Book Review: Dragonseye by Anne McCaffrey

Dragonseye
Author: Anne McCaffrey
Series: Pern: On Dragons (Book 14)
Publication: Del Rey; Reprint edition (December 27, 1997)

Description: In Anne McCaffrey's New York Times bestselling DRAGONSEYE, join Weyrleaders, Holders, and Craftmasters in the creation of the legendary Star Stones and the teaching ballads of Pern!

It's been two-hundred years since the deadly Thread fell like rain upon Pern, devouring everything in its path. No one alive remembers that first horrific onslaught and no one believes in its return--except for the dragonriders. For two centuries they have been practicing and training, passing down from generation to generation the formidable Threadfighting techniques.

Now the ominous signs are appearing: the violent winter storms and volcanic eruptions that are said to herald the approach of the Red Star and its lethal spawn. But one stubborn Lord Holder, Chalkin of Bitra, refuses to believe--and that disbelief could spell disaster. So as the dragonriders desperately train to face a terrifying enemy, they and the other Lord Holders must find a way to deal with Chalkin--before history repeats itself and unleashes its virulence on all of Pern. . . .

My Thoughts: It is two-hundred years since the first Thread fell on Pern. Old Earth technology is failing or has already failed. Old attitudes are going away except for some die-hard traditionalists. This story follows a number of people who are getting ready for Thread to fall.

We get the story of a young woman named Debera who was Searched but whose father didn't tell her that she had a chance to Impress a dragon because he had made other more advantageous (to him) plans for her future. When she finds the letter, she runs away from home followed by her father, the man he made the deal with, and her potential mate. She gets to the hatching ground in time to Impress the green Dragon Morath.

We get the story of an artist whose first commission is to paints miniatures of the young children of the Lord Holder of Bitra. Iantine learns just how badly a Hold can be run as he meets Lord Holder Chalkin who doesn't believe that Thread is really going to fall.

We see that various Lord Holders and Weyr Leaders as they meet to decide what to do about Lord Chalkin and get to know the personalities of the first group to fight Thread without old Earth technology but with dragons.

We meet the teachers who are tasked with finding a way to continue teaching their necessary curriculum now that the final computers have died. We see the development of the Teaching Songs and Ballads.

This was an excellent story that sets up the Pern that readers see in the books that take place in times long past this second Thread fall. The characters were engaging and the plot was fast moving.

Favorite Quote:

"I was Searched," she said, urgently stroking Morath, who was trying to burrow her head into the girl's body. "I had the right to come. I wanted to come," and then she waved an indignant hand at her prostrate father, "and they didn't even show me the letter telling me to come. He wants me for a union because he had a deal with Boris for a mining site and with Ganmar for taking me on. I don't want Ganmar, and I don't know anything about mining. I was Searched and I have the right to decide." The indignant words rushed out, accompanied by expressions of distaste, resentment, and anger.

I bought this one on December 10, 1997. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: Dragonseye by Anne McCaffrey

Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

I dug really deep in my TBR mountain to find Dragonseye by Anne McCaffrey. Amazon tells me that I bought this one on December 10, 1997. Here is the description of McCaffrey's 14th Pern book from Amazon:

In Anne McCaffrey's New York Times bestselling DRAGONSEYE, join Weyrleaders, Holders, and Craftmasters in the creation of the legendary Star Stones and the teaching ballads of Pern!

It's been two-hundred years since the deadly Thread fell like rain upon Pern, devouring everything in its path. No one alive remembers that first horrific onslaught and no one believes in its return--except for the dragonriders. For two centuries they have been practicing and training, passing down from generation to generation the formidable Threadfighting techniques.

Now the ominous signs are appearing: the violent winter storms and volcanic eruptions that are said to herald the approach of the Red Star and its lethal spawn. But one stubborn Lord Holder, Chalkin of Bitra, refuses to believe--and that disbelief could spell disaster. So as the dragonriders desperately train to face a terrifying enemy, they and the other Lord Holders must find a way to deal with Chalkin--before history repeats itself and unleashes its virulence on all of Pern. . . .

Beginning:

Dragons in squadrons wove, and interwove, sky trails, diving and climbing in wings, each precisely separated by the minimum safety distance so that occasionally the watchers thought they saw an uninterrupted line of dragons as the close order drill continued.

Friday 56: 

Clisser and Jemmy provided support for Bethany to ascend the unrailed steps to the stage, and then, with a swirl of long skirts that covered the built-up shoe she wore, she settled herself in her chair. 

ARC Review: Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong

Deceptions
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Cainsville (Book 3)
Publication: Dutton (August 18, 2015)

Description: Olivia Taylor Jones’s life has exploded. She’s discovered she is not only adopted, but her real parents are convicted serial killers. Fleeing the media frenzy, she took refuge in the oddly secluded town of Cainsville. She has since solved the town’s mysteries and finds herself not only the target of its secretive elders but also her stalker ex-fiancé.

Visions continue to haunt her: particularly a little blond girl in a green sundress who insists she has an important message for Olivia, one that may help her balance the light and darkness within herself. Death stalks both Olivia and the two men most important to her, as she desperately searches to understand whether ancient scripts are dictating the triangle that connects them. Will darkness prevail, or does Olivia have the power to prevent a tragic fate?

My Thoughts: This is the third book in the Cainsville series. In it Olivia learns a lot more about her past. She is also learning about what the fae want from her. Being Olivia, she isn't going to give it to them unless it is what she wants too.

This story begins with a phone call from James who is Olivia's former fiance and her current stalker. Both Gabriel and Ricky have tried all they can to get him to stop harassing Olivia but nothing has worked. Olivia can't understand how the man she loved enough to accept a marriage proposal from could ever become the person he is now.

Meanwhile, Gabriel and Olivia are still working on getting her birth parents out of prison. They have already proven that they didn't commit one of the murders that they were convicted for. They are still pursuing leads that have grown cold in the twenty-two years since they were convicted. Olivia finally gets to meet her father in prison which is a very traumatic experience for her.

Olivia is also having visions of the past which are providing her with at least as many questions as answers. The fae are telling her that she, Gabriel and Ricky are reliving an old story and her choices could determine the fate of the fae.

I like Olivia a lot. As Rose's tarot card reading tells us, she is bright, perceptive, intuitive and independent and sometimes cold-hearted, critical and cynical. I like that she knows what she wants out of life and isn't going to let anyone push her around. I also like Ricky who is a perfect romantic partner for her.

I love Gabriel who is such a heart-breaking character. As a child he suffered both abuse and neglect at the hands of his drug-addicted mother. It has made him into an adult who is very protective of what he has. He can't touch and has no emotional intuition. He is very private and isn't going to risk his heart with anyone. He knows this about himself but has no way to change. I like that Olivia also knows who he is and is determined to be his friend no matter how hard it is.

While this book has a satisfying conclusion, I am glad that the author has already sold books four and five in this series. I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Favorite Quote:

"This is how it begins. With two boys and a girl, back before Romans set their filthy boots on our shores. The Tylwyth Teg and the Cˆwn Annwn are the two sides of fae—light and dark. Light is not good nor dark evil."

I got this eARC through Penguin's First to Read program. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: No Virgin Island by C. Michele Dorsey @crookedlanebks

No Virgin Island
Author: C. Michele Dorsey
Series: Sabrina Salter Mystery #1
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (August 11, 2015)

Description: Sabrina Salter traded a high-pressure job as a Boston meteorologist for life as an innkeeper on St. John. But storm clouds roll in when Sabrina finds Carter Johnson, her most attractive guest, tucked up in a hammock way past check-out time… and he’s not just dead to the world, he’s just plain dead, with a bullet hole in his chest.

This isn’t the first time Sabrina has seen a dead body, and the island police are well aware of that. Thanks to her checkered history, not to mention the fact that she was the last person who saw Carter alive and far from entirely clothed, she finds herself marked as the prime suspect.

The U.S. Virgin Islands may be the sort of place where even defense attorneys wear flip-flops, but the laid-back life is over for Sabrina unless she can clear her name. So, she sets out to solve the crime, only to find herself caught in a tidal wave of adultery, kidnapping, identity fraud and murder in No Virgin Island, C. Michele Dorsey's outstanding mystery debut.

My Thoughts: This story starts with a woman finding a dead body when she comes to clean up a rental to get ready for the next renters. Sabrina Salter has fled to St. John in the US Virgin Islands after being acquitted of murdering her husband.  Both were television personalities in the Boston area and the whole court case caused a media sensation that hasn't died down since the trial ended. She is constantly being vilified by a "legal expert" on one of the cable networks. Sabrina's first response it to leave and hope someone else discovers the body but decides that she has to report it.

She calls her partner Henry who contacts a lawyer turned bar owner named Neil which is a lucky thing since the police would like nothing better than to have Sabrina as their number one suspect. But Sabrina isn't the only one who could have killed the mysterious Carter Johnson. Why was he taking so many pictures of the villa owned by Mara, her husband Rory, and his twins? Why do Dierdre and Sam insist on staying in that villa despite being offered more perks at a better villa? What happened to the gun that next door neighbors Lyla and her Alzheimer's affected husband Evan kept at their home for protection?

This plot had a lot of twists and turns and was very engaging. I really liked Sabrina who just wanted to be left alone to quietly start her life over. Neil and Henry were also looking for new starts on St. John. But before Sabrina can have her peaceful life back, she has to find out who killed Carter Johnson. Unraveling the mystery will expose a lot of secrets.

I enjoyed this story, found it to be a quick read, and recommend it to other mystery lovers.

I received this book for review from a publicist for the publisher. You can buy your copy here.

Teaser Tuesday: Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:

When I first met Ricky, I thought he looked like Hollywood's version of a biker. Six feet, well-built, tousled blond hair to his collar,  hazel eyes, and a cleft chin when he shaved.

This week my teaser comes from the eARC of Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong. This is the third book in her Cainsville series and I got the ARC from Penguin's First to Read program. Here is the description:

Olivia Taylor Jones’s life has exploded. She’s discovered she is not only adopted, but her real parents are convicted serial killers. Fleeing the media frenzy, she took refuge in the oddly secluded town of Cainsville. She has since solved the town’s mysteries and finds herself not only the target of its secretive elders but also her stalker ex-fiancé.

Visions continue to haunt her: particularly a little blond girl in a green sundress who insists she has an important message for Olivia, one that may help her balance the light and darkness within herself. Death stalks both Olivia and the two men most important to her, as she desperately searches to understand whether ancient scripts are dictating the triangle that connects them. Will darkness prevail, or does Olivia have the power to prevent a tragic fate?

Sunday Post/It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (August 10, 2015) #IMWAYR

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Other Than Reading...

I didn't do as much reading as usual this week as I had company from Sunday until Thursday evening. My friend and I had a great time watching all of the final season of True Blood and the first season of Bitten on DVD. We also traveled up the North Shore with my brother to visit Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse with a stop for lunch at the famous Betty's Pies. The next day also had wonderful weather. So we spent the afternoon walking the Lakewalk in Duluth and watching the Aerial Lift Bridge lift for a variety of boats. I had forgotten to put my Fitbit in my pocket for our Gooseberry hike but remembered for the Lakewalk where I walked 9000 steps.

The rest of the week, I tried to catch up on my sleep and on my reading.

Read Last Week

Kitty Steals the Show by Carrie Vaughn was a very enjoyable story. It had been a while since I'd read anything in the series but now I added the final four books to TBR mountain so that I can finish it. My review will be posted on September 30.

Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews jumped right to the top of my reading stack when it downloaded to my Kindle on Tuesday. I always enjoy these Kate Daniels adventures. I love the dialogue which is nicely snarky. The story was also filled with action. My review will be posted on August 20. (I was holding a spot for this review in August and now all August reviews are read and scheduled.)

Autumn Moon by Jan DeLima was a recent arrival for review from Penguin Group. Unfortunately for me, this was the third book in a series and I really felt the lack of not having read the first two. The romance in this fantasy was excellent but I really didn't understand what was going on outside of the romance. My review will be posted on October 1.

Primal Force by D. D. Ayres was another recent arrival on my review stack. I was invited to read it via NetGalley by St. Martin's Press. Since it was a romantic suspense title with dogs, I couldn't pass it up. This one is also the third book in a series but stands alone quite well. I loved all three main characters - the girl, the guy, and the dog! My review will be posted on September 5.

Currently

Nothing. I'm trying to concentrate on catching up on the YA books I set aside to read new adult review books.

Next Week

I get to read things on my TBR mountain this week as I have caught up on review books.

Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent is the second in her Bound series. It has been on my TBR stack since August 24, 2012.

Dead Ice by Laurell K. Hamilton is the latest in her Anita Blake series. I just got it in June.

The Witch with No Name by Kim Harrison will finish her Hollows series. I just got this one in June after finishing the previous book in the series.

Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal is the second book in her Glamourist Histories. I just got it in July.

Reviews Posted

• Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson
• Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron
• No Mercy by Lori Armstrong

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

 

I got Screwball by Linda Morris for review from Penguin Group. I like sports romances and this looked like a good one. 

I also got a copy of The Veil by Chloe Neill this week. I had read and reviewed the ARC earlier and wanted to have finish copies in print and for my Kindle. 

 

I bought Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews so that it would download to my Kindle at midnight on Tuesday. I started reading it right away.

After reading Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent, I needed to buy the third book in the series - Oath Bound. Now I have the whole trilogy. 

After reading Kitty Steals the Show by Carrie Vaughn, I had to get the final four book in the Kitty Norville series.

• Kitty in the Underworld
• Kitty Rocks the House
• Kitty Saves the World 
• Low Midnight

Unleashed by Emily Kimelman was a free book for my Kindle that I found in a newsletter I get each day about bargain ebooks.

Wolf and Iron by Gordon R. Dickson was a Kindle Daily Deal. I have read much of Dickson's science fiction but don't think I have read this story which was originally released in 1990.

I was also invited to download Primal Force by D. D. Ayres for review from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. I liked the sound of this romantic suspense title and downloaded it despite the fact that it is being released on September 1 and therefore messed up my reading schedule and required me to rearrange blog posts on my calendar. (There are some disadvantages to being a couple months ahead on reading and scheduling blog posts.)

To see what Young Adult books I have been reading and plan to read, check out Ms. Martin Teaches Media - my other blog.

Book Review: No Mercy by Lori Armstrong

No Mercy
Author: Lori Armstrong
Series: Mercy Gunderson (Book 1)
Publication: Touchstone (January 12, 2010)

Description: Mercy Gunderson is a straight shooter with a hard edge. On medical leave from the army, she returns home to South Dakota, which isn't much safer for her than Iraq. Arriving just after the death of her father, it is up to Mercy to decide what to do with the family ranch and try to deal with her irresponsible sister and nephew. Feeling guilty that she didn't make it home soon enough to see her father one last time, Mercy is suddenly pulled into the local community when the body of an Indian boy is found on her land. But nobody seems to be doing anything about it, especially not the local law enforcement.

When tragedy strikes again, Mercy is ready to throw all her energy into her own investigation, and she's out for revenge. As she digs up the truth behind the shocking crimes, Mercy uncovers dark and dangerous secrets and must race to stop a killer before everything she's fought for is destroyed forever.

My Thoughts: Mercy is on medical leave from the Army and back home in South Dakota dealing with things after the death of her father. She has been an Army sniper doing missions in Iraq and Afghanistan but an injury has damaged her vision in her right eye. Now she has to deal with issues at home. Her younger sister is secretly dating a newcomer to town and is pregnant. Her teenage nephew is having conflicts with his mother and with the local Indian gang he wants to join but who isn't letting him in because he's not Indian enough. Local and not so local land developers are pressuring Mercy to sell.

When a young Indian boy is found dead on her land, Mercy is encouraged by the boy's mother to investigate. The mother doesn't feel that the new sheriff who was handpicked by Mercy's father is doing enough. When Mercy's nephew is also murdered, Mercy becomes determined to find out who caused his death despite the local sheriff telling her to back off.

Mercy is an interesting character with lots of anger issues who does a lot of hard drinking to deal with them. Despite being gone most of the last twenty years, Mercy has a network of friends in the area to help her investigate. She also has lots of guilt. She missed her father's funeral but isn't able to share that she was hurt and in the hospital at the time. She has a difficult relationship with the ranch foreman who was her boyfriend before she miscarried his baby and left home to join the Army. Her relationship with her sister is also difficult. They both had awful childhoods with Mercy seeing her mother kicked to death by a horse and her sister accidentally shooting a childhood friend. There is an awful lot of trauma going around.

This was a fascinating story well set in its place - the beautiful but desolate land in western South Dakota. Mercy was also a fascinating and complex character.

Favorite Quote:

He had been shot once in the head. Once in the heart.

I fell to my knees and touched his cheek. His skin felt warm. Supple. He hadn't been out her long. A gust of wind swirled his hair, and the strands slowly floated down to conceal his face. I frantically brushed them away, I never liked it when he hid behind his hair.

I sat down hard as the finality hit me.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.