Monster Hunt Bestiary

It's been one month since I started my Monster Hunt bestiary. I've been reading paranormal romance books that feature ghosts, witches, shapeshifters, vampires, and Frankensteins (aliens or altered humans). Thus far, I'd rate it a success.

IIII IIII IIII I

03 - Vampire

01 - Shapeshifter

03 - Frankenstein

06 - Witch

03 - Ghost

Oddly enough, with all the Teen Wolf fanfiction I've read over the past few years I'm stunned that I haven't read more shapeshifter books. As you can see, it is the least populated category in my tally. I guess I save all my shapeshifter loving for wolfy goodness that is Sterek, Steter and Stetopher. 

I've read sixteen books and have rated all of them between 2.5-5 stars. Fortunately for me, nine out of the sixteen books have been 4 stars or above with one book earning the sole FIVE STAR rating: Champion of the Scarlet Wolf, Book One by Ginn Hale. 

The HUNT continues until Halloween. 

HEXBREAKER by Jordan L. Hawk

4 Stars

NYC circa 1895, AU.

This was fun and since I snatched it up on sale for 99 cents, I'm pretty happy. Hawk is a smooth writer and does paranormal and action equally well. The history in Widdershins was so seamless that it almost disappeared, but here it plays a bigger role and shines bright. From the tenements to Tammany Hall to Commissioner Roosevelt to fairy clubs, it weaves the threads of history into a new tapestry of witchcraft.

Hawk excels at expanding characters that on first blush appear simple, one dimensional, into complex individuals. Taking the motif of a brawny, has no trouble using his fists and an effete intellectual and spinning their lives out to illuminate the multitude of facets which actually comprise that singular pane the reader first sees. 

The device of hexes is pretty clever and an interesting take on witchcraft. Throw in the soulmate aspect of the witch and their familiar, and it's rather romantic. Not that all things can't be perverted, and it is all the little twists where Hawk takes something and keeps turning it to show all the aspects that enrich the story. 

Overall, a story of opposites attract on the less glitzy side of The Gilded Age. 

CHANNELING MORPHEUS FOR SCARY MARY by Jordan Castillo Price

3.5 Stars

So, this probably would be better read individually with a bit of time between each section because the story is character oriented with the emphasis on sex as the meeting point between Michael and Wild Bill. It's great, hot, dirty sex, but it's a lot to take in. 

I did my best to play it cool, but the gut-churning jealousy I’d been feeling turned to lust at the idea of my not-boyfriend killing someone just for touching me.

Part 1: Payback
HOT. Gritty hookup ending with a new trail. 

Part 2: Vertigo
Words unsaid, they were said. Another steamy segment of Michael and Wild Bill.
P.S. Sauce for the gander is sauce for the gander. 

Part 3: Manikin
New town, new vampire to kill. This one rated pretty darn creepy. Nothing until this point really gave me the heebie jeebies, but yeah, this pegged the meter--classic horror. NICE. And Wild Bill and Michael are sexy as always. 

Part 4: Tainted
Round and round we go--SURPRISE! This one has an interesting development or two in Bill and Michael's relationship, a sweetness that had been missing.

Part 5: Rebirth
This ends this part of the series in a good place with a sense of acceptance. Sometimes you try for things and they don't work out, but sometimes they do and that's why it's worth it. 

I liked the characters and interested in reading where they go from here, but I need a break from the nookie. 

Favorite passage: 

I flicked the tip of the match with my thumbnail, watched a couple of sparks drop toward the ground and fizzle out before they hit, and took a breath tinged with sulfur. There was a pause where maybe the flame would catch, maybe not, as if Fate needed a second to think about whether she’d give permission for a single lick of flame to come to life. And then the match head flared, bluish white, then bright yellow, and then flame.

Overall, UF vampire sex oriented stories.

THE LONELY SHORE by Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen

3 Stars

The continuation of Felix and Zander's story as they travel with the crew of the Chaos.

Zander's health is the prime focus of this book. How his previous military service and physiological alterations to ensure humans survival in the war against the Stin has let him with a slow death sentence. This is emotional and not gonna lie, I cried. The reader gets put through the ringer with Felix and Zander.

My heart is yours, always has been, always will be.

The secondary issue of the the crew's conflict with the Agrius cartel comes to a head and the fallout is catastrophic. Cat and mouse across the galaxy is going to end up with them face to face. How that plays out is a bit of a surprise. 

The development of the secondary characters as we watch Felix and Zander's love story is good. We get a greater understanding of the various species and the Chaos crew members. It will interesting to see where they go from here. I'm up for the third in the series.

CHAMPION OF THE SCARLET WOLF, BOOK TWO by Ginn Hale

4 Stars

Again, a winner.

The conclusion to Skellan and Elezar's story does not disappoint. The court wrangling, opinion swaying and magic are all intense and engaging. To be honest, as much as I like this story and Skellan and Elezar's romance, Elezar's love and devotion between him and his steed, Cobre resonated even more strongly. That partnership, care and unwavering service to each other was breathtakingly beautiful. Some parts of the story felt a bit stretched at the end, nonetheless--wonderful, and time well spent.

CHAMPION OF THE SCARLET WOLF, BOOK ONE by Ginn Hale

5 Stars

All endings are beginnings. That said, 

Only an idiot would sacrifice his life for nothing.

Elezar Grunito was a bit of a brute in Lord of the White Hell, Book 1. He comes across as heavy-handed even during his most compassionate moments. But here, the mosaic of his personality is explored and expanded. His temper has always been an issue, but here we see the more cunning side. 

Elezar wiped the blade of his sword clean with the cloth he carried for just that purpose. The fact that he always kept such a cloth at hand struck him as speaking volumes about the life he’d made for himself as opposed to the one this witch led.

Skellan is a street rat witch who has dedicated his life to becoming the grimma of Milmuraille, but the moment comes for his to challenge things go horrifically wrong. The danger let loose is ravaging the populace--some lay dead, some flee, but a few stand to fight. 
The juggling of humor, violence, grim circumstances and heroism make for another mesmerizing Hale read. The witchcraft played with before is spotlighted. Javier and Kiram join up with Elezar, and that sense of camaraderie is established as the battle for Milmuraille begins. 

I think I loved this even more than Lord of the White Hell, Book 1. The setting of a city instead of an academy and the scampering through was more entertaining to me than the negotiating power plays of students and the rules. Again, this is truly a two-part book, but not to scare off readers with 1000 pages it has been broken down into two segments--Off to Book Two!

WITH PRIDE by Megan Derr

3 Stars

Great world building, as usual with Derr.

I really like Tria Noor and the demon princes of Guldbransen. Kristof, Duke of Stehlmore and substitute spouse for Demon Prince Hakon is a paladin and dedicated to serve beyond all other concerns or desire. His engagement to Hakon starts off rocky and never really finds its legs. Their enmity is based on misunderstanding and lack of communication without good reason, probably my least favorite conflict device. Additionally, this story is broken into two sections, one from Kristof's point of view and action-oriented with the two clashing. The second part told from Hakon's viewpoints is both dependent of large sections of exposition via dream sequences and the pair are separated--this doesn't work for me in a romance. It makes the coming together at the end less believable when the two characters spend so much time apart. 

So, I liked it and liked visiting the demon princes again, but this was not my favorite. Still, an entertaining read.

THE COVENANT WITH BLACK AMERICA--TEN YEARS LATER by Tavis Smiley

4 Stars

I don't think there's a rational person out there who can watch the news or look around them and say, "Everything is okay."

The fact of the matter is if there were a simple solution it would have been done before. That said, what we have presently is unacceptable. There are significant socioeconomic problems in our society that need to be addressed. The focus of this book is about improving Black American lives as a whole, what's wrong, what steps need to be taken, what has been done since the first edition, and where we as a country still need to go.

HEALTHCARE: The issue of health and well being of Black Americans and minorities and disadvantaged persons brings the issue of access to healthcare, disease rates, and nutrition and lack of access to healthy food to the forefront. While there have been inroads with the American Care Act that saw dramatic improvements and the full effects have yet to be seen as more citizens get the medical care and preventative care they need. Especially noteworthy is that First Lady Michelle Obama addressed two of the keys points brought up in this chapter with her "Let's Move" program and focus on home gardens to raise fresh produce. 

EDUCATION: Dr. Gordon's introduction puts forth an ambitious goal. The notable gender gap between females and males is not limited to Black communities, it is prevalent in White communities as well. Early education is key, but as the text points out there is no simple answer and all four of the original bullet list items require complicated efforts. Areas of great need are access to early education, Pre-K and revision of discipline policies in schools. Socioeconomic inequity causes widespread problems that are not quickly solved. And as always, family and community involvement in young members lives is key to success.

JUSTICE: Addressing inequity, I entered this chapter fearing it. I'm not a legal scholar but the three strikes rule was wrong to begin with and the statistics surrounding incarceration skews horribly along socioeconomic lines. Plus side: 2010 Fair Sentencing Act. I was surprised the Supreme Court's ruling on Johnson v. United States was not commented on since it was brought up in the original guidelines. Overall, the ground still needed to be covered in regards to juvenile offenders is enormous, though changes to zero tolerance policies and restricting prosecutorial leeway in determining whether children between the ages of 14-17 should be tried as adults seem an excellent starting point.

POLICING: Issues of bias, racial profiling, and the media. The skewed ratio of stopped or incarcerated Black Americans in proportion to the population is problematic. The media's preference of rating grabbing over journalism perpetuates false "truths". But, fundamentally, a police force needs to be compromised of community members to eliminate that us versus them mentality so recruiting and retention is critical.

AFFORDABLE NEIGHBORHOODS: This a major sociological issue that needs addressing. The ever shifting expansion and contraction of people from urban to suburban neighborhoods is complicated. Compounded by discriminatory practices in lending, sales, and rental, Black Americans struggle to find homes in areas with jobs. There is no easy solution, but holding elected officials accountable for dispersing funds effectively is important for all of us. 

CLAIMING OUR DEMOCRACY: Underrepresentation of Black Americans in Congress leads to lack of voice and unmet needs. Challenges include voter harassment, loss of voting rights due to felony convictions, gerrymandering, and new laws limiting voter participation. Additionally, no representation for the District of Columbia and through not addressed herein, other territorial possessions of the U.S.

STRENGTHENING OUR RURAL ROOTS: Rural poverty is a major challenge, especially for those in the Deep South and Appalachia. The ensuing lack of healthcare, education, and food is a major hurdle. These areas have been left out of the economic cycle of goods and services, and the residents suffer. The concept of incorporating 1/2 million individual Black farms to create a block that would be able to access more money and develop their existing assets as a unit instead of evanescing as so many small farms across the U.S. are doing was a bold proposal ten years ago. Stressing better information and access to available funds and services is critical. 

ACCESSING GOOD JOBS, WEALTH, AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY: There are some sobering facts regarding the 2006 Recession and its effects. It points out the importance of home ownership as an investment mechanism and illustrates the barriers to it from predatory lending to the lack of down payments. It offers new mechanisms to tackle the barrier from housing to entrepreneurialism, tax free accounts. The issue of healthcare that is a major issue for Americans and a big expense was pointed out, but the update did not address the Affordable Care Act which I found disappointing. Overall, the divergence in wealth and the diminishing middle class is having a profound effect on our society, and it is critical to address poverty.

ASSURING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOR ALL: the inequity of protection against environmental transgressions is acute and vulnerable populations, minority and poor, are targeted by businesses and not given the same compensation. The main topics addressed are lead paint poisoning and toxic waste dumps, both which disparately affect low income people. 

CLOSING THE RACIAL DIGITAL DIVIDE: access, training, and affordability are key issues. To be competitive in the modern job market requires it. Telecommunication companies versus the Community Broadband Act is an interesting and evolving struggle. 

I've plucked out some key points in the chapters, but obviously all the supporting data and arguments I didn't mention make this an interesting and comprehensive read. The chapters break down into an introduction, the original edition text, status update, and real life tips and programs that are successfully bridging the topic areas. In summary, this isn't meant to be academic, but a tool to understand issues and use to improve lives--NOW .

There is a very conscious and intentional logic and tone to the the book from the topic, to the format, and even the grammatical structure. I whole-heartedly agree with structuring the sentences so that minorities were the subject of active verb sentences; making them the agents of action and not objects passively waiting. This was incredibly successful in advocating power and self-primacy. On the other hand, while I understand the subtextual importance and psychological impact of capitalizing Black and Hispanic and not white within the text, refocusing attention and the highlighting the subject matter, at some point it lost that edge and looked more like a grammatical or proofing error. 

The fact is that in many instances the fabric of Black communities have been shredded and until they can be rewoven, until people belong to a cohesive, multigenerational group the struggle is going to continue. This book provides suggestions and key points to focus on for success. 

We can do better and we will do better. Life is moving forward. Things change, break, or just need to be switched as we and our society evolves. As Americans, we want people to have the right to LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. 

We ALL deserve it. It's our unalienable right. 

This book successfully tackles the issues by providing real action items.