Dark Hunger (Manga Version): Christine Feehan

“FEEL THE NEED…

“He is Riordan…Carpathian male. Immortal. Seer. Now trapped and caged, his honor is compromised by his captors. They’re in his mind. They’re in his blood. But not one of them can withstand his desire for revenge.

“She is Juliette…A Beautiful activist devoted to the liberation of animals from the foul and humid confines of a secret jungle lab. What she has stumbled upon is unexpected—a prisoner like no other she has ever seen. Or touched.

“She will release from his bonds. He will release her from her inhibitions. Each has a voracious appetite that must be sated.

“…DARK HUNGER

“FEED IT.”

So, occasionally, I will pick up a manga or two (and I'm REALLY excited to read the manga version of Sherrilyn Kenyon's book, but that's another story...) and this one caught my eye. A while ago, I read the actual short story of this and I liked it. The plot was interesting and I believe that this manga followed it pretty well. However, I think the short story was a bit easier to follow and it explained things in a better manner; but I can't really fault the creators of this manga because I understand that it's not necessarilly easy to compile an entire plot into a manga. It was still well-done and I REALLY loved to finally have a face to the characters. I'll look for more Feehan manga in the future.

My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding (Contains Dark-Hunter Series, Book Seventeen): Sherrilyn Kenyon, Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Lori Handeland & more

“WEREWOLVES, VAMPIRES, WITCHES, VOODOO, ELVIS—AND WEDDINGS

“An “ordinary” wedding can get crazy enough, so can you imagine what happens when otherworldly creatures are involved? Nine of the hottest authors of paranormal fiction answer that question in this delightful collection of supernatural wedding stories. What’s the seating plan when rival clans of werewolves and vampires meet under the same roof? How can a couple in the throes of love overcome traps set by feuding relatives…who are experts at voodoo? Will you have a good marriage if your high-seas wedding is held on a cursed ship? How do you deal with a wedding singer who’s just a little too good at impersonating Elvis?

“SHAPE-SHIFTERS, WIZARDS, AND MAGIC, OH MY!

“Spellbound: L.A. Banks”

Well, this was not the first time that I read L.A. Banks, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first—and, for those of you who didn’t read my other review of Banks, I didn’t really like the writing to begin with. I REALLY don’t want to be completely down on Banks because it does take a lot of work to write, but there was just something lacking in both stories I have read by her. Plain and simple, her writing just isn’t for me. The plot was not fun to follow and there were just so many names and hardly any background at all (which was similar to the other short story of hers that I read). The overall idea of this story was cute and interesting, but things could definitely have been explained better, and I had a hard time feeling for the main characters at all. I was a little disappointed with this story and—in all honesty—really hoped that the book got better as I read.

“Something Borrowed: Jim Butcher”

I have never read Jim Butcher before, so this short story was a first. I liked the characters and the story was unique because it was written in the first-person. This isn’t easy to do and not many authors are able to pull it off, but I must say that Butcher did a very good job. His story was interesting and gave me good background and defined terms so I wouldn’t struggle through the story.

Now, this isn’t really my normal type of reading, but it was fairly compelling and a good, short read. Who knows? I might even read more of Butcher’s works in the future—even though he isn’t entirely my style.

“Dead Man’s Chest: Rachel Cane”

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this story!!! It has to be my favorite one in this book thus far. The characters were fun and realistic and the plot had captivating twists that kept me reading. ****This next part is a bit of a spoiler*** As soon as I read the description of Captain Lockhart, I instantly thought “oh boy…here’s a blatant copycat of Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean…” and that Rachel Cane was just a Pirates fanatic… But I was REALLY happy that Cane’s character realized how similar the situation was to Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. She even went so far as to practically quote certain scenes that corresponded to the film. I laughed several times and found myself charmed by her characters.

Overall, the plot was unique and VERY interesting and would actually LOVE to read more of Rachel Cane in the future!

“ “All Shook Up”: P.N. Elrod”

This is the first writing by P.N. Elrod that I have gotten a chance to read and I really enjoyed it. Her characters were sweet and endearing and the plot was fun. I found myself guessing what was going to happen next and could not figure it out. (That’s pretty hard for an author to do that to me. Though, I will be honest, I think if I had read Elrod before, then I would have been able to figure it out.)

Anyhow, this was a very cute short story and found myself really liking the characters. I will probably read more of Elrod in the future.

“The Wedding of Wylda Serene: Esther M. Friesner”

Esther M. Friesner was another new author to me in this anthology. This was an interesting short story as a first reading from this author.

As I first started reading, I had no idea what to expect from this story. The language used—including the dialogue—was a bit wordy for my tastes. The story was written in the first-person (which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing), but the vocabulary was unnecessarily elaborate. I liked the plot twists and it was a cute story, but I may or may not read more of Friesner in the future.

“Charmed by the Moon: Lori Handeland”

I’ve read Lori Handeland before, in another anthology, and it was good to read her again. Her writing is fun; her characters are interesting; and her plots move very well. I don’t have much more to say about this short story because it’s all pretty straightforward and to-the-point, but it was all good nonetheless.

“Tacky: Charlaine Harris”

I don’t believe that I’ve read Charlaine Harris before, but this was a cute story. The plot was refreshing and interesting. There were refreshing bits to it that made the story unique and cute. The characters were fun and made me want to read more.

Overall, it was a nice short story and I may even read more works by Harris in the future.

“A Hard Day’s Night-Searcher: Sherrilyn Kenyon”

And here we are with Sherrilyn Kenyon again. Need I say how much I love her writing?

Anyway, once more, Kenyon has that unique ability to make her readers care about her characters in the span of only a few pages. It’s amazing! However, this was not one of my favorite works of hers, but it was still very cute and a fun read. The characters were interesting and it was cool to read more about a Dark-Hunter that I’d only barely seen before. Plus, I LOVED the fact that Rafael’s Squire, Jeff, wrote about the world of the Dark-Hunters and made it his own. It was hilarious and really dragged me into the story. Can’t wait to read more of Kenyon’s work!!!

“ “…Or Forever Hold Your Peace”: Susan Krinard”

This is the first work by Susan Krinard that I’ve read and I liked it more than I expected to. It was very unique and I instantly liked the characters. I know for certain that I wouldn’t have been able to understand what the heck was going on if Krinard hadn’t supplied background information, so I REALLY appreciate that. I actually really liked this short story and—though it isn’t my usual taste in reading materials—I think I may seek out other books by Krinard that are like this one.

***YAY!!! So, this is my 100th post for my book-review blog! I’m actually really excited about it! I wish I’d posted the books that I’d read in that gap between my first and second posts, but oh well…I will just end up making them my next few blog postings :) Anyhow, I LOVE doing this blog and would really appreciate some feedback. Just a “hey, what’s up”, let me know what you think of the books I review—whether you loved them or hated them, or even tell me that you think what I’m doing is stupid. I can take it! I know people read this and I would LOVE to hear from them! Peace out!***

*Just a note, my label for this post does not contain all of the authors of this anthology because I can only have 200 characters...sorry!*

Dark Side of the Moon (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Sixteen): Sherrilyn Kenyon

***Okay, so I have two different synopsies of this book: one from the hardcover and one from the paperback. The first will be from the hardcover and the second from the paperback. Just thought I would let you all know***

“Susan Michaels was once the hottest reporter on the Beltway Beat until a major scandal ruined her life and left her writing stories about alien babies and Elvis sightings. Life as she once knew it is over, or so she thinks, but then she gets a lead on a story that could salvage her extinct career. She heads to the local animal shelter, expecting a hot news tip, which she gets in the form of a major police cover-up...for a ring of soul-sucking vampires out to take over Seattle. So much for her credibility.

"And if that isn't bad enough, she gets talked into adopting a cat and finds she's allergic to it. A cat that turns out to be a shapeshifter who claims to be an immortal vampire slayer on the prowl for the same corrupt cops. Her first thought: seek professional help.

"But as Susan's drawn into Ravyn's dark and dangerous world, she comes to realize that there's a lot more at stake than just her defunct career. Now it's no longer a question of bringing the truth to her readers; it's a matter of saving their very lives and souls.

"Ravyn's life was shattered over four hundred years ago, when he mistakenly trusted the wrong human with the truth of his existence. He lost his family, his honor, and his life. Now, in order to save the people of Seattle, he's forced to confront that nightmare all over again, and to trust another woman with the secret that could destroy him.

"In the world of the Dark-Hunters, life is always dangerous. But never more so than now, when a very human woman can shatter their entire world with just one story. The only question is...will she?"

*PAPERBACK*

"Half animal, half man, wholly dangerous. Locked in eternal battle, a Were-Hunter knows everything about peril and pain. But the greatest threat is yet to come...

"Susan Michaels was the hottest reporter on the Beltway Beat until she walked into a setup that ruined her reputation. Now she's working for a small Seattle paper, penning stories about killer moths and alien babies, convinced that her life couldn't get any worse...

"That was before an idea for a breaking news piece brings her to a local animal shelter where she ends up listening to her source rant about vampires and gets coerced into adopting a cat despite her allergies. But when her new pet suddenly reveals himself to be a gorgeous--and lethal--shapeshifter, Susan realizes that there's far more at stake than a career-saving by-line.

"Born into a world of predatios, Were-Hunter Ravyn Kontis was betrayed by those he loved best. Soulless, pitiless, he has spent three hundred years battling the Daimons who seek to subjugate humankind. Against all odds, Susan evokes in Ravyn feelings of tenderness. Desire. Love. And with the ultimate battle about to begin, this one very human woman holds the power to shatter both their worlds..."

Now, this was the next in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter Series and I very much enjoyed it. There were quirks to it that made it its own special story and it kept me interesting. (I particularly loved the fact that Susan was allergic to Ravyn!) The story was different from the other books in the series, completely combining the worlds of the Were-Hunters and the Dark-Hunters. It was new and something that I was definitely not expecting.

However, I would have liked to see more of Acheron in this book. I understand how he doesn’t really show up much in the Were-Hunter books, but since Ravyn was a Dark-Hunter, I would have thought that I would have seen more of Acheron. It was a little sad, but I guess it’s all for a good reason. I’m sure Kenyon has a master plan for it all.

Also—I don’t want to give too much away—but this books marks the return to the real world of a DEARLY beloved character of mine! I was so excited, but it was a bittersweet return that brought tears to my eyes; especially at the end of the book…

Overall, it was a very good book and I liked it a lot. Can’t wait to read more!

Unleash the Night (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Fifteen): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“It’s a predator-eat-predator world for the Were-Hunters. Danger haunts any given day. There is no one to trust. No one to love. Not if they want to live…

“An orphan with no clan that will claim him, Wren Tigarian grew to adulthood under the close scrutiny and mistrust of those around him. A forbidden blend of two animals—snow leopard and white tiger—Wren has never listened to anyone when there was something he wanted. Now he wants Marguerite.

“Marguerite D’Aubert Goudeau is the daughter of a prominent U.S. senator who hates the socialite life she’d forced to live. Like her mother before her, she has strong Cajun roots that her father doesn’t understand. Still, she has no choice but to try and conform to a world where she feels like an outsider. But the world of rich and powerful humans is never to meet the world of the Were-Hunters who exist side by side with them, unseen, unknown, undetected. To break this law is to call down a wrath of the highest order.

“In order to have Marguerite, Wren must fight not just the humans who will never accept his animal nature, but the Were-Hunters who want him dead for endangering their world. It’s a race against time and magic without boundary that could cost Marguerite and Wren not just their lives, but their very souls…”

Yet another of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s brilliant works! Once again, I love her style and her characters. Wren was wonderfully written and he rivals even Zarek in my book (and those of you who read my review of Dance With the Devil know what a huge honor that is!). The more I read, the more I enjoyed the characters and their stories.

Overall, the book was fast-paced and I read it in one day! It was wonderful! Though, I must admit, it was rather busy and a bit harder to follow than Kenyon’s other works that I have had the pleasure to enjoy. There were just SO many characters (including Dante from an earlier short story, Vane, Julian, Fury, Fang, and several more). It was difficult to follow at first, but I gradually caught on. I had to remember who each character was and what each of his stories was, but—once I did—I realized it was a VERY well-planned plot with a lot of different facets to it.

I VERY much enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read more!

Hot Blooded Anthology: Christine Feehan, Maggie Shayne, Emma Holly, Angela Knight

***This book contains the first part to Angela Knight’s Mageverse Series, Book Fourteen in Christine Feehan’s Dark Series, and number Six in Emma Holly’s reading order!***

“ “Dark Hunger” by New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan

“In a dark jungle, a beautiful activist liberates animals from a secret laboratory—and stumbles across an unexpected prisoner. She releases the Carpathian from his bonds—only to unleash his voracious appetite on herself…”

This was the first work by Christine Feehan that I’ve read. I’ve been meaning to read her—I have a list of her books all set to go—and it just worked out that I was reading Angela Knight once more and this short story by Feehan just happened to get caught up in the mix.

Overall, it was good. Her writing style is different and I liked it. The story itself was a little bit difficult to understand—though I am fairly certain that has to do with the fact that this is actually the fourteenth installment in a series… My fault for not having read the other thirteen… Anyhow, the characters were nice and I loved the descriptions of the environment.

I must admit, however, that this was fairly similar to one of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s short stories: “Winter Born” in the Stroke of Midnight anthology. I’m not implying that one author copied the other; I’m just saying that if you liked one, you’ll probably like the other.

This story was interesting and I’ll be reading more of Feehan in the future!

“ “Awaiting Moonrise” by New York Times bestselling author Maggie Shayne

“A science professor enters the steamy bayou to find a new species of animal, convinced that its presence is behind the stories of lycanthropy in the region, but finds herself tempted by a legendary creature straight out of her most sensual nightmare…”

I’ve only read Maggie Shayne once before, but the more I read her, the more I find that I like her. The first one I read by her was good—it wasn’t my favorite, but parts of it were really good. This one, however, was VERY good! I loved the plot and the story behind it all. It was so interesting and I really devoured it! Again, there was that element of gruesomeness, but it really ended up enhancing the story. Her characters have this mystery about them that only seems to work with Shayne’s writing. I have seen other writers attempt creating characters in this manner, but none seem to pull it off nearly as well as this one.

Of course, I will be reading more of Maggie Shayne in the future: especially after this short story!

“ “The Night Owl” by Emma Holly

“Little ever seems to stir in the sleepy woods of a small Vermont town, until a new owner takes over the exclusive local inn. He is centuries old and has traveled far and wide to find his queen—and now nothing will stop him from claiming her…”

As with Christine Feehan’s short story, this was a later installment in a series. I have been meaning to read Emma Holly’s works and was excited to see her name on the cover of the anthology.

I will admit that I have discovered another author whom I would be thrilled to read again! Her writing was unique, yet it maintained the style that captivates me. The characters were extremely likable and the plot remained interesting throughout. Even though this is book six in a series, I felt as if I was able to understand a good enough amount where this short story could stand alone. It was really impressive. I loved the new twist that Holly has thrown in to the mix and—I really don’t want to give it away—but it may either thrill or completely turn off the vampire-lover.

You’ll be sure to read more reviews of Holly’s works in the future!

“ “Seduction’s Gift” by Angela Knight

“All’s fair in the war between desire and resistance when a lady cop pulls over a speeder—and finds an immortal lover who is determined to seduce her into accepting her own passionate destiny…”

I’ve read Angela Knight before and this book definitely lived up to my expectations. The writing was captivating and it flowed very well. I had a bit of a hard time following the plot in the beginning, but it was quickly clarified. It was so cool to see a different side to one of the Knights of the Round Table! (Actually, part of the story actually rang of the research paper that I wrote for my Honors English Comp. I class… Pretty neat if you ask me.)

Of course, I will be reading more of Knight’s works in the future!

“When the sun goes down, each woman will discover the man she desires—within the beast that drives her wild…”

Stroke of Midnight (Contains Dark-Hunter Series, Book Eleven): Sherrilyn Kenyon, Amanda Ashley, L. A. Banks, Lori Handeland

“In an unseen world that lurks in the shadows, they roam the night—feral, passionate, and dangerous. And when their world touches ours, a primitive desire takes hold, leaving mere mortals powerless in its wake…

“Four of romance’s most intriguing authors have come together to create a mesmerizing anthology—unforgettable tales of vampires, shapeshifters, and werewolves. At the heart of these deeply sensual tales are everyday people facing extraordinary events—men and women thrown together by fate and an irresistible desire. In this world, your eyes can betray you as myth becomes reality, curses are vanquished, and love is the only weapon that can stand in the face of evil. In this world, there is a moment when passion and forbidden desire collide at the…Stroke of Midnight”

“WINTER BORN BY SHERRILYN KENYON

“Two enemy Were-Panthers discover that fate has destined they become lovers. Pandora must learn to trust Dante’s foreign nature. But as she slowly succumbs to the truest passion she has ever known, dark forces have already set out to reclaim her…”

I’ve said this before, but I must say it again: I love Sherrilyn Kenyon’s work! Her characters are so easy to care for and follow and it’s amazing how she NEVER leaves out anything previously mentioned about a character. As soon as I was reminded about who Dante was, I knew that this was going to be interesting. The animalistic emotions and characteristics were FASCINATING to read about. I’m not going to go on and on, but I do have to say that this book would be a bit difficult for someone who hasn’t read about the Katagaria and Arcadians.

“BORN OF THE NIGHT BY AMANDA ASHLEY

“When Lady Shanara Montiori is taken hostage, she learns that the rumors about her captor are true. Lord Reyes is afflicted with the dark curse of the werewolf. Still, Shanara can’t fight the attraction they both feel. Will their love break the curse—or feed its powerful hold?”

I LOVED how descriptive this short story was. It was almost like I could feel what it was like to be Reyes as he changed into a wolf. The characters were wonderful and—as I said in my last review of Amanda Ashley, I’m really growing to enjoy her works more and more.

“MAKE IT LAST FOREVER BY L. A. BANKS

“An innocent mistake forces the beautiful Tara onto a mission to save herself from the dark fate that awaits her. Salvation comes in the form of a seductive biker with a heart of gold. But will surrendering to their ripe attraction unleash a danger even she cannot control?”

Well, this was the first story by L. A. Banks that I’ve read. It started out interesting enough…a little hard to follow, but it kept me interested. Then…it got more difficult. I had no idea what was going on and—it could have just been me—but it wasn’t much fun to read. Sections of the story would start off with “he” or “she” and I couldn’t tell if the author was trying to bring in a new mysterious character or what. The whole myth behind what was wrong with Tara was vague and difficult to understand. I feel like there could have been a lot more background. The ending was decent, but I still kind of felt frustrated with the writing. Maybe I’ll give Banks another chance in the future.

“RED MOON RISING BY LORI HANDELAND

“Novelist Maya Alexander’s peace is shattered when she is stalked by a Navajo skinwalker who has taken on the guise of a wolf. Her only hope is the mysterious Clay Phillips. In his arms, she seeks protection—but as the red moon rises, no one is safe from the danger that lurks nearby…”

The was the first work by Lori Handeland that I’ve gotten to read and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised! I can honestly say that I have not read a book written in the first-person since…like elementary school… But this author made it so there was a certain level of sophistication to it that kept my attention. It was actually kind of fun not knowing what the other main character was thinking. It made it all seem more real because you can’t know what someone else is feeling—what they know, what they think.

The background to the story was well-explained and very captivating. I will definitely read more of Lori Handeland in the future!

Night Play (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Ten): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“Bride McTierney has had it with men. They’re cheap, self-centered, and never love her for who she is. But though she prides herself on being independent, deep down she still yearns for a knight in shining armor.

“She just never expected her knight in shining armor to have a shiny coat of fur…

“Deadly and tortured, Vane Kattalakis isn’t what he seems. Most women lament that their boyfriends are dogs. In Bride’s case, hers is a wolf. A Were-Hunter wolf. Wanted dead by his enemies, Vane isn’t looking for a mate. But the Fates have marked Bride as his. Now he has three weeks to either convince Bride that the supernatural is real of he will spend the rest of his life neutered—something no self-respecting wolf can accept…

“But how does a wolf convince a human to trust him with her life when his enemies are out to end his? In the world of the Were-Hunters, it really is dog-eat-dog. And only one alpha male can win.”

Once more, I must profess my love of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s writing! She has such a way of writing her plots and staying true to her characters that it’s difficult not to fall for them! It’s not easy to have characters return for several books (some of them, all of the books) while keeping their personalities the same. It takes true talent and I can only hope that someday I will be able to write as well as Kenyon.

It was SO interesting to read more about the Katagaria and Arcadians because they had only been touched on in the previous books (if you don’t count Dragonswan, which is pretty biased because it focuses on more of the Arcadian side). Vane was a very interesting character to watch and I found him almost as dynamic as Zarek from Dance With the Devil. And those of you who read that book know what a feat that is. Anyway, I loved this book and really hope to read more about the Katagaria in future books!

Dragonswan (Dark-Hunter Series, Book Three): Sherrilyn Kenyon

“Beautiful scholar Channon MacRea has spent years studying the legendary Dragon Tapestry, devoting days and nights to deciphering the impenetrable Old English symbolism. Then one evening the unnaturally handsome Sebastian appears. He claims to hold the key to solving the tapestry’s mysteries. Bearing magnificently taut and tanned flesh marked by intriguing scars of battle, he also claims to be a dragon slayer trapped between two worlds.

“For Channon there’s only one way to finally uncover the secrets of the intricate embroidery—by following the seductive stranger into a fantastic alternate world of magic, danger, and erotic adventure.”
So, I ordered this book offline and was all excited to get it…little did I know that I paid six bucks for a book with only a little over 80 pages! Wow, I had a good laugh over that…but that’s not what this review is about.

This book was very short, but it seems as if Sherrilyn Kenyon has a certain knack for making her readers care for her characters in a matter of pages. It’s no small feat and I really admire her for it! Sebastian was a fascinating character, as was his story. I saw a lot of myself in Channon and it only made me want to read more!

The story behind Sebastian was so well-thought-out that I couldn’t put the book down! I’m not usually into these types of books, but this was too amazing not to read. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!