NIGHT MYST Review - Yasmine Galenorn

NIGHT MYST (Indigo Court, 1) by Yasmine Galenorn
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 336
ISBN#: 9780515148145
My Recommended Age Group: Adult
Released: June 29, 2010
Other work:
Sisters of the Moon: Witchling (#1), Changeling (#2), Darkling (#3), Dragon Wytch (#4), Night Huntress (#5), Demon Mistress (#6), Never After Anthology, Bone Magic (#7), Inked Anthology, Harvest Hunting (#8) - October 26 2010
Chintz 'n China: Ghost of a Chance (#1), Legend of the Jade Dragon, Murder Under a Mystic Moon, A Harvest of Bones, One Hex of a Wedding
Bath and Body: Scent to Her Grave, A Blush with Death, Glossed and Found
Nonfiction

Our Rating:

Shop at an independent bookseller!
Buy it from Amazon

From Goodreads:

Eons ago, vampires tried to turn the Dark Fae in order to harness their power. Instead, they created a demonic enemy more powerful than they dared to dream. Bent on enslaving the world, the Vampiric Fae have been quietly massing their strength for centuries. Now, Myst, queen of the Indigo Court, is rising again...and a long-prophesied war is brewing...

Born a witch, Cicely Waters can control the wind. When her Elemental warns her that her aunt and cousin are in danger, she packs her Pontiac GTO and returns home for the first time in twenty years. But the magical town of New Forest, Washington has changed. The Indigo Court holds the city in fear; people are vanishing, and strange deaths plague the town. Swept into an unexpected and passionate reunion with her trusted childhood friend Grieve, the Fae prince who taught her how to harness the wind, Cicely finds herself with a fierce and territorial lover. But Grieve has become enslaved by Myst's court, and now both lovers must walk a fine line to survive the machinations of the Vampiric Fae Queen. Caught between two evils, both vying for supremacy, Cicely must fight for her family and her future. As she discovers the hidden secrets to her own heritage, will she lose her soul in the process?

My thoughts:

Yasmine Galenorn created another fabulous story and a wonderful set of characters. NIGHT MYST is the first book in the new Indigo Court series, which promises to be just as action packed and magical as her Sisters of the Moon series. Following Cicely Waters, an elemental witch as she struggles to discover herself while uncovering a dark force that has taken over her hometown, NIGHT MYST combines magic and mysticism with a fair amount of drama and adventure.

The one thing that I really love about Ms. Galenorn's books is her character development. The main plot of NIGHT MYST involves Cicely discovering the vampiric fae queen, MYST of the Indigo court. More dangerous than either vampires or fae, this deadly combination is definitely a force to be reckoned with. As we journey through the story and learn more about the dangers here, Ms. Galenorn gives us some good glimpses into Cicely and the troubled romance she has with the dark Grieve. Rather than just spouting out a quick backstory for Cicely, Ms. Galenorn weaves this into the book, allowing us to learn about Cicely just as she learns about herself. I found this method of pulling the reader into the story to be quite effective; it really helped bring the characters and story to life.

Speaking of characters - did I already mention that I love Cicely as a character? The fact that she can control the wind just makes her that much more awesome to me. Her "sidekick" is her air elemental and this added dimension to the story is like the icing on the cake.

As with her other books, Ms. Galenorn's writing style in NIGHT MYST is very clear and easy to read. She uses fairly realistic language and it is pretty easy to imagine someone sitting on the side of the road using the same dialogue that she gives her characters. Well, okay, perhaps minus the vampiric bloodsucking bit. At least I hope so anyway.

I believe that fans of the Urban Fantasy or Paranormal genres will definitely find something to love in NIGHT MYST. This is a robust story that keeps the reader guessing and anticipating from page one all the way through to the end. Also, previous fans of Ms. Galenorn's will be happy to note that this new series looks to be just as good as her others. I highly recommend it and am anxious to see where the story is going to go in future books.

Writing:

Interest:

Passion:

Originality:

Characters:

Pace:

Book Cover: 3/3

Meet the Blogs, Episode 6

We're almost moved in! That means we have everything in the garage and just have to find the motivation to actually get it inside the house. Once that is done I can unpack my books and get back to the regularly scheduled Mailbox Mondays and such.

In the meantime I'm getting excited for BlogFest 2010! You ready for it? Participants and visitors alike are going to have a blast come September!

September 10-12, 2010 is going to be a weekend full of fun with hundreds of blogs participating in one massive giveaway carnival.  Hopping from one blog to another, you'll be able to enter a bunch of different and totally awesome giveaways.  In fact, you can get a sneak peak if you want by taking a look at the Tentative Giveaways.

Each week until BlogFest we will be featuring a few of the participants. You will be able to get a sneak peek at the blogs who have signed up and perhaps get a jumpstart on meeting some new faces. Go ahead and take a look!

The blogs listed here are in order of when they signed up to participate in Meet the Blogs.

Rayment's Readings Rants and Ramblings

Fun blog where I do point form reviews of books. I have a weekly feature called Mom and Me Mondays, where my 8yr old son and I both do reviews on the same books. Every Wednesday I do a feature called Hump Day Hottie where I post a picture of some good looking guy. I also host contests from time to time.

---

Bookvisions

My blog, Bookvisions, just turned one year old. For years I posted reviews of products, restaurants and hotels on commercial sites, and I thought it might be fun to start a book blog to post reviews of the books I read. I certainly never expected it to turn into an obsession! It has been such a pleasure to meet so many wonderful authors, publicists and other bloggers. I review a variety of genres and both fiction and nonfiction, but I favor mysteries, thrillers, and Christian fiction. I host giveaways and am planning a special giveaway for the BlogFest 2010.

---

Happily Ever After - Ashley Ladd

Happily Ever After is the cyber home of erotic romance author Ashley Ladd. Read weekly new free short stories, author interviews, and other writing posts. Enter contests including but not limited to Blogfest 2010. Ashley loves to chat with her readers and fellow authors and make bloggy friends. The doormat's always out and the light's always on. Drop by for a spell.

---

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Book Review

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Book Review is the absolute GO-TO site for all things YA Fiction and Urban Fantasy. I review the hottest new releases and the most wanted bestsellers, but I never overlook the lesser known titles that are worthy of being read. I occasionally review Adult Fiction and Urban Fantasy, but it really has to stand out to be worthy of TGB&U. I keep a running list of anticipated new releases and their release date. Vistors to my blog will find links to today's most popular YA author webstites and to some of the coolest book review blogs on the web. Stop by, become a follower , take the polls and comment on my reviews.

---

Ex Libris

Hi, I'm Stella a 25 years old avid reader, bookaholic and book blogger. My blog is called Ex Libris, which literally means "from the books" in Latin, this expression is used as in "Quoted from", but I like to give it another meaning: "from the books" as in when I'm reading, all characters and settings step out from the books and I'm included in their world.

My blog is mainly a book blog, but I started a new feature (wihich in my opnion goes together with reading): cooking, as I like to nibble on snacks while reading. :-)

My reading taste is wide and eclectic, I mostly like reading urban fantasy, paranormal (romance), chick lit, suspense, thriller and historical romance novels.

Besides book reviews there are giveaways, author interviews and other fun stuffs, hope to see you around! :-)

---

YzhaBella's BookShelf


“I don't just read a book, I "crawl" right into one. I read, I devour; I consume every last word until the story is running like a movie through my brain!”

I’m a 30 “something” mom with a full time job. But, I love to read and I’ve decided to try my hand at Book Reviews & Blogging. Over at YzhaBella's BookShelf you'll find many different genres referenced, but the most prominent will be Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance!

Here and there, you'll get to meet some different views as I have the honour of hosting a few ""Guest Reviewers""; online friends who have generously volunteered their time and reviews to share worthwhile content with us!

So! C'mon over and hang with us for a while! There's plenty to see, great books to be shared and many wonderful authors to meet!

Happy Reading!
YzhaBella
(aka Kate)

UnderCover Friday - MATCHED by Ally Condie

If there is one thing I love in a cover it is creativity.  Creativity and color.  Creativity, color, and cute subject matter.  Okay, I guess there's actually quite a bit I love in a cover.  Today's cover meets all those and more.  It's imaginative and fun - something to catch the eye and get your mind wondering.

MATCHED by Ally Condie
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release date: November 30, 2010
ISBN#: 9780525423645

From Goodreads:

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion.

Matched is a story for right now and storytelling with the resonance of a classic.

PAUL IS UNDEAD Review - Alan Goldsher

PAUL IS UNDEAD by Alan Goldsher
Publisher: Gallery
Pages: 320
ISBN#: 9781439177921
My Recommended Age Group: Older Young Adult to Adult
Released: June 22, 2010
Our Rating:

Shop at an independent bookseller!
Buy it from Amazon

From Pocket:

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S TIME TO REALLY MEET THE BEATLES.

For John Lennon, a young, idealistic zombie guitarist with dreams of global domination, Liverpool seems the ideal place to form a band that could take over the world. In an inspired act, Lennon kills and reanimates local rocker Paul McCartney, kicking off an unstoppable partnership. With the addition of newly zombified guitarist George Harrison and drummer/Seventh Level Ninja Lord Ringo Starr, the Beatles soon cut a swath of bloody good music and bloody violent mayhem across Europe, America, and the entire planet.

In this searing oral history, discover how the Fab Four climbed to the Toppermost of the Poppermost while stealing the hearts, ears, and brains of smitten teenage girls. Learn the tale behind a spiritual journey that resulted in the dismemberment of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Marvel at the seemingly indestructible quartet’s survival of a fierce attack by Eighth Level Ninja Lord Yoko Ono. And find out how the boys escaped eternal death at the hands of England’s greatest zombie hunter, Mick Jagger.

Through all this, one mystery remains: Can the Beatles sublimate their hunger for gray matter, remain on top of the charts, and stay together for all eternity? After all, three of the Fab Four are zombies, and zombies live forever. . . .

My thoughts:

Anyone that knows me knows that I find great humor in these little mashup stories. Combining Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte with Zombies and other fun creatures just makes for one hilarious story. The newest mashup to cross my path is PAUL IS UNDEAD by Alan Goldsher, the story of The Beatles...with zombies!

Paul is the fabulous leader of this foursome, turning people into zombies right and left. He recruits his band members, including the ninja warrior, Ringo, to cause mass chaos and play awesome music. I think the best way to describe the awesomeness of this book is a quote from the description:

In this searing oral history, discover how the Fab Four climbed to the Toppermost of the Poppermost while stealing the hearts, ears, and brains of smitten teenage girls.

PAUL IS UNDEAD is hilarious because of the clear writing style and unapologetic use of zombies to create hilarity in an otherwise so-so rock star story. Sure The Beatles had a huge rise to fame and enough drama to fill up a book twice this size, but why not add the undead to it? This story is wildly imaginative and fast-paced enough to keep the reader entertained for hours.

One thing that I wasn't really expecting in this book was any sort of character development. It's really easy for a story like this to focus on the bizarre aspect and forget that there still needs to be an actual story. I felt that Mr. Goldsher really did an excellent job maintaining and high quality of writing and development with the plot. The characters were robust, with each having their own personalities and eccentricities. Unfortunately, I'm not too familiar with the personality traits of the individual members of The Beatles so I can't say how their zombie counterparts compare. I can tell you that this new group is fantastic though and great food for a bored mind.

If you don't mind having a little something different thrown into your classic or well known stories, I would suggest giving PAUL IS UNDEAD a try. The story is good, but more than that, the very premise is funny enough to make your time reading it worthwhile.

Writing:

Interest:

Passion:

Originality:

Characters:

Pace:

Book Cover: 3/3

*This has been part of a tour with Gallery*

Guest Post with Marie Force - FATAL AFFAIR

Romance is in the air!  I'm not talking about that sweet, gushy kind of romance, either.  I'm talking about thrilling romance, the kind that gets your adrenaline pumping while you wonder not only if your hero and heroine are going to hook up, but also if they're going to escape their current predicament with their lives.

I am thrilled to have Marie Force, author of the romantic thriller FATAL AFFAIR here with me today.  She's going to give us her take on romance, and let us know a little more about her writing.

Thanks for joining us Marie!

---

Why Romance? Why Not Romance?

By: Marie Force

Thanks so much for having me today. Cinnamon asked me to talk about what I love about writing and reading romance as well as the challenges involved in writing the juicy bits. I’m so glad you asked! I get this question a lot: why romance? Well, I always say, why not romance?

Let’s start with the business side of the house. Did you know that romance outsells all other types of genre fiction by millions? Yes, you read that right. Millions. Despite these numbers, romance often gets stashed way far back in the corner of most bookstores, like it’s a dirty little secret that needs to be kept hidden. That amuses me, especially because millions of readers are willing to walk to the back of the store to get what they want—the guarantee of a happily ever after.

Those millions of readers are the best reason to write romance. There are no more faithful, loyal, vocal fiction fans than those who love romance. Their devotion makes being a romance writer a lot of fun. They let us know what they like, what they don’t like, and engage with us in every available forum. I love talking to readers, many of whom have become good friends.

As for the juicy bits, I’m continually amazed by how silly non-romance readers are about the love scenes. I get all kinds of comments, from porn references to immature guffawing that makes me want to ask: how old are you exactly? Romance isn’t porn. Not even close. We’re writing about people falling in love. What could be sweeter or more pure than that? The couple’s physical relationship is part of the magic, and it can’t be overlooked. Yes, writing love scenes can be awkward and uncomfortable—at first. Once you “do it” a few times, it gets easier. (It’s okay to laugh at that. I did as I wrote it!)

I write both contemporary romantic and romantic suspense. And yes, suspense is far more complex and demanding than straight contemporary. When writing Fatal Affair and Fatal Justice, I kept all the details in my head. No outlines, no plotting, no notes, no nothing. And my head almost exploded both times. So as I head into the beginning of book 3, Fatal Consequences, a synopsis has been written, a plan has been put in place. Will I follow it? I guess we’ll find out! But I picture my rebellious self straying from the path I put in place. Stay tuned!

So what are your thoughts about the romance genre? Do you hide your love of romance from your friends and family or do you wear it proudly? And with love scenes: bedroom door open or closed? I want it open, myself, but I want to hear what you think! I’ll give a copy of Fatal Affair to one respondent. Thanks for coming by today!

About Fatal Affair:
On the morning of the most important vote of Senator John O’Connor’s career he is late—again. His best friend and chief of staff, Nick Cappuano sets off to O'Connor’s apartment expecting to roust him from bed and hoping he is alone. But what Nick finds is that O’Connor, the handsome, amiable Senator from Virginia, has been brutally murdered, and Nick’s world comes crashing down around him. Complicating the disaster, the detective assigned to the case is none other than Sam Holland, Nick’s one-night stand from six years earlier, the woman who broke his heart and haunts his dreams. With six years worth of unfinished business hanging between them and more than a few scores to settle personally and professionally, Nick and Sam set out to find the senator's killer while trying—and failing—to resist the overwhelming attraction between them that seems to have only grown over the years.

It soon becomes clear that the senator’s past holds secrets that not only led to his death but now endanger Nick and Sam as well. Working together to find a killer and to rediscover the love they thought they lost long ago, they must put the past behind them and build a future that offers a world of new opportunities for both of them—including an offer from the Virginia Democrats for Nick to finish the last year of John’s term.

And about me:
Marie Force’s first romantic suspense, FATAL AFFAIR, was released Monday from Carina Press. Book 2 in the Fatal Series, FATAL JUSTICE, is coming in January 2011 from Carina. She is also the author of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE and LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT. Of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, Booklist said, “With its humor and endearing characters, Force’s charming novel will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers, reaching far beyond sports fans.” Wild on Books said, “LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT by Marie Force is most definitely a keeper. It is an astounding book. I loved every single word!” A third contemporary, EVERYBODY LOVES A HERO, is due out Feb. 1, 2011. Since 1996, Marie has been the communications director for a national organization similar to the Romance Writers of America. She is a member of RWA’s New England, From the Heart and Published Author Special Interest Chapters. While her husband was in the Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. She is the mother of two children and a feisty dog named Brandy. Find her at www.mariesullivanforce.com, on her blog at http://mariesullivanforce.blogspot.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Force/248130827909 and on Twitter at twitter.com/MarieForce. Marie loves to hear from readers. Contact her at marie@marieforce.com.

---

Thanks so much for joining us Marie!

If you haven't yet, I would suggest picking up a copy of FATAL AFFAIR for yourself. It's bound to be a great read!

Meet the Blogs, Episode 5

Moving - I don't ever want to do it again.  Oh man does it get old!  Most of you already know that I moved, but if you didn't...well, you do now!

You know what else is moving?  Time as it passes by on our way to September!

In just a few short months, BlogFest 2010 will be upon us.  September 10-12, 2010 is going to be a weekend full of fun with hundreds of blogs participating in one massive giveaway carnival.  Hopping from one blog to another, you'll be able to enter a bunch of different and totally awesome giveaways.  In fact, you can get a sneak peak if you want by taking a look at the Tentative Giveaways.

Each week until BlogFest we will be featuring a few of the participants. You will be able to get a sneak peek at the blogs who have signed up and perhaps get a jumpstart on meeting some new faces. Go ahead and take a look!

The blogs listed here are in order of when they signed up to participate in Meet the Blogs.


Heidiwriter

I feature interviews with other authors, occasional writing tips, and articles about  "old-time" cowgirls. My grandmother was a Montana cowgirl who rode steers in Montana rodeos during the 1920s. That feat and that era fascinates me. I have one novel published based on her life, and a sequel coming out sometime this year.

---

Malevolent Dead

Malevolent Dead: Discover a world where dragons roam the skies and vampires own the night...

Malevolent Dead chronicles my ultimate goal; to become a published bestselling author. As of May 2010, I have two books published with Eternal Press and a third on the way. I discuss submissions, rejections, and the rare/illusive acceptance on my blog. I also a feature an author on the first of the month.

My current releases are FADE TO BLACK and PROMISES TO KEEP. FADE TO BLACK tells the story of Sarah Vargas, a werewolf bounty hunter who wants to kill there Were that changed her. PROMISES TO KEEP tells the story of Starlette DeFore, a young woman trying to save her kidnapped father from the clutches of an evil sorceress; the Dark Lady Dreashae.

Coming Soon from Eternal Press: MALEVOLENT DEAD, the sequel to FADE TO BLACK. MALEVOLENT DEAD picks up six months after FADE TO BLACK. Sarah Vargas thought all she had to worry about was the Blood Moon Corporation's retaliation. She never dreamed that another vampire would arrive, disputing Damian's claim over the throne to Charleston, South Carolina. To make matters worse, he is no ordinary vamp; he's a vampire necromancer. Exceptionally hard to kill, Sarah will have do what ever she can to keep those that she loves safe... Even if it means doing the unthinkable.

For more information about me or my writing, please visit my website: www.heatherkuehl.com

---

Can't Find a Bookmark

Hey amigos! I'm Ky from Can't Find a Bookmark! I'm the worst art freak, band geek, book worm, obsessive blogger, fairy addicted, (did I mention book worm?) crazy person you will probably ever meet. :P I would love to work in publishing as a cover designer or designing websites and I channel my creative energy into my blog.  I'm pretty laid back and very easily amused so if I start laughing at something seemingly random don't be surprised. I'm very thrilled to be apart of BlogFest and am eager to give away tons of awesome prizes!

---

EatingYABooks

Eating YA Books is a book blog that focuses on great books for the young adult and upper middle level audiences. It is an extension of my voracious appetite to read, and my desire to share my passion for amazing books written by fantastic authors, who focus on  issues and subject matters that appeal to adolescents.

---

Lori's Reading Corner



I have a book blog. I review books, do giveaways & host guest posts and author interviews.

---

Simply Stacie
Simply Stacie is a Review & Giveaway site featuring women's products, books and family friendly items. You can also find blogging tips on how to improve your blog! We are very excited to be a part of BlogFest 2010 and have a HUGE giveaway planned!