Science Fiction & Fantasy.

Some of you have probably heard about the new HBO series, "True Blood".  If you have tried watching it and found it a bit too graphic, you will have a blast reading the series that it is based  upon:  The Sookie Stackhouse Novels by Charlaine Harris.  It is often described as a Southern Vampire Mystery  Series, but I found them to be a combination of mystery, fantasy, romance and absudity (and not nearly as graphic as "True Blood").

Normally, I am not drawn to vampire stories, but these are just absolutely fun to read.  Sookie narrates her adventures as a barmaid and telepath when she becomes involved with vampires who have recently "come out of the coffin".  She tells her story with a sunny outlook, Southern manners, and a sense of humor. 

The stories get more and more wonderfully crazy, but these light reads are so entertaining, I couldn't read them fast enough.  I don't want to say much more about the plot, because of the surprising twists and turns it takes,  and the very interesting characters that become a part of Sookie's  life.

If True Blood has piqued your interest (or you are a big fan), try the first book in the series, Dead Until Dark.  I bet you will have to read the entire series to find out what happens to Sookie Stackhouse, a character you will wish you could meet.

Darkfever, by Karen Marie Moning

MacKayla is a beautiful and pampered young woman, the product of a happy childhood in comfortable Ashford, Georgia.  Her world is comprised of doting parents an older sister, handsome young men at parties, clothes and shopping and the perfect pink nail polish.  Then the unthinkable happens; her sister travels to Dublin to study and is murdered a few months later.  Mac's world falls apart as she listens to Alina's last frantic phone message before her death, to a sister who's frightened and calling on Mac to help her.  Wracked by guilt she decides to go to Ireland to discover what really happened and to harangue the local police until they find the killer.

But Ireland is not what Mac expects.  Not only have the police proven to do everything they can, but Alina's life turns out to be full of mystery and oddities.  Clearly Alina had changed over the months and now Mac must delve into her life not only to solve the murder but to understand her sister's erratic behavior.  As she searches for clues, Mac begins to see strange things; a Dublin full of magic and mystery, strange creatures only she can see, vast deserted areas where people no longer live but nobody seems to notice, and powerful beings who can kill with a thought.  When Mac runs for her life she stumbles in to an amazing bookstore owned by the handsome and enigmatic Jericho Barrons, but his answers only cause the mysteries to deepen and Mac doesn't know where to turn to find her sister's killer.

Kitty and the Midnight Hour, by Carrie Vaughn

Most of us have at one time or another listened to what we thought was a slightly strange radio call-in show, usually late at night, usually with a supposed expert on their subject, and usually full of weird and possibly wacky callers.  Kitty's Midnight Hour is one of those shows.  But although Kitty isn't an expert, she really is a werewolf, and while many of her callers are wacky, quite a few are the real deal; were-creatures of some kind or another, vampires, or various other flavor of supernatural, all looking for others of their kind, a friendly ear, or advice.

Kitty knows firsthand that there are no paranormal handbooks given to those newly changed; people suffering from fear and violent trauma, often left for dead.  While Kitty tries to help and educate her callers and brings light into some strange arenas, many supernatural beings want to stay in the dark and bring an end to the show, by any means necessary.  Now Kitty must avoid the man hired to kill her while helping the police solve a puzzling murder case, plus show the community of the dark that her show poses no threat and actually helps their secret world.

Kitty Norville is a strong, smart-alecky, and engaging young woman with a love for her work and a passion for helping all the other confused supernatural beings who populate Denver.  This is the first in an action packed urban fantasy series full of quirky and often dangerous characters.  Many have their own agendas, but some are true and loyal friends.

I read a fair amount of fantasy growing up, but as an "older person," haven't often been grabbed by the genre.  When it was first published in 2006, Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora sucked me in big time, and it's by far the best fantasy novel I've read in a long time (Lynch has a second book out now, but they should be read in order).

It might be more of a guy book, but I don't think so - if any gals have read and liked it (or not), please consider leaving a comment.

The plot is based on a band of orphan thieves, purchased/enslaved by a blind priest master-thief autocrat, who teaches his fledglings the art of his trade.  They steal for him and he protects and provides (sort of) for them.  Locke Lamora is a slight, runt of a thief, but clever and extremely adept.  As he leads a band of co-thieves on increasingly bold and successful raids, the authorities label him the Thorn of Camorr, and want his head.  A powerful, evil magician is also out for Locke, and rival thieves would like nothing more than to see him fall.  Scott Lynch throws in lots of fun, skin-of-his-teeth adventures, with really great writing, and some unpredictable plot turns.

I'm not sure why this book never made bigger waves - it did get on some "best books" lists.  I mentioned it to co-workers and they all loved it (including a few gals).  Scott Lynch now has a broad fan base, and I read that a studio has purchased the movie rights.  So give it a try, read 20 or 30 pages, and if you're not hooked, money back guarantee (library books only).

Mystic and Rider, by Sharon Shinn

King Baryn rules over Gillengaria, a land in turmoil.  Barely tolerated before, mystics hide their gifts as persecution escalates, distrust of magic increasing after the rumor spreads that the King's new wife has snared him by magical means.  As ill feeling toward magic users increases, Baryn sends an unlikely group of travelers to assess the danger to him, his kingdom, and his family.  Senneth is a powerful fire mystic in her own right, who has given her loyalty to the King who welcomed her when shunned by her noble House.  Quicksilver Kirra and her servant, Donnel, are shape shifters from one of the ruling Twelve Houses.  Tayse is the leader of the King's Riders, an elite fighting force specially chosen by the King, and who doubts mystics on principal but will defend Baryn unto death.  And Justin is another Rider, young, quick tempered and also distrustful of magic users, but who follows Tayse without question.

The companions cross the land visiting small towns and noble houses searching out magic, treachery, and pockets of loyalty to the King.  They must learn to work together and trust each other in order to fight the tyranny of a dangerously growing fanatical cult bent on the death of all mystics, and an increasing sense that some of the Twelve Houses are intent on overthrowing the King and his mysterious wife.

This is the first in a wonderful series rich in courtly intrigue, a complex world history, and a fascinating magical system.  It is also a tale of tolerance, love, growing friendship, and fiercely won trust.  Sharon Shinn is one of my favorite authors and I gladly return to the worlds she creates.

...there was Sunshine by Robin McKinley. Known for her award-winning fantasy books, McKinley creates a familiar-feeling world where vampires and magic are very real, but so are coffee and cinnamon rolls.

Rae lives in the small town of New Arcadia, where she wakes up at 4am everyday to bake Cinnamon Rolls as Big as Your Head for a coffee shop in Town. She doesn't really mind getting up early, since she loves the warm morning light, and the feel of soft dough between her fingers. Sounds kind of cozy, huh? Well, then, let me tell you a little more about New Arcadia. One branch of the police force there is called SOF: Special Other Forces. They deal with the Others, the most dangerous of these being the Suckers. That is, vampires. There are Others that aren't really legislated against, like Weres, Demons, and Sprites...I mean, everyone knows someone with a little sprite or peri blood in them. But it's the Darkest Others, the vampires, that you really want to avoid.

So when Rae takes a nighttime drive out to her parents' cabin by the lake, she's not really surprised when she gets kidnapped by a gang of suckers, tied hand and foot, and left in an abandoned house...but not alone. She's been put there as supper for Constantine, the gang's rival, who does end up surprising her, in more ways than one.

This refreshing fantasy presents a world where the supernatural is normal, but so are friends, family, and fragrant baked goods.<

New Blood by Gail Dayton

If you judged this book by the title or cover, you might think this is yet another one of those vampire romances that are so popular. Or perhaps a horror story. What you probably wouldn't think is that this is a Steampunk romance.

What exactly is Steampunk? It's defined as a sub-genre of fantasy and speculative fiction that is set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used. Most often, the setting is the Victorian period, or a fantasy world that closely resembles that period. There is a growing interest in Steampunk, and there are now "cons" held around the county, with fashion, music and of course, books.

New Blood begins with the magically bound servant, Jax, finally fulfilling his over two hundred year old mission to find the next blood sorceress. Unfortunately, the magically talented Amanusa doesn't believe him. When she finally uses her magic to exact revenge on a group of rebels who killed her family and held her prisoner, she learns being a powerful sorceress comes with a huge cost to her conscience.

As Jax and Amanusa are pursued across Europe, they discover areas that are competely dead and inhabited only by strange mechanical creatures. They also discover a powerful attraction to each other, and yet Jax is a servant - captured, mistreated and magically bound to the previous blood sorceress, Yvaine. Will he be able to trust Amanusa enough to be honest with her? And will Amanusa learn to control her powerful magic and earn her place in the International Magician's Conclave?

This combination of a unique world, with familiar elements, magic and romance should satisfy fans of multiple genres. It's the first book in a series set around the International Magician's Conclave, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series coming out in 2010. 

 

 

Have you ever thought about how wonderful it is to be able to make decisions? The freedom to decide what to wear, how to act, or even who to marry?Or maybe you've felt that something was guiding, no, pushing you toward certain choices? If you have ever felt that you had no control over the path of your life, then you might just understand what it's like to be Elena Klovis.

Elena lives in one of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, which are governed by a powerful magical force called simply The Tradition. This magic gathers thickly around people who appear to be following a familiar fairytale path, and then ensures that they complete that path. And if you remember your fairytales well, you'll know that not all endings are happy. Elena was supposed to be a Cinderella, but the prince in her kingdom was only eleven years old! So she slaved under a cruel step-family as magic gathered around her, frustrating her, making her feel that she was supposed to do or be something else.

When her predictably evil step-mother and step-sisters leave her penniless to fend for herself, she goes in search of a job...and finds herself apprenticed to a Fairy Godmother. All the magic gathering around her gets put to good use as she dispenses potions, attends royal christenings, and tests questing knights and princes. Everything's going well for Godmother Elena, until she tests an unusually disagreeable prince, and decides to teach him a lesson. Unfortunately, The Tradition has other plans for them. Elena must try to find a way to break Tradition, but there's only one problem: no one has been able to do it before.

Mercedes Lackey creates a warm, strong, and witty character in The Fairy Godmother, and a story that is easy to cuddle up with when life has got you down. This is the first book in the Five Hundred Kingdoms series.

Archangel by Sharon Shinn

Angels rule the world of Sameria and chief amongst them is the Archangel. Raphael, the current leader, is old and his successor, Gabriel, is eager to assume his duties. There's just one catch; Gabriel needs a wife. The upcoming festival of songs, the Gloria, which must be sung to their god Jovah, requires that his wife sing at his side. If the Gloria isn't performed, Jovah will rain disasters down upon Sameria. Gabriel dutifully visits the oracle Josiah, learns his predestined wife's name, and goes in search of her. Unfortunately, Rachel's village has been destroyed and he can find no trace of her. When he does track her down, he finds out that she is the slave of a powerful noble. Angels generally keep themselves apart from the rest of humanity and don't pay much attention to class or ethnic struggles, so he's surprised when Rachel turns out to be an adamant defender of her oppressed Edori people. He's even more alarmed by the fact that Rachel doesn't want to be his wife. With Raphael proving corrupt and Rachel proving difficult, Gabriel must somehow sort everyone out before its too late.

Sharon Shinn's Sameria series is a fun blend of science fiction, fantasy, and romance. The odd bits of technology in this biblical society hint at the origins of the world and the true identity of Jovah. Shinn writes her characters well, making their conflicted loyalties the center of the story. This is for readers who like Anne McCaffrey.

Dead Witch Walking, by Kim Harrison

Twenty years ago genetically altered tomotoes created an epidemic which almost wiped out the human race.  During the resulting chaos several supernatural species frightened humans by revealing themselves in order to hold society together; since then humans and Inderlanders have developed an uneasy truce as they learn to live with each other.

Rachel Morgan is a witch and an Inderland Security Runner, a bounty hunter charged with bringing in rogue werewolves, Brimstone drug dealers, and tax-evading leprechauns, to name a few.  Disgusted that her superiors are giving her increasingly mundane and petty cases, she decides to leave the I.S. and start her own runner service. Unfortunately, nobody who's left the I.S. has lived more than a few days, especially when they take two of the best agents with them.  Now Rachel must rely on her own spelling talents and the unique abilities of her new partners, a living vampire afraid of losing her soul and an annoying pixie who hates fairies, in order to stay alive and discover who wants her dead.

Harrison has created a rich and wonderful world in modern Cincinnati after the Turn, as the killer tomato era is called, and populated it with well thought out magical species, complete with legal systems, hidden agendas, and human-seeming foibles.  This is the first in a series packed with adventure, mystery, love, friendship, and smart aleck fun.