In her sixth book, spunky telepath Sookie Stackhouse once again finds herself getting involved with the supernatural community of Louisiana. This time, she’s headed to New Orleans to sort through the apartment of her deceased cousin, but not before being mysteriously attacked by shapeshifters and receiving a summons from the Queen of Louisiana, a vampire. Sookie also gets a new love interest in this installment, and it will leave you eagerly looking forward to the next.

Gail Dayton continues her story began in “The Compass Rose,” of Major Kallista Varyl, now a mother of twins and head of a large family or ‘ilian.’ She is also a ‘naitan,’ or wielder of magic, in a world where rebel forces assisted by demons are threatening world order. I was less intrigued by the major plot events involving this threat than I was by the unusual social organization and concept of family introduced by the author. Not as good as the first, but worth a read.

Anya Seton is a masterful storyteller, transporting the reader back to the Dark Ages, to be immersed in a period of Viking raids on the British Isles and deceit, treachery and murder on the English throne. As is an indicator of good historical fiction, I was inspired to find out more about this time period, to learn which characters and events were historically documented and which were products of the author’s vivid imagination. I also highly recommend Seton’s “Katherine” for those who enjoy historical fiction.

Not nearly as catchy or fun as their previous album, ’Costello Music.’ It’s possibly worth a listen if you’re a fan, but I didn’t feel that any single tracks stood out, and it’s not going on my wishlist.

Scary.

That these children are unable to utter a single original thought is the most egregious sin.