Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz

"Revelations" is the third book in the "Blue Bloods" series by Melissa de la Cruz. She has a rather unique take on vampires, and I've been having a lot of fun reading through the series! In these books vampires are immortal, and originally were angels. They do feed on human blood, but they have very strict rules about it, and many of New York's Social elites are actually Blue Bloods (so called because of the color of their blood).

The Blue Blood community is still reeling from the incontrovertible evidence that the Silver Bloods, their ancient enemies, are not just legends or myths and are back and killing. For Mimi, while this should be shaking her up (she was accused of being one in the last book), she's more upset over her twins infatuation with Schuyler.

Schyler, mean while, is in agony as she's torn between her love of Mimi's twin, Jack, and her love of her long time friend Oliver, who is also now her blood familiar. She's also extremely distressed because her Grandfather is off on a dangerous mission and not reporting in nearly often enough for her satisfaction.

Just like the rest of the series, this is a fast-paced, page-turning, vampire soap opera that will keep you hanging onto every word!

Across the Wall: A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories

by Garth Nix

I absolutely loved the Abhorsen trilogy, so when I saw that there was another book linked to it; I started dancing in my computer chair! "Across the Wall: A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories" is a compilation of short stories by Garth Nix. Some are more of the length of a novella, and some of them are only a couple of pages long. Only one of the stories is set in the world of the Abhorsen trilogy, but the rest made for interesting reading as well!

One thing I really liked about this book is that each story has an introduction to it where we get to hear from Garth Nix why the story was written, and some of his stories surrounding it. I guess I'm just a sucker for stories, because I like even the stories about stories!

"Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case," is the first story in this book and the one that's based in the world of the Abhorsen trilogy. I loved the fact that we got to find out more of what happened to Nick, because while he is redeemed at the end of the last book, we're left with no idea of where his life is going to go from there. The only thing that frustrated me about the story is he left me wanting even more as he hinted at a blooming romance...

There are twelve other stories in this book and they vary vastly in topic and style – which I liked. While there is a degree of his "flavor" to all of them, it's always fun to see an author who can apply his talents to a variety of subjects.

Many of these pieces (maybe all, I can't remember) have appeared before in different anthologies or other print mediums. One of them (Hansel's Eyes) I had actually read before! Two are based in Arthurian legend, one is based in Nix's homeland of Australia, and we even have a "choose your own adventure" type story in here! Readers of Nix new and old will love this anthology of his work.

Pyramids by Terry Pratchett

First let me say - sorry for the lack of reviews lately!

I hope to be bringing these to you on a regular basis again now :)

I've read the majority of Terry Pratchetts books, and as I do my read through by publication date, I'm enjoying coming across the ones that I've never read! "Pyramids" is one of those, and as my local library didn't have it, I had to do an Interlibrary Loan request for it!

"Pyramids" is the story of Teppic, a young man on the verge both of becoming an Assassin and a King. Both are rather respectable occupations, and in fact Teppic had been sent to Ankh-Morpork to train as Assassin precisely because it was a noble calling and one that promised to give him the best education.

In Ankh-Morpork crime is managed by the guilds for the most part. They've taken what used to be rather haphazard acts of thievery and murder, and elevated them to an art. This actually allows for a more orderly society than they had before, and I find the system rather fascinating. I rather enjoyed the first portion of the book where we learn about Teppic's early days at the school, and his eventual Assassins test.

Teppic does not get to stay merely an assassin though, the blood of Kings runs through his veins, and when his father dies, it's time for him to go home and rule the kingdom.

Djelibeybi is a small desert country. It's narrow and long, and its biggest distinctions are the pyramids that dot the landscape (and bankrupt the kingdom) and that its presence keeps its two neighbors from warring with each other. Teppic finds himself being manipulated by the high priest into creating the biggest pyramid ever in honor of his dead father. Although, if he could hear his dead father like we can, he'd realize that the last thing he wanted was a pyramid.

The only problem with this pyramid is that it's simply dangerous to build a pyramid that big. Oh not for the reasons you might expect, massive pieces of rock and dying slaves and all that, but because the pyramids actually channel time. So when this mighty pyramid is built, and not finished correctly, everything in the kingdom goes haywire. The kingdom itself disappears, the mummy's walk, and Teppic the Assassin King has to figure out how to fix it all.

February's Book List

I keep getting sick - sorry I haven't been around lately! I'm rather late on posting this but I wanted to get it up because I'm part of a book reading contest right now :)

Funny thing? Since I've been sick the last week or so - I've already read more books than last month :P And it's only the 11th! I'm at 11 books as of today and almost to 12 :)