Finished THE GAP INTO POWER A DARK AND HUNGRY GOD ARISES

Again, I have no idea why I like these books--no likable character in sight.  However, the characters are complicated and interesting and capable of growth and change (not always for the better.)  The action is only somewhat predictable, the way the characters interact with each other is totally unpredictable!  But, there it is.  I was again on the edge of my seat through most of the book.  I love this author!  I will, of course, be continuing the series.



I am now about to start Heather Graham's Heart of Evil.  This is the second of her "Krewe of Hunters" series that was started with Phantom Evil.

Finished PEOPLE OF THE LAKES

This was the best of the Gear's books yet (to me), perhaps because I grew up in the Niagara Falls area.  Of course, the falls was not the same 2000 years ago as it is today.  The falls was considerably closer to Lake Ontario then.  The island that separated the two falls was considerably longer, but I had seen images of what it probably looked like then, so I knew the danger they were in as they approached the falls.  I also knew the danger they were in as they headed out into the middle of Lake Michigan during a violent storm...from reputation.  A lot of much larger ships are now nestled into the bottom of that lake.  So I was pretty much at the edge of my seat through the second half of the book.  How amazing to see how people with much more primitive equipment than we have today could do what much of our "sophisticated" equipment cannot do now.



I have now started The Gap Into Power: A Dark and Hungry God Arises, by Stephen R. Donaldson.  This is book three of the five book series and is the only series I am reading which has actually no likable characters.  However, they are all understandable (well, except for Nick, but I suspect we will get more of his back story in this book).  While not likable, they are interesting and seeing how this character navigates through each challenge Donaldson presents is a lot of fun.

Finished LACED

Good setting (a castle--now inn--in Ireland and surrounding area), great characters (Jack and Regan Reilly), good antagonists (jewel thieves with a vendetta.)  As usual, I enjoyed Carol Higgins Clark's book.



I have now started Kathleen and Michael Gear's People of the Lakes.  The lakes in question are the Great Lakes and area south, including the Mississippi river.  Niagara Falls (where I grew up) figures prominently, which makes it especially fun.  It is set approximately 1000 years ago and, as usual for their books, is marked by mystical spiritualism and great ingenuity.

Finished DEAD RECKONING

Enjoyed this lark as much as the other Sookie books.  As a matter of fact, I think I may stop watching True Blood and just continue to enjoy the books, which are taking a much more reasonable direction than the series.  Fun light reading.



Have started Laced by Carol Higgins Clark.  Already about three subplots that are intermingling and I am intrigued.  Quite enjoyable.

Finished Part 2 of Les Miserables

There was only one incident in this part which was repeated in the musical and movie.  It was certainly one of the memorable scenes in the movie and very well done, but was a small and not even the most exciting incident in this section of the book, which was characterized by a run-in with Javert when it was least expected.



This section also included two very long and unconnected (to the story) descriptive narratives: one on the battle of Waterloo and the other on the purpose and value of convents.  These were tough slogging through, but the story and the writing remain very much worth the effort. 

I have now started Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris.  It is the eleventh book in the Sookie Stackhouse series (True Blood on HBO) and starts out with a fire bombing of Merlotte's while Sookie, Sam, other employees and customers are inside.  So, well into it quickly.

Finished three books and Started Another

Finished A Dance with Dragons.  I love these books and hate that I have to wait for another to come out--this will be The Winds of Winter.  However, I notice it is very difficult for likeable people to remain good or even alive in this 'verse.

Then I read Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K. Hamilton, another erotic fantasy in the Meredith Gentry series.  Meredith continues to be stuck between a rock and a hard place, but, at least she manages to have a good time in the midst of turmoil.



I have also finished Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie.  The knowledge needed to solve this ahead of Poirot was not in my repertoire, but I had it about as solved as I was able.  However--not until just before Poirot told us, and after he had figured it out.  I enjoyed the book immensely.  Christie often makes me laugh out loud--especially with Hastings observations.



I am now back to Les Miserables, reading part 2.

Finished DARK VISIONS

Actually, I had read this before, but so long ago that I only remembered certain high tension moments--and not all of them by any means.  I went ahead and read it again because it was a good premise and because I find L. J. Smith very readable, pleasant, easy, interesting, and creative.  In this, five psychic high school seniors are rounded up (all with different powers) ostensibly to be studied and then get rewarded for their hard work with full college tuition paid for to the college of their choice.  A formidable incentive.  Of course, things will inevitably go downhill from there as they discover exactly where they are and who their benefactor really is.  I love stories about powerful young people motivated by love and a strong sense of right and wrong.  A worthy read.



I have now started George R. R. Martin's A DANCE WITH DRAGONS, fifth book in the Song of Fire and Ice series.  It starts with characters that we left at the end of A CLASH OF SWORDS, the early action running concurrent with the events of A FEAST OF CROWS, but in a different locality.  And at some point the author promises that we will pick up characters from A FEAST OF CROWS.  Then, the action will continue beyond the time slot that fourth book ended at.  However, this is not the last book of the series.  The next, THE WINDS OF WINTER, has not been published yet.

This starts with a prologue in which we meet a "skinchanger," a person who can enter animals' psyches and travel with them for awhile.  Though this person had used his powers completely selfishly, I look forward to seeing both Bran and Jon soon and learning more about how they are doing and what they are up to.