July Suggested Reading: The Named by Marianne Curley

Though The Named is a Young Adult Novel, it is a good read for any age, a captivating story that mixes time travel, psychic powers and immortality.

June Suggested Reading: Song of Scarabaeus by Sara Creasy

Sara Creasy’s debut Song of Scarabaeus is a science-fiction romance novel which reinvents the future through introducing some new technologies and also yields a fun reading.

May Suggested Reading: Greywalker by Kat Richardson

The Greywalker novel by Kat Richardson is the first in a series of five books, the latest is due to be released in August 2010, which has a great paranormal detective story.

It tells the story of a private investigator in Seattle, Harper Blaine, who is clinically dead for about two minutes, and after that experience, she develops the ability to interact with the creatures of the Grey.

The Grey is the dimension between the physical and spiritual worlds, in which vampires, witches, ghosts and other magical creatures dwell.

Harper Blaine has to go on with her life though, and she is immediately faced with two cases, one of a missing student, who turns out to be a vampire, and of a mysterious artifact, which is a sort of time bomb. Though she is still groping with this new reality and her abilities, she is the only one who can keep the worst from happening.

The Greywalker is written on a first-person narrative, with terse sentences, but that doesn’t compromise the story, which is very interesting and rich. Kat Richardson’s writing seems to have improved a lot since then, having acquired a more fluid rhythm, as far as the excerpt of the last installment of the Greywalker series shows.

Kat Richardson told in an interview about how she created the character Harper Blaine. She said Harper was originally a male clichéd character of a tough PI with blazing guns, who never complained and never got hurt. She then started a long process of shaping the character into something more believable.

She said: “Making the character female was some immediate relief, but it still had that ‘man with breasts’ problem. The former military or spiritual martial artist trope has been done to death, too, so those were not options for developing the character and breaking her out of the cliché, so I considered the women I knew who were competent and physically tough and drew Harper based on them.

“I let her go ahead and acknowledge her discomforts, but do the job anyhow—just like most of the women I know.” [1]

The author Kat Richardson seems to be a very interesting and unconventional person. She has a degree in Magazine Journalism from California State University, and presently she lives in Seattle with her husband in a sailboat.

She has worked as a writer and editor in the computer industry, and has also written RPGs, film scripts and computer games plots and has experience in theater and music. She is a supporter of the California Ferret Legalization, which aims at making it legal to own ferrets as domestic pets, instead of considering the ownership illegal and the animals as wildlife ones.

About her working process, Kat Richardson said “I'm not a seat-of-the-pants sort of writer. Since the stories are structured like Mysteries, that makes timing and placement of clues very important, so I work out a lot of the details in the outline before I get a lot of the writing done and that eliminates a lot of heavy revision or re-writing later. At least so far it has.” [2]

Check the sites below for more information on the book and the author.

More info:

Barnes & Noble Greywalker Page # Kat Richardson's Site - About Greywalker & About the Author

Book Review: The Dark Reaches by Kristin Landon

3rd part in a science fiction trilogy by Kristin Landon, The Dark Reaches is the story of a period in the future in which Earth has been dominated by intelligent machines called The Cold Minds that enslaved humans. Those who managed to flee, colonized planets called The Hidden Worlds.

In a trip through space, pilot Linnea Kiaho is contacted telepathically by humans living on Earth, who are seeking help against the Cold Minds. Because of the shock caused by the contact, she is separated from her partner Ian sen Paolo, and when she finally joins him, her only thought is to go with her partner to their rescue.

Together they will find a secret which may either save the Hidden Worlds or destroy it.

Kristin Landon has created a very clever and enticing future time, with some interesting concepts.

One of these is the neural and physical connection the pilots have to their ships, which sustain them during the journeys, and which they control directly with their minds, experiencing the trip with all their body, requiring them to curb their emotions so that the brutal effects of the voyage through space won’t affect them.

The author said that her favorite scene in the book was “when Linnea and her companions must hide from Cold Minds robotic probes aboard an abandoned spaceship. I'm proud of the trick Linnea comes up with to hide them—but the Cold Minds are thorough searchers. . .”

As an advice for fledgling writers, she says: “Work hard on writing the best book you can. Get feedback from people you trust, and be ready to spend whatever time and effort it takes to make your work the best it can be. A lucky break, a chance to get your work in front of the right pair of eyes, won't get you anywhere if the work isn't worth reading.” [1]

Kristin Landon has been a fan of science fiction since childhood. She has a degree in Chemistry and has worked as a research lab technician for several years before taking up writing.

Find out more about The Dark Reaches novel and her other books on her site. An excerpt, which gives a good idea of what awaits the reader can be found here.

Book Review: Darkness Calls by Marjorie Liu

Darkness Calls is the 2nd book in the Hunter Kiss series, which starts with Iron Hunt. It continues telling the story of demon hunter Maxine Kiss, who must now rescue her lover from an army of religious zealots.

Maxine Kiss is descendant from a line of demon hunters, and she inherited from her mother five demon protectors, which camouflage as tattoos throughout her body during the day.

Her lover, Grant, is a former-priest who uses music to control any living creature, and runs a homeless shelter in Seattle. The previous book revealed that he is the last Lightbringer, descendant from a race of otherworldly creatures who have lived on Earth for ages.

The Avatars, other such creatures, were their enemies, and their remnants thought them extinct until they found Grant. Throughout the book, they try to kill Maxine Kiss, to keep her from defending Grant.

In order to save Grant, Maxine Kiss will have to unleash her darkest powers, risking losing herself in the attempt.

Marjorie Liu has published her first fantasy book in 2005, and she has written over 10 books, including some X-Men novels. The next installment of the Hunter Kiss series is due in July 2010.

About the Darkness Falls book she has commented that: “Darkness calls is about Maxine's journey to understand this force that she was born with, that's inside of her, that is so frightening to others in a way... it's frightening to her, but for those who realize that she was born with this, it terrifies them.

“Years ago, there was another hunter who was born, who exhibited these similar traits, a similar power within her and she almost destroyed the world.

“And so now, thousands of years later, here's another hunter, Maxine, who is exhibiting this same power, this same darkness. Certain signs are coming, she's marked on her face with a symbol, and for those who recognize that symbol, and recognize this darkness, it terrifies them, they don't know what's coming, all they know is it's going to be bad, and she is very dangerous.” [1]

Marjorie Liu is a major in East Asian Languages and Cultures, and a minor in Biomedical Ethics, and also a Law graduate. She has worked previously in the US Embassy in Beijing, before becoming an author.

Learn more about her work and her amazing novel in the sites mentioned below.

Darkness Falls Book Page Marjorie Liu's Official Site Darkness Falls Excerpt

March Suggested Reading

Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

And if I should die before I awake,

I pray the popular attend my wake.

Charlotte Usher feels practically invisible at school, and then one day she really is invisible. Even worse: she's dead. And all because she choked on a gummy bear. But being dead doesn't stop Charlotte from wanting to be popular; it just makes her more creative about achieving her goal. If you thought high school was a matter of life or death, wait till you see just how true that is. In this satirical, yet heartfelt novel, Hurley explores the invisibility we all feel at some times and the lengths we'll go to be seen.

Book Page Official Site

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

“Dead girl walking,” the boys say in the halls.“Tell us your secret,” the girls whisper, one toilet to another.I am that girl.I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame. Lia and Cassie were best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies.

But now Cassie is dead. Lia’s mother is busy saving other people’s lives.Her father is away on business. Her stepmother is clueless. And the voice inside Lia’s head keeps telling her to remain in control, stay strong, lose more, weigh less. If she keeps on going this way – thin, thinner, thinnest – maybe she’ll disappear altogether.

In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the National Book Award finalist Speak, best-selling author Laurie Halse Anderson explores one girl’s chilling descent into the all-consuming vortex of anorexia.

Book page Official Site

Dhampir by Barb Hendee & J. C. Hendee

Magiere and her half-elf partner, Leesil, have the cleverest con in the land. Magiere claims to be a vampire hunter, while Leesil impersonates a vampire, and in a spectacular show of theatrics, she "kills" him--for a hefty sum, of course.

But Magiere's modus hits closer to home than she thinks, for when she faces down a real vampire, she wins. Now fighting her natural calling, Magiere arrives with Leesil in the town of Miiska, where they intend to make an honest living as tavern owners. Unbeknownst to the pair, a group of vampires, led by the nefarious Rashed, resides in Miiska.

When Welstiel Massing, a mysterious older man, confronts Magiere, claiming she is "the one," and she has an almost-deadly encounter with Rashed, Magiere discovers her true nature: she is a dhampir, a part-human, part-vampire warrior whose purpose is to battle vampires. The discovery leads to a pulse-pounding showdown with Rashed and his gang.

Book Page Official Site

February Suggested Reading

Here is February's list of gothic and fantasy novels. Enjoy!

Unclean Spirits by M.L.N. Hanover

In a world where magic walks and demons ride, you can't always play by the rules. Jayné Heller thinks of herself as a realist, until she discovers reality isn't quite what she thought it was. When her uncle Eric is murdered, Jayné travels to Denver to settle his estate, only to learn that it's all hers - and vaster than she ever imagined.

And along with properties across the world and an inexhaustible fortune, Eric left her a legacy of a different kind: his unfinished business with a cabal of wizards known as the Invisible College.

Led by the ruthless Randolph Coin, the Invisible College harnesses demon spirits for their own ends of power and domination. Jayné finds it difficult to believe magic and demons can even exist, let alone be responsible for the death of her uncle. But Coin sees Eric's heir as a threat to be eliminated by any means - magical or mundane - so Jayné had better start believing in something to save her own life.

Aided in her mission by a group of unlikely companions - Aubrey, Eric's devastatingly attractive assistant; Ex, a former Jesuit with a lethal agenda; Midian, a two-hundred-year-old man who claims to be under a curse from Randolph Coin himself; and Chogyi Jake, a self-styled Buddhist with mystical abilities - Jayné finds that her new reality is not only unexpected, but often unexplainable.

And if she hopes to survive, she'll have to learn the new rules fast - or break them completely....

Barnes & Noble Page MLN Hanover Site

Zandru's Forge by Marion Zimmer Bradley & Deborah J. Ross

Zandru's Forge is the 3rd book written by Deborah J. Ross, who is the writer chosen by Marion Zimmer Bradley to continue her Darkover literary legacy.

This novel tells the story of how two of the most important characters in the Darkover world met, King Carolin Hastur and Varzil Ridenow, developed their friendship, and took the first steps towards establishing The Compact, which was the pact that abolished the use of long-distance and psychic weapons from the world.

The story begins when they are teenagers, and Varzil goes to Arillin Tower, one of the main institutions for the study of psychic powers in the planet, to ask admitance. Carolin is instrumental in helping him to join the tower. As for Varzil, he ends up becoming Carolin's protector, as the then Prince is often threatened by an occult enemy.

As the years pass, the oppressed populace grows restless, and when King Felix dies, his throne that should have gone to Carolin is usurped by his cousin Rakhal, who begins a war to increase his lands, and persecute his cousin and all those who support him.

Carolin goes into exile, but in the end has to fight his cousin to end his reign of terror, but though Rakhal uses the most deadly psychic weapons against him, Carolin will have to fight it only with the strength of his army, his own intellect and non-offensive psychic powers.

This story discusses ethics, the right and wrong when facing a death threat, and the morals of war.

For those who are acquainted with the series, you'll find here several elements from Hawkmistress, which is one of the original books of the Darkover series. Deborah is a very good writer who does the series justice.

Zandru's Forge is the 2nd book in the Clingfire Trilogy, which ends in the book A Flame in Hali.

Amazon.com Page Marion Zimmer Bradley Deborah J. Ross

Circle Of The Moon by Barbara Hambly

In Hambly's mystical sequel to The Sisters of the Raven, the Crafty Women of Yellow City continue to hone their new-found healing and magical powers while the men of this patriarchal society adjust to the loss of their own wizardly abilities.

Set against a desert landscape that evokes Egyptian myth, Hambly's tale unwinds like a skein of multi-colored silk, illustrating her talent for well-drawn characters and fantasy rooted in many cultures. Young Raeshaldis, a powerful Sun Mage-in-training, has received a psychic dream plea for help from a Crafty woman on a faraway island.

Raeshaldis rushes to help, but another crisis in Yellow City complicates matters-a deadly green mist referred to as the Eater of Dreams has been released from grave amulets stolen by tomb robbers.

The mist kills many, infects Summerchild (Shaldis's fellow Raven Sister and King Oryn's beloved concubine), and enthralls Raeshaldis' tyrannical grandfather. Hambly nimbly brings the Yellow City and the faraway healing crises together, and she works in a surprise about the teyns, animal "slaves" to the humans, suggesting a sequel.

Amazon.com Page Barbara Hambly

January Suggested Reading

Here is our list of books for January. Good reading!

Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda

As the youngest and only female member of the Knights Templar, Bilqis SanGreal grew up knowing she wasn’t normal. Instead of hanging out at the mall or going on dates, she spends her time training as a warrior in her order’s ancient battle against the Unholy.

Billi’s cloistered life is blasted apart when her childhood friend, Kay, returns from Jerusalem, gorgeous and with a dangerous chip on his shoulder. He’s ready to slide back into Billi’s life, but she’s met someone new: amber-eyed Mike, who seems to understand her like no one else and effortlessly stakes a claim on her heart.

But the Templars are called to battle before Billi can enjoy the thrilling new twist to her life. One of the order’s ancient enemies has resurfaced, searching for a treasure that the Templars have guarded for almost a thousand years - King Solomon’s cursed mirror, a source of unimaginable power. To save the lives of millions, Billi will have to put her heart aside and make sacrifices greater than she could have imagined.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Devils-Kiss/Sarwat-Chadda/e/9781423119999

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Wicked-Lovely/Melissa-Marr/e/9780061214677/

Ghosts of Albion: Accursed by Amber Benson & Christopher Golden

Even death could not stop Britain’s greatest defenders.

In 1838, William and Tamara Swift inherit a startling legacy from their dying grandfather, transforming them into the Protectors of Albion, mystical defenders of the soul of England. But the shocked, neophyte sorcerers also inherit unique allies in their battle against the dark forces. Fighting alongside them are the famous–even infamous–Ghosts of Albion: Lord Byron, Queen Bodicea, and Lord Admiral Nelson.

When strange and hideous creatures appear in the slums of London, an unholy plague threatens to launch an epic battle that may rage all the way to Buckingham Palace . . . and beyond. Time is running out as William and Tamara must learn whether their friends will stand beside them, or seduce and betray them.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ghosts-of-Albion/Amber-Benson/e/9780345471307

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

The novel The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson, published in 2008, has a thought-provoking story and a piercing narrative.

The main character and narrator of the story is a drug addict and former pornographer, who suffered severe burns throughout his body in a car crash. Once handsome, the 35 year-old finds himself on the brink of death for several months, suffering from his injuries and the painful treatment used in his recovery. In his storytelling, he alternates events from his past and those of his present in the hospital, as a backstory for the encounter with Marianne Engel, who little by little wins his trust and gives him a new direction in life.

It seems like a fine lovestory, but it's nothing such. The narrator is totally revolted against his fate, often cynical, bitter, ironic and angry. The account is poignant and fierce, and also thick from the pain and misery in the health situation, which the writer details minutely.

As for his "savior" of sorts, Marianne, by the middle of the book, you're wondering along with the narrator, whether she's just eccentric or outright mad, as she claims to have known him 700 years before, when they were married, and she tells of several of her "spiritual friends" who have lived in different periods of time, in places like Italy, Iceland and Japan. Besides, she's a very talented sculptor, obsessed with making gargoyle statues.

All those elements are smartly woven into a complex tapestry of mysterious and eerie patterns. It poses interesting questions about life and death, love, sanity, reincarnation, God, destiny, etc.

As for the writer, Andrew Davidson, the guy is undoubtedly very talented. Even though the book has the epitome of the anti-hero for narrator, which sometimes made me feel a bit frustrated and uptight, the author has put a lot of work on it (7 years of research, no less) and it shows.

More information:
http://www.randomhouse.com/author/results.pperl?authorid=6470

The author talks about the book:

December Suggested Reading: Meridian by Amber Kizer

Meridian by Amber Kizer

Meridian Sozu is a very unusual teenager. Since her birth, she attracted death like a magnet, insects, vermin, animals, they all appeared mysteriously in her bedroom, and every night she had to first clean up the carcasses before going to sleep. And also, when she woke up, she would still find others scattered across her room.

When Meridian witnesses a terrible traffic accident, causing her a mysterious pain, though she wasn’t injured, her parents decide to reveal the truth of what she is. Meridian is a Fenestra, and with the help of her aunt, she starts a journey to understand her talents.

A Fenestra is able to open a portal into the afterlife for the dying, and Meridian finds herself caught in an age-old fight between light and darkness for the souls of mankind, fighting the Aternocti, a group of dark forces who capture souls near death.The writer told in an interview what is her writing process and how she developed the story of Meridian:

“I do a mix of both outline and fluid writing. I have a box color coding system where I take characters and scenes and give them a color - write it all up in shorthand on a wipe board in a chapter box and have it to refer to as I work. With Meridian I wanted to answer the question of, “What if a girl looked human until someone died and then she became the light they transitioned through to Heaven?” And more, “What do people see when they see someone or something as they die?” [1]

If you like supernatural novels, you will certainly enjoy this first book by Amber Kizer.

Click here for a preview of the book. The links below have more information on Meridian and the author.

Learn more: Meridian # Amber Kizer