The Mammoth Book of Dieselpunk

Review:

Dieselpunk: think steampunk, but set (mostly) in between WW1 and WW2 (and maybe more gritty/dark).

Like any anthologies some stories are better than others.  Here are the ones I liked:

Don Quixote:

I actually got this anthology for this story (Carrie Vaughn) since I liked her Kitty series.  This is completely (and I mean COMPLETELY) different.  It was pretty dark. 3*

Steel Dragons of a Luminous Sky:

Takes place during WW2.  This was dark, had treachery, and (spoiler alert) everyone.......dies.  It was both interesting.....and depressing.  3*

Tunnelvision:

Easily my favorite.  Lloyd, a miner, finds himself in an interesting situation.  I wouldn't have minded more! 4*

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1849626/the-mammoth-book-of-dieselpunk

Darkness Rises

Review:

Krysta has been hunting vampires for 6 years with the healing assistance of her brother. She can see auras which give her an edge. (Of note- vampires are orange, Immortals a mix of purple and white, and Seth is bright white; David still has a hint of purple in his). Krysta and her brother are also "gifted ones" who can be successfully turned and made immortal.
Etienne comes across her while hunting and is intrigued. I enjoyed the interactions between all of the characters; it is clear each loves/respects each other. The story-line from previous books continues here- trying to find a way to stop/slow down the vampires madness and the mercenaries are back. I am intrigued by Zach and look forward to his story (which is next with Lisette's!)

[spoiler]

It turns out the mind-wipe was reversed. By someone. But who? Seth believes it is Zach and threatens him.

[/spoiler]

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1847984/darkness-rises

Into the Night

Review:

Macey was the only survivor of "The Doctor." She was a doctor turned FBI agent to hunt killers. Bowen's girlfriend was the victim of a serial killer. He found, hunted that killer, and saved the next victim. He is now also part of the same FBI profiling task force. 
There is a serial killer hunting serial killers (with collateral damage). Macey and Bowen are tasked with hunting the killer down. I liked how everything was linked together and the conclusion; it wasn't a simple who-done-it. I did feel like the FBI *should* have caught on earlier then they did. Macey and Bowen are both likable and each have their issues. Said issues aren't quite overcome, but understand/accepted with communication.

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1846199/into-the-night

Lord of Darkness

Review:

After the previous book, I was worried about potentially this being not as good. I needn't have worried! This is Meg's (Margaret) and Godric's book. At the end of the previous book, Megs is pregnant. Her brother, Griffin, knows something about Godric and blackmails him into marrying Megs. This book opens up 2 years after their marriage.
Margaret, having lost the baby, wants a baby and to avenge Roger. I loved the book's opening with her trying to shoot Godric (unbeknownst to her). This was definitely a slow burn as they both got to slowly know the other one. I thought the guilt each felt for wanting to move on was realistic and was something each overcame. I liked that they talked about their pasts and feelings. I liked that Godric and his stepmom talked. (What an awesome stepmom!).
One thing I like are the appearances of previous (and future) characters. Artemis is in this one and her book is next (and I'm very curious; there's also her brother Apollo).

[spoiler]

Previous book: Margaret (Griffin's sister) was in love with and pregnant by Roger Fraser-Burnsby. He's murdered. Presumably by Ghost of St Giles.
This book: Earl Kershaw-> murdered RF-B, and killed by Godric in self-defense, was also responsible for abuse and enslavement of the poor girls- Seymour (killed in from previous book was his partner (I assume).
And yes, Megs gets her baby.
Godric's 1/2 sisters- Sarah, Charlotte, Jane. His stepmom- if she had a name, I missed it/don't remember it.
Captain Trevillion lets Godric go. He suspected Godric was the GoSG.
I don't know if they will be characters in future books: Hippolyta Royle- an heiress that has taken London by storm. Robin Goodfellow- an actress at Harte's Folly.

[/spoiler]

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1845791/lord-of-darkness

Seth

Review:

It's been awhile since I've read Aramus's book, but if memory serves, some of this overlaps with that book. Seth was married (and still is) to Anastasia. They have a long history together (were recruits together and later were "chosen" for the "enhancement" program). What led to their breakup was a huge "misunderstanding," orchestrated by the military.
While this is about Anastasia and Seth, I thought some the the underlying story-lines were further explored and will come to fruition in the next 2 books in this series. (Who is the company? Who is really in charge? Where did the nanos come from? An alien life form?). Adam's book promises to pick up where this one left off.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1843448/seth

A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses

Review:

In this one, we meet Nola, a 1/2 Irish witch. I had a hard time imagining her accent (part Irish & Boston). She was not wholly embracing of her abilities and seemed to want to be more normal, but (happily) by the end she was more comfortable in her own skin. 
I loved that Jane, Andrea, Dick, and Gabriel were in this one. Enjoyed this one!

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1842094/a-witch-s-handbook-of-kisses-and-curses

Tiger of Talmare

Review:

I was pleasantly surprised.  Melissa was bound to a death sentence working the mines after she killed someone.  The ship she was on crashes and she, with 2 other women- Leila and Darla, steal another ship.  That ship happened to be (Captain) Zachary Knight's ship.  Zach happens to be a human-tiger hybrid.    

Fast forward 10 years and Zach's wanted to for murder and Mel's team is hired to kidnap him and bring him to someone else.  I liked the interactions between Mel, Darla, and Leila. While I learned Mel and Leila's stories, I wanted a bit more.  I was pleasantly surprised at what Mel was.  Darla I know nothing about (except she is the only human on The Revenge).  Everything was wrapped up nicely, I just would have liked a little more.  There were a few things left hanging/unexplained, I think this might have been the start of a series that didn't happen.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1840549/tiger-of-talmare