Thursday, 11 July 2013

MERCY THOMPSON series

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Book 1 of the Mercy Thompson series
Genre: urban fantasy

About Moon Called:
Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson is a talented Volkswagen mechanic living in the Tri-Cities area of Washington. She also happens to be a walker, a magical being with the power to shift into a coyote at will. Mercy's next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a bus for a vampire. This is the world of Mercy Thompson, one that looks a lot like ours but is populated by those things that go bump in the night. And Mercy's connection to those things is about to get her into some serious hot water...
Source: Info in the About Moon Called was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71811.Moon_Called on 11/07/2013.

Review:
Masterpiece story telling quality which makes this book stand out in a congested genre! Character development is superb, giving us not just characters but friends to sympathize and empathize with. World building is believable. Seemlessly blending paranormal with modern society. Love Patricia Briggs!
Source: Review of Moon Called was taken from http://www.cherrymischievous.com/2008/01/moon-called.html on 11/07/2013.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Ending = 4.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = 5
Plot = 4

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Mercy Thompson Series:
Book 9: FIRE TOUCHED Book 10: SILENCE FALLEN Book 11: STORMED CURSED Book 12: SMOKE BITTEN Book 13: SOUL TAKEN Book 14: WINTER LOST Book 15: (TBC)



Update:
03/08/2024 - Updated the books in the series.

Sunday, 7 July 2013

HUROG Doulogy

Book 2: DRAGON BLOODDragon Blood by Patricia Briggs
Book 2 of the Hurog doulogy
Read by Joe Manganiello
Genre: high fantasy
Format: paperback & audiobook

About Dragon Blood:
As the rebellion grows against High King Jakoven, Ward, ruler of Hurog, realizes he must join with the rebels. However, Jakoven can crush his enemies with dragon’s blood. The very blood that courses through Ward’s veins.
Source: Info in the About Dragon Blood was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/285208.Dragon_Blood on 21/11/2011.

My Thoughts:
I bought this book because I just have to read it after I listened to Dragon Bones. I just wanted more Hurog goodness from Patricia Briggs! At first, I bought Dragon Bones (Book 1) just because I wanted to hear Joe Manganiello's deep timbred voice. It wasn't really the book, it was Joe. But with Dragon Blood, it's the story and not about Joe's voice anymore. I would credit Patricia Briggs' wonderful story telling quality for that shift in the magnetic force!This book is infinitely more interesting for having read Book 1. Reading Book 1 first is therefore highly recommended, though it makes the story seems like a very thick book to read (2 volumes). Having said that, I have to say that it feels too short and there are no more books in this series! Now, it would be difficult for me to find something which is as good to read to stem the tide of withdrawal symptoms! And that is the only down side of this book... The paperbacks (of both Book 1 and 2) is normal-sized and the font is not big so the actual size of the book is not short, but because I read it too quickly, it felt short. So, yes, this is a very fast read...

I am a touchy-feely and a visual reader. That means that the cover art plays a big role in my reading habit. I have to say that I am not fond of the cover art at all! Yet despite that strong deterrent I love this doulogy! That just shows you of how good a read I found this book!
Source: This review was taken from http://www.cherrymischievous.com/2013/05/review-dragon-blood.html.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 5
Ending = 5
World building = 5
Cover art = 3.5
Pace = 5
Narration = 5

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries


Original review published at: Cherry Mischievous.



Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs
Book 1 of the Hurog doulogy
Read by Joe Manganiello
Format: audiobook
Genre: high fantasy

About Dragon Bones:
Riding into a war that's heating up on the border, Ward, the new lord of Herzog, is sure he's on the fast track to glory. But soon his mission takes a deadly turn. For he has seen a pile of magical dragon bones hidden deep beneath Hurog Keep. The bones could prove to be dangerous in the wrong hands, and Ward is certain his enemies will stop at nothing to possess them.
Source: Info in the About Dragon Bones was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123408.Dragon_Bones on 17/11/2011.

My Thoughts:
Okey, so I bought this audiobook because I wanna listen to Joe Manganiello's deep-timbred voice. Can you blame me? Anyway, I like his voice so that makes the narrator a 5 out of 5, right? Well, the thing is I had to buy the paperback as well because there were parts I couldn't quite understand and had to replay them a few times before I understand it. Having the book to read as well makes it easier for me. But I am pretty sure this is a fault on my part rather than Joe Manganiello's narration. And besides he is not really a professional audiobook reader like Johanna Parker and Jenna Lamia, now is he? He is a model, for Christ's sake!! Look at him! -->

However, Patricia Briggs' story telling quality is masterful! As per usual. And since I am a long time Patricia Briggs fan, that is biased as well. I am just disappointed that there isn't much dragons in this book. When I first encountered this book, I was expecting a dragon or two, by it's title. But more like just dragon remains, i.e., dragon bones. And if you are like me, a dragon freak, then that is a downer, because I like to see dragons flying. Anyway, Patricia Briggs' world building makes up for it because it is simply fabulous!! As you might have surmised by now that I really loved listening to this book... so I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5.
Source: This review was taken from http://www.cherrymischievous.com/2011/12/review-dragon-bones.html.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4
Ending = 4.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 3
Pace = N/A
Narration = 4.5

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries


Original review published at: Cherry Mischievous.



Books In The HUROG Doulogy:
Book 1: DRAGON BONESBook 2: DRAGON BLOOD