My lost review for Hard Spell by Justin Gustainis

My original review for Hard Spell was supposed to be posted back when Justin Gustainis did a guest post in August. I'm not sure what happened, only that somehow Blogger ate the post and I never checked on the status. As I was trying (mostly in vain) to clear my computer area and organize the enormous backlog of books, I came across a note reminding me to put my review up at Goodreads. Only when I checked, no review was found. So, my apologies to the author for messing that up because I'm not always a airhead and because I truly enjoyed the book. The review will be posted at VampChix and at Goodreads...and I've double checked this time!

Book description:

Meet Stan Markowski of the Scranton PD’s Occult Crimes Unit
 
“Like the rest of America, Scranton’s got an uneasy ‘live and let unlive’ relationship with the supernatural. But when a vamp puts the bite on an unwilling victim, or some witch casts the wrong kind of spell, that’s when they call me.

“My name’s Markowski. I carry a badge.

“Also, a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets.”

Review:

Stan isn't the nicest guy. He doesn't always say or do the nicest things. So why do I like him so much? Over the course of Hard Spell he goes from being a sarcastic jerk cop to being a father that has been forced to make very difficult decisions, and struggles every single day with the outcome. Stan is a hard nosed detective that investigates crimes involving vampires and other supernatural beings. He's very good at his job and has made more than a few enemies. Stan also has a reputation for speaking his mind and taking on the bad guys head on. His sarcasm, attitude, and foul mouth are hysterical, and actually make him a more likeable guy. Yes, Stan could use a course, or twenty, on manners...remember that attitude I mentioned?  Not everyone he meets likes it. But I have to say, I am rather fond of Stan.

It's not just the characters that make Hard Spell a stand out novel either. The criminal element was well planned and developed, horrific without being too over-the-top. I thought the depiction of a world full of monsters was believable as well. Sort of CSI (the Las Vegas version) meets True Blood (minus the sex). I'd love to read more. Truthfully, Hard Spell was part of my Top 10 for 2011 and I highly recommend the book to anyone wanting a taste of a different type of vampire/monster novel. Justin Gustainis was one of the few authors last year that made me want to read about non-romantic vampires, like Jon Merz and his Lawson stories.


Hard Spell is the first Occult Crimes Unit Investigation. The sequel, Evil Dark, is coming April 2012. Hooray!!

The Vampire Diaries ~ As I Lay Dying~ Season Finale

SEASON FINALE

This season finale of Vampire Diaries was heart wrenching. I have to admit that I was a little disappointed. I think last week’s episode with Jenna and Jules dying could have served as the season finale. But the best moment happened during this week’s finale.

Damon, knowing he’s dying, goes to see Elena and asks for her forgiveness. She tells him she needs time. Damon tells her to take all the time she needs even though he doesn’t have it to give.

Damon returns to the Salvatore house where he drinks and flings open the curtains. He takes his ring off and stands in front of the windows letting himself burn. Stefan of course, slams into him knocking him out of the sun and saving his life. Stefan locks him in the basement and vows to find a cure.

Elijah and Klaus are in the woods and Elijah tells Klaus that he’s cleaned up the mess he made. Klaus tells him that he remembers every kill and that it’s glorious that he can change at will. They both go back to Alaric’s apartment and Klaus stabs Elijah with a dagger with white ash on it while Catherine and Stefan look on. He says that he’ll keep his promise to reunite his brother with his family.

Stefan tells Alaric about Damon and he comes to suicide watch Damon. Damon tries to provoke Alaric by bringing up that he let Jenna die and he turned his ex-wife. Alaric just responds by telling him that they’re both too sober to have that conversation. Damon is getting worse—he’s having flashbacks about Catherine.

Elena, Jeremy, and Caroline attend the viewing of Gone With the Wind in the park with the rest of the town. Elena tells Jeremy that they have to keep active until it gets easier. Stefan shows up to tell Elena about Damon and she feels horrible that she was mean to him when he came to her. Stefan tells her to go see him.

Sheriff Forbes who has been spurred into handling the vampire problem by the Mayor detains Elena outside the house. Alaric tries to warn Sheriff Forbes that it’s not a good time to see Damon. She ignores him and actually lets Damon out of his cell.

Meanwhile, Stefan is dealing with Klaus. Klaus reminds Stefan of the vampire he used to be. The one that wiped out an entire village, draining all the humans dry. Klaus tells Stefan that he has a cure, but Stefan has to join him. Stefan tells him no and Klaus refused to help him with Damon’s cure. To show Stefan what the cure is… he bites Catherine and shows that it’s infected. He forces Catherine to drink his blood and the werewolf bite heals almost instantly.

While Elena is locked up, Damon is wandering the park and Jeremy finds him while he’s sick. Jeremy takes him into the Grille where Sheriff Forbes tries to shoot him but ends up shooting Jeremy instead. Bonnie and Caroline rush in. Caroline tells her mom to stay away from them while she tries to save Jeremy. Bonnie explains that his ring won’t work because he was shot by a human instead of a supernatural being. Alaric shows up and helps Bonnie move him to old house where she can tap into the witches power. They don’t want to help her because they think she’s abusing their power, and that if they help there will be a price. She begs anyway and admit that she loves him. Jeremy wakes up.

Elena breaks out of the room that Sheriff Forbes locks her in and goes to find Damon. She finds him wandering the park hallucinating about Catherine. He mistakes her for Catherine and tells her that she’s so beautiful and bites her. He realizes what he’s done and apologizes to her before collapsing.

Klaus forces Stefan to drink many bags of blood, calling out the blood lust in Stefan. Stefan agrees to go with him to prevent Damon’s death. Klaus tells Catherine to take a bottle of his blood to Damon and Catherine jets out of the room. Stefan tells him that Catherine will never take the cure to Damon. Klaus tells him that he’s very aware that Catherine had Vervaine.

Elena has gotten Damon back to the Salvatore house and into his bed. They have a heartfelt conversation and he tells her that he deserves to die. He also told her that he could have made a different choice and not have loved Catherine. He knows she loves Stefan and that it will always be Stefan. He admits his love for her and that should have met him in 1864 that she would like liked him. She tells him that she likes him now, just the way he is.

Elena kisses him.

Catherine interrupts them and gives Damon Klaus’s blood. He starts to visibly get better. Catherine tells them that Stefan is paying for the cure as they speak and that she wouldn’t expect him any time soon. That it’s a good thing Elena has Damon to keep her company. As a parting shot she says, “it’s okay to love them both. I did.”

Stefan and Klaus are in a warehouse where apparently Elijah’s parents are stored. (where now Elijah’s body will be stored) To make sure that Stefan is being truthful about going with him, Klaus has a human girl and wants Stefan to kill her without compelling her. Klaus takes the first bite and tells her to run. Stefan chases her down and bites into her neck. Uhoh.

Jeremy is at home and chats with Bonnie via video chat. Alaric comes in to ask him if he's okay. Alaric decides to stay the night. Jeremy wakes up in the middle of the night and realizes that he can see Vicki and he can Anna who are both dead.

Jeremy sees dead people........

________________________________________________________________

I am really interested to see what you guys thought of the season finale! Were you disappointed or overjoyed?

I am so pleased that Elena kissed Damon on her own! (Insert fan-girl squeal here) I love their chemistry and hope this develops in the third season. What did you guys think?

I have to say that I am sooo excited to see a stronger Stefan. I think his character was way too 'nice' and it's time he was a stronger man. I have a feeling that Stefan is about to become a force to be reckoned with.

OMG Jeremy can see his dead girlfriends. What is this going to mean for Bonnie and Jeremy? I'm sure that his being able to see his ex-girlfriends is going to cause some issues for this adorable couple.

So feel free to share your thoughts and keep a look out in the next few weeks, I'll recap the whole season. :)

Guest post and giveaway: Chloe Neill

*A big Thanks to Chloe Neill for making Bite Club part of the blog tour for Twice Bitten! I am so thrilled to have her as a guest and as you know, I absolutely cannot wait for Twice Bitten to hit store shelves. As an added bonus, Chloe has generously offered a signed book and some swag to one lucky commenter (I am so jealous...kidding...well sort of)! The contest details will be at the end of this post. Without further ado...Chloe Neill!


The (Chicagoland) Vampire Mythology

Hi, everyone! I thought I'd spend a little time today reviewing the vampire mythology checklist in the context of the Chicagoland Vampires series (with some comparisons to other paranormal series).

Generally, I tried to stick to the basic biological constraints of vampirism with some tweaking here and there for the modern setting.

Soul or No Soul?

In the Chicagoland Vampires world, vampirism is a communicable genetic mutation. (I know, I know. Willing suspension of disbelief.) :) As Ethan essentially tells Merit in SOME GIRLS BITE, she never died, and her heart never stopped beating. Thus, vampirism has no effect on one's soul, nor are vampires "undead," previously-dead, once-dead, etc.

Thus, when vampires sleep (which they do during the day), they are actually asleep. They are not temporarily dead or unconscious. They can force themselves to stay awake, but this is generally difficult to do--the equivalent of a human trying to stay awake after 2 or 3 sleepless days. There are also no coffins in my world. (Cadogan House has a luxe bed for its Master, and dorm-style beds for the Novitiates).

Blood-drinking?

The Chicagoland vampires must drink blood from humans and other vampires. Blood is, as Mallory points out, "another vitamin." Vampires can (and must) also eat normal food, and do get hungry. Merit has strong smoked-meat cravings, although that may just be Merit. :)

Sunlight?

No sparkles here. ;) The Chicagoland Vampires sleep during the daytime, and have a severe allergy to sunlight. Vampire skin in sunlight would begin to blister after only a couple of seconds, and a vampire would be reduced to ashes quite quickly.

Immortality and Healing?

The CV vampires are immortal; they will not die of old age, and they appear to be the age at which they are turned. They heal quickly.


Stakes, etc.

An aspen stake through the heart will kill a CV vampire. As in the traditional myth, CV vampires can also be killed by other methods including sunlight and removing the head (usually in conjunction with other dismemberment that renders the body unable to heal). Thus, a few slashes with a katana won't kill a vampire; it takes substantially more damage.

Mirrors, Crosses and Garlic?

These three items are not part of the CV mythos. Garlic and crosses are ineffective (as it's a genetic mutation, not a demonic possession), and vampires are visible in mirrors. (The latter is true because I wanted Merit to be able to see herself post-transformation.)


Powers?

The CV vampires are generally stronger than average humans, can jump higher, and have increased stamina. They may be particularly fast ("vampire quickspeed") and, to varying degrees, can glamour humans into following their commands. Masters can telepathically communicate with their Novitiates, and some vampires have psychic or empathic abilities. Also, vampires' eyes silver when they are aroused (emotionally or physically) or hungry.

Thanks for reading today! I hope this look at the CV myth has been informative!


Contest details:

*Contest is open to US and Canada

*Must leave a comment that explains what part of vampire mythology you find the most interesting. Eternal life and a front row seat as history unfolds? Superspeed to ease your escape from sticky situations? Drinking oodles of blood from unsuspecting strangers? Just let me know and you'll be entered to win!

*Contest is open until July 8th and I will announce the winner the following day

*please leave an email address unless one is included in your profile

Side Read: The Chicagoland Vampires series by Chloe Neill

*I am hooked on this series! Last year I had the chance to review Some Girls Bite for VampChix and after finishing the book I named Chloe Neill my favorite new author for 2009. She has done what all great authors do and created a world that is believable and complex, filled with characters that you can care about. The relationships are genuine and the problems are very realistic. How will Merit's new identity change her friendship with Mallory? Will Merit accept being a vampire? Is Ethan going to be a love interest? Even when I'd put the book down I found my mind wandering back to Cadogan House, the newly turned Merit, and the standoffish but gorgeous Ethan. The same thing happened when I read Friday Night Bites- each book is better than the last and I cannot wait to get my hands on Twice Bitten...only a few weeks left to go!

Some Girls Bite- Book 1- April 2009

They killed me. They healed me. They changed me.

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was mine. I was doing fine until Chicago's vampires announced their existence to the world-and then a rogue vampire attacked me. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker... and this one decided the best way to save my life was to make me the walking undead.

Turns out my savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now I've traded sweating over my thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan "Lord o' the Manor" Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four hundred year old vampire, he has centuries' worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects my gratitude-and servitude. Right...

But my burgeoning powers (all of a sudden, I'm surprisingly handy with some serious weaponry), an inconvenient sunlight allergy, and Ethan's attitude are the least of my concerns. Someone's still out to get me. Is it the rogue vampire who bit me? A vamp from a rival House? An angry mob bearing torches?

My initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war-and there will be blood...

Friday Night Bites- Book 2- October 2009

Vamps in Chicago!

You'd think headlines like that would have provoked the fine citizens of the Windy City to take up arms against us bloodsucking fiends. Instead, ten months later, we're enjoying a celebrity status reserved for the Hollywood elite—fending off paparazzi only slightly less dangerous than cross and stake-wielding slayers. Don't get me wrong, Joe Public isn't exactly thrilled to be living side-by-side with the undead, but at least they haven't stormed the castle yet.

But all that will change once they learn about the Raves—mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle and drink themselves silly. Most civilized vampires frown on this behavior, putting mere mortals at ease with their policy of asking a person's consent before taking a big gulp of the red stuff. However, that doesn't make good copy for a first time reporter looking to impress his high society family.

So now my "master," the centuries old, yet gorgeously well-preserved Ethan Sullivan, wants me to reconnect with my own upper class family and act as liaison between humans and vampires—and keep the more unsavory aspects of our existence out of the media. But someone doesn't want people and vamps to play nicey-nice—someone with an ancient grudge.

Twice Bitten- Book 3- Release date July 2010

Merit, Chicago’s newest vampire, is learning how to play well with others. Other supernaturals, that is. Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene—and to spy for the vamps while she’s at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan’s offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission.

Merit must accept the assignment, even though she knows that she’ll probably regret it. And she’s not wrong. Someone is gunning for Gabriel Keene, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She’ll need all the help she can get to track down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals—not least between her and a certain green-eyed, centuries old master vampire.

*If you want to learn more about Cadogan House, Chloe's Dark Elite series, or how to win an iPod nano...stop by Chloe's website or visit her blog, The Daily Snark.