Book 50 of 52

The end of any book series can be a very bittersweet thing. Its always exciting when a new book comes out but when it is the last one it can be devastating. The end of a series I love is the end of a world that I have lived in, loved in and hid in when my life wasn't as exciting. I hate having to say goodbye to friends and that is what the characters become to me.
I have been following Vampire Academy since the very beginning. I fell in love with Dimitri instantly, was very intrigued with Christian and had a large attraction to Adrian. (I'm always a sucker for the boys). There were always a lot of ups and downs when it came to the girls... I liked Rose a lot but felt she could be immature at times, Lissa bugged me from time to time because I felt she was selfish. But I realized that she wasn't being selfish she had just been very sheltered and didn't know how to act any other way. Eventually she was able to break free and learn how to take care of herself, as well as her friends and now her people. I respected her a lot by the end of the series.
Although Richelle Mead is still the only author that is able to fully shock me (with all other books I am always able to guess the plot), I felt that the last book's shock factor was built up real well and then when the reveal occurred... it fell short. Tasha being the Queen's murderer was shocking and I never saw it coming but I felt the moment when everyone found out was missing something. You always want to be satisfied at the end of a book and at the end of a series but sometimes it is nice to have some things to wonder about. The things left unfinished in the book were a bit upsetting for me. I wish Richelle had given Adrian something, leaving him so completely devastated and with no one to turn to actually makes me worry about what will happen to him. Like I said... I get invested in the characters, as if they are my friends. As much as I loved Dimitri, I had also fallen for Adrian. You realize that he isn't as soulless as you may think at first, he just has something major affecting him and he doesn't know how to handle it. He's the type of male character that you want to take care of. I hate knowing that there wasn't anyone there to care for him in the end.

Book 49 of 52

There were several times that I began reading this book but never managed to read it completely. Unfortunately, every time I picked it up, another book I was waiting for would be released and I would end up putting it back down. I never got much further into it than the first chapter. And of course I started to read this on Monday and on Tuesday a book I have been waiting for came out. But this time I had gotten much farther into it and I couldn't bear to push it aside so I finished it before I started the new book.
In a world that has seen a very large number of young adult vampire novels in the past 10 years, somehow Rachel Caine actually managed to do something very different. I don't feel influences from any other vampire novels, movies or shows. She has her own mind and was able to create a whole new vampire world.
The Morganville Vampires is a unique series with very like-able, distinct characters. None of the characters gets lost in the story, or seems to hide behind the others. Each one has it's own personality and it's own story and you end up wanting to know more about each of them. It's very nice to find myself afraid of vampires again. I have been seduced by the idea of vampires ever since I was young but a big part of the seduction is the fear and forbidding feeling you get from loving them. This series brings you back to that fear. The Morganville vampires are not falling in love with humans and they are certainly not sparkling. (Don't get me wrong, I love Twilight, but its refreshing to read a "scary" book again).
One thing Caine has managed to do is bring me back to being 16. In fact, her writing reminds me greatly of many events I have lived. When the romantic scenes come up I feel the crazy fluttery-ness I felt when I was young and just experiencing these things for the first time. She brings you back to that first kiss with someone you really really liked and maybe even loved. She reminds you of a time when you were naive and thought that nothing else in life would matter but this one moment... the things that don't matter much anymore but that seemed perfect at that time. (the funny thing is... I started to write this last night, and in bed over night I had a high school dream).
I really can't wait to continue with the next book in the series. I want to follow these people through to the end and stand by them every time they need to battle the bad guys, I want to go back to Common Grounds with Eve and have some hot chocolate, I want to go to class with Claire, stay up late with Michael and flirt with Shane. Caine really knows how to bring fictional characters to life so that you fully invest yourself in their day to day lives.

Book 48 of 52

I'm very happy that LJ Smith and the creators of the Vampire Diaries show decided to write books from the point of view of Stefan. In the original books, I loved Stefan. He was so mysterious and sexy and then Damon was all that x's10. In the show I am fully in love with Damon and Stefan is ok but he bugs me a bit. In the new book... Stefan's Diaries: Origins... Stefan bugs the crap out of me. Hes such a coward and so willing to do whatever he is told. He is angry when he finds out that Katherine was able to compel him but for 17 years, that is exactly what his father had done, and he didn't even have any vampiric powers. I have always been seduced by the idea of living during the 1800's. In a time where men were gentlemen and women were ladies, dating was "being called on", and anything sexy was kept to the imagination unless you were married. But on the other hand... I would never go along with an arranged marriage. Love is what makes life matter. So for him to just go along with whatever his father wanted him to do, really makes me angry.
I loved the fact that this book makes you like Katherine through most of it. Even at the end when you find out that she had killed Rosalyn and deceived Stefan a bit, you still don't feel the overwhelming hatred that the original books and the show make you feel for her. This book really showed her human side and made you wonder who she was before she died, it made you think about the life she had once lived. I hope LJ Smith decides to write something from Katherine's point of view, starting before she was turned. 

Book 47 of 52

Finally finished up book 10 of the Sookie Stackhouse series. I think one of the things that took me so long was getting into the idea of who Eric's maker was. The only thing I liked better in the show than in the books is this point. Seeing Eric and his maker in the TV show gave Eric a lot more depth and emotion, it brought out his human side. I can't wait to see what else happens in the series and in the mean time I will read the short stories about Sookie.

Book 46 of 52

Another book down. And still a book a head of the game. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris, book 9 of the Sookie Stackhouse series. I loved it. Still LOVE Eric, not so fond of Bill. Cannot wait to see what happens next

Book 45 of 52

Another Sookie Stackhouse novel down and two more to go (until the 11th one comes out). I am already half way into the 9th book but still didn't get to blog about From Dead to Worse. I find it very hard to constantly review books in a series because to me they all add up to one story and most of what I say for the first couple of books, holds true through out the series. Unless the writing style changes drastically or the author decides to collaborate with another author on one of the books. In this case Charlaine Harris has stayed very true to her writing style and has kept the books just as entertaining as when she started to write the series. I enjoy these books very much and read each one in only a couple of days (if I had time I would be reading a book a day).

Book 44 of 52 and reflections on the year

 I cannot believe this year is almost over. So much has happened, a lot has changed and so many great things have been brought into my life. I am now married to the love of my life, I have a new niece and nephew, I am getting closer to finishing school and because of that I had the opportunity to work at an amazing place, I am finally getting some of my health issues taken care of (even though the side effects have sucked). I managed to keep up with my reading and I believe I am still on track with the 52 books in 52 weeks, and somehow managed to begin learning about 5 new craft mediums.
Among all the great things that have happened there have also been some losses. I've had to say goodbye to an amazing woman who I never really got to know as well as I would have liked, I lost a cat I have known most of my life and a dog who I loved dearly. I also lost the first kitten I have fostered in a long time. I've taken a few risks and played it safe on many occasions. My knowledge, book collection and neurosis have all grown.. the good and bad in those are debatable. It has been one hell of a year and its not quite over yet.

My nephew Riley Phoenix

My husband with our niece, Holly Nola

RIP Wally Man

Lori, Carl and Carol (Carol, you will be missed greatly)

RIP Bubba

RIP Pixel, I only had six days to love you

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just finished reading All Together Dead, the 7th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I am still really enjoying the series but I felt like a lot of this book was all filler material. There were a lot of major events that took place but the rest probably wouldn't have been missed if it had been left out.