Vicious Grace by M.L.N. Hanover.

This is book three of the series The Black Sun’s Daughter. This is urban fantasy at its best. Jayne Heller discovers that her favorite uncle may not be the man she thought he was.

I read the fourth book, Killing Rites, in the series first. I am now caught up as I have read Unclean Spirits and Darker Angels . I am enjoying the series and hope to read the fifth book when it comes out.

Realizing I may be repetitious but nevertheless this is a violent coming of age story. Jayne discovers a lot about her Uncle Eric, her relationships and her self through the action and violence of the story.

The careful crafting to show good and evil as shades of gray deserves praise. The ambivalent nature shown by Jayne provides her with a reality persona far better than other urban fantasy heroines. The cast of characters demonstrates extraordinary courage in the sacrifices they make to thwart evil. Hanover, once again, has produced a action laden story that holds your interest to the very last page.

I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend.

Body of work of Body of work of M.L.N. Hanover

Web Site: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/abrahamdaniel.html

M.L.N. Hanover’s Black Sun’s Daughter Series GIVEAWAY!

FANTASTIC URBAN FANTASY

AMAZING FEMALE PROTAGONIST

M.L.N. Hanover’s Black Sun’s Daughter Series GIVEAWAY!

Her first three books with her 4^th book Killing Rites that debuts November 29^th. The Winner will get Vicious grace, Unclean Spirits, Darker Angels and Killing Rites the week of it’s debut.

I will be giving away one full set of four books on BLACK FRIDAY, the perfect day for something free!

This is a terrific Urban Fantasy that is a must read. 

You have the opportunity to read it the entire series in order for FREE!

This is a very simple giveaway.  

Turn Coat by Jim Butcher

 Harry Dresden is a tall man dealing with narrow minded people who happen to have annoyingly powerful magic.   Harry as always is dealing with insurmountable problems with numerically superior forces intent on harming kith and kin.  In true Lewis Carrol style, Harry finds himself down the rabbit hole defending an implacable foe for unlikely reasons.

Repeating what I have written in previous reviews of Jim Butcher, Butcher causes Harry to question his value system in each and every book.  Soul searching seems to be a hallmark.   Insurmountable odds and monumental tasks are also in each book.   In spite of a similar formula, I have really enjoyed each book.   Why would you ever get tired of deep, rich, yummy chocolate cake anymore than you would the Dresden Files.  Harry’s emotional fragility in his personal relationships and his inability to recognize how much he is respected contribute to his likeability.  You see a slow maturation of Harry Dresden as the series proceeds.  I highly recommend the entire series. 

Butcher’s use of current but often obscure vernacular within Harry’s dialogue always elicits a laugh.  

I’ve mentioned my preferences for emotionally provocative writing.   Butcher’s portrayal of loyalty and perseverance against all odds is always laudable.  Harry Dresden lives his life by the Golden Rule and it serves him well.   Molly, his apprentice, shows growth in this book and Harry as well.  Mouse, Toot, Murphy, Will and Georgia display the same courage and convictions we have seen in previous stories.  

Body of work of Jim Butcher</a>

Web Site: http://www.jim-butcher.com/

Venom by Jennifer Estep

Dark, gritty urban fantasy at it’s best. I know, I said that on my Spider’s Bite review. Well this book is outstanding as well. Gin is absolutely ferocious in defense of those she loves. Her ability to take a beating is only surpassed by her willingness and ability to dish out a beating. When the entrenched villains go after her friends, Gin runs amuck.

Superficially this is just another action adventure in the urban fantasy genre. There is plenty of action and adventure but the underlying loyalty and honor are what make Jennifer Estep’s books stand out. Her characters aren’t two dimensional. She provides depth and background. The emotions and character of the cast are what gives the Spider series such appeal to me.

Overcoming daunting odds is Gin Blanco’s hallmark. A willingness to give her all for her admittedly questionable principles characterizes this extraordinarily tough woman. She depends on her physical skills with very little use of her elemental magic. Surrounded by a small cadre of stalwart friends she battles for revenge and her specific brand of justice.

Gin is not sweetness and light, she is razor wire, beautiful, sparkling in the sunshine and thoroughly deadly. Admittedly I am a fan of strong female protagonists and Jennifer Estep has graciously provided a multifaceted, butt kicking prime example.

I highly recommend this book and Spider’s Bite and Web of Lies.

Body of work of Jennifer Estep

Web Site: http://www.jenniferestep.com/

Blood Rites by Jim Butcher

Harry Dresden is up to his hips in naked women. Asked to be security on an adult film set, Harry discovers it just isn’t that sexy. Harry makes a discovery that changes both his life and the way he looks at life in this story.

Once again, I enjoy the self depreciating humor that Butcher imbues in his protagonist. Harry is an eminently likeable person with an admitted rough around the edge skill set. His choice of friends and foes provide the basis for entertainment. Murphy is beginning to be seen as more than just a friend and Harry’s discovery of family colors his entire outlook.

I highly recommend the entire series. You will be seeing more as I have finally purchased all the ones that have currently been printed.

Body of work of Jim Butcher

Web Site:

The Darkest Edge of Dawn by Kelly Gay

Charlie Madigan is a female protagonist that takes no prisoners. In a world that deals with off world beings who have inspired a great deal of human mythology, Charlie thought she was normal. In he first book of this series she discovers that normalcy may not be attainable. In this book she and her partner, Hank, deal with an egocentric off world being with delusions of grandeur.
Charlie is a single mother for all intents and purposes. Emma her daughter and Bryn her sister are her points of vulnerability. She has a love/professional relationship with Hank. Charlie worries whether her attraction to her partner is a result of succumbing to his abilities as a siren and extraordinarily handsome or due to him being a genuinely good guy. Charlie’s self expectations are well beyond reason, she cuts herself no slack. I enjoyed the complexity of her feelings which Gay clearly showed. Most endearing is her loyalty and love for family and those close to her. Least appealing is her unwillingness to let her self reliance slack and get help from those who want to help her.

The off world influence on human mythology and history is an intriquing aspect to the series. I recommend that you read The Better Part of Darkness which is the first book in the series. I have linked to my review of that book. They can be read out of order but I think you will enjoy both books more if you read them in order.


I love butt kicking female protagonists and Charlie kicks butts with as much gusto as Jennifer Estep’s Gin.  I'm thinking a new genre BKFP (butt kicking female protagonists) may be in order.  

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of Kelly Gay

Web Site: http://www.kellygay.com/

White Night by Jim Butcher

Mysterious bad guys are killing witches. Harry and friends track them down and provoke a confrontation.

Harry Dresden is getting hard. He is finding his value system is under attack. He has to deal with his personal demons. Once again fantasy is a metaphor for life.

Harry’s trust issues cause him a great deal of pain. I enjoy the realistic emotions displayed by the characters. I particularly like Harry’s loyalty to his friends and theirs in return. The action and violence are typical for the Dresden files and in spite of that, quite enjoyable.

I’ve enjoyed every book in this series.

I highly recommend the book and the series.

Body of work of Jim Butcher

Web Site: http://www.jim-butcher.com/

Masked An Anthology edited by Lou Anders

A compendium of not quite super heroes’ short stories provides some new looks at the super hero genre.

I’m never sure how to review an anthology. It doesn’t seem realistic to try and review each short story. The common thread seems to be that super heroes are not always heroic.

Showing that super heroes may have insecurities or anger issues provides a different look than you usually see in caped crusaders. I liked the way they had feet of clay. Matthew Sturges’ “Cleansed and Set in Gold” may have had one of the more unique ways for super heroes to get their powers that I have read.

None of the stories really grabbed me and made me go Wow but they were mostly entertaining. I would suggest running out to buy it but walking out to buy it would not be unreasonable. A caveat for my review is that I am not overly fond of short stories and that, no doubt, impacts my review.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Stephen Baxter
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Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep

Retirement is difficult for Gin Blanco. Running the Pork Pit is enjoyable and cooking is wonderful but a lack of action is creating some boredom. The intrusion of an immature giant and a cowboy dwarf miner provides the impetus to reengage her assassin skills but this time for free.

Gin is a likeable rogue. (rougette?) Her tenacity is awe inspiring. She kicks butt with the best of them. Her unrequited love for Donavan Caine is a bit confusing. Owen Greyson seems like a better fit and has far fewer emotional hang-ups.

Finn, Sophia and Jo-Jo are loyal friends. I enjoy stories that highlight things like altruism, loyalty and honor. Gin as a character would reject all those attributes but exhibits them all. There is plenty of action and intrigue to the story. The end leads gracefully into the next book in the series, Venom.   This book was a good follow up to the first Elemental Assassin book, The Spiders Bite.


I love butt kicking female protagonists and Gin kicks butts with gusto.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of Jennifer Estep

Web Site: http://www.jenniferestep.com/

Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher

Harry Dresden finds one of his staunchest supporters family is in danger. As a new Warden he finds his distaste for the way the White Council handles dissidents. When Michael’s daughter finds her snagged in Council and Fairy politics, Harry finds himself over his head again.

Butcher causes Harry to question his value system in each and every book. Soul searching seems to be a hallmark. Insurmountable odds and monumental tasks are also in each book. In spite of a similar formula, I have really enjoyed each book. Why would you ever get tired of deep, rich, yummy chocolate cake anymore than you would the Dresden files. Harry’s emotional fragility in his personal relationships and his inability to recognize how much he is respected contribute to his likeability. You see a slow maturation of Harry Dresden as the series proceeds. I highly recommend the entire series. You will be seeing more as I have finally purchased all the ones that have currently been printed.

Amazon Queen by Lori Devoti

A new take on the Amazon warrior, this book is set in current times. The conflict between the status quo and change defines the book.
Zery, an Amazon Queen, discovers that the Amazon sons have powers and skills similar to her own, she is shocked. Moreover she is shocked to discover that many of the “truths” she had taken for granted were not necessarily true. Shape shifting, sword fights, gun battles, there is action a plenty for all readers. This isn’t a great book but it is an entertaining read.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Lori Devoti

Web Site:

Play Dead By Ryan Brown

My first reaction to this book was, oh brother another zombie story. You can’t swing a dead body around without hitting a zombie or vampire book. To my surprise I enjoyed the book. This would be an entertaining Friday Night Lights book exhibiting the gritty competitive football played in rural Texas without the zombies. With the Zombies this is an Urban Fantasy.

For those of you who grew up in a more suburban atmosphere, you will have difficultly believing the depths of passion exhibited by small, working class town football fans. Growing up in an environment where the number of injuries you inflicted on the opposing football team was nearly as important as wining the game, I had no trouble accepting the mindless passion the football fans in this book showed. Cole Logan is the hard nosed, wrong side of the track, trailer trash that sees football as his ticket out of not only his home town but his miserable life. Little does he know that his life hardships are only going to become worse throughout the book.

In my opinion, I think Ryan Brown should have skipped the whole zombie aspect of the book and he would have had a major hit. Being a serious fantasy fan, I can suspend my disbelief and enjoy a story regardless of any preposterous situations. Many people are not able to overcome their innate reluctance to believe anything that isn’t clearly black and white. I tried discussing this book with several of my peers, only to discover that the minute I mentioned zombies, their brains shut down. They wouldn’t even consider reading a book that even alluded to zombies. I realize my peers (old folk or at least older folk) are not the target market of this book but Brown’s writing skills are certainly capable of penning a book that would appeal to a wider audience. This isn’t saying I disliked the book but that it will have limited appeal beyond the younger readers.

I recommend the book.


I recommend the book.

Body of work of Ryan Brown

Web Site:

Ni'il, The Awakening by James Boyle

Police Chief Dan Connor is faced with something beyond his experience. A pragmatic soul, he is thrust into a frightening situation involving supernatural forces. Who he allies with and how he proceeds with define the rest of his life.

This story includes native Americans, ecology, mystery, murder, love and the supernatural. It takes this wide range of ingredients and blends it into an exciting and tension inspiring read. Boyle very clearly shows that our past can shape us but that our consciousness can allow us to determine how we let the past mold us. Boyles characterizations were excellent. He shows Dan and Stephanie as real people, who have made real mistakes and allows their characters to come to peace with their past and their future.

There is a message in the book that Boyle promotes without preaching. He does a good job in allowing the reader to form his own decisions. I look forward to seeing more from this new author.

I highly recommend it.

Body of work of James Boyle