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This first book in a new series by husband & wife team Ilona Andrews. It features 22 year old Rose, magically gifted and living in The Edge. The Edge is a small strip of land stretching between the Broken (the non-magical world we live in) and the Weird (chock full of magical beings and run by a hierarchy of nobles in a very feudal setting). Edge dwellers generally have a little magic, but are looked down on by the aristocratic Weird citizens. She lives a tough life, working a low-paid job in the Broken and trying to support her two little brothers Georgie and Jack. Because Rose is an unusually powerful magic-wielder, she also has to fight off kidnappers who want to sell her to the blue-bloods and Edge-dwellers who want her for breeding stock.

One day a blueblood warrior named Declan Camarine shows up wanting to take her back to the Weird as his woman. She pops him with her cross-bow and gives him a big HELLS-NO, and the game is on. Evil creatures are stalking the Edge and its citizens, and it’s up to Rose in an uneasy partnership with Declan to stop the killings.

One thing I love is when an author builds a world that grips me with its depth, multiple dimensions, and realism tinted with a reality brush. This world is fabulous, and I wish it had been set in an epic fantasy framework because I really wanted more slice-of-life from the Edge and Weird dimensions. I could just imagine what it would be like living there, and my mind spun off little fantasy stories set in that world. Big plus points here, and I hope the next book continues to build on it.

Another thing that hits my hot button is strong female characters. Rose is young, but her life has been hard. Seems like parenting in the Edge is an iffy proposition, and she’s had to deal with a crazy mother who was the local sleep-around and a runaway dad from early on. Realistic characters also do it – this world is people with the same loonies, abusers, and deadbeats as our own world. It definitely is not one where everyone makes nice to one another. In fact, you have to be careful even with your friends, because they all work off an “every man/woman for him/herself” framework. Rose is cynical enough to know how to play the game, but not so jaded that she doesn’t still have hopes and dreams of a normal life. But bad things can happen to good people in this world, so this isn’t a mindlessly cheerful outlook.

Rose and Declan are hot together, even when they’re not together. A good tale. The picture of Declan on the cover is a horrible one! From the description, he looks nothing like that and thank goodness! The little brothers, Georgie and Jack, steal the show. Georgie is a young necromancer, whose love of life makes him revive all kinds of sad dead critters at the expense of draining his own life away. Jack is a shapeshifter who is more comfortable in his cat (lynx) form than his human one. The way Rose loves and cares for these special little boys, and their love for her, brought me to tears several times!

I’m looking forward to the next book. This one is pretty self-contained, so it seems the next one will need to focus on another character. I’m hoping William, Declan’s tortured and gorgeous shape-shifting friend and army-mate, gets a book because we sure were teased enough!

The first vendor to get Book 4 of Amy Lane’s fabulous Little Goddess series on the shelf is iUniverse – click here to get Rampant! They even have a very badly formatted excerpt of the first 2000 words, so you get a little sneak-peek. 

I’m a huge fan of indie author Amy Lane, and am excited to make this announcement. We’ve been waiting a while for this book to come out, and it’s now here! Update:  Now available from Amazon!
Enjoy!

For anyone who’s ever loved, hated, warred with, cuddled with, or generally been part of a magical duo called sisterhood, this little book will ring some bells and pull some heartstrings.  As one-half of a sister team, plus a gardener and a cook, I’m a sucker for sister stories, and this one didn’t disappoint.

Older sister Claire Waverly lives alone in the family home in North Carolina, where she runs a unique catering business that specializes in using flowers in the recipes. You see, there’s something a bit magical about the garden that the herbs and flowers grow in… the food can have unexpected side effects on those who consume it, and Claire is highly sought after in this small town college community. In particular, a crazily sentient apple tree that wants to tell people what their most important moment in their lives will be (usually a spectacular death), and Claire works hard to make sure that curious townspeople don’t sneak in to partake of the tree’s peculiar fruits.

Younger sister Sydney booked out of town 10 years earlier, when she turned 18, and Claire has had no contact with her. But one day Sydney shows up with 5 year old daughter Bay in tow, asking for sanctuary in the family home.  She has her own demons, but the distance between herself and Claire is such that she can’t confide. Throw in eccentric elderly cousin with a compulsion to give weird things to people, out of the blue, and you have a recipe for gentle magic to heal old hurts and show people a brighter, happier future.

The sisters have to learn to live with each other, and a couple of hot guys in the picture add some sizzle to the story. There’s no explicit sex, per se, but the love goin’ round is steamy enough to make you not notice.  There’s also a threat from Sydney’s past to complicate things, but this is late in the story.

The depiction of the relationship between Claire and Sydney is beautifully handled, and as someone who’s had her share of differences with a much-loved younger sister, I can say that it rings true. Not a lot of action, but definitely a lot of feeling. I really cared for these characters, and marveled at the strange and beautiful world they live in. It’s not a long book and is a fairly quick read, so give yourself and your sister a treat and check this little gem out!

The author, Sarah Addison Allen, is North Carolina born and bred, and lives there still while writing full time. Check out her website and read more about this interesting young author. On my reading list is her second book, The Sugar Queen, and her upcoming 2010 release The Girl Who Chased The Moon.

Bet You Can’t Own Just One !

Why own a dog ? There’s a danger you know,
You can’t own just one, for the craving will grow.

There’s no doubt they’re addictive, wherein lies the danger,
While living with lots, you’ll grow poorer and stranger.

One dog is no trouble, and two are so funny,
The third one is easy, the fourth one’s a honey.

The fifth one delightful, the sixth one’s a breeze,
You find you can live with a houseful with ease.

So how ’bout another ? Would you really dare ?
They’re really quite easy but oh, Lord the hair !

With dogs on the sofa and dogs on the bed,
And crates in the kitchen, it’s no bother you’ve said.

They’re really no trouble, their manners are great,
What’s just one more dog and just one more crate ?

The sofa is hairy, the windows are crusty,
The floor is all footprints, the furniture dusty.

The housekeeping suffers, but what do you care ?
Who minds a few noseprints and a little more hair ?

So let’s keep a puppy, you can always find room,
And a little more time for the dust cloth and broom.

There’s hardly a limit to the dogs you can add,
The thought of a cutback sure makes you sad.

Each one is so special, so useful, so funny,
The vet, the food bill grows larger, you owe money.

Your folks never visit, few friends come to stay,
Except other dog folks, who all live the same way.

Your lawn has now died, and your shrubs are dead too,
But your weekends are busy, you’re off with your crew.

There’s dog food and vitamins, training and shots,
And entries and travel and motels which cost lots.

Is it worth it, you wonder ? Are you caught in a trap ?
Then that favorite dog comes and climbs in your lap.

His look says you’re special and you know that you will
Keep all of the critters in spite of the bill.

Some just for showing and some just to breed,
And some just for loving, they all fill a need.

But winter’s a hassle, the dogs hate it too,
But they must have their walks though they’re numb and you’re blue.

Late evening is awful, you scream and you shout
At the dogs on the sofa who refuse to go out.

The dogs and the dog shows, the travel, the thrills,
The work and the worry, the pressure, the bills.

The whole thing seems worth it, the dogs are your life,
They’re charming and funny and offset the strife.

Your lifestyle has changed. Things won’t be the same,
Yes, those dogs are addictive and so is the dog game !!

–Author unknown