Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Lightning Rider by Jen Greyson

Evy Rivera just came out of a very bad relationship which has left her apartment and her bank account empty. Though Evy feels very upset about this, she doesn't realize that her life is about to get a lot more complicated.  When her father discovers a box containing a book which once belonged to his father, Evy has no inkling that her curiosity about her family history is going to force her to embrace her birthright as the only female lightening rider to ever live.

As you might well imagine traveling back through time and changing what happened is not an easy thing to do.  This is why each rider is given a guide but how does Evy know that just trust them.  They know more  about what Evy is than she does and they are not always willing to answer questions.  Evy knows that Ilif Rotiart's feelings about women means that he is not interested in her.

I was surprised to see that Lightning Rider was placed under the category of paranormal romance.  Don't get me wrong, there is a romance in the book but the story itself is not dependent upon the romance to exist.  We did however get the whole star crossed lovers deal because Evy's love interest Constantine is an ancient roman.

One of the things I liked about this story is that Evy the protagonist is a Latina and unlike many novels in this genre, she is not Latina in name only.  Greyson includes some dialogue in Spanish and we get a strong sense of culture for her.  While Evy comes from a family of Lightning Riders, Evy's culture is not to blame for her magic, which again is rare. We do once again get the chosen one meme as Evy's birth and skill is foretold in legend but rarely do we see in this genre this trope applied to a WOC. 

Continuum Season 2, Episode 5: Second Opinion


Let’s start in the future so we can top up Kiera’s angst levels – it’s little Sam’s birthday party and he’s all mopey because his dad can’t make it to his party. She gives him some moveable toy soldiers to make him smile

Now fully angsted up we can return to the present and have Kiera looking morosely at one of those soldiers. She’s frustrated by modern databases trying to find information on the mysterious Escher (who was earlier described as a “freelancer” time traveller, may be involved with Agent Gardiner and was behind setting up one of the biggest corporations in the future – but today is a mystery). Also today is Sam’s birthday.

MAXIMUM ANGST ACHIEVED.

With her not-so-subtle angst, and playing with a child’s toy, Carlos asks about her son while she tries to focus on business and the 2 Liber8 factions. She asks for the toy back because, of course, it’s a future toy that may animate and surprise everyone.

Kellog continues to follow Alec around and try to get him to go into business with him. And Alec, seeing the shiny computer lab Kellog has, agrees to go into business – with Kellog as the junior partner. Kellog tries to object given that it’s his money but Alec isn’t impressed, capital doesn’t match genius. Alec settles on his 51%, control of the projects and living space for all nighters. Kellog  agrees to all, including Alec’s repeated demand for decisions on what technology to pursue – and how it is used.

At work, Kiera is reaching new levels of angst and Betty interrupts her running for cover with some information about someone who looks like they might be their mole – he’s covered in debt which is normally a bad sign. She’s already taken it to the inspector but he’s blown her off – she needs Kiera to approach him because he actually listens to her.

Bitter Disenchantment (Coveted 0.4) by Shawntelle Madison

Bitter Disenchantment is a prequel to Coveted, which is the first book in the series. In the first book we meet the redheaded  Aggie McClure after she had already fled her father and her pack.  Bitter Disenchantment focuses on Aggie's background as the former alpha female heir to the McClure pack.  

From the outside it would seem that Aggie's life was going reasonably well.  Aggie, being the only daughter of Desmond McClure, lives in luxury and even had a great job at her father's company.  Her largest worry is what will happen to her mother now that her father has chosen to discard her mother in hopes of getting a male heir.  Though Aggie is very dominant, the patriarchal nature of werewolves means that she can never ever lead. Desmond actually tells Aggie, " If only you'd been born a man, you would've made a fine pack leader." 

Things take a turn for the worst when Aggie's father announces that he intends to marry her off to Victor, thus breaking his promise to allow her to choose her own mate.  Aggie is quite resistant to Victor until he courts her with food, her life long weakness.  After Victor decides to romance Aggie with her life long weakness food and they marry, Aggie thinks that things just might work out.  Unfortunately for Aggie things take a turn for the worst when Aggie realises that Victor has no feelings for her whatsoever and intends to turn her into a brooding mare for pups, Aggie knows that has no choice but to flee.  The problems escalate when Aggie learns that her fathers new wife intends to have her mother killed.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Fangs for the Fantasy Episode 124

This week we discuss Save Me, Orphan Black, Grimm and Continuum.

Our book of the week is Blue Blaze by Chuck Wendig.




27th May - 3rd June: Shapeshifted by Cassie Alexander
3rd June - 10th June: Binding the Shadows by Jenn Bennet
10th June - 17th June: The Fury by L.J. Smith
17th June - 24th June: The Mermaid’s Madness by Jim C Hines

Blue Blazes (Mookie Pearl #1) by Chuck Wendig


Mookie Pearl is a thug. He knows he’s a thug. He has always been a thug, working for the Organisation to ensure the supply of Blue – the mystical substance that brings an incredible high but also opens your eyes to the real… things out there – keeps flowing while the denizens of the underworld remain down where they are.

It’s a hard life and not a happy life – not getting easier or happier with his daughter makes a play against the very Organisation he works for; and organised crime isn’t kind to those who mess with it.

Her upsetting things is adding to more trouble – the boss is getting old, his heir isn’t ready to take over, there are new players in town and there are things stirring in the depths – among the snakemen and the goblins and the dead that walk.



This book is, perhaps, the hardest review I've ever written.

Because so much of this book is stunning. The writing is a true work of art. The structure, the description, the sentence length, the word choice all telling as much about the scene as much as the actual description. I’ve rarely seen writing that is so expertly crafted

And the theme and setting come through extremely well. The grittiness, the grimness are all well portrayed. The land without laws or order, where life is cheap, the sense that anyone could die at any time, nothing is pretty or shiny or beautiful and no-one can really be trusted. The otherness of the underworld, of the down below, how dark and terrifying and alien the underworld is. The weird eye opening power of the Cerulean. Even the surreal violence of the gangs and their odd themes and looks. All of the themes are excellently maintained to give a powerful atmosphere you rarely if ever find in books.

Orphan Black, Season One, Episode Nine: Unconscious Selection


Kira is being rushed to the hospital and Sarah and Mrs. S are at her side.  In the waiting room, Sarah says that she should have known that Helena was going to find them and that she should have done something to stop her.  Mrs. S tells her not to blame herself and Felix assures her that Kira is going to be just fine because she has to be.  Allison shows up at the hospital and Felix pulls her aside saying that she is in the way.  Allison replies that she cannot help but feel that it's her daughter in there.  Felix suggests that Allison head home but Allison says that she cannot go home because she assaulted her monitor and is afraid she will be carted away.  Felix hands her his keys and promises to call if he hears anything.

The doctors are still working on Kira when someone notices something strange on the ultra sound. A doctor comes out to see Sarah and tells her that Kira is going to be okay and that there are no internal injuries or head trauma.  Sarah is shocked because Kira was run right over and the doctor simply says that Kira is a very lucky girl.

Kira is back in her room and she tells Sarah that Helena looks like her. Sarah tells her to rest and promises to keep Kira safe from her.  Helena is back on the ship and is beside herself that Kira got injured. Tomas tells her to pull herself together. Helena tells him that Sarah is Kira's mother and Tomas says that it's ridiculous but Helena insists that Kira was hit by a car because of her.

Sarah comes downstairs and tells Mrs. S and Felix that Kira is asleep.  When Mrs. S suggests that Sarah should thank her lucky stars, Sarah replies that she does not believe in miracles. Felix again suggests that Kira got lucky but Sarah tells Felix that he didn't see it.  Mrs. S again suggests that Sarah count her blessings and move onto her problems and Sarah replies that Helena has got to go.

At the station, Angela and Art are talking about the probability of bringing Beth in. Art points out that she has no charge which is going to stick and Angela suggests obstruction, saying that it's all connected to the civilian shooting. Hardcastle joins them and asks how it's going and suggests that they both need a fresh pair of eyes on their case. Angela says that they are good and Art asks to be given to the end of the day.  Art then turns to Angela and asks her if she wants him to throw his ex partner under the bus and adds that if he is wrong about this that Angela will be the last partner he ever has. Angela says that she is starting to wonder if Beth has something on him and he simply replies, "end of day."

Tomas is looking at Kira's letter and asks Helena how she could possibly have let Kira go. Helena says that Kira is innocent and that she did what she was told and used Sarah to get to the others.  Tomas gets angry and asks where the others are and why Sarah is still alive.  Helena says that she took of Olivier's tale for him and Tomas says that it was to get Dr. Leekie's attention and adds that Kira will be valuable to them.  Helena's phone goes off and Tomas grabs it and instructs Helena to tell Sarah to come there.  Helena asks if Kira is all right but Sarah refuses to answer, so Helena says that it was an accident.  Tomas again demands that Helena tell Sarah to meet up and slaps Helena across the face.  The phone flies out of her hand and Sarah hangs up.

Leekie and Paul are at the apartment and Leekie says that it's a nice place for two young people. Leekie holds a picture of Paul and Beth together and says that it looks very convincing but adds that he knows about the lie Olivier told about last night.  Paul asks what he means and Leekie says that someone tampered with the security footage and that he knows there were two clones there.  Leekie says that he has searched for Helena for quite some time now and that she is his white whale. Leekie adds that Helena is pale but feral and suggests that Helena could not pretend to be Beth but that Sarah Manning could.

At Felix's, Allison has got her domestic goddess on the go and is busy scrubbing and cleaning Felix's apartment. When he returns home, she asks if Kira is going to be okay and Felix says that it was a miraculous recovery.  Allison tells him that his drug paraphernalia is in a drawer along with the paraphernalia that was by his bed.  Felix asks if she washed that as well and Allison does not answer.  Allison instead says that her children are at her mother's right now and believes that she can use Felix's apartment as a base while she apartment hunts. Felix says no but Allison says that Donny is staying clear of the house right now and that she needs to go home and get a few things.  Felix gives in and gives her permission to stay one night and tells her not to wake him when she returns.  Allison replies that she is a pariah and therefore does not believe she can return alone and asks Felix to be her wingman.  Felix asks if she is serious, so Allison takes his hand and says please.  Felix replies that he needs to change and asks Allison to fetch him something gay.

Sarah is on the phone with Cossima and Sarah asks if Kira is different because she is her daughter. Cossima clarifies and asks if this is because Kira is uninjured. Cossima replies that since they are genetically modified that Sarah could have passed something down to Kira and Sarah asks like what.  Cossima says that she doesn't know because lizards regrow limbs. When Sarah comments that Kira is not a lizard, Cossima says that it's not magic but stem cells.  Cossima adds that she has a guy who is comparing her DNA with that of the German's to see if the illness she had was genetic and suggests giving him samples of Sarah and Kira to compare.  Sarah replies that she is not giving Cossima material for fear that she would hand it over to Delphine.  Cossima replies that she is doing what they agreed, which is to follow the science.  Sarah is not convinced and says that she worries more about the scientists than the science.  The doorbell rings and Sarah disconnects.

Sarah heads downstairs and beats Mrs. S to the door and it's Paul.  Sarah introduces Paul to Mrs.S and says that Mrs. S knows everything.  Paul then tells Sarah that Dr. Leekie knows who she is.  On the ship, Helena is trying to fight back but Tomas locks her in a cage and says that he gave her everything and  that if she protects the clones, she is no better than they are.

Paul tells Sarah that Leekie wants to meet and Sarah asks if Cossima gave her up. Paul tells her that this is an opportunity but Sarah says that he sounds exactly like Cossima.  Paul adds that he does not trust Leekie either but points out that the genie is out of the bottle for Leekie's group as well.  Paul says that their intrests have aligned and that means that Sarah can get answers. Sarah believes that she will be black bagged and kidnapped, so Paul asks what if there were a way for them to meet safely on her terms.

Cossima is back in her lab and Scott tells her that the samples are different and asks what she is really looking for.  Delphine enters the lab and asks if she can come over later, then kisses Cossima goodbye, as Scott watches.

Sarah is back in Kira's room as Mrs. S looks on.  Sarah tells Mrs. S that if Kira wakes up that she is to tell her that she will be right back. Mrs. S asks if she means it and Sarah says yes.  Sarah then asks if they are going to be okay there and Mrs.S pulls out a shot gun. Mrs. S says that one of the great things about this country is that weapons aren't just for the rich.  Sarah heads downstairs when Art calls and says that they need to talk.  Sarah says that they already did that, so Art replies off the record and points out that this is her last chance. Sarah asks where he is.

Felix and Allison head back to her home and when she walks in, she finds an intervention waiting for her.  Allison says that this is bullshit and Felix introduces himself as her gay friend.  The minister says that her friends have shown great courage in setting aside their pain and hurt to talk  with her today and instructs Donnie to start.  Donnie tells Allison that the pills and drinking has to stop and that he doesn't believe she knows how hard it has been for him with the abuse and criticism.  The minister tells Donnie to be specific, so he brings up being hit with a golf club and having his chest burned with hot glue. When Allison starts to speak, the minister cuts her off saying that it is important for her to just listen.  Aynesley then says that Allison took advantage of her husband, may have ruined her marriage, and threatened and assaulted her but what hurts, is that Allison turned her back on their friendship.  Donnie adds that it's not just about the two of them and asks Allison if she really wants to break up their family.  Allison runs upstairs and Felix follows her.

Fangs for the Fantasy Book of the Week


Every week on the Fangs for the Fantasy podcast (archives here) we read a book and discuss it on the show. The review for the book of the week always goes up on a Monday

Our podcast now broadcasts at 6:30pm EST, which is 11:30pm GMT

To give people a chance to read along with us, every Monday we’re also going to include a list of our planned books of the week for the next few shows, so people can get the books, read them and join in the conversation

20th May - 27th May: Blue Blazes by Chuck Wendig
27th May - 3rd June: Shapeshifted by Cassie Alexander
3rd June - 10th June: Binding the Shadows by Jenn Bennet
10th June - 17th June: The Fury by L.J. Smith
17th June - 24th June: The Mermaid’s Madness by Jim C Hines

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Recommendations?

'Question!' photo (c) 2007, Stefan Baudy - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
As we move into the summer schedule, shows are disappearing and new ones are beginning to appear on our radar for the summer and the autumn. We’ve also got our massive to-read list that keeps on growing – but we could always use more.

So, readers – what book series do we really need to check out? What genre staple have we passed over? What do you want us to cast our eye over? What new series should be pinging our radar?

And what old classics do you want us to revisit? Any old shows in our genre that was cancelled before their time? Any which we really need to give a good re-watch to? Any excellent classics that could use some analysis? Anything so utterly awful we simply must see it?

Suggestions and recommendations in the comments! (If any are trainwrecks you want us to watch anywhere, let us know so I can foist them on Renee)


I can’t say we’ll get to everything – but we’ll certainly try. Books, TV series, films, games – you name it, we can try it.