REVIEW: Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter by Richard Parks

Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter by Richard Parks My rating: 2 of 5 stars I picked this book up because it was urban fantasy in a Japanese historical setting. I was hoping it would be like the Japanese version of Harry Dresden. I should have looked at the book carefully and noted it was an anthology. What few anthologies I read I rarely enjoyed, and this anthology was no exception. The good news...

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REVIEW: Skin Game by Jim Butcher

Skin Game by Jim Butcher My rating: 3 of 5 stars Book 15 was enjoyable but it was not one of the best books of the series. I had several issues with the characters. The Characters + Dresden I'm sick of Dresden's self-reproach. I know it's a personality flaw and it's never leaving because it's book fucking 15 and still no sign of self-esteem growth but I really wish it would. I'm tired of Urban...

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REVIEW: The Plague Forge by Jason M. Hough

The Plague Forge by Jason M. Hough My rating: 1 of 5 stars It sucked. Horribly. + the writing The writing didn't improve an inch. It remained excessively detailed. I swear, if a character went to the restroom to take a dump, the scene would have lasted FIVE full pages. Then, in the next chapter the character would still be shitting and it wouldn't be because of constipation. It didn't matter if...

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REVIEW: Crimes Against Magic by Steve McHugh

Crimes Against Magic by Steve McHugh My rating: 3 of 5 stars CAUTION: major spoilers + the protag Nathan was a Gary Stu. Most of the female characters he met wanted to bed him. All of the female characters wanted to be saved by him. It didn't matter if the ladies had powers of their own or that Nathan was amnesic and dazed, they wanted him on that fucking white horse riding to their rescue (figuratively...

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REVIEW: Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch

Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch My rating: 2 of 5 stars It's book 4 and by far the weakest book of the series. I was never a fan of the writing because it was too dense for my taste, but I tolerated it. Not this time. The writing was too dry and tangential, and it was the yucky result of a meager plot. + the plot The plot didn't hit the ground running till the last third of the book when Peter...

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REVIEW: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan My rating: 3 of 5 stars I tried this book twice and put it down on both counts after a few pages. I couldn't get pass the juvenile writing, which was weird because I read Middle Grade, if only occasionally... I must have been in a bad mood those times, because the third time I tried the book, the writing didn't annoy me. Furthermore, I ended up liking the book!...

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REVIEW: One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva

One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva My rating: 4 of 5 stars I picked this book up because the book description promised humor and romance, and I love humor and romance. Not to mention the book cover was cheery yellow. Sure enough, the book was accurate as advertised. I had worried how the theme of homophobia would be presented because I didn't want Alek and Ethan to get hurt. I didn't want to read...

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REVIEW: Please Don't Tell my Parents I'm a Super Villain by Richard Roberts

Please Don't Tell my Parents I'm a Super Villain by Richard Roberts My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book was so fun I was downhearted when it ended. Penny and her two friends kept me guessing and excited with their capers. It took a couple chapters before the excitement started, but once it did I savored every page of it. What I Liked For characters who got carried away and into deeper trouble...

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REVIEW: Longing for Spring by Mariko Hihara

Longing for Spring by Mariko Hihara, illustrated by Yuki Amane My rating: 3 of 5 stars Story-wise, the book was pretty good. Product-wise, it was pretty bad. + the story The uke and seme were typical, but they weren't a caricature. They weren't as meek and cruel, respectively, as the book description and cover suggested to me. (Not that I would have minded it anyway.) The uke was fortitudinous,...

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REVIEW: Switchblade Goddess by Lucy A. Snyder

Switchblade Goddess by Lucy A. Snyder My rating: 2 of 5 stars It's hard to believe this is the final book of the Jessie Shimmer series, because it was written like another middle book of the series. The Virtii were still out to kill Jessie. Miko was still alive to kill innocent people. To add insult to injury, a new plot line arose at the last minute that would have our heroes make new enemies....

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