Book #58 - Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood #4)

Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood #4), J. R. Ward
480 pages
paranormal romance, urban fantasy
Started 5/18/12
Finished 5/20/12
4.5 STARS

Oh, Black Dagger Brotherhood, how I love thee. Let me count the ways.

#1) Large Hot Guys in Leather - Um, enough said.

#2) Strong, Capable Women - Every BDB story in the series features a woman who not only has effectively handled her own trials and adversities, but when faced with helping her love through his as well, she welcomes the burden. This story was no different. Marissa is shunned among her own and dissed by Butch, the human man that she likes. Yet, when he is severely injured, she doesn't think twice about staying by his side 24/7 until he is better. He is rough; she is refined. He is experienced; she is beyond virginal. She persevered through their differences to find their similarities - their common goals. I want to be like that.

#3) Exciting Stories - Each book features a different brother and his story of how he came to be one. All of them have experienced tragedy in unspeakable ways. Butch is a little different, however, He hasn't been around for hundreds of years like the others - only 37. He's not a vampire. He doesn't have any special powers or abilities. But, he does have the heart of a warrior and the desire to protect those he cares about with his life. This makes for an incredible story with great action scenes, just like the others.

#4) Friendships That Span Time - Although these guys aren't really "brothers," they may as well be. Wrath, Vishous, Rhage, Phury, Zsadist and Tohrment would sacrifice themselves in a New York minute if it meant saving one of their own. And, when Butch joins the group and starts his awesome "bromance" with Vishous, he adopts that attitude as well. He has a special relationship with V - they are the epitome of best friends. And, that makes this particular book extra good.

#5) Large, Hot Guys in Leather - I know I mentioned it once before, but it was worth mentioning again. :)

Book #23 - Fire Study (Study #3)

Fire Study (Study #3), Maria Snyder
441 pages
high fantasy
Started 2/26/12
Finished 2/29/12
3.5 STARS

Notice this book has an extra 50 pages on the first two in the Study series? Let me tell you, those were 50 pages that were not needed. I loved Poison Study and Magic Study. And, while Fire Study did wrap up the loose ends and give me the happy ending I wanted, there was so much extra crap in there, that it sort of went on and on and on about nothing for way too long.

I don't know exactly what it was, but I was less than enamored with this final installment. It didn't hold my interest like the others. Yelena got on my nerves more often than not. And Valek started seeming pretty whipped. Everyone was mopey and boo-hooey. I mean, yes, there were some big baddies out there trying to wreak havoc, rape, pillage and plunder, but there should still be a little comic relief. Ari and Janco were the only bright spots in this book for me.

But, as I said, Yelena did get her happy ending with Valek, she vanquished the bad guys, got to stick it to her arch nemesis, Roze, and the real story behind Cahil and his motives was a bit of an unexpected surprise. So, for those reasons (plus the Power Twins - I'd love to see a book about them from their POV), I will submit that Fire Study was more good than bad, and the Study series as a whole gets a solid 4-star rating in my book.

Book #22 - Magic Study (study #2)

Magic Study (Study #2), Maria Snyder
392 pages
high fantasy
Started 2/25/12
Finished 2/26/12
4.5 STARS

I like it when a book keeps sight of the main plot points and doesn't deviate to focus on the red herring - usually the budding romance between the two main characters. Did you ever notice that? You get a really good first book with a really fun plot. Along the way, the protagonist falls in love. Then, in the second book, it's all, "Oh, I love so-and-so so much! I want to put myself in mortal peril so that he can save me!" "Oh, I'm thinking about so-and-so all the time. I can't wait until we're together next." "Oh wait - there was a plot?" Don't get me wrong - I LOVE a good romance. It makes a good story great and gives a great excuse for some good angst and action. But, please, if you spend an entire book setting up a complex plot, please don't abandon it in favor of the love story. Wind them together and make the story amazing.

Thankfully, Magic Story does just that. In fact, the plot arc gets even more interesting and complex, and Valek, Yelena's love doesn't even show up until halfway through the book. It gives plenty of time to flesh out Yelena's back story and to introduce some new, key characters, like Irys, her magic instructor, and Leif, her brother. The story told is wonderful - Yelena meets her family that she hasn't seen since she was 6, and isn't sure what she thinks of them. She heads to the capital city of Sitia to begin developing her magic abilities, but doesn't stay there long when it's discovered that someone is kidnapping young girls with magical talent and killing them to add to the killer's own power. Yelena seems to be the only one who has a clue how to stop the bad guy. So, she abandons her training to try and discover who is committing the heinous act and stop him or her. Valek shows up to help her out, along with some of her other friends from Ixia.

Like Poison Study, Magic Study was an awesome book. I loved the story, the characters and the world building. The author's descriptive language is wonderful. And, Yelena's relationship with Valek is very fulfilling. They love each other, but know when to put it aside in order to get a job done. I do love this book.  

Book #21 - Poison Study (Study #1)

Poison Study (Study #1), Maria Snyder
409 pages
high fantasy
Started 2/22/12
Finished 2/24/12
4.5 STARS

High fantasy usually isn't my bag. Sometimes, they tend to get a bit too weird. The names and places are weird, and I generally have a hard time getting into a story with no frame of reference. Recently, I tried reading Graceling for my challenge, and I barely made it halfway through before I abandoned it. So, I approached Poison Study with not much hope that I would actually see it through to the end.

But, see, here was the difference for me between Poison Study and Graceling. Poison Study actually was interesting. Huh. Yelena is scheduled to be executed for murder. At the last minute, she's given a choice - either take her execution or get a job. As the Commander's food taster. Yelena does what any smart girl would do and gives herself a fighting chance. She takes the job. But, to ensure she doesn't run away, the captain of the guards gives her a deadly poison that can only be kept at bay if Yelena is given a dose of antidote every morning. Skip a morning, she dies a slow, agonizing death.

Thing is, Yelena is good at her job. And, she even makes friends and gains the respect and love of the people around her. She also discovers that she has other hidden abilities besides being able to distinguish between 50 different poisons.

This was a great book! I loved seeing Yelena come from a broken, scared girl into a strong, confident woman. It wasn't an easy journey for her. She was scared and didn't trust anyone - not even herself. But, she makes a conscious decision to put one foot in front of the other and to keep her eyes and ears open for any opportunity to better her situation. And, that opportunity comes, but not in any way that Yelena ever expected. If you want to read a good book that makes you want to stand up and say, " Yes, I'm a woman, but that doesn't mean I can't kick your patoot," then, this is it. Loved it.