Undead and Unemployed (Undead #2) by MaryJanice Davidson

It's been a couple months since Undead and Unwed.  Betsy has still not adjusted to the fact that she is queen of the vampires and that with that title comes responsibilities.  Betsy is determined that she will regain some semblance of a life and for her, this means getting a job and paying her own way through life.  It should be simple right?  Well, it might have been were it not for the fact that someone is killing vampires in St. Paul and as Queen of the Vampires, it's Betsy's responsibility to keep her people safe.

In case you are wondering, Betsy doesn't get anymore likeable in Undead and Unemployed. Betsy remains extremely vapid, whiny and just plain sarcastic.  I don't think I have disliked a character this much since Charlene Harris's  Aurora Teagarden and believe me, that's saying something. At this point, I am just going to go ahead and give up on any kind of character development in this series. Yes, I know it's early but Betsy is simply beyond hope at this point, even if she claims to be a feminist.

Betsy's relationship with king and consort Eric, continues to be stormy at best.  On the one hand, I can understand Eric's frustration with Betsy's intentionally obtuse attitude towards everything vampire.  Betsy has access to the Book of the Dead which will inform her about her role in the life of vampires and what she can expect as their queen.  It would make sense for Betsy to read it from cover to cover but of course, Betsy cannot be bothered but whines when she gains new information from Eric and Tina, which she could have learned on her own, had she bothered to read the damn book.

Eric is controlling and possessive in many ways.  Normally that kind of behaviour in a male love interest is beyond irritating to me but I cannot see any other way for Eric to make Betsy see the real danger she is in.  I do however think that Eric took it a bit too far when he showed up at Betsy's job, demanded that she quit and when that didn't work, attempted to use his powers to force Betsy's boss to fire her.  This scene is the only shining moment in the book for Betsy.

"My queen," he said, glaring down at me, "does not work."

"This one does," I said shortly. "And do you hear yourself? Jeez, I knew you were an ancient motherfucker, but even you must know women can have jobs now.  And dammit! You made me say 'motherfucker' at work."

It's the only time where Betsy stands her ground and it actually makes sense.  Yes, vampires are dying but Betsy should have the right to earn her own income as she sees fit and not be dependent upon Eric or Jessica for money.

Teen Wolf, Season 5, Episode 7: Strange Frequencies

We pick up where we left off – with Theo demanding Stiles’s silence in exchange for not telling everyone about Stiles killing Donovan. Theo explains how he knows (which, even more than the fact he was harassing a werewolf) convince Stiles to stop trying to manhandle a werewolf.

After some doubt and questioning, Stiles agrees to lie and hide the body (he’s wry, slightly sad note that he has a lot of practice lying to his dad is sad but true.

They take the body to Deacon’s vets and lie to Scott about what killed him – the plan is for Theo to stay with the body to see who is stealing them.

He stands vigil alone and a Dread Doctor checks in – the Dread Doctors don’t care who is taking the bodies and they don’t feel any special need to keep Theo informed, much to his irritation. Anyway, Stiles has a new plan – product placement cell phone cameras (and his new iWatch. Really? Stiles can afford that?)

Meanwhile, baby wolf Liam has just decided to tell Hayden everything and, to the surprise of no-one, she doesn’t take it well and thinks he’s the freakiest freak ever. He doesn’t exactly make things better by showing glowing eyes and fangs and growling at her. She has a good punch though. She drives off – and her fist magically heals. Then the Dread Doctors arrive – being horrendously menacing, communicating through her radio and stopping her car working.

Liam pulls her free from the car and they run.

Later Liam calls in the gang to report another chimera. She heard the Dread Doctors say “your condition improves” and is juuuuust a little freaked out. She’s tried to hide in a bathroom – because she’s getting steadily more feral, complete with fangs and glowing eyes.

When they’re alone, Liam tries to be all reassuring so we can get this love interest thing moving.

Kira is generously and gracefully helping her dad at school on a Saturday morning. And her mother decides to attack her with a katana before giving her a sword so they can duel. She keeps yelling at Kira in Japanese, asking who she is, demanding she show herself, until Kira gets her flamy Kitsune aura – and almost kills her mother. Something Noshiko blames on the fox inside her.

 The gang brainstorm a place to keep Hayden safe and due to woo-woo decide the best place is the school. They think up defences, including something involving frequencies (which has Parrish and Lydia continuing to be the Do Not Want couple). We also have awkwardness with Scott clearly being leery of entirely trusting the new foxy Kira and Kira herself having “lost” her belt – which feels like she’s deliberately leaving her sword behind. They quickly stop dancing around it and Kira honestly says that last time her Kitune-ness made things worse and she needs to understand what is happening with her before she can help, we then get a nice romance montage.

One Lucky Vampire (Argeneau #19) by Lynsay Sands

Nicole Phillips, the daughter of Margarette's maid is getting a long overdue divorce and putting her life back on track.  The problem is that someone doesn't seem to be pleased with the changes Nicole is making.  After several attempts on her life, Margarette is convinced that the naive Nicole needs to hire a body guard but Nicole doesn't agree.  Margarette finally convinces Nicole to hire a housekeeper/cook to help her with her busy schedule.  Margarette contacts Jake, who has been estranged from his family since his turn and talks him into guarding Nicole.  What neither of them realise, is that Margarette is playing match maker again.  Can Jake manage to keep Nicole safe while he works out his issues with being immortal and struggles to come to terms with the fact that he has just met his lifemate?

One Lucky Vampire, is another in a long list of formulaic Lynsay Sands books.  If you have been reading this series for awhile, you're completely familiar with the drill.  Immortal meets mortal, discovers their lifemates, a few problems arise and then boom eye boners and HEA.  I've read Harlequin romance novels that are more inventive than this series.  I know that Sands has to make these books accessible to people who decide to pick up the series along the way (who picks up book  19 of a series and says, "I think I'll start reading here"?), but the explanation that Jake is an immortal is just long winded and drawn out.  I found myself quickly skimming, having read this bloody explanation so many times already. I am also sick to death of Margarette playing matchmaker.  At this point, Sands needs to find a new hook to put her lovers together.

From almost the beginning of One Lucky Vampire, attempts are being made on Nicole's life but she has a reasonable explanation for each incident.  It's one thing to be laid back, but Nicole is ridiculously calm.  We see this again when Jake finally tells Nicole the truth after being badly poisoned from sitting in her hot tub.  So, Jake tries to bite her, and she sees his fangs, learns that there are immortals and just lets it soak in as though it's no big deal.  The calmness with which she accepts this is ridiculous.  Nicole is actually more worried about meeting Jake's mother and being thought of as a whore, than with the knowledge that immortals actually exist.  She doesn't even give much thought to Jakes suggestion that she become one, other than her fear that it might hurt.

In terms of female love interests, beyond Nicole's lackadaisical attitude towards her impending murder, she's not as bad as some of the women Sands has chosen to introduce us to.  Nicole is a talented artist and a successful woman and though she does have some issues with her weight, she's not constantly harping on it.  I did however dislike that she thought she needed to diet the moment she found herself attracted to Jake?  What is it with Sands and her inability to create a love interest who is secure in who she is?  Nicole also suffers from a near constant worry that she is a whore for having so quickly slept with Jake.  Of course, Jake's mother suggests that it's all the fault of the nanos and therefore informs Nicole that she is not a whore.  This just got on my last nerves.  Why couldn't Nicole have simply slept with Jake because he turns her on, rather than all of the bullshit slut shaming?

What Nicole lacked in physical acceptance, she made up for in financial independence. During her marriage, Nicole was the bread winner and she takes great umbrage to the idea that she simply got the house in the divorce, rather than the house simply belonging to her, as a result of her hard work.

Falling Skies, Season 5, Episode 6: Respite

Tom wakes up to find he is being tended by a strange woman who is surprisingly well dressed for a dystopia, in a room that looks like the aliens never invaded, with kids playing outside and an older man, similarly well dressed with a gun

The gun is because Tom decided to respond with violence and a knife to medical care. The old man, William, has treated his injuries and, because of that, Tom now can’t go anywhere until he’s healed. He declares his home a safe place where there is no war and no fighting. Which sounds ominous given the dystopia, aliens and all.

It’s all very creepily twee complete with saying grace and no food shortages at all. Faced with the normality of it all, Tom collapses into tears (I can get this is a major emotional moment seeing everything he has lost, but personally I think it would be more appropriate to yell “alien collaborator’s/clones/pod people!”)

Apparently Willie just stocked a whole lot and has a decent farm and has just kept his head down and the whole war has just passed them by. The kids don’t even know the war is happening because YAY DENIAL! That includes the 15 year old. Tom declares it not to be his business right before passive aggressively judging the hell out of them. He calls out Alicia for basically raising her kids to be so sheltered that when the war eventually reaches them they’ll have no chance. Of course she angrily declares that she doesn’t need advice on how to let everyone else do the fighting while she lives in denial land and raises kids to be complete victims because she can’t face reality, of course she does

Which then leads to Tom going snooping (despite hardly being able to walk) and catching the 15 year old Kyle drinking and smoking *gasp* (what they stockpiled booze as well? And cigarettes?) Kyle realises something off is happening

Later Alicia is happy to recruit Tom to teach her kids now-completely-irrelevant history but then Kyle goes missing trying to find out the truth. Tom finds him by the ruin of a mech and, of course, tells hi, all.

Did anyone, for one second, think Tom wasn’t going to tell this kid the truth?

Kyle demands to be a soldier and returns home to pout and tantrum and Alicia, of course, asking Tom’s advice. She agrees to let him take Kyle back to the 2^nd Mass to fight. And she kisses him.

Over to Hal who is still with Isabella and they share stories of their history teacher dads and her dad being a diplomat and how, in war they have to do naughty bad things. And they kiss – so this is how the love triangle will be resolved – a random love interest dropped in! Hey it took Hal, what, 3 days to move on from Maggie?

The Strain, Season 2, Episode 4: Silver Angel

For some reason I’m watching an ancient black and white film about vampires and Mexican wrestlers. I’d say it’s terrible but, honestly, I’ve watched worse. But it does go on way too long

It’s been watched by an older, Latino man called Angel who has a limp very similar to what the vampire-hunter wrestler (Angel de Plata – angel of silver) had on the old film.

Gus goes to eat in the Indian restaurant where he works and there seems to be some tension between the two men.

Afterwards Gus goes home to get supplies – and finds the body of his brother and the still living (unliving?) vampire of his mother. Gus is desperate not to kill his beloved mother and the Master uses her to speak to him attacking Gus squarely in the very sensitive Mother issues and general fear he disappointed and failed his mother. Guy leaves, leaving her “alive” and locks the door behind him.

He goes back to the Indian restaurant where he’s welcomed by the owner’s daughter, Aanya and both Angel and her mother decide to put the kibosh on that right away, deciding they don’t want “his sort” talking to her. But Gus recognises Angel from the Angel De La Plata film and has a complete fanboy moment. Angel denies it all.

Ephraim et al release their infected vampire to spread his merry plague. After some vampire killing and a nest in a mental hospital, their infected vampire nests with the others.

This calls for a flashback to Vienna in 1966 when Abraham was a professor, Palmer a young man and even back them Fitzwilliam was a lackey of Palmer’s (wow, he’s looking good for his age… must be his father. A generational lackey?) They were tracking the Lumen special book of specialness to a nunnery – one the vampires already got to – they only find a boy who claims the Mother Superior decided the book was evil so burned it.

While Abraham fight to protect the boy from vampires, Eichorst made an appearance and made Palmer an offer he chose not to refuse. When Abraham rejoins Palmer, he decides the book is gone and there’s no further point in looking for it – or in hunting vampires.

In the present, Nora tells Ephraim to spend time with Zach. Oh yay, more father son bonding time, just what I wanted to see. This comes with parental angst and moodiness.

The First Twenty by Jennifer Lavoie

The world has fallen apart. It is twenty years after the fall of civilisation, there’s only a few scattered remnants of humanity left who are trying to struggle to survive and, maybe, rebuild.

Peyton is the newly elected leader of her Settlement’s security, they’re trying to rebuild and keep themselves safe from raiding Scavenger looking to steal their resources. One raid recently killed her father

Nixie is a Scavanger, desperate, under-resourced and driven to scrape what living they can. The Settlers seem to live a life of high luxury in comparison and the resentment is strong.

This is a post-apocalyptic dystopian world – humanity has been driven to the brink of extinction, the cities are abandoned and the remaining people are desperately trying to struggle to survive in the ruins.

And I really like this dystopian world – I like how it focuses a lot on the practicality of surviving and the possibility of rebuilding. Not with lots of despair and angst and “are we living or surviving” (yes this genre is really getting over-stuffed) but simple practical matters like how they’re producing food and finding clean water and standing together. It’s a lot less militaristic than many, far less combative and far more about survival.

A lot of apocalypse fiction loves to realy make a huge point that it’s not the zombies/vampires/plague/hockey-stick-wielding-were-beavers that you need to worry about but other people who are evil murdering raping arseholes. Usually with all the subtlety of a chainsaw wielding guy wearing his last victim’s skin.

And that kind of savagery is certainly not an unrealistic message – but this book looks more at communities coming together. Sure, it’s not perfect but the community tries, it is genuinely coming together and supporting each other and collaborating in the face of this difficult new world. We have a community of people that doesn’t need one leader to keep everyone in line with the threat of violence. We have different communities working with each other, trading, co-operating and not trying to fight each other or scrabble for advantage.

That’s not unrealistic either. Time and again history has shown us that people have faced terrible conditions and rallied wonderfully together. When faced with adversity people ARE good at rallying and supporting each other – it’s how communities started. It’s nice to see a world where humanity isn’t 3 days without a wifi connection away from eating their neighbours brains (now, cut my wifi AND my coffee and your brains are fair game). Not everything has to be grim and gritty to pretend to be “realistic”.

Killjoys, Season 1, Episode 7: Kiss Kiss, Bye Bye

So last week everyone agreed to kill Khylen – and this week John has found a staticy image from the neural link Khylen embedded in Dutch’s neck.

When it goes down, D’avin distracts the very tense Dutch with target practice and tries to talk about her feelings and past – her urge to find her own past which is what Khylen knows. While John, very unwisely, decides the best way to figure out how the neural link works is to plug it into his own neck.

They return to find John in pain, not seeing anything and unable to use it. Time to go to Westerley and Pawter to pull it out. Despite being arrested last episode, Pawter is there for the surgery (she tells them she was arrested and the information she found about Dr. Jaeger – she got out by lying through her teeth).

In the extraction the neural link is broken – John runs after Dutch apologising profusely. Which leaves D’avin to speak to Pawter – she is annoyed he was ducking her calls, he thought they were personal and was basically trying to leave a relationship (if they can call what they had a relationship) without saying goodbye which she, rightfully, calls arsholeish. At the same time D’avin points out she entered a sexual relationship with a patient she was treating for mental trauma which is rather more than arseholish, which she acknowledges.

She does give him the location of a man called Grayson who Jaeger was treating and who filed a complaint – he’s in Westerley Mental Institution.

So it’s time to break in with electrical shenanigans and a drugged guard. They speak to Grayson who agrees to take them to see Jaeger if they can bring him along. They agree.

To a floating space station thing known as Utopia which involves dress up and going under cover.. This involves lots of leather and vinyl. It’s a place where you can basically buy anything even if it is illegal so long as you wear appropriate fetish wear (standards! Got to have a dress code). D’avin and Dutch flirt with D’avin taking some fun narcotics and he worries about what truths Jaeger may have for him – and whether he wants to hear it. The drugs kick in and he kisses Dutch – and she kisses him back. The world cannot contain my “NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

John takes the chance to speak to a woman about the neural thingy they broke. She agrees to help fix it so long as she gets to keep the chip after they’ve finished.

The gang gather when Grayson finds Dr. Jaeger – or, rather, Dr. Jaeger’s assistant. She now implants memories for clients so they can live new experiences. Johnny steals her data so that when they go to Westerley they can have Pawter look it over.

Defiance, season 3, Episode 9: Ostinato in White

An Indogene is hunted through the streets, she grabs a weapon to try and protect herself, but something growling and bestial manages to grab her and, apparently, eat her. My money’s on an Omec

The next day and we have a memorial of the people who died during Rahm’s attack while Amanda gives one of her excellent speeches. After her beautiful speech, she asks Nolan to say a few words – but Hindler, the father of the dead Irathient sniper objects – blaming Nolan for his son’s death. Perhaps they should find a new lawkeeper.

Nolan’s, very emotional comment is about how thing go wrong in war. It’s well done, but given the givens he’s still not great as a Lawkeeper. General maybe, not Lawkeeper. His speech is very powerful and emotional and really carries the pain of what he did.

After the meeting T’evgin offers his condolences to Alak who isn’t interested and he has nothing but cruel words for his mother despite T’evgin’s attempt to speak in her defence.

He passes on the message to Stahma who is grieving and conflicted and emotional (this is an excellent episode for high emotion). He tells her about Alak, the funeral organised by Amanda and Datak’s sacrifice. And that she has been pardoned.

Stahma checks to make sure T’evgin isn’t going to kill her for the secret she knows – but he’s sure she won’t since it’s not in her best interest. And she always does what’s in her best interest. Oh he knows her well. She also continues to try and turn T’evgin against Kindzi, pointing out she has vanished. She also wants to know if his family, the people he has in stasis, will follow him or Kindzi. He’s sure Kindzi will be obedient.

Stahma returns home to find Andina scrubbing the word “terrorist” off their doors. Inside they talk painfully of Alak being gone and the dead McCauley family. She warns Stahma that Alak intends to kill her.

At the Lawkeeper’s office, Irisa finds Nolan with Zero’s rifle which he intends to take to Hindler – which is such a bad idea, Irisa thinks so as well and there is emotional hugging. He goes and takes the gun to meet with an angry, painfully grieving Hindler who points a gun at Nolan before tearfully putting it down. It’s a very tense and emotional meeting in which Nolan again admits his guilt and how he isn’t really a general. Nolan also cannot think why Zero is the one who hurts him so much and Hilder appreciates

Meanwhile Amanda has found the dead Indogene – completely dismembered – and takes Irisa to the scene. There’s a brief hope that, with the Stasis curtain down, it’s a wild animal though it’s a long shot. They bag up the pieces and take them to Yewl’s clinic. She greets them with her standard cutting sarcasm