Vampire The Masquerade 3e ★★★★★

Oh dark goddess, how did I miss all this in the 90s?  After watching the World of Darkness Documentary I had to read this book.  Part graphic novel, part underworld novella, it captures the imagination.  

A must read for all Vampires Aficionados. 

Come and take a sip.

Judge Dee and the Mystery of the Missing Manuscript ★★★★☆

The Vampire Library has few rules, but those they have they take deadly serious.  

Unfortunately, Judge Dee is late returning his book - seven hundred years late.

“Death!” the monks chanted. “Death to the unlawful borrower of books!  Death to the late returner!”

“That seems a bit excessive,” Drago of Carpathia said. “He did bring it back!”

The monks hissed at him…

“Seven hundred years of torture, then!”

It was funny to see Judge Dee in the hot seat, to see him penitent yet, as always, clever.  

And yes, there was also a murder mystery.  And again, the ending needed another sentence or two to grab another star.

Read it for yourself: https://www.tor.com/2022/11/09/judge-dee-and-the-mystery-of-the-missing-manuscript-lavie-tidhar/

Seven Vampires by Lavie Tidhar ★★★☆☆

That was three vampires too many I think.  There was something about the pace, and the ending, that made the story less satisfying than previous offerings.  

“He thought of their previous adventures - or nightmares, as Johnathan privately thought of them… He might have considered writing them down, but his handwriting was terrible and besides, no one wanted to read stories about vampires.” 

Moments of levity still made it worth the time.  Another two or three sentences at the end, or one sentence of foreshadow, could have added a star.

Read it for yourself: https://www.tor.com/2022/02/16/seven-vampires-a-judge-dee-mystery-lavie-tidhar/

Judge Dee and the Poisoner of Montmartre by Lavie Tidhar ★★★★★

On a busy frustrating day I snuck every chance I could to read a few pages - I smiled every time.   

”So long as not too many bloodless corpses were found in the morning and people took care to clean up after themselves, things were generally fine.” 

Vampires have few laws. 

But when a vampire is murdered it’s up to Judge Dee and Jonathan to solve the case!

Read it for yourself: https://www.tor.com/2021/09/15/judge-dee-and-the-poisoner-of-montmartre-lavie-tidhar/

Judge Dee and the Three Deaths of Count Werdenfels by Lavie Tidhar ★★★★★

 “The truth was that mysteries were bunk: murder was straightforward and everyone did it, from the emperor down.”  

The Count had disappeared and three of his enemies are claiming they killed him, claiming inheritance by vampire law.  

Another clever offering from the Judge Dee series!

Read it yourself: https://www.tor.com/2021/02/10/judge-dee-and-the-three-deaths-of-count-werdenfels-lavie-tidhar/

Judge Dee and the Limits of the Law by Lavie Tidhar ★★★★★

Karen has again mined Tor for the good stuff!  

Vampires have few laws, but those they take deadly serious.  Directed by the Council, Judge Dee travels the medieval world with his human companion and acts a judge, jury, and executioner for his kind.  He is old, powerful, and respected - but that doesn’t mean he cannot be fooled.  

This was clever, fun, and addictive!  I will continue the series.

Read it yourself: https://www.tor.com/2020/11/11/judge-dee-and-the-limits-of-the-law-lavie-tidhar/

The Key of Ahknaton by Graeme Rodaughan ★★★★★

If Chloe is your favorite character this one’s for you.  Even if she isn’t, prologue aside, this is the best book Graeme has written.   The factions, the surprises, the violence, the body count - good times.  

Vermilion: The Adventures of Lou Merriwether, Psychopomp by Molly Tanzer ★★★★★

"I’m very glad to have met you. I never knew there was anyone like you in the whole world." 

I loved this book. 

Anything this unique makes description difficult but here goes: Early Anita Blake set in an unfamiliar paranormal post Civil War America with a je ne sais quoi of The Sky Is Yours.

The Dragon's Den: The Metaframe War: Book 3 (Metaframe War #3) by Graeme Rodaughan ★★★★☆

"Violence will be my friend,” Anton uttered, a ferocious light behind his eyes." 

Magic Slays (Kate Daniels #5) by Ilona Andrews ★★☆☆☆

“...surrounded by death on both sides, as if gliding through Armageddon.” 

This series has jumped the shark.

Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels #4) by Ilona Andrews ★★★★☆

Kate is nearly as annoying as in Book One but that’s my sole complaint. This was another excellent action oriented story with sexy time, conflict, an epic battle and extraordinary resolution. 

Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels #3) by Ilona Andrews ★★★★☆

The first rule of the Beast Lord is no competing in the Kumite.

Magic Burns (Kate Daniels #2) by Ilona Andrews ★★★☆☆

Serious bad guys, well paced action, epic battles, and thickening plot - what’s not to love?

Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1) by Ilona Andrews ★★★☆☆

“You’re not as funny as you think.” 
- Nick to Kate 

No Kate you really are not.

A Traitor's War (Metaframe War #2) by Graeme Rodaughan ★★★★☆

“If you’re expecting a ‘gloat speech’ where I reveal the details of my plan to prove how superior I am... You’re talking with the wrong girl.” 

The Rook (The Checquy Files #1) by Daniel O'Malley ★★★★☆

“You think I'm in a daze because you're handsome, I'm in a daze because I could crush you."

- Myfanwy Thomas

The Lesser Dead by Christopher Buehlman ★★★★☆

"All you need to know is that you cannot trust me." 

These are true words, heed them. All the warnings on the first page were true. 

32 Fangs (Laura Caxton #5) by David Wellington ★★★☆☆

And so ends a great horror vampire series. 

23 Hours (Laura Caxton #4) by David Wellington ★★☆☆☆

"The teeth seem to spread outward, to grow even larger, to grow even in number. Malvern’s grin could draw blood all on its own." 

Vampire Zero (Laura Caxton #3) by David Wellington ★★★★☆

“It was over.
Nothing was over.”