All Consuming : Danae

Why I gave up consuming "Minion (A Vampire Huntress Legend)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:20:44 GMT

by L. A. Banks

The author’s overuse of slang made this book a nightmare for me to read. While I think the concept was good, the author’s writing style didn’t please me.

A story about "Murder and Salutations: A Card-Making Mystery"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:24:33 GMT

Murder and Salutations: A Card-Making Mystery

by Elizabeth Bright

Average crafty mystery, not much crafting information.

A story about "Death Perception (Psychic Eye Mysteries, Book 6)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:11:39 GMT

Death Perception (Psychic Eye Mysteries, Book 6)

by Victoria Laurie

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. If you can suspend disbelief about inept law enforcement and coincidence, Victoria Laurie has written a well-paced, interesting mystery.

A story about "Gale Force: A Weather Warden Novel"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:14:02 GMT

Gale Force: A Weather Warden Novel

by Rachel Caine

Rachel Caine has a fantastic imagination. This book was enjoyable. While Jo manages to develop her weather wielding powers more each book, she still hasn’t attained a level where you expect the outcome of the book, because she’s a flawed hero and there is still suspense. I’m looking forward to the next book.

A story about "Deadly Greetings: A Card-Making Mystery"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:53:36 GMT

Deadly Greetings: A Card-Making Mystery

by Elizabeth Bright

Run of the mill. No compelling characters, poor crafting info.

A story about "Demons Are a Ghoul's Best Friend: A Ghost Hunter Mystery (Book 2)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:54:06 GMT

Demons Are a Ghoul's Best Friend: A Ghost Hunter Mystery (Book 2)

by Victoria Laurie

A couple of things about this series are a little too cliche for my taste, the gay sidekick as comic relief and the annoying bird as comic relief, but I thought this book greatly improved on the first book in this series. The story line was interesting and well-paced.

A story about "The Case of the Roasted Onion (Berkley Prime Crime Mysteries)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:14:05 GMT

The Case of the Roasted Onion (Berkley Prime Crime Mysteries)

by Claudia Bishop

I don’t think this was a bad book, but I didn’t like it. I thought reading about a veterinarian would be fascinating, but it turns out I really don’t like reading about hurt animals.

A story about "From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 8)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 06:38:05 GMT

From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 8)

by Charlaine Harris

This wasn’t my favorite novel in this series, but I still enjoyed it. Charlaine Harris gave readers a bit of a departure from her normal formula of having events in the book build up to one grand conclusion/event, instead she gave us little vignettes that culminated in major changes in the supernatural community. It will be interesting to see how these changed play out over the next couple of novels.

A story about "Uncommon Grounds (Five Star First Edition Mystery Series)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:47:21 GMT

Uncommon Grounds (Five Star First Edition Mystery Series)

by Sandra Balzo

While there was nothing glaringly wrong with this mystery, the world the author created felt flat and the characters felt soulless.

A story about "Cry Wolf"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:48:06 GMT

Cry Wolf

by Patricia Briggs

I’m a big fan of the Mercy Thompson series written by Patricia Briggs, so I was pretty happy about a series spin-off. However, when I read the initial short story featuring these characters in the On the Prowl anthology, I didn’t really like either of the characters, but since the story was short, I figured I would give them a full length novel to catch my attention before I really decided how I felt about Charles and Anna. The first half of this novel set up the story, but felt clumsy and wasn’t overly interesting, the action and emotions ramped up in the second half making the book more fun to read, but I still felt that the main characters weren’t people I could really care about. If you like werewolf pack politics, you would probably like this series, but I think it pales in comparison to her other series.

A story about "Charmed to Death: An Ophelia and Abby Mystery (Ophelia and Abby Mysteries)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:48:04 GMT

Charmed to Death: An Ophelia and Abby Mystery (Ophelia and Abby Mysteries)

by Shirley Damsgaard

Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Average cozy mystery starring a witch with psychic powers.

A story about "Any Given Doomsday (The Phoenix Chronicles)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:32:59 GMT

Any Given Doomsday (The Phoenix Chronicles)

by Lori Handeland

Certain things about the first book in this series were appealing (the seer aspects and the evil legion), while other parts felt cliche (using sex to grow in power). There were a couple of author shout outs to the LoTRs movies which made me laugh, so the author obviously has a sense of humor, but at time the wit of the main character was too over the top in difficult situations. Some writers can pull this off, like the writers of Buffy, where the sarcasm in tense situations worked, because she was a teenager, but the snippy comments by the main character in this book didn’t always come off as cute or appealing.

A story about "Breaking Dawn"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:07:08 GMT

Breaking Dawn

by Stephenie Meyer

While most people who read this book adored it, I thought it was a bit of a let down. It seemed that although Bella and Edward’s love was forbidden since the start that things ran a little too smoothly for the couple. It just seemed like they got happily ever after with no real consequences, so in that aspect it was disappointing.

A story about "Death Is a Cabaret : An Antique Lover's Mystery"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:47:22 GMT

Death Is a Cabaret : An Antique Lover's Mystery

by Deborah Morgan

When writing a themed mystery, I think it’s rare to find an author who can give a good balance of mystery and information on the theme subject. This book seemed heavy on information about antiques and sort of felt like reading a term paper instead of a mystery novel. While the characters were interesting, the end solution of the mystery was somewhat predictable and the novel was bogged down by overly descriptive passages with no action.

A story about "Aunt Dimity Goes West"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:35:23 GMT

Aunt Dimity Goes West

by Nancy Atherton

Nancy Atherton writes cute, entertaining books. You get all the puzzle factor of a mystery without all the blood shed and mayhem. They are an interesting change of pace from a normal mystery.

A story about "Black Magic Woman (Quincy Morris Supernatural Investigation)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:27:52 GMT

Black Magic Woman (Quincy Morris Supernatural Investigation)

by Justin Gustainis

Boring and derivative. The author overused the f word making it lose it’s punch by the time you got to the end of the novel. He would frequently refer to his characters delivering lines just like famous movie characters, so if you didn’t see the movie, you didn’t understand the reference. It’s a lazy writer’s way to describe things, because instead of actually describing how the person delivered the line, you expect the person reading the novel to conjure up a picture of that movie and superimpose your lines over what was actually said. It draws the reader out of the fantasy realm you’ve created.

A story about "The Cracked Pot: A Clay and Crime Mystery"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:29:12 GMT

The Cracked Pot: A Clay and Crime Mystery

by Melissa Glazer

While the story lines in the clay and crime mystery series are fairly interesting along with a good supporting cast of characters and potting information, I find the main character in this series to be a bitch and in need of an immediate personality transplant.

A story about "Changeling (Sisters of the Moon, Bk 2)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:01:46 GMT

Changeling (Sisters of the Moon, Bk 2)

by Yasmine Galenorn

I couldn’t even finish this book. I wasn’t crazy about Witchling, but I didn’t hate it, so I expected the next book in the series to be a little better, but I was totally disappointed. Camille and Delilah are just not likable characters.

A story about "Deja Demon: The Days and Nights of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:10:22 GMT

Deja Demon: The Days and Nights of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom

by Julie Kenner

Not quite as action packed as the previous book in this series, but still interesting. When I started on this series, I found it derivative, but the more Julie Kenner writes the more I like the world she’s building for Kate Conner. I especially liked how in the end Stuart found out that Kate is a demon hunter, because I didn’t like how clueless he was.

Why I gave up consuming "Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:44:56 GMT

Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story

by Leonie Swann

I guess this book was a little too cute for my taste. I didn’t even make it to the end.

A story about "Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Danae) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:50:02 GMT

Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter

by Nancy Atherton

Charming and delightful.