Lawrence Watt-Evans, The Turtle Moves!
BenBella (2008) ISBN: 978-1-933771-46-5
Score: 1.5

This is explicitly one author trying to cash in on another author's success. It's really more of a long essay than a book, giving an overview of the Discworld series (and each sub-series), discussion of how the series changed over time, and speculation about why it's so popular (short answer: it's stories about stories). The author is trying hard not to write a scholarly book, so none of these topics is pursued in much depth and the chapters are generally only about 3 pages long, with most of the book being brief descriptions of each story in the series, including the short stories and Science of books.

Michelle Sagara [West], Cast in Fury
Luna (2008) ISBN: 0-373-80269-2
Score: 2

Fourth book of the Chronicles of Elantra, dealing with stories and children. In addition to the usual saving the world, the heroine must also deal with the public reaction to something that happened at the end of the previous book. We also learn more about the fiefs and the Leontine race (so the next book will probably feature the Aerians).

Next Book: Patricia Briggs, Bone Crossed

Brandon Sanderson, Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones
Scholastic (2008) ISBN: 0-439-92553-3
Score: 2.5

Second book about Alcatraz Smedry, in which he tries to rescue his grandfather from the Library of Alexandria. We meet a few more members of his family, and learn more of the secrets of the world (that the librarian conspiracy is hiding from us), and Alcatraz continues to spend as much time lecturing the reader as telling the story.

Next Book: Carrie Vaughn, Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand

Terry Pratchett, Nation
Harper (2008) ISBN: 978-0-06-143301-6
Score: 3

A stand alone novel about a young sheltered princess and a boy who is the only member of his tribe to survive the tidal wave that shipwrecked her. This is set on a parallel Earth rather than Discworld, and while I can see the author's reasons for doing so, it didn't seem to work quite right; he seemed to want to say something about the meaning and importance of nations and religions but the fantasy elements (which only affect a couple characters) undermined that somewhat, and he seemed to chicken out on challenging customs concerning gender roles and education of children (the epilogue made me wonder if any of the characters learned anything). Still an enjoyable read; it's just when you stop to think about what it's trying to say that things start falling apart.

Next book: Jim Butcher, Princeps' Fury

Devon Monk, Magic to the Bone
Roc (2008) ISBN: 978-0-451-46240-4
Score: 1.5

Start of an unnamed paranormal romance series about magic that is widely available, but causes a lot of pain every time it's used; the heroine makes her living tracking down people who illegally shift that pain to innocent bystanders. The characters are likable enough, there's a considerable amount of action, and the premise is fairly interesting, but I don't like tampering with characters' memories (an additional side effect of magic use that seems to be unique to the heroine) so I was really upset when she ends up forgetting everything that happened in this book. I'd also like a more complex romantic subplot than having someone walk up and say, "Hi, I'm your perfect soul mate."

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

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).

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

Sookie gets sex with a complete stranger for Christmas.

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.

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