Angieville

So I've been sitting on this one for a little while. Mostly because things like having a baby got in the way of me actually writing the review. Pesky labor and delivery . . . pesky recovery and sleep deprivation. But I am gradually coming back to the real world (or at least the virtual literary one) and I wanted to get my review up on release day if at all possible. I can't believe it's been three years since I first discovered this fabulous series. So much has happened in those three years. Kate and Co. have had five seriously awesome adventures and the series has skyrocketed to the top of my favorite urban fantasy series ever. I look forward all year long to the new Kate Daniels book and after the excellence that was the last book, I was positively giddy with delight to receive an ARC of Magic Slays . The fifth book in as solid a series as this one is a delicate matter, I think. You're all in as far as the characters go. Their history is mapped out and complex. At th...

For all you M. Ward fans out there, here's a video of the man playing an acoustic version of "Chinese Translation" live at the Bing Lounge in Portland. DH showed it to me last night, and I don't know about you, but I think it's . . . well . . . fabulous. What music is getting you through your Thursday?

Oh, how I love this series. I'm sure you all know very well just how much I love this series. I look forward to the new installment in Lady Julia's and Mr. Nicholas Brisbane's adventures all the year long. And by the time I get my hands on the latest book, I feel justified engaging in a little happy dancing as I have exhibited uncommon patience going so long without their inimitable company. And that's essentially what I did when I saw The Dark Enquiry pop up on NetGalley . They came through for me last year with Dark Road to Darjeeling and they came through once again this year. Speaking of titles, I'm liking the new page the series has turned with the inclusion of "dark" in the titles. I liked how the first three "silent" titles reflected what the reader would find in those installments, and I'm enjoying the darker turn the tone of books four and five have taken. Also--the covers. I got a particular kick when I ran across the passage wher...

And here is the U.S. cover for Maggie Stiefvater 's upcoming standalone novel The Scorpio Races . Due out October 18th, precious few details are floating around about this one. But I am certainly intrigued. So far my favorite "official" words (of the like 20 there are being used to describe it) are: pair, race, and cliff. Of course, Maggie's are pretty good, too: blood, beaches, and kissing. I kind of like that we're not being inundated with info on this one. Makes for a refreshing change of pace. And I'm digging that pretty cover. So, I'm thinking I'll definitely be checking it out just as soon as I can.