I had such a good time with this book! I have been having a fantastic time re-reading tThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had such a good time with this book! I have been having a fantastic time re-reading this amazing series. I spaced out my re-reads of the early books in the series but I have really picked up the pace with these later books because the stakes are higher and I cannot wait to read more. I have now read the first 14 books in the series twice and I care about Harry and his ragtag group of friends so when things look bad for them, I need answers as soon as possible.
Harry’s bargain with Mab that he made a couple of books ago is now in full effect. Harry is now serving Mab as the Winter Knight. After he is healthy enough to fulfill his duties, Mab gives him his first task and it seems to be almost impossible. Since Harry has never been one to follow orders blindly, he starts trying to figure out what is really going on and what his next move should really be. He is reunited with some of the friends that he has come to depend on like Molly, Thomas, Karrin, and Butters.
This book had all of the action and excitement that I have come to expect from the series. There were even some pretty big surprises. (Yes, I was surprised even though I have read this book before. In my defense, it has been 9 years since my last read and my memory isn’t what it used to be.) We get to see some of Harry’s insecurities and he once again proves just how hard he is willing to fight when he needs to. This was a book that I couldn’t wait to read and one I didn’t want to put down once I started.
James Marsters is Harry Dresden. I couldn’t imagine experiencing this story any other way now that I have had the privilege of listening to Mr. Marsters read this series. He brings so much emotion to the story and I love the voices that he uses for the various characters.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This is a series that really should be read in order so you wouldn’t want to start with this book. If you have made it this far into the series, you will probably be just as happy with this book as I was. I cannot wait to pick up the next book in the series!...more
I liked this one. I really have not read a lot of King's work but this book has been onThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I liked this one. I really have not read a lot of King's work but this book has been one that I have wanted to pick up for a long time. I decided to go with the audiobook since I had heard great things about the narration and I think I made a really good choice. This was a really entertaining story that kept me listening for hours at a time.
This book is told in alternating timelines. We follow a group of characters in the childhood and again as adults. The timelines worked really well with each other to tell the story of the events occurring in the town of Derry and there are some very strange events happening in that little town in Maine. I found that I liked both timelines equally and was really invested in finding out how things would work out in each.
I really feel like I got to know all of the characters very well. There is no shortage of character development in this book. If anything, I would say that we are given too much information regarding the backgrounds of some of the characters. I mean this is a really long book and sometimes I felt like I spent hours listening to only learn one character's backstory. On one hand I really liked all the details but on the other hand the book felt too long. I liked that the main characters were all flawed individuals that had things to overcome as kids and new things to overcome as adults.
I think that this book did a lot of things really well in addition to the characters and use of timelines. I think that it did a great job of painting a truly creepy and menacing portrait of the evil in Derry. I liked the mystery behind Pennywise and his appearances. There were some truly frightening scenes in the book which I really appreciated as well. There were a few scenes that felt so realistic that I found myself cringing as I listened to the book.
There were a few things that I didn't care for in the book. The end of the book felt really weird to me. The ending was surprisingly odd and just didn't seem to completely fit. I was also rather bothered by the sex scenes involving kids. It was just all kinds of wrong and the book would have been a lot stronger without it in my opinion. I did feel that the book was too long. I enjoyed the story but by the time I got closer to the end, I was more than ready to be done with it.
Steven Weber did an absolutely fantastic job narrating this book. There was a very large cast of characters that he handled very well. I thought that he did an exceptional job with Bill's stutter and keeping all of the voices consistent. He added just enough of a creepy factor to the scenes that needed it. He really did such a wonderful job in bringing this story to life and I often listened to his voice for hours at a time. I would definitely listen to his narration again if given the opportunity.
I would recommend this book to others. It wasn't perfect but it was really good and I am glad that I finally took the time to listen to it. I do recommend the audiobook for anyone considering reading this book because I really do feel that the narration adds a wonderful element to the story. I do hope to read more from Stephen King in the near future.
Initial Thoughts I liked it. This was my first time reading this book and I think I made a good choice picking up the audio version since Steven Webber does a fanstastic job with it. I did feel that the book is way too long and it really fizzled out at the end for me a bit. There were a few scenes that really made me pretty uncomfortable. ...more
This was great! This was a re-read for me and I am finding that I am enjoying all of thThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! This was a re-read for me and I am finding that I am enjoying all of these books, even more, the second time around. After the way the previous book ended, I was eager to dive into this book. Harry was in a very bad spot and I have to admit that I was a little worried about him. This book answered a lot of my questions and left me asking new ones. This is definitely a series to pick up.
This is the thirteenth book in The Dresden Files series which does need to be read in order. Harry has been through a lot but this may be his biggest challenge yet. Harry has been given the task of finding his own killer. That would be a tough enough job but he has to do this without access to his body which means he is limited in what he can do. He accepts the challenge and knows exactly who he should go to for help. Before long, Harry has the help of all the people he has grown to depend on over the years and the stakes are higher than he could have imagined.
It was depressing to see how things have changed in the time that Harry has been gone. The world looks bleak and not everyone is doing well. I couldn’t believe some of the things that we revealed in this book! This book had all of the action and excitement that I have come to expect from the series.
James Marsters did a fantastic job with the narration. Now that I have listened to these books, I couldn’t imagine experiencing them in any other format. I felt like I was right there with Harry trying to figure out who the killer really was. He did such a great job with the various character voices and I felt that he added just the right amount of emotion into his reading.
I would highly recommend this series to others. This is a series that just keeps getting better and better. I cannot wait to continue with my re-read of this wonderful series.
Initial Thoughts I enjoyed this re-read! It has been not quite 10 years since I last read this book. I remembered some things but had forgotten some pretty big pieces of the story. I love the way that characters from books early in the series can pop up at any time. I had a great time watching Harry navigate this new challenge. James Marsters did a phenomenal job with the narration once again. ...more
Oh, Harry! This book took my heart and broke it time and time again. Every time I thougThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
Oh, Harry! This book took my heart and broke it time and time again. Every time I thought things might get better, I found that everything could get so much worse than I could have ever imagined. The book opens with a major shock and ends with another one that is just as startling. If you haven’t read this book and plan to read the series someday, which I highly recommend doing, you may want to avoid reviews because this book is next to impossible not to spoil.
Please note that there may be spoilers in this review.
This is the twelfth book in The Dresden Files series and at this point, I feel like I have been through a lot with Harry. Twice, since this is a re-read. But the things that Harry must deal with in this book are bigger than anything he has ever faced. Susan and Harry were an item early in the series and I have always felt like Harry is still a little hung up on her. She left after being attacked by a Red Court vampire. She has held onto her humanity but it hasn’t come easy. When she calls Harry at the start of the book to tell him that their child has been taken, a child that he didn’t know he had, his world is turned upside down. Harry will do whatever it takes to save the child and we will see just how far he is able to push himself.
This book was exciting and heartwrenching all at the same time. I felt Harry’s desperation and hated the impossible choices he was forced to make. This is a pivotal book in the series and the title is fitting because everything changes. I was happy to see that Harry had the support of a lot of key players in the series because I would have hated to see him have to do it alone. There were a lot of really surprising revelations in this installment that will play a part in the series moving forward.
James Marsters did an exceptional job with this book. At this point, he is Harry to me. This is an emotional installment and I thought he did a great job bringing that into his narration. I really feel like the audio is the best way to experience this series because of the top-notch narration.
I would highly recommend this series to others. This book, like the rest of the series, is filled with wonderful characters, lots of action and excitement, some humor, and a lot of heart. I would also add that Mouse really shows what he is made of in this installment and I must say he is becoming my favorite fictional dog. I cannot wait to start listening to the next book in the series!
Initial Thoughts This was fantastic! Harry faces some impossible odds and failure is not an option. My heart broke for Harry as he faced some of the terrible decisions that he was forced to make in this installment. I loved the fact that most of the key players had a part to play in this book and we learned just a little bit about each of them. James Marsters did an amazing job with the narration once again.
I loved this installment! I think that I enjoyed this one a little more than I did the This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I loved this installment! I think that I enjoyed this one a little more than I did the first time that I read it 9 nine years ago. Although it must have made an impression on me the first time around because I actually remembered parts of the story which I rarely do. I was hooked by this story right away and wanted to spend as much time listening as I could until I reached the conclusion. I found this to be a very entertaining addition to a much-loved series.
This is definitely a series that should be read in order. Warden Morgan and Harry have a long history and it is a less than pleasant one. When an injured Morgan shows up on Harry’s doorstep needing help, Harry doesn’t hesitate. Morgan has been accused of murdering a member of the senior council and it doesn’t look good. Harry does his best to keep Morgan safe and hidden while trying to figure out who is really responsible.
There were some pretty intense scenes in this book and I spent a lot of the book worried about Harry and the other characters. I love how much growth some of the secondary characters have shown throughout the series and a lot of favorites made some kind of appearance in this book. Molly has also grown in her role as Harry’s apprentice and it has been fun to watch her skills develop. The scenes that take place on the island were near perfection that left me glued to my headphones.
James Marsters does a fantastic job with the narration of this book. I feel like the voices that he uses for each of the characters really fits their personality and help to bring the story to life. I love the way he is able to add emotion and excitement to the story. I believe that his narration added to my enjoyment of this book.
I would recommend this series to others. I had a great time with this book and thought that there were some pretty big developments that may have an impact on future installments in the series. I cannot wait to continue with my re-read of this wonderful series.
Initial Thoughts I enjoyed this one more the second time around than I did the first time. It has been 9 years since I last read this book and I usually forgot just about everything about a story in that amount of time unless I have read the book multiple times but I actually remembered parts of this one. I guess you could say that it left an impression on me. The story was exciting and kept me guessing. I loved that most of the characters that I have grown to love make some kind of appearance in this book. James Marsters did a phenomenal job with the narration once again.
I had a great time with this audiobook! This is such a fantastic series. I love Harry aThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had a great time with this audiobook! This is such a fantastic series. I love Harry and most of the other regularly appearing characters in this series. As I have come to expect with this series, this book was exciting, entertaining, funny, and even thoughtful. The audio is superb and really takes everything to the next level. If you have not tried this series yet, I highly suggest you pick up the first book and give it a read.
Harry owes Queen Mab a favor and she is calling it in. She needs him to find and rescue John Marcone. To make things more interesting the Billy Goats Gruff are out to get Harry. Throw in some excitement from the Denarians with their evil coins, the Knights of the Cross, and the Archive, and things get exciting really quick. There was a lot of action in this book and quite a few threads to keep track of but it all came together in the end.
James Marsters does an amazing job in bringing this series to life. I love all of the voices that he uses for the various characters. I almost felt like I was right there with Harry anytime I picked up my headphones to listen. He adds a lot of emotion and excitement to the story and he helps to make Harry’s sense of humor shine. I believe that his narration added to my enjoyment of this story.
I do highly recommend this book. This is a series that just gets better and better as you work your way through the series. This was my second time reading this book, the first time with the audiobook, and I enjoyed it just as much the second time around. I cannot wait to pick up the next book in the series!...more
I liked this book but I didn't love it. I have had a copy of this book for years and fiThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I liked this book but I didn't love it. I have had a copy of this book for years and finally decided to dust it off and give it a try. There were some things about the book that I really enjoyed and other things that made me question why things happened the way that they did. This was a pretty fast listen for me and I did enjoy the overall story.
I liked the overall premise of the story. Jace is an FBI profiler that is pulled into an alternate reality to help solve a crime. The alternate reality is filled with vampires, shifters, and other interesting beings with humans as a small minority. The paranormal beings in this reality are not prone to mental illness but there is a killer on the loose targeting the paranormal population that happens to be human so Jace has been enlisted to help.
The population of these realities are so different but I was amazed by how much everything looked like our world. Language was mostly the same. Cars developed in the same manner. There were some difference but I really would have thought that there would be a whole lot more since these really were different worlds. According to the story, the worlds became different when guns were invented in our world and not used in theirs. It just seemed strange to me.
I did think that the story was exciting. The murders were quite interesting and I was really interesting in learning who was responsible. There were several surprises along the way that I did not see coming. I liked the characters in the book well enough. Jace was tough and smart but I kept thinking that she adjusted to everything a whole lot faster than could be expected. I really liked Charlie, her golem assistant, and thought that many of the other secondary characters were equally well done.
One of the reasons that I decided to pick up this audiobook was Johanna Parker's narration. I am someone that listens to audiobooks at regular speed and don't like to speed things up. I immediately felt this book was going really fast so I check to see if I had changed a setting on my device since the narrator seemed to be talking really fast. I decreased the speed of the narration and was able to enjoy the story much more from that point forward. I did like the range of voices that she used in this book although I did have a bit of trouble keeping everyone straight for a time.
I would encourage anyone interested in the series to give it a try. I thought that it had a lot of unique points and found it to be rather entertaining. I am not sure if I will continue on with the series at this point but I am glad I gave this one a shot.
Initial Thoughts I liked this book but I didn't love it. I listen to audiobooks at 1x speed and almost never make any changes. Shortly after starting this book, I had to check to see if I had changed the setting because the narrator was talking so fast. I ended up slowing things down a bit and it worked much better for me after that. I have listened to and enjoyed Johanna Parker quite a bit in the past so that was a bit of a surprise. I did have a bit of trouble keeping track of all of the characters in this book but eventually got things figured out. I thought it was strange that this alternate world that was different in some ways could be so similar in most others. There was quite a bit of excitement and I was really curious about how things would work out. It seemed to me that Jace took the way things ended way too easily which just seemed odd.
I have had a really hard time deciding how to rate this book. I went into the book with incredibly high expectations. I just knew that I would fall in love with this book largely because I had been told that I would love it. I didn't love it. I liked it though and there were parts of it that I liked a whole lot. There were some sections of the book that didn't work for me nearly as well. I did enjoy reading this book overall despite my issues.
This book is set in Russia during World War II which is a really interesting period of time to read about. I did really enjoy the setting and the descriptions relating to the war. That was really the best parts of the book for me. The parts of the book set in Leningrad that deal with the hunger and desperation of the characters was incredibly done. This book would have easily been a 5 star read for me if the whole book had that same level of impact. I also really liked the last section of the book that was more war focused.
There were other sections of the book that didn't work for me nearly as well. Tatiana seems really immature during the first section of the book and kind of drove me nuts. She is young at the start of the story and it really showed. I also had some issues concerning Alexander's relationship with Tatiana's sister, Dasha. Alexander is actually Dasha's boyfriend during much of the book so Alexander and Tatiana keep their feelings for each other a secret. I didn't care for this aspect of the story at all.
This was a book that I think may have been a bit too long. I found myself growing tired of some parts of the book. The third section of the book that really focuses on the romance between Alexander and Tatiana was nice but it went on for too long in my opinion. During that part of the book, they were so removed from the war that it really changed the impact of the story. I think that the first section of the book could have been cut back as well.
I would recommend this book to fans of historical romance. There were parts of this book that were really strong and I did enjoy it. I do plan to continue with the trilogy soon to see what else happens.
Initial Thoughts I didn't love this one. I thought I would love it. I was told that I would love it....but I didn't love it. I thought it was okay in the end. There were some parts of the book that were amazing while other parts I could have done without. ...more
This was the second time that I have read this book and let's just say it was anThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
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2.5 Stars
This was the second time that I have read this book and let's just say it was an eye opening experience for me. I read this book the first time right after its release and gave it 4 stars. I did not bother writing reviews at that time so I have no idea what I was thinking when I decided that this was a 4 star book. I think I was just being an idiot because this book is nowhere near a 4 star book. I do remember that I could not wait to get my hands on this book when it was first released and I was desperate for a new book set in the Fever world. It took me a week to read this the first time which was highly unusual so I suspect I found it boring then but did not want to admit it to myself at the time.
I went into this re-read expecting that I would like this book. I have very recently read the first 5 books in the Fever series and now consider all them to be 5 star reads. This book is nowhere near as good as those first 5 book. This book has some very major problems that I could not overlook on this re-read.
Overly Sexual - The main character in this book is a very immature 14 year old girl and the topic of sex is constantly thrown in our face. People are having sex around her. People want to have sex with her. She has plans about how she wants to lose her virginity. Sex is fine. Sex with 14 year old girls is not fine. If you choose to write a book with a 14 year old girl as the main character, please try not to over sex the book.
Dani - I live with a 14 year old girl and must admit that they can very interesting. I thought Dani was especially annoying at times though. I got so sick of hearing about how she was a superhero, or the Mega, and if I have to hear her say two peas in the Mega pod again, I may be sick. I still can't figure out how this 14 year old girl was able to solve problems that immortal beings couldn't.
Ryodan - Ryodan is no Barrons. Not. Even. Close. Barrons is able to pull off the whole asshole that everyone loves in the first 5 books. Ryodan just seems like an asshole. Not only that, what is going on with his obsession with Dani. She is a child. The fact that he is waiting for her is just wrong.
Christian - What has happened to Christian? I loved Christian when we first met him and was sad to see him changing. He has changed and his change bothers me less than his obsession with Dani. It is just weird and sick because let's remember - Dani is 14 years old. Again, waiting for her is just wrong.
Jo & Kat - Where are the strong women we saw in the previous books? I missed those women. I really don't know who these two are. They added nothing to the story in my opinion and the parts that were told from Kat's point of view were pretty bad. They have both turned into wimpy women focused on sex. Such a shame.
It's Boring! - The first half of this book is incredibly boring. It was sleep inducing for me. I would be reading and simply fall asleep. I stayed up half the night on a work night to finish Shadowfever but fell asleep constantly reading this book.
I didn't hate everything about the book. I did think that the story picked up in the second half and I didn't find it boring once that happened. The ending was rather exciting but there was never a point in the book where I felt like I couldn't put it down.
I thought that Dancer and Lor were the best characters in this book. Dancer is just a few years older than Dani and he was a great friend to her. Dancer acted like a friend to Dani without references to sex. It is a shame that others in the book couldn't have done the same thing. Lor was Lor. Lor is an unapologetic asshole. Lor was often the one who actually gave Dani some decent advice or saved the day. I guess I like assholes because I really liked Lor in this book.
Right now, I would recommend that fans of the series skip this book. I really hate it when a series that I love goes off the tracks. I am afraid that this is the case with this book. I hope that the next book will be better than this trainwreck. ...more
I finally read this book! I feel like I have had this book on my tbr for basically foreThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I finally read this book! I feel like I have had this book on my tbr for basically forever. Well, maybe not forever but a very long time. I bought a digital copy of this book over a decade ago but just never got around to it for reasons that I cannot even explain. I definitely should not have put it off because this was a whole lot of fun.
Charley is the grim reaper which means that she can see the dead. This can be very handy when solving murders but a bit of an issue when unexpected visitors drop in whenever and wherever they want. I enjoyed getting to meet Charley Davidson and seeing how things work in her world. The humor in the story was incredibly well done and helped to give the book a lighter tone. There were a few surprises worked into the story and I can’t wait to see where things go in the next book.
Lorelei King is one of my favorite narrators so I was very excited to learn that she would be reading this book. I thought that she did a fantastic job in bringing this book to life. The character voices that she used were incredibly well done and I thought that her delivery of the more humorous moments in the story was perfectly done. I am certain that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very solid start to a series that I am excited to finally be reading. I cannot wait to dive into book two in the series!
Initial Thoughts I finally read this book! I enjoyed getting to meet Charley Davidson and seeing how things work in her world. The humor in the story was incredibly well done and helped to give the book a lighter tone. There were a few surprises worked into the story and I can't wait to see where things go in the next book. I listened to the audiobook and thought that Lorelei King did a fantastic job with the narration.
Before I started reading this book, I was absolutely positive that I was going to go crThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
3.5 Stars
Before I started reading this book, I was absolutely positive that I was going to go crazy over this series like some kind of deranged teenager. I actually bought the book on sale a couple of years ago and had been waiting for just the right moment to savor it. When a group of friends decided to buddy read this book on Goodreads, I knew that I had discovered the perfect moment to read it. I had a hunch that I would become obsessed with the series and feel the need to binge read every book in the series that I could get my hands on. Unfortunately, my expectations far exceeded my reality and I must admit that I am just a wee bit disappointed about it.
Please don't get me wrong...I liked this book quite a bit but the problem is that I didn't love it. I wanted to love it. I definitely plan to continue reading this series because I still have hopes that I will eventually fall in love with this series. There is a definite possibility that this book may have had a case of first book syndrome. You may be wondering what I mean by first book syndrome. Many readers will back me up that oftentimes the first book in a series, especially any book set in a world that needs to be created, isn't nearly as enjoyable as subsequent books.
This book had some strong points. It is already very apparent that Merit is going to be a little different than the average vampire. She has that something extra that was just starting to develop in this novel. The spark between Ethan and Merit was pretty hot although it was not fully explored...yet. I liked most of the characters. Merit's roommate, her grandfather, Catcher, and Jeff were all pretty awesome.
I enjoyed reading this book but it was always a book that I had no problem setting aside. I found a lot of it to be pretty predictable and I can't remember a single moment in the story when I felt any kind of surprise. In some ways I felt that Merit adjusted to becoming a vampire a little too easily. The only real issue she seemed to have was that she liked to complain about the fact that it wasn't her choice but really what other choice was there?
Obviously, my biggest problem is that I had expectations that were through the roof and they were not met. I would still recommend this book and I do plan to continue to read this series but with a more realistic expectation. This is the first book by Chloe Neill that I have had a chance to read. ...more
Anyone who knows me knows how much love I have for this series. I really enjoyed listening to thThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
Anyone who knows me knows how much love I have for this series. I really enjoyed listening to this book. I have recently listened to the first four books in the series after having read them years earlier. This was the first time that I have experienced this book and I was a little nervous about listening to it instead of sitting down with a book but I think it worked out well in the end.
So much happens in this book! That is really kind of normal for this series but this book has so many things going on. I guess that really should be expected since this book is also really long. It is like 3 or 4 books if you just compare page counts. There were a few sections of the book that I did think went on a little longer than was really needed. The book starts out at a gathering and I wasn't sure that they would ever leave but they did in the end and the book did start to really pick up steam quickly.
All of the characters that I have grown to love over the years were back in this book. Jamie and Claire are getting a bit older and it is really nice to see watch them grow over the course of the series. It is refreshing to see a couple that have been married for a long time still have the passion and love that Jamie and Claire have for each other. Brianna and Roger go through a lot in this book. In a lot of ways this book isn't very kind to poor Roger. Jemmy is growing up and his personality really starts to shine through in this book.
I really enjoyed the narration of this audiobook. I think that Davina Porter does a fabulous job with this series. In this book, she is able to give a unique voice to all four of the main characters. She is able to convey a lot of emotion during her narration. I found myself not wanting to stop listening because I had to know how things would work out.
I would highly recommend this book to others but I do believe that this is a series that needs to be read in order so please start with Outlander. The ending of this book really was exciting for me and I came really close to moving directly into the next book in the series. I can't wait to read more about Jamie and Claire!
Initial Thoughts I feel like I deserve some kind of reward for finishing this audiobook in a month. 55 1/2 hours is looong!
This book started out slow for me but picked up eventually. There were a lot of new developments and some heartbreaking moments. The last part of the book was fascinating. I can't wait to read more of Jamie and Claire but I will probably take a break for a bit first....more
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. This was a re-read for me. I first read this book arouThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. This was a re-read for me. I first read this book around the time of its original release, which was 2007, and didn't remember a whole lot about it besides the fact that the Hero is able to turn into a wolf and I liked it. As I read the book, there were some things that were somewhat familiar but in a lot of ways, it was like experiencing the story all over again for the first time. I am really glad that I decided to pick this one up again.
I love the set up for this series. The Wilder family is descended from a man that made a deal with the devil years ago. Since that deal was made, only male children have been born and each of those children is able to transform into a predator once they reach puberty. These are violent men who don't form attachments or marry but take what they want. Jasha's father broke tradition when he married his mother and hid his family from the larger family.
Jasha knows that his family is in danger from his mother's prophecy. Jasha is the oldest and is quite the businessman, owning a winery. He is the oldest of the four children in his family and he is able to turn into a wolf at will. Ann works for Jasha as his assistant but has wanted him for a very long time. She doesn't realize that when she goes to see him at his home that she is going to get more than she bargained for.
I found this book to be really exciting. I think that the fact that these characters are faced with a situation that is bigger than they are is really interesting. Their goal is really just to keep their family safe and despite the fact that their abilities come from a deal with the devil, they do want to do the right thing. I liked that the enemy could pop up anywhere and really that anything could happen.
I did like Jasha and Ann and thought that they did make a good pair. They did have a lot of chemistry and liked each other before the book actually began. I thought that Ann's history was really interesting and I liked the fact that she was able to accept everything going on as quickly as she did. Jasha really did care for Ann although he sometimes did need to learn to include her in the decisions that were being made.
I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal romance. I found this to be a fast-paced story with a rather unique premise. I am looking forward to continuing my re-read of the series very soon!
Initial Thoughts This was a re-read for me. I think that I originally read this book sometime around its release in 2007. I didn't remember a whole lot about the story besides the fact that the Hero could turn into a wolf. I also remember really enjoying the book. I still enjoyed it but I think that I probably had more problems this time around. It was a quick read and I definitely plan to re-read the rest of the series.
I enjoyed this book! This was another re-read for me but I remember so little of the boThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I enjoyed this book! This was another re-read for me but I remember so little of the book that it felt like I was reading it for the first time. I was curious what danger Gwen and her friends might have to deal with in this installment. I found this to be a very entertaining listen.
Gwen recently started going to the Mythos Academy and is learning how to take care of herself. Early in this story, she faces two possible threats before she goes with the school on a ski trip where things get even more dangerous. I am really enjoying watching Gwen learn how to fully use her powers and I liked seeing what she could do when she really needed to make things happen. I feel like some progress was made between her and Logan by the end of the book and I look forward to seeing where things go with them. It was great seeing Gwen start to make even more friends since I have a feeling that she is going to need help again in future books.
Tara Sands did a great job with the narration of this book. I really like the voices that she uses for the various characters, including a talking sword! I found her voice to be very pleasant and wanted to listen to this book for hours at a time. I do believe that her narration added to my overall enjoyment.
I would recommend this series to others. I think that this is a series that is best when read in order if at all possible so I would start with the first book instead of this one. I will say that the story does feel very young but since teens are the intended audience, that makes sense. I had a great time with this book and look forward to continuing with this series very soon.
Initial Thoughts This was a re-read for me but it has been so long since I first read this book that it was basically like reading it for the first time since I remember next to nothing. Gwen is learning to use her powers fully and I liked seeing what she could do when she really needed to make things happen. I feel like some progress was made between her and Logan by the end of the book and I look forward to seeing where things go with them. I did also enjoy seeing Gwen making new friends and becoming more of a part of things.
I really enjoyed this book. This was a re-read for me but it felt like I was reading itThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I really enjoyed this book. This was a re-read for me but it felt like I was reading it for the first time since I remember next to none of it. I can barely remember the names of characters an hour after finishing a book so it shouldn’t be a surprise that I can forget an entire plot after 11 years. Anyway, I thought that this was a worthwhile read and am glad that I decided to revisit it.
Gwen has recently started attending Mythos Academy. Her mom was killed by a drunk driver so now it is just her and her grandmother. Gwen has a bit of gypsy magic which helps her find lost items for other students. She doesn’t have any real friends at school and often sneaks out of campus to visit with her grandmother. One night when she is working her job at the school library another student is murdered and an artifact is taken. Nobody seems to care but Gwen wants to figure out what really happened that night.
I liked Gwen and thought that it was great to see a few friendships start to form in this book. I liked the mythology that was worked into the story. The mystery was rather interesting and there were enough twists and turns to keep me invested in the story. I thought that the story was well-paced with enough action to keep things moving. I am eager to see how the events from this book play out in future installments.
Tara Sands did a great job with this story. I thought that she was able to bring the characters to life and liked the voices that she used for the various characters, both male and female. I thought that she added just the right amount of emotion and excitement to her voice which added a lot to the story. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others and look forward to continuing with the series.
Initial Thoughts I enjoyed this re-read. It has been almost 11 years since I first read this book so there was a lot that I didn't remember. The Mythos Academy was interesting and I really liked the characters. I thought that the narrator did a great job with the audiobook. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series soon.
This was another great installment in the series! I first read this book back in 2012 aThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was another great installment in the series! I first read this book back in 2012 and I really enjoyed experiencing the audio with this re-read. Even having read this book before, there were a few times during this re-read that I had a hard time keeping up because there is just a lot going on. I think that I liked this book even more than I did the first time I read it. It was just immensely entertaining!
This is the ninth book in The Dresden Files series which is a series that really needs to be in order. Harry finds himself in the middle of another investigation in this installment. There is a killer targeting people with some magical ability and the murders often look like suicides to most investigators. As the investigation progresses, Harry finds clues leading to someone he knows cannot be responsible, his brother Thomas.
I thought that this book was really well done. I think that most readers that have it this far into the series have a bit of a soft spot for Harry. It was really great to see all of the characters that I have come to love in the series. I really liked the fact that Molly’s skills are starting to become more of a factor. Mouse was rather impressive and proved that he is definitely handy to have around. There was plenty of excitement to keep the story moving at a rather brisk pace.
James Marsters did a phenomenal job with the narration. I love the way that he is able to bring this series to life. The different voices that he uses for the various characters are very well done and consistent throughout the series. I know that his narration has added to my enjoyment of this story.
I would not hesitate to recommend this series to others. This book was jam-packed with a great mystery and wonderful characters. I cannot wait to continue with my re-read of this fabulous series!
Audiobook Re-read The narration was excellent as always! This was a pretty complex story and there were times that I had some difficulty keeping up. I had a great time catching up with Harry and the rest of the gang.
I enjoyed this book the first time I read it and I think that it was even better duringThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I enjoyed this book the first time I read it and I think that it was even better during this re-read. This is the eighth book in the Harry Dresden series which really should be read in order since each book builds on events from previous installments. It is a great series to revisit anytime I want to read something that I know I am going to enjoy.
Once again, Harry finds himself in the middle of a mess. He receives a call from Molly Carpenter, the daughter of his good friend, looking for help and he just can't say no. Someone in town is doing black magic and there are also some grisly murders at a local horror festival that he needs to contend with. All while trying to keep the White Council happy. Things get very complicated very quickly and Harry feels like it is his responsibility to set things right. There were some pretty big developments that were revealed in this installment. I found this story to be really exciting with plenty of action. I was hooked by the mystery and couldn't wait to see if Harry would be able to make everything work while protecting those in his care.
James Marsters continues to do a phenomenal job with this series. It really is amazing how completely he is able to bring Harry and the other characters to life. I thought that he added a lot of emotion and excitement into the reading and I found it easy to listen to this book for hours at a time. I do feel that his performance added to my enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this series to others. Harry's world is an interesting one to visit and I always feel completely entertained when I dive into any of the novels in the series. I cannot wait to continue with my re-read of the series.
Initial Thoughts I always seem to have a good time with Harry and this book was no exception. When Harry gets a call for help from Molly Carpenter things get interesting really quickly. Someone is doing black magic and Harry needs to get the bottom of everything before someone gets hurt. There are some pretty big developments in this installment in the series and it was great seeing Harry work his magic. James Marsters did a phenomenal job with the narration which added a lot to my overall enjoyment.
I first read this book about a decade ago. That was before the time that I wrote reviewThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I first read this book about a decade ago. That was before the time that I wrote reviews or even kept good records regarding what I was reading. I remember really enjoying the series so much that I picked up a copy of the audiobook nine years ago so that I would be ready for a re-read when I wanted to experience the series again. I decided it was time to go ahead with that re-read when I was going through my audiobook library recently. I am glad to say that this book is just as good as I remembered.
This book is set in a very different world. The Church has all of the power. There are no gods, only truth. They are keeping things under control since the dead have risen. Now if you have a haunting, the Church will send out one of their witches and if the haunting is confirmed they will take care of it and give you a nice check. If you are faking it, things will not work out well quite as well. Chess works as a church witch. She is good at her job but has a few flaws including a little drug habit, and the fact that she owes her dealer a hefty sum. She is going to work on a little side project for her dealer to even the score.
I thought that the world that this book was set in was very creative and unique. Chess is a great character. She is obviously flawed with her drug usage but she is still quite capable. As much as I liked Chess, Terrible really stole the show. He is just a fantastic character. I remember loving him the first time I read this book and nothing has changed. I love how he quickly becomes part of a team with Chess. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end. In most cases, I don’t love books with a lot of slang-filled dialogue but it just works in this series.
It is hard to believe but I think that this is the first time that I have listened to Bahni Turpin’s narration. She did a fantastic job with the story. She made all of the dialogue feel very natural and the book flowed very nicely. I thought that she handled the voices of a wide variety of characters very well. I believe that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. This was a rather exciting story that kept me guessing and was filled with wonderful characters. I cannot wait to continue my re-read of this amazing series....more
This book is absolutely amazing! If you have not yet read this series, please do This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
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5 Stars!
This book is absolutely amazing! If you have not yet read this series, please do yourself a huge favor and start reading the first book, Darkfever, right away. This series MUST be read in order. Don't even think about picking up Shadowfever without reading the first four. This series is an experience. This kind of book is exactly why I read. This book took me to places that I can never go in a world that does not exist. I got to spend time with characters that come alive on the pages of a book. This was my second time reading this book and I loved it even more this time.
"You choose what you can live with. And what you can't live without."
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This book picks up right where Dreamfever left off, which was a huge cliffhanger so I was thankful to jump back in. Mac is in a dark place and it is painful to watch her deal with everything. The Mac in this book is nothing like the Mac in Dreamfever. She has changed. She is a survivor and despite hitting a low point she moves forward and does what she thinks needs to be done. She has learned and developed new skills. I liked the Mac in Dreamfever but I love the Mac we see in Shadowfever. She knows what is important and will sacrifice everything to get it.
"Some things are sacred. Until you act like they're not. Then you lose them."
Jericho Barrons is still one of the best characters found on a page of a book in my opinion. The things that he says are so very wise. He is fierce. He is the man that you want to be on your side because the last thing you would want would be to have to go against him. He rarely loses. The chemistry between Mac and Barrons is intense. Karen Marie Moning created an absolute masterpieces when she created Barrons. I loved him in every book in this series but in this book many of the questions surrounding the man are revealed.
"There's nothing I can't live with. Only things I won't live without."
The world building is once again phenomenal. This book is set in so many different locations, many of which only exist in this book. The places that were created in this story seem so real. The characters are so unique with many types of creatures you can hardly even imagine. This book finally gives us the answers that we have wanted. One thing that I love about Shadowfever is how well it wraps the story up. There is so much story inside this book that it could have easily been broken up into two books but I am so glad that it wasn't. It is so nice to finish this book and feel content with the ending.
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I highly recommend this series to everyone. I think that everyone should be reading the Fever Series and preferably more than once. I found that I really liked it better on this reading than I did the first time probably because there is so much to take in. I cannot wait to revisit this book again in the future. ...more
I had a great time with my re-read of this book! I originally read this series years agThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I had a great time with my re-read of this book! I originally read this series years ago and enjoyed it so much that I decided to pick up the audiobooks to experience it all over again. I have been slowing working my way through the series for a second time often working a book into my reading schedule when I need a bit of a lift. This seemed like the perfect time for a little Harry Dresden and it proved to be a wonderful escape.
Although this was a re-read, there were a lot of things about this book that I didn't remember anymore. There were a few stand out sections of the book that I was able to recall and enjoyed being able to revisit them. This is the seventh book in The Dresden Files series which is a series that really should be read in order since the character relationships grow and change over the course of the series.
This was a pretty exciting installment in the series. Harry is put in charge of watering Karin's plants while she is on vacation and ends up working to save her reputation for a ruthless vampire. There are some powerful forces searching for a very powerful item that has the potential to do a lot of damage. Harry has to battle several necromancers and their zombies with only the help of his brother and a polka playing mortician. There were some pretty big scenes in this book and I really appreciated Harry's interactions with Sue.
James Marsters brings so much to this story. His narration is really top-notch and I found this book to be a joy to listen to. He does a fantastic job with a wide range of character voices in the series and I love how consistent he has been throughout the series. He is able to add a lot of emotion and excitement to the story through his reading. I believe that I enjoyed this book a bit more during my re-read than I did the first time largely due to his narration.
I would recommend this book to others. This is a smartly written story that is filled with wonderful characters, intense action, a bit of humor, and an interesting plot. I cannot wait to continue with my re-read of this exciting series!
Initial Thoughts This was a re-read for me. It has been quite a few years since I first read this book and while I remember some key scenes, my memory is poor enough that it was almost like reading it for the first time. Marsters does a fantastic job with the narration and the story was really exciting. I am looking forward to tackling the next book in the series very soon.
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