Odd Interlude

Odd Interlude: A Special Odd Thomas Adventure by Dean Koontz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Really hope that Dean Koontz will write some books featuring Jolie and Ed. I love Jolie's character.

When Odd and Annamaria arrive in Harmony Corner, Odd soon realizes that odd disharmony rules the family compound. Jolie reveals that her family's minds are being controlled by the mad scientist Norris Hiskott. By visiting a secret underground culvert she is able to evade Hiskott's mind control. She believes the underground culvert was used as an escape hatch by the scientist at Ft. Wyvern. She has discovered a unique mummified corpse in the culvert that she refers to as Orc, but is unable to go further into the underground compound.

While Odd goes to kill Hiskott, Ed arranges for Jolie to come further into the compound and reveals that Hiskott injected himself with alien DNA. With Ed's remote assistance Odd is able to defeat Hiskott and restore harmony to Harmony Corner.

View all my reviews

The Curse

The Curse by Sherrilyn Kenyon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved it.

Evalle is miffed that Storm was nursed back to health by Adrianna, but Storm is equally miffed when he sees Evalle kissing Isak. Isak now knows that Evalle is an Alterant, luckily for Evalle his Mother Kit stopped him from killing her and appears to be indulging in some heavy duty match making. To Isak's credit even after finding out that Evalle is an Alterant he loans her the weapon she needs to kill the Svart Trolls.

Quinn is having a really hard time. He feels guilty over accidentally betraying Evalle's whereabouts to Kizira. He unburdens himself to Tzader who orders him not to tell Evalle or anyone else. Tzader and Quinn try to use Quinn's link to Kizira to uncover what the Medb coven are up to. Quinn's cousin, Lanna, has also shown up. Lanna is fleeing from a wizard and manages to get kidnapped by the Trolls along with the twins Evalle is friends with. Lanna manages to use a cell phone to get in touch with Quinn and between her and a Belador prisoner they are able to help Isak and Viper find the prisoners before the Trolls start feeding on them. Quinn does a mind like with the Troll Lieutenant and discovers that this was a diversion and that the strongest Trolls are attacking Brina.

In order to protect Brina Evalle has to turn into her beast form. She saves Brina's life but believes that everyone including Storm is repulsed by her beast form. And Brina is working over time to make Tzader jealous.

Cathbad forces Tristan to evolve into a Gryphon. Evalle and Storm kiss and make up, now Evalle is ready to start tracking Tristan in order to rescue him and his sister.

View all my reviews

The Eagle and The Wolves

The Eagle and The Wolves by Simon Scarrow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Macro and Cato are on the mend and they have been left in Calleva to train two cohorts of Atrebatans to protect the supply lines from Durotrigan raiders. Cato gets off on the wrong foot with Prince Artax and never truly sees him as the honorable man he is. This has serious consequences later in the book.

Prince Tincommius on the other hand goes out of his way to make himself agreeable to Macro and Cato. Oddly enough Macro is suspicious of him and keeps him in his own cohort (The Boars) where he can keep an eye on him Since Cato speaks some Celtic he becomes closer to the men in his cohort (The Wolves).

King Verica chooses Artax as his successor and emphasis how important the relationship with Rome is for their tribe. Artax agrees to keep the alliance with Rome. Meanwhile General Plautius fearing the Atrebatans aren't as loyal as they pretend to be sends Tribune Quintillus to Calleva to find out what the situation really is. Quintillus has the power to annex Calleva if he deems it necessary and rule as it's Governor. Needless to say Quintillus tries to stir up trouble to justify annexing Calleva, but he stirs up more trouble then he bargained for.

Bedriacus (the standard bearer for the Wolves) overhears a plot to assassinate King Verica and comes to tell Cato, but before he can he is stabbed. Cato suspects Artax and has him imprisoned but Quintillus demands that he be released. King Verica arranges a hunt for Boer and while they are hunting someone tries to kill him. Cato comes upon a wounded Tincommius who claims that Artax attacked the King. Cato rushes to King Verica's aid and see Artax standing over him with a club. While Artax is trying to explain to the rather thick Cato what happened Tincommius arrives and kills Artax. King Verica is rushed back to Calleva, where he lingers in a coma.

Quintillus orders the two cohorts to ride to the aid of a supply wagon they see burning, too late Cato realizes it is a trap. Quintillus takes the opportunity to flee for help and goes to seek Legate Vespasian's aid. Cato, Macro and the few survivors of the ambush retreat to Calleva. Tincommius arrives at the gates and demands that Calleva surrender to his allies the Durotrigans. He also claims the Romans killed King Verica.

The Romans and the Atrebatans loyal to King Verica make a heroic stand in the royal compound. When they refuse to surrender Tincommius brings the captured Roman prisoners to the walls and breaks their legs and arms one by one. Cato can't stand the brutality and begs Macro to do something, but Macro replies the only thing they can do is remain calm. When Figulus(who is a favorite with the Wolves) is brought forward to be tortured Cato uses the opportunity to turn the Atrebatans against Tincommius. King Verica regains consciousness and is brought to the wall where he tells everyone that it was Tincommius who tried to kill him. Cato leads a charge and rescues the prisoners and captures Tincommius. But the Durotrigans quickly overrun the compound but before the Romans are defeated Vespasian arrives with reinforcements.

Once he realizes that Tincommius was telling the truth about Caratacus coming, Vespasian orders a retreat to his legion. But before they can reach them they are surrounded by Caratacus. Vespasian opts to make a stand on a hill and before they can be overrun General Plautius arrives. Caratacus flees from the superior troop force. They march back to Calleva, Quintillus is named Governor and Cato is order to disarm the Wolves.

View all my reviews

Celebrity in Death

Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When K. T. Harris (the actress who is playing Peabody in the movie adaption of Nadine's book) is murdered at a dinner party both Eve and Peabody are a guest at they have numerous suspects to choose from. Seems K. T. Harris was blackmailing practically everyone at the party.

Then the P.I. Harris hired turns up dead and Eve starts thinking that the killer might be used to using murder to solve problems. Once she delves into his past she comes up with 7 cold cases she can link him too. Now she just has to get the proof.

Feeling the heat the killer sets Julian (actor playing Roarke) up to take the fall and commit suicide while he enjoys a nice dinner with a friend. But Nadine realizes what the killer is up to and gets to Julian in time to save his life.

Now Eve has all she needs to nail the killer for multiple counts of murder.

View all my reviews

The Witness

The Witness by Nora Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great, at 16 Liz sneaks out with an older "friend" to go clubbing. They are hit on by two members of the Russian Mob. Julie pressures Liz into accompanying her to Alexi's house. Liz goes out on the balcony for some fresh air and witnesses Alexi and Julie being murdered. She barely manages to escape. The copes take her into protective custody and she is being protected by U.S. Marshalls until the Russian Mob hit men and Kingpin's son can stand trial.

John and Terry (The U.S. Marshalls that are with her during the day) take her under their wings. John teaches her how to shoot a gun and Terry teaches her self defense. But on her 17th birthday the relief Marshalls arrive intent on killing Liz, John and Terry. When Terry opens the door she realizes something is wrong and has time to warn John, who fatally wounded manages to make it to Liz's room where she was trying on their birthday gifts to her. He tells her to run and trust no one. His heroic last stand allows her to escape.

Now Liz/Abigail is starting a new life in a small Arkansas town, but falling in love with the town Sheriff complicates her life. She eventually reveals her past to him and they concoct a plan to bring the Russian Mob down so she can stop running.

View all my reviews

Tehanu

Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goha, who was once Tenar of Atuan takes in a badly burned girl who had been abused by her family. The girl does not give a name so Tenar calls her Therru. Not long after Ogion sends for her. Ogion recognizes "power" in the girl and instructs Tenar to train her but not to send her to Roke.

The Lord of Re Albi is using a soccer (Aspen) to steal life from his grandson and keep himself alive.

Tenar buries Ogion and follows his instructions to wait. Eventually Kalessin arrives with Ged on his back. Kalessin gives Tenar his name, before he leaves. Tenar cares for Ged and he eventually regains his physical strength but the magic is all gone. Not ready to face the outside world when the King sends envoys to seek Ged on Gont he flees to Tenar's home.

Aspen places a curse on Tenar she manages to flee with Therru, who is being pursued by one of the men who burned her. They stumble on to the King's ship. The King recognizing Goha as Tenar provides her with aid and takes Tenar and Therru to Tenar's Farm.

Ged has been sent with the goats to mountain pasture when she reaches home. At the beginning of winter Therru's attackers come to the farm to take her but Ged follows them there and injuries one and sends the others running. Ged and Tenar become lovers, and Therru's parents. Tenar's son returns to the farm and lays claim to it. Tenar, Ged and Therru head back to Gont when word reaches them that Auntie Moss (the witch of Gont) is ill. On the way there Aspen puts Ged and Tenar under a spell, Therru manages to hide from him, and he does not realize that she had been with them. Therru calls Kalessin. The next day Aspen takes Ged and Tenar to the cliff where he plans to throw them off but Kalessin arrives and kills Aspen and those with him. Kalessin gives Therru her true name Tehanu and reveals he had been searching for her. He ask if she wants to go with him and she does but she wishes Ged and Tenar to go too and Kalessin says they can not. Tehanu decides to stay with Ged and Tenar for the time being as they have a lot to learn and Kalessin says one day he will return for her.

View all my reviews

When the Eagle Hunts

When the Eagle Hunts by Simon Scarrow
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is unbelievable and I am totally disgusted by the number of horses/mules killed.

General Plautius' wife and children are shipwrecked behind enemy lines and taken prisoner by a fanatical set of Druids of the Dark Moon. The Druids have issued an ultimatum free the Druid prisoners captured by the Romans are the General's family will be sacrificed to Cruach at the First Budding. Cato and Macro are sent behind enemy lines with Iceni guides Prasutagus and Boudica to rescue them.

After barely escaping from an ambush, the group finally get on the trail of the Druids and their hostages. They arrive at the sacred grove not long after the Druids left to discover Diomedes (Greek trader trying to avenge his family) impaled on a stake through the anus. Before he dies he tells them the General's family is being taken to Mai Dun - The Great Fortress.

Desperate to reach them before they reach The Great Fortress and a rescue becomes impossible they push on and barely get there in time. When the wagon carrying the prisoners is temporarily separated from it's warrior escort they make their move. Macro is grievously injured in the rescue attempt, unable to free the General's wife who is chained they leave with the two children but the young boy escapes from them and runs back to his Mother. Boudica takes the unconscious Macro and the General's daughter back to Vespasian, while Cato and Prasutagus try to find a way to rescue the General's wife and son. The Druid's angered by the rescue attempt send the boy's finger to Vespasian with the threat that if another rescue attempt is make the prisoners will be sacrificed early. Cato sneaks into The Great Fortress, but is unable to free the hostages.

Vespasian leads an attack on The Great Fortress and Cato with a small band of men sneak in and rescue the General's wife and son. Cato is seriously wounded during the escape and winds up in the same hospital room as Macro. The General's gratitude extends to making Cato a Centurion. Boudica and Prasutagus return to their tribe and are married.

View all my reviews