Moon Called

That cover is terrible, isn't it? I mean, you'd think this was erotica or something. And there's actually no sex in the book at all. Also Mercedes is half Native American and I'm pretty sure that cover is going for sexy white girl.

Terrible cover aside, I actually found this book enjoyable. How many urban fantasies feature "strong" female characters with a tough look and tough jobs who become useless the moment trouble starts, throw themselves at the new guy they know nothing about, and make unintelligent decisions that endanger their lives and contradict whatever mission their on? Mercedes isn't like that. Sure, she's tough, but she isn't perfect. And yes, she makes some questionable decisions, but she usually has a good reason.

I also enjoyed the story's mythology. The book has shapeshifters, werewolves, vampires, and fae, and they all have their own behaviors, magic, histories, and family groups.

What made the story fall flat for me was how everything ended. For one, it was too easy for Adam to take control of the opposing wolves. They were moon called and under the power of the alpha male, neither of which were explained, so they just laid down in front of him. And it was all very anti-climatic.

Then there's the main antagonist who turns out to be doing all these terrible things just to save his father's life. This guy we only met at the story's resolution, and he only gets about a paragraph or two of dialogue before he's killed. And we only meet his father for one short section of a chapter, and later only a paragraph describing his death. The whole situation is very tragic, and it is treated very casually, like a simple plot element. I don't feel the story delivered the emotional connection that the situation demanded.

Finally, I wasn't buying the date. Throughout the book, Merci never gives any indication that she is interested in Adam. While it is a bit of a set up in that Jesse tells Merci it's a group date and then flakes out so her father and Merci can have time together, that doesn't warrant a passionate kiss on Merci's front porch or Merci's decision to give it time to see what is going on between them. It all just comes out of nowhere.

So, I came out of this one with mixed feelings. I had been enjoying it, but all ended too weirdly. I could chalk it up to first-book syndrome and give the next book a try, but I'm not feeling very enthusiastic about it.

Goblin Hero

This was a bit of a disappointment from the previous book. We still have Jig and all his wonderfulness. He also has a great new set of companions. But the book divides itself, going back and forth between Jig and new goblin, named Veka, who also wants to be a hero, and she... leaves something to be desired.

My husband did not like Veka from the beginning, and was not crazy about the chapters we were forced to spend with her. I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, but by the end of the book she wasn't a character I had grown to care much about. If I decided to reread this book, I would skip all of Veka's chapters and just read Jig's. After all, it's Jig who made the first book as great as it was. He's where all the humor and enjoyment comes from.

I'm hoping the third and final book might redeem Veka's character a little, but this might turn out to be another series where only the first book is worth reading.

A Discovery of Witches

It's hard to judge a book fairly when having listened to it on audio. For one, the book opens on some every-day boring stuff. The main character, Diana, is off doing research for a paper, going to yoga, and rowing on the lake. Can I say the novel takes these boring tasks and makes them interesting? Unfortunately, all I can say is I enjoyed the narrator of the tape, so I stuck with it.

If you can get past the boring stuff at the beginning, this is a pretty interesting novel. It's full of human history as well as witches, demons, and vampires. The world building is done very well, and I really like the idea of vampires operating on a wolf pack mentality, diet, and sensory range. I also greatly enjoyed the cast of secondary characters.

The relationship between the two main characters can be a little... disconcerting at times. Mathew can come across as overbearing and demanding and Diana can seem needy and weak. And the keeping of secrets between the two of them is a constant source of frustration. Though, for the most part, their relationship comes off well.

I did enjoy this book, but from what I've seen from reviews of the next two books, I'm not sure I'll be continuing with this. But I would say it's worth a try for anyone who might be interested.

Squire

As Kel ages, each book in the series ages, making each one better than the last.

In this book, Kel is undergoing her final training and test before she will finally becoming the first female knight in a decade. Kel even finds love in this book, and I have to admit the relationship surprised me and I was uncertain at first of Kel's true feelings on the matter. All of Kel's previous relations and struggles and are expanded upon here, creating a more and more enjoyable read.