Mean Streets

The Blurb...
The best paranormal private investigators have been brought together in one volume - and cases don't come any harder than this. Jim Butcher delivers a hard-boiled tale in which Harry Dresden's latest case may be his last. Nightside dweller John Taylor is hired by a woman to find something she lost - her memory. Kat Richardson's Greywalker finds herself in too deep when a simple job goes bad. And detective Remy Chandler has been hired to find out who killed the immortal being we know as Noah.

My Opinion...
A great anthology. I loved Jim Butcher and Thomas Sniegoski's novellas so much. Initially is was the Harry Dresden tale that pulled me to buy this collection. Remy Chandler is someone I'd like to get to know, going to read more from this author.

Strange Brew

My Opinion...
This anthology contains nine paranormal short stories all with the theme 'Drink'.

1. Seeing Eye by Patricia Briggs - A blind witch decides to help a man, a werewolf, find his brother who is an undercover cop and has disappeared while on a case.

2. Last Call by Jim Butcher - Harry Dresden walks into his favorite bar for a beer and a sandwich and finds chaos instead. What is wrong with the beer being brewed by the bar owner?

3. Death Warmed Over by Rachel Caine - Holly is a resurrectionist witch. The last time she brought Andrew Toland back from the dead she fell in love with him. Now the police need his special help to solve another case but how can Holly stand the pain when Andrew has to die this time?

4. Vegas Odds by Karen Chance - Accalia (Lia) trains recruits at the War Mage Corps. Imagine her surprise when she realizes it is her own students who are trying to kill her.

5. Hecate's Golden Eye by P. N. Elrod - Chicago 1937 - Charles Escott and his undead colleague Jack Fleming are hired to help the rightful owner steal back her pendant. The history of the jewel says that any man who touches the Golden Eye dies. Luckily for Jack, he's already dead.

6. Bacon by Charlaine Harris - Dahlia Lynley-Chivers is a vampire who is now a widow because her werewolf husband was defeated in a challenge fight for pack position. She hires a witch to help her find out what was done to her husband to make him vulnerable and weak during the fight.

7. Signatures of the Dead by Faith Hunter - Spruce Pine, North Carolina, is being targeted by a band of rogue vampires. Earth witch Molly Trueblood and her friend shapeshifter Jane Yellowrock must find the vampire lair or the killings will continue.

8. Ginger by Caitlin Kittredge - Sunny Swann and her cousin Luna grew up in Nocturne City. Sunny is a witch without much confidence in her powers totally unlike her werewolf cousin. Then why would someone want to kidnap Sunny?

9. Dark Sins by Jenna Maclaine - Venice 1818 - Cin, Michael, Devlin and Justine (The Righteous-judge, jury, and executioners in the world of vampires) are in the city for pleasure, not business. When they are all four kidnapped by a wizard and his coven Cin is forced to chose between the lives of her lover and friends or dark, evil magic.

I definitely enjoyed reading this marvelous anthology. It gave me exactly what I want from a collection of short stories such as these. There are many stories which feature characters already made well known by these authors. Particular favorites of mine are the stories by Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine, P. N. Elrod and Faith Hunter. I have not read novels by many of these authors and this anthology has given me a chance to sample their works and make the decision of whether or not to go seek out and read their full length books.

Turn Coat by Jim Butcher

What the Blurb says...

In the Dresden Files, New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher has built a world hailed as "dynamic and complex, and utterly fascinating."* Now Chicago's only professional wizard, Harry Dresden, is about to find that the one thing more dangerous than his mortal enemies may be his closest allies...

When it comes to the magical ruling body known as the White Council, Harry keeps his nose clean and his head down. For years, the Council has held a death mark over Harry's head. He's still thought of as a black sheep by some - and as a sacrificial lamb by others. But none regard him with more suspicion and disdain than Morgan, a veteran Warden with a grudge against anyone who bends the rules.

Like Harry.

So when Morgan turns up asking for help, Harry isn't exactly eager to leap into action. Morgan has been accused of treason against the White Council - and there's only one final punishment for that crime. He's on the run, he wants his name cleared, and he needs someone with a knack for backing the underdog.

Like Harry.

Now Harry must uncover a traitor within the Council, keep less than agreeable Morgan under wraps, and avoid coming under scrutiny himself. And a single mistake may cost someone his head.

My review...

I love Harry Dresden like a brother, you know the kind that always get's into trouble but hates to ask for help.

This book was one of the best in my opinion, you get the know-how of the Wizarding Council in much more detail than any other books. Harry kicks ass and regularly gets his ass handed back to him. The charachters keep growing, Jim's writing gets better and better. Seriously can't wait for more from my favourite urban fantasy author.

Welcome to the Jungle by Jim Butcher

Finished February 23rd 2009.



What the Blurb says...

When the supernatural world goes out of control, there's only one man to call: Harry Dresden, the only professional wizard in the phone book. A launch title in the Dabel Brothers graphic novel series, "Welcome to the Jungle" is an original adventure set in the "New York Times" bestselling Dresden Files universe.

My review...

This is my first foray into the Graphic Novels of the Dresdenverse. And I loved it, it was weird, as most first experiences are, but I came to love it. It's interesting to see the imaginations of Harry, in my own minds opinion he looks completley different. Not sure I would go this way again, I like my own imagination more :)