Country vs Country - Weather Wardens

Danielle's back and this time round we're going to be talking about Weather Wardens by Rachel Caine (one of my favourite authors).

Joanne Baldwin is a Weather Warden - a member of a shadowy organisation whose job it is to stand between the murderous intentions of Mother Earth and the rest of us.  She an control the weather, but not her fate: she's on the run from her colleagues, accused of the murder of her boss, and at the mercy of the storms she's trying to defeat.  Add in a whirlwind romance with a rogue rebel Djinn, and the forecast is for trouble ... with a chance for Apocalypse.

DANIELLE: This is a series I'm not sure I like the UK covers better for.  I'll admit I don't love the North American covers either.  I find them cartoon-y.  Maybe not cartoon-y, but they look animated.  I like the simplicity of the UK, but I like that her car is on the cover of the NA.  I think for me, round one goes to NA.
JULIE-ANNE: I agree about the US covers looking cartoon-y and the car being involved. Jo's love of cars is a very big part of the entire series so it makes sense that they appear on the cover.  I do prefer the typeface of the title in the UK ones and I like the colour palette better.  Also a little thing that I like is when book series include the book number somewhere on the cover, it just makes it easier to pick up the right one if you're in a book shop looking for new stuff.  UK for me.

D: This one I don't actually like either cover at all.  The UK cover feels a bit cheesy, but the cartoonishness (yes, cartoonishness!) just really turns me off.  It reminds me of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books from when I was a kid.  If I have to choose though, I think I'll go with NA here. I think.  Maybe
J: As much as I love the UK covers (they're what made me buy the series, well Ill Wind was), this is my least favourite of the series.  I don't know what it is about it, maybe her top?  Maybe the fact that she looks kinda like she's underwater? Who knows! I think US for this one.

D: Again, I don't love either cover but I do prefer the simplicity of the UK cover, VS the cartoon NA cover.  Though I do enjoy the view of Vegas in the background, I think a real picture of it, with a different main part of the cover would have been better.  I'm really not a fan of having faces on book covers, just because I like to get my own impression of the characters, so the UK cover disappoints me that way.  I will choose it over the NA cover here though.
J: I've always loved this UK cover,  I think its her face.  I like her hair and her make-up.  I agree with Danielle on the background of the US one but overall, I'm not a fan of the cover.  UK for this one.

D: The NA cover on this one reminds me a lot of Kim Harrison's A Fistful Of Charms.  I don't mind it though.  I prefer that the model is facing away.  The UK cover model looks a little more like a young adult to me.  I think if I saw this book on the shelf, and had never heard of the series before, I might have assumed it was a YA book.  I think the NA cover wins here for me though, even with the similarity to AFFOC.
J: I've never been a fan of the whole "looking back over my shoulder" thing on book covers.  I do like the background better in the UK one though.  But I think (just for the stance, and maybe the outfit) I'm going to go with US.

D: These two covers are quite similar.  I prefer the fact that the model's face is obscured in the NA cover, and I also like the fire in the back ground better.  I think this round goes to NA for me as well.
J: Danielle's right in that they are similar enough, at least compared to the other books in the series.  I kind of prefer the background in the UK one but I don't like her face.  I'm going to go with UK for this one.

D: I like the colours and the background picture on the UK cover here.  The forest almost feels a little haunted.  I don't like the wet girl facing the camera though.  I think I pick the NA cover for this round as well.
J: I prefer the woman on the US cover but I prefer the background on the UK.  US just ekes the win for this one.

D: All right.  This is where the UK covers changed.  I like the colours and the font of the UK cover here quite a lot.  I don't like the model's makeup, or again, that she's facing the camera.  The NA cover is really dull though.  But I love the car shot.  This is a tough one for me.  I think I'll go with UK just because I really like the colours and the font.  Though I do like the leaves and the car.  Hmm.  It’s a tie!
J: I hated that the UK covers changed here, it bugs me when my books get messed up and the cover change also meant the last 3 books were really delayed in being released over here.  But I'm not here to bitch about that.  I don't like her expression on the UK cover (although I do like the typeface more) so I'm going to go with US here.

D: More with the new and improved UK covers here.  The colours, the font, the storm in the background - all good.  I also think the models face is obscured enough that I don't mind her facing the camera.  The NA cover models outfit is just ... no.  I don't like it for Jo at all.  I don't like her facing the camera.  I don't like this cover much at all.
J: I like that the US cover has a (hint of a) boat on it and I like her expression.  But I think overall, I like the UK one.

D: I love the font and colours on the UK, again.  I like the cover on the whole, save for the model.  I wish she had hair over her face, or was turned away, or something.  The NA cover is very unattractive though.  The colours okay, though they're honestly a little dull.  The model also looks really young.  Though the UK cover model does as well.  I think this round goes to the UK.
J: They're both orange but I prefer the colouring of the UK one.  I actually prefer the whole UK cover over the US.



DANIELLE: I read this series in its entirety, back to back.  It was highly recommended to me by another friend, as this is one of her all-time favourite series.  I enjoyed them quite a bit, though I never fell in love with them.  If I'm going to read Rachel Caine (and I do, frequently.  She's an excellent story teller) I prefer the Morganville series, as well as her Revivalist series.  I didn't read Outcast, simply because I didn't enjoy the Djinn that series is based on, and I didn't love the WW books enough to continue.  I do recommend the Weather Warden series though.  They're fast paced, the characters are likeable (with the exception of some minors).  I wasn't a super fan of how the series ended.  I’ll leave it at that, as I don’t want to give spoilers.  It wasn't a bad ending, just not the one I would have liked.
JULIE-ANNE: I love this series but I have a confession to make - I haven't finished it yet. And I honestly don't know why because I love Jo and David and all the supporting cast, it's just that I've picked up Cape Storm a couple of times but never seem to get very far before a new book or much anticipated book pulls my attention away. Of the covers, I think UK gets my vote by numbers.

Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine

In the Houses of Montague and Capulet, there is only one goal: power. The boys are born to fight and die for honour and — if they survive — marry for influence and money, not love. The girls are assets, to be spent wisely. Their wishes are of no import. Their fates are written on the day they are born.

Benvolio Montague, cousin to Romeo, knows all this. He expects to die for his cousin, for his house, but a spark of rebellion still lives inside him. At night, he is the Prince of Shadows, the greatest thief in Verona — and he risks all as he steals from House Capulet. In doing so, he sets eyes on convent-bound Rosaline, and a terrible curse begins that will claim the lives of many in Verona...

...And will rewrite all their fates, forever.

Everyone knows the story of Romeo and Juliet so I'm not going to retell it in mini version here. This is set in the same time as Romeo and Juliet but is told from Benvolio Montague's point of view as he lives a secret life while also living up to his grandmother's expectations of him to keep Romeo in line.

I've always loved this Shakespeare tale and I've loved Rachel Caine's writing since I first picked up the Morganville series. She does a great job of embellishing on the characters that Shakespeare first imagined all those years ago and introduces more of Benvolio and Rosaline while, surprisingly, keeps Romeo to a minimum and Juliet even more so.

Unfortunately, I don't think there will be more from Caine in this series unless she plans on following suit with other Shakespeare tales. I don't feel like she can embellish on this one any further as the story was well and truly ended in my opinion. Which is a shame since I did really enjoy this.


Book Depository: Prince of Shadows
Amazon UK: Prince of Shadows

Daylighters by Rachel Caine

Something drastic has happened in Morganville while Claire Danvers and her friends were away. The town looks cleaner and happier than they've ever seen it before, but when their incoming group is arrested and separated - vampires from humans - they realise that the changes definitely aren't for the better.

It seems than an organisation called the Daylight Foundation has offered the population of Morganville something they've never had: hope of a vampire-free future. And while it sounds like salvation - even for the vampires themselves - the truth is far more sinister and deadly.

Now, Claire, Shane and Eve need to find a way to break their friends out of Daylighter custody, before the vampires of Morganville meet their untimely end ...

So everyone arrives back in Morganville only to be arrested and get split up. They discover the Daylight Foundation has taken over Morganville and ousted the vamps from their post as rulers. Everyone seems happier and Morganville is suddenly safer but Claire, Eve and Shane realise that it's not all it seems and that maybe it WAS better with the vamps in control rather than the weird Daylighters. They find out that the guy in charge has a "cure" for vampirism and is looking for volunteers, but nothing is ever as it seems, is it?

This book saddens me because it's the last book in an amazing series, it also saddens me that the cheesy ending really ruined the book for me. I kinda wish I could go back in time and tell me to just finish a bit earlier and leave on a high.

I don't think I'm going to be able to do a spoiler free review so I'm not going to try. The following section will contain spoilers, you can highlight to read if you don't mind.
{spoilers}The humans of Morganville have put all the vampires together in a sort of concentration camp (actually it's an old shopping mall) where they get limited blood and have to wear shock collars to keep them from attacking the guards. The Daylighters have a supposed cure for vampirism that they're looking for volunteers to test it on, if they don't get volunteers they'll force vampires into it - trouble is the cure has a higher fail rate than success rate and when it fails, the vampires get executed. Michael is grabbed as a test subject and the cure actually works on him - luckily enough just as his marriage to Eve is destroyed due to new laws. Shane's dog bite turns out to be an infection that changes him into some sort of vampire hunting werewolf - again luckily enough for him and Michael that the cure works on him since being around vampires causes Shane to change automatically.

And those last two sections are my problem with the ending, it all ended so happily and quite cheesy in my opinion. As much as I love this series, the ending was a HUGE disappointment. It's all so coincidental that Michael turns human again and happens to solve lots of problems all at the one time.{/spoilers}

The story itself is just as interesting as the rest of the series, it really is just the ending that lets it down. Despite that, I will still recommend the Morganville series to others - it's a great series with lots of ups and downs and some great characters, plus it's getting made into a TV show thanks to the fans (myself included). I love the series and it's sad to see it end.


Book Depository: Daylighters
Amazon UK: Daylighters

Fall of Night by Rachel Caine

Thanks to its unique mix of human and vampire residents, Morganville is a small college town with big-time problems. But it isn't the only town with vampire trouble ...

Claire never thought she'd leave Morganville, but when she gets accepted into a graduate course at MIT, she can't pass up the opportunity. Saying goodbye to her friends, especially her boyfriend Shane, is bittersweet, and her new life at MIT is both scary and exciting. Enrolled in a special advanced study programme with Professor Irene Anderson, former Morganville native, Claire is able to work on VLAD, her machine designed to cancel the mental abilities of vampires.

But Morganville and its inhabitants are never really far from Claire's mind. When she begins testing her machine on live subjects, things quickly spiral out of control, and Claire begins to wonder whether leaving Morganville was the last mistake she'll ever make ...

Claire leaves Morganville (and her friends) to go to MIT on a special programme with one of Myrnin's former helpers. She takes VLAD with her and her new Professor wants to help her work on it - using a live vampire as the test subject. Meanwhile Claire's room mate is introducing Claire to a new level of creepiness - courtesy of her ex.

The penultimate book in the Morganville series - yes, sadly (very sadly) we are almost done with the wonderful town of Morganville and the weird and quirky residents. I shall miss my bi-annual dose of Myrnin, and I suppose Claire, Shane, Michael and Eve .... but mostly Myrnin.

This book surprised me by actually having Claire leave Morganville, I kept waiting for something to stop it from happening at the beginning - as normally happens in Morganville. But she does leave and I think it does a lot for her growing up and it definitely did something for her relationship with Shane. The story is told from Claire & Shane's POV - so yet another view into Shane's head which I loved before. It's so nice to read Shane's thoughts (and fears) on their relationship.

And what an ending! It's made me even more excited for Daylighters - even though I know as soon as I read it, the series will be finished. Which causes my face to do this :(


Book Depository: Fall of Night
Amazon UK: Fall of Night

Answers and Winner for 300th Blog Post Contest

The winner of the contest is Danielle!

I'll list the answers below and Danielle can send me her top choices so I can get them ordered.

1. I eyeballed the freezer, trying to decide what to cook for dinner that night.

2. "Bronwyn Alessia St.Vincent Clare!"

3. I have to.

4. The moment the door opened I knew an ass-kicking was inevitable.

5. Riley Blackthorne rolled her eyes.

6. "Come on!" Emma whispered from my right, her words floating from her mouth in a thin white cloud.

7. On the day Claire became a member of the Glass house, somebody stole her laundry.

8. Digging graves is hell on a manicure, but I was taught good vampires clean up after every meal.

9. No one knew better than Walter Rice that the only safe place was away from other people.

10. I felt her fear before I heard her screams.

1. Tempest Rising - Jane True series by Nicole Peeler
2. Raised by Wolves - Raised by Wolves series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
3. Bitten - Women of the Otherworld (or just Otherworld) by Kelley Armstrong
4. Stray - Shifters series by Rachel Vincent
5. Forsaken - Demon Trappers series by Jana Oliver
6. My Soul to Take - Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent
7. Glass Houses - Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine
8. Red Headed Stepchild - Sabina Kane series by Jaye Wells
9. Cry Wolf - Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs
10. Vampire Academy - Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead


If you haven't already, I would highly recommend any of these series. 2, 5, 6, 7 and 10 are all YA and the rest are adult.

Shards & Ashes by Various Authors

The world is gone, destroyed by human, ecological or supernatural causes. Survivors dodge chemical warfare and cruel gods; they travel the reaches of space and inhabit underground caverns. Their enemies are disease, corrupt corporations and one another; their resources are few, and their courage is tested.

Powerful, original dystopian tales from nine bestselling authors offer bleak insight, prophetic visions and precious glimmers of light among the shards and ashes of a ruined world.

Hearken by Veronica Roth
Hearkeners can hear life songs or death songs, depending on what colour implant they choose - red or black.
Branded by Kelley Armstrong
People live inside the Fortress for safety - outside are where the branded supernaturals live. They're deemed unfit for society - but some have created their own society.
Necklace of Raindrops by Margaret Stohl
Raindrops are a form of currency, you collect them and you use them - however, once they are used up you have to "drop" to your death .... or do you?
Dogsbody by Rachel Caine
Corporate rules all, they make the decisions - life or death. Xavier works his way up to the man responsible for multiple deaths in his childhood to exact revenge.
Pale Rider by Nancy Holder
Dana can find lost things and it turns out she'd involved in a war between fairies and goblins - she has to find some lost fairies.
Corpse Eaters by Melissa Marr
Nidos are an alien race that have taken over the world by means of a religious cult. Harmony & Chris are in a group that are set to bring the Nidos down.
Burn 3 by Kami Garcia
The sun has destroyed the world, everyone now lives in a dome for protection. But there are people kidnapping kids for their skin.
Love is a Choice by Beth Revis
The Eldest rules all and has an heir to take over when he dies, when that heir starts to question the vitamins he's putting in the water, he has to disappear.
Miasma by Carrie Ryan
A plague kills most of the population. Doctors invent monsters that can smell the plague - sufferers must be killed before it can spread.

I enjoyed nearly all the stories in this book, with the exception of one. My favourites (by no surprise) are also by my favourite authors. Branded, Dogsbody, Hearken & Miasma were my four tops. I'd recommend this to any YA fans.


Book Depository: Shards & Ashes
Amazon UK: Shards & Ashes

Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions by various authors

A journey may take hundreds of miles, or it may cover the distance between duty and desire.

Sixteen of today's hottest writers of paranormal tales weave stories on a common theme of journeying.

Whether they're writing about vampires, faeries, angels, or other magical beings, each author explores the strength and resilience of the human heart.

So my very awesome and Amazing friend, Danielle La Paglia, sent me this book as a surprise. And she even had it signed for me!

I wanted to read this as it has some of my favourite authors in it but with anthologies I'm always wary about buying a full book for a few authors. I thought with this review, I'd give my thoughts on all the stories.

Giovanni's Farewell by Claudia Gray
Very sweet little romance story.
I've never read anything by Claudia Gray before and I really enjoyed my first story by her. I'd be interested in reading more from this world but it seems it's not part of a series or the beginning of a series so I may just pick up her Evernight series to see if I like it.

Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan
Post zombie apocalypse story about 2 sisters surviving.
Another new author for me and I really enjoyed the world she made. Plus bonus: this one is part of a series so I get to read more.

Red Run by Kami Garcia
A haunted road makes a girl seek revenge for her dead brother.
I thought this was a new author but I didn't realise she wrote Beautiful Creatures which I have on my bookcase but haven't read yet. I must bump it up my TBR.

Things About Love by Jackson Pearce
A genie tries to find out about love from a human.
I've never read anything by this author either but I quite liked this short. I liked the idea of genies researching love 'cos they don't feel it.

Niederwald by Rachel Vincent
Based in the Soul Screamers series, this follows Sabine & Emma on a road trip.
I love this series and Vincent's writing so I really enjoyed this little short.

Merely Mortal by Melissa Marr
Based in the Wicked Lovely series, this follows Keenan & Donia on a holiday.
I'm still new to the Wicked Lovely series, having only read the first book so I feel like I've spoilered myself a little by reading this. But Donia was one of my favourite characters in the book so I still liked this.

Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong
Based in the Darkest Powers series, this has Tori finding out about Kit and putting her, and Chloe's, life in danger.
I love Kelley's writing and have recently re-read the whole Darkest Powers series so I was in the right mind frame for this story.

Let's Get This Undead Show On The Road by Sarah Rees Brennan
A vampire is the pulling factor for a boy band.
I didn't really enjoy this one, it was kinda cheesy. Thankfully only one of three that I didn't enjoy.

Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready
A ghost finds someone to contact his brother.
The layout of this was a bit weird, it was written like a poem but I enjoyed the story. Unfortunately, the layout really was a put off.

Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting
A young boy has dreams that end up proving to be truth.
Another new author and a story that I really enjoyed. Very descriptive and well written.

Leaving by Ally Condie
A young girl lives in a society under a bubble but has a secret to hide.
Similar world to the Matched series. I really enjoyed this and liked the characters, there's potential for more.

At The Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday
Young girl tries to prove to her family she can do the family job but runs into trouble.
Another one of the three that I didn't really enjoy. Again, it was because of the cheesiness - there was just too much of it.

IV League by Margaret Stohl
Two young "drinkers" try to get into college to get out of their dying town.
And here is the third story that I didn't enjoy. The story seemed good but it just didn't come across as well as it could have.

Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson
A gargoyle gets captured and gets her wings cut off, this means she'll lose her memory about being a gargoyle and all she knew.
I enjoyed this one, it was bittersweet but a nice wee read.

The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
One sister has impulses that she must follow, the other sister is just along for the ride - until it turns out she's part of the 'pulses.
I really enjoy Jennifer Lynn Barnes' writing and this seems like it could be a good start to a series.

Automatic by Rachel Caine
Based in the Morganville Vampires series, Michael almost loses it when he tries the new canned blood.
Another favourite author of mine so I loved this. Eve is one of my favourite characters as well so I like to see more of her.


So it seems this anthology has just made my Goodreads to-read list that little bit longer. I do like that I've found some new authors to read but I'm pretty sure my bank account doesn't. Oh well, the life of a bibliophile.


Book Depository: Enthralled
Amazon UK: Enthralled

Bitter Blood by Rachel Caine

Now that the threat to the vampires of Morganville has been defeated, the gravest danger to the human residents is the enemy within.

For years, the human and vampire residents of Morganville have managed to coexist in peace. But thanks to the eradication of the parasitic creatures known as the draug, the vampires of Morganville have now been freed of their usual constraints. With the vampires indulging their every whim, the town's human population is determined to hold on to their lives by taking up arms. College student Claire Danvers, with ties to both humans and vampires, isn't about to take sides.

To make matters worse, a television show comes to Morganville searching for ghosts, just as vampire and human politics collide. Now, Claire and her friends have to figure out how to keep the peace without ending up on the nightly news ... or worse.

The residents of Morganville have been equipped with ID cards, the cards must be carried at all times - for humans they state name, blood type and protector, for vampires they mean they can have 1 free human hunt a year. After confronting Amelie about it, Claire and Michael kick off a whole mess of crap. Because of Eve and Michael's marriage has brought out bad feelings in both vampires and humans, this has made all members of the Glass House a target for both - it's a free-for-all for the residents of Morganville and our gang are the target.

As is typical with a Rachel Caine book, it's packed with enough action to keep you reading. I know when I get a new Caine book that I'm going to need time to read it 'cos I don't want to put it down - I normally read one of her books in one sitting 'cos she's BIG on cliff hanger/exciting chapter endings.

Separate paragraph for the spoilers 'cos I need to mention them ...... highlight to read** Myrnin decides to leave town but when he tells Claire he kisses her ....... did you see that??? He KISSES her! We all know Myrnin has had feelings for Claire but this is the first time he and Claire have really admitted it. Eve almost dies when a group of humans beat her up in the street and Michael ends up being put under Naomi's thrall and breaks up with Eve, to drive the point home he then kisses Claire and puts doubts in Shane's mind about the pair of them. This is a lot of stuff to happen ... and Claire gets kissed by a lot of people!

I ADORE this series, I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you're a YA vampire fan, this is definitely the series for you - Caine is an excellent storyteller and she is excellent at keeping you hooked. This is a series I will continue to be excited about when a new book comes out and I will be exceptionally disappointed when it comes to an end.


Book Depository: Bitter Blood
Amazon UK: Bitter Blood

Gale Force by Rachel Caine

Never off duty, that was me. Joanne Baldwin: Weather Warden - if a world-ending storm blew up without notice, I was the go-to girl.

When Joanne's Djinn lover, David, asks her to marry him, she's thrilled to say yes, but there are certain parties - some human, some otherwise - who are less than enthusiastic.

Joanne's premarital bliss ends when a devastating earthquake hits Florida. And this time she won't be able to ask David and his kind for assistance. The cause of the quake is unlike anything Joanne has ever encountered - and it is fuelled by a power even the Djinn cannot perceive.

Jo and David's upcoming nuptials are put to the test when an earthquake ruins the first bridal shop that Jo attends. An earthquake caused by something unknown to the wardens and unseen by the Djinn, a fact that the Djinn can't believe so they think the Wardens are suffering a mass hallucination. Turns out there's a new bad in town, a group called The Sentinels, they don't like the Djinn and they really don't like Jo since she's going to marry one. Jo fights for her life as the Wardens fight to save the world without the reporters spilling everything to the inhabitants of it.

So I waited ages for this to come out over here and it turns out the covers were changed anyway, seems they've been changed to look a bit more like the Morganville books. And even though I waited ages for it and bought it as soon as it was available, other books got in the way and I actually forgot I had it on my shelf. Until I read Devil's Bargain and was reminded of my love for Rachel Caine's writing.

And I am SO glad I picked it up! Completely forgot how much I loved David and his and Jo's relationship, and I do like when we get confirmation of their feelings for one another. Although I had several scares on whether it was going to last, as with other books there are complications with the whole human-Djinn thing so there are always the gasp-out-loud moments that fill me with honest-to-goodness fear!

Can't believe I forgot about this series, have been on Amazon already to make sure I have the last two books in the series.


Book Depository: Gale Force
Amazon UK: Gale Force

Devil's Bargain by Rachel Caine

What's the price of a deal with the devil?

Playing by the psychic underworld's rules has cost..

Jazz Callender's whole life just got turned upside down. Her friend Ben's been convicted of a crime he didn't commit, and Jazz is determined to clear his name, even if it means enlisting the help of dark forces.

Enter James, a stranger with a mysterious offer. If Jazz pledges to work for The Cross Society, a shadowy secret organisation, he'll help her save Ben.

But as she's thrust into a world of psychic powers and dangerous magic, Jazz isn't just bargain for her friend's freedom. She's bargaining for her soul too.

And how high a price is she willing to pay?

Release Date 5th October 2012

Jazz is a former cop who is determined to clear her ex-partner of a murder charge, unfortunately she needs money for that. Luckily for her, James shows up with an offer of $100,000 to start up her own PI company with a partner of their choosing. All she has to agree to is to take on the assignments they send her - all of them in a red envelope. Soon Jazz and her partner, Lucia, start to wonder about their benefactors and their seemingly useless assignments.

So it seems this is a series I didn't know about from Rachel Caine but I'm assuming that the publisher (at least the UK one) is re-releasing it, perhaps just to give it a new cover that matches the Morganville covers? Who knows.

Jazz is a very likeable character, as are Lucia and James but I think Manny is my favourite. He's just so paranoid that he's instantly loveable, plus his friendship with Jazz is also an instant seller for me. And as usual for Caine, this book is a page turner (or button presser for me since it was on my Reader) with an awesomely intriguing storyline and a lead that can kick ass.

The only thing that's bugging me right now is that Amazon & Goodreads list this as having 300+ pages but my copy from Netgalley had 199. So I don't know if I actually got the full book or not so I now have to wait until the release date to make sure I have it all ..... *sigh* Man, that seems like a very long time.


Book Depository: Devil's Bargain
Amazon UK: Devil's Bargain

Country vs Country - Morganvill Vampires

So another of one of my favourite YA series this time.

The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine

Above are the US covers. I don't know why but I really don't like them, they seem very teen-soap-opera style.

And these are the UK covers. There are more covers because the first 4 books came out with an awesome glow-in-the-dark cover (that I loved) but then , sadly, got changed when Lord of Misrule was released. The first 4 books then got re-released with the new covers. I would have been happier if they'd kept the glow-in-the-dark ones but I do like the new covers as well, they're very shiny and pretty. And , in my opinion, seem more fitting with the series than the US ones. But then I could just be being bias since they're MY covers.

Black Dawn by Rachel Caine

When a tide of ferocious draug, the vampire's deadliest enemy, floods Morganville, its eclectic mix of residents must fight to save their town from devastation.

Chaos has taken over the quiet college town of Morganville as the threat of the draug rapidly spreads with the help of the city's water system. Whilst most of the locals have already fled, student Claire Danvers and her friends Shane, Eve and Michael choose to stay and fight.

Things take a turn for the worse when vampire Amelie, the town's founder, is infected by the master draug's bite. Unless Claire and her friends can find an antidote to save Amelie and overcome the draug, Morganville's future looks bleak ...

So anyone who has read any of my previous Morganville reviews will know I love this series and Rachel Caine. I love anything that woman writes and refuse to believe there is anything bad to say about her books. You might think this would make writing the review easier but it's a lot harder since I feel like I just gush over her and her works.

For any who don't know, Morganville is a town in Texas that is run by vampires. Everyone, except for the Uni students, know about the vampires and live by certain rules etc. to keep themselves alive. Claire Danvers is one of those students but she finds out about the hidden background of Morganville and eventually starts working for the founder, Amelie. Throughout the books Claire deals with a lot: bullying, moving into a house with strangers, finding out vampires exist, learning how to live in Morganville, falling in love, almost dying, actually dying, saving the town, saving herself and her friends as well as other little trivial things. Black Dawn is the most recent in the series and we find out more about the even-more-baddy-than-vampire draug that were introduced in Last Breath.

So, like I said above, there are no bad things to say about Black Dawn. All Morganville fans will want to read this, it brings up some interesting ideas for future books and any non Morganville fans, I highly recommend you start the series with Glass Houses and work through it from there. For UKers there's a gorgeous Morganville omnibus available that includes the first 3 books: Glass Houses, The Dead Girl's Dance and Midnight Alley.


Book Depository: Black Dawn
Amazon UK: Black Dawn

Last Breath by Rachel Caine

Claire Danvers is concerned when three vampires vanish from Morganville without a trace. The last person seen with them is someone new to town - a mysterious individual named Magnus. Claire is convinced creepy Magnus isn't human ... but is he a vampire, or something else entirely?

Claire's hunt for answers leads her to solving another mystery that's long been puzzling her: why do vampires live so far out in a sunny desert when they're sensitive to sunlight? The answer has nothing to do with sunlight, but with water - and an ancient enemy who has finally found a way to invade the vampires' landlocked community. Vampires aren't the top predators on earth. There's something worse that preys on them ... something much worse. Which means if Claire, and Morganville, want to live, they will have to fight on to the last breath ...

Book eleven and still loving it. This book has several voices, including Amelie, Michael and Eve. I discovered I liked Amelie's voice, she's very regal and thinks about how everything might affect Morganville. Even though some of the choices she makes seem weird and wrong, they're for the good of the town and keeping the peace.

This book has one particularly shocking section that I was not expecting and, as is the norm for Rachel Caine's books, there are several small shocks in the book too. One thing I really enjoy is getting into Shane's head more and finding out exactly how he really feels about Claire. It's silly but I feel protective of Claire, we've read her growing up and seen all the hardships she's had.


The UK version also had a free short story called Anger Management which is set between Bite Club and Last Breath and focuses on Shane going to a Founder-mandated Counsellor instead of jail. It was very short and I do really enjoy Shane so that's a huge bonus!


Book Depository: Last Breath
Amazon UK: Last Breath

Bite Club by Rachel Caine

Morganville is a quiet college town where humans and vampires live in relative peace. But lately a great deal of blood is being spilt ...

Having survived a number of adventures with her new night-dwelling friends, college student Claire Danvers has come to realise that for the most part, the undead just want to get on with their lives.

But someone else wants then to get ready to rumble.

There's a new extreme sport being broadcast over the Internet: bare-knuckle fights pitting vampires against one another - or, worse, against humans. Claire soon discovers that what started as an online brawl will soon threaten everyone in Morganville. And if they want to survive, they'll have to do a lot more than fight ...

This is book ten in the Morganville series and Rachel Caine's storylines are still as strong and well written as ever. Usually by the 10th book in a series, I've came across at least one book in there that I didn't like. Mostly because the story was poor, and I fear this with some of my favourite series because it may put me off them. Thankfully, this hasn't happened here.

I absolutely love the characters in the Morganville books. Claire has grown so much since we first met her in Glass Houses and I really like who she's turning into. Shane is hot as ever and we get some Shane POV in this book which is great, I've read a couple of shorts from Shane's POV and I like his voice. Eve is .... well, she's Eve, she's awesome! And Michael has some stuff to deal with but he's still fun. And of course, my favourite character is, and always will be, Myrnin. I think it would be hard to knock Myrnin from my top spot, he's crazy and loveable.

If you haven't read the Morganville series, I suggest you do it but you really have to start from the beginning which is Glass Houses. And if you have read the rest then I'm sure, like me, you'll be delighted with this installment and eagerly awaiting Last Breath which, I think, is out in November.

So it's not too long ...... *taps fingers and chews nails* ........ not long at all!


Book Depository: Bite Club
Amazon UK: Bite Club

Thin Air by Rachel Caine

******SPOILERS FOR PREVIOUS BOOKS******

Joanne Baldwin has had better days - at least she hopes she has. After waking up naked and freezing in a forest, she's located by two rescuers she doesn't recognise at all. One supernaturally gorgeous guy might have been her lover. The other says he can control the weather ... and so can she.

Not everyone looking for Joanne has her best interests at heart, and with no way to tell friend from foe, Joanne is quickly lost in a fog of deception. Her tenuous hold on life is fading with every passing moment. Now she must rebuild herself, one memory at a time, before someone else steals her life - and she disappears into thin air. Oh, and along the way, it seems she has to save the world...

Book six of the Weather Warden series. Previous books are Ill Wind, Heat Stroke, Chill Factor, Windfall and Firestorm.

Joanne wakes up in a forest; cold, naked and with no memory, Lewis and David find her but she also has no clue who they are. As they try to work out how to get her memories back, Vanna (Alice) takes her away to Vegas where she promptly gets arrested and has to be bailed out. Unfortunately she gets bailed out by the last people on earth she'd want to bail her out, if only she could remember them. The key to getting her memory back is Ashan, but he's in hiding after being stripped of his Djinn-hood. At the same time she must save the world from the demon who is trying to take over her life.

The great thing with this story was Joanne's memory loss, because of course we know she who she shouldn't be trusting but she just won't listen no matter how much I tell her! Although she does get to meet and fall in love with David all over again which is a nice thing. And with a new power to boot! She's now a triple threat like Lewis, although she has no control over either Fire or Earth power since they're still new to her, but technically so is Weather since she can't remember ever learning it.

I love Rachel Caine's writing so much and what's bugging me so much is that this book is the last one available in UK covers so far. There's no news on the publisher's website as to when the next one is being released. So, since I refuse to buy the US cover and wreck my collection, I'm going to have to find another way to read the rest of the series. 'Cause I most definitely want to read the rest of the series!

As should you!


Book Depository: Thin Air
Amazon UK: Thin Air

Firestorm by Rachel Caine

******SPOILERS FOR PREVIOUS BOOKS******

Rogue Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin is racing to New York to warn her former colleagues of the impending apocalypse. An ancient agreement between Djinn and the Wardens has been broken, and the furious Djinn, slaves to the Wardens for millennia, are now free of mortal control.

With more than half the Wardens unaccounted for in the wake of the Djinn uprising, Joanne realises that the natural disasters they've combated for so long were merely symptoms of restless Mother Nature fidgeting in her sleep. Now she's waking up - and she's angry...

Book five of the Weather Warden series. Previous books are Ill Wind, Heat Stroke, Chill Factor and Windfall.

After the ending in Windfall, Jo has to work out how to stop Mother Nature waking up fully and destroying the world. David can only help so much 'cos, if she wants him, Mother Nature has full control over all the Djinn, and they have no way of fighting it. And as if that wasn't bad enough, not all the Djinn are on the same wavelength. Ashan and a small group of Djinn are set on letting Mother Nature win this battle. But Jo is determined to fight as much as she can and must talk to Mother Nature to convince her to stop. And yes, that is as hard as it sounds.

I was a tad miffed at Rachel Caine and her treatment of David in previous books but this series has quickly dragged me back in again. I lovelovelove David and Jo and want them to be happy but I realise this is not at all possible. But I still want them to be together as much as they can.

The story in this book was amazing, real apocalypse style. And since it involved the end of the world it's a story that you feel fairly strong about! It was very emotional at times as well, not a lot can upset me but Rachel managed it in spades with this one. I said it before and I'll say it again ~ if you've read the rest of the series, you have to read the rest (LAW, remember?).

Also, if you haven't read the rest of the series? What are you waiting for??? Get started now!!


Rating
5/5


Book Depository: Firestorm
Amazon UK: Firestorm