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Showing posts with label Deborah Harkness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Deborah Harkness. Show all posts
Monday, September 3, 2012
Summer Lovin' Reads ala VampBard
It's been a GREAT summer for reading! Besides the titles that she's reviewed for That's What I'm Talking About, VampBard has read many other books. To cap off this summer of reading, she’s put together a summary of some of the titles she’s read, but didn’t review. VampBard has enjoyed most, awarding them high ratings and bestowing a quirky award or two. We hope you enjoy this end-of-summer treat!
A Shiver at Twilight (Halloween-themed novella)
Erin Quinn. October 26, 2011, Books We Love.
Wow! This one definitely fed my Stephen King factor! Psychological horror with some romance added in. Pulls together my past reader and my present-day reader. Perfect!
Award: Best Horror/Ghost Story
Darker After Midnight (Midnight Breed 10)
Lara Adrian. January 24, 2012, Dell.
I can't believe this is the end of the series! Ms. Adrian did a really great job tying up loose ends. I hope to see more of the Breed from her in the future...I'll miss them!
Award: Best Series Ending EVER!
EDITED TO ADD (by Twimom): This ISN’T the end of the series! Edge of Dawn, the 11th MB book is set to release in January, 2013.
A Taste of Midnight (Midnight Breed 9.5)
Lara Adrian. December 5, 2011, Dell.
I think that reading this novella increased my experience in reading the series-culmination, Darker after Midnight. I think it's definitely a MUST READ, for fans of the Midnight Breed series.
The Darkest Seduction (Lords of the Underworld 9)
Gena Showalter. February 28, 2012, HQN Books.
I adored Paris' book. I thought that it was a great addition to Ms. Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series, one of my absolute favorites.
Award: Best Title from Long-Standing Series
Magic Mike starring Channing Tatum
This was the best movie to attend with one of your Girls that actually GET your penchant for smut & eyecandy! I was lucky enough to attend with Twimom!
Award: Hottest (Chick) Flick of the Summer
Butterfly
Katherine Harvey. 1989, Guild.
I NEVER predicted the outcome of this story! Great read for the lover of suspense and psychological thrillers.
Award: Best Romantic Suspense
The Opportunist (Love Me With Lies #1)
Tarryn Fisher. November 14, 2011, Self-Published.
This was a great story...especially from one of my first ventures into reading a self-published author.
A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy #1)
Deborah Harkness. February 8, 2011, Viking.
What I loved the most about A Discovery of Witches is that Ms. Harkness wrote about something with which I was familiar. Researching. Her description, while not overboard, made me feel as though I was right there!
Award: Best New-To-Me & Breakout
If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period
Gennifer Choldenko. September 1, 2007, Harcourt Books.
Great read for 8-12 year-olds. Provides a unique and realistic perspective to get these kids asking the all-important 'Who am I?' question.
Award: Best Young Adult in a LONG time!
All That Bleeds (Etherlin #1)
Kimberley Frost. January 3, 2012, Berkley Sensation.
This initial book of Ms. Frost's Etherlin series integrates paranormal and mythology in a seamless manner, without hiding the paranormal from the human population. Unique approach. Superior execution.
Award: Best Integration of Paranormal Elements
50 Shades of Grey
E.L. James. May 26, 2011, Vintage.
Pop lit for Summer 2012. I've read better 'mommy porn'. Tugged at my Twilight heart-strings.
50 Shades Darker
E.L. James. September 15, 2011, The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House
50 Shades Darker was my favorite book in the 50 Shades Trilogy. I think it was my favorite because we learned the most about Christian, and saw his character evolve so much.
50 Shades Freed
E.L. James. January 19, 2012, The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House
The ending of the 50 Shades Trilogy was definitely a let-down and felt like a cop-out. I was definitely hoping for something more than sunshine, flowers, rainbows and unicorns.
Award: Lamest Ending to a Series 
So what was on your summer reading list? Were there any breakouts for you? What about disappointments?
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Saturday, July 21, 2012
Contest Winner - Shadow of Night
I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for the review of Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness. I want to thank Viking/Penguin Publishing for graciously donating a copy of Shadow of Night and the other great prizes for the giveaway.
Every person that commented on the review was entered into the contest - one entry per person. The winner was selected using random.org.
The Winner:
JJackson
CONGRATULATIONS!!
I am emailing the winner. Please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with your full name and mailing address so that the publisher can mail you the prizes directly. If I do not hear from the winner by Friday July 27, 2012 by the end of the day, I will select another winner.
Thank you all so much for coming by and Happy Reading!
Monday, July 16, 2012
Review & Giveaway: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
Shadow of Night
Author: Deborah Harkness
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Publisher: Viking
All Souls Trilogy #2
ISBN: 978-0670023486
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Format(s): Hardcover (592 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Shadow of Night picks up right where A Discovery of Witches left off. Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont, a witch historian and vampire geneticist respectively, have timewalked to Elizabethan England on their hunt for a magical alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782—its sudden appearance and sudden disappearance have upended the delicately ordered world of magical creatures (witches, vampires, and daemons), threatening to unleash unprecedented metaphysical chaos.
Though Diana and Matthew have escaped the threats of the present, they soon find the past holds its own challenges—Diana must find a witch to continue her magical education, a task made difficult by a rash of witch hunts across the British Isles. And Matthew finds himself back in a life he thought he left behind, reuniting with friends and family that had long been reduced to memory, opening wounds he thought had healed. Some of those friends comprise the infamous School of Night, a coterie of visionaries that includes Christopher Marlowe and Sir Walter Raleigh. Together, Matthew and Diana must navigate the new dangers of an old century—bringing them closer and closer to solving the mystery of Ashmole 782.
What VampBard’s talking about:
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NOTE: Shadow of Night picks up immediately after the first title, A Discovery of Witches, ends (seriously, it was a cliffhanger, and I was ecstatic that I had the second title at the ready). So, yes. Read the first book of the trilogy. Have the second on stand-by so you can immediately pick it up and begin reading where the first book leaves off! Consider yourself warned!
As A Discovery of Witches draws to a close, our hero, Matthew, and heroine, Diana, are preparing for a journey. Shadow of Night begins upon arrival at their destination (See? I'm even keeping the review spoiler-free for the first book!). This is where I started to **squee** like a fan-girl. Excellent depictions of some major authors of the time as well as mathematicians and scientists. Can I simply state that the first 20ish percent of this book had me riveted! The interactions with Matthew and Diana and the School of Night members were fascinating for me!
“Mad, bad, and dangerous to know” described this group perfectly. We hadn't joined a cozy reunion of friends on Halloween night. We'd fallen into a hornet's nest of Elizabethan intrigue.
Even when forced to change plans, Matthew does so with precision and forethought. Our couple were commanded to return to France, where Matthew would struggle with several issues. However, Diana's fierce protection and unwavering love for him manages to bind the couple even closer. I really enjoyed the way the relationship between Diana and Matthew's father evolved. There couldn't have been any other way to have the two grow together, due to their love of Matthew. While Matthew and Diana had been married prior to their trip at the end of Discovery of Witches, a third marriage ceremony was performed. Ms. Harkness' scholarly endeavors were definitely revealed as she explained the marriage rituals, including both Christian and Pagan rites, in a flowing, believable manner.
Matthew and Diana traveled to a few places, and during their journeys, Diana met a lot of interesting people. Matthew renewed acquaintances. However, Matthew's possessive nature, much like Edward's in the Twilight Saga, punctuated these meetings with a certain sense of hostility and discomfort for all parties concerned, as well as the reader. I think this is what propelled me through the story.
I also enjoy the snarky humor between Diana and Matthew:
“Vampires reckon time differently than warmbloods do,” he said, still unwilling to release me.“How long is a vampire minute, then?” I asked, snuggling under his chin.“It's hard to say,” Matthew murmured. “Some length of time between an ordinary minute and forever.”
Matthew and Diana also unearthed truths about their relationship, and their place within the grand scheme of things. Their revelations were sometimes so intimate that I felt as though I were trespassing on a private moment. Even after finding a treasure they sought on their journey, these intimate moments were powerful and full of emotion.
“Maybe my questions don't need answers as urgently as I thought they did.” To prove his point, Matthew put the book on the floor, out of sight. “I thought it would tell me who I am and why I'm here. Perhaps I already know.”I waited for him to explain.“After all my searching, I discover that I am who I always was: Matthew de Clermont. Husband. Father. Vampire. And I am here for only one reason: To make a difference.”
At the conclusion of Matthew and Diana's journey, they returned home, to find those they loved waiting. The de Clermonts are ready to face a battle to protect the right to love the ones that have chained themselves to our souls. I look forward to that battle in the next installment of the All Souls Trilogy.
VampBard’s Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
GIVEAWAY: Viking/Penguin Publishing is sponsoring an awesome giveaway to celebrate the release of Shadow of Night. They are offering a specially designed “Ashmole 782” temporary tattoo and a set of 6 buttons, along with a finished copy of Deborah Harkness’s new release, Shadow of Night. The buttons each display a different alchemical symbol; readers will discover their meaning as they read the new novel. To enter, please leave a comment below and include your email address if it is not part of your profile. While you do not have to be a Google Friend Connect to enter, it is appreciated. The winner is restricted to US mailing addresses only. Contest is open from July 16 until July 20, 2012 at 10:00 PM EDT. The winner will be selected from the comment entries using random.org. The prize will be mailed to the winner by the publisher; I am not responsible for items lost in the mail.
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