[Unknown LJ tag]Finished two more books this week in between struggling with the Lie to Me plot bunnies of doom: Michelle Sagara’s Cast in Silence, and Toni Andrew’s Cry Mercy. Mini reviews follow.

Cry Mercy, by Toni Andrews
Genre: Urban Fantasy

This is the third book in the Mercy Hollings set, and although the series got off to a rocky start with the first book, Beg for Mercy (to the point I remember thinking there was no way I was going to bother keeping reading), it's starting to find its feet now. This one delves into Mercy's past a little more - we get to find out (as she does) who her parents were and why they gave her up all those years ago. We also get to find out a bit more about Tino - the gang leader we met in book 2, and what he's managed to work out about Mercy from a keen sense of observation and common sense. Plus, we get to meet Sam's father. It's an OK read - one I basically only got because the e-book was on special and cheap, and I don't regret reading it. I'm giving it a 7/10 - I'll probably go on to read Book 4 if I see it on special, but I won't be hanging out for it until it does.


Cast in Silence, by Michelle Sagara
Genre: Fantasy

Ok, as I always say when I review a Michelle West/Sagara book, it's by Michelle Sagara, so I'm GOING to love it. Take it as read, 'k? And yeah, this is definitely no exception. I absolutely love the world of Elantra - I love the characters, I love the Joss-ian banter, and I LOVE the depth of the characterisation and the way Michelle Sagara manages to say so damn much in so few words. Gahhh... I'd give much to be half the writer she is. Anyway, this instalment has Kaylin's past as a street kid in the Fiefs reaching out and biting her in the ass, and we get to see a bit more about what exactly the Fiefs are - how they came about - and what they exist to protect. It has all my favourite characters (two of one of them - go Nightshade!), and some AMAZING character development and exploration of Tiamaris, whom I've always had a soft spot for. Net result? Love, love, love, love, love. It's not quite a perfect 10 in the Starfireverse, but it comes damn close - I'm giving it a 9/10 and wondering... just a little... if I'm being just a bit too stingy.

77 / 100 books. 77% done!

Tags: 100 book challenge '09, book challenges, book reviews, fantasy, urban fantasy
Current Mood: accomplished

( One of these books is not like the other one )

75 / 100 books. 75% done!

Tags: 100 book challenge '09, book reviews, supernatural chick pr0n, urban fantasy

( Has been a good week, generally. )

Tags: 10 000 steps, 100 book challenge '09, book challenges, car, trailwalker training
Current Mood: content

( Well, bugger me - we made it! )

Tags: 10 000 steps, 100 book challenge '09, fringe, trailwalker training
Current Mood: accomplished

( Mini Book Review: Rogue Angel - Solomon's Jar, by Alex Archer )

59 / 100 books. 59% done!

Tags: 100 book challenge '09, action, book reviews, kickass heroines, urban fantasy
Current Mood: tired

( clickety click for the mini-reviews )

54 / 100 books. 54% done!

Tags: 100 book challenge '09, action, book reviews, chick pr0n, marketing, non fiction, romance, science fiction, writing

So I've managed to finish three more books over the course of this week (at some point... gods know if I can figure out when), and I just want to do quick mini-mini-reviews on them before I whisk them back to the library:

The No-Complaining Rule, by Jon Gordon (Non-Fiction, Career Development, Attitude): Much like The Energy Bus, this was a fairly simplistic, but not unenjoyable reminder to my subconscious to keep a conscious eye out for the things that are going well; and if I see things that aren't, to make sure I only talk about them in the course of actually trying to *do* something about them (i.e. the 'constructive complaining' of Landmarkia) - like The Energy Bus, I'd give this one a 7/10.

The Hard Truth about Soft Skills, by Peggy Klaus ( also Non-Fiction, Career Development, Attitude): A quick rundown on the 'soft skills' that are so critical in not just enjoying your job, but in getting ahead in your career as well (e.g. communication, conflict management, organisation, leadership, etc). Reasonably good on a surface level, but it read more like an educational brochure than a book - telling you what skills you need to develop and why they're important, but not actually doing much in the line of teaching you *HOW* to develop them. Probably best used as to conduct a 'soft skill audit' on yourself, with a view to working out exactly what you most want to work on developing, and then going to find other resources to help you develop them. I guess I'd give this on a 6.5/10.


Which now brings me to 54 books finished this year according to my spreadsheet - looks like I forgot to review on at some point - and the next ones on my list are finishing Linnea Sinclair's "Hope's Folly", which is due back later in the week, and starting Joe Vitale's "Hypnotic Writing" all about "seducing customers with the power of my words" ;-)

54 / 100 books. 54% done!

Tags: 100 book challenge '09, action, attitude, book reviews, career development, chick pr0n, non-fiction, romantica
Current Mood: accomplished

( Mini book review: Four Secrets to Liking your Work, by Muzio, Fisher and Thomas )

48 / 100 books. 48% done!

Tags: 100 book challenge '09, book reviews, career development, motivation, non fiction, psychology
Current Mood: accomplished

( Mini Book Review: Turn Coat, by Jim Butcher )

48 / 100 books. 48% done!

Tags: 100 book challenge '09, book reviews, dresden files, urban fantasy
Current Mood: accomplished

( Mini Book Review: Burn Notice: The Fix, by Tod Goldberg )

47 / 100 books. 47% done!

Tags: 100 book challenge '09, action, book reviews, burn notice, media tie in
Current Mood: accomplished