Kabuki: Circle of Blood

What if the government and organized crime formed a delicate balance and worked together? What if the media was controlled by the government and the T.V. personalities were also assassins? What would happen if that balance was disrupted? These questions and many others are looked at in David Mack's comic Kabuki: Circle of Blood. 

Kabuki is one of eight Noh assassins. The Noh are a secret government organization that hide in plain sight. The operatives of the Noh only know each other from behind masks, which leads to some interesting twists in the story. As the Kabuki, Scarab, Tigerlily, Snapdragon, Butch (Butoh?), Ice, and Siamese (the twins) assassinate several high ranking crime lords, Kabuki deals with her past and the events that lead her to become a part of the Noh. Kabuki's journey made me, as a reader, question my own relationships with my parents, think about how far down the path we are to living in a society that is as superficial as a mask, and contemplate my own place in the world.

Woven in a rich tapestry of images, Kabuki: Circle of Blood touches on many different social and political questions, from drugs, media, and video games, to identity and escapism. The images are hauntingly beautiful and evoke the emotions of the reader. I've savored each page of this comic as a feast for the eyes. The images in this comic were like watching a movie. Some pages were so richly drawn that I felt as though the characters might leap off the page. 

I heartily recommend this comic to anyone, not just people who like comics. Kabuki: Circle of Blood is a book that will satisfy readers in many different audiences. Steeped with Japanese culture and history, this story works on a multitude of levels.Kabuki rates a 5 out of 5 stars. I am thoroughly looking forward to seeing what will happen in the next few comic books.

Musings on Nalini Singh

I've read two books by Nalini Singh over the past couple of weeks. Her books are like treats to me. I read them when I want to relax. Reading Archangel's Kiss and Blaze of Memory these past couple weeks have shown me how my own reading tastes are evolving. While reading these books was enjoyable for me, I found myself reading them with a more critical eye.

I first became a fan of Nalini Singh with her Psy-Changling series. Now Singh has a new series, the Guild Hunter series, which focus on Guild Hunter Elena Devereux and Archangel Raphael. The first book in the series is Angel's Blood. Archangel's Kiss is the second book in the series and picks up after Elena wakes up from a year-long coma. I really enjoyed the interactions between the characters and the storyline of this book. My only issue with this book was the overuse of the phrase "like so much ___". Elena strives, in this book, to rebuild her body and to establish a sense of independence with her Archangel lover. Her personal growth was fun to watch. I really wish that Singh had found another analogy so that I wouldn't have kept tripping over the "like so much ____". I enjoy the series and this book, so I give it a 3.75 out of 5 stars.

The latest book in the Py-Changling series is Blaze of Memory. This book tells the story of Devraj Santos and Katya Haas. I was originally apprehensive about this book because it was going to be set outside of the changling characters that I so enjoyed. As I read, I found myself being drawn farther into the lives of Dev and Katya. Many of my favorite characters made appearances in this book. What makes this book truly special is the way that it shows humanity in some Psy and why emotion is worth fighting for. If you haven't read the Psy-Changling books, I recommend picking them up from the beginning, Slave to Sensation. The Psy are a race that have suppressed emotions to eliminate the  violent urges associated with their psychic gifts. The Changlings are beings who are half human, half animal with the ability to shift between the two. The Humans are caught in between. My favorite part if this series is the way that the story builds and the layers of the couples are woven into a larger story. I'm excited to see where the next books lead and how it finally ends at some unknown point far down the road. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars because I noticed the same phrase cropping up a couple of times in this book. Check out the series if you get a chance!

While I did enjoy reading both books, I think I'm ready for a deeper read. Please keep checking back to see my latest reviews, see what I'm reading, and my favorite part, start a discussion!

Promise of the Wolves

Dorothy Hearst's Promise of the Wolves begins the story of Kaala and her pack. Set 14,000 years ago, Kaala is a young wolf born to the Swift River pack as a second litter. In that time, second litters were often killed for the good of the pack. Kaala is unique in that she fought for her right to live, making her the sole survivor of her brothers and sisters. Kaala is different for many reasons. As she navigates what it takes to be wolf, she also learns about the legends of why humans and wolves can never be together.

Broken into two parts, this book moves at a quick, yet relaxed pace. The first half of the book centers on the first few months of Kaala's life and the struggles she must overcome to make it as an unwanted wolf within her pack  This part of the book sets up the dynamics of wolf hierarchy, what is expected for a young wolf, and the tone of the characters. As Kaala finds her strength and friends, we watch the story unfold through her eyes.

The second half of the book focuses on Kaala's interactions with humans and wolves. There are 3 rules that the wolves in this story are supposed to live by, "Never consort with humans. Never kill a human unprovoked. Never allow a mixed-blood wolf to live." Kaala learns that some rules must be upheld, some must be broken and sometimes it's hard to find the balance.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun to see the relationships develop between Kaala and the other wolves in her pack, especially Azzuen, a pup who was originally left to die that Kaala helped to live. There were twists in this story that I didn't quite see coming. Some of the interactions between Kaala and the humans were a little brief, but I think those relationships will be more fully explored in the next book.

I give Promise of the Wolves 4.5 stars out of 5. Well worth the read and I'm interested to see what will happen to Kaala and her friends in book 2.

Shalador's Lady

The Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop is currently eight books long. Shalador's Lady is the eighth book in the series. For those who haven't read the Black Jewels series, this book might be confusing. The series is broken up into two main character divisions, the first three books and books 5 and 6 focus on Witch and her followers, while books 4, 7 and 8 focus on the people in the territory of Dena Nehele and Shalador.

For fans of the series, this book completes the story of the people of Dena Nehele and answers the questions of what happens to those left behind after the cleansing of the Blood. Lady Cassidy grows into a strong queen with the help of most of her first circle. I liked this book as much as, if not more than, The Shadow Queen, which introduced Lady Cassidy and the descendants of Dena Nehele. Where The Shadow Queen diverged into unnecessary side-plots involving Witch and her family, Shalador's Lady brings these characters into the story in a meaningful way.

I really enjoyed this book and the entire series. If you haven't read any of the books in the series, this book may be hard to follow. Definitely read The Shadow Queen before picking up this book. If you're a fan of the Black Jewels series, this book will be a return to the joy of the first few books.

I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5. There were a few moments that were predictable, but still well worth the read.

Night Huntress

Have you ever read a book simply to see where a series is going to go? The Sisters of the Moon/Otherworld series by Yasmine Galenorn has gotten to this point for me. Night Huntress, the 5th book in the series, advances the story of the D'Artigo sisters as they try to protect Earth and Otherworld from an encroaching demon threat, but often throughout the book I found myself wondering why I was bothering to continue reading it. Delilah, around whom this book focuses, had been my favorite character, and still is, but that wasn't enough to keep me 100% interested. At one point Delilah tells readers that "each fight has its own feel", but in these books, that didn't seem to be true. There were several moments when I felt like I had read that part of the book before.

I want to give a plot synopsis, but the plot wasn't tied together very well. Delilah and Chase are having some relationship problems which leads Delilah to reconnect with Zach of the Puma pride. The demon from book 4 makes a reappearance to try and claim the 4th spirit seal. Again the plot seems too bogged down with fight scenes and other things that you lose the connection to the characters. I found myself reading the book to see where it was going to go and being disappointed by the lack of depth.

I want to be able to recommend this book, but I'm not sure I can.I give this book 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Monthly Feature

I have decided to spotlight one book a month. A favorite from my collection, by a favorite author, or one that I have been thinking about or contemplating in new ways.

This month's feature book is by a favorite author of mine, Mercedes Lackey. One Good Knight is the second book in the Five Hundred Kingdoms series by Mercedes Lackey. The series starts with The Fairy Godmother, which is also a good book. All the books in this series take a familiar fairy tale or story and turn it inside out. One Good Knight is no exception. One Good Knight tells the story of a princess taken hostage by a fire-breathing dragon and the Knight sent to rescue her. This book partially inspired the name of this blog. I am reluctant to give away more of the story, as there are a few twists even I didn't see coming.

One Good Knight gets 4 out of 5 stars. There are some slow moving points in the story, but it is well worth the read. And although this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone book.

Dragon Wytch

Dragon Wytch by Yasmine Galenorn is the fourth book in the Sisters of the Moon series. This book once again focuses on oldest sister, Camille. Camille is trying to juggle three lovers, a bookstore, family, and the search for the ancient relics that hold the fate of the world in the balance. Add to that unicorns, trolls, and Fae Queens and you have quite a story.

While I am still interested in the overall story here, there is so much going on that it's sometimes hard to keep track. Again the book feels shallow. There is some witty banter, some steamy romance, but it is bogged down by the fight scenes and other meandering in the story. I did like that we got into some of Camille's back-story. Camille manages to show in this book that she's not the shallow person she seems in the first book. Amidst the many different plots converging in this book is an interesting story, and I am interested to see how it all plays out, but I worry that the author is trying to put in all these different elements to keep action in the story, but all it does wear the reader out trying to keep up.

If you enjoyed the first three books, then this book is worth the read. I give this book a 2.75 out of 5.