The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance

If you've been following this little blog of mine, you've probably noticed by now that I have a bit of a soft spot for vampire books.  I like the atmospheric quality of most vampire fiction and the melding of fantasy and real life. 

Whether you're a fan of the genre looking for something to read, or a newbie to vampire fiction who wants a bit of a taster, I'd recommend reading the Mammoth Anthology of "Vampire Romance".  This is quite a large collection of short stories.  They all have vampires of some variety and are-to varying degrees-romances.  Other than that the stories vary greatly.  It's fun to read all of the short stories, and a good way to be exposed to lots of authors writing vampire fiction (and especially vampire romance).

To find out more about the Mammoth book "Vampire Romance", click here.

"Sex, Lies, and Vampires" by Katie Macalister

If you like vampire fiction and don't want to read teen novels, then you should know who Katie Macalister is.  She's famous for writing vampire fiction that is action-packed (in every connotation of the word).

Her "Dark Ones" series has nine books in it, plus several other associated books.  "Sex, Lies, and Vampires" is the third book in the "Dark Ones" series.  What's great about these books is that although it is best to read the series in order, you can actually read a lot of them out of sequence or on their own and still enjoy (and understand) them.

This isn't literary vampires or classic vampire fiction.  The "Dark Ones" books (including "Sex, Lies, and Vampires") are contemporary, sexy, and fun.

To read my longer review of "Sex, Lies, and Vampires" by Katie Macalister, click here.
To visit Katie Macalister's official website, click here.

Linda Newbery's Official Site!

A little while ago I posted a review of the children's book "Nevermore" by Linda Newbery.  I've read several of Newbery's books, and look forward to when my children are a bit older and can enjoy them as well.

It has come to my attention that my review of "Nevermore" was not only read by other readers and fans, but by Newbery's publishing company (Simon & Schuster)!  In fact, their official website page for Linda Newbery has a link to my article on it (in the "In the News" section)!  I'm really excited by this, so thank you to all of my readers and to Simon & Schuster.

"Blue Moon" by Alyson Noel

"The Immortals" is a popular series of young adult books by Alyson Noel. 

The main character, high-schooler Ever, has a troubled history.  When she meets Damen, she finds love and moments of peace and happiness.  However, falling in love with an immortal brings melodramatic new problems.

"Blue Moon" is the second book in "The Immortals" series.  In it, new couple Ever and Damen meet continued challenges as a mysterious new person joins their social scene and Damen begins to change.  Ever and Damen are getting further apart, and Ever must find a way to save them all before it's too late.

As you've probably guessed by now, these books are cheesy and melodramatic.  "Blue Moon" does offer some mindless entertainment, and it's a very quick read.  It's definitely not the best book that I've read in this genre though.

To read my full book review of "Blue Moon" by Alyson Noel, click here.
To visit Alyson Noel's official website, click here.

"The White Queen" & Other Philippa Gregory Novels That Should Be Adapted To Film

Yesterday I blogged about Philippa Gregory's brilliant historical novel "The White Queen".  I'm revisiting that book and Gregory today to voice my opinion that more of her books should be adapted into films.  They are great period pieces with fantastic stories and characters and the opportunity for great costumes and settings. 

So far, only "The Other Boleyn Girl" has been adapted to film.  I would love to see more of her books made into films, especially "The White Queen" and "The Queen's Fool."

To read more about why I think these books would make great films, click here.

"The White Queen" by Philippa Gregory

Philippa Gregory is pretty much the queen of historical fiction, especially if it's about the British monarchy.  Once again, Gregory proves with "The White Queen" why her books are best-sellers.  It's an excellent historical novel with a lot of well-researched facts, great writing, and an intriguing story line that involves the reader.

"The White Queen" is set during the War of the Roses.  The main character is Elizabeth Woodville, the Lancastrian associated widow who became King Edward IV's York Queen.

To read my slightly longer and more in-depth review of Philippa Gregory's "The White Queen", click here.

The next book in The Cousins' War series (Philippa Gregory's trilogy set during the War of the Roses) is "The Red Queen".  The main character in "The Red Queen" is one of Woodville's adversaries who appears in "The White Queen" as a minor character.  I look forward to learning more about her and seeing history through her perspective.

To visit Philippa Gregory's official website to find out more about these or any of her other books, click here.

Spot the Dog Books by Eric Hill

I love the Spot the Dog books by Eric Hill.  The first Spot book ("Where's Spot?") was published not long before I was born, and I can remember reading it as a kid.  Now I read "Where's Spot?" and other Spot books to my own kids.  These are picture book must-haves for any young family.

To find out more about Eric Hill and his picture book character Spot, click here.

"Dune Messiah" by Frank Herbert

Having recently read "Dune", I went ahead and read the next book in the "Dune" series.  The second "Dune" book (there are loads) is Herbert's "Dune Messiah".

The first huge difference between "Dune" and "Dune Messiah" is immediately visible.  The sequel is much shorter than the first book.  For me, the first "Dune" book sometimes dragged and needed some editing (or splitting into two books).  "Dune Messiah" was a better length and still contained a large, sweeping story and significant time passage. 

Paul Muad'Dib is still the main character of "Dune Messiah".  Now we see him as emperor, universe power, and object of religious veneration.  Some of the characters that annoyed me (particularly his mother, the Lady/Reverend Mother Jessica) fade into the background, whereas characters like his sister (Alia the Knife) gain more prominence.

If you've read the first "Dune" book, I'd recommend going on with the second book, "Dune Messiah".

Musician Aubrey Baker has a song partially inspired by "Dune" called "Sufjan invites you to DUNE".  Click here to visit her Myspace page and listen to this song (I love it).

"Remarkable Creatures" by Tracy Chevalier

I should begin by saying that I have read every single one of Tracy Chevalier's novels.  I think she is one of the most literary contemporary authors, and that the way she uses language is absolutely beautiful.

"Remarkable Creatures" is her newest novel.  It is historical fiction based on the lives of friends Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot.  These two women led quiet lives, but they made huge contributions to natural history and science through their discoveries of fossils.  It is an interesting bit of history that I personally was not previously familiar with.  This novel is not Chevalier's most captivating, but it is still a well-written and interesting read.

To read my longer review of the book "Remarkable Creatures" by Tracy Chevalier, click here.
Click here to visit Tracy Chevalier's official website, or you can follow her on Twitter (@Tracy_Chevalier).

"Dune" by Frank Herbert

I love science fiction (especially sci fi movies), but I admit that it's not usually the first genre that I pick up to read.  I remember reading Jules Verne and H.G. Wells books when I was growing up, but I later found that a lot of science fiction novels get bogged down in too much science and don't have enough fiction.  One sci fi book that I had heard of (being a classic and very famous and having a movie based on it) was "Dune".

My husband recently read "Dune", and asked me to read it as well so that we could discuss it.  So I did.

The beginning of "Dune" is very slow.  If it weren't for my husband's encouragement I don't think I'd have stuck it out past the first 50 pages.  Eventually the story does get moving, but it remains a very slow-tempered book.  Somehow even when there are major events happening and lots of action, it manages to keep plodding along at the same pace (often skimming over events rather than really describing them, but spending lots of space and detail on other things).  There's a lot of info to take in about the world and universe of "Dune", and a lot of characters. 

Overall, the story itself is interesting, and you do feel somehow compelled to find out what happens.  The book "Dune" as a whole, though, is actually kind of boring.  There are only so many times, for example, that we can read that the people were obsessed with moisture/water and lived in a desert full of sand.  I wish there had been less telling and more showing.  (For example, rather than telling us for the 500th time that it was dry, show us that the characters get nosebleeds/cracked lips/dry skin/etc. from their arid surroundings.)

If you do read this book, I recommend having someone else to discuss it with.  For me, the best part of reading "Dune" was discussing it afterward.

There are lots of things in the book that are hard to visualize or should be visually impressive, so I'm interested to watch the movie of "Dune" and see how it interprets the book and shows things (especially the Worms and Fremen sietch).

"No Humans Involved" by Kelley Armstrong

I've written about Kelley Armstrong books in her "Women of the Otherworld" series before.  This series of books is roughly chronological, but it is about a wide range of characters rather than strictly following one storyline.  The main characters of one book become side characters in another, and the books are all interconnected rather than necessarily following on from each other.  For me, this makes for an enjoyable series.  The variety keeps the "Women of the Otherworld" books interesting.

In "No Humans Involved", the main character is Jaime Vegas.  She's a necromancer, meaning that she can communicate with (and even reanimate) the dead.  Throw in an unsolved murder, ghosts, cults, werewolves, and romance, and you've got "No Humans Involved".  It's a fun book to read.


To read my longer book review of "No Humans Involved" by Kelley Armstrong, click here.
To visit Kelley Armstrong's official website, click here.

"Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" by Laurie Viera Rigler

I recently read and reviewed "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" by Laurie Viera Rigler.  I was disappointed with that novel, but I went ahead and read Rigler's next book.

"Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" is the companion novel to "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict".  I say companion rather than sequel because they go together as a pair.  They're taking place at the same time, rather than following on from each other, and you could actually read them in reverse order or read just one of them.

Although I still wouldn't class "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" as great fiction, I did think it was better written and more enjoyable than "Confessions".  If you enjoy fantasy fiction (of the switching time/place variety), romantic comedies, and if you are a Jane Austen addict yourself, then it's an entertaining enough read.  It's not particularly memorable or involving, but it's a decent diversion for a sick day at home, reading on a commute, etc.

To find out more about "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" by Laurie Viera Rigler, click here.
To visit Rigler's official website for the "Jane Austen Addict" books, click here.

"The Kiss of Death" by Marcus Sedgwick

Marcus Sedgwick is a great author who writes primarily young adult novels.  His books are beautifully written and create absolutely captivating settings.  Although his books are geared towards teens, most of them are crossover novels that appeal to adults as well.

"The Kiss of Death" is set in a beautifully depicted Venice full of menace and magic.  The storyline itself is not as complex as I at first expected it to be, but there is a great sense of menace that permeates every page.  Like the city it is set in, this book is all about atmosphere.

To read my full review of "The Kiss of Death" by Marcus Sedgwick, click here.

"The Secret Wife of King George IV" by Diane Haeger

"The Secret Wife of King George IV", by Diane Haeger, is a fascinating historical novel about the romance between Maria Fitzherbert and George IV (he begins the book as Prince of Wales and later becomes King).  The novel is based on the historical facts of their relationship, and shows some interesting royal history that is not generally known.  Yet rather than reading like a history text book, the book focuses on their personalities and relationship throughout their troubled love affair (including their secret marriage).

For more about "The Secret Wife of King George IV" by Diane Haeger, click here.

"Nevermore" by Linda Newbery

Linda Newbery is a popular children's author.  She's won numerous awards for her books, and has written books covering a wide range of topics for middle readers and teens.

Her book "Nevermore" is, in my opinion, appropriate for about 4th to 7th graders (obviously this can vary by child though).  The basic story line is that Tizzie (a year 7 student) moves with her mother from the city to the countryside (where her mother has taken a job on a mysterious estate).  Tizzie meets new people and begins learning about a past that becomes increasingly personal to her.

Overall, this is not Newbery's best work, nor is it the best book I've read in this genre.  Having said that, it is still a good book that older elementary and middle schoolers (especially girls) will enjoy.  The majority of the plot is pretty straight-forward and predictable, but there are some nice interludes and narrative moments.  Most adults will not be overly drawn to this book, but it should be enjoyed by kids in its target audience.

To read my longer review of "Nevermore" by Linda Newbery, click here.

A "House of Night" Movie

I've mentioned author P.C. Cast several times before.  P.C. and her daughter Kristin Cast co-write the "House of Night" books.  These are probably the best written teen vampire books that I've read.

The "House of Night" books have been optioned.  Although the film rights have been sold, there are not any concrete plans yet about turning the first book ("Marked") into a movie.  I--along with lots of other fans--hope that the movie studio will get their acts in gear and produce this great story.

Here are my personal predictions for who would make a good "House of Night" cast.  Click here to find out who I would cast in these roles.  Feel free to let me know if you think of any great actors or actresses that I didn't think of when making my list.

"Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" by Laurie Viera Rigler

Publishing company Bloomsbury recently ran a competition on Twitter to win copies of "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" and "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" by Laurie Viera Rigler.  Although I wasn't familiar with the books, I love Jane Austen.  I entered and was thrilled to win copies of the books (and about 500 bookmarks for them).

My first impression of "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" was good.  I love historical fiction and Jane Austen, and I enjoy fantasy fiction, so the basic concept of a modern woman being transported to Austen-ite England sounded entertaining to me.  Overall, though, the book was disappointing.  Although there were plenty of Austen references, they sometimes felt a bit contrived to me.  Also, the whole book was lacking in a bit of planning and clarity.  It was enjoyable for a bit of light reading, but utterly forgettable.  If you really love Jane Austen and Austen fan fiction, then you may enjoy this book as something to read during your commute to work or while lounging next to the pool on holiday.  Just don't expect too much from it.

For a longer review of "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict", click here.

Look forward to a review of the sequel, "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict".  I'll read and write about it soon.

You can follow Bloomsbury or me on Twitter: @ BloomsburyBooks and @KeriWithington .

"Frostbitten" by Kelley Armstrong

If you like contemporary fantasy fiction, then you're probably already familiar with Kelley Armstrong's books.  She has written both adult and teen fiction (for a mostly female audience, although I think men would enjoy the books as well) about werewolves, witches, half-demons, necromancers, and other fantasy characters.  However, these are all set as a subculture within the real present-day world.  Her books are entertaining and full of action.

I recently read Armstrong's novel "Frostbitten".  It's one of the Women of the Otherworld books, and the main character is werewolf Elena (first introduced in the book "Bitten").  Although "Frostbitten" could be read as a stand-alone book, I recommend going back and reading other books in the series first.  If you've enjoyed the previous books, you'll enjoy "Frostbitten".

For my full review of "Frostbitten" by Kelley Armstrong, click here.

"Divine by Mistake" by P.C. Cast

I mentioned in my last post that I read the short story anthology "Darkness Divine".  P.C. Cast's story in that anthology seemed odd as a stand-alone work.  After reading it, I realized that the story is associated with Cast's "Divine" series of books.  So I read the first book in the series, "Divine by Mistake".

The basic gist of the book is that a modern woman (Shannon) exchanges places with her counterpart in a sort of mythological parallel universe (Partholon).  There she's expected to be high priestess/goddess incarnate, help fight off hordes of evil invaders, and figure out a relationship with a sexy centaur.  Cast's writing is--as I expect from her--very involving and entertaining.

To read my full review of "Divine by Mistake", click here.

"Darkness Divine" anthology

I was browsing the library recently, randomly looking through books.  In the fantasy & sci-fi section I noticed the book "Darkness Divine". The cover art was mediocre, but it grabbed my attention because the name P.C. Cast was on the cover. I'd recently read her newest "House of Night" book, so I figured it was worth checking out "Darkness Divine".



"Darkness Divine" is actually a collection of long-ish short stories by contemporary women fantasy writers: P.C. Cast, Gena Showalter, Maggie Shayne, and Rhyannon Byrd.  As is typical in an anthology, I enjoyed some of the stories more than others.  Overall it was a fairly fast and entertaining book to read.  Most of the stories just offered tasters of that author's style and type of subject matter, so it's a good guide to the genre if you're looking at getting books by some of these authors.

To read my longer review of "Darkness Divine", click here.

Hurray for Books

Hi. I'm Keri and I love books.  I love to read; I love to write. 

I've written book reviews and other literature related things for other websites, and I felt like it would be good to have everything organized in one place.  So this is Keri's Bookshelf.  I'll only post about books, what I'm reading, and author-related things.

Hope all of you enjoy reading too.