My subscription to Commercial Arts Magazine included this beautiful mermaid illustration in the most recent Illustration Annual. 

Illustration by ANNA & ELENA BALBUSSO


It links to a fascinating free read at Tor. Elizabeth Fama takes you on a very short journey through memory and life, and most importantly regrets. I loved it and think you will too. At the very least it will make you think about your choices. Are you playing it safe and not really living?

Men Who Wish To Drown by Elizabeth Fama

Funny, just a little bit sexy, and scientifically intriguing - Paranormal romance with steam!

Souless

by Gail Carriger

The Parasol Protectorate, Book 1 
Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette. 

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate. 

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

PARANORMALITY

• Werewolves & Vampires, Socially Integrated

• Ghosts, Soulless, Evil Scientists

SEXUALITY

• Some steamy encounters (pun intended!) with moderate language. Explicit but in no way vulgar.


REVIEW

• Another book I caught myself thinking about when I wasn't reading it. The dynamic between Alexia and Lord Maccon plays in your head, not-so-subtle barbs, hot indecipherable looks, compromising positions!


• Steampunk creations stimulate that scientific part of my mind, giving me another reason to contemplate the characters when I was away from them.

• Alexia's tone is so... perfectly distant and assessing. As if she believes she is simply a shell but it is quite obvious she is a whole person despite the supposed state of her soul. 

• Pick this one up and indulge in a strong willed, smart and capable woman ready to accept every challenge in her life and investigate it to the fullest extent. 

Daughter of Smoke and Bone Triology by Laini Taylor

Review of Books I & II:

Daughter of Smoke and Bone & 

Days of Blood and Starlight

While reading one of my magazine subscriptions (Inc., Wired, or Fast Co.), and article about ebook longevity suggested "The Daughter of Smoke and Bone" was setting up to be the next Twilight craze.

So, naturally, I bought it just to see. That's the "indie" peaking out, wanting to be ahead of the curve. Ha!

Unfortunately, my local independent bookstore didn't have it and couldn't order it (I don't understand the specifics. Something about being a foreign publishing company.) But I did find it easily enough on Amazon and used the purchase as an excuse to fill up my cart with a few other books I had been eyeballing.

Once I finally got my hands on it, I was pleasantly surprised. 

Though straddling the YA category, this novel is a bit too "erotic" for the preteen set. I offered it to a friend for story time with her 12 year old. She did a pre-read and just wasn't comfortable with the level of heat in the pages, and didn't want to explain feeling "hot and bothered" to her daughter. 

I, on the other hand, always want YA to take that last step into the "act". But this story was full enough with plot and character development that the strain of absent sex didn't chafe as much as usual.

There are many fairytale elements in this story of monsters and angels: blue hair, necklaces full of wishes, high school in Prague. But shadows darken the edges with mysterious and dangerous errands, secrets, and possible death.

Once enamored with the characters, I moved on to the second book "Days of Blood and Starlight" which throws off the sparkle of fairytales and embraces the dark reality of greed, vengeance, and war. 

Friends become enemies and enemies pretend to be friends. I had difficulty in the middle of the book, screaming at the protagonist to see the lies! It wore me down a bit, that she had no clue. But there are plenty other levels of suspense to keep you engaged.

Including waiting for the final book in the trilogy to be released! "The expected pub date is April, 2014." 

I give the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy a thumbs up!

"Matthew Beier’s debut novel tells the intimate story of two people bound by the force of life itself as they set out to protect their unborn child and find value for themselves in a world that has rendered them worthless. This rainbow-tinted reflection of our own society--part political satire and part dystopian thriller--is a novel you won’t want to miss."

Chapter one sucked me in. The writing is smooth. The story intriguing. The alternative viewpoint makes you wonder. I can feel her fear, her confusion. Though it was so dramatically intense and laden with possibilities that I opted not to take it to the couch with me for my even unwind - because I was relatively sure it would not be a relaxing read. 

I'm struggling to understand why I'm struggling to progress through the first few chapters of this book. My trepidation stems from reading about a parent that has prejudices so strong they undermine their love for their child. That was never love, but simply love for the idea of a child.  

This dystopian novel turns social norms on their head for an interpretation of dictatorship that simply pretends at democracy as the leaders in power push through their ideals and destroy all dissenters. 

Well written with a juggling point of view, each chapter switches from Him to Her with occasional flashbacks to add backstory.

I had trouble reading it consistently only because of the premonition of horrible things. If character development had been a little bit stronger, I suspect I would not have been able to put it down.

Be prepared to be appalled and horrified while slightly hopeful. Highly recommend reading with an OPEN MINDED reading group as there are a TON of talking points relating to politics, sexuality, morality, and family.

If you love dystopians and have an open mind, this is for you. Happy reading! ~ Miranda

"Matthew Beier’s debut novel tells the intimate story of two people bound by the force of life itself as they set out to protect their unborn child and find value for themselves in a world that has rendered them worthless. This rainbow-tinted reflection of our own society--part political satire and part dystopian thriller--is a novel you won’t want to miss."

See my first impressions in Review I:

The recent NYS Gun Law that was passed under cover of darkness makes me nervous. 

This story is just an exploration of that kind of power in the future! No longer are decisions made for the good of "the people" but "a person" in power.  

The further I progress in the story, the more I will update you. Happy reading! 
~ Miranda