Reviewing Body Magic by Poppy Dennison

Body Magic (Triad #2) by Poppy Dennison 4*

BLURB: A pack is only as strong as its weakest member. Rocky Harris knows how the system works. He’s been on the bottom rung his whole life. But when his alpha consigns him to the High Moon Pack to help them improve security, he finds his beliefs not just challenged but outright assaulted.
Cade Montgomery’s confidence took a hit when the pack’s cubs were kidnapped on his watch. He’s prepared to do anything to protect his family, even if it means working with Rocky. Maybe Cade doesn’t trust Rocky, but with the turmoil surrounding pack Alpha Gray’s unpopular decision to break tradition and mate with a mage named Simon, Cade knows more threats are coming.
Then someone declares war on shifters and puts the entire pack in danger. Cade and Rocky will need each other’s strengths to survive the impending battle—and the power of their growing attraction

My Review: I actually listened to book one of this trilogy a while ago and really enjoyed it. So much so that I got this as soon as funds allowed so that I could read more about Simon and Gary and all the other characters I had grown so fond of. Book two did not disappoint me as it took the overall story arc along an interesting path and the romance between Simon and Gary grew as well. The romance between Rocky and Cade made an interesting addition to the main story and I look forward to reading the conclusion of both storylines in the next book.

Update on audiobooks and recent reading

Been busy listening and reading so heres my ratings for the listening:

Audiobook: Chanur's Venture: Chanur, Book 2 by C. J. Cherryh Narrated by Dina Pearlman Narration 4 Story 4

Audiobook: Stranger In A Strange LAnd by Robert A. Heinlein Narrated by Martin McDougallNarration 5 Story 5

Audiobook: Sly Mongoose by Tobias S. Buckell Narrated by Jonathan Davis Narration 5 Story 5

Audiobook: March Up Country, Empire Of Man, Book 1 by David Weber & John Ringo Narrated by Stefan Rudnicki Narration 5 Story 5

Audiobook:March To The Sea, Empire Of Man, Book 2 by David Weber & John RingoNarrated by Stefan Rudnicki Narration 5 Story 5

and for the reading part it's mostly been very short stories that don't warrant mentioning.

However I did make the mistake of reread a few books by Mercedes Lackey. You'd think I'd learn by now that, no matter how often I read them, her writing will always put me on a rollercoaster of emotions and bring me to tears at least once per book!

Review of The Wizard Of Karres by Mercedes Lackey

The Wizard of Karres (The Witches of Karres #2) by Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint, Dave Freer 4*
BLURB: It just wasn't fair! Captain Pausert had foiled the deadliest of space pirates and eliminated the threat of the Worm World, yet his troubles kept piling up. Sent on a secret mission to stop the nanite plague, a self-aware disease that could devastate whole worlds, he quickly found that someone had convinced the Imperial Fleet that he was actually a wanted criminal, which led to a battle leaving his ship in urgent need of repairs. And while Goth and the Leewit, two of the notorious witches of Karres, could do amazing things, ship repair was not in their line. So he stopped at the next planet for repairs, but found that somehow his bank account had been cut off, and the authorities were looking for someone matching his description. There was only one thing to do-join the circus! An interstellar traveling circus, that is. All the galaxy loves a clown-as long as Pausert, Goth and the Leewit can keep their disguises from slipping. The show must go on-or the galaxy is doomed!

My Review: Many years ago I read a book by James Schmidt called The Witches of Karres. I really enjoyed it and was delighted to reread it when it was republished in about 2004/5. As you can imagine when I came across a sequel to it, written by three really good authors (all of whom I enjoy reading), I was delighted. Given that it was written by three people, none of whom had written the original, I was very pleased with the outcome. The characters of Pausert, Goth and The Leewit were consistent with their characters in the original and the main storyline was enjoyable too. I definitely recommend this to anyone who ever read James Schmidt's book but advise everyone else to try and read The Witches Of Karres first as this one will make more sense if you do.

Reviewing a couple of books

The Stallion, the Swordsman and the Prince (Mates Across Worlds) by E.N. Thane 3*
BLURB: A saga of male/male love and swashbuckling sci-fi adventure… A tale of men from two worlds drawn together, some bound by destiny and others by desire…
Jon Wester, nicknamed “the Stallion,” is a proud gentleman soldier, a fallen hero who has been exiled to a remote island as the result of a political coup. There, he meets Derrick Rees, a handsome but eccentric young fencer—and the one person in the world who can ease his pain.
But Derrick has been having visions of another world, and another lover: a golden-eyed Prince who lives in a desert realm. Derrick’s visions lead him and Jon through a gate to this other world, where they discovery that Derrick’s dream-lover is real, and in peril… captured by a ruthless enemy General.
His heart and mind caught between worlds--and longing for a man who is the destined mate of a Prince---Jon will have to use all of his skills in a battle against savage barbarians and strange technology.
In this brutal new world, where males love and lust for each other openly, Jon finds himself caught between his desire for Derrick and the schemes of the seductive Prince. The Prince is Derrick’s fated mate, bonded in soul and mind, their union prophesized for centuries … And Jon is an outsider.
But this world needs a hero, even if he is an outsider. And even two destined mates might love a third… If they all survive the coming battle that threatens to tear civilization apart.

My Review: The write up on this one led me to expect a great fantasy story with lots of action. Well I got the action and I got the fantasy but unfortunately I also got the abrupt cliff hanger ending I hate! I also ended up with a fair few typos that even I couldn't miss and a rather up and down read as the scenes didn't really flow well and I was constantly pulled out of the story. With a few revisions and some good editing (and a smoother ending) this stands the chance of being an excellent read.

Cathedral of the Sky (Pact Arcanum #1.5) by Arshad Ahsanuddin 5*
BLURB: Child of Twilight
Venice, Italy, 2039. When Michael Danvers witnesses a vampire attack, his latent ability to shapeshift awakens. Revealed as a Sentinel, the natural enemy of Nightwalkers, 13-year-old Michael must turn his back on his family and his safe, predictable life. But a supernatural battlefield is no place for a child, not even a genius like Michael. Betrayed by his own kind, he leaves Earth behind, hoping to find a new path with the Spacer Guild – and the stars.
Tempered by Moonlight
Relocating to the Citadel, Michael quickly makes a name for himself at the Spacer Guild Academy. But each advancement means less to him than the friendships he acquires, of fellow cadets William and Ariel, even as Michael is promoted above them.
Forged in Starlight
Everyone had plans for Michael’s future: his parents, the Sentinels, the Guild—even his best friend, Will. But Michael takes control of his destiny, and when called upon to make a fateful decision with countless lives hanging in the balance, the only sense of honor that matters is his own.

My Review: Even though I knew what to expect, as Michaels story is touched upon in book one, I still enjoyed reading this shorter story in the Pact Arcanum series. It was interesting to get to know the character of Michael in greater depth than the occasional times he's mentioned in the first one. I just hope you have lots of tissues ready when you get near the end of this book, I did because I knew what was coming but it was still heart wrenching in a big sobbing out loud way. What I also liked about this one is that it can easily be read as a stand alone and not lose any of it's depth or impact on the readers emotions. I highly recommend it.

Wallowing in Werewolves

I've just binged on four werewolf stories and they were just what the reading doctor ordered.
First up were two short stories by Calandra Hunter which I won't bother giving a full review to. They were Night with the Werewolf (Gay Paranormal Erotica) by Calandra Hunter and Caged Wolf (Gay Paranormal Erotica) by Calandra Hunter and they were just what I would have expected from the fact that they are billed as gay paranormal erotica. Suffice to say I rate them both at 3*.

Next up was

Trials of Tam (The Larson Legacy #1) by Amber Kell 5*
BLURB: Tam's genius IQ has let him have his way in most everything in life. That all comes to a halt when his family petitions to join a new pack and the Alpha's price of admission is a chance to call Tam his own.
Tam is willing to play by the Alpha's rules, but he won't be pushed. Valko has some strong opinions about who's in charge. And it's not Tam.
Not about to roll over and show his belly for any man, Tam soon learns he might be the smartest person in the pack, but sometimes it's the sneakiest wolf who wins in the end.
My Review: I love stories like this one were the paranormal is out and in the open in the human world. With stories by Amber Kell I know I am also, more than likely, going to want the rest of the series sooner rather than later and yet again this is the case. I adored Tam and really, really want to read more about both his brothers and some of the other members of their new pack.

and finally:

Pretty Poison by Kari Gregg 4*
BLURB: Deadly poison…or exquisite cure?
Noah fell from an eighth story balcony as a toddler, cracking open his skull and shattering his body. The accident would’ve killed a human, but even shifter blood can’t heal some damage. After the pack recommended a mercy killing, Noah’s family ran. But there’s no outrunning the mating pact formed before Noah’s birth.
Wade, the new alpha, chooses an adult Noah to fulfill the pact. Wade believes the previous alpha was a fool to reject Noah as a weak and inferior wolf, but Noah’s family was wrong to hide him and starve his wolf, too. Human doctors with human medicines are poison to shifter physiology. Now that Noah is fully grown, halting his shift to retain the pins, plates, and bars holding him together hurts rather than helps him, and for Wade, more than Noah’s recovery is at stake.
Noah’s family sacrificed everything to keep him alive. Noah will do whatever it takes to save them—including mate with the alpha who is determined to correct past mistakes and defeat old prejudices contaminating the shifter community.
Too bad some still believe Noah is the true poison…and should be culled from the pack for good.a
My Review: This one ticked a lot of my favourite themes - Disabled hero, redhaired hero (not at all normal, that), family loyalty, mating bonds and lots of pretty good sex scenes- so it isn't a surprise that I liked it. That said I think I would have liked it anyway as the author has a clever way with words. I haven't read any of Kari Gregg stuff before but I really hope to read more from her in the future.

Review of Sunset (Pact Arcanum #1) by Arshad Ahsanuddin

Sunset (Pact Arcanum #1) by Arshad Ahsanuddin 5*
BLURB: An unlikely savior emerges to prevent the advent of mass destruction and genocide descending on the world…
By Day
Los Angeles, 2040. When the terrorist known as Medusa threatens to kill millions with a stolen nuclear bomb, Nick Jameson makes a fateful decision. He reveals himself on global television as a Daywalker - a vampire with a soul. To save Los Angeles, Nick exposes not only his own gifts but three separate cultures based on millennia-old magic.
By Night
The three metahuman races exist in careful balance, working to maintain a fragile peace. Nick and his fellow Daywalkers successfully master their natural bloodlust. The Sentinels, armed with both magic and steel, repress their warlike instincts. And even some Nightwalkers, normally their natural enemies, have deserted the Court of Shadows to join the triple alliance. Nick Jameson is deeply involved with two such Nightwalkers - handsome Lorcan and powerful Rory. Both men love Nick. But neither can protect the new Ambassador to Humanity from the events he has set in motion.
By the Sword
Jeremy Harkness was lured into Medusa's service under false pretenses. A loner with no one and nothing to cling to, he was willing to die for his cause. But the night Medusa tried to obliterate Los Angeles, Jeremy met Nick Jameson, triggering the onset of his own psychic gifts. For Jeremy is the third race of metahuman, a Sentinel, born to kill the Nightwalkers with no quarter asked or offered. And neither Medusa nor the Court of Shadows will settle for peace when they can make war.
Betrayal and treachery lurk around every corner on the road to coexistence, and at every turn, Nick must question who to trust among his metahuman allies, friends, and lovers—before their civilization is plunged into the depths of darkness and bloodshed. With millennia-old magic, emerging romance, and ever-shifting allegiances, this inventive series unveils a scintillating, homoerotic world of Nightwalkers, Daywalkers, Sentinels, and Humans, who battle for world dominance in the not-too-distant future.

My Review: Superb world building and an interestingly epic story! What more could any discerning reader want? How about magic side by side with technology or self sacrifice next door to deception and treason? Well you get all of that and more in this great new series by an awesome new to me author. I will be getting the follow up books as soon as funds allow and I look forward to reading more about some really great characters.

Reviewing Cross Purposes by Eressë

Cross Purposes (Chronicles of Ylandre #5) by Eressë 5*
BLURB: With love, the line between happiness and heartache is all too easy to cross.
One of Ylandre’s most prominent nobles, Keosqe Deilen may have had it all in terms of wealth, power and social rank. But in matters of the heart, he was impoverished. Such was the consequence of falling in unrequited love. Though he hides that love and his sorrow well, a few inevitably see through his masquerade.
Young Tristen Marante is quick to discern Keosqe’s pain. His blunt sympathy is a balm to Keosqe’s wounded heart as much as his beauty is an effective distraction from the noble’s hopeless yearning. But Tristen is a skittish would-be lover, whose reluctance to express his affection is as much an impediment as the lack of reciprocation from Keosqe’s first love had been. Whereas Keosqe seeks intimacy, Tristen shies from it, suspicious of the motives behind his pursuit and unwilling to yield his heart so easily or soon.
With such different perspectives toward lust and love, is it any wonder their path to a common goal is strewn with stumbling blocks and paved with false impressions?
My Review: This is the last in the series so far and I really hope the author brings out more of them. Like the previous stories in this series I was drawn in and felt every emotion alongside the MCs. Again the story runs parallel with the others for some of the time and the reader gets to read about them from the MCs point of view. The way the author tugs at the reader's heartstrings is very intense and there were many passages that had me near tears.