Saturday, March 17, 2012

Review: Bitten by Dan O'Brien

Bitten by Dan O'Brien

Amazon Product Description:
A predator stalks a cold northern Minnesotan town. There is talk of wolves walking on two legs and attacking people in the deep woods. Lauren Westlake, resourceful and determined F.B.I Agent, has found a connection between the strange murders in the north and a case file almost a hundred years old. Traveling to the cold north, she begins an investigation that spirals deep into the darkness of mythology and nightmares. Filled with creatures of the night and an ancient romance, the revelation of who hunts beneath the moon is more grisly than anyone could have imagined.

My Thoughts:
This is a completely new and different feel for the werewolf story.  It hints at the supernatural and ritualistic from the start and delivers in the end.  I enjoyed the characters, but the plot is the driving force.  Hecate was an interesting and unexpected touch.  Lauren is a strong, driven woman with a sense of purpose and a desire for justice.  The language is wonderful, Dan O'Brien is a master at visual description.  The story is fast paced and dramatic.  I loved the idea of a man who wished to be a monster and a monster who wished to be a man...the story was wonderful.  This story has a little bit of everything ~ horror, mystery, romance, thrills, chills, and a bit of supernatural.  I hope there are more Lauren Westlake stories to come - I will be looking for them!



The only problem I had with the story, and it doesn't take away from the story itself at all, was the "hey" that seemed to end a great many sentences spoken by inhabitants of Minnesota.  As a native Minnesotan, I neither add that to my speech nor do I notice anyone else doing so.  It seems to be a misconception that perhaps we talk that way.  

Review: Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

Amazon Product Description:

Alex Kosmitoras's life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he's blind. Just when he thinks he'll never have a shot at a normal life, an enticing new girl comes to their small Midwest town all the way from India. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Sophomore year might not be so bad after all.

Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival--an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to "see" the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they suggest Simmi is in mortal danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex embarks on his journey to change the future.
My Thoughts:
This is a wonderful read!  The characters are well developed and creative.  Alex is a fabulously created character.  The story is nicely paced and the plot draws you in.  The world that the author has created for her characters is believable and realistic.  I am always excited to see that little something extra like the runes at the start of each chapter, it makes me feel like the author wanted their book to be special.  I truly enjoyed this story and look forward to more from Emlyn Chand!