Blackout, Rob Thurman. (An exploration of what it means to be human, through the eyes of Cal Leandros, half human and half alien genocidal killer. The only objection I have to this terrific series is that Ms. Thurman killed off one of the greatest villains I've ever read, the Auphe, several books ago, and she's been quasi-resurrecting them ever since.)
Iron Crowned, Richelle Mead. (This book a flat-out letdown, since the heroine gets pregnant and doesn't terminate the pregnancy--due to a lame emotional assertion that she "wants it"--thus flying in the face of a prophecy that is at the core of the plot: her son will conquer the human race. So, let's throw away seven billion people just because she has to keep this kid. Come on.)
A Brush of Darkness, Allison Pang. (This book is actually more paranormal romance than urban fantasy, which is unusual for me--I'm generally not interested in plots that just focus on the hero and heroine getting together. But this story doesn't have the typical happily-ever-after ending, and also has one of the great sidekicks in fantasy, a miniature, foul-mouthed, leg-humping unicorn named Phineas. That makes it different enough to keep.)
Bushwhacked: Life In George W. Bush's America, Molly Ivins. (I hadn't read any of Molly Ivins' books before, and now I realize we lost a treasure when she died. She documents the most incompetent person ever to hold the office of the Presidency, and makes a convincing case for Bush being the worst President ever. A very bittersweet read.)
Dark Descendant, Jenna Black. (In which the heroine, Nikki Glass--great name!--finds out she's a descendant of the goddess Artemis, and there's a whole hidden world of godly descendants she has to deal with. What's interesting about Nikki is that she isn't really a badass, not in the tradition of the usual urban fantasy protagonist. Not yet. But she's clearly on her way to being one. That journey will prove fascinating, I think.)
Uncertain Allies, Mark Del Franco. (Someone wrote in another review of this book that Connor Grey isn't a typical kick-ass urban fantasy hero, which is true. In this book, Connor is told he isn't a warrior. That's what makes him interesting.)
Shady Lady, Ann Aguirre. (Corine Solomon begins to discover and explore her witch powers and takes control of her life. Unfortunately, the author undercuts this with an unrealistic and out-of-character ending.)
The Grimrose Path, Rob Thurman. (The second volume in the Trickster series, the first of which boasted one of the best twists I've ever seen. This book deals with the fallout from the first, specifically the tricksters forced to live as human and losing their supernatural powers. These books are slower and more reflective than the author's other series, the Cal Leandros books. Not bad, just different.)
Blackout, Rob Thurman. (An exploration of what it means to be human, through the eyes of Cal Leandros, half human and half alien genocidal killer. The only objection I have to this terrific series is that Ms. Thurman killed off one of the greatest villains I've ever read, the Auphe, several books ago, and she's been quasi-resurrecting them ever since.)
Iron Crowned, Richelle Mead. (This book a flat-out letdown, since the heroine gets pregnant and doesn't terminate the pregnancy--due to a lame emotional assertion that she "wants it"--thus flying in the face of a prophecy that is at the core of the plot: her son will conquer the human race. So, let's throw away seven billion people just because she has to keep this kid. Come on.)
A Brush of Darkness, Allison Pang. (This book is actually more paranormal romance than urban fantasy, which is unusual for me--I'm generally not interested in plots that just focus on the hero and heroine getting together. But this story doesn't have the typical happily-ever-after ending, and also has one of the great sidekicks in fantasy, a miniature, foul-mouthed, leg-humping unicorn named Phineas. That makes it different enough to keep.)
Bushwhacked: Life In George W. Bush's America, Molly Ivins. (I hadn't read any of Molly Ivins' books before, and now I realize we lost a treasure when she died. She documents the most incompetent person ever to hold the office of the Presidency, and makes a convincing case for Bush being the worst President ever. A very bittersweet read.)
Dark Descendant, Jenna Black. (In which the heroine, Nikki Glass--great name!--finds out she's a descendant of the goddess Artemis, and there's a whole hidden world of godly descendants she has to deal with. What's interesting about Nikki is that she isn't really a badass, not in the tradition of the usual urban fantasy protagonist. Not yet. But she's clearly on her way to being one. That journey will prove fascinating, I think.)
Uncertain Allies, Mark Del Franco. (Someone wrote in another review of this book that Connor Grey isn't a typical kick-ass urban fantasy hero, which is true. In this book, Connor is told he isn't a warrior. That's what makes him interesting.)
Shady Lady, Ann Aguirre. (Corine Solomon begins to discover and explore her witch powers and takes control of her life. Unfortunately, the author undercuts this with an unrealistic and out-of-character ending.)
The Grimrose Path, Rob Thurman. (The second volume in the Trickster series, the first of which boasted one of the best twists I've ever seen. This book deals with the fallout from the first, specifically the tricksters forced to live as human and losing their supernatural powers. These books are slower and more reflective than the author's other series, the Cal Leandros books. Not bad, just different.)
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