No Skimping on Masquerade

I'll say right up front that I don't like doing book reviews.

Tastes in books, as in every thing, is very subjective. I know that anyone who writes books is just like me. They work hard on it and they love it, just like me. Therefore, I don't and won't criticize another authors work - unless I like it.

And I absolutely adore Rachel Morgan's Creepy Hollow novelette series. I just finished the latest one, book #4, Masquerade. And I just want to say...

I knew it!

If you've read the series, you know that I'm talking about a certain fae who maybe doth protest too much. That's all I'm going to say about that.

Description:

Betrayed by the guy who supposedly loved her, Violet deals with her anger and hurt by teaming up with her archrival Ryn to help him find his missing sister. Hanging out with Ryn isn’t high on Vi’s list of things to do, but she kind of owes him after he inconveniently saved her life recently. As the two of them struggle to put their differences aside, they find themselves drawn into a plot much greater than a single missing child. A plot with Violet herself at the center.

Review:

In the first three books of the series, Violet snipes back and forth with her nemesis, Ryn, who is the biggest jerk ever. They hate each other, but we don't know why.

But we see a different side of Ryn in Masquerade. When Ryn saves Violet's life, she feels obligated to help rescue his little sister from the clutches of the Unseelie Prince, Zell. Turns out, Vi has had dealings with Zell in the past. In fact, he's the reason Vi's life needed saving in the first place. And so the reason Zell wants Vi so bad is revealed - you'll have to read to find out. No spoilers here!

We learn in this book about the history and backstory between Vi and Ryn. It's emotional, riveting and heartbreaking.

I never dreamed that'd I'd be addicted to, or enjoy a novelette series so much. But Rachel has managed to pack in the action and develop the characters and story arc, without it feeling rushed, leaving anything out or sacrificing anything you'd find in a full novel.

There was no skimping on Masquerade.

I have one complaint - I want more!

Rachel's Bio:

Rachel Morgan was born in South Africa and spent a large portion of her childhood living in a fantasy land of her own making. After completing a degree in genetics, she decided science wasn't for her--after all, they didn't approve of made-up facts. These days she spends much of her time immersed in fantasy land once more, writing fiction for young adults.

You can find Rachel Morgan's books on Amazon HERE.

End of Days Book Review

First, let me say that Roland Yeomans is one of the kindest bloggers in the blogoverse. I commented how much I adored one of his characters, Alice Wentworth, and he gifted me the book, End of Days, featuring her as the protagonist! Thank you Roland!

Also, this is my first book review. Ever. And I'm kind of nervous. If I mess this up, it's my fault, not Roland's.

So here we go!

Blurb:

St. Marrok's. The most eerie high school in which you will ever die. Some call it the high school for the damned. The damned merely laugh.



Located in the lovely, Katrina devastated French Quarter, it stands as it has always stood since the sky chariot of the Queen of the Tuatha de Danann was shot down over Roswell, New Mexico in June 1947.


St. Marrok's is a school run by the Sidhe for all the preternatural children of America. A few mortal teenagers are invited for the amusement and education in the frailties of humans for the Sidhe.


Now, the celestial configurations are almost in allignment. The Nameless Ones are nearly through the frayed barrior between their dimensions and ours. The plan set into motion in 1947 by the Tuatha de Danann are finished.


Plots and counter-plots by Sidhe, revenants, and Olympian/Asgardian factions are all coming to a head. The End of Days is at hand.

And only Alice Wentworth, a Victorian ghoul, with a rag-tag group of misfit students and human teachers stand a chance at stopping it. All it will take is their lives and all they hold dear.

My Review:

Protagonist Alice Wentworth is a 175-year-old Victorian teenage ghoul. She is the sweetest ghoul ever, never mind that she must eat human flesh to survive. It gives "fast food" a whole new meaning, but it's only the scum of the earth that she consumes, so no big loss. I mean, what's a ghoul to do?

The cast of characters is eclectic to say the least. A ghoul, a revenant priest still in love with his ex-wife, wolfling, hellhounds and other creatures, not to mention the real-life historical characters who weave in and out of the story. The characters are mostly larger than life, with egos to match, but even larger hearts.

Alice and her rag-tag group of friends, in particular sisters Trish and Becca, infiltrate St. Marrok's, a school for the preternatural with a few humans thrown in (proving they're not biased - everyone has the same right to die), where the master plotters reside. The plan is to thwart The Nameless Ones from taking over the world, fight the other wannabe's along the way, and in danger all the while of President Bush pushing The Nuke Button.

But first and foremost, they must stay alive.

No need for too much worry, though, because Alice "The Wentworth" is one kick-butt ghoulfriend. Her sense of right, wrong and justice for all is highly tuned. With her super powers and the dead love of her life, Victor Standish, advising from inside her head, the ghoul can't lose.

End of Days is a dark urban action-packed fantasy. A plot expertly weaved with a mix of Indian and Celtic lore, preternatural and human beings, fictional and real-life historical characters, all occupying the devasted streets of the French Quarter in the aftermath of Katrina in a post apocalyptic setting.

But at the End of the Day, End of Days was about love and friendship. And that's why, in my book, End of Days gets five stars!

You can buy Roland Yeoman's books at Amazon.com.