Category Archives: World of Books

100 books in a year

World of Books January 1, 2013 Comments: 14

I wasn’t really sure I was going to participate in another 100 books in a year challenge in 2012 as I knew  my year wouldn’t be conducive to much reading. Turns out I did pretty well (still didn’t achieve the 100 though).

And as the challenge I usually participate in doesn’t include non-fiction books, I didn’t register for it but kept a list for myself.

You can see I listed some stories and novellas as well – anything to get the number as high as possible and re-reading HP helped as well as I read it fast (and it helps with stress too). So, with little cheating with the novellas, I actually got the list to a higher number this year (it was 81 in 2011).

Here is the list:

1. PC & Kristen Cast: Destined

2. Kresley Cole: Lothaire

3. Sabrina Jeffries: To Wed a Wild Lord

4. Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games

5. Suzanne Collins: Catching Fire

6. Suzanne Collins: Mockingjay

7. Lois M. Bujold: Cryoburn

8. Scott Lynch: The Lies of Locke Lamora

9. Amanda Hocking: The Hollowland

10. M.J. Rose: The Book of Lost Fragrances

11. Trish Milburn: The White Witch

12. Veronica Blade: Something Witchy This Way Comes

13. S.K.S. Perry: Darkside

14. Matthew Reilly: Scarecrow Returns

15. Stephanie Laurens: The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae

16. Stephanie Laurens: In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster

17. Sabrina Jeffries: A Lady Never Surrenders (The Hellions of Halstead Hall)

18. Linda Mooney: Captive Surrender

19. Julie Kagawa: The Immortal Rules

20. Marilee Brothers: The Moonstone series, Moonstone

21. Marilee Brothers: The Moonstone series, Moonrise

22. Marilee Brothers: The Moonstone series, Moon Spun

23. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

24.  J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

25.  J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

26. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

27. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix

28. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

29. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

30. Rachel Hawkins: Hex Hall

31. Rachel Hawkins: Hex Hall, Demonglass

32. Rachel Hawkins: Hex Hall, Spell Bound

33. Gwenda Bond: Blackwood

34. Scott Lynch: Red Seas Under Red Skies

35. Denyse Beaulieu: The Perfume Lover

36. Marilee Brothers: The Moonstone series, Moon Shadow

37. Amanda Hocking: My Blood Approves

38. Amanda Hocking: My Blood Approves, Fate

39. Amanda Hocking: My Blood Approves, Flutter

40. Amanda Hocking: My Blood Approves, Wisdom

41. James Rollins: Bloodline

42. Sherylin Kenyon: Chronicles of Nick, Invincible

43. Trish Milburn: Bane

44. Kresley Cole: Demon from the Dark

45. Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice

46. Kresley Cole: Lothaire

48. Elizabeth Peters: Crocodile on the Sandbank

49. Elizabeth Peters: Curse of the Pharaohs

50. Elizabeth Peters: The Mummy Case

51.Elizabeth Peters: Lion in the Valley

52. Gail Carriger: Soulless

53. Gail Carriger: Changeless

54. Gail Carriger: Blameless

55. Patricia Briggs: Alpha and Omega

56. Patricia Briggs: Cry Wolf

57. Patricia Briggs: Hunting Groung

58. Patricia Briggs: Fair Game

59. Tess Gerritsen: John Doe (Rizzoli and Isles series), story

60.  J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

61.  J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

62. Alyssa Harad: Coming to my Senses

63. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

64. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

65. Stephanie Laurens: Lady Risks All

66. Shayne Leighton: Of Light and Darkness

67. Temple Matthews: The New Kid

68. Kresley Cole: The Poison Princess

69. Kim Harrison: Pale Demon

70. Kresley Cole: Shadow’s Claim

71. Kim Newman: Anno Dracula

72. Natania Barron: Pilgrim of the Sky

73. James Rollins: City of Screams (novella)

74. Kim Harrison: A Perfect Blood

75. JK Rowling: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

76. Cassandra Clare: City of Bones

77. Cassandra Clare: The City of Ashes

78. Liesel Schwartz: The Conspiracy of Alchemists

79. Heather Graham: Keeper of the Night

80. James Rollins: Tracker (a short story)

81. Sacvan Bercovitch: The American Jeremiad

82. Perry Miller: Errand into the Wilderness

83. Cassandra Clare: City of Glass

84. Roja Dove: The Essence of Perfume

Cassandra Clare: The City of Ashes

Book review, World of Books January 1, 2013 1 Comment

city ashesThis will not be a long review as book 3 awaits (yes, I am very eager to get back to it).

Like I said in my review of The City of Bones, we see the possibility of the family issue being resolved to the happiness of our little tragic couple (it really seems like they came out of a Greek tragedy).

After stealing the Cup in book one, Valentine manages to steal the sword as well. Both being very important Shadowhunter objects of power necessary for them to perpetuate their line.

Of course he wants to use them to gain control of the Shadowhunter world and kill all demons and Downworlders then (those being the werewolves, vampires and fae) even though there is an uneasy truce between SHadowhunters and Downworlders – demons being the creatures bent on destruction and not belonging to our world.

So, Jace being Valentine’s son has to deal with the backlash of the pretty much whole Shadowhunter community and I must say, I didn’t expect him to behave like a grown person and was very much surprised when he did. Pleasantly.

The reason I am so eagerly waiting to read book 3 is because we get several hints as to the possibility Clary and Jace are not brother and sister (yesss!) and it ends with the possibility of Clary’s mother waking – so with cliffhangers like that, I’m off to see what happens next. 🙂

Cassandra Clare: The City of Bones

Book review, World of Books January 1, 2013 Comments: 2

city bonesSometimes I wonder how is it possible that even though I read YA novels regularly and sort of follow the scene, I miss some of the more famous series?!

Like the Shadowhunters one. Happened with the Hunger Games too. And Beautiful Creatures just a week ago. I learned about all of them only because they were made into movies. I guess I’m not following the scene as much as I thought.

The story is not really new. 🙂 We have a bad guy re-appearing for whom everyone thought was dead. The bad guy who used to be a good Shadowhunter.

Then we have the girl stumbling into the world because her mother’s precautions got  a bit late this year and now she can see through the glamours the Shadowhunters, Downworlders and demons throw to hide themselves from people. That is also how Clary meets Jace just as her mother is kidnapped by the bad guy and the story starts getting complicated.

Here is also where from the beginning it becomes clear who is who and I got really upset when my thoughts on the subject became true. Well, you couldn’t really come to any other conclusion.

Luckily for me, I’m already starting on book 3 so I know from the second book, that (spoiler ahead) the family issue will probably be resolved to the satisfaction of all. Not without tragic teenage suffering, I am sure. 😉

Liesel Schwarz: A Conspiracy of Alchemists

Book review, World of Books January 1, 2013 1 Comment

conspiracyI am slowly but surely beginning to understand the love people have for steampunk novels. They are just so much fun to read.

I guess having a good writer helps too. 😉

I very much enjoyed this book although I must say in the beginning, I got a distinct impression that Elle wasn’t so much stubborn as stupid in her discussions with Marsh but that improved later (it seemed she gained both a backbone and a logical mind).

What I enjoyed so much was the fact that steampunk was so easily mixed with paranormal to create a new world – one where paranormals exist together with people (everyone being aware of everyone) and wizards are “good” (as much as old men with power and the possibility to get more, albeit for good can be) and alchemists works with (or for) vampires which is the reason for their conspiracy from the title.

Where do Elle and Marsh come in? Well, Elle doesn’t remember her mother as she got killed when Elle was very little but we soon learn she is to follow as the Oracle in her mother’s footsteps (as a direct descendant of her line).

Not something Elle (and for that matter Marsh too) is happy about. Especially as she needs to find her hijacked father.

So, here we embark on the adventure – well, the adventure basically started from the second page, but here we embark on the second part of adventure.

I won’t discuss what that entails but I’ll just assure you, it’s not slow going. 🙂

P.S. It seems lately either I’m reading books that discuss scents more, or I am more attuned to them, but here I especially loved the fact that Elle applies freesia perfume oil.

Heather Graham: Keeper of the Night

Book review, World of Books December 12, 2012 1 Comment

I wish all my readers a very merry Christmas! I hope you spent it with your dear ones and had lots of fun times with them, enjoying good food and company.

Now, onto the book. 🙂

I don’t remember ever before reading a book that reminded me so much of a TV movie. You know, the one where the story is interesting enough and fun to read but not of cinematic value. Can’t say that is very surprising, this being a Harlequin title.

But the thing is, sometimes that is exactly what you need and I had fun reading it.

It was very easy to read and enjoy, had an interesting crime back story, interesting chkeeper nightaracters (the female hero is a tall redhead!), and an obvious plan for other books in the series.

We have 3 cousins who became Keepers of vampires, elves and werewolves (each for one race). It happened sooner than it was expected and now they are in L.A. having to perform their duties when they all wanted to pursue different careers. Rhiannon is the vampire keeper and just as she arrives to L.A., she has some big crime to solve. Luckily, there is the Elven Mac to help her. Well, work alongside her is probably better said.
Basically all components for some light book enjoyment.
I couldn’t guess the murderer but I know who is the next couple 😉

Kim Harrison: Pale Demon

Book review, World of Books December 4, 2012 1 Comment

pale demonI don’t know when it happened, but Rachel is seriously starting to get on my nerves. I don’t know when it went from being understanding about her state of life to annoying the hell out of me.

I’ve been thinking about it and wondering what exactly is it that annoys me to such an extent. I believe it’s the fact that as a former IS runner she ought to have developed a good shield against her own naiveté. And after the stuff she went through from the beginning of the series, I know she should have grown as a person. And not get sidetracked in her mind by good looking guys. Yes, she’s in her 20s but she is not a child and she deals with life-threatening situations all the time.

And then when it suits Ms Harrison, Rachel is suddenly a smart runner seeing and figuring out everything. It doesn’t work like that. Either she’s smart and gets things or she’s naive and it takes her forever to figure out the motivation behind people.

I just can’t figure out what kind of character she is supposed to be and I no longer have much tolerance for it.

That said – the story actually held me to the end even though it was rather obvious from the beginning what Trent was doing. I guess that wasn’t supposed to be the thrilling part we wouldn’t guess – the Rachel part took that over. And here I really couldn’t even begin to fathom what might happen.

But the whole experience was punctuated by my rising frustration with Rachel. She would fit quite well with all the YA novels I read, the only problem being, she is actually an adult.

So before you all go away from this thinking I hate the Rachel Morgan series, I finished the book and started with the next one (which is also annoying the hell out of me but not as much).

I sincerely hope Rachel becomes a more homogenous character in the future – otherwise I will probably tear a page in frustration at some point – the horror!

Kresley Cole: Shadow’s Claim

Book review, World of Books December 3, 2012 1 Comment

shadowsAarrrggghh! I finished it! 😦 I always feel like that after finishing a KC book. And I completely fell in love with Bettina and Trehan. Their story I mean. 😉

I now completely understand people who said this was their favourite book. There seems to be more mellowness in this book. Not to be confused with non-agression and lack of brutality. I mean, the Accession is under way after all.

But both Trehan and Bettina are somehow very loving people, Bett is after all very young and didn’t have time to grow bitter and cold and Trehan has spent a cold long life of Dacian princehood practically alone so it seems logical he would appreciate love.

I absolutely loved the part where Lothaire is giving him advice and orders on how to deal with his love life! 🙂 Lothaire of all people.

My favourite moments of the book is when Trehan is called Mr. Dacia which instantly went to Mr. Darcy in my head, some very good steamy scenes that make you fan your cheeks, and the banter between the two of them:

“Look at me, Bett! Look at me!” He cupped her paling cheeks, making her face him. “Breathe. Inhale, exhale.”

She squeezed her yes shut, gripping his shoulders, digging her nails into the muscle. !I’m supposed to take breathing advice… from someone who didn’t use his lungs… for centuries?”

Trehan being a vampire and therefore not needing to breathe until being blooded by his Bride. You can guess who that is. 😉

So they help each other find love and battle their own fears and demons. In the meantime, we have lots of fun.

 

Now, for the most important question – when is the next book coming out?!

Kim Newman: Anno Dracula

Book review, World of Books November 8, 2012 1 Comment

Ha! I’ve been writing this review for several days now and now that it’s done, it’s Bram Stoker’s 165. birthday anniversary. so, I’m right on time. 🙂

Let me start by warning you that when the cover says savage new world, you can take that literally. It is a really cruel depiction of Victorian England, or what Mr. Newman imagines it would look like if Vlad Tepes/Count Dracula made Queen Victoria a vampire and married her. I shudder just thinking about it.

That said, the book is actually fun to read. 🙂 It’s not funny though. It’s cruel and depicts a dictatorial system where vampires are taking more and more power unto themselves (in England).

There is a whole bunch of famous people appearing or being mentioned in the novel, some who were real, some who are only famous through their own books (like the Holmes brothers, Jack the Ripper, Van Helsing and so on).

This Dracula is the one from the Bram Stoker’s novel, only this time there is no novel and Bram Stoker is gone with the Dracula in power – this Dracula has no romantic connotations we might imagine from the original story, all bets are off in this world, and you better relocate to some other country if you want to live your life to old age.

We follow the story of several political (and criminal) factions trying to discover who is killing the vampire whores (Silver Knife renamed by newspapers into Jack the Ripper). That is how we meet both Genevieve (the vampire) and Charles Beauregard (human) trying to discover who that person is. You, as the reader, follow several characters’ minds and know quite early on who is the killer, but that doesn’t detract from the story.

I must say I didn’t see the ending happening in the way it did, but it was good.

I have no idea how this series flew under my vampire books radar for so long but I’m glad I know of them now and the next one is already on my TBR pile.

Kresley Cole: Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles,1)

World of Books October 9, 2012 Comments: 3

As you could have noticed by now, I’m a huge Kresley Cole fan and I read most of the Immortals After Dark books more than once. 🙂
I also enjoy YA novels so after reading the excerpt from the Poison Princess some months ago, I was very much looking forward to the book.

Now, even though I enjoy YA genre, I often find those books a bit lacking.  Not that they are bad and I stop reading them, it’s just they aren’t as good as they could be – the characters and the story don’t always come together seamlessly.

So, I started reading the Poison Princess and getting into the story and characters and I thought I detected some flaws in the storyline which could be explained in only one way. I knew what explanation that would be for me but I admit (and I apologize to Ms. Cole now) I had my doubts whether the story will oan out as I thought it should following the line.
I should have known better than to doubt Kresley Cole’s style of writing and forming a story. 🙂 It did end the only way I imagined it could.
OK, now I sound like I predicted the story’s end which I didn’t. I just thought that most of the story couldn’t be explained well enough unless there was a reason for that type of story-telling. And I was right.

I don’t want to into details of the story, anyone enjoying Ms. Cole’s books won’t thank me for it.
I did have some issues with Evie’s naivete and ensuing stubborness but she worked through it so I was satisified in the end.
I should add that anyone who liked Hunger Games might like this one as well as there are some touching points to the story.

But basically, it’s one of the better YA novels I read in a while (I’m not counting HP here) and Kresley Cole didn’t disappoint by trying her hand in this genre.
Luckily, there are more books in the Arcana Chronicles to come. Unluckily, not soon enough.

P.S. I have to add, my boyfriend would agree with everything said about Ducatis in the novel. 🙂

Alyssa Harad: Coming to my Senses

World of Books August 22, 2012 Comments: 8

I must say, I really appreciate the names given to perfume  books I’ve been reading this year. I’m pretty sure you all realize the loaded meanings they carry but I still have to point out I appreciate it. 🙂

The second thing I really enjoyed about both The Perfume Lover and this book, is the fact they took me by surprise, once I started reading, I had to go on. And this coming from someone who never reads non-fiction unless forced by outside circumstance (which didn’t apply here).

So, what can I say about this book that hasn’t already been said? Probably not much – but it’s not like I would know, I didn’t read any of the reviews beforehand (I did glimpse some though).

Basically, what can I say – I relate to pretty much everything Alyssa had to say on the subject of perfume (and exercising) – the wedding thing is something I have no experience in.

There are so many points in the book where I was nodding my head in agreement:

  • For a long time I didn’t say to anyone how much I was in love with perfume
  • Once that phase passed, I didn’t mention to anyone I wrote  a blog
  • Her NY experience, the scary part and then falling in love – exactly what happened to me in Paris
  • Realizing there are smells all around me I never paid attention to and then did smelled which ever I could? – check
  • Falling in love with JAR Bolt of Lightning because it smells exactly like the electric, post-thunderstorm air? – check
  • Smelling coconut traces in fig? – check (but only after being pointed to it in the book – lucky for me I was on vacation and fig trees grow there)

And the list goes on and on. 🙂

Btw, one interesting tidbit I got from the book is Alyssa’s realization that many of the perfume bloggers (female) tend to be petite women. I agree. 🙂 After meeting Suzanne, and hearing about some of the others, I do see a connection there (and I know all about feeling big in their presence).

The great thing about this book is that if you are a perfume lover, it will make you smile and nod your head in agreement when you recognize the same steps you took in your perfume journey. It will also make you wonder what perfumes is Alyssa referencing by describing the way they smell.
It will also give useful advice on what to do and not to do if you are organizing your wedding.

But basically, it will confirm that enjoying your path in life with the people you love is the only way to live your life. Be it by smelling perfume and sharing it, or doing something else you enjoy.

I received my copy of the book for free from the book’s PR team.