Contest at Amberkatze's Blog

Amber once again has out-did herself. This week's give-away is for an autographed copy of Casey Daniel's latest book Night of the Living Dead. Go on over to : http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2008/12/author-interview-and-contest-with-casey.html and enter to win. The lucky winner will be announced on Sunday, January 4th.

Marked

House of Night #1: Marked by PC & Kristin Cast

Ok, Blue Bloods is my favorite teen-vampire series, but this one comes in a very close second. Even though I feel like the vampire high and vampires being an exceptable state of being is pulled from the wizards and witches in Harry Potter, I still liked the idea of the special school and of this just being the way things are. I liked the Native American undertone in this one as well. Overall, I really liked the book and have already stared book number two in the series, Betrayed.

Twilight

I admit it, I listened to all the books on audio and got hooked on the first one. The last one left a bit to be desired (I thought by the third book, Meyer had written herself into a corner it would be hard to get out of, I was right!) So, I went to see the movie this weekend with my two daughters. They both came out saying it wasn't as pre-teen stupid as they thought it would be, but not oscar material. I thought it was pretty good and I will go see the others. It stuck to the main story pretty well. Some of the things I did not like - I thought Bella came off as flat out rude most of the time- girl with an attitude and what did they do to Edward's eyebrows?? Geezzz, they look horrible. I hope they tone those down for the next movie. I liked Robert Pattinson in the Harry Potter films, but I'm not sure he is right for this part. I always thought of Edward as being a very, unreal kind of handsome and between his eyebrows and his flatten nose (did they do something to it? I thought he was much cuter in HP), he just didn't fit the picture I had in my mind. Neither did Dr Cullen, he came off a bit wierd looking. The girls were great, especially Alice and Esme, they were perfect matches, but Dr Cullen and Edward? I expected them all to be drop dead gorgeous and they just weren't. Looking at pictures of them elsewhere, they are all pretty good looking guys, but the movie makeup made them look I don't know, bad. Jasper looked great and Emmett was ok, but Dr Cullen and Edward need some major makeup tone down before New Moon.

Jeaniene Frost contest

Amberkatze out-did herself this week. Her guest interview and contest are with Jeaniene Frost, author of the Night Huntress series. The winner will receive a copy of the third book, At Grave's End. You can find the contest at : http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2008/12/author-interview-contest-with-jeaniene.html

New Author Contest at Amber's

New author Amber Dawn Bell is featured this week on Amberkatze's Book Blog. She also has a contest to win Amber Dawn Bell books & gift packs. Go over and enter at:

http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2008/12/author-interview-contest-with-amber.html

Blood Lite

Blood Lite by Various Authors

I was very disappointed in most of the stories in this volume. I really enjoyed Jim Butcher's "Day Off". It was hysterically funny, but for the most part, the rest of the stories fell well below the mark. I started several and didn't even bother reading past the first or second page. I usually pick up on a couple of new authors when reading this sort of book, but not this time.

Quidditch through the Ages & Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Quidditch through the Ages & Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by JK Rowling

Two little companion books to the Harry Potter series. Cute enough little books. The one gives a rather nice history of Quiddich and the other is an encyclopedia of the different beasts that only the wizarding world can see. Only a true die-hard Harry Potter fan would find these of much interest.

Tales of Beedle the Bard

Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling

The book consists of 5 or 6 short fairy tales of wizarding and magic with longer commentaries by Professor Dumbledore. Over all, they are cute, imaginative tales. There was one that was a little on the violent side, but, than again, some fairy tales are. I loved reading this book. It is a very quick read and I think I will now take this time to go back and read Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages which I have long had copies of, but not gotten around to reading.

Blue Bloods #3: Revelations

Blue Bloods #3: Revelations by Melissa delaCruz

This remains my favorite teen vampire series. Schuyler's grandmother has died and Schuyler has been placed in the home of the Force's where she is ignored by most of the family, treated badly by Mimi, and is carrying on a forbiden romance with Mimi's twin, Jack. It is rumored that the Silver Bloods are once more reappearing and that becomes evident in Rio de Janeiro where the whole Blue Blood Conclave has met. The book leaves you hangning, which I don't like. I like for series books to have definite endings rather than ending in chaos. Hopefully, the next installment won't be long in coming.

What Twilight Character Are You?

http://www.quizilla.com/quizzes/8312417/what-twilight-character-are-you

I was:

Bella
Innocent, tom-boyish, and shy, you definietly are. You also are a bit of a clutz at times. Even though you have a very low self-image, others see you as beautiful.

Rune Study: Berkana

Berkana #18 - The Goddess Urd

As happens so many times with me, I selected this rune out of the blue to name my new DeathKnight gnome in World of Warcraft. I didn't have my study guide handy and didn't really read about this rune until later. I made the character a gnome with long white-gray hair and a couple of days after I made it, Blizzard gave everyone a cute little polar bear companion to commemorate their fourth anniversary. Also, DeathKnight are warriors that the Lich King has brought back to life (rebirth). One of the first areas she will play in is called "Tyr's Hand."

Berkana is the 18th rune and symbolizes the goddess Urd and belongs to the God Tyr. Urd is the oldest of the three Norn sisters and has long, white hair. Her totems are the polar bear and the swan. The meaning of the rune is growth or rebirth, and enterprise. Her tree is the birch and her color is yellow.

Spooky huh?

Upright meaning: Family or a member of the family. Motherhood, news of a birth or rebirth.

Reversed: Upset or quarrel with a family member. Anxiety.

Storm Front

Dresden Files #1: Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Unabridged audio - 8CDs

Everyone told me that I would like this series and they were right! Harry Dresden is a wizard would helps the Chicago police with paranormal crimes. I especially liked listening to it on audio. I just hope I can find more of the audio series.

Kelley Armstrong Contest!

My friend Amberkatze got to interview Kelley Armstrong this week! As always, she has a contest offering an autographed copy of one of Kelley's books.

You can enter at :
http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2008/11/author-interview-contest-with-kelley.html

Last Days

Last Days by Scott Westerfeld

This is the sequel to Peeps. The book starts off with a whole new set of characters with a whole new sequence of events. The characters from Peeps do not appear until farther into the story. The story revolves around the members of a rock band, the lead singer is infected with the vampire disease and other members of the group are immune or have the disease take a different course. Over all, a good read.

Just Like Heaven

Just Like Heaven by Marc Levy
Unabridged CDs read by Michael McGlone

I had seen the movie and thought it was cute. I really enjoyed listening to it as well. Arthur moves into a new apartment to find it haunted by Lauren who's body lies comatose in a hospital while her spirit returns to her home.

Peeps

Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

I don't care what anyone says. In my opinion this is NOT a book for teens. Vampires carry a parasite. The parasite is transmitted through sex. I repeat, this is NOT a book for teens. geezzz I'm getting old, lol.

That aside, I did like the book and am about to start reading "The Last Days" which is the sequel.

City of the Beasts

City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende
Unabridged Cassettes read by Blair Brown

One of the best I've listened to recently. The story revolved around Alexander, a fifteen year old who has to go live with his grandmother while his mother is undergoing cancer treatments. His grandmother takes him on an expedition down the Amazon in search of the beast, a giant that had been seen in the area. Along the way, Alexander gets kidnapped by the People of the Mist, a local Indian tribe, and with their help, visits the city of the beasts.

A very, very good story that is well written and able to hold my attention all the way through.

Garden Spells

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
Unabridged CDs read by Susan Ericksen

I thought at first this one was going to be way too romancy for me. It was pretty romancy, but it also had an element of magic that kept it interesting. The Waverlys and the Waverly's garden had always been considered a bit strange. The fact that Claire knew what herb or flower to include in different recipes to elicit emotions only added to the magic. Younger sister, Sidney, returned home for the first time in many years, running from an abusive boyfriend with small child in tow. When the abusive boyfriend turned up in town, the garden worked it's magic.

Anansi Boys

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Unabridged CDs read by Lenny Henry

I was a bit disappointed in this one. I recently listened to American Gods and loved it so I was really looking forward to this one. It was funny at times, serious at times, but just not as good as the other Gaiman's I've listened to.

Contest Time at Amberkatze's Bog

New contest started this morning! This week's interview and prize are from author Maria Lima. She will be autographing a copy of her book "Matters of the Blood". To enter go to : http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2008/11/author-interview-and-contest-with-maria.html

Contest at Amber's

I know this is short notice, but there is still time to enter Amberkatze's contest of the week at : http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2008/11/author-interview-contest-with-t-pratt.html This time it is for a copy of Blood Engines by TA Pratt. It's a book I've been wanting to read, but haven't gotten a copy of yet!

Oh My Goth

Oh My Goth by Gena Showalter

I started reading this one mainly because it was lying on my computer desk when I needed something to fill in a little time (flying between cities on WOW). It was suprising good. Jade learned some very important and hard lessons in the book. However, it didn't seem preachy. The lead character learned the lessons on her own without a lot of adult intervention - well that is if you don't count forcibly being placed in an interactive video game.

Sisters of Isis #1: The Summoning

Sisters of Isis #1: The Summoning by Lynne Ewing

Short and quick, I enjoyed this one, although the writing left a little to be desired. It was written for a teenage audience and you could tell. The main character, Sudi, had parents that were way too trusting and didn't notice anything about their daughter. They were almost non-existant in the book. This book begins a series using Egyptian mythology as it's basis. I hope she stays true to history and doesn't take too much creative license with the legends and myths. I probably will not continue on with the new series because I have so many other things waiting on my Mt.TBR, but it is one that I would recommend to teens.

The Third Witch

The Third Witch by Rebecca Reisert

Very good fantasy about a girl who helped bring down Macbeth. The book started a little slow, but moved quickly after about the first 50 or so pages. By the last 100, I could not put it down. Very big surprise twist at the end. Something I probably should have seen coming, but didn't. Overall, I really enjoyed this one!

My Animal Spirit

I just discovered what my animal spirit was over at Jeri Smith-Ready's website:
http://www.jerismithready.com/quiz/

You are a Swan! (your score: 24)
Characters: Tereus, Kalia in Eyes of Crow
Powers: Foretelling future through dreams, dream-walking
Swans are idealistic, open-minded, and passionate. Your good nature often leads people to think they can take advantage of you, but they should be careful—beneath that serenity lies a fighting spirit. Your love is fierce and unconditional, fueled by the certainty that it should last forever.
Best matches: Wolves, Horses, Otters
Watch out for: Cougars, Foxes, Hawks

Contests!

Amber has a couple of new contests beginning on her blog. One for an autographed copy of Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland at: http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2008/11/author-interview-contest-with-lori.html

The second is for a a signed set of the Aspect of the Crow trilogy by Jeri Smith-Ready. http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2008/11/author-interview-contest-with-author.html For this one, you have to take a test to see what kind of animal my spirit guide is -- mine is a Swan!

Go visits Amberkate's blog and sign up for the contests. I just did!!

Ink Exchange

The Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr, book 2 of the Faery Court series

The second book in Melissa Marr's Faery Court series is a winner. Leslie is a mortal friend of the Faery Summer Queen Aislinn. She know nothing of the paranormal life her friend lives until she gets a tatoo. A tatoo that changes her into the Dark King's Shadow Girl. A very, very good read.

Halloween Contest

My friend, Amberkatze, is offering an autographed copy of "Staked" by J.F. Lewis. To enter, you have to tell her what scares you and leave a comment about it on her blog http://www.amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com

AVLs, TBRs, etc

I think I've decided upon Shelfari for my availables, to be reads, etc. http://www.shelfari.com/o1518055827/shelf

Stupid ole MSN

For the last few years I've had a group on MSN for my books - availables, to be read, to be listened to, wishlist, and lists of books that have been read. Unfortunately, MSN has decided to close the groups and miagrate them to something I find totally unacceptable. A "blog" format. Blogs are all well and good for some things, but not others. I am looking for a new platform, but think the info will have to be broken down and put in several different places.

I decided to miagrate my list of books read to Blogger and I will link from this blog to it and from it to here.

Please see my list of "Books Read" here: http://kathybsbooklist.blogspot.com/

New contest at Amberkatze's place

My friend Amberkatze is always offering these cool contests. This week the winner will receive an autographed copy of Chris Howard's Seaborn. So go on over and post a comment to enter the contest : http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2008/10/author-interview-and-contest-with-chris.html

Persistence of Memory

Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

I am so glad this author went back to what she is best at - a good old vampire story. I loved this book and hated for it to end. I don't know if this is a new series, but I would go out and buy the next one the first day it comes out.

The Summoning

Darkest Power Series Book #1: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

I liked this one ok, but I wish she'd gotten to what she wanted to say and get on with the story. It took forever for this book to get anything accomplished. It also didn't have an ending. If you want to know what happens, you HAVE to read the next one. I want to continue with the series, but I hope they get better.

The Star

Tarot Card Mystery: The Star by David Skibbins

I don't know why I like this series so much. The writing is not that good and there is not a whole lot about tarot cards in them, but the story always seems to draw me in and keep me. In this latest offering by Skibbins, Warren's daughter shows up on his doorstep afraid she will be arrested for murdering her no good husband, then leaves her child with him to go into hiding. Never having been around too many babies Warren is at a total loose. The result is a blend of humor and drama that held my attention all the way through.

The Sorority

The Sorority Trilogy by Tamara Thorne

Ok, started this one just to see if it might be usable in a BookObsessed series swap. I had no idea if the books were any good or not. I had never heard of them before I got them, nor heard of the author. They had been sitting on my bookshelf for months. I thought I'd read 50 or so pages of the first one just to see and I sped right through all three. Three books in one week. That is a new record for me.

The books built on each other. They were a mixture of ghost story, wizards, Arthurian history and horror. The story was really intense and kept me interested (obviously). A very pleasant surprise.

Contest on Amberkatze's Book Blog

My friend Amberkatze is once again offering a free book to one lucky winner, well actually two winners this time. One will win a copy of Rachel Caine's Ill Wind or one of her Morganville Vampire series. Enter at : http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2008/09/author-interview-contest-with-rachel.html

Dragon's Fire

Dragon's Fire by Anne & Todd McCaffrey

Unabridged audio 10 CDs
Anne McCaffrey's fantasy world of Pern is one of my favorite places. I am so happy to see that her son is now writing with her and the stories are still just as magical and exciting as always. Loved this one

Faerie Path

The Faerie Path (Faerie Path series #1) by Frewin Jones

This book was really a very slow starter. The story did not really get going until two thirds of the way. Normally, I would not wait that long for a book to get my attention, but I'd wanted to read this one for so long, I wanted to give it full consideration. I was glad I read it all the way through. It did leave you hanging, so you knew there would definitely be a book two. I will probably read it, but not go out of my way to hurry and buy it.

Contest at Amberkatze's Book Blog

My friend Amberkatze's is offering a new contest on her blog. It is a chance to win an autographed copy of Touch of Darkness by Cathy Clamp & C.T. Adams. To enter just visit Amber's blog at http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2008/09/author-interview-contest-with-cathy.html and leave a comment about a new release you want to read.

Nauthiz

Nauthiz (now-these) rune #10

Nauthiz meaning need. It is the need of material restraint, but can also mean spiritual need. There is no god or goddess associationed with Nauthiz. It is the sign of the tree spirits.

Meaning: Plan carefully, there is need to use restraint.

Reversed: Unfortunate decision or unsuitable behavior. Greed or covetousness.

Breaking Dawn

Breaking Dawn - Book #4 Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer

I was really curious to see how Stephenie Meyer would end this series. I have thought all along that she was writting herself into a corner and could not imagine how she would resolve everything. Though the story was pretty good, I found several faults with this one. But there were also a few very nice surprises. All in all, I think this is probably the weakest book of the series, but a relatively good ending.

Anna Strong Give-Away

My friend Amberkatze runs contests each week on her blog. This week she is giving away two prizes: one winner will win one Anna Strong book of their choice and the other winner will win a set of Anna Strong Chronicles magnets. Please check it out at : http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2008/08/author-interview-contest-with-jeanne-c.html

From Dead to Worse

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris - Southern Vampire series #8

I swear I love this series, but Sookie needs to grow up. She has to be terrified of committing to a serious relationship because she keeps finding infantile reasons to break up with the current boyfriend. This seems to be an "in between" book. There wasn't a lot of real plot going on, but a hint of things to come. I really do like this series and can't wait till the next installment.

Culinary Series 12-14

Dark Tort #12, Double Shot #13, Sweet Revenge #14 by Diane Mott Davidson

While I am critical of paranormal series that go on forever with little plot change, I seem to like it in murder mysteries though I must admit Goldy should find another job. She seems to find more dead bodies than catering gigs. In installment number 12, Goldy is asked to provide snacks to a local law offices break room and finds the paralegal dead. In book 13, Goldy's ex-husband, The Jerk, is released early from prison for good behavior. Goldy finds him dead in his garage and becomes the prime suspect. In book 14, Goldy begins seeing someone everyone thinks is dead. Everyone but Goldy chalks it up to stress, but then people associated with this person start showing up dead. Goldy sets out to prove she is not going crazy and to find out to find the truth.

Sidebar

Just returned home from a truly amazing concert. I flew down to Houston to join a few friends and to see the "Poets & Pirates Kenny Chesney" show. The line up was awesome - a local band, unfortunately I did not catch the name, but they were really good, Luke Bryan, Gary Allan, Leann Rimes, Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney. It was my first time to see everyone except Keith Urban, whom I had seen in Dallas recently. They were all good, Leann puts on a good show, Kenny puts it heart and soul into it, but Keith is amazingly awesome. (my favorite of the group, can you tell?)

Devil May Cry

Devil May Cry by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Former God falls in love with a girl he thinks it's impossible for him to be with. She loves him and doesn't understand the problem.... seriously, will she ever come up with a new story line? I guess it's served her well, this one is book eleven of the series. As far as the audio goes, the reader is very good.

Weddings From Hell

Weddings From Hell by Various

I enjoyed all these stories. The first, Till Death by Maggie Shayne was my favorite. For my complete review, please see Yankee Romance Reviewers at http://yankeeromancereviewers.blogspot.com/2008/08/wedding-from-hell.html

The Host

The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Unabridged 20CDs

Awesome! One of the best books I've listened to this year. An alien species takes over Earth and enhabits human bodies. A handful of renegade humans and a sympathetic alien try to survive. I really enjoyed listening to this one.

Wee Free Men

Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
Unabridged audio, 7 cassettes

Oh my gosh! I loved this one. I am going to go look for every Terry Pratchett novel I can find and put the audios on my wishlist. I hope they all have the same reader, Stephen Briggs was great! Story of a 9 year old girl who discovers she is a witch after her brother disappears. He has been stolen away by the Queen of the Elves. Tiffany must rescue him with the help of the Wee Free Men.

Auralia's Colors

Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet

I liked this one. I liked the idea of the story before I even read it because of the back cover notes. An abandoned child found by two thieves grows to be the downfall or is it the salvation of the kingdom of Abascar, a country where only the royal family is allowed the joy of color.

Duma Key

Duma Key by Stephen King
Unabridged Audio - 18CDs

Stephen King as always been one of my favorite listens. I never really got into his Gunslinger series, but his free standing books I love. The last few however, have been a disappointment. Not so with Duma Key. A very, very good story about a man who looses his arm in a crane accident. His wife divorces him and he moves to a remote island to recooperate and piece back together his life. He buys some paint and canvas and begins a new life as an artist. But shortly after, strange things begin to happen and the ghost that haunts Duma Key threatens Edgar and his two daughters. Classic King -- I loved it!

Swine Not

Swine Not by Jimmy Buffett
Unabridged 5CDs

Ok, I have to admit it, I love Jimmy Buffett, his music, his books, just everything. This is a really cute litte book. It is a story for children, but written in a way that adults will enjoy it too. It is the story of a small boy, his sister and their mom that moved into an upscale New York City hotel where mom is a pastry chef. They smuggle in the family pet, a pig named Rumpy and the fun begins.

Velocity

Velocity by Dean Koontz
Unabridged Audio - 6 cassettes

Koontz writes the scariest stories sometimes. My favorites are the ones like this one, a perfectly plausable, it could really happen tale of murder and mystery.

Billy Wilds gets off work one night to find a note on his windshield. If he does nothing, a young school teacher will be murdered. If he goes to the police, an elderly lady that likes to do charity work for the church will be murdered. His choice, what should he choose, this is no joke.

Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell
Unabridged audio - 7CDs

Vassar Spore's life is all planned out. Everything from what college she will attend (Vassar of course) to winning the Pulitzer Prize. What she didn't plan on was spending the summer with her out of control grandmother on an expedition to Cambodia for the summer. The story was cute and had some unexpected twists to it. Overall, I enjoyed this one. It was a short, quick, listen to.

Uglies #4 - Extras

Uglies series #4 - Extras by Scott Westerfeld

I like this one better than "Specials", but still not as much as the first two books in this series. Mind rain has reminded people that they were brainwashed during the time of the "uglies" and "pretties" . Now people are only concerned about how famous they are and rate themselves according to how many times their name is spoken on a live feed. Aya looks for a story that she can "kick" to her feed to make herself famous. She uncovers what she believes is a plot to destroy the world and Tally and Shea show up to help her uncover the truth. Overall a good story, but let's hope Westerfeld quits while he is still ahead.

Runemarks

Runemarks by Joanne Harris
Unabridged audio - 14CDS

Ok, best book of the year so far. Maddie is born with a rune mark on her hand. She is feared by most of the small village she lived in. Her only friend is "one-eye" a wanderer who comes to the village on his travels. When he discovers her powers, inborn in her, he helps her uncover an opening to the underhill where she meets, Loki, the trickster, Hella, the lady of the dead, Skadi and a host of other lost Norse gods and legends. The story was awesome and since I am very interested in runes, it made it even more so.

CONFUSION (warning - I'm ranting)

I usually listen to one audiobook in the car and one at the house. The *#@*#& CD player in the car doesn't work very well anymore, but I do have a cassette player as well so I can still listen to audios in the car. "Runemarks" is from the library and only on CD and "Duma Key" is my personal copy, but is also on CD. I had already gotten 6 or 7 CDs into Duma when Runes finally became available at the library. I had gotten "Runemarks" to work fairly well in the car up until yesterday and the CD player just refused to play it, SO now I have 3 audiobooks going - "Velocity" on cassette in the car - Duma & Rune at home. I guess poor Duma will get shelved until I can get "Runemarks" finished since it is a library book.

Whats a girl to do???

I really dread buying a new car (my husband and I take turns - buy one get it paid off, next person gets a new car, etc). My turn is coming up in March and I dread getting a new car because I don't know of any that have both a CD player and a cassette, which is EXACTLY what I want again. ALSO - if I listen to music, it is on my iPOD and rather than mess with trying to find a station that it comes in staticy on (at best), I use a blank cassette tape hooked up to the iPOD that allows it to use my car speakers and it sounds just like the radio or CD.

Win a copy of Wicked Game

A friend is running a contest on her blog and the winner will receive an autographed copy of "Wicked Game" by Jeri Smith-Ready. To enter go to her blog at : http://amberkatze-amberkatze.blogspot.com/2008/06/interview-with-author-jeri-ready-smith.html

I tried to run a picture of the cover of the book, but for some reason BlogSpot won't let me enter pictures today. Sorry!

My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon

My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon Edited by P.N. Elrod

This books picks up where My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding leaves off. Most of the stories were really cute. I only felt one or two were great. "Where the Heart Lives" by Marjorie M. Liu was awesome. Very well written and held my attention from the first. By far my favorite.

Thought I should mention that I did a more extensive review of this book for YankeeRomanceReviewers

Kiesha'ra #5 Wyvernhail

Kiesha'ra #5 Wyvernhail by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

What to say about this one.... I'm glad I read the series, but it had it's ups and downs. The ending was a bit muddled and I don't really understand how or why it worked out as it did. I really can't say a lot without giving away the ending, but with all the throne claiming and recending and overtaking, I'm amazed at the forgiveness that occured in the end. Overall a good series. Atwater-Rhodes continues to be one of my current favorite authors.

Rune Study: Kenaz

Kenaz (kane-awez) rune #6

I have began naming my World of Warcraft characters after runes. Today I named my new blood elf mage "Kaynaz" (Kanaz and Kenaz were already taken). The rune's ancient meaning is boil or sore, something I had forgotten when I went to name today's toon or I might have reconsidered. The more modern meaning is torch. Since my toon is a mage, she can throw a pretty good fireball, so torch seems much more appropriate. It also symbolizes knowledge and enlightenment. It is the sign of discomfort (which I mean for my enemies on WOW to be!)

Kenaz is the rune of Skuld, one of the three Norns or Fates. She was the norn of the future. She also rode with the Valkyries to collect fallen warriors on the field. Her animal is the owl, her tree the pine and the color associated with her is blue.

Upright: Good fortune, giving and receiving gifts, lust, empathy, enlightment, dicomfort.

Reversed: Loss, endings, casting out things from the past.

Fluke

Fluke by Christopher Moore
Unabridged - 7 Cassettes

What can I say? I loved this book about scientists studying whale song and the wild situations they find themselves in. Cona is now one of my all time favorite Moore characters.

Runes study: Gebo

Gebo - Gift
The Goddess Gefjon

Gefjon is the goddess of unwed women. He dwells in Frigg's palace where she welcomes them when they die. They are made comfortable and happy and will be forever under Gefjon's protection.

The main legend surrounding Gefjon is the agreement she made with King Gylfi of Sweden. Odin sent Gefjon to the king requesting ownship of some land. Gylfi told Gefjon that she could have all the land she could plough in one day. She turned her four sons into oxen and ploughed a huge piece of land. The oxen sons then dragged the land out to sea where it became the island Seeland.

Gefjon means the giving one and therefore Gebo's meaning is gift. The object associated with Gebo is glass and the color blue. The animal is the ox.

It's meaning is a good partnership or relationship, love, and gifts bestowed. It can also mean emotional problems or disharmony depending on what runes are cast with it.

You Suck

You Suck by Christopher Moore

Alright, after my tirade on books I don't want to read, let me tell you about the one I finished today. This was a fun book even though I got a bit confused with all the biting and vampire turning that was going on. I'm still not sure what happened in the last chapter or who the bronze statues are, but I loved it and will read (or listen to) as many Christopher Moore's as I can get my hands on!

Yuck!!

I started reading a book called Innocent's Story today and it is so bad I'm not going to offer it to my friends on BookObsessed. I'll list it on Bookmooch or just throw it away or something. I've also abandoned Club Dumas because I started it, read 100 pages or so a couple of weeks ago, laid it down and now that I picked it back up I realized that it made such an impression on me that I can't even remember what it was about. I read several short stories from I Am Legend-Hell House and I'm going to send that one on it's way. I can't imagine why I'm so picky today!

Eclipse

Eclipse: Book #3 of the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
Unabridged 13CDs

Excellent! She tied everything in the series up very neatly. I'm not quite sure I like the way it ended. I probably would have done it differently, but still, awesome book, awesome series. This will go in my permanent collection. I have an audio of Meyer's most recent book "Host". I will probably listen to it after Duma Key.