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Kelley Armstrong
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Steven Brust
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David Weber
DarkShip Thieves - Sarah A. Hoyt Who wants to be blessed with the name Athena Hera Sinistra? Quite the mouthful. And so much heritage to live up to. I mean seriously . . . Athena? Hera? AND Sinistra?

At any rate . . . This is an intriguing story with some fascinating ideas. The story begins with Thena sleeping as she travels with her father aboard his spaceship. She is awakened by a stealthy intruder and manages to knock him out. She recognizes him as one of her father’s ‘thugs’. As she quietly investigates the remainder of the ship, she discovers her father in the medical bay, knocked out. She hears more ‘thugs’ searching for her, so she makes it to a lifepod and separates from the ship, thinking she will escape to Circum Terra and return to rescue her father. Unfortunately, her plan is thwarted as she hears a broadcast, in her father’s voice, saying that she is drugged up and having hallucinations. So, instead of Circum Terra, she flees into the dangerous powertrees. Once there, she literally runs into a Darkship, thought to be a myth, harvesting powerpods. The pilot, one Christopher (Kit) Bartolomeu Klaavil, an Enhanced Life Form (ELF) called a cat, enhanced to see in very dark conditions. . . . See . . . the Darkships need people who can see in the dark to pilot them . . .

Ahem. At any rate, ELF Cat Klaavil has now rescued an earthworm. Neither person’s parent planet is likely to welcome both of them. The Terrans believe the Darkships to be a myth. Even if they were real, they would not be welcome on Circum Terra as ELFing is against the law with the penalty of death. And, the Edenites are terrified the Terrans will discover their existence and wipe them out. Therein, our story actually begins as Thena tries to make a way for herself amongst the population of a planet that does not truly trust her and tries to find a way to go home.

The story proposes some very interesting ideas and reaches some very interesting conclusions about our, as a planet, inevitable future. It discusses the idea of a few men (and make no argument, they ARE men) governing and controlling a much larger population and the results of doing so. Eden, on the other hand, is governed by very little actual government. It has few laws (not even traffic laws!) and is, instead, guided by ‘tradition’. (The descriptions of Thena’s rides in the air cars are absolutely priceless, especially to those of us who have taught teens to drive.)

In addition, the narrative explores the morality of ELF and ‘bio’ing – basically genetically manipulation to achieve the desired fetus – and how the general population may (or may not) react to such things. The populations of the two planets are on polar opposites of the ideas, and it is engrossing to see the author’s viewpoints and resolutions. It also fascinates because, well, unfortunately, I see too much validity here. It is nice to see an author bringing my conspiracy theories to life. :D

I really enjoyed this story. I found it a refreshingly different, if not unique, approach to a tale. I mean, seriously, there are very few new ideas under the sun, and it is always fun to see an author take some ideas and wrap them up in different paper. Thena is a very scrappy young lady is quite used to fighting her way through situations. Even though she argued incessantly with her father and his rules, she desperately desires to make sure he is ok. Kit has a stable life, yet still has secrets he is not willing to share. You can probably guess where this leads. And, you would be correct. However, the ride along the way is enjoyable and both characters are quite likeable. The conversations have just enough snark to entertain me. And, I really liked the idea of ‘Eden’. Ms. Hoyt’s development of the refuge was fascinating and set my mind a jumping. I always appreciate a narrative that makes me think, “What if . . .?”

I give this book 4 stars. I’m holding off reading the next book until I see a synopsis for book three because I am not completely convinced I like where the story is going. I really like this story and its characters and hope to continue once book three is released.

As a very brief afterword, I have to wonder, how *I*, an avid *dog* person, keeps reading books about cats . . . Kitty Katt, wereCats, Cat Kit Klaavil . . . I suppose none of these situations would be better served by a canine reference . . . but still . . . .
Touched by an Alien - Gini Koch Review: This book has been on my TBR list for quite a while. I haven’t read it sooner for the simple reason that my daughter refuses to read books about aliens. (They are too real, go figure.) I did, however, manage to get the gals (and guys) over at the GoodReads group Girls, Guns, & Grimoires to make this Book of the Month, so reading along was kinda obligational. And, I am glad I did. I enjoyed it. Probably not quite as much as I wanted to, but I did enjoy it.

I loved the “Men in Armani” set up for the story. It definitely brought along vibes of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones and the accompanying grins and giggles. There is definitely snark to be found between the pages. Our heroine’s family has 4 (big) dogs. And, ya just gotta love Kitty.

But, somehow, somewhere along the way it became just a bit too contrived with too many beautiful people for me. All the Alpha Centauris, or A-Cs as they are more often called, are gorgeous. I mean heart-stoppingly good looking. Now, push out your bottom lip. Really, really, REALLY ridiculously good looking. Yet, the gorgeous women (scientists) want nothing to do with the A-C men because - wait for it - they are not smart enough. They prefer less attractive earth men. Yep. It is a geek paradise buried down in Area 51 – all sorts of gorgeous females looking for nothing beyond intelligence in their men. This, of course, leaves all these hunks looking beyond their race for their love interests. Enter one Katherine, Kitty, Katt.

Mr. Armani immediately falls for Kitty. I mean immediately. This goes beyond love at first sight. Mr. Armani’s cousin also has a ‘thing’ for her. Let the eye rolling commence.

These guys immediately take Kitty under their wing. They also immediately take her parents under their wing. And their menagerie of pets. Which, did I mention, includes 4 large dogs? These dogs include a pit bull named Duchess. Ok, I must make mention that I am a sucker for dogs. Especially pit bulls. So, I really appreciated this view of this misunderstood breed: “I thought pit bulls were deadly killers,” he said as he put her down.” “Only if they’re trained to it. Otherwise, you’re in greater danger of being licked to death.” Yep. That fits the ones I’ve known.

Back to the story – There is a lot of action as we chase after the supreme bad guy, auspiciously named Mephistopheles. There really isn’t a lot of mystery or suspense, just kick assery. And, our Ms. Kitty is quickly elevated to the leader of our expedition to take out the villain. With hair spray. Extra hold hair spray. I must admit to enjoying the ride – there is much snark to be found.

However, the amount of belief that must be suspended to ‘buy’ that all these guys are ridiculously good looking yet want intelligence in their ‘significant others’ was more than I could easily do. Added to that, the speed with which these advanced beings with talents and experience beyond our years throws out their game plan and starts listening to Kitty was mind-boggling. Yes. I can believe in aliens. And parasites. Just don’t give me gorgeousness and leadership. Those I cannot swallow.

In addition to being gorgeous, these dudes are apparently the best lovers ever to have graced the planet. And, with two hearts, they have lots of stamina. Sigh. Moreover, we are shown all this in glowing detail. I much prefer the sex to go on behind closed doors. A private moment for people to share. Furthermore, it really felt like the sex was thrown in not to advance the story, but just for the sake of putting sex in. While I can tolerate it if there is purpose, without purpose it just annoys me.

I really, REALLY wanted to love this book. In fact, it may well have suffered because I anticipated loving it more than I did. There are already six more nice sized novels in the series, amply providing me a refuge from life. I’m not entirely convinced I care enough to seek said refuge here.

I would rate it 3.5 stars – but I am rounding down due to extraneous sex.

Funny thing about this book . . . Even though I did an immense amount of eye rolling while reading it, it did make me smile. And, here a week after I finished it, I still think about it with a smile on my face. So, feel free to roll your eyes, but prepare yourself for a wild ride.
Odd Girl Out - Timothy Zahn This was a re-read in preparation for reading the 5th and final book in the series.

After reading the 2nd book in this series, and being a tad bit disappointed, I happily devoured this one. I really felt as though this one returned to the feel of the first novel in the series.r The twists and turns all felt natural and necessary along with the usual non-stop action.

The Third Lynx (Frank Compton Series #2)

The Third Lynx - Timothy Zahn This was a re-read for me. I am re-reading books 1-4 in preparation for reading the 5th and final book in the series.

I have really enjoyed most Timothy Zahn books I have read. They tend to be fast paced and constantly twisting. Yet, this book really frustrated me. Even though this story starts with a bang, I still struggled to get into the story.

There were several twists and turns and you never really knew which way the story was going. However, here it felt as though the twists and turns were thrown in just for the sake of twisting and turning. And, there was just so much of it, I got motion sickness! Ok, not really, but even when the book was completed, I wasn't really sure which twist was the right turn.

In my opinion, Mr. Zahn writes better than this.
Shifting Selves - Mia Marshall Ok. I would just like to say that Mia Marshall simply cannot write books fast enough. To me, she is quickly joining the shelf with Lisa and Patricia as an author whose works provide me refuge to escape the trials of my life and immerse myself into another world with the company of characters I love and hate to leave. And, I dream about the characters and their worlds. They make me happy. Trust me when I say this is not an easy shelf to which to gain access and arriving here gets you a crazy, whacked out fanatic who will not let anyone say a word against you. Ok, maybe not *quite* so dramatic, but I take my fanaticism seriously. VERY seriously. (You have been warned.)

As in all my favorite stories, this has a plot, but the plot is totally immaterial to me. Ok, not *totally*, but if it passes for a plot and there is character consistency and at least an attempt to tell a new story, it is a fairly easy ride for me. I do not read this type of novel for its great value as literature, I read it to spend time with characters I love and encourage them in their adventures. And, I realize they do not require my encouragement, but they have it anyway. Just as long as I get to share the ride.

Oh, yes, the plot. In this latest adventure of Aidan and Sera, they have been ‘hired’ by their FBI cohorts from the last novel who, because of their newfound knowledge, have been transferred to a new supernatural division. The guys ask the gals to investigate a rash of shifter disappearances. This includes the disappearance of their, for lack of a better word, friend Mac’s cousin. While the relationship between the elementals and the shifters is still quite raw, because of their friendship, Aidan and Sera are allowed access by Mac’s family. Thus, the groundwork for the tale is complete and the story takes off. We still get to be in awe of Josiah, their dad, but this time around, we are treated to more interaction with Aidan’s mom, Fiona. In addition, there are shifting otters. I mean, seriously, how can you go wrong with shifting otters? Ok,*friendly* shifting otters.

My one gripe with this book is the ending. I am not completely convinced I liked the ending. Oh, I didn’t *dislike* it, it just kinda went someplace with which I am not entirely sure I am comfortable. Because of my deep and abiding love for Aidan and Sera and Mac and Simon, I am willing to ride out the transition and have faith that Ms. Marshall is ultimately taking this somewhere that will make me completely happy. I guess I just have to hope the final destination is several books down the road.

I would also like to give a shout out to the covers for these books. I didn’t really notice the first one, but open looking at the 2nd, I went back and looked. They are really quite cleverly done and tell stories in and of themselves.

I gave this book 4.5 stars and, because I rounded the last one down, I rounded it up to 5.

Oh, and, still no vampires in sight.
Broken Elements - Mia Marshall I have been suffering a bit from series hangover. I have finished the completed novels of 2 series I really, REALLY loved (Mercy Thompson and Kate Daniels), and have really struggled to find another. And then I found this little gem.

I often find myself lukewarm about the first book in a new to me series. After all, the author has to introduce us to new characters and set up new situations and create the world within which we are going to immerse ourselves. This is no easy task. Ms. Marshall, however, manages this ably. She jumps us almost immediately into the action and unfolds the world and characters slowly throughout the novel. Therefore, I never really felt like any particular section is an ‘info-dump’ but, rather, everything actually made sense in the progression of the narrative.

Our heroine, Aidan, suffered a personal crisis 10 years before the start of our story. Since that time, she has locked herself away from the world, preferring to live isolated away from other people – not even allowing contact with those who loved her. As the story begins, her (former) best friend appears on her doorstep to tell them the deaths have started again: one of their dearest friends has been found murdered. This, then, is they mystery set to solved in the remainder of the tale. We discover exactly *what* happened 10 years previously when Aidan tells the rest of the gang so that they can understand exactly what they are facing.

I love the relationship between Aidan and Sera. The repartee between these two is priceless and frequently brought to mind my sister and my best friend. Which means that, even if the conversations were not precious in their own right, the memories they inspired were. And, I think, that is one of the biggest gifts in this story.

There is a love interest. And, there are werekin. But, nary a vampire to be seen and no love triangle – at least yet. The heroines magic is in being able to control an element. While not a totally original concept, it is the first I have seen it in this setting, so that alone makes the book stand out. It is written in the first person, which I tend to enjoy for the simple reason that it puts me in the narrators head. I like playing head games. With characters in novels. Not with people in my life.

I hate giving glowing reviews of self-pubbed books as they tend to be unhelpful to the reader because so many appear to be friends/family of the author. So, please understand I do not know, in any way shape or form, the author. I absolutely loved this book. I’d probably rate it 4.5 stars, but as that is not an option, I rounded down. I may adjust this as the book picks up more reviews.
The Silk Code - Paul Levinson After an argument with myself, I am settling on a 3* review. I found this book to be exceedingly frustrating. I just felt like it could have been so much better.

The story is about a genetic virus on a DNA level and it discusses DNA based technology used by the Amish. I found the concept fascinating. I did struggle to find a character to connect with emotionally, but settled on Phil and Jenna's relationship to relate with.

Phil is a forensic examiner. He and his friends/cohorts/colleagues discover bodies that carbon date 30,000 years in the past. Deaths ensue, bodies get lost, and Phil must get to the bottom of it before humanity is wiped out. OK, maybe not quite that desperate, but that is the idea.

It is essentially an old time mystery story (think Raymond Chandler et al.) with some science fiction type ideas thrown in. Both parts are well thought out and written. I found the genetic manipulation that Mr. Levinson describes absolutely fascinating and it is this concept that sets the book apart. These parts (1,3 and 4) of the story are frantic and fast paced and make an excellent story. Of at least 4 stars.

But, there is another part to the story. The second part. The Tocharian Chariot. In this part, we are sent far to the past to take a journey with Gwellyn as he travels the known world to find the history of the 'singers' while having flings with almost every female whose path he crosses. This part is written in a totally different voice and felt like a completely different style. In fact, I double checked to make sure the book was not actually a short story collection. This part was painful. Had the first part not so engrossed me, I surely would have put this book aside. But, I really wanted to finish the mystery. I could have skipped this part, but I feared I would miss something important. This part would have rated 1*. But, since there were 3 parts with more stars - I settled on 3 for the book.

Even though the conclusion of the book does go back to this part, I do not actually feel like I would have missed anything had I skipped it. I would have just felt like I cheated. Which was beyond me. So, I read it.

Also, this book was written in 1999. This matters. There is much talk about cell phones and call costs - all of which are very different today. So, to maintain some semblance of reality, it helps to remember the writing date.

I would recommend the book with a couple caveats. 1) I would simply skip the second part. I think I would have loved the book without this part and don't think I would have missed much. 2) the writing style is a bit choppy (but that may have been my version), but the story itself is intriguing.
Gunmetal Magic -  Ilona Andrews I really liked Andrea while reading the Kate books. I liked her strength of character. I liked her attitude.

I really like to dream that happily ever after really means happily ever after. And, I really like to think that when one has found his/her soulmate, it is really his/her soulmate. Which means forever. Not that there are not hazards along the way - but that you get through them together. Of, at least fight your way back to together.

I know this is a dream. And, it rarely happens except in a dream world. But, the sure way to ruin fiction for me is to have me root for a couple and break them up just so you can sell more media while you put them back together. (Don't think this is this case here. This was more of a journey.)

The plot of this book was totally immaterial to me. All I cared about was the soulmates remembering they were soulmates. I was completely satisfied.

I enjoyed the fact that Raphael would not let Andrea kill Michelle. For her own sake. I liked that he devised a plan to keep her from Anapa. I did not like the 'non' fiance . . . but I understood it. Neither Andrea nor Raphael was blameless here - they both screwed up. I *loved* the purple carpet. And, I *loved* Curran's arrival.

Relationships are work. Always. There are good times and there are bad times. Some times it seems there are more of the latter than the former. We have the good times so that we can remember them during the bad times. But, we have to be willing to remember and not look for the next best thing. I think this book teaches us a lot about what to do and what not to do to keep our relationships strong.
The Better Part of Darkness - Kelly Gay I am having a lot of trouble with this review. Might be because it seems to be more of the same. But, when a formula works, why mess with it? Maybe because we as readers like something a little different. Or, at least we *think* we do – then we go out and purchase more of the same.

I gotta say, this book reminded me a *lot* of Kate Daniels. But, maybe that was just the Atlanta setting. Or, maybe it was the mystifying powers that Charlie had. It certainly wasn’t the presence of a shape shifting cat. I really missed the shape shifting cat.

Ms. Gay does take an unusual step in her tale: the magical elements here in Atlanta (and one supposed the remainder of the earth) come from other planets. Specifically, Elysia and Charbydon. There are goblins and orcs and trolls aplenty. Of course, many of these types are uber villainous.

Charlie is a little unusual in the urban fantasy world. She is involved in *tons* of relationships. This made my little co-dependent heart *very* happy. First of all, she has parents. That are wonderful. And, a sister whom she adores. She has a precocious daughter with her ex-husband. That she still loves. And, she has a partner that is a siren. And, to round this off, she even has a decent boss. All of these people love her and rally round her. Which she often needs because she – wait for it – frequently gets in over her head. Which is, of course, why she needed to come back from the dead. Sound familiar?

I really did enjoy the gang that Charlie has around her – the unconditional love and support they offer her in her times of need. The back story of her husband, his cheating and their ultimate divorce was original to me. And, I thought I had heard it all. But, I found it fascinating. The obligatory ‘love triangle’ gets turned on its head a bit here with Charlie and her partner Hank – who is a friend – and her ex-husband. So, not really a ‘love triangle’ more of a ‘friendship triangle’. I will read on in this series – I am curious to see to where it goes.

While the familiarity to other urban fantasies cannot be denied, The Better Part of Darkness takes enough departures from standard stereotypes that I found it to be very enjoyable. And, the bath scene is priceless. Completely and utterly priceless. It is worth the price of the book just for that one scene.

Because I could walk away from this book, it didn’t quite meet my 4 star criteria – so I gave it 3.5 – which I then round up to 4 for the bath scene. (See how I cheat the system? Even *my own* system?)
Magic Strikes -  Ilona Andrews Cat pee . . .

On to #4
Magic Burns -  Ilona Andrews . . . Psych . . .

And on to the next . . .

The Key of the Keplian

The Key of the Keplian  - Andre Norton, Lyn McConchie Note: I read this book as a group read. I am not sure I would have tried to jump into a series such as this in any other fashion.

Trying to determine what to read next so I downloaded the sample for this book. The sample ends on, "Far Traveler would not have sent her to die. . . . With the hovering machine, triumph turned to horror. The Social Services woman shrieked wildly." Sigh. Now *that* is the way to end a sample to force me to buy the book.

So, the story continues to tell the story of a young girl who, upon the death of her beloved guardian, leaves the world she knows for something totally new and beyond her ken. In doing so, she makes beloved friends and takes steps to correct a grievous wrong. While the story does not sound drastically original, it is the writing, characterizations, and relationships that carries it along.

I adored the writing style. It was so lyrical in nature - it just flowed. Almost like music. It reminded me of the feel of the early Pern books by Anne McCaffrey. Even though there is not really a ton of action or dialog, the story just glided along.

So, too, the relationships between Eleeri and the Keplians bring to mind the dragons and riders on Pern. There is just something blissful about a deep connection with another being on such a heartfelt level. It will get me every time.

This is the first Witch World book I have read - I can't find the early ones at my library, I have been trying. So, what *did* really bother me was I felt like I was missing something. I didn't really understand *what* Witch World was? And, how any of this was related. Which characters were from WW? And, how did they get where they were?
Frost Burned - Patricia Briggs Sigh. I finished it. What a glorious return to my love affair with Mercy. The last book, [b:River Marked|8087906|River Marked (Mercedes Thompson, #6)|Patricia Briggs|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1305738320s/8087906.jpg|10974973], left me a little disappointed as it takes Mercy and her yummy hubby on their honeymoon and away from their gang. While I did enjoy that one (because, come on, it is Mercy), it felt a little stale - like it was trying too hard. I willingly forgave it because it felt like the story was in a bit of a transition. I am very glad to discover I was correct.

This book is right back to our heroine's home town, to the story's roots. And, the gang's all here. I couldn't help but wonder, as I inhaled this one, how Ms. Briggs does it. How she comes up with all the passion and all the snark. How she makes me love and hate all the characters in her tale. How she makes 50 pages disappear in minutes. And, yet, always stays true to her characters. They always manage to stay inside their own value systems. And, have me laughing out loud along the way.

If you have read the others, race out and get this one. If you haven't read the others, go get those first. You could read this one out of order, as her stories are self contained, but you will enjoy them more in order. And, more Mercy is always better.

PS: It is very hard to write a review of the 7th book in a series. I don't want to give away any spoilers even to earlier books. Here is one series where I am always left feeling slightly sated, yet always wanting more.

And:

Dear Ms. Briggs,

I know series can be a difficult thing to write. You often reach a point where you are just tired of your cast and want to end it (ala JK Rowling) or you drag them out to infinity to where the characters are but figments of their original selves (ala David Weber). But, I promise to read every book you write, if you will only just keep Mercy and gang in my little world to brighten my day and make me smile.
The Five Elements - Scott Marlowe I hate writing book reviews for books such as this. I just hate it. I do not feel, in any way, I can do the book justice. This is a wonderful little gem of a book.

The Five Elements tells the story of two friends and the paths onto which they are forced and the choices they then make. Because of the ages of our protagonists, I am sure some would classify this as young adult. To me, it is a story about people who just happen to be young and, therefore, enjoyable by all. As I read, I certainly did not feel spoken down to and the literary quality is quite high. And, no angst.

The writing style is very descriptive rather than dialog heavy and is written in an almost "Sliding Doors" manner. That is to say, when our two protagonists split, they take wildly different paths but eventually end up in the same place. The chapters rotate between characters and get longer as the tale progresses. I did find myself enjoying my stay with one character rather more than the other. Which actually surprised me.

The magic system involved is unusual and, as can probably be guessed by the title, involves using the elements: fire, earth, air, and water. And, the fifth element. (You will have to read to discover.) I really liked this take on the magic system. I also liked that it did not only involve magic, but also science. I am a sucker for characters who are smart and use science.

My only problem with this book was character names. (I really never would have guessed how much names make a difference in my ability to enjoy a story.) There were several characters/classes whose names start with 'E' and five letters long. And, another whose name started with an 'E' but was longer. Now, if these are familiar names, it would not be an issue for me but because they were beyond what is normal, I kept mixing them up and forgetting about whom we were speaking. It made things a tad bit confusing for me. It was at best, however, a minor irritant.

Oh, and, there is no snark.
Divine By Mistake - James Griffin, P.C. Cast I am *so* not sure what to rate this book. While the world wasn't amazing, I absolutely loved the main character. I wanted to spend every waking minute with Shannon/Rhea. She is snarky. She is realistic. She is passionate. She is lovable. She has a heart of gold. Make no mistake: this is a chick book. Males should probably pass on by.

As the synopsis clearly states, Shannon finds herself transferred to another world where she is the "chosen" of the warrior goddess. She also finds that her counterpart was a bit of a . . . Shrew. So, Rhea spends a great deal of time making up for that.

There are a great many pop culture references. She either dreams about, or hopes to dream about, people like Tom Selleck, Pierce Brosnan and Sean Connery. A girl after my own heart. She was a high school English teacher, and uses these skills frequently as she continues to 'impersonate' Rhiannon. There are also frequent Star Trek and Star Wars references. These were so much fun because I felt like I was in on an inside joke. These were always clicheish, yet appropriate, and mostly hysterical.

She enters this world as, unbeknownst to the people, a race that is considered 'pure evil' is about to attack. She, and her band of fearless followers, must quickly build a defense to defeat the monsters. While this plot is not the strongest plot ever devised, it works as a vehicle to spend time with our intrepid heroine. Which is where the strength of the story lies. Most other characters are not nearly as well flesh out, but it *is* told in first person, so this is not really a weakness, just a fact. I knew Shannon was the perfect heroine when she re-wrote the end of The Phantom of the Opera to please her enthralled audience.

Rather than a romance, I think I would classify this story as a love affair. There is no love triangle. There is no romantic suspense. It is just there and wraps you in its arms. This is definitely, then, a love affair with a bit of fantasy thrown in. A little more lovey dovey than I typically enjoy, but Rhea is just so much darn fun it does not matter.

Oh, yes, did I mention centaurs? No vampires. (Even though the evil beings are characterized as being "vampire-like".) No werewolves. But CENTAURS! This, alone, makes this book worth reading.
Hounded - Kevin Hearne This book really rates probably about 3.5 stars. And, it may actually be 4, but for the "expectations" scale. That is, based on the reviews, I expected more from this book than it delivered to me. My mind frequently wandered, and that is never a good thing.

The druid based magic system was very intriguing. I really liked the tattoo idea and the relationship to the earth. The logic and reasoning for the final battle also felt very in character and I do not think I would have accepted any other argument. I am still a bit confused as to the gods and goddesses and fae and Tuatha De Dannan and how they relate to each other. (I also appreciated the author's presentation of Irish pronunciations - and his permission to pronounce any which way I chose.)

As a dog lover, I adored Oberon. Was it a little over the top? Maybe. But, I didn't mind. Unfortunately, Atticus' relationship with Oberon is really the only ongoing "relationship" in the story - I really missed an emotional connection to any other character in the book. I strongly suspect this is to be corrected in the next book as some seemed to be being set-up in this novel - obviously the first in a series. That being said, he is very kind to the old widow down the street - and obviously cared - but it is a very peripheral relationship.

And, the contemporariness of Atticus bothered me. Here is this thousands of years old druid - yet he talks and acts as if he really *is* 21. I certainly understand the need for him to blend in with others his apparent age, but I should still think that there should be some age and wisdom visible to the reader - and there really is not. In addition, his reaction to every female in the novel was on a visceral level, as if there were no other reason to relate to a person of the opposite gender.

I did enjoy this book. I certainly did not feel myself immersed in his world. I did feel like it was setting up characters for more novels. As such, I am undecided as to whether or not I actually cared enough to see where they go: part of me thinks there is so much more to Atticus and part of me really wonders.