Book Review + Giveaway 'Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives'

Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives edited by Justin Gustainis.

Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives brings together popular characters from many Urban Fantasy paranormal investigative series, for your enjoyment.

Meet the Detectives:

Danny Hendrickson - from Laura Anne Gilman's Cosa Nostradamus series.
Kate Connor - from Julie Kenner’s Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series.
John Taylor - from Simon R. Green’s Nightside series.
Jill Kismet - from Lilith Saintcrow’s Jill Kismet series.
Jessi Hardin - from Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty Norville series.
Quincey Morris - from Justin Gustainis’ Morris/Chastain Investigations series.
Marla Mason - from T. A. Pratt's Marla Mason series.
Tony Foster - from Tanya Huff’s Smoke and Shadows series.
Dawn Madison - from Chris Marie Green’s Vampire Babylon series.
Pete Caldecott - from Caitlin Kittredge’s Black London series.
Tony Giodone - from C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp’s Tales of the Sazi series.
Jezebel - from Jackie Kessler’s Hell on Earth series.
Piers Knight - from C. J. Henderson’s Brooklyn Knight series.
Cassiel - from Rachel Caine’s Outcast Season series.

Demons may lurk, werewolves may prowl, vampires may ride the wind. These are things that go bump in the night, but we are the ones who bump back!

Review:

Tasty bites of dark, gritty Urban Fantasy.  Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives is a wonderful collection of urban fantasy short stories.  This anthology takes us on numerous paranormal adventures with the intriguing, multifaceted perspective of fourteen hunters and their prey.  I enjoyed the diversity of this anthology.  While these short stories all share a common thread, they are also each unique.  Take a journey into the bowels of nightmare cities, roam the streets with weres and fae, or pull up a stool at your favorite watering hole.  No matter where you turn there be monsters...and those who dare to fight them.

Here are spoiler-free teasers to give the flavor of each short story in this delectable UF anthology.

"So, uh, what exactly is the beast of Felport? Werewolf, demon, undead mutant water buffalo? My grasp of local history is a little shaky"
-Little Better than a Beast

"Huuuuuuuman." That one came from somewhere off to my left.  The shiver became an itch, the urge to follow, to find the treasure such a creature undoubtedly hid here, below ground, in its mines.
-Dusted

Besides, I didn't have the best of luck with boys.  The first time I went out with a guy, he turned out to be a demon.
-The Demon You Know...

It's always half full of junk and garbage, and the only reason there aren't any bodies to step over is because the rats have eaten them all. You have to watch out for rats in the Nightside; some people say they're evolving.
-The Spirit of the Thing

When another hunter calls, you go.  It's that simple.  We who hold back the tide of Hell don't ask for help lightly.
-Holding the Line

What was it Kitty sometimes said? Just when you thought you were getting a handle on the supernatural, just when you thought you'd seen it all, something even more unbelievable came along.
-Defining Shadows

The once coal-black hair was shot through with streaks of gray that made him look older than his years.  The black hair came from the Morris family tree.  The gray was put there by the family profession, begun over a century ago by a man who died in the shadow of Castle Dracula.
-Deal Breaker

Having Henry Fitzroy, bastard of Henry VIII, romance writer, and vampire based in Vancouver was enough to bring in the fine and freaky.  Since Tony had started developing his powers, the freaky vastly outnumbered the fine.
-See Me

As a former vampire who'd been turned human again with the termination of her maker, Dawn knew just what it was like to feel the darkness as it tried to drag you under.
-Soul Stains

The Lament was theoretically a neutral zone in the Black, the ebb and flow of magical London that existed out of most people's sight.  No fighting, no magic and no Fae.
-Under the Hill and Far Away

Blame the werewolf in me.  When I get annoyed, my mask of humanity slips a little, even with my former employer.
-An Ace in the Hole

"I'm an equal opportunity succubus," I agreed happily.  Whatever the gender, whatever the form, I loved humans.  To death.
-Hell Bound

He worked as a curate at the rightly famous Brooklyn Museum.  As such, Knight had access to both religious and blasphemous articles of historical significance from throughout human history.
-Impossible Love

Luis didn't like to let me stray too far, claiming that I was a magnet for trouble.  That might have had some credence, actually; I did seem to draw attention to myself far too much for safety.
-Running Wild

I highly recommend Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives to readers of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, paranormal suspense, and especially to fans of urban fantasy anthologies.  Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives may appeal to fans of Justin Gustainis, T.A. Pratt, Laura Anne Gilman, Julie Kenner, Simon R. Green, Lilith Saintcrow, Carrie Vaughn, Tanya Huff, Chris Marie Green, Caitlin Kittredge, C.T. Adams, Cathy Clamp, Jackie Kessler, C.J. Henderson, and Rachel Caine.

Sensitive reader warning: mild violence, sexual situations.  The short story 'Hell Bound' contains explicit adult material.

Source: This book was provided by the author or publisher for honest review.

Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives on Amazon.
Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives on Goodreads.

 **Those Who Fight Monsters Giveaway**

We are giving away a copy of Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives signed by Justin Gustainis!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post including your email address (so we may contact you if you win).  You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!).  US mailing addresses only.  Giveaway ends April 5th midnight EST.

Series Review: The Morganville Vampires

The Morganville Vampires (1-8) by Rachel Caine

Welcome to Morganville, you'll never want to leave. 
So, you're new to Morganville.  Welcome, new resident!  There are only a few important rules you need to know to feel comfortable in our quiet little town:
Obey the speed limits.
Don't litter.
Whatever you do, don't get on the bad side of the vampires.

Yeah, we said vampires.  Deal with it.

As a human newcomer, you'll need to find yourself a vampire Protector--someone willing to sign a contract to keep you and yours safe from harm (especially from the other vampires).  In return, you'll pay taxes...just like in any other town.  Of course, in most other towns those taxes don't get collected by the Bloodmobile.
Oh, and if you decide not to get a Protector, you can do that too...but you'd better learn how to run fast, stay out of the shadows, and build a network of friends who can help you.  
--excerpt from "Introduction", The Morganville Vampires

Review

Highly addictive urban fantasy adventure series for readers of all ages.  I usually review each book in a series separately, but this series made pausing to write a review after each book impossible.  Every book in this series ends with a major cliff hangar and I found myself needing the next book like a fish needs water...or a vampire needs blood (these books are like chips, you can't stop at just one). This series begins with Claire, young brainiac extraordinaire, who, at the age of sixteen, is attending college at Texas Prairie University in Morganville.  TPewwww isn't her first choice school, or second, or third, but her parents think a small school is a good place for a young girl to start her higher education.  Unfortunately their misguided attempt to protect her leave her dumped in a town full of vamps.  Thanks mom and dad.  If you're not a fan of paranormal books with school settings, don't worry.  This book is not a rehashing of Harry Potter...not by a long shot.  The Morganville Vampires is a series that illustrates the importance of friendship, the beauty of first love, the resilience of youth, and the kinetic potential of the brainy girl next door...all within the framework of a chilling urban fantasy world.  Morganville is a vamp filled town where vampires and humans coexist...for now, but their tenuous peace is more like a house of cards and Claire just may be the stiff wind some folks have been waiting for. 

This review is for Glass Houses, The Dead Girls' Dance, Midnight Alley, Feast of Fools, Lord of Misrule, Carpe Corpus, Fade Out, and Kiss of Death.

I highly recommend The Morganville Vampires to fans of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, young adult, supernatural suspense, and especially to fans of fast-paced vampire fiction.

Look for my review of Ghost Town (The Morganville Vampires, book 9) by Rachel Caine in the near future.  Rachel Caine is also author of the popular Weather Warden series.  Click here for my review of Ill Wind (Weather Warden, book 1).

Source:  These books were purchased by me for review.

**Looking to pick up the series?  The first eight books are available in mass market paperback and qualify for Amazon's 4-for-3 bargain pricing.**

Teaser Tuesdays: Glass Houses

"Run first," Shane said.  "Mourn later."
It was the perfect motto for Morganville.

 p.g 172, Glass Houses by Rachel Caine.

Glass Houses is the first book in The Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine. This is a fun young adult, urban fantasy series.  I can't wait to read book two!  Look for my review of Glass Houses later this week.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Book Review: Ill Wind

Ill Wind (Weather Warden, book 1) by Rachel Caine.

Joanne Baldwin is a Weather Warden. Usually, all it takes is a wave of her hand to tame the most violent weather. But now, she's trying to outrun another kind of storm: accusations of corruption and murder. So, she's resorting to the very human tactic of running for her life...

Her only hope is Lewis, the most powerful warden known. Unfortunately, he's stolen not one but three bottles of Djinn-making him the most wanted man on earth. Still, she's racing hard to find him-before the bad weather closes in fast.

"Chaos happens.  Plan for speed."  Paranormal romance so hot you'll feel like a Fire Warden is in the room with you, working their magic, as you read.  Who would have thought the weather could be so exciting...and sexy?  Ill Wind (Weather Warden, book 1) is a fast paced urban fantasy thrill ride that builds like a gathering storm.  Joanne Baldwin is a fabulously tough heroine who likes fast cars, strong magic, and hot men.  Not necessarily in that order.  I will never think of Djinn, or the weather, the same way again!

I recommend Ill Wind (Weather Warden, book 1) to readers of paranormal romance, fantasy, suspense, and especially to fans of urban fantasy.

Source: This book was purchased by me for review.

Ill Wind on Amazon.
Ill Wind on Goodreads.