opportunity to open the doors to a genre of literature I've never really delved in before.

The overview of this novel is that Callie Mcfay is a young author who comes to Fairwick with the intent of landing a job as a professor of folklore and gothic literature. Fairwick is a small town that harbors secrets that Callie is unaware of until she is confronted by the incubus that appears in what she thinks are extremely vivid dreams. Suffice it to say, her incubus is not a member of the band I love that sings one of my favorite songs "Dig". Callie's incubus wants to be freed from the borderlands and the only way he can do this is by draining the life from her. Clearly if someone drains your life away you'd end up pretty dead. This is not good.

What I love most about this novel is that it is superbly written. It is vividly atmospheric and believeable. Although purely fantastical, Dark/Goodman has made me want to believe in fairies, demons, gnomes, vampires, ganconers, and everything else folklore. An even stronger testament to the writing style of this novel is that I want to believe there are sleepy towns, secret societies, magical professionals, and even an IMPIA- Institute of Magical Professionals Internal Affairs department.

Back to our leading lady Callie, the novel is written from her point of view but it does not hinder in any way the character development. Although Callie's meets more people and getting to know them in Fairwick, the reader is grows to care about them as she does. Callie is a well developed heroine, although she makes bad decisions at times, there needs to be conflicts. Of course the conflict comes in her budding romance(um...sex) life. But it's no surprise since the dawn of time and in the earliest written books, love and romance come hand in hand with sacrifice.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed this novel and found that I will never judge a book by its cover. I've become acquainted with folklore on a level I never have before and am open to reading more novels of this nature. I only fear I wouldn't know where to start. This novel is a great mixture of romance, fantasy, mystery, paranormal, and magic. I look forward to reading the next book in the Fairwick chronicles. Callie is developing into a heroine I can really root for once she fully realizes her potential. ****

Progress on The Demon Lover

I regret to say I haven't finished reading The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark/Carol Goodman. I planned on doing absolutely nothing this weekend and that's exactly what I did. I will finish the novel by the end of today and the review will come shortly. Just a recap of my thoughts so far are that I am enjoying this book. It has a very mystical and surreal quality. The vivd imagery and characters really brings this story to life. Each page gives the feeling of actually being in the small town of Fairwick complete with mythical creatures and folklore. I look forward to continuing this journey with Callie McFay and the rest of the demons, witches, and fairies.

The Demon I Love

The Demon Lover so far, is a great literary gem full of mysticism, superb imagery, and magic. At 50%, the fantasy is so hard to tear away from. Carol Goodman has managed to make something worth reading out of a genre full of Twilight and other young adult books that pollute it's atmosphere. Speaking of atmosphere, the narrator Callie McFay is so descriptive that I feel like I am seeing all that she sees with my own eyes. Goodman draws the picture for the reader and entices us to see exactly what she wants us to see. Small details such as a house's wainscotting color or large details such as the shadow of the incubi are not left out. I hope this novel remains this good and doesn't veer away into the why did  I waste my time category. As I said in an earlier post, I will be reading The Water Witch next which directly follows The Demon Lover.

Demon Lover by Juliet Dark

I begin my day by announcing that I'm reading Demon Lover by Juliet Dark/Carol Goodman. Juliet Dark is Carol Goodman's pen name. Fancy schmancy... J/K. Actually this novel has gotten rave reviews from a lot of my friends on Goodreads.com.  I really value the opinion of my Goodreads friends, even if they differ from my own. The exchange of ideas is what makes reading fun and exciting. Reading is a different experience for all who enjoy it and engulf themselves in the fictional (nonfictional) world. This novel seems to cover a host of genre's  such as paranormal, romance, and fantasy. If that proves true this read will not be my normal suspense/thriller set. I look forward to this being a great novel. Once I am done with The Demon Lover, I will begin next week with The Water Witch which is next in the Fairwick series.

Synopsis: Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of her having written the bestselling book The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she’s found herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.


But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: Her incubus is not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the demon, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this supernatural lover from her heart.