Descendants #1: Dark Descendant

Contrary to what the title suggests the book is not that kind of dark - like no demons or witches or anything like that. Read on to find out about Jenna Black's new series Descendants #1 Dark Descendant.

Here is the summary:

From the acclaimed author of the Morgan Kingsley, Exorcist books comes the gripping first novel in a new series about a private eye who discovers, to her surprise, that she’s an immortal huntress. Nikki Glass can track down any man. But when her latest client turns out to be a true descendant of Hades, Nikki now discovers she can’t die. . . . Crazy as it sounds, Nikki’s manhunting skills are literally god-given. She’s a living, breathing descendant of Artemis who has stepped right into a trap set by the children of the gods. Nikki’s new “friends” include a descendant of Eros, who uses sex as a weapon; a descendant of Loki, whose tricks are no laughing matter; and a half-mad descendant of Kali who thinks she’s a spy. But most powerful of all are the Olympians, a rival clan of immortals seeking to destroy all Descendants who refuse to bow down to them. In the eternal battle of good god/bad god, Nikki would make a divine weapon. But if they think she’ll surrender without a fight, the gods must be crazy. . . .
Nikki Glass is a bloodhound in the P.I. business, but her current client is hoping to give her more than a commission. After an accident and near death experience involving her, and her latest employer, strange things start happening. She starts seeing iridescent tattoos on certain people, including herself. Her aim is dead on 100% of the time, and two rival tattooed factions are vying for her time and allegiance. Turns out Nikki is a mortal descendant of Artemis, goddess of the hunt. Descendants like Nikki are rare and can become immortal, one of the Liberi. But there's a catch. One that Nikki may never forgive herself for.

I always love that first book in a series where everything is being developed, the world building, story threads, histories, and players. Black doesn't disappoint. The story is fast paced, and set in the D.C. area. There was a lot of background on Nikki that provided a strong foundation on her personality. Glass has to seriously reevaluate her traits and demeanor as her past definition of herself is altered by supernatural revelations. Using a blend of gods from different cultures really lends it's self to more diverse characters. The supporting cast is just as interesting with descendants of Eros, Kali, Loki, and Zeus just to name a few.

I loved the gutsy heroine and her surprisingly deep and charming sister. The Descendents each have different inherited skills from the specific God they descend from. It was fascinating to read about each of them and how they use their gifts in their fight against their deadly rivals. I especially liked how Jenna Black manages to give all the members their own personalities and quirks. Each character has a dark past and not all of the team members like each other. This made them very realistic and added a lot of tension to the story.

What I really like about this book is that at first there are no "good guys." When Nikki first comes up to the house where the Descendants live, she is mortal. The only way an immortal descendant can die, is if a mortal one kills them. Once that kill happens, their immortality gets transferred to the once mortal descendant. I know it is a bit confusing and I was definitely confused in the beginning of the book. But the more you keep reading the more it makes sense. She unknowingly kills Emmitt, and his immortality gets transferred to her. At this point the Descendants think she is working for the Olympians. So they don't trust her. But that is not to say the Descendants are pure innocent. Bad things happen in this book, and even by the end, Nikki still doesn't trust all of the descendants and they all don't trust her.

This isn't the most complex gods and goddesses/mythology-based book I've read this year and yet it's the best, in some part because of it. I loved that there weren't big pockets of infodump and that each Descendant's power was straightforward and related to their god or goddess. It was refreshing that when Nikki became immortal, it didn't come with the Artemis instruction manual. The setup of the two groups is also pretty clear and the reasons they don't get along are spelled out. The Liberi may be the good guys but they're not sunshine and light. 

There were so many things I liked about Nikki in addition to her not being insta-supergirl. She stayed wonderfully suspicious of everyone who wouldn't trust her even if she felt a twinge of conscience when she had to hurt them. I usually feel pretty let down if there's no romance of any kind for my heroine in a book, but I was okay that there wasn't any here. She had a little bit of a connection with the cranky Jamaal that might go somewhere eventually but I also thought she had something twitchy happening with Anderson. In either case I would have thought it weird if anything had happened considering how much distrust there was in the story.

DARK DESCENDANT is a thrilling new urban fantasy with large doses of mythology. Nikki is a terrific heroine; complex, gritty and yet, she still retains her feminism. The world-building is fascinating, the cast of characters eccentric and compelling and the dialogue sharp and entertaining. DARK DESCENDANT grabs you from the first page and holds you in its relentless grip to its exciting ending. Don't miss it! And keep waiting for the next one Deadly Descendant which releases in May 2012.

Descendants #1: Dark Descendant

The Age of Odin

The last Pantheonic saga of James Lovegrove, The Age of Odin. If they say Ra was spiritual then what would you call Odin - I'd say on the level of faith and spiritual matter Age of Odin ranks higher.

Here is the summary:

Gideon Dixon was a good solider but bad at everything else. Now the British Army doesn't want him any more. So when he hears about the Valhalla Project it seems like a dream come true. They're recruiting fromer service personnel for execellent pay, no questions asked, to take part in unspecified combat operations. The last thing Gideon expects is to finding himself fighting alongside the gods of the ancient Norse pantheon. The world is in the grip of one of the worst winters it has ever known, and Ragnarok-the fabled final conflict of the Sagas-is looming.

To put it simply The Age of Odin may well be the most different of the three than you might think. At the heart of it all is the one old lore fashioned or modeled as new. It's a modern adaptation of Ragnarok, the fabled apocalypse of the Norse. The main character finds himself coming to terms with the idea that Gods are real, and he is destined to aid them. The "upgrades" in rolls of the likes of Loki, and several other big players in Ragnarok were an interesting and original take, the book itself kept me interested from the first page where I was asking "Hows this washed up old soldier supposed to be a hero" to the end where I was left with a big grin on my face.

Gideon Coxall, pensioned-off soldier, is having hard time fitting into the civilian world. His wife has left him, he can't see his son, he drinks too much and, much to his own disgust, the only job he can find involves him selling refurbished printer toners. When the chance comes up to do a little (probably dodgy) mercenary work, Gideon pounced. Ostensibly, he needs the cash. But deep inside, he knows that he belongs in combat.

The story kicks off with a car crash. Gideon skids off the road on his way to meet his mysterious employer and, when the dust (or the snow) settles, he finds himself in an armoured encampment filled with lunatics pretending to be Norse gods. Odin is a crabby old man, Thor is a drunken brute and Freya is an Amazonian dream-girl. Gideon makes some token efforts to escape, but a few close encounters with frost giants and trolls make a believer of him.

Unfortunately for Gideon, he's signed up to a noble cause on the eve of Ragnarok: the ancient Viking myth of Armageddon. If first half of the book involves Gideon finding his place alongside the friendly (if feisty) Nordic gods, the second half is nigh-on continuous battle. For those familiar with Norse mythology, the sequence of events is a verse by verse, tongue in cheek translation: generally swapping enormous RoboTech-style tanks for mythical creatures. Why bother housing and feeding the actual Midgard Serpeant when you can kitbash together a burrowing Destructicon with a sonic cannon on its nose?

Gid has a hard time believing the big man in charge of the Valhalla project is actually the Allfather of Norse myth, Odin. Odin is preparing for the fated final battle, and as Gid joins Odin's forces, he brawls with and fights alongside Thor, becomes enamored with Freya, is healed by Odin's wife, Frigga, and learns of the treacherous deeds of Loki.

Perhaps the greatest strength of the novel is Lovegrove's ability to end each chapter on a hook that begs the next chapter. Lovegrove's narrative makes no apologies for the over-the-top concept of the story, he takes it as seriously as possible, and tells a story that is gripping. In totality, Lovegrove has written a book that is difficult to put down. In some senses, the novel reads as a very high-octane masculine fantasy, but again, Lovegrove's storytelling ability helps to gloss over any shortcomings. The novel is told in the first person and works very well to convey the protagonist's thoughts and, of course, how Gid sees the Norse gods as real. Gid is not well-versed in Norse mythology so it takes a bit for him to fully guess at the gravity of his situation. Lovegrove injects humor into the story, mostly through Gid's snarky comments.

Here again we see a few similarity with Ra - its all about faith and belief in a higher power - whoever that may be the various pantheons of the world or if you choose to believe in the one power from which everything arises. The various patheons may very well be real - all the old stories must have come from somewhere. But yes it is your belief that makes them real. The Age of Odin is a fiercely humanist text. The gods and monsters may have the advantage of height (and big hammers), but humans have true authority. The mythological creatures are stuck in their paths - they are controlled by fate and, ultimately, the power of storytelling. By contrast, we remain the authors of both our own destinies and those of our collectively appointed deities.Lovegrove is vigorously carving out a godpunk subgenre - rebellious underdog humans battling an outmoded belief system. Guns help a bit, but the real weapon is free will.
I would like to mention though probably the best quotation from a book I have read in a long time - and on the topic of God no less. Gid asks Odin what the capital-G God is like. To which Odin replies, "...I don't believe in Him, and if He does exist, I don't like Him. His type of gods aren't gods who echo how mortals behave. They're gods who are held up as example of perfection to be emulated. They're not gods of the people. They're remote and inaccessible, they demand blind, unthinking obedience from their followers. They're dictators. We Aesir and Vanir, by contrast, are mirrors. Other gods rule. We reflect and magnify. We are you, only more so. We share your flaws and foibles. We are as humanlike as we are divine, and I think we are all the better for that. And not to forget the Braggi's poems - a perfect comic relief.

Absolutely amazing work here, and a must read for any fan of Norse Myth, Heathenism and the like. All the three - Age of Ra, Zeus and Odin would make great movies or games if initiative be taken.

The Age of Odin

Shadows of Suspicion

Got to love bookblogs.ning - you get to meet so many new authors each day. Shadows of Suspicion by Ashley Dawn is one of those.

Here is the summary:

Revenge is the agenda…“Find my sister.” Rick Reiley’s words were what drove Luke to search mercilessly for Kerry. He is in a race against time to find her and will have to face more than a criminal mastermind to get close to her. He is prepared to give his life for her, but what about his heart? “…I would like you to meet….My wife.” Those words from her enigmatic rescuer threw Kerry more than anything else that had happened to her in the last few days…and that was saying a lot! Kerry’s simple life is turned upside down when she is kidnapped and dragged to the middle of nowhere by a madman. She trusts Luke with her life, but can she trust him with her heart? As Luke fights to keep Kerry safe, the chemistry ignites and the danger gets closer. Will God protect them while Luke tries to sort out his heart….and capture Kerry’s?

Although the book misses by a point on my rating scale but I loved the book. Not only was it fast paced and nicely laid out but also a fast read. Not this is not the first book of the series and I have not read the first one yet but this one has a story of its own - kind of can be called a standalone but not quite. So bear with me as I try to display my thoughts about the book.

First kidnapped and then becoming the obsession of the son of a mastermind criminal is not how Kerry Reilly envisioned the ending of her holiday vacation spent in the arms of her very close-knit family, but happen it did. Luke Reeding, a trusted friend and undercover agent, is contacted by Kerry's brother to aid in bringing her back to safety and finds himself becoming very personally attached in the process. Will providing stauch protection and gaining faith in the Lord help smooth their path as they try to bring this criminal to justice? Can Kerry and Luke get past the shadows in their pasts to move forward with a loving and fulfilling relationship?

Lots of question and the book has all the answers. That was everything in short. Now lets lay it out one-by-one.

Kerry Reiley is a second grade teacher who loves what she does. She is a simple girl who loves people (including her family) and people love her too. But...when you have brothers that work for the FBI (Jordon) and CIA (Rick)you may have to watch your back. Revenge is what Chris Deveraux wants. That and his father's release from prison. When her brothers find that she's been taken by him...Rick calls in a friend he knows can get her out.

Luke Reeding is good at what he does and owes Rick a favor saving his life. He thinks he's rescuing a damsel in distress. What he doesn't count on is finding a beautiful, capable, strong willed, very witty girl. As they are thrown together in hiding waiting for Rick and Jordon to capture Chris Deveraux they develop a very strong attraction between them. She knows she can't let her heart fall for this man who doesn't share her faith. It's pretty hard though when he's everything you've desired. Luke has never met a woman like Kerry nor felt the 'forever' type feelings he's dealing with lately. Both know they have no future together or is it true that all things are possible with God?

From the first page until the last I was totally engrossed. We met and fell in love with the Reiley family in the author's first book Shadows from the Past. (Jordon & Aurora's story). Shadows of Suspicion is Kerry Reiley's story. I love that the author continues to involve the whole family. I love how she blends suspense, humor, emotion and a solid biblical message concerning salvation and being unequally yoked, into the story. The Reiley family dynamics is something to behold. The brothers are very protective alpha males who love to play hard and love hard. Over the top good! The women are strong and stubborn but also protective of their family.

The book was a fast read and I would like to recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a contemporary suspense novel with romantic and inspirational elements added.

Shadows of Suspicion

Cinder and Ella

After Beastly and Ash, Cinder and Ella by Melissa Lemon is the next fairy tale remake I've read. With the last two (Ash & Cinder and Ella) both being remakes of Cinderella and I have to say I liked the latter much more (not discriminating anything but Ash actually didn't look to be well written in my opinion). And yes since your wondering the book has yet to release....Yes I got the ARC from netgalley.

Here is the summary:

After their father’s disappearance, Cinder leaves home for a servant job at the castle. But it isn’t long before her sister Ella is brought to the castle herself—the most dangerous place in all the kingdom for both her and Cinder. Cinder and Ella is a Cinderella story like no other and one you'll never forget.
The book opens with promises. Four sisters live in a small cottage. Katrina is a bossy one. Cinder is generally a people-pleaser. Ella, well, sad to say, no one in their village remembers Ella's name because everyone adores Cinder. The youngest is eleven years old and so spoiled that her family must dress and spoon feed her.

So, Cinder and Ella are the middle siblings in a happy home until one night the evil, nasty, yet charming prince comes in and destroys their family. Cinder and Ella are the only ones his evil power does not change. After years of decay that the evil has spread in the family,it is up to Cinder and Ella to take care of the household, as the rest of the family are not capable. Cinder enjoys taking care of others, but she allowed it to go to a point of people walking over her. When Cinder goes to work in the castle she is too gullible and good hearted to see the princes wickedness. At times I found myself wanting to shake Cinder as she let the prince turn her away from Ella. Even though it was necessary for the story as a whole.

Cinder as being the kind-hearted must learn to discern good from evil. Ella must uncover the secret that awaits in the Prince's secret chamber. Melissa Lemon uses the legend of the trees, a twisted fairy tale and a knight in shining armor to spin a completely new take on an age old story. While some of the characters seemed a bit undeveloped and the ending was abrupt I must say I enjoyed Cinder and Ella much more than anything else I've read recently. I think it would be suited for middle grade readers ages 12 and up as the content is clean.

The morals and conflict of the story were interesting to me because they allow the reader to decide how to interpret them. The morals and conflict of the story could reflect religious undercurrents or not depending on the reader. I chose not to identify with the potential religious aspects of the story and I saw the character's conflicts and moral lessons as a reflection on choice. I thought it was a great comment on the idea that individuals have the power choose how they live their life no matter what circumstances befall them. Just as importantly bad choices don't have to lead to other bad choices. This book reminded me that every moment is an opportunity to make a better choice.

Apart from the fact that this book says about choices - the next important thing is that of family. Family is important. Whatever you do in life - if you don't have a family to support you - or much less you cannot survive the harsh world without somebody who cares for you. And don't forget the trees. Trees play a major role here and going out of my way I would say in her prose Miss Lemon wants us to protect them - trees are our oxygen givers and they provide the air that we need to live. So, GO GREEN and PROTECT THE TREES.

Cinder and Ella had a little bit of everything - romance, adventure and danger. Melissa Lemon has twisted the popular fairytale and weaved us an enjoyable new world that was both fresh and enchanting. We can only hope she'll put her creative spin on a few more popular fairytales.

The pace of the book kept me interested throughout and made me keep turning the pages. I had to know what happened to Cinder and Ella. There was enough action to keep me going, and enough internal dialogue to let me find out who the characters were and connect with them better.

Cinder and Ella