Steelhands
Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett
Spectra, Aug 2 2011, $26.00
ISBN 9780553807707
The Volstov Dragon Corps was disestablished and the dragon riders decommissioned following their significant help in defeating the Ke-Han. With the heroics being yesterday’s news, the unit’s warriors seek employment. Former Chief Sergeant Adamo the professor, Laure the Amazon, her fiery cross dresser mate Coverer, and Balfour the diplomat in training to use his steel hands agree to search for Gareth.
None expected the quest for a missing student to take them where it does. They find the assembly of new mechanical dragons infused with taboo blood magic. Apparently the Volstov Sear is forming a new Dragon Corps, which violates the peace accords with the Ke-Han. Adamo fears a second war is imminent once the former enemy learns the truth.
The latest Volstov military fantasy (see Have mercy, Shadow Magic, and Dragon Soul) is an engaging thought provoking tale that rotates perspective between the four prime players. Though for the most part there is limited action, the story line cleverly looks at what happens after the war is over and the treaty signed. General McArthur’s “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away” comes to mind with a coda of until the next war calls them back to duty. When they discover the major violation of the treaty by their side each wonders whether Naval Captain Stephen Decatur’s “My country right or wrong” is appropriate. Although the story line can turn ponderous with each pondering what to do, fans will enjoy this creative cerebral thriller.
Harriet Klausner
Friday, July 1, 2011
Spell Bound-Kelley Armstrong
Spell Bound
Kelley Armstrong
Dutton, Jul 26 2011, $25.95
ISBN 9780525952206
Her DNA spells trouble for others as kick-butt twentyish six foot witch Savannah Levine takes no prisoners. However, she just worked her first paranormal case as a private investigator in Columbus, Washington (see Waking the Witch), but has a problem to overcome if she is to remain in the business. She has lost her supernatural power while a deadly witch-hunter stalks her.
Savannah refuses to quit as she had an adrenaline rush from solving the paranormal serial killer case. She plans to use normal detecting skills and assistance from her half-demon BF Adam Vasic. First she must deal with the hunter and find a way to regain the magic taken from her. The case leads her to Supernaturals who plan to step out of the shadows and overtly use their power.
This is an enjoyable entry in the Otherworld saga (see Waking the Witch) as the focus remains on a rapidly maturing Savannah even with a large diverse “species” support cast. The heroine keeps the storyline anchored as she works an investigation, deals with her lost power and prepares to fight a hunter. Although the enemy is not as powerful as most adversaries in this thrilling urban fantasy series, the overarching Otherworld theme moves forward as fans will relish this deep look at the protagonist who is no longer a petulant teen while the anticipating the war to end wars.
Harriet Klausner
Kelley Armstrong
Dutton, Jul 26 2011, $25.95
ISBN 9780525952206
Her DNA spells trouble for others as kick-butt twentyish six foot witch Savannah Levine takes no prisoners. However, she just worked her first paranormal case as a private investigator in Columbus, Washington (see Waking the Witch), but has a problem to overcome if she is to remain in the business. She has lost her supernatural power while a deadly witch-hunter stalks her.
Savannah refuses to quit as she had an adrenaline rush from solving the paranormal serial killer case. She plans to use normal detecting skills and assistance from her half-demon BF Adam Vasic. First she must deal with the hunter and find a way to regain the magic taken from her. The case leads her to Supernaturals who plan to step out of the shadows and overtly use their power.
This is an enjoyable entry in the Otherworld saga (see Waking the Witch) as the focus remains on a rapidly maturing Savannah even with a large diverse “species” support cast. The heroine keeps the storyline anchored as she works an investigation, deals with her lost power and prepares to fight a hunter. Although the enemy is not as powerful as most adversaries in this thrilling urban fantasy series, the overarching Otherworld theme moves forward as fans will relish this deep look at the protagonist who is no longer a petulant teen while the anticipating the war to end wars.
Harriet Klausner
Tattoo-Kirsten Imani Kasai
Tattoo
Kirsten Imani Kasai
Del Rey, Jul 26 2011, $15.00
ISBN 9780345508829
Submarine engineer Morig conceals the fact that he/she is a Trader, a type of the human-inhuman DNA blending who shifts between genders. Sorykah knows how difficult hiding one’s natural state is as the body types of Sorykah and Soryk are different and the two personalities distinct. Complicating matters is only one persona exists at a time.
Meanwhile Queen Sidra and her Erun Forest allies killed the evil Matuk the Collector, head of the malevolent evil Tirai Industries (see Ice Song). Matuk’s death impacts everyone on the planet. Sorykah and Soryk battle each other for full control of the body they share. She wants to raise her twin infants she rescued from Matuk while he waits the birth of his child, which will kill the mother Queen Sidra. Under the southern ice continent Sigue lays the ancient gods like Diabolo whose descendants the octameroons contain venom that Matuk’s cruel son Chen introduces as an addictive drug that is tattooed on the skin. The two sides of the sub engineer need each other, but remain hostile. Diabolo begins to awaken threatening climate change with the melting of the ice.
Soryk/ah is a fascinating protagonist and antagonist as much of the fight is within her/his mind and body. The complex story line contains a futuristic extrapolation of scientific research especially genetics combined with the trends of the global government-military-industrial complex, which insures control of the masses through addictions and profound proclamations such as global-warming is faith based while creationism is science. Action-packed and thought provoking this is an engaging science fiction thriller with fantasy elements
Harriet Klausner
Kirsten Imani Kasai
Del Rey, Jul 26 2011, $15.00
ISBN 9780345508829
Submarine engineer Morig conceals the fact that he/she is a Trader, a type of the human-inhuman DNA blending who shifts between genders. Sorykah knows how difficult hiding one’s natural state is as the body types of Sorykah and Soryk are different and the two personalities distinct. Complicating matters is only one persona exists at a time.
Meanwhile Queen Sidra and her Erun Forest allies killed the evil Matuk the Collector, head of the malevolent evil Tirai Industries (see Ice Song). Matuk’s death impacts everyone on the planet. Sorykah and Soryk battle each other for full control of the body they share. She wants to raise her twin infants she rescued from Matuk while he waits the birth of his child, which will kill the mother Queen Sidra. Under the southern ice continent Sigue lays the ancient gods like Diabolo whose descendants the octameroons contain venom that Matuk’s cruel son Chen introduces as an addictive drug that is tattooed on the skin. The two sides of the sub engineer need each other, but remain hostile. Diabolo begins to awaken threatening climate change with the melting of the ice.
Soryk/ah is a fascinating protagonist and antagonist as much of the fight is within her/his mind and body. The complex story line contains a futuristic extrapolation of scientific research especially genetics combined with the trends of the global government-military-industrial complex, which insures control of the masses through addictions and profound proclamations such as global-warming is faith based while creationism is science. Action-packed and thought provoking this is an engaging science fiction thriller with fantasy elements
Harriet Klausner
Loose Cannon-David Drake
Loose Cannon
David Drake
Baen, Jul 5 2011, $15.00
ISBN: 9781439134504
Skyripper. Soviet Union physicist Emil Vlasov concludes that aliens will attack the aliens. He knows his country cannot defeat the enemy, but the Americans with his help could if he can persuade them of his contention. Espionage agent Tom Kelly receives the information, vowing to insure the outer space invaders are defeated though he leaves dead anyone trying to prevent his achieving the objective in a timely manner.
Fortress. In 1965 President Kennedy builds construction of the Fortress space station to prevent major wars especially nuclear from happening and to thwart hostile aliens from space. In Turkey, an alien corpse is found; coupled with evidence from the Soviet Union has espionage agent Tom Kelly fearing the space station may start WWIII while he also believes alien invaders are coming.
The reprint of two late 1980s over the top of Olympus Mons Tom Kelly science fiction thrillers contains more blood than a bank and somewhat feels its age. Still these James Bond vs. aliens and Communists thrillers are fun to read.
Harriet Klausner
David Drake
Baen, Jul 5 2011, $15.00
ISBN: 9781439134504
Skyripper. Soviet Union physicist Emil Vlasov concludes that aliens will attack the aliens. He knows his country cannot defeat the enemy, but the Americans with his help could if he can persuade them of his contention. Espionage agent Tom Kelly receives the information, vowing to insure the outer space invaders are defeated though he leaves dead anyone trying to prevent his achieving the objective in a timely manner.
Fortress. In 1965 President Kennedy builds construction of the Fortress space station to prevent major wars especially nuclear from happening and to thwart hostile aliens from space. In Turkey, an alien corpse is found; coupled with evidence from the Soviet Union has espionage agent Tom Kelly fearing the space station may start WWIII while he also believes alien invaders are coming.
The reprint of two late 1980s over the top of Olympus Mons Tom Kelly science fiction thrillers contains more blood than a bank and somewhat feels its age. Still these James Bond vs. aliens and Communists thrillers are fun to read.
Harriet Klausner
Prince of Thorns-Mark Lawrence
Prince of Thorns
Mark Lawrence
Ace, Aug 2 2011, $25.95
ISBN 9780441020324
When Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath was ten years old, Count Renar's soldiers murdered his mother and younger brother, and hung him from briar patch thorns to watch them die. Raging with vengeance, he joins an outlaw gang. Less than four years later, he becomes the chief of the gang.
However, Jorg has goals beyond the gang. He plans within a year to sit rightfully on the throne. To do this he must end the civil war by reuniting the empire under his rule. The time to kill Count Renar and those who executed his loved ones is at hand. However, betrayal and dark magic awaits the former prince who would be emperor.
The first Broken Empire thriller is a dark gritty fantasy starring a pragmatic protagonist who kills without remorse; a lesson his uncle taught him. With the help of a kindred blood thirsty spirit, Jorg’s quest for the throne is not for anyone with a weak stomach. Mark Lawrence portrays a realistic landscape as in many ways the “hero” is as brutal as the villain yet whether one describes Jorg as the lesser of two evils or not he is the glimmer of hope.
Harriet Klausner
Mark Lawrence
Ace, Aug 2 2011, $25.95
ISBN 9780441020324
When Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath was ten years old, Count Renar's soldiers murdered his mother and younger brother, and hung him from briar patch thorns to watch them die. Raging with vengeance, he joins an outlaw gang. Less than four years later, he becomes the chief of the gang.
However, Jorg has goals beyond the gang. He plans within a year to sit rightfully on the throne. To do this he must end the civil war by reuniting the empire under his rule. The time to kill Count Renar and those who executed his loved ones is at hand. However, betrayal and dark magic awaits the former prince who would be emperor.
The first Broken Empire thriller is a dark gritty fantasy starring a pragmatic protagonist who kills without remorse; a lesson his uncle taught him. With the help of a kindred blood thirsty spirit, Jorg’s quest for the throne is not for anyone with a weak stomach. Mark Lawrence portrays a realistic landscape as in many ways the “hero” is as brutal as the villain yet whether one describes Jorg as the lesser of two evils or not he is the glimmer of hope.
Harriet Klausner
A Soldier’s Duty-Jean Johnson
A Soldier’s Duty
Jean Johnson
Ace, Jul 26 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780441020638
On the Planet Sanctuary lives fifteen years old powerful psychic Ia, who is able to slip in and out of the time stream at will. However, she also has uncontrollable visions. One of them is of invaders destroying the Milky Way galaxy leaving no one alive. All streams lead to this occurring except for one remote possibility. If she takes the steps she will possibly prevent the pandemic catastrophe.
Her first stop is enlisting in the Terran United Planets military Space Force, which she does when she turns eighteen. Knowing what the future will be, she has to insure some events happen in a certain way. She is an extemporary recruit; the best in her class performing extraordinary deeds like tracking down a criminal from her peers who went AWOL after stunning the rest of the class and the sergeants. After graduation, Ia is assigned to the spaceship Liu Ji where she is made a corporal. Ia proves to be a great soldier saving lives, rescuing a ship from pirates and going the extra kilometer to keep her crew mates safe from a criminal consortium.
Readers who enjoy the Valor Military Space Opera series by Tanya Huff will want to read this epic. Ia is the glue that holds the exciting story line together as a soldier performing her duty yet with an agenda caused by her precog powers that has her trying to prevention the cataclysm from occurring though if it happens it will not be in her lifetime. She understands the true credo of A Soldier’s Duty as she is an example of courage and honor performing selfless service to keep people safe. Jean Johnson had created a brilliant space opera that will have readers eagerly turning the pages until they reach the end and will eagerly await the next book in this enthralling series.
Harriet Klausner
Jean Johnson
Ace, Jul 26 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780441020638
On the Planet Sanctuary lives fifteen years old powerful psychic Ia, who is able to slip in and out of the time stream at will. However, she also has uncontrollable visions. One of them is of invaders destroying the Milky Way galaxy leaving no one alive. All streams lead to this occurring except for one remote possibility. If she takes the steps she will possibly prevent the pandemic catastrophe.
Her first stop is enlisting in the Terran United Planets military Space Force, which she does when she turns eighteen. Knowing what the future will be, she has to insure some events happen in a certain way. She is an extemporary recruit; the best in her class performing extraordinary deeds like tracking down a criminal from her peers who went AWOL after stunning the rest of the class and the sergeants. After graduation, Ia is assigned to the spaceship Liu Ji where she is made a corporal. Ia proves to be a great soldier saving lives, rescuing a ship from pirates and going the extra kilometer to keep her crew mates safe from a criminal consortium.
Readers who enjoy the Valor Military Space Opera series by Tanya Huff will want to read this epic. Ia is the glue that holds the exciting story line together as a soldier performing her duty yet with an agenda caused by her precog powers that has her trying to prevention the cataclysm from occurring though if it happens it will not be in her lifetime. She understands the true credo of A Soldier’s Duty as she is an example of courage and honor performing selfless service to keep people safe. Jean Johnson had created a brilliant space opera that will have readers eagerly turning the pages until they reach the end and will eagerly await the next book in this enthralling series.
Harriet Klausner
Retribution-Sherrilyn Kenyon
Retribution
Sherrilyn Kenyon
St. Martin’s, Aug 2 2011, $25.99
ISBN: 9780312546595
He was a gun for hire in the Old West; feared by his so called peers other cold hearted killers. He vowed to change when he fell in love with Matilda and she agreed to marry him. Their love ends in her tragic death at their wedding when his best friend the best man killed him to collect the bounty on William Jessup Brady’s head and raped Matilda. He left her pregnant. She gave her son away and went on to live a relatively happy life.
Artemis called Jess’ spirit to her. She offered him a choice to go after his killer and Matilda’s rapist in exchange for her owning his soul as one of her Dark-Hunters killing Daimons who eat human souls as sustenance to survive. Someone is murdering Dark Hunters and no one is as shocked as jess when that adversary tries to kill him. The slayer is Abigail Yeager who was raised by vampires who brainwashed her into believing Dark-Hunters were evil. The execution of Jess is personal as she knows he killed her parents though he vehemently denies it. They are attracted to one another, but she must be sacrificed in the valley for killing a Guardian. An old God watches the pair waiting for the moment to kill Jess and take Abigail.
The latest Dark Hunter fantasy is as fabulous as its numerous predecessors due to the seemingly star-crossed lovers. From the Greek Pantheon of the gods, Jess and Abigail must fight essences so much stronger than either of them, but love binds them to a more powerful level. She brings out the best in him while his willingness to die eternally for her encourages her to be even better of a person. They make Retribution an enthralling spellbinder.
Harriet Klausner
Sherrilyn Kenyon
St. Martin’s, Aug 2 2011, $25.99
ISBN: 9780312546595
He was a gun for hire in the Old West; feared by his so called peers other cold hearted killers. He vowed to change when he fell in love with Matilda and she agreed to marry him. Their love ends in her tragic death at their wedding when his best friend the best man killed him to collect the bounty on William Jessup Brady’s head and raped Matilda. He left her pregnant. She gave her son away and went on to live a relatively happy life.
Artemis called Jess’ spirit to her. She offered him a choice to go after his killer and Matilda’s rapist in exchange for her owning his soul as one of her Dark-Hunters killing Daimons who eat human souls as sustenance to survive. Someone is murdering Dark Hunters and no one is as shocked as jess when that adversary tries to kill him. The slayer is Abigail Yeager who was raised by vampires who brainwashed her into believing Dark-Hunters were evil. The execution of Jess is personal as she knows he killed her parents though he vehemently denies it. They are attracted to one another, but she must be sacrificed in the valley for killing a Guardian. An old God watches the pair waiting for the moment to kill Jess and take Abigail.
The latest Dark Hunter fantasy is as fabulous as its numerous predecessors due to the seemingly star-crossed lovers. From the Greek Pantheon of the gods, Jess and Abigail must fight essences so much stronger than either of them, but love binds them to a more powerful level. She brings out the best in him while his willingness to die eternally for her encourages her to be even better of a person. They make Retribution an enthralling spellbinder.
Harriet Klausner
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