Roadblocks =x

I find that once I'm in a writing rut, it's damn hard to dig myself out. With that said, I feel like I'm pulling my hair out trying to drag more than five to six hundred words out of myself. It is damn frustrating. And discouraging.

It sucks.

Also, I've stopped writing queries for a while now. For about two-three months, at least. I'm not exactly sure why, but I'm trying to focus on a couple different things right now. I will be attending the Winter/Spring 2013 Semester at my local college and I still have TONS of things to do for that so I apologize right now for my lack of blog posts/updates. I think I've been successfully pulled from my reading rut, too.

Currently, I'm reading Glory In Death by J.D Robb. For those of you who may not know, J.D Robb is a pseudonym for Nora Roberts. The first in this series, I have to admit, didn't really do much for me. I didn't hate it but I wasn't in love with it either. The first book was published in the late 90's and as of now, there are 40-plus books planned for this series with no end in sight. For me, that is a bit excessive. How many books do I want to read about a Cop finding murderers in the year 2058 with her rich, ex-badass man on her arm? Yeah. I don't really want to read more than ten, to be completely honest.

Anysnooch, I'll update as much as I can. No promises, but I will try.  --A.

Muse by Susie M. Hanley

****4 STARS!****

**SPOILAGE**

I don't think there are enough nice things I could say about this book. It was well written, the characters were like-able, - with maybe one exception - I very much liked the concept and premise to this book and I really loved that I didn't have to try so hard to suspend reality to make this believable. It did take me a while to finish but it is not for lack of interest in the book. I'm kind of in a stinky-rut I-don't-wanna-read-anything phase. Meh. Hopefully, it'll pass.

The world of Muses and Guardians sucked me in from the moment I read the blurb about Muse. With so many books out there about vampires, werewolves, shifters - the list goes on and on. I was SOOO refreshed and excited to finally read something different.

Shelby is our lead. As a protagonist, I really liked her. She was relatable, sassy, smart - I could talk about her all day. I felt like the author really knew what/who to write about and how to enable readers to identify with Shelby. She really felt like a real woman with real issues you could sit down and have a drink with, [Probably not too much. Shelby's kind of a lightweight. Lol] talk about men with and bitch out your professor with when they give too much homework.

Cal - my G-d, I was really rooting for him. *Sad face* I won't give too much away, but despite his tool-ness, I really did like him, I understood him in some aspects and I *whispers* may have gotten lady wood for him a bit. *Giggles* Shhh. 'Tis a secret. ;]

I really liked how the existence of Muses and Guardians wasn't a secret in Muse. Ya know how usually in most - almost all - books the magic or supernatural element[s] in the story are secret and it's super important that no humans know about it. *Rolls eyes* No, I was so relieved and excited that it was known to the public. I sort of felt this book was a little - and I do mean just a touch - slow-going. And at first, I couldnt really pinpoint what the big-bad was going to be but when it hit, holy nucking futs, I was like "Ohhhh, snizap. This dude is INSANE." Yeah. It was that good. For a second there, at like 74% I got thrown. Maybe it was earlier....I don't remember but I *ALMOST* rolled my eyes.

One of the only things I couldn't really gel with in this book was the love/romance element. It felt a bit coerced. Like, the love triangle thing wasn't really thought out and just added in later. I just think a week is a bit too soon for anyone to fall in love with someone new. Especially since Malcom is a Guardian and Shelby has a bad history with Guardians. I just think she should have been less accepting of him in her life.

The other thing I didn't really like was how she treated Cal. Yes, he was a tool - when you read it, you'll see just how big of a tool - but he's the father of her children. Even when things with Tiffany - one of our big-bad's - and her plotting got better, she was still dismissive and I'd go so far as rude. Still, a full length novel and I only didn't like two things? Great book. Really great book.

I just hope theres a part two or something. The ending left it open to suggestion a little bit.

Click HERE to visit Ms. Hanley's website.

Click HERE to go to Ms. Hanley's Goodreads.

Click HERE to purchase Muse on Barnes and Noble.

Click HERE to purchase Muse on Amazon. 

I was given this book in exchange for a review but as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own and are really how I feel. As you may have read, I don't give reviews for the fork of it.

Writer's Block & a Quick Update

Recently, I've been going through quite a loooong bout of writer's block.

*DUN DUN DUUUNNNN*  Yes, I know. Booo, hiss and all that jazz. That being said, I do believe I've gotten over it. Or I'm pushing through it, at the very least. And I have to say that I am very pleased with the writing I've gotten done. It isn't much but, what I have gotten done feels like it'll be key to the progress of Caleb's first book.

The title of this series hasn't come to me just yet. However, it will include Death or some variation of the word, as Caleb will die once, if not more, in each book. I plan to have six books, but as of now, I do not expect this series to exceed seven books. Alas, things change and I may want to add ten more.

And now, a quick snippet of some of the things I've just written for Caleb! 

“Are you sure you want me to come upstairs, Caleb? I mean, I am Jailbait and all that.” She pulled the left corner of her bottom lip into her mouth then, her teeth making an appearance for the briefest moment.
    “Let me see some identification.” I’d leaned into the desk by now, putting my face about a foot from hers. She grinned full on and pulled out her wallet, sliding her ID onto the counter between us. I picked it up, examining it unnecessarily. I’d already known she was legal. I also knew she liked that I was a cop. “I think I’ll hold onto this. You’ll get it back in the morning.”
    “That’s assuming I’ll be there until the morning.”
    “Oh, you will.” Giving her my best charming smile, I pushed away from the counter and swaggered  my way to the elevators, closing the doors and riding it up to my floor. I had every confidence that she’d be knocking at my door in less than twenty.
    As it turns out, I was wrong. She made it in less than ten.

Organized writing? What of it?!

Morning, morning. *Chugs coffee* OR good night/afternoon, whatever the case may be in your neck of the woods.

Book outlines? What are these things? And does everyone do them?

From my understanding, book outlines are the just that. The general...outline of what is going on in your book. Characters, setting, naming the big-bad, naming the protagonist, tossing in a few stumbling blocks here and there for good measure - things of that nature. I've even seen an author outlining major scenes that happen in her MS. Like dialogue and everything. Frankly, this scares me. I prefer something a bit more...spontaneous. Almost, "live" writing, if you will. Planning an emotional scene or an excited fight scene kind of takes the fun right out of it for me.

Do I do book outlines?

I don't. The whole idea of organized writing... *Shudders* No. I can hardly stomach the thought. Personally, I don't "outline" anything. I don't do "rough drafts". I don't plan out how many words I'd like to get done in a certain amount of time. I don't decide which WIP I want to work on, on that particular day. I sit and I write. And whatever may come to me about whichever WIP - and believe me, I have about six currently going at once - is what I will sit down and write on.

Why, you ask? I never ever ever ever want to set limitations for myself and I think writing an outline, setting a word-count goal, or even telling yourself which WIP you're going to start on are ALL limitations.

Not to get all science-lesson on you guys, but the human mind is an exceptionally amazing thing. You limit yourself every single day without even knowing what you're doing. Some commands get processed so fast, our conscious never even has a chance to analyze it before it gets done. Prime example: breathing and blinking. Your eyes get dry so your body tells it to blink. Your brain needs oxygen to to function so your lungs work. -- DONE SCIENCE LESSON.

I always want to do better. If I think my last book was amazeballs, then this next one has to be better. I want to excel past my own dreams. Now, what I think and do for myself may not necessarily work for anyone else on this planet. But it does for me and by golly gee, I refuse to limit myself. When you limit yourself you get comfortable. You start to slack off, think you're still at the top of your game. Tell me something readers and writers alike: Pick up your favorite author's first major-selling book; their first NYT's bestseller. Now, pick up their latest work. Even if it isn't part of the same series. I promise you that there is a difference in the way they write. Whether it is better or worse, they've became comfortable.

That first book, that first WIP, finding an agent and a publisher, that first manuscript you bust your ass to get out there I can almost guarantee that you may never work as hard for anything else as you have that. This may not be a bad thing because there are some people who have, like, goldmines at their fingertips and every word is like swiss chocolate on the palate and we just gobble every word, paragraph, comically infused metaphor like they're candy. Yes, 'tis true.

BUT as I've said before. Comfortable can be scary. Your writing absolutely has to, has to, HAS TO improve, evolve or grow over time or else you run the risk of all of your books sounding the same. In my opinion, anyway.

*Drum rolls* 

AND NOW, A MESSAGE FROM CAYLEE AND NOLAN!

From pages 69-71 of the MS, The Descendant.

    A loud boom of a knock sounded at the front door as soon as the dishwasher turned on; startling me so much I stubbed my toe on the dishwasher. Jeeze, I was a scaredy-cat. Imagining a knock on the door when some punk just crank called me saying he would do just that. Hopping on one slippered foot, I removed the fluffy yellow duck from my injured foot and examined my toe. It looked like it would be good and swollen in about ten minutes. I groaned, limping to the fridge and pushing the button for - The knock came again and this time I was sure I hadn’t imagined it.

    Stubbed toe forgotten, I stood slowly and slid my foot out of my other slipper, grabbing my phone off the counter as I went to the door. Who knocks like that when we have a painfully obvious doorbell all but glittering with a RING DOORBELL HERE sign? My hand was reaching for the doorknob when a voice rang out.

    “Caylee are you there?” Flinching, I released the breath I was holding in and yanked the door open, glaring at my guest.

    “How do you know where I live?” Nolan’s hair was wet from the drizzle that had started about twenty minutes ago and I noticed he wasn’t wearing a jacket. Still, he smiled unapologetically and ran his fingers through his hair, the wheat colored mane refusing to look anything less than perfect.

    “Nice pj’s,”

    “How do you know where I live?” I repeated trying to distract myself from being embarrassed that he’d seen me in my pajamas and messy bun.

    At least I didn’t still have my retainer in.

    “I do teacher’s aide work at school for extra credit. I have access to the records.” I arched my eyebrow at him and cast a fleeting glance at the umbrella stand just to my left, preparing to use it as a weapon if need be.

    “Are you stalking me?” I asked shifting closer to it. “Because I can tell you right now that I’m not an interesting person. What you see is what you get with me – well not literally.” I amended at his amused look.

    “No, I am not stalking you. I actually need a favor.”

    “You need a favor? The guy who lives in one of the biggest houses in this city – maybe even the state – needs a favor from me?” I shook my head and shifted closer to the umbrella stand again. “I don’t buy it. What is the real reason you’ve shown up on my doorstep dripping wet?”

    “Okay, you got me.” He admitted flashing those pearly whites again. “I wanted to see you and I figured when you didn’t call me you probably lost my note.” I barked out a laugh and folded my arms. “Oh that’s nice; you’re laughing in my face.” I gave him an apologetic brow wrinkle around my next laugh. “No, that’s great. Guys love that.”

    “Listen Nolan,” I started still unconvinced of his story. “Are you physically hurt?” he shook his head. “Has your car broken down?” he shook his head again. “Has your cell phone died and you need to make a call?” Another head shake. “Then I have to say goodnight and I hope you make it home okay before this storm hits.” I went to close the door when his next sentence sent a shot of ice down my back.

    “I’ve seen your eyes,” his voice was slightly muffled through the large door and I swung the door back open, folding my arms defensively now. To my surprise, there was no censure, no judgment and most of all no fear in those brilliant turquoise depths as he looked at me.

    “They’re gray. What about them?” I shrugged one shoulder, baiting him to see if he really saw them or was just messing with me. The arch in his light brown eyebrow said more than he could’ve vocalized.

    “They aren’t gray all the time.” He said plainly then an expectant look crossed his face. “Kind of like right now.” I ducked my head behind the door and glanced in the mirror in the foyer.

    Damn it, he was right. They were starting to glow right now. 

Copyright 2012 Amiya Liccian, All rights reserved.

That Dreadful "No".

Rejection. Ugh, I shudder with dread every time I hear it. 

Rejection is hard. We're brought up our entire lives conditioned to believe this, so we do. Want the truth? Yes, rejection is hard but it is not the end all, be all. You can get back up. And you get back up swinging, people! The moment you let the sadness from rejection filter out into your everyday life, is the moment you need to shake yourself and get a grip.

People tell you no when you're small, people tell you no when you're bigger and people will - guess what? - STILL tell you no when you're biggest. It's just the way the world works. Everyone can't get a yes all the time. Think of how insane this world would be if people's random - and sometimes dangerous - ideas weren't curbed with a no every now and then. It would be ANARCHY. 

Thus, we have the word no. Just remember, all those other people say no so that someday, somewhere, someone GREAT will say yes. 

Six Reasons To Seek Outside Help When Editing YOUR MS

Okay guys, let's say you've - like me - been a HUGE fan of writing for a long time. You've even started several books over the course of five or six years, but - also like me - you've only actually finished one or two full manuscripts. When I say 'finished', I mean your MS is 80k or more words.

Now, let's say you've - like me - called yourself editing it on your own, revised, changed, went over it with a fine-tooth comb and FINALLY, you think you've gotten it SO perfect, you think it couldn't get any better if some form of deity has written it themselves -

 I'll get into the several reasons why you'd be wrong in a second. -

and you think, 'Yes, I'm going to send off a few query letters'.

No. Just no. No matter who you are, what you write, published, unpublished, Indie or self-pubbed - SOMEONE ELSE - meaning not YOU - NEEDS TO TAKE  A LOOK AT YOUR MANUSCRIPT AND QUERY LETTER BEFORE YOU SEND ANYTHING OFF TO ANYONE. 

Reasons why: 

1. As authors, we already think what we write is amazing. We think we're so genius, G-d has touched us with the ability to write magnificent MS's and any agent/publishing house would be lucky to sign us. *Shakes head* Sadly, no. 
2. Not everything you write is a hit, not everything you write is sell-able, there isn't a market for everything you write - NOT EVERYTHING YOU WRITE IS GOOD. And yes, it chafes your a*s like a fluffer-nutter and no, people may not always be kind when telling you these sorts of things but you HAVE to hear it sometime.
3. Other people - once again, not YOU - know what they like to read, how they like to read and what they want to feel when they read. You cannot, cannot, cannot trust your own eyes, emotions and judgement when it comes to editing your MS. Obviously, you're biased. You wrote it, therefore you love it. 
4. When you edit your own MS's, there are going to be several mistakes that you missed, overlooked - or sometimes you may leave them on purpose (builds character for your MC or it is how a certain character in your MS speaks) sometimes those work and sometimes they don't. More often than not, they don't. 
5. You may not notice it, but you can easily over-write a MS. Case in point: my very own first MS is north of 140k words. No publisher ANYWHERE is going to pick up a debut more than 100k words. As evidence of my MS STILL lying untouched on my hard drive. Also, too many adjectives, similies, metaphors - all those add up in word count. And too many words is a problem. Ideal MS length is between 80k and 110k and 110k is pushing it. Books that are too long probably won't get read. No one wants to be intimidated by the size of a book on a shelf before picking it up.
6. Your MS can ALWAYS get better. You may be among one of the most creative minds on the planet but no one is perfect and everything can get better. A little tweak here, a revision there can make any great MS amazing. Don't be too proud. Every book gets edited before publishing and rather than seeing a bunch of red ink all over your precious baby, take the time and have a few friends peruse it. Have some margaritas with your girlfriends, a couple beers with the guys, lunch with your author friend or a night out with your bookclub and get it done. 

Prime example: I haven't touched my first MS in months because of Caylee and Caleb. I, too, thought it was perfect, sent off dozens of badly written queries for it and got sad like clockwork over the next 6-12 weeks when I got all my NO's and refusals - or didn't get any, in some cases. The moment I went back and started reading the first chapter, I found twelve mistakes in the first 750 words. It. Was. Crap. Crap, Shit, Garbage, a Hot Toddy - whatever you prefer to call it. Why, you ask? Because I didn't get anyone to look over my query BEFORE I sent it and I didn't let my impromptu editor look at the full body of work BEFORE I stamped it as done. Now, I'm in the middle of shaving about 80 thousand words off it - words, I now know I did NOT need - and making it presentable. Which is just a BUNCH of fun.

To avoid hacking away at your precious MS - like I am - be cautious when you write and pay closer attention when editing if you choose to self-edit. As you know, I am still unpublished and in no way should my reasons be followed to the T but  it is because I remain unpublished that I'm almost 80% sure that you should at least have someone take a second - or twelfth - look at your MS and/or Query letter.

Halfway To The Grave by Jeaniene Frost

**FOUR STARS**

**Review Originally Posted 4/22/2012**
***Spoilage***

First off, Bones is hawwwt and I'm in love.

I was very excited to start this series, especially with all of the positive feedback I've been hearing. I have to say, I was not disappointed at all. Cat and Bones have this relationship - that although it's not exactly...how to say this? not exactly traditional - I must say I want one. Cat has this air about her, something undeniably sexy and appealing. Although as I read I wasn't expecting Cat to be so...inexperienced or bashful. The way she blushed at any sexual comment or innuendo kind of threw me off a bit at first but once Bones snatched her and trained her to be his secret weapon, she stopped that really, really quick.

Pros: I like that Frost has put a twist of sorts on the characteristics of vampires in these books. For starters, I like that they can go out in sunlight and it doesn't kill them. I like that once they die, their bodies age to their "true" age - that is something I'd never seen before and it was a nice touch. I also liked that their eyes glow with emotion, although kind of predictable - it's nice all the same. THE FACT THAT ONLY THE NEW AND FRESH VAMPS ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN REPRODUCE!!! THIS! That was one of the things I REALLY, really liked. Because honestly, they're dead. Their hearts don't beat and their sperm count is basically nonexistent.

The plot-line was GREAT. The bad guy was just so perfect and everything he was doing with the whole sex slavery ring was genius. I was not expecting it to go that far and it was so awesome, I seriously enjoyed it.

Sex scenes - although there was really only one it slayed me.

Cat getting all tough and kick-ass was predictable but also, didn't take away from the story.

Cons: Why silver? Silver can kill soooo many things in the world of PNR/Fantasy books. I don't like that I hopped back on the silver train again, but it didn't take away from the greatness of the book whatsoever for me so that was good.

It kind of reminded me a touch of Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan. The whole ass kicking red-head with her vamp "sidekick", if you will. And the inclusion of the secret branch of FBI/CIA at the end kind of bummed me out because once again, that was a little too predictable.

The whole all-bodily-fluids-are-red thing. And I mean ALL. It kind of Creeped me out a LOT when I read that.

All in all, a GREAT read and I would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for an action-filled great book about vamps and a half-vamp.

Faefever by Karen Marie Moning

***** FIVE STARS! *****

**Review Originally posted 7/4/2012**


Oh my gah, oh my gah, OH MY FECKING GAHHHH!

THERE SHALL BE SPOILAGE ALL UP AND THROUGH THIS REVIEW!!

This book rocked my little normally-fae-hating-world guys. And when I say rocked, I mean I wanted a cigarette after reading it and I've never smoked a day in my life.

If there ever is such a thing as the best book ever - And I really don't wanna oversell this but - THIS book is IT. And I seriously mean it.

Mac has really grown into a woman to fear and if you should see the blazing lights of her MacHalo, then you better tuck ass and book. It was no secret that Mac wasn't my favorite person in the world, she probably still isn't. But by G-d she's clawing her way up that list.

This book slayed me. SLAYED. ME. I used to get upset because I thought Moning should've added more action in her books since we're starved for romance and even with this book, I was finding myself upset and kind of let down because there were some places where we were hurting for descriptives and needed a bit more action. HOWEVER, the last 80 pages or so really made up for that. There was soooo much action in those pages that it was enough for the entire book. And everything that happened - Ahhh! I loved every damn second of it.

Mac has wisened up quite a bit although I feel she is still a bit slow on the uptake. Some things she still should be seeing obviously, elude her until she gets smacked it the face by it and damn. She got fuuuucked up with a mean backhand this time. BUT, my fellow Goodreaders, this is what makes for a really good book. Angst, anger at your protagonist, frustration because you can see the things she/he so clearly can't. Yes. Good books indeed.

Barrons...still don't know what he is but man, is he ever. Dear heaven on earth he certainly is.

Still don't like Rowena or many of the many other bitches sidhe-seers she's brainwashed. Although, the foul-mouthed Dani is growing on me a bit. Christian...meh. Don't trust him as far as I can throw his Hot Scottish ass. But, that's cool. Because in the Fever series we are hardly in want of men we cannot trust. One more won't break my heart.

I don't want to give too much away because I feel that this is one of those things people need to read themselves and because this is my new favorite book of 2012, I'll be passing out copies of it on the street next time you see me.

P.S. I'm 5'9 with large boobs and dark brown hair. If you should see me with a HUGE shit-eating-grin on my face, just take the book and leave me with promises of reading it.

Editing Rants, ahoy!

Honestly, I can be critical - very critical apparently - about grammatical errors, etc. and I promise you I have a reason for it. I, myself am an aspiring author. I take writing very seriously and each sentence I write is just an extension of my soul. When editors are called in to do what? - EDIT someone's baby, in my eyes they should do just that. Edit it.

In more and more of the work I'm reading now, someone is sleeping on the motherfluffing job and that is unacceptable. Every author I know spills their heart out onto a blank page and fills it up with amazing writing that leaps off the page at you and burrows into the heart of the reader, taking them off to a far away land where they don't have to deal with their own real life problems. If only for a minute. And when an editor doesn't catch the typos, mistakes, misuse of grammar or lack thereof, you are doing the author and readers a serious disservice.

I know I don't like to feel as if I'm editing a book as I read which makes me anal to the point of obsession with my own works and any typos/errors that pop up. I know, almost counter-productive, but by golly gee I HATE a typo!

*Exhales* Sorry. Rant over.

Bloodfever By Karen Marie Moning

Book two in the Fever Series.

***Review Originally written 8/12/2012***

**Spoilage Alert**

4.75 Stars
Mackayla Lane - or is it O'Connor? Meh, doesn't matter.

Wow. Man, I enjoyed this book. Not enough to five-star it, but damn it was almost there. I wish I could give it more but the critical bitchy reviewer side of me that wished she had just a touch more of this and less of that just would not allow it. I waited two days after finishing Bloodfever to write this review so, naturally, my mind has had time to pick it apart.

This is not me saying this book was bad. Because this book was flippin' awesome. I felt like Mac had seriously grown up and realized that shit was real and her pink nail polish, gold sandals and fluffy Mac brain weren't going to keep her alive. Which I appreciated greatly.

Book two picks up just days where book one left off and jumps right back into Mac's world of unsightly Unseelie - Haa! That's funny - and a delectable really scary bad guy. A Death-by-sex Fae Seelie Prince. What a mouthful. Pun very much intended.

I have to admit, when I'd first picked up book one, Darkfever and read about a Death-by-sex Fae, I assumed there'd be some in these books. Sex, that is. But - and that's a sad but - I haven't come across any sex yet and I'm halfway into book three. Barrons and Mac together are so flipping hot I'm mentally undressing them both at various points in the book and manually having them hump each other like I did my barbies and kens when I was younger.

Don't even act like you haven't.

Still, no sex between Barbie and Ken Mac and Barrons.

I've drawn the conclusion that Ms. Moning lacks the skill to write a good fight/action scene because every time one would feel as if it were coming up, she'd drop us one of these: I won't bore you with the details of a fight and since I'm telling this story... and so on and so forth.

NOOOO, woman! Are you out of your mind?! The action scenes are necessary if your entire world is about to erupt in a war between mankind, Fugly Mc. Nasty Unseelie creeping through the nearest doggie doors and Fuck-me-to-death Seelie Fae that pop up whenever and are so hot women drop panties at their feet. Action is a definite yes. Especially since we haven't gotten any sex yet. Jheeeze.

Barrons is...interesting. I don't know how far Moning plans to drag out the whole big-bad-secret of what Barrons actually is but I sure hope she doesn't push it too far. What with his strength, ability to see the Fae and every inhuman quality Mac points out about him every time the man pops up on a page, I'd say I'm getting tired of being kept in the dark. And from what we know of the dark, tis not a very nice place to be lass.

Dani. First impression. I don't like her. I appreciate Moning bringing in new characters with Christian, Dani, Rowena making a bigger appearance, hot jogger dude who Mac told to 'fuck off' and...there was someone else, too. *Shrug* I do not like the foul mouthed, cliched Irish ginger who is barely five minutes out of diapers. Especially since she brags about how many Unseelie she kills and says 'Fecking' every fecking two sentences. She's, like, 14. Who the feck let's her go out by herself with one of the only two weapons in the world that can kill Fae?

Ohh, wait. That's right. Crazy Rowena. Don't like her either.

V'lane - which just looks like Villain to me - aka our Death-by-Fuck-Me Fae, gets his meeting with Mac after she and Barrons try and steal an amulet that has already been stolen. He snatches her out of her world and they talk. She stays and plays volleyball with an Alina-illusion and SUDDENLY Mac gets this reserve of power in her mind that she draws on to remove the illusion.

That was the first time I rolled my eyes for this series. Sadly, not the last.

Apparently, she's been in Faery for a month. Blah, blah, Mac goes back home to the bookstore in her bikini and new tan, blah - oh! Barrons trashed the bookstore and everything in her room because he's obviously the emotional type who betrays said emotions at every turn of the page. No. No. I didn't like it. Barrons takes pride in appearances. Thus, the reason for the store to begin with. In my view of Barrons, he wouldn't destroy his store in a fit of anger, worry or whatever just because she was gone for a month. Yes, the hottie would be mad as hell but he would've found other means to vent said anger.

I'll pull a Mac and skip over quite a bit of the next stuff. *Grin*
Cliffnotes version: Malluce isn't dead, he kidnaps her and hides her underground in a Burren, *shrug* beats her, etc, etc. Turns out, he eats Unseelie to say strong. Yuck. Blah, blah Barrons comes to save her, she eats Unseelie herself, Barrons kills Malluce because she was dicking around in the fight that was very staccato and beige.

NOW, here's the good shit. Mac gets angry for him killing Malluce and they get all hot tempered. Eventually, they wind up on the dirty floor ripping each other's clothes off.

Let me just say, I've never been so starved for a sex scene in a book in my entire reading career. And when I didn't get any from Barrons and Barbie, I was PISSED.

Lord Master came before anything could go further. The bastard.

I really, really liked it. Would read it again and again. Will eventually.

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Very recently, I've started writing reviews of a few books I read. And really, just a few.

In no way am I a "professional" book reviewer as I only write reviews when and if I feel like it and only for books I want to. There are only a few ways to get me to write a review for anything.

I was given a free book in exchange for a review, I loved it soooo much I might have peed myself if I didn't share, I disliked it immensely or it confused the ever-living crap out of me so much I felt inclined to share.

Well, the entire Fever series just rocked my world and I feel that its only right to share some of the awesome between the pages. I was sooo psyched when my library had all but Shadowfever out on ebook loan. So I highly suggest checking your libraries for books you haven't read. It is infinitely better than pirating books. *Wags finger*

*Review originally written 7/17/2012*

**Spoilage**
4 Stars

Pink. Blonde, big boobs and an uncanny knack for getting herself into trouble because we haven't thought things through. This, my good people, is the essence of Mac.

This is not to say that I hated her. On the contrary, I actually started to feel very fondly for the pink loving, sort of on the airhead-y side blonde who turned into ass kicker. BUT, we're here to be honest with one another. And honestly, I don't know how I feel about her now.

In the beginning, I grew weary of her airhead comments about her life and how easy and simple it was, her love for the color pink - mind you, I shall never look at the color the same again - and her slow processing skills. Or lackthereof.

In the middle, I gained more respect for the wizened up little cookie. Grew to like who she was becoming and how diligently she was trying to avenge her sister's death even though every time she flipped her hair, there was a big-bad-ugly or evil genius hottie Barrons there to capture her attention by endangering her life and divert her attentions elsewhere. Needless to say, she handled them well - albeit, some better than others.

NOW, however....I'm still not sure. I had an opinion of her but it's wilted somehow. *Shrug* I dunno. I figure going into book two with a clear head will be best as to not pre judge the blonde-no-longer Mac.

I wasn't sure how much I'd actually like this book once I realized it was about Fae. Seelie, Unseelie, Sidhe, Sisar-Dubh's, Seers and whatnot....not really my thing. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about ugly things that can eat my pretty and fuck me sideways hypnotize me into a sexual need so strong and debilitating that I'd strip in a street and beg it to hump me into submission. [Was that any better?] Which - lemme tell ya, is not something I thought I would ever like to read about.

The world Moning builds for this series is astounding and I seriously cannot wait to see what else she can reel me in with because really, I'm a hard gal to please when it comes to books. I've read many a crappy book in my day and I'm positive I'll encounter quite a few more before I'm through.


Now... DUNN, DUNN, DUUUUUUNNNN onto what I didn't like:

The prologue. I feel this book would've been great without it. I kind of didn't need it. It was extra info given that I picked up as I read through the book anyway, so Mac's little story-telling intro didn't quite do it for me.

Sometimes her writing style has me pausing to sigh, sort of like wishing she'd gone in with an eraser and erased some of Mac's pink-tinted thoughts from the book. Seriously, Mac had the world casted in a pink glow, seeming too daft to process things as quickly as she should have. Mac admits to not being the smartest and getting mediocre to nasty grades in school...yet she wants us to believe that she'd do all this cool shit that clearly requires her to use that pretty blonde head? No. No.

Where there's smoke, there's Mac. Probably thinking too hard about something dangling right in her face.

The ending battle scene or whatever it was. Anti-climactic. I don't see Mac fighting off hundreds of Rhino-ugly Fae and a vampire, ALONG with the "Lord Master" dude in the same room with only mysterious Barrons to protect her ass. No. There would've been pretty pink pieces of boobs and Ice Princess Blush pink nails with gold frosted tips littered with Barrons's huge ego as a border. Just ain't happening.

I kind of wish Moning would've written a bit more action in this book. Like, I dunno, I wanna read Barrons ripping someone's head off or something. *Shrug* He could make green Fae blood-slime sexy. I'm a firm believer in that.

All of Mac's incessant ramblings around her silver sandals, pink nail polish, capri pants, gold sandals - we get it Mac. You like clothes. And pink nail polish. Not exactly sure how you found the time to give yourself nail - and toe - polish changes six times in a two week span [give or take] but by golly gee, you did it blondie. I take my pants off to you.


Things that had me on the fence:

Barrons. I admit to not knowing how I like him...yet I know that I do like him. He was an enigma. Still is, actually. Sent to challenge my way of thinking and judging books and their characters. I sort of wish we'd gotten a bit more of a background on him but at the same time, I'm glad we didn't. Good books will tell you secrets slowly. Great books make you work for them. And though it infuriated me to the point of bated breathing, I enjoyed the vague-ness of Barrons. How secretive he is. Calculating and hot. Strong and hot. Hot. Hot. Did I say hot already? No...? Right, HAWT!

The romance aspect. Alrighty, seriously on the fence about this part.
I simply ADORED that this book was mainly about Mac learning to live with her grief over Alina's death and the fact that she was adopted to the fact that she'd been responsible for the deaths of sixteen henchmen. Really, I do. In the back of my mind somewhere - in the mushy, sappy recesses - I kind of wished I'd gotten more of a connection with Barrons and Mac. NOBODY SHOOT! Just know, that although I'm pleased this wasn't a sappy mock up of some serious bad Fae bullshit, some small part of me wanted romance. But the bigger half was THRILLED that the romance was muted and it was more about something useful.

Like avenging the gruesome death of one's Sidhe-seer sister for a book that you can't even touch because it'll make you evil.

Please...

Hello, Hola, Bonjour, Hallo, Annyeonghaseyo, Ciao - whatever works best for ya. *Winks* I am VERY new to Blogger so please, please, please, be patient with me while I get this blog up and running. I promise to have us ready to go in a timely fashion. Thank you!