Today’s auditory earworm was Archangel’s Shadows by Nalini Singh. After the Battle of New York, the city is recovering with that robust brashness that seems to define it, at least in media. (Think Spider-Man 2 for example.) But not all is well. There’s a new drug on the streets called Umber and not only does it give vampires a better high than anything else with their immortal metabolisms, it also incites them to bloodlust in a way that could be devastating.
Then there’s Ashweenie. The psychic Guild Hunter who set a new Guild record after the Battle; most stitches on a single wound. She, her “something” Janvier, and Nassar of the seven were a shadowy strike team throughout the hostilities, forging a real friendship. Well, she already sort of had that with Janvier. He’s a vampire that she’s been hunting on and off for years. But to hear him tell it, once he actually got a look at the Hunter following him, he was a goner. Head over heels in love.
And Ash likes him too. There’s just one problem. And it’s not a little one either. It’s a big one, a big secret that she’s kept from so many of her friends. They all know about her ESP. They know that sometimes she’ll warn them to take extra care and weapons before an assignment…and that’ll be the difference between life and death. She also doesn’t like skin contact because her main ability is picking up things from people through touch.
Janvier is one she can’t read. He’s not unique, but he’s someone she’s grown to trust and care about as well as not setting off her abilities. But she’s afraid to let him get any closer than he already is. Even though he, like every other male in this series, has already decided that she’s his and will act like it. And Ash does the same in return, although more subtly.
There’s a fine line for books like this to walk when it comes to acting possessively. And as Ash investigates a murder with Janvier at her side, we actually get to see that comparison. It’s one thing for Janvier to buy a second motorcycle helmet so that Ash has no reason not to get on the bike with him. It’s another thing for a man to convince a young woman to close all her bank accounts so that he can “better support her”. Care versus control.
I will say that this book, in terms of the romance, does follow the pathway I’d mentally laid out for the series. And, like with Jason’s book, we get plenty of side chapters showing us what Elena and Raphael are up to. Including a surprise visit from Raphael’s mother. But I wouldn’t say it was my least favorite book in the series. It was interesting, I learned things, and I’m still listening to more.
Today’s hardcopy is Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George. This is a middle grade book about a young woman – fifteen? – whose parents are dead and whose aunt has decided that, to save money, she must be sacrificed to a dragon. After all, surely a dragon will just carry off a virgin, then a (rich) knight will save her, marry her, and support the rest of the failing family with wealth from the dragon’s hoard?
Well, the dragon does carry her off, but he’s relatively nice about it and loathe to part with anything out of his hoard. Especially because he doesn’t see why she wants shoes. It seems that each dragon collects something different, not necessarily treasure, and shoes are what can be found here.
Creel (the girl) ends up choosing blue leather slippers that are, based on the dragon’s reaction and reluctance, probably magical. But with them she forms a new plan. To go to the capital city and make her own way as a seamstress and embroiderer. She’s got the skill, and now she’ll have the opportunity.
Naturally she’ll find the capital isn’t quite what she expected, and capitalism is rough to deal with. But she’ll make friends and they’ll help her win the day.
This is one of those books that would never have gotten so out of hand if key information had been conveyed much earlier on than it was. This is a plot contrivance that I’m getting kind of tired of, because there’s no good reason why that kind of secret should be kept, or just not spoken, at the appropriate time. Between that, and the truly obnoxiously childish Princess Amalia, I’m just as happy to not keep this book.
I’m sure if I was younger I’d have many fewer complaints. But I’m not that young. Still, I only paid a dollar for it at the library book sale this weekend, so I can’t complain too much. It’s definitely worth that much, at least.
I have some interesting choices for what to read next. I think one is the most logical option, but I may wait to see what kind of mood I’m in when I wake up.
mouse Reads Books 