A Rising Thunder-David Weber

A Rising Thunder


David Weber

Baen, Mar 6 2012, $26.00

ISBN: 9781451638066



Though the war against the People’s Republic of Haven is over, the Star Empire of Manticore knows peace is fragile. The Mesan Alignment proves this with a vicious assault in the Manticoran sector. In reaction to the hostilities, Manticore informs the Solarian League that they no longer will do business with them. The Royal Manticoran Navy escorts their merchant ships home and disallows any outside traffic in their sector; they place warships near vulnerable wormholes. Stunned the Solarian League takes the Manticore actions as a declaration of war and reacts accordingly.



Manticore Eighth Fleet Admiral Honor Harrington leads the navy against two threats. The Mesan Alignment has an advanced technology that gives them an edge while puppet masters behind the scenes manipulate the different sides in a scheme to turn humans into slaves. At the same time, the Solarian League has deployed its largest armada in its glorious history with plans to seize the strategic wormholes and more in the Manticore sector.



The latest Honor Harrington military science fiction (see Mission of Honor) is an entertaining tale though the action is muted compared to the past entries as A Rising Thunder feels like a set up book with the various factions preparing for war. Still this enables readers to see the political intrigue that goes on behind the scenes though that also means some repetition. Not as exciting as normal, Harrington fans will enjoy the Manticore actions as they prepare for a two front war.



Harriet Klausner

Bloodright-Karin Tabke

Bloodright


Karin Tabke

Heat, Apr 3 2012, $15.00

ISBN: 9780425243015



The Council rules that IAW the Blood Law, Rafael’s half-breed wife Falon will become Lucien’s mate. Neither twin is happy with the decision as Rafael loathes giving up his beloved spouse while Lucien demands his Blood right to kill his sister-in-law since his sibling killed his wife years ago. Neither accept the ruling, but both are warned by the elder Sharia to accept the Blood Law avenged or die.



Lucien is surprised by his feelings for the hybrid slayer Lycan who he marks as his. She, on the other hand, fears his primitive rage but paradoxically relishes his passion though she still loves her life mate. As two alpha siblings prepare to fight to the death and the houses of Moondragon and Vulkasin seem ready for open combat, other packs see an opportunity to take advantage of the hostile sibling rivalry.



This is a super fantasy starring Cain and Abel Lycan siblings and the hybrid who they battle over. Action-packed with a great incredible late twist that will stun readers, fans of the Blood Moon Rising saga (see Blood law) will appreciate Karin Tabke’s powerful life mate triangle that brings fabulous freshness to the sub-genre.



Harriet Klausner

Wide Open-Deborah Coates

Wide Open


Deborah Coates

Tor, Mar 13 2012, $24.99

ISBN 9780765328984



Since a near death experience while deployed in Afghanistan, Sergeant Hallie Michaels sees ghosts. She is placed on compassionate leave to go home to South Dakota due to the suicide of her sister Dell. At the Rapid City airport, Dell’s restless spirit greets Hallie. Dell continues to haunt her sibling until Hallie wonders if her sister is trying to tell her she did not kill herself; but instead was murdered.



Hallie asks questions, but the sheriff, friends, family and Dell’s workplace believe the soldier cannot accept her sister killed herself. Sheriff deputy Boyd Davies has dreams that insist Dell was killed and the homicide covered up. Hallie and Boyd reluctantly team up investigating dell’s death as other females ghosts congregate around her. When assaults and arson occur, Hallie knows someone desperately wants to end her inquiry. However, she will soon learn the enemy has an ancient powerful evil supporting their side.



The key to this engaging rural fantasy is the belief that ghosts exist as the spirits and living “comingle” in Wide Open South Dakota. The storyline is fast-paced from the moment Dell welcomes Hallie home and never slows down as the soldier and the cop supported by ghosts and the living battle against an incredible malevolence. Although happenchance occurs too often, Deborah Coates provides a fabulous paranormal investigation.



Harriet Klausner

Infamous-Sherrilyn Kenyon

Infamous


Sherrilyn Kenyon

St. Martin’s Griffin, Mar 13 2012, $18.99

ISBN: 9781250002822



Adult Nick Gautier informed teenage Nick Gautier that unless he can alter the time stream, he will destroy the world. The fifteen year old Nick has fought zombies to the death and has practiced necromancy so figures this can’t be as hard as keeping a girlfriend especially when you are the pariah one day extinguishing the world. Even his father wants him dead as the easiest way to prevent future total annihilation.



Still Nick attends high school as a good education is important. With Caleb the demon bodyguard and Kody the maybe girlfriend, Nick survives school. However the trio becomes involved in investigating a website telling vicious lies about the students while the assaults on Nick exponentially grow from unlikely sources.



The latest The Chronicles of Nick urban fantasy (see Invincible and Infinity) continues the exciting tale of a teen who must save the world before he destroys the world. Under pressure, Nick remains calm and impertinent as he smart-mouths his way in battle against “friends” and foes. Readers will relish this entry and the clever chronicles as Nick to save the world has to “erase” the Dark-Hunter saga.



Harriet Klausner

POD-Stephen Wallenfels

POD


Stephen Wallenfels

Ace, Apr 24 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9781937007430



In Prosser, Washington, the screeching noise wakes up teenager Josh and his dad. They quickly realize they have no phone, internet, radio or TV service. They are stunned to see the humongous grayish spheres. Josh watches in horror as the newspaper delivery person Jamie vanishes into a light. Father and son quickly realize anyone outside is zapped so they rush back inside their home wondering what to do when their food and water are gone. The pair gets on each other’s nerves as time slowly passes while under “house arrest”.



At the same time in Los Angeles, tweener Megs says good-bye to her mom in a hotel parking garage. Soon afterward the sphere arrives. Megs quickly realizes anyone outside is zapped as she sits in her mom’s car. She enters the hotel where those in charge brutally control supplies, viciously keep families apart and ruthlessly kill any opposition.



Rotating perspective between the protagonists, readers obtain a throwback survivor science fiction novel that is a sort of The Lord Of The Flies inside a pre-virus The War of the Worlds. The comparison between the subplots is enlightening as the lead pair considers how much their lives changed as they recognize their world will never be the same. The cast is solid especially Josh the teen and Megs the tweener who act their respective age, and while we never meet the aliens outside the POD that adds to the sense of terror. Ironically, humans behave eve more horrid towards each other than the POD invaders in an entertaining young adult thriller.



Harriet Klausner

Wicked As They Come-Delilah S. Dawson

Wicked As They Come


Delilah S. Dawson

Pocket, Mar 27 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9781451657883



Two weeks ago, Nurse Tish Everett found the body of elderly Mrs. Stein. Now she is at the deceased woman’s estate sale where she finds a ruby locket. Before she can pay for it, an elderly woman and then her beeper interrupts her. She rushes off to deal with an emergency forgetting the locket in her pocket without paying for the item.



Tish cleans the locket, but struggles to open it before she finally plies it apart. She is unaware that the locket was sent by a magician to her. When she awakens, Tish finds herself in Sang dealing with circus ringmaster Criminy Stain the fanged bludman. Everyone except Criminy looks at her with suspicion as she lacks fangs. Meanwhile Tish realizes she has the “glancing” skill which enables her to tell fortunes. As she considers staying or not, her key the locket home is stolen Criminy and Tish search for the locket, but find the deadly anti Blud racist Magistrate plotting evil.



This is an entertaining steampunk fantasy starring a modern day “Alice” falling through the rabbit hole. The storyline is fast-paced with the key (besides the locket) being Tish’s awe with what she sees and the obvious distrust by the Blud community towards her. Fans will relish her escapades with roguish Criminy as she must decide to blud or not to blud that is her question.



Harriet Klausner

Blood On The Bayou-Stacy Jay

Blood On The Bayou


Stacy Jay

Pocket, Mar 27 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9781439189870



Fairies became human blood seekers biting mortals. The Fey toxin leaves 75% of the humans insane; 10% physically misshapen before dying; and another 10% instantly dead; the remaining populace contains immunity. Katrina exacerbated the fairies assault for those living on the Delta (see Dead on the Delta).



Immune to the toxin, Fairy Control and Containment evidence collector Annabelle Lee works the bayou beat. Her former lover Hitch asks for her help in finding stolen Fey toxin, a secret lab using human guinea pigs and an FBI traitor. Annabelle hesitantly agrees to assist him though she fears a meltdown as she still loves Hitch. Complicating her life further is she must deal with her attraction to the mysterious Tucker, who has his paranormal skills like invisibility, his elixir and his lethal warning.



The latest Annabelle Bayou fantasy is an interesting thriller starring a kick butt heroine with issues mostly caused by the three males (including a current BF) competing for the title of “Master of Her Vagina”. Filled with action, the storyline is thin yet fans will enjoy trekking the swamps guided by an energetic irreverent protagonist.



Harriet Klausner