Comments on: November Mini Reviews Part II: Anne Bishop, Ann Aguirre and Jim Butcher

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:07:24 +0000

@Li Yeah, Storm Front did lack depth. That elusive...something...that sucks you in and keeps you turning the pages. @Donna I'll definitely review the other books in the Black Jewels Trilogy when I've read them. I love the world she's created. @Alexia561 Ann Aguirre writes two separate series under her own name (the Jax series which is Science Fiction, and the Corinne Solomon series which is Urban Fantasy). She also writes paranormal romance under the name of Ava Gray. I read the first one, Skin Game, and thought it was great. Very different to Grimspace.

By: Alexia561

Alexia561 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 03:32:12 +0000

I’m another Black Jewels fan, and have bought all of her books as I love her writing! A big Dresden fan as well, but haven’t read anything by Ann. Like you, I don’t really care for science fiction like that, am more a fantasy type of gal. Great reviews all around!

By: Donna

Donna — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:19:59 +0000

I absolutely love the Black Jewels Trilogy!!! It does have some very, dark and intense scenes but I think that’s what drew me in. Anne B. wasn’t afraid to go there and does it so eloquently.

By: Li

Li — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:18:48 +0000

I had exactly the same reaction to the first Dresden Files book, and was left wondering what the hype was all about. I was willing to give him another shot though, especially since I liked the Dresden Files short stories that I encountered in various anthologies, and was advised to skip ahead to the fourth book. Which totally grabbed me and now I’m a total fangirl.

Though I do see that the fourth book was the one that Heidenkind gave up on Oh well. FWIW, I have never gone back and read the second or third. I think the early books (or certainly the first) lacked hmm… depth. Or whatever it is that makes you want to keep reading.

By: katiebabs

katiebabs — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:02:32 +0000

Be prepared because it is a doozy! I also adore Saetan. I want to live with him in Hell. LOL

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:01:28 +0000

@katiebabs Really? Good to know. I can be prepared!

By: katiebabs

katiebabs — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:59:21 +0000

The second book is harder to read than the first because of what happens to Jaenelle. The third book has you on the edge of your seat and will consume you. Talk about great tension and suspense! After reading the trilogy, I had to buy the other anthologies and novellas. Those are much more lighthearted and fun.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:56:33 +0000

@Pearl I enjoyed Grimspace much more than I’d expected to given its SciFi setting. However, her Ava Gray paranormal romances work better for me. I have the first book in the Corinne Solomon series and I’m looking forward to reading it. It’s an urban fantasy and I’m curious to see how Ann Aguirre handles that subgenre.

@heidenkind Interesting that we had a similar take on Storm Front. It’s a cool idea but the story didn’t grab me the way I’d hoped it would.

@katiebabs I got the omnibus edition of the Black Jewels Trilogy and I definitely want to read the next two. I’ve heard they’re less dark, which would be fitting with the direction I assume the story is going to take (i.e.: good will conquer evil; Jaenelle and Daemon will fall in love).

By: katiebabs

katiebabs — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:08:36 +0000

Anne Bishop is total crack to me just like Ward. It is a very dark book and at times very disturbing. I can understand why you would have some issues with it.

By: heidenkind

heidenkind — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:40:12 +0000

I loved Daughter of Blood! Yeah, there are a lot disturbing scenes in that book, but I think it works with the plot and isn’t gratuitous.

I agree with your assessment of Storm Front–it was okay. I really liked the second book, but by the fourth book I lost interest in the series.