Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris

I am too lazy to review all of these books separately. I just finished book 7 of this series, and I'm hooked! I've reviewed/summarized a few of the books previously. I think I enjoy each one a little bit more. They are so funny and there is always something interesting going on! Not to mention the amount of attractive men that the main character attracts!

I'm going to be getting book 8 next week when it comes out in paperback! And a new book comes out in May I believe. I'll finally be caught up! I'm also looking forward to getting the first season of True Blood, the show that is based on the books on DVD from Netflix when it comes out in May!

I'd definitely recommend these books! It's an adult series, and very addictive!

Reading Dangerously

At the beginning of the year I had decided to do a little 'reading dangerously' challenge for myself. To read 10 books out of my normal comfort zone.

Well...I think I've pretty well accomplished that already. I never thought I'd want to read ANY vampire books...or books about werewolves (the most interest I ever had in a werewolf was the movie Teen Wolf with Michael J Fox...that movie is so funny!). I'd also never had much of an interest in young adult fiction, and now I can't stop reading it!

So I think it's safe to say that I've met and exceeded my goal...although none of these books are now 'dangerous' to me anymore - they're more like 'normal' at this point!

Review: Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine

Lord of Misrule is book 5 in the Morganville Vampires series.

Synopsis from Barnes and Noble:
In the college town of Morganville, vampires and humans coexist in (relatively) bloodless harmony. Then comes Bishop, the master vampire who threatens to abolish all order, revive the forces of the evil dead, and let chaos rule. But Bishop isn't the only threat.Violent black cyclone clouds hover, promising a storm of devastating proportions as student Claire Danvers and her friends prepare to defend Morganville against elements both natural and unnatural.

Not much to say, except that I really enjoyed this book. And she leaves you hanging at the end, of course! I am bummed that I have to wait until June for the next book!

I wasn't sure how much I was going to enjoy this series, but I really do like it. The relationships between the humans and vampires is so complex, and the story stays interesting, and doesn't seem forced. There is lots of action, and a little romance (young adult romance, of course) too. Good stuff!

I'm thinking about checking out Rachel Caine's other books now...

Rated: 4/5

The Hunger Games Film...?

According to this article...The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins will be made into a film, to be released in 2011.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I have a very vivid picture of the events of this book in my head...and I'm sure it won't look at all the same on the big screen. It will be interesting to see how it turns out. I was happy at least to see that Collins will be doing the adaptation for the screenplay!

Review: Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine

Feast of Fools is book four in the Morganville Vampires series. Can you tell I'm hooked? I was trying to go slow on this series, but I always grab the next book right away!

This will contain lots of spoilers if you haven't read the other books yet!

Amelie's 'father' Mr Bishop is in town. And it's not good. He's the most dangerous vampire that Claire and her friends have ever met. And he has sidekicks.... One is female. And she wants Shane. Claire is not amused! Neither is Shane! (And neither was I!)

Claire's parents move into town...and find out the secrets. At least they finally know! Claire is still working with Myrnin to find the cure for the vampires.

Shane get invited to a ball in honor of Mr Bishop. But it's not exactly an invitation. It's a demand. In fact, Claire is going to be the only one of the roommates not going. But, that wouldn't be any fun, would it?

Myrnin makes me so nervous! Definitely creepy, but lovable at the same time. Never know when he will snap. I love that you never really know which 'side' people are on. Is Oliver on their side? Does Amelie really care about them? Will Michael turn on them eventually, since he's a vampire now?

The relationship between Shane and Claire is very sweet. And real. Shane's a typical guy. Not perfect in any way. I think that's what makes him so endearing.

I already started book 5. I'm bummed that I have to wait until June for book 6!

Rated: 4/5

Waiting on Wednesday - Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

'Waiting on Wednesay' was started by Jill at Breaking The Spine. I always see it on other blogs, and decided to participate, since I always have a ton of books that I can't wait to get!

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins is book 2 in the Hunger Games trilogy. Ever since I finished The Hunger Games (Book 1), I've been dying to read this! It will be available September 1st, 2009. I'm counting down the days!

Here's the summary, from Amazon...
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Have I mentioned that I can't wait??

Reviews and Ratings

Sometimes I think I'm too lenient when reviewing and rating books that I've read.

I look back at a book and wonder...did I really like it that much?? I also think sometimes once the 'novelty' of the book wears off a bit, and I think about it more, I might change my mind a little bit too. I have a hard time rating things low. Usually there is at least one redeeming quality about a book, even if I didn't love everything about it. I see other blogs that have different rating systems, or that rate several different things about it - characters, writing, plot...etc. I think I'm just too lazy to do all of that.

When I look back and see a book that I really loved rated the same as a book that I thought was just ok...I realize that my system is a little off! I guess it's just hard to convey these things through a 5 point rating system. I don't think I've ever rated below a 3. I try to rate each book independently, not compared to any other book too.

Oh well. I'm going to continue to rate out of 5, because I don't feel like starting a new system right now. But just take it all with a grain of salt I guess...

Review: Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine

Midnight Alley is the 3rd book in the Morganville Vampires young adult series. I've been pleasantly surprised by these books. They are really quick reads, and quite entertaining. This one was my favorite of the series so far!

This will contain spoilers, so if you haven't read any of the books, be warned!

Claire now has protection. But she had to sign herself over to get it. I was really hoping she wouldn't continue to keep this a secret from her roommates, so I was happy when she finally told them. We meet a new character in this one: Myrnin. Wow. He is quite a complex vampire, and I was biting my nails reading some of the parts with him! Definitely spooky. Claire is working with him to help find a cure - because the vampires are slowly dying...a fact that no one else knows. Claire is conflicted between wanting to help and not wanting anything to do with it. But she doesn't exactly have a choice in the matter.

Meanwhile, Shane is NOT happy that Michael is a vampire, and someone is out to get Michael. Girls are turning up dead by the Glass House, and they aren't sure who's responsible....

I was on the edge of my seat with this one! And she always ends them with a big cliffhanger!!

Rated: 4/5

My Little Reader

Don't mind the random hat...we were sorting through baby clothes and I wanted to see if it fit. Couldn't resist the pictures of my little bookworm!

Review: The Dead Girls Dance by Rachel Caine

The Dead Girls Dance is the 2nd book in the Morganville Vampires Series. I'm enjoying these more than I expected. I really like the main character Claire, although she does have some pretty bad luck. Shane is really sweet too.

If you haven't read the first book, this will contain spoilers.

Shane's dad is in town, and he wants Shane to help him wipe out the vampires. But Shane isn't too keen on that plan, and neither are his roommates. His dad killed Michael...but Michael isn't really dead. But when a vampire ends up dead, Shane's the one who gets caught and it's up to the roommates to save his life.

This series is different from other young adult vampire series, because of the relationship between the vampires and the humans. Claire and her roommates hate the vampires, so when Michael becomes one, no one knows how to react.

I'm interested to see what happens next. Michael's a vampire, and it looks like Claire is about to pledge herself to the most powerful vampire in town... should be interesting!

Rated: 4/5