I bought a nook.

First, let me say how much I loved MAGIC BLEEDS by Ilona Andrews. It's an excellent read, in keeping with the first three books in the series. Choices were made in this book that the whole series had been building up to, and the writing didn't disappoint. I'm sorry that I can't take more time to write a proper review, but I'm spread a little thin right now. The point? Go. Buy. Love. B&N | Indiebound | Amazon

Now, then. I believe I once posted here about how I wasn't an e-book kind of girl and how I didn't even like to buy used books because the experience of reading the book was so intensely personal to me and yadda yadda. I couldn't find the post, but I'm almost certain it's out there in the blogosphere someplace, waiting for this precise moment to bite me in the ass. I'm not saying those things aren't still true, because they are. However, I also believe e-books are the future of publishing in one way or another and, frankly, I like gadgets.

Hence, I bought an e-reader.

I researched the nook, the Kindle and the Sony. Despite the advantage of the price difference and the fact that my friend has one and loves it, I ruled out the Sony almost immediately because their website sucks and I found it difficult to really research the device's features online. That left the Kindle and the nook. The features are pretty similar. I went to B&N and played around with a nook and I liked it fine. We could also get one essentially for free, using reward points we'd accumulated on a credit card. Ultimately, though, the deciding factor was that I feel like Amazon's business practices have been a little hinky lately and I just didn't feel right about tying myself to them for the long term.

So! My nook! I took it home, charged it up, downloaded some books--DEAD IN THE FAMILY by Charlaine Harris and BLACK MAGIC SANCTION by Kim Harrison, to be exact--and started reading. Four hours later? The nook broke. *facepalm*

I'd apparently received a defective unit with some sort of screen-refresh problem that everyone in the store found "very interesting." I didn't find it interesting at all. O.o But the exchange process was relatively harmless and I now have my new nook at home. I was able to finish reading DEAD IN THE FAMILY with no further problems. (Good read, btw. Charlaine does it again!)

My thoughts: The e-reader did not revolutionize my reading experience. It's neat. I like it fine. I don't think I like it better than reading a paperback book but I do like it better than reading a hardcover.

I can't comfortably read in as many positions as I could with a paperback book--or at least, not that I found in the few hours I've spent with the nook so far. Also, the blink that happens during the page-turning-slash-screen-refresh does take some getting used to. Theoretically, it's no different than having to wait to turn the page of a paper book, but the darkening of the screen (what I call the "blink") is a little jarring. I'm working on timing it so that I'm not just sitting there and waiting for the next word.

I do love having an entire library of books at my fingertips. I love that when I go to Japan in the fall, I won't have to worry about how many books to bring or about running out of books. I also love that it automatically bookmarks my page. I can stop reading at any moment and simply put the nook down--whenever I come back to it, hours or days later, it will know right where I left off.

As I use the nook more, I'm sure I'll post more thoughts about it here. In the meantime, if you have any burning nook-related questions, feel free to ask.

Oh, incidentally, I've named it Beatrice.

Book Review: Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

Drafted into working for the Order of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems than she knows what to do with these days. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.

But when Kate’s werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games - an invitation only, no holds barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament - she and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta’s shapeshifting community…

If I were to sum up MAGIC STRIKES into one word, it would be a sigh*, swollen with contentment but edged with restless longing. Because that's how I felt after reading it. It's that most magical of stories where you feel absolutely fulfilled--it's everything you want and need it to be, and more--and at the same time edgy and restless because you need more of the world and there isn't anymore to be had at the moment.

I'll give you the traditional review info first. The gladiator-based plot of MAGIC STRIKES provides an interesting backdrop for the interactions between Kate, Saiman, Andrea and the Pack. We learn things about the characters, deep vulnerabilities, that would have been difficult to draw out in another context. The resulting character growth (in case you haven't figured it out by now, I'm big on that) is skillfully accomplished, snugging the entire cast of characters, not just Kate, closer to the reader's heart.

Ilona and Gordon have always written excellent fight scenes, but the ones in this book struck me as particularly well written, with an extra attention to detail that gave the violence a darker edge. I read a lot of Urban Fantasy, which means I read a lot of fight scenes. I've become a bit jaded and I tend to skim for the details of who's winning and who's getting hurt where. The fight scenes in this book didn't allow me to do that because several of them really called attention to the willing sacrifice Kate makes when she steps in front of an enemy. Each blow she dealt and each wound she took meant something, cost something, proved something, avenged something.

We also gain a satisfying handful of new pieces to the puzzle of Kate's heritage and some of the history of the Andrews' Atlanta which, if I may repeat myself for the billionth time, is some of the best worldbuilding out there, period. It's unique, well thought out, and (thank you jesus) consistent.

Now for the not-so-traditional review info... Just a collection of tidbits about my personal reactions to the book that I hope will reinforce my profound love for it and will make you go buy 40 or 50 copies of it immediately. Because, yanno, this is all I can do, short of jump up and down and shriek, "ZOMG THIS IS, LIKE, THE BEST THING EVAH PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT'S UNHOLY JUST BUY IT AND READ IT AND LOVE IT THE END!"

1. This series is now on my Deserted Island list (as in, if you had to live on a deserted island for the rest of your life and could only bring...yadda yadda). The top 5 ediiton.

2. I cried about a third of the way through the book. This is significant. I barely even cry over real life things that happen to me or people who are actually living and breathing among my circle of family and friends. But there was a particularly devastating situation in this story with a particularly devastating decision to be made and Kate made it between one breath and the next without a synapse's worth of hesitation over what it would cost her. Because it just needed to be done and if she could save someone else the pain of doing it, then she would. It was just that simple. I don't know many people like that and I wish I did. I wish I was that person, to be honest.

3. I folded down a page because there was a sentence on it that was so perfectly, beautifully written, it made me hurt inside from the pain of wanting to master the craft.

4. This is the kind of book that makes me want to send presents to the author because, for me, it's like a gift. I squirm for days as the afterglow fades, wishing I could find a way to repay the author for stirring the passion and emotion within me.

Go. Buy. Love.

*Okay, I know a sigh isn't technically a word. Shush. I'm trying to do something here!

Book release: Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

And there was much squeeing.



In case you don't recall, I freaking love this series. Go! Buy! Love!!

I'm in the final week of my Day Job project and time is tight (though I did abandon everything to read Kim Harrison's latest, WHITE WITCH, BLACK CURSE - it was so worth it. Review forthcoming!). I'll be scarce around here this week but then life should return to it's normal hectic pace (phew!).

An open letter to Ilona Andrews

Dear Ilona Andrews ,

Why? Why did you do it? It wasn't enough that I lovedlovedloved Magic Bites. Or that I love reading your honest, funny and insightful LiveJournal posts. No, you couldn't stop with worldbuilding so compelling and original that I nearly died of jealousy and admiration. Couldn't stop at Curran--powerful, sexy, infuriating Curran. Or Kate! Fantastic, kick-ass, flawed-to-hell-and-back-but-dammit-it-just-makes-us-love-her-all-the-more Kate. No-hoooo. Not for you.

You had to go and write Magic Burns. More--dare I say better?--worldbuilding. More Kate and Curran but with new depth. And Derek--oh Derek!--whom you've made me love even while he's ripping out beastie spines.

I read this book at my desk today, after I should have already returned from lunch. I read it while my computer was booting, when I should have been getting my coffee. I read it in the parking lot of my bus stop when I should have been getting dinner.

Don't you like me? Don't you want me to have a job? To eat dinner?

There is more I'd like to say to you, but I can't bear to be away from the book any longer. We'll finish this talk later. Probably during the inconceivable wait until Magic Strikes comes out in March 2009 (which is available for pre-order now for anyone else who might be reading this. just sayin'.).