RevIew: Hard Magic by Laura Anne Gilman

Hard Magic

Author: Laura Anne Gilman

Publication: Luna; Original edition (May 1, 2010)

Description: Welcome to P.U.P.I.—Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations

A handpicked team trained to solve crimes the regular police can't touch—crimes of magic.

My name's Bonnie Torres. Recent college grad, magic user and severely unemployed. Until I got a call out of nowhere to interview for a job I hadn't applied for. It smelled fishy, but the brutal truth was I needed the work—so off I went.

Two days later I'm a PUPI—me and Nick, Sharon, Nifty and Pietr. Five twentysomethings, thrown into an entirely new career in forensic magic.

The first job we get is a doozy: proving that the deaths of two Talents were murder, not suicide. Worse, there are high-profile people who want us to close up shop and go away. We're sniffing out things they'd rather keep buried.

Looks as if this job is gonna get interesting. The only problem is, we're making it up as we go along….

My Thoughts: This was an entertaining start to a series. I thought the book was very readable. I liked Bonnie. She came across as a 20-something recent college graduate who really didn't know what she wanted to do for her career.  Bonnie is also a bridge between Council and lonejacks since her father was a lonejack and her mentor and Guardian is Council. I enjoyed her relationship with her Guardian J as she begins to assert her independence.

The mystery was interesting. We had a chance to follow the clues as the team worked to develop new investigatory techniques. The concept of an unaffiliated investigation organization that deals with crimes between Talents makes for an interesting story.

I would have liked to know more about each member of the team and about the two men who founded the investigative agency. I hope we get more details in further episodes. Overall this was a satisfying beginning to an interesting series.

Challenges: RYOB Reading Challenge

 

Reading Habits Meme

Simcha at SFF Chat Blog came across this fun meme today at Floor to Ceiling Books (who got it from The World in the Satin Bag) about books and reading habits and I thought I would give it a shot myself.

Here I go...everything you ever wanted to know about my reading habits...

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack:

I usually do snack while I'm reading. I favor chips or little candy bars depending on whether I'm craving salty or sweet.

What is your favorite drink while reading?

My favorite dring at all times is Diet Pepsi. I usually have one with me no matter what I am doing.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?

I never write in books. I even hated highlighting my college textbooks. I like my Kindle because I can make notes or highlights without permanently damaging the book.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?

I have a large bunch of bookmarks -- but I have been known to leave a book laying flat open if I'm just leaving in for a bit. I also have been known to leave it flat open over the back of my couch. I would never dog-ear a page in a book.

Fiction, nonfiction, or both?

99% of the books I read are fiction and generally genre fiction at that -- paranormal romance, urban fantasy, science fiction, mystery, romance

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?

I prefer finding a stopping point like a change of scene within a chapter or a chapter end but I have also been known to stop in the middle of a sentence. When I begin reading again, I always start with the first sentence on the left hand page to catch up.

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?

I don't throw books. I gently close them and put them back on the TBR stack to try again another day. If it still irritates after a couple of tries, it goes into a bag to sell or donate.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?

Context clues are usually enough. I do not stop to find a dictionary.

What are you currently reading?

Hard Magic by Laura Anne Gilman

What is the last book you bought?

Flight of the Outcast by Brad Strickland

Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?

I read one book at a time before beginning another.

Do you have a favorite time/place to read?

My living room couch is my reading place. I read in the evenings when I get home from work (and most of the weekends).

Do you prefer series books or stand alones?

Both. I do like series books because I want to keep up with characters I care about. I pay more attention to the author and story than whether or not a book is part of a series or stand-alone.

Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?

I have been recommending Beautiful Creatures by Kami Stoll and Margaret Garcia to all of my students lately. To adults, I tend to recommend The Sharing Knife series by Lois McMaster Bujold or the Liaden Universe books by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller.

How do you organize your books?(by genre, title, author’s last name, etc.)

My books - even my TBR piles - are in alphabetical order by author (must be a librarian thing).

Teaser Tuesday: Hard Magic by Laura Anne Gilman

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 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!

Hard Magic

Author: Laura Anne Gilman

Publication: Luna; Original edition (May 1, 2010) 

 

"There's nothing keeping you here against your will. We chose your names not by random chance, but because each and every one of you met our criteria for intelligence, independence, determination, curiosity, and a certain...dogged stubbornness."

This one is proving to be an interesting paranormal mystery.
 

 

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (May 10, 2010)

It's Monday, What are you reading is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Sheila says: 

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.

Here is what I read and reviewed last week:

Burned by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Out of Mind by Stella Cameron (LibraryThing Early Reviewers book and reviewed there)

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh

The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

I just noticed that I read equally this past week in young adult and adult books. That is somewhat unusual. I usually binge on one or the other in a week.

What I'm Currently Reading:

Hard Magic by Laura Anne Gilman

Here is the product description from Amazon:

Welcome to P.U.P.I.--Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations

A handpicked team trained to solve crimes the regular police can't touch--crimes of magic.

My name's Bonnie Torres. Recent college grad, magic user and severely unemployed. Until I got a call out of nowhere to interview for a job I hadn't applied for. It smelled fishy, but the brutal truth was I needed the work--so off I went.

Two days later I'm a PUPI--me and Nick, Sharon, Nifty and Pietr. Five twentysomethings, thrown into an entirely new career in forensic magic.

The first job we get is a doozy: proving that the deaths of two Talents were murder, not suicide. Worse, there are high-profile people who want us to close up shop and go away. We're sniffing out things they'd rather keep buried.

Looks as if this job is gonna get interesting. The only problem is, we're making it up as we go along....

Here is What I Plan to Read Next:

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa (from NetGalley)
Changeling by Steve Feasey (purchased from The Book Depository)
The Season by Sarah MacLean (purchased at our last HS Book Fair)

I had a good reading week scattered around doctor visits and some medical tests. Next week should be back to the routine. Or, at least, as much routine as I can manage around our last book fair and the end of the school year approaching.

How was your week?


 

Review: Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

Dead in the Family

Author: Charlaine Harris

Publication: Ace Hardcover; 1 edition (May 4, 2010)

 

Description: After enduring torture and the loss of loved ones during the brief but deadly Faery War, Sookie Stackhouse is hurt and she's angry. Just about the only bright spot in her life is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman. But he's under scrutiny by the new Vampire King because of their relationship. And as the political implications of the Shifters coming out are beginning to be felt, Sookie's connection to the Shreveport pack draws her into the debate. Worst of all, though the door to Faery has been closed, there are still some Fae on the human side-and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry...

 

My Thoughts: This can't help but be spoiler-y. Don't read on if you aren't up to date in this series.

 

Sookie is recovering from the battles and losses of the last book. Eric is under stress because of the new enforcer sent by the King of his territory. Sookie's relationship with Eric is going OK though until Eric's sire and his new brother arrive. The brother is insane yet his sire is reluctant to give him his true death and the emotions of all three vampires are being shared with Sookie. Most of the fae have gone away but some of the ones who have stayed want revenge on Sookie. Claude moves in, he says, so that he can be with someone else with fae blood. The weres have come out and the government wants to regulate them. Sookie's least favorite FBI agent has been told to back off but he still wants to get her for something. Bill has been poisoned with silver and isn't getting better.

 

On the plus side, Sookie's relationship with her brother is much better than it has ever been. This was a great episode and far less violent than the episodes that have preceded it. Sookie is less bright and cheery than she was at the beginning of the series. Lost innocence can't be regained. But she is trying very hard to regain her balance and her optimism.

 

This was a wonderful book that sucked me in and kept me reading late into the night. I couldn't put it down until my eyes just refused to stay open any longer.

 

Challenges: RYOB Reading Challenge

 

In My Mailbox (May 9, 2010)

The weekly In My Mailbox post is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is fun to see what everyone else gets in their mailboxes, shopping bags, and library visits. Click on the link to The Story Siren's site to see the rules and join in the fun.

 

I guarantee that your TBR pile will grow when you see all the cool books everyone gets. You will discover lots of wonderful blogs and lots of books that you won't be able to live without.

 

These found their way to my mailbox or my Kindle this week.

 

I am a big fan of the Sookie Stackhouse books. I was excited when I found out that Dead in the Family was coming out and pre-ordered it to get it as soon as possible.

 

Honeymoon of the Dead by Tate Hallaway is in the Garnet Lacey series. I have all of the other books and like the Midwestern setting for this story about witches and vampires.

 

Love in the Time of Dragons is by Katie MacAlister. This summary drew me in:

Tully Sullivan is just like any other suburban mom-except she's just woken up in a strange place surrounded by strange people who keep insisting that they're dragons-and that she's one too.

Stormwalker by Allyson James sounds like another great urban fantasy with a kick-ass heroine. Bewitched & Betrayed by Lisa Shearin is the first another urban fantasy series.  Between Friends by Kristy Kernan is something totally different. I won this book. It is a contemporary chick-lit sort of book.

With realistic dialogue and pinpointed emotions, Kiernan paints a persuasive portrait of the bonds between mothers, daughters, and friends in this inspiring, heartbreaking tale.

I also added some books to my Kindle this week. They are light, fluffy romances about baseball. I had read the first book in the series earlier and was pleased to see, when I was browsing the Kindle Store, that there were more.

I added Strike Zone, Sliding Home, and Curveball by Kate Angell to my Kindle this week.

That was my week. How was yours?

 

Favorite Male Mystery Author: Dick Francis

Lori at Lori's Reading Corner has started a new meme. It is called the Saturday Spotlight. Here is what it is about in Lori's own words:

Welcome to the Saturday Spotlight, where each week we will have a chance to showcase something new. It will be the place to gather, talk and shine the “spotlight” on all things book related. Not to mention a place to discover new to us authors, characters, series and places.

Each week I will pick a new theme for us to share our favorite of, and every once in a while I’ll make it a “readers choice” week where you can spotlight whatever you want.

Some of the different things we’ll be spotlighting are our favorite book, author, female/male character, location, murder weapon, series, other book blogs, giveaway sites, places to get our books and just about anything else book related.

This week my spotlight is shining on my ......

FAVORITE MALE MYSTERY AUTHOR

This didn't require any thought for me at all. My favorite male mystery author is Dick Francis. You can read all about him in this article from wikipedia. Some highlights are that he was a champion jockey and rode for the Queen Mother Elizabeth. He left racing after a serious fall and then turned to writing books.

In 1962 he published his first thriller Dead Cert, set in the world of racing. Subsequently he regularly produced a novel a year for the next 38 years, missing only 1998 (during which he published a short-story collection). Although all his books were set against a background of horse racing, his heroes held a variety of jobs from artist (In the Frame and To the Hilt) to private investigator (Odds Against).

Many of his books were nominated for the Edgar Award and he won it three times - Forfeit (1970), Whip Hand (1981), and Come to Grief (1996). He also won many other awards in the mystery genre. His wife Mary was his unsung collaborator. After her death in 2006, he wrote books with his son Felix. Francis died on February 10, 2010.

I used to look forward to his annual book and read all the rest of them again in anticipation. (Oh, for the days when I had time to reread multiple books.) I have read many of his books multiple times. My favorites are Hot Money, Straight, Reflex, and Proof. His books all follow a theme - a physically and mentally tough man finds himself in a mystery and faces danger while trying to solve it.

Visit Lori's Reading Corner to find out about some other favorite mystery authors and to find some other bloggers who love mysteries too.