Incubus by Carol Goodman

In a town built on magic, be careful what you dream ...

Ever since moving to Fairwick to take up a teaching post at the local college, Callie has been having vivid, erotic dreams about a man made out of moonlight and shadows. Dreams she begins to fear as well as anticipate ...

She learns that her home - a Victorian cottage at the edge of a wood - is supposedly haunted. And then her new - and rather strange - colleagues tell her a local legend about an incubus demon with a human past who was enchanted by a fairy queen ...

It took me a loooong time to get into this book. It's really slow going and nothing really exciting happens until near the end. And even then, it's not really that exciting.

Huge periods of time pass between chapters and breaks and they're never really discussed. The story itself, is vaguely interesting but not overly so. And the characters aren't enough to hold your interest. Callie isn't strong enough for a lead character, in my opinion. She's sort of boring, a bit self obsessed and not very interesting.

This isn't really a book I'd recommend to someone, I bought it as an impulse buy but I wish I'd read some reviews first.


Book Depository: Incubus
Amazon UK: Incubus

Sad Monsters: Growling on the Outside, Crying on the Inside by Frank Lesser

Monsters have it tough. Besides being deeply misunderstood, they suffer from very real problems: Mummies have body image issues, Godzilla is going through an existential crisis, and creatures from the black lagoon face discrimination from creatures from the white lagoon. At heart, these monsters are human; after all, you are what you eat. Quirkily illustrated, Sad Monsters hilariously documents the trials and tribulations of all the undead creatures monster-mad readers have grown to love, from vampires and werewolves, to chupacabras and sphinxes, and even claw-footed bathtubs.

Release Date 27 September 2011

This book has some really cute drawings and funny little stories relating to monsters and the troubles they face every day.

For instance, did you know Godzilla questions his existence every day? Or that The Abominable Snowman wants nothing more than to work in the fashion industry?

What about the fact that if you stay abstinent in your teen years you get your very own unicorn as your BFF? I never knew that could happen.

There's loads of great little short funny stories and they're all giggle worthy. The illustrations are cute and funny and go well with the stories. This is a nice wee book for a quick read, and since it's all short 2 or 3 page stories, it's a book you're able to read in between other books. You can read one or two stories then put it down and pick it back up later without worrying about getting confused.


Book Depository: Sad Monsters
Amazon UK: Sad Monsters: Growling on the Outside, Crying on the Inside

Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls - a camp for troubled teens - and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren't just "troubled." Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, witches, and fairies train side by side, learning to harness their powers, control their magic, and live in the normal world.
Kylie's never felt normal, but surely she doesn't belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks, either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn't complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek's a half Fae who's determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin' hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Derek and Lucas couldn't be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.
Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear: Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs ....

So I heard of this book ages ago when I heard of the free e-novella Turned at Dark then I won Born at Midnight in a contest from a blog, which I would link to but I can't remember who they are, sorry. Unfortunately I also just discovered I can't read Turned at Dark because it's not available in my country ~ bummer! Sucky geographical limits.

Anyway, I started this book the other day and I absolutely loved it. Kylie is a nice YA lead and Derek and Lucas are your typical YA triangle material, completely different and both hot so it makes it difficult to choose.

The story is good, paced well and doesn't really have any boring bits in it. I liked the idea of Shadow Falls, a camp for supernatural teens just coming into their powers. And I loved Kylie's room mates, Della and Miranda, a newly turned vampire and a dyslexic witch. Kylie's struggle with finding out who she is and why she's at the camp is very well told. You really get into her head and she fluctuates between wanting to believe she is something and hoping that she's not (even though that would mean she's actually very ill).

All in all, a very good short read and a must for all fans of the genre. I'm going to try and get my greedy little hands on Turned at Dark and can't wait to read the next book, Awake at Dawn.


Book Depository: Born At Midnight
Amazon UK: Born at Midnight

Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong

Savannah Levine is in danger. That's not usually a problem. But, caught in the grip of a disturbing and violent murder case, Savannah swore to give up her unique gifts if it would save an innocent young girl. Little did she know that someone - or something - was listening ... Now she has no idea how to restore her powers, just when she needs them the most.

In this compelling, fast paced new thriller, Savannah has to face a host of deadly enemies bent on destroying not only her, but the very fabric of the supernatural world.

As dark forces gather, Savannah isn't just fighting for her life, but for everything and everyone she loves ...

You know, it seems completely pointless for me to write a review for a Kelley Armstrong book. Anyone that knows me, knows she's one of (if not my most) favourite author. It's hard for me to say anything bad about a Kelley Armstrong book, I love her writing. Kelley's books, for me, are a proper page turner. I read them all in one sitting and Spell Bound was no different. I got it through the door today, started reading it at about 12 this afternoon and have just finished it at about half 5.

This is the second to last book in the Otherworld series (nooooooooooooooooooooo) since Kelley plans on taking a break from it to focus on other projects. As much as this saddens me, I know she doesn't want to keep writing and having the series lose it's appeal (like so many other series out there). Also, she has promised it's not an end but a hiatus, she plans on writing short stories and novellas featuring the Otherworld characters so we're not completely losing them.

The 2nd in the Savannah trilogy picks up exactly where Waking The Witch left us with that horrid cliff hanger ending. Good thing is, this book doesn't end on a cliff hanger but Kelley does tease us a little in the last few pages. As is my usual for Kelley's books, I cannot wait to read the next one and I'm pretty sad that it's a whole year away!


Book Depository: Spell Bound
Amazon UK: Spell Bound

My Soul To Keep by Rachel Vincent

Kaylee has one addiction in her life: Her boyfriend Nash.

Like Kaylee, Nash is a banshee. So he understands her like no one else. Nothing - supernatural or otherwise - can come between them. That is, until something does.

Demon's breath - a potent paranormal drug with the power to kill. Somehow the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. Kaylee and Nash need to cut off the source and protect their human friends - one of whom is already hooked.

But Kaylee's plans are soon derailed when she uncovers another secret demon's breath addict in their midst. Nash.

Now she's ready to kick some serious Netherworld butt - but is it too late to save the boy who's stolen her heart?

This is book three in the Soul Screamers series, the first two books are My Soul To Take and My Soul To Save.

My one problem with this book was the fact that Nash's addiction was given away in the blurb. Even with all of Rachel Vincent's hint-dropping, it was still a major part of the story and I feel it could have been more of an "oh-my-god" moment than it was. Of course, this has nothing to do with the book or the author, it's just something that bugs me when a huge thing is given away in the blurb.

This series is still going strong and I can't wait to read the next one (I'll need to check if I can get the UK cover yet or if I'll have to wait). Unlike a lot of Supernatural books, we learnt about Kaylee's banshee powers at the same time as her so we've gotten to see her grow while she learns to live with her curse powers.

I absolutely love Rachel Vincent's writing style and am always eagerly awaiting a new release. She knows how to keep you turning the pages and writes fun and readable characters.


Book Depository: My Soul To Keep
Amazon UK: My Soul To Keep