Felix and Mildmay are back for more adventures as they journey back to Melusine. Along the way they take in two wizards who were moments away from being burned alive and a young woman, Mehitabel Parr. Unexpectedly they meet Feliz's arch-enemy, Malkar, who must be subdued if they are to succeed in their mission. Felix and Mildmay come to know one another better and, as their trust in one another grows, there is hope that a lasting relationship between the two will bloom.

Felix Harrowgate is a wizard who lives a pampered and easy life among the aristocracy within the Mirador, the home of wizards and powerful nobility within the kingdom of Melusine. Mildmay the Fox, Felix's half-brother, from the rough and tumble streets of the other side of Melusine, must join iwth his brother to save the two of them from the dark powers of an evil wizard. What makes Melusine and the other books in this series so special are the richly drawn characters. Told in alternating voices, both Feliz and Mildmay come to life in the reader's mind. And, I admit, for weeks after each time I read these books, my favorite phrase becomes, "F*#@ me sideways 'til I cry."

I first read this book as a child and was so taken with it that I began to copy pages-long passages into a notebook because they were so beautiful to me. I wanted to keep the written words forever. They were that memorable and powerful to me as a twelve-year-old. Before I was done I had practically copied over half of the book! Having read it twice more as an adult I can see what drew me to the book as a child. Set in medieval England, Stephen de Beauville, a shy sensitive boy growing up in a rough world wants to become a knight. Instead his father sends him to apprentice in a monastery. Stephen must learn the true depths of his courage and fortitude in order to make a life for himself that is satisfying. What I loved most and mourned along with Stephen was the bond he had with his dog, Amile, and the profound grief he felt when he lost the best friend he had ever had.

I was excited to see a story in this collection, "A Gift of Wings," by Sarah Monette. And, of course, of the four stories in the book it is by far the best of the lot! In fact is was so beautiful that I had to read it twice before relinquishing the book. Agido, a paid mercenary and Maur's former lover, has been paid to escort the injured wizard back to his family in Igensbeck. Agido and Maur are wonderfully developed characters whose lives are detailed in elegant and spare writing. Two of the other stories, "A Whisper of Spring" by Lynn Kurland, and "When Winter Comes" by Sharon Shinn were also enjoyable, if not as powerful as "A Gift of Wings." These other two stories were full of memorable characters and happy endings. The only story I couldn't stomach was "The Kiss of the Snow Queen" yb Claire Delacroix. I have an aversion to wise-cracking dialogue and when I got to "I'm thinking Daddy-O..." spoken by a mysterious spirit who invades the bedchamber of the young heroine, I had had enough.

Murder, betrayal, and magic are elements that hinder the rise of the blood royal. Two magical factions must unite after years of distrust in order to stand against the greater threat of the Pon Q'tar. All is not quite cut and dry when it comes to knowing your enemies, however, and mercy to the very element crying for your blood may seem fool-harty at best, but the royals have reason to think outside the box.

This book took me by surprise. It is about Major Pettigrew and his small town in the English countryside. I started the book thinking I wouldn't really get into it. I couldn't see what would draw me into being interested in Major Pettigrew's life. I couldn't have been more wrong. This book tackles tradition, change, prejudice, family and big business and it does it all so subtly that you just want to turn every page to see what will happen. I couldn't put it down.

First of all if this book were on any other subject I would still find it worth my time, because Kate Hopkins has the ability to craft an effortlessly readable sentence. Let’s just say that this is writing that goes down smooth. Hopkins undertakes the inestimable task of going to the major (and some of the minor) distilleries in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ireland and Scotland and, with some wit, telling you what each whiskey, bourbon and scotch tastes like. I toast the author and her blog the Accidental Hedonist.

This is Book one of the Sword of Truth series. If you love "Legend of the Seeker" on TV you will rush to read the print version. There are more twists and turns than a village road. Richard thinks he's an ordinary hunter with a gift for making things but when he steps in to save a woman from a band of soldiers he steps onto the path of magic, danger and secrets. High Fantasy at it's best.

Sequel to Dusk. Corrupted by their success and glutted with the power of magic the Mages are not the saviors the people hoped they would be. A new set companions must somehow stand against this new threat.

This little wedge of noir moves at a pace guaranteed to cause whiplash for thriller fans that choose to take the ride. A novel about corporate downsizing taken to extremes with lots of Swierczynski’s local Philadelphia flavor, and of course it features Swierczy’s gasp-inducing gift for throwing the reader under the bus in the last few pages.

Red Monks rampage through a peaceful village and kill every soul in sight. Fortune smiles on young Rafe hidden away under a floor. Why have they come and why kill everyone in a village that has next to nothing of value? Rafe has more than one question to find answers for, but he need not seek them alone. With a new companion's help, the discoveries reveal both a dread darkness and a light of hope.

There are two sides to most stories, but for the tale of Dracula there are several. Mina Harker is living in london and settling into the role of wife, but she is still haunted by the experience of her affair with the Vampire. She is to discover that all is not as it seems and the count is far from true dead.

What should you do when you are a tiny slip of green on a mission to the find the wizard who will save the world? Pluck up your courage and head out on the quest. Basil, an unlikely character of a lizard must set off to find Merlin. If Basil fails or Merlin will not take him seriously the world will fall.

Ivan Van Sertima reveals that Africans, along with Native American Indians, Arabs and the Chinese were the true discovers of America. Sertima is well-versed in explaining ancient documents, artifacts, ships, and artillery, to name a few. Although written in dense, academic language, I admire the author's raw honesty and detailed analysis of his findings, as well as his expertise in Europeans' preoccupation with America.

In 1786 Maine the ramifications of the Revolutionary War are a part of everyday life. Hannah Trevor, and independent and unconventional midwife, must discover who raped and murdered a young woman. Daniel Josselyn the father of Hannah's deaf daughter, is one of the men accused. Hannah must use her wits and determination to get to the heart of the mystery. Wonderful attention to historic detail and beautiful, but spare, writing make this book memorable.

Hannah Trevor, a midwife in post-Revolutionary Maine is independent and unconventional. When a murdered man, thought to be Hannah's long lost husband turns up, Hannah must discover who killed him in order to clear her own name. What sets this book apart from other historical mysteries is the understated, but thoroughly believable, emphasis on the lingering devastation following the American Revolution. The historical details are an integral part of the story, but are handled so well that the reader never feels like the history is the point of the story.

O.K. So I'm the only person on the face of the earth who wasn't entirely captivated by this book...It was an entertaining read, but I was so annoyed by the stilted language of the translation I could hardly stand to continue reading. One more simple sentence and I thought I just might toss the book in the toilet. The plot is interesting, but moves a little slowly. A journalist is investigating the disappearance of a member of a wealthy industialist's family. He teams up with an antisocial, but likeable, young woman who is an excellent computer hacker. Together they discover the brother of the girl who disappeared is a sexual sadist who murders women as did his father before him. The girl disappeared to escape incestuous abuse and had made a life for herself in Australia. May someday read the others in the series, but for now I've had enough.

A vampire book from before vampires were all the rage... Simon, a young man with a secret, helps Zoe come to terms with her mother's death. Simon's "dark secret' is that he is a vampire and has been following his brother, Christoper, for 300 years in order to hunt down and destroy his brother, a"bad" vampire, who loves to take all the blood from his victims, thus killing them. Simon is a "good" vampire because he "knows when to stop.

A beautifully written book about a Baptist missionary who takes his family to the Belgian Congo. When political unrest makes it dangerous to remain in the country he refuses to leave. When a poisonous snake meant for a household servant kills one of his daughters the family splits up.

Fascinating book about Patricia Kennealy detailing her life before and after her marriage to jim Morrison. It is a very powerful andmoving book by a great writer.