Book Review: Ace/Roc 2009 sampler

[amergina]

Book: Brand-New Science Fiction and Fantasy from Ace and Roc Authors: Faith Hunter, Mark Del Franco, Patricia Briggs, Rob Thurman, Ilona Andrews, Steven R. Boyett, Julie Kenner Pages: 134 (Sampler)

The sampler says science fiction and fantasy. It's more a sampler of urban fantasy, though. A bit misleading.

I won this sampler in a give-away over on calico_reaction's book review blog. Part of the deal was that I'd post a review once I'd read it. :)

Also, if you like science fiction and fantasy books, you might want to check out calico_reaction. She's a prolific reader and a good reviewer.

Skinwalker by Faith Hunter

Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind-a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires and hunts vampires for a living. But now she's been hired by Katherine Fontaneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katie's Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who's killing other vamps...

I enjoyed this excerpt (the first chapter), especially the feeling of both Jane and Katherine being not-quite-human. It was interesting to see their interaction. And I was curious to know more about what a skinwalker was, exactly. I would have kept reading. Depending on whether I keep thinking about the book, I may pick it up. I have SO much on my TBR mountain right now, though.

Skin Deep by Mark Del Franco

Being an undercover agent has its occupational hazards, but Laura Blackstone makes it look easy. As a spy for a fey intelligence agency, she uses her magical abilities to create disguises that are skin deepglamours that must never be compromised. But when Laura's worlds collide she'll have more to worry about than retiring an identity; she may just lose her life.

I didn't finish this chapter. It had me ROLLING my mental eyeballs from the get go. Part of it was the premise for how fey and humans get together--a mysterious convergence of their worlds. Part of it was the sheer amount of telling rather than showing. The action stopped and we were spoon-fed information. And then there's the fey. Now, I like elves and fey as a fantasy trope. I do. But it seems like when it comes to fey everyone and their sister's godparent's live-in plumber goes for the Seelie/Unseelie fey of Scottish mythology. They're not the only type of fey. Not by a long shot. So, that was the third strike, and I moved on.

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs

Mated to werewolf Charles Cornick, the son -and enforcer -of the leader of the North American werewolves, Anna Latham now knows how dangerous being a werewolf is, especially when a werewolf opposes Charles and his father is struck down. Charles's reputation makes him the prime suspect, and the penalty for the crime is execution. Now Anna and Charles must combine their talents to hunt down the real killer -or Charles will take the fall. (Second in a series)

I very much enjoyed this chapter. I could have kept reading, and I certainly ought to really pick up the first of the books at some point. It was a well written episode without any overexplaining. And you get the sense that the author has her world's mythology down.

Trick of the Light by Rob Thurman (Available September 1st)

When Trixa learns of a powerful artifact known as the Light of Life, she knows she's hit the jackpot. Both sides-angel and demon-would give anything for it. But first she has to find it. And as Heaven and Hell ready for an apocalyptic throwdown, Trixa must decide where her true loyalty lies, and what she's ready to fight for. Because in her world, if you line up on the wrong side, you pay with more than your life...

I did not finish this chapter. I could *not* get into it at all... none of the action made sense to me and it felt very stream-of-conscience-like. Had I picked this up in a book store, I would have put it down. Just not my thing.

On the Edge by Ilona Andrews (Available September 29th)

The Broken is a place where people shop at Wal-Mart and magic is nothing more than a fairy tale. The Weird is a realm where blueblood aristocrats rule and the strength of your magic can change your destiny. Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, the place between both worlds. A perilous existence indeed, made even more so by a flood of magic-hungry creatures bent on absolute destruction.

This was good. And *different* and had a humor that hit me just right. I am very tempted to pick this one up, despite the towering TBR pile. Not too many people write about that intersection between the non-magical and the magical world, and I've never seen anyone tackle the idea that it is it's own land.

Elegy Beach by Steven R. Boyett (Available November 3rd)

This is the sequel to Ariel, a book written 25 years ago. Thirty years ago the lights went out, the airplanes fell, the cars went still, the cities all went dark. The laws humanity had always known were replaced by new laws that could only be called magic. The world has changed forever. Or has it?

In a small community on the California coast are Fred Garey and his friend Yan, both born after the Change. Yan dreams of doing something so big his name will live on forever. He thinks he's found it-a way to reverse the Change. But Fred fears the repercussions of such drastic, irreversible steps.

A solidly written piece. Again, the world isn't overexplained. We're shown not told. It's interesting, and the characters are believable. Another I may pick up--but probably in paperback. It's coming out first in hardcover.

Tainted by Julie Kenner (Available October 27th)

When her little sister is brutalized, a vengeful Lily determines to exact her own justice. She succeeds at the cost of her own life, but as she lies dying, she is given a second chance. Lily can earn her way into Paradise by becoming an assassin for the forces of good. It's the job Lily believes she can really get into-but she doesn't realize that she may not be able to get out.

I just could not get into the voice. It was a bit too bubble-headed, and when the character looked at her new body in the mirror and berated her slightly pudgy old body and marveled at her new ass, I had to check the sex of the author again. I still can't believe a woman wrote that... It's a shame, because this piece got the most pages in the sampler, and it was one of the weaker ones.

So, three out of seven I'd read. One that I am seriously thinking of picking up.