Night Owls bookstore always keeps a light on and evil creatures out. But, as Lauren M. Roy's thrilling sequel continues, even its supernatural staff isn’t prepared for the dead to come back to life.
Ok, I admit that that I am always susceptible to books about bookstores. And a supernatural staff doesn't hurt. That's just me, I'm a little superficial like that.
The fact that it was the second in a series did make me pause, but I needed something to read right then and decided to go ahead. I liked it. Vampires, Jackals, Necromancers, Renfields, and Succubi. Grave Matters is an urban fantasy that provided interesting characters, suspense, and a fast-paced and entertaining read. If you like that kind of thing, that is. I do.
It would have been better perhaps, if I had read Night Owls: Bk. 1 first, but I can always remedy that. Here is the book description for the first book:Night Owls book store is the one spot on campus open late enough to help out even the most practiced slacker. The employees’ penchant for fighting the evil creatures of the night is just a perk…
There is just this tongue-in-cheek attitude about these descriptions that appeals to me, and this is just the kind of urban fantasy that I enjoy. Is it great literature? No. Is it entertaining? It was for me.
NetGalley/Penguin Group
Urban Fantasy. Feb. 24, 2015. Print length: 304 pages.
Mist of Midnight by Sandra Byrd"A captivating Gothic love story set against a backdrop of intrigue and danger, Mist of Midnight will leave you breathless."
The cover pulled me in, but no, it really didn't leave me breathless...or particularly satisfied. I looked at the Goodreads reviews, and the reviews are all 4/5 stars, so it is just another example of how we all find sub-genres that we prefer. Maybe this falls in the Gothic Romance category.
Read in late Dec.; blog post scheduled for Feb. 18
NetGalley/Howard Books
Gothic Mystery. March 10, 2015. Print length: 384 pages
Last year when I was on my medieval mysteries kick, I read The King's Hounds and The Oathbreaker by Martin Jensen and enjoyed both of them.
I purchased the first two and was pleased to find the third as a NetGalley offering. Love me some free books!
Although I liked the characters of Halfdan and Winston the Illuminator in the first two novels, I wanted to see more of Alfilda, Winton's paramour. I was happy to see that Alfilda's role grows in this latest novel.
These medieval mysteries are set in the time of King Cnut during the early part of the 11th century. The king has ordered his "hounds" to keep their eyes and ears open as Cnut must return to Denmark.
As it turns out, Halfdan, Winston, and Alfilda end up trying to solve a series of murders that have nothing to do with the king. The translation uses some terms that are too modern for the time and that jar a bit, but overall the translation by Tara Chace works well. Halfdan has been a womanizer in the two previous novels, but I was put off by his womanizing in this one. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this third installment in the series.
NetGalley/Amazon Publishing
Medieval Mystery. First published in 2010; March 1, 2015. 272 pages.
The Night Owls book sound like fun. I'm a sucker for books that take place in bookstores too :)
ReplyDeleteNot a book to take too seriously, but I found it entertaining.
DeleteI like books about books, too, so you know what I will be checking out!
ReplyDelete:) Of course, you do! But the supernaturals are fun, too! Are you still buried in snow?
DeleteNight Owls sounds like my kind of book...a cool bookstore with a supernatural twist...what's better than that? Thanks for the recommendation! :)
ReplyDeleteNight Owls is a neat name for a bookstore, isn't it? I notice all the comments are about the book about the bookstore--even in fiction we are drawn to books. :]
DeleteI like the sound of the Night Owls books! And I can see why the cover of Mist of Midnight attracted you to the book. It would me too. I do enjoy romance now and then so I'm tempted to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI would love to know what you think if you read Mists of Midnight. It wasn't awful, but it seemed too formulaic.
DeleteThe Night Owls books sound good. I always love reading books about books. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd Mist of Midnight has a lovely cover. That'd definitely make me pick up the book to check out its content.
I'm always a sucker for a good Gothic-looking cover, but I lean toward Wilkie Collins for good Gothic writing.
DeleteCongrats, Melody, on your February First!
I am going to have to look for that book, Mists of Midnight... I just can't pass up a cover like that! I'll keep in mind your review and not expect too much.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that it wasn't what I was looking for doesn't mean you won't love it! And it is a great cover; I couldn't pass it up, either. :)
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