kgbooklog

Jane Lindskold, Thirteen Orphans
Tor (2008) ISBN: 0-7653-1700-1
Score: 2

Start of Breaking the Wall, an urban fantasy series based on the Chinese Zodiac and mah-jong. This book is set in the USA, but I expect parts of future books to be set in a parallel world/fairyland. Very interesting premise and likable characters, but not much action or suspense.

Next Book: Devon Monk, Magic to the Bone

Patricia Briggs, "The Star of David"
Ace (2008) ISBN: 978-0-441-01633-4
Score: 1

A werewolf mercenary (David Christiansen, prior to his appearance in Moon Called) helps his daughter find out what happened with an orphan who may be more than he seems.

And that's the last of the stories I wanted to read from Wolfsbane and Mistletoe. It seems Christmas is all about sex with strangers, nasty revenge, eating Christmas legends, bloody murder, more bloody murder, and bloody self-defense.

Next Book: Jane Lindskold, Thirteen Orphans

Keri Arthur, "Christmas Past"
Ace (2008) ISBN: 978-0-441-01633-4
Score: 1

A psychic and her werewolf ex-boyfriend try to catch a vampire who is killing charity collectors. Does not seem to be connected to any of her series.

Carrie Vaughn, "Il Est Né"
Ace (2008) ISBN: 978-0-441-01633-4
Score: 1

Kitty, an untrained werewolf, and several murders on Christmas (set before Kitty Takes a Holiday).

Donna Andrews, "The Haire of the Beast"
Ace (2008) ISBN: 978-0-441-01633-4
Score: 1

A college student finds a grimoire with a spell to turn people into werewolves.

Charlaine Harris, "Gift Wrap"
Ace (2008) ISBN: 978-0-441-01633-4
Score: -2

Sookie gets sex with a complete stranger for Christmas.

Jim Butcher, "Backup"
Subterranean (2008) ISBN: 978-1-59606-182-8
Score: 1

A novelette of the Dresden Files, in which Thomas introduces the reader (but not Harry) to another secret supernatural war he is involved in.

Next Book: Wolfsbane and Mistletoe

Brandon Sanderson, The Hero of Ages
Tor (2008) ISBN: 0-7653-1689-7
Score: 4

Conclusion of the Mistborn trilogy, in which the heroes learn what's really going on and try to fix the problems they caused in the previous books. We also learn about the mists and how the third metal-based magic system works, and in between the big battles there are discussions of faith, religion, and how to lead/manipulate people. I was worried by the second book being so bleak and secretive, but this conclusion does a great job tying everything together in a way that makes perfect sense.

F. Paul Wilson, Secret Histories
Tor (2008) ISBN: 0-7653-1854-7
Score: 2

Start of the Jack trilogy, a YA prequel to Repairman Jack. Its enjoyable for all the reasons the main series is (and much less depressing), but it also raises consistency issues with the early RJ books (I wouldn't be surprised if Wilson rewrites the whole series to fix this; he's already revised The Tomb more than once).

Derek Landy, Playing With Fire
Harper (2008) ISBN: 978-0-06-124088-1
Score: 2

Second novel of the Skulduggery Pleasant juvenile urban fantasy, in which the heroine once again has to save the world. As before this involves violence, pain, betrayal, and having to spend time with her relatives. I'm beginning to wonder how long this series is expected to go, since it seems like we've already killed off most of the survivors of the previous major magic war, and there aren't many new players showing up.

Next Book: F. Paul Wilson, Secret Histories