Vampires, witches and trolls, oh my!
929461
I received an ARC for an honest review. This is the first book I've read by this author. It was slow going at first. I found it hard to get into the story. I'm not a fan of vampire stories per se but having been offered the chance to read it, I couldn't pass it up. It is a dark tale, full of all kinds of creatures. The town itself had a dark and demon-ish beginning. That's what made the story get more interesting. The mix of old and new. Theo/Thaddeus Dyer is a vampire who is moving on with the times. Others that he knows are not. Theo meets the human Eve and he is truly smitten. So much starts happening at this point! You need to read it to follow all the plot twists. The series looks like it will be good.
3717489
What a wild, fun book this first book in the Drag. Me. To. Hell series by this author!  This debut book in the series has Amanda Bishop, of the Bishop witches, wanting to "go straight" by enrolling in NYU.  Unfortunately for her, her ex Alex, a hunter and agent in the FBI's paranormal unit, has other plans.

  Listen, I am a witch, a liar, and most of the time, a stab-worthy bitch, but Ive never killed anyone in my entire life.

Alex can't find his brother, Jesse. Amanda has the unique ability to see auras and has visions. Being forced by Alex to help him find his brother, Jesse, the unlikely pair soon find themselves embroiled with a bocar, zombies and a mambo. With plenty of sass and snark in her arsenal, Amanda must put aside her desire for Alex and focus on the task at hand. The big question is - will she kill Alex in the process?

I so enjoyed this book that I pretty much read it in one sitting and then wanted more. So many secrets still remain that I think the "deal" that Alex made with Amanda will turn void in future books and I cannot wait to see how the unlikely alliance pans out.
2763633
I was extremely excited to get my hands on Charming Incantations: Sanguine. After reading the first book, I couldn't wait to jump back into the paranormal fantasy world the author has created.
This book has vampires, shape-shifters, werewolves, witches, banshees, goblins, trolls.  Not to mention my favorite vamp, Milosh, who I wanted more of.

The book is geared to the Young Adult crowd but I didn't mind. The second installment continues to follow Lisa, the Human Representative caught in a world of supernatural baddies.
The characters are extremely believable, the dialogue wasn't stiff  and in some cases, the dialogue was downright hilarious.

The plot kept me hooked. The characters were very likeable and believable. I'm definitely Team Milosh! Again, I just couldn't get enough of that vampire.

Fans of the series will enjoy this second installment! I sure did. It was a fun read. I can't wait for the third book!

Team Milosh all the way!
658643
This was a lot of fun.  I had had my fill of Vampire books back in the Ann Rice (et al) craze but this is more like a paranormal/parody hybrid.  The characters are well-developed and could easily become a series.

Pre-teens/Teens with a scientific slant will probably like it, too, with some of the asides and biological explanations that are sprinkled throughout.
2103989
Ava's got a new gig. Morgan, the area psychic has hired her to get the fairy problem under control. Easier said than done. Ava's getting a crash course in the inner workings of the supernatural community. Unfortunately no one warned her about the fame rabia; the nasty side effect of not eating.

Once again, Brown introduces some new races to the series, Goblins and fairies. I think it would be a good idea for not only Ava, but readers at large, to make Morgan (or another character) provide a supernatural training session. Let's be honest, as a mentor, Morgan sucks! She's constantly undermining Ava, giving her half-truths, and sending her into situations grossly unprepared. Of course, that's where a good chunk of the humor comes from - Ava tripping her way through these landmines.

The Goblins have been crafted well, and the description provided is highly entertaining. A conspiracy is afoot, and the race is in need of a new ruler. Where the last two books have given us a female antagonist, and a mild resolution, book three provides readers with an epic final battle. One that will leave Ava one ally short. The outcome leaves Ava with a team of misfits; a goblin, siren, Templar, zombie queen, necromancer and a psychic.

The fairies are causing a raucous of sexual proportion, described much like a horny teen. There's something going on with Lisa, and Ava isn't happy about it. Personally, I'm glad Lisa's been given a story of her own, the character is able to show progression, and isn't just Ava's lackey anymore. Good for you, girl!

Narration continues on with Pamela Lorence, and I found the same small characterization issues that showed up in book two. She really would be an amazing narrator for this type of story if she could just hone her craft a bit and show more consistency. But I find her voice appealing, with good comedic timing. So much so, that she's someone I would consider for my own project.

The third book in the Ava series is the most action-packed and fantastical installment. Without giving too much away, let me just say I love the ending, and the complexity in which Ava will require moving forward...her head is quite full, but her bed is empty. Brown will need to think up a good love interest that readers can root for.
1333034
Daisy Giordano and her friends and family are back for a second, fun-filled paranormal adventure in the wacky town of Nightshade, in Northern California.

A beloved teacher from Daisy's school, Nightshade High, has been savagely killed, and the signs point to a werewolf as the murderer. The secret, supernatural "Council" that rules over the magical citizens of Nightshade is on red alert, determined to figure out if one of their own is guilty. Daisy is determined to bring her sleuthing skills to bear in solving the crime, refusing to leave the case to the Council, the local police chief, and her psychically gifted mother and two older sisters. After all, not so long ago Daisy saved her school's cheerleaders from a rogue vampire using her recently discovered psychic talents. Daisy realizes, though, that because she doesn't have the mastery over her gifts that her family has over theirs, it would be really useful if her boyfriend would lend a hand, as he did with the vampire case. But normally dependable, mellow Ryan has been acting completely out of character lately, showing up late or not at all for appointments with Daisy, bolting away from her with no warning when he does show up, getting into fights with other boys, and taking offense and stomping off in a huff from Daisy for no apparent reason that she can see. Worse, Daisy has noticed him hanging around town in the company of a young woman so lovely, Daisy fears that all of Ryan's behavior problems are because he's in the process of dumping her in favor of her gorgeous rival.

Marlene Perez has done it again, creating a wonderful sequel to&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Dead-Is-the-New-Black/dp/0152064087/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Dead Is the New Black</a>. Daisy is a strong, determined heroine surrounded by a wacky cast of characters, including assorted werewolves and vampires, Daisy's precognitive mother, her telekinetic sister Poppy, her mind-reading sister Rose, a gorgeous exchange student named Duke who claims he's a fortune-teller descended from Gypsies, an enchanted juke box at the local diner that sends messages to Daisy through the songs it plays, and her hunky boyfriend Ryan, who's keeping a fascinating secret.

This book is a fun, fast read, and it can stand alone without reading the first book in the series. However, there is a lot of information in the first book that would really enrich the experience of this book if read first.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys light YA fantasy with frequent humor. And for those who have read and loved Dead Is the New Black, I am happy to report there are also two sequels currently in print. Book 3 is&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Dead-Is-So-Last-Year/dp/0152062165/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Dead Is So Last Year</a>. Book 4 is&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Dead-Is-Just-a-Rumor/dp/0547345925/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Dead Is Just a Rumor</a>. The fifth and final book,&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Dead-Is-Not-an-Option/dp/0547345933/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Dead Is Not an Option</a>, is scheduled to come out in 2011.

Note for parents, teachers and librarians: This book is G-rated. There are no incidents of drinking, drugs or adolescent sex either on or offstage, and Daisy's family relationships are warm and loving.

I grade the book as follows:

Heroine - 5 stars
Subcharacters - 5 stars
Fantasy world-building - 4.5 stars
Writing - 5 stars
Mystery Plot - 4 stars
Romantic Subplot - 5 stars
Overall - 5 stars
1901116
When I heard Ms Lipman was releasing her second book, I knew I had to buy a copy. Since the blurb mentions a different couple than the main couple of book 1, I was a bit sceptical of I'd love the book just as much as Bound to Blackwood.

After all, Lena and Thorn set the bar very high and I wasn't certain if the sequel could compete with Lipman's debut novel.

Turns out, I LOVE book 2! Ria and Ryver are very different from Thorn and Lena, but not any less compelling!
Ria is a normal human, or so she thinks. She can hear human thoughts, which would probably make dating very awkward.
Ryver is the only vampire known telepath in history.
They meet and fall for each other, but certain forces are trying to keep them apart, leading to events that left me on the edge of my seat. Ms Lipman is a master at suspense and torturing her characters and readers alike.

But I have to admit, two other characters threatened to steal the show:
Jessie, Ria's quirky and mysterious friend
Mercury, another vampire and member of House Blackwood, whose lines had me laughing out loud

Really looking forward to book 3!
162555
Absolutely wonderful start to a very good series.
The story itself is a little dull, but what makes this book and series very interesting is the love story that is developing.
Witches and vampires; light and dark; all in all I'm glad I started reading this.  It's definitely a twist on the normal vampire and witch books I'm used to reading.
Definitely worth a read.
2583030
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to! The action starts right from the beginning, as Rose and Lissa are captured and brought back to St. Vladimir's, the school they've run away from.  The vampire myth here has been twisted around, with there being more than one "flavor";  the Strigoi are probably closest to the traditional vampire. I liked the changes and the extra hierarchy it brought to the vampire society. This is a YA book, so there are a lot of teen-related issues -- bullies, gossip, depression, dating, etc -- and a fair amount of angst, but I thought it was all done rather well. And I had absolutely no clue who the bad guy was going to be before it was revealed. All in all, I will definitely continue this series.
1651767
The biggest puzzle here is how anyone could pan this book. While I could have wished for a longer book, as a set up for a series, it certainly caught my attention.  The stock paranormal characters are here--handsome vampire, smoldering warlock--but there is just that wee bit more that I require from a good read. There is a paranormal heroine who isn't quite like any other, and supporting characters that are well drawn and quirky--the imp is my favorite and has my vote for best supporting character of the year. The author has also drawn a unique paranormal world, quite a feat when so many people have written in this genre. Could it have been better? Yes. The heroine's conflicted motivations are a little too familiar and her reactions sometimes predictable. But...I kept reading, something I don't always do any more, and at the end I searched for part two! Sadly, the next installment has not yet appeared, but when it does, I will be first in line to buy it. Four and a half stars if It were possible to give a half!
4284329
Another fun ride with the Winchester witches.  All the fun characters are back...cousins Bay, Thistle & Clove...their mothers...and of course cantankerous witch Aunt Tillie.

A boat is found abandoned with no sign of the occupants, a couple from Canada.  FBI agent Landon comes to town to help Chief Terry, and perhaps reconnect with Bay?  Ghost Edith tells Bay that newspaper owner Brian is hiding something from her...when it's revealed, the witches are all thrown into a tizzy.

I really enjoy this series with its fun, quirky characters.  So many possibilities for Book 4...can't wait!
1684174
Note: This book works fine as a stand alone though I think you would enjoy some of the characters more if you read Book 1, Halfway Dead first.

Set in the picturesque, touristy New York town of Halfway, Carlie is still making waffles at the local diner. Wulfric is enjoying his new-found freedom, and Carlies company. Gus still appreciates having human slaves to open his tuna and provide a warm bed. But something is afoot, and its more than just the circus in town and the clowns cluttering up the diner. As more bodies pile up, Carlie and Gran must put their witchy powers to use. Vampires are crossing their territory and not all are behaving nicely.

This was another fun addition to the series. Carlie is a little older, a little wiser, but also completely smitten by her half-vampire Viking lover. I think her love life had her a little distracted throughout the book, but I can forgive her. Its her first love and shes fallen hard. Plus, Wulfric is an interesting character in his own right. Things are complicated a little by his previous girlfriend, a shape-shifter named Anna. They have a child together and so its unlikely that Anna will ever truly be out the picture, much to the irritation of Carlie.

The librarian was also a favorite character, even though I don't recall his name. Hes a little awkward, totally geeky, and definitely a worthy ally. He helps Carlie dig up info on the first body and he doesnt lose it when he actually sees the body. I also enjoyed the mail delivery lady. She has a wholesome sexuality that everyone enjoys. I am glad the author put this character in the story because she serves as counterpoint to Anna. Carlie goes off a few times about Annas promiscuity and it really borders on slut shaming, but then we have the mail delivery lady who Carlie likes. Id like to point out we never actually see Anna behaving badly, we just hear about it from Carlie. Jealousy? Perhaps.

I really enjoyed Gran sharing one of her secret information sources, a certain ghost. That scene has stuck with me and still has me chuckling. I love that Gran is not only an important person in Carlies life but also a worthy mentor.

Eventually the mystery starts to unfold as more than one vampire attempts to cross the lands protected by the McEwan witches. And, of course, the clowns play into it as well. How could they not? If you find clowns a little creepy, then this story will raise your gooseflesh. I really liked the underlying mystery and Gran and Carlie have to go to battle with their witchy spells. Im on the fence about whether or not I liked Wulfrics role in the final battle.

Overall, this was a solid story and I got quite a bit of enjoyment out it. However, I did enjoy Book 1 more. Still, I look forward to the next book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via The Audiobookworm.

The Narration: Erin Spencer does another good job with this installment in the series. She really sounds like a 20ish woman. I also like her accent for Wulfric and some of the clowns had accents as well. Her Gran is also growing on me quite a bit.
3511139
I love when an author can take supernatural creatures I think I know and make them something unexpected. Nothing in this book was quite what I was expecting. The vampires, elementals, witches, and weres aren't typical. Even the way magic is used is slightly off-kilter from what mainstream media would have us believe. And that makes this book priceless to me. I also loved the snarky pop culture references that delighted my inner nerd-girl. For me, it was in the developing relationship between Alec and Dianna where this book really shone. It wasn't love at first sight, it was something they both had to work up to which made it feel all the more real.
I received a complimentary copy of this book.
1342999
Vampires, werewolves, witches... you know the drill. They keep popping up because they are fun to read about, when written correctly. And boy does Ms. Olson do a good job. She gives adequate detail of her "Old World" to set a tone all her own.

There is an engrossing murder mystery that keeps the story moving at a great pace. There's a power struggle that is ongoing, and will likely continue through the series. Scarlett, a new addition to the familiar lore as a null (someone who negates magics), is a likeable protagonist. The obligatory love triangle is believable, and as expected in a series of novels, goes unresolved thus far. The supernatural beings are delightfully portrayed - some brooding, some dark, some peppy, some sinister.

I look forward to reading the rest of this series, and recommend you get started, too.
269960
If you like anything witchy, vampires, romance, or all three - you will like this book. The world building was well done, and vivid. It's a world I'd want to live in! The main character, Avah, is great. Reading from her point of view was a treat. She wasn't all trauma and inner struggle, she also made me laugh a few times which was greatly appreciated. The romance was so great, a lot of emotion. Reading it made me just wanna go cuddle up with my own boyfriend. The emotions in the book translate really well, as said, during the lovey parts, I felt lovey. And yes, I did cry during the inevitable sad parts. This book is all around great, the ending sets up the next book very well. I'm excited to read that one next!
3068614
Are you looking for an interesting book filled with powerful witches, vampires, shifters and a very mysterious circus group?

This was my first meeting with Carlie, Gran and Wulfric. I have a weakness for witches and vampires, so obviously I couldn't resist this book :). As soon as Ive started reading it I knew I won't be disappointed.

Halfway, a town where everything happens. It all starts with a circus, some unusual clowns, and few bloodless bodies. Carlie and Gran won't allow some random killer mess up their family grounds. The problem is, they have to find him first.

The plot of this story revealed nicely and in just the right pace. All the pieces came together in proper moments. Carlie didn't have to do everything by herself after she does have Gran and Wulfric to help. And since Carlie is still a witch in training there was also a moment when Gran thought her some new tricks. I liked that, it shows that the characters are still learning, they aren't the know-it-all like in some stories.

I have to admit I really like Carlie. For a witch in training, shes already quite skilled. I really liked how the author showed her inner thoughts, her relationship with Gran and with Wulfric. I know I missed few things from the first book (Ill work on that), but I have a feeling author knows his characters well, the way they should behave, what they think, what drives them. I like that. Plus he knows how to show they're all different. A different behavior, the way they speak.

When I read about Wulfric I couldn't stop thinking about Eric from Sookie Stackhouse novels. Not from the TV show, that one was quite cool, but the one from the books was great and so is Wolfric. I found his way of talking adorable. Oh, and good job for actually showing readers hes a man out of time. The author managed to present Wulfrics personality in a believable way. You could almost hear and see him behaving like an old-time Viking who barely learned how to fit into our modern times. Picture him as Thor from the first Thor movie if it will help you :), a bit funny, kind of adorable and sexy.

I did enjoy the fast pace of this story and the final battle looked awesome in my head. This story pulled me in from the very first pages. I intend to read the first book soon :) and the next one if it will be written (I hope so).

<spoiler>A little thing that bothered me was that Carlie, a powerful witch with quite an assortment of spells, had to be saved by her boyfriend. I understand that even a powerful person might run out of strength and it was great that she had family and friends she could count on, but still I was just a tiny bit disappointed here. I still like the book, so no harm done. </spoiler>

Would I recommend you this book? Yes! It was an entertaining and fast read filled with action, mystery, magic and great characters. And I even liked the cat :P

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Check my other reviews at [...]
1823944
Now, first off, I should tell you that I'm usually not a fan of dark paranormal.  I like my paranormal fluffy and light, with very little gore and lots of magic.  But this book won me over instantly, and now that it's done, I can't wait for more of Gabby's adventures.

She's a demon hunter, but her own past is pretty shady.  Because of an old promise, she's stuck looking out for the Van Helsing family, and that's not an easy job.  The three brothers want to carry on the family tradition of hunting the evil undead, but they're woefully unprepared next to Gabby.  (But, to be fair, she's had a lot longer to get used to the job).

This is a high-stakes thrill ride from start to finish with sparkling secondary characters, a powerful heroine, and, oh yeah, lots of truly nasty demons.  I can't wait for the next installment in this series!