and I have really enjoyed those. I don't know of any other fantasy ...
926152
I've read the first two of this author's Bone Flower trilogy, and I have really enjoyed those.  I don't know of any other fantasy authors who write with the Aztec theme in their work.  It has led me to read up some more on Aztec mythology, and I've come to the conclusion that it is really under appreciated.

Do not expect info-dumping in here.  To be honest, I tend to skim the info-dumps when they happen in other books.  The things we need to know are gradually learned as the story progresses, which is exactly how it should be done.  The only difficulty I had is learning the pronunciations of the names.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this story.  It's very unlike the Bone Flower books, set at a point in time after Christianity has become the prevalent religion and the Aztec gods are mostly dead or in hiding, with very little power.  The main character, Xolotl, was very sympathetic and likable.  He's a sort of underdog character that is very easy to root for.  That said, I also found the angel, Raphael, very intriguing and I'm hoping to learn more about him as the series continues.

The plot was enjoyable, promising to be a lot of fun, but still with some emotional turmoil mixed in.  There are a few unanswered questions, and a great deal is still left to be done.  This novella felt very much like a prologue to a potentially very large story.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3112755
Somehow, me, a lover of fantasy art, missed these books entirely, never heard of them til last week. I am enraptured! Great collection of dream art to spin off of...love love love, and will buy the rest , i suspect...
3774427
I enjoy all of the above but I haven't watched the ones I did not review.  I look at these repeatedly.  I use "Last of Summer Wine" as a sleeping pill.  It is relaxing and no murders to solve.
3075675
I feel like this book is very unique. There is not another fantasy book like it that I have come across. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
4918434
I just love the necklace series.  This one was a real surprise and very different from the Tribal neckless.

I love the space kidnapping and the Gigolo, male prostitute from Norlan aspect of this story.  Who knew such places could even exist.  I mean these stories are so real and the detail is so magnificent you almost feel like you are there with the wonderful characters that are woven into the fabric of this tale.

All I can say is if someone's got a necklace they don't want I sure would like to have my own.

Love it, and I know if you have even and glimmer or romance in you that you will too.  Enjoy this one for the pure fantasy alone not to mention the hot guys, the characters and the sexy, sexy gigolo and the idea that Earthlings are not alone in this world.
4312903
This book caused me to do something I've never before considered...I joined the author's FB group just to talk about it more and discuss possible outcomes. I can't put my finger on 1 particular thing that pulled me in for this series, but it's definitely on my highly recommended list. There's something about the combination of real + fantasy that just hit my sweet spot. One click now - thank me tomorrow (well, maybe not tomorrow since you'll be up all night reading)... ;)
1449233
These 11 novellas by big-name authors open doorways to 11 major fantasy universes that are known the world over.  A couple of the pieces herein qualify as short stories, but most are actually novellas.  Whether you like stories that are pure fantasy or mix fantasy and science fiction together, these novellas should hold something for you.  Some of these worlds you may be familiar with, and the stories herein are fresh approaches to well-known subjects.  Others may be new to you, and you can revel in the new worlds that are revealed.  I was familiar with about half the fantasy worlds included in this collection but enjoyed visiting them from these new angles, with these new tales that embroidered the fantasy worlds I already knew.  The other half were new to me, and it was exciting to make their acquaintance.  I've already started sampling other works by the authors in this book, turned on to their work as I was by this collection.

The stories herein are all very well written and read smoothly and easily.  Don't let the collection's large 715 pages put you off; you can read this book in a week if you work at it a little bit.  I read it at the rate of one story a day so the stories wouldn't get all jumbled up in my mind, as sometimes happens when you gobble down short stories or novellas too fast.  Of the whole collection I think I liked Ursula LeGuin's "Dragonfly" best, though I have to say I'm a sucker for Earthsea.  Because there are so many selections herein you should find a few pieces here that you really enjoy, if not at least half the collection.  If you like this book, check out the books that are listed at the beginning of each individual story, for more of the same!
2892428
I broke one of my rules.  I created this rule after suffering through the wait between books from Terry Brooks, Mercedes Lackey, and other great fantasy fiction writers.  I held true for the Harry Potter series -- refusing to read one book until the entire series had been completed.  THAT is the rule:  NEVER pick up a series when it only has one or two of the books written, so you don't have to wait until the next one comes out if you get hooked.  I stood there in my dentist's office and looked at the two Alora  books and contemplated the "rule".  I figured I would never get hooked on these -- after all, she's my dentist.  How good a writer could she be when she is juggling a full time job, family, etc.?  And, in my favorite genre?  What were the odds?  So much for THAT theory.  I have read almost every big name fantasy fiction book written over the last 30 years.  I started with the Greek and Roman mythology when I was 9 years old and never looked back. By the time I was in high school, I was into The Hobbitt, the Earthsea Trilogy, etc, etc, up through more modern offerings like Inkheart and the Game of Thrones.  I am always on the lookout for a great new series that holds my interest. I found one in Tamie Dearen's Alora.  One of the marks of a great fantasy fiction novel is physics.  The author has to have the imagination to create a complete, new, believable world with its own scientific rules of "being".  Tenavae has it.  It isn't a knockoff from another book we've already read -- it is fresh and unique.  It has its own cultural worldview and laws of gifts and how they work.  Because of this attention to detail, Tenavae is a world that makes "sense" and becomes a believable fantasy location without trying to patchwork elements that we've seen before in another book.  Once you populate that very complex, unique place with believable characters and an interesting plot that keeps a reader wanting to turn the page, you have a great fantasy fiction series.  I am glad I broke the rule, so I could find this world and meet these characters, but I sure hate to wait for the next installment to see how this story turns out. I bought the first two books in this series thinking to send them to one of my nieces once I had finished and decided which niece it may best interest.  Now, I can't give them away until I read the end!  However, I'm not sorry I found Alora; and it is good enough to wait for the next installment...
640362
I have read quite a few of this genre and there are none I have enjoyed as thoroughly these five books thus far.
4371673
I stopped reading fantasy many years ago, primarily because the authors I looked at lacked did not, or could not, link their universes to reality.  I think it actually takes more creativity to create a new world that has ties to this one.  I truly enjoyed the way Ms. Madden was able to connect the two, and exhibit creativity in both worlds.  A very enjoyable read that has re-kindled my interest in fantasy; or at least in Ms. Madden's sequel when it comes out.<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Three-Wells-of-the-Sea/dp/192759832X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Three Wells of the Sea</a>
2139460
I can tell you that I've read every Never Girls that's been published and they are super.  They're just as entertaining for adults as children and it's nice to go to a fantasy place for awhile in this life.
1619850
It seems odd, but I really enjoyed the other books from the Pelbar Cycle, but had never read this - the first book in the series. It's a book I will keep around to re-read because it's that good.
417599
A different take on the trope of magic, in all forms, living right beneath our noses.
To some, the plethora of gaming and pop culture references might be a little too much, but they aren't forced and i found them enjoyable. They reinforced the idea that these stories happen in the here and now.
It's nice to see other cultures, beside the usual Anglo, represented fairly well. A Big Bad that is mostly unseen is a great hook for the next few books, as is the  all powerful (?) Council. Add to that the fact that prejudices between certain species appear to be ramping the and I'm definitely going to continuing this series.
654178
I've marked the characters as being "one-dimensional", and yet they are very likeble.  Actually, they are all pretty perfect, but hey, this is a fantasy and make-believe.  And for a fantasy, it does a great job of laying out the plot and "how did they get together", or, and a fair amount of hotness without too much runchiness.  What more can one ask for a nice and fluffy read?
2455462
Several months back I read about a new trend in erotica that involved re-imagined fairy tales with risque scenes.  I liked the idea, a lot, and so when I had an opportunity to review Fairy Tale Lust, I happily took it on.  Kristina Wright has assembled a good collection of short stories, with an emphasis on `short'; there are 18 stories in a little under 200 pages.  Normally I would grouse about the story length, but let's face it, in an erotica collection I'm not looking for character development.  I'm looking for a hot little story that's like candy for my brain.

Some of the writers faithfully adhered to the fairy tale format, and others wrote contemporary stories with a touch of fantasy.  I liked both, but I wish more of the stories read like fairy tales, with a naughty twist, of course.  There are too many stories for me to review them individually, but I will say that they were all decent, with several rising above the rest.  My particular favorites were "The Pub Owner's Daughter" by Alegra Verde, which closely mimicked a traditional fairy tale, "Sleep Tight" by Janine Ashbless, where a blue collar worker finds a sleeping beauty, "In the Dark Woods" by Kristina Wright, with a woman who may or may not be sleeping with a demon, and "The Return" by Charlotte Stein, where an unhappy wife is seduced by a man masquerading as her husband.

I spent the day reading these little stories in between doing my usual mom-drudgery, and I must say that it made my day ever so pleasant.  Since this is an erotica I feel the need to give it a `sensuality rating,' and while it's nice and hot, it's not quite as scorching as some stuff I've read.  Some of the stories are merely titillating, and others are downright satisfying.
1123658
I read a lot of fantasy books and I can honestly say that I cannot remember the last time I enjoyed a series a much as this one.
2623556
I like good fantasy, but it's hard to find, so it's nice to give something a positive review.  What intrigued me about this book was the weirdness/creepiness of the dragons, not to mention their very alien minds.  Kind of like getting into the head of a T-rex (or a sociopath?) and seeing the world from that perspective. Bizarre stuff. The twist is that we also get to experience what happens when dragonish sensibilities are transposed into human bodies and minds.  The result is nicely original and a little mind-bending. And without giving anything away, I think it is always moving when a character knowingly or unknowingly burns bridges, when irrevocable changes shift reality and make it impossible to go back.  At those times, the book feels bigger than just a light fantasy read - though there's plenty of action if that's all you're looking for. I get the sense that the author is just getting started, and I'll be curious to see what happens in any sequels.