Chilling Corner in January

Hello, and here’s hoping you have all survived the festivities and are on your way to a great new year. This month I have three authors and their books, and I love each one of their novels despite the very real differences in their approach to the world of fiction. I so love being a reader at the best of times but very much so with these authors. They provide a bonus because they write the kind of series I adore, stand-alone but leave you wanting more (and there is more), and yes that was a very cheesy rhyme.

To clarify and get serious I will explain. I love continuity, but I hate cliff hangers except on the rare occasion that the plot is a big one and needs the number of books involved. However too often I have seen them extended and the same situations repeated, not as a catch up for the reader, but as words on the page that could have been cut in half. A series needs themes and worlds going beyond one book, but my preference is for books with an individual reckoning of some kind and then the hook to read more. A clever writer can then take the action and extend into a new scenario. I love that the characters from previous books make an appearance; it creates stability to the fiction. Dragging things out does not.  This month I feature three authors that do this brilliantly.

The first writer is Elizabeth Hunter. If I wonder as to why I never have any money, then the fact that I have read every single one of her books might explain it (okay not just hers as you will see in my Chilling Corner segments). Fortunately, I mostly read eBooks (cheaper) these days or I would be in big trouble (totally worth it). Warning: Elizabeth’s books are beautiful.

Elizabeth’s Elemental World was my introduction. I fell in love with Building from the Ashes and continued from there into the Irin Chronicles beginning with The Scribe. I confess to reading some out of order simply because I couldn’t get enough and was downloading when I could, and to be honest reading out of order with this author just makes a reader more determined to catch up.

Her latest books have me enthralled. I love Benjamin and Tenzin and am looking forward to reading the latest book  Night’s Reckoning: Elemental Legacy Book Three (Elemental Legacy Novels 3). Some mixed reviews on this and I have a pretty good idea as to why and it means another book to come and goodness knows where that may lead. M/s Hunter constantly surprises with the way the worlds created cross over and yet maintain their differences. It is an amazing reading experience. In between, there are novellas that may be short and sweet but well worth the reading as they often polish off something so beautifully. My favourite is The Devil and the Dancer: A Paranormal Romance Novella (Elemental Legacy Novellas Book 4) 

For a change of pace, I loved the A Hidden Legacy series written by Ilona Andrews (pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team, check it out). Once again, a series expands and becomes another. The lead into Catalina’s story from Nevada and Rogan works brilliantly, and without a repetition to slow down the pace. Rogan might have been drool worthy, but Alessandro is coming in a very close second, and given time may even surpass him. There is a novella between Book 3 and Book 4, short and delightful. Warning: Lethal for the heart as are most books by this dynamic duo.

And my last but far from least is April White’s, The Immortal Descendants. I loved this YA series fantasy/time travel and its fascinating paranormal characters. Start with Marking Time and be prepared to move on to Book 2 very swiftly. You won’t be able to help yourself. It is so well-written, and the historical details are wonderful. If a discrepancy exists, I promise it won’t alter the enjoyment (that is if you can find one).  Or try the box set above for ease. The spin-off,  An Urchin of Means is just as addictive.

Have you read any of these? What did you think? Please, feel free to let me know. I would love to hear from you, and don’t forget my featured author this month Lisa Rae Roman.

Ci vediamo

Barb

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