I’m tidying up A Notorious Ruin before I get it copy-edited and proofread, but in between I have read three books I have really enjoyed.
The first is The Rook, by Daniel O’Malley. It’s set in modern England, but with a secret governmental society that deals with paranormal threats. The members of the society have various powers and as you can imagine, there’s a dark-side, too. It’s delightful and fun and really, I’m looking forward to more! Get the book. I have a theory about the story and its future, and I can’t wait to see if I’m right.
I resisted buying this book for a really long time because the eBook is $9.99 and that is a price that makes me unhappy. However, if you are going to buy an overpriced eBook, this is the one to get. (The author in me says, what a shame, a lower price would probably have put the book on a bestseller list. I know for a fact I’m not the only person who didn’t buy in the initial buzz period because of the price. I didn’t buy until I heard from two people I trust that it was worth the money.)
The second is The Hidden Blade by Sherry Thomas. This book is a prequel to the upcoming Romance. Disclosure: Sherry is a friend. We have the same agent. We were both in the Midnight Scandals Anthology and have books in the upcoming box set Seven Wicked Nights.
The Hidden Blade is not a romance. It’s set in England and China. The writing is wonderful (doh) and reading it was an unusual experience because I kept thinking, this book is pulling me alongm and I don’t understand why. I just know I was engrossed and invested in the characters and it was just a wonderful, wonderful story and all the time while I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about the characters and how I needed NEEDED to get home and find out what happens to them.
Another thing I loved was the Wushu. I love martial arts movies. The ones set in China that draw on the magical powers and effects of Wushu are among my favorites. Chinese martial arts films have a strong tradition of women fighters. It’s not even right to say “strong tradition” it’s that women were also fighters who could kick anybody’s ass and did so. It’s normal. Normal. (One of the best, most easily accessible movies for Westerners that demonstrates this is Jackie Chan’s The Legend of Drunken Master. If that film had been American, the parts of the women would have been eviscerated and/or replaced by men. But instead, you see Chan playing opposite a female fighter who is never a love interest and who also cannot be disentangled from the plot. It’s hilarious, by the way.)
So, I loved loved loved the martial arts in this book and that it played out through the women. Hell yeah. Plus, at the end, if the main book were out, I would have one-clicked it. I have it pre-ordered. I can’t wait!!!!
The third book is The Hunt For Red October by Tom Clancy. Yes. That’s right. Somehow, even though I LOVE thrillers and read them all the time, I’d never read this one. ::Head Smack:: I loved it. I really did. It’s everything I love about thrillers and it was engrossing the whole time. It made me think lots of writerly thoughts, too, but not when I was reading it. When I was reading it, I was too busy going, oh my god now WHAT!!!
What have you read, lately?
Ilona Andrews, Magic Breaks – book 7 -really liked.
John Ringo – Islands of Rage and Hope – Zombie apocalypse. Book 3. Was dreading, but read anyway, and he finally nailed it. He can be hit or miss. If you feel like a good zombie apocalypse, Read the first half of the first book in the series. Then skip the second half. Skim the second book.
Sophie Page – To Marry a Prince. Modern romance. One of my go-to pick-me-up re-reads at the moment.
Katherine Bayless – Deadly Remains – read this book (1) and book 2 in the series. 1 was really fascinating take on what it might be like to be a clairvoyant who worked with the police to solve mysteries. The end slid off the rails a bit, but I could live with it. Book 2 went in such a radically different direction that I don’t understand why the author didn’t just use different characters and call it book 1 in a different series. It was a complete WTF.
Lara Adrian – Crave the Night – her latest. I give it a “meh”
That’s the last few weeks. I could go on, but I’ll stop.
Those all sound great!