Berit Olam - Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

I just got Berit Olam's commentary on Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. I found it useful but wouldn't get it as a first or even second commentary on the books. But then I didn't do so. There are a lot of lists and graphs on word use. And while I will complain when generalizations are made without supporting evidence, there is also a place where it seems the lists are to avoid thinking about the book and this commentary got to that point. A great deal of work went into this book, but more focus on purpose and thought would have been helpful

Danse Macabre - Anita Blake

The latest in Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series has a lot more sex, if looked at from one perspective. But in a more important sense Danse Macabre has more relationship in it. There's still blood, gore, fights and mayhem yet Anita Blake is growing in maturity and working on her relationships. And, while I want the mayhem and murder, the relationships are what keep me coming back to this series

East of the Sun, West of the Moon - John Ringo

East of the Sun, Westof the Moon is not up to the standards of the other novels in this serires of a possible future, but it is worth a read - especially for those who have enjoyed this series. Read the other books first, then you'll enjoy this one. East of the Sun is able to carry a story without the rest of the series, but my advice is to read the others first as they have more interesting stories.

Cravings by Laurell K. Hamilton et al

Cravings is a collection of short stories by two authors I've known for awhile - Laurell K. Hamilton and Mary Janice Davidson - and a couple that are new to me - Eileen Wilks and Rebecca York. I may just have to buy some books by the new to me people

Bite Laurell K. Hamilton et al.

I've been buying a few short story collections recently. Usually it's to see whether I like a author I haven't yet read. Bite has some of my favorite authors and the short stories are in some of my favorite fantasy worlds by those authors. Little bits of information from novels I've read and loved are filled in and made into stories I enjoy. The stories are complete in themselves, but it would be helpful to have read one or two other books in the world.

Fortune's Fool

What happens in a land where magic and fairy tales control the actions of people. The answer is in Fortune's Fool and the related books by Mercedes Lackey. A good read

Mahu

Mahu by Neil S. Plakey is a murder mystery and coming out story. I loved the interplay of family dynamics and police work. I laughed in more than one place and don't want to spoil by saying where. If you enjoy coming out stories, but not mysteries, you'll enjoy this book. If you enjoy mysteries, but aren't quite sure about coming out, you'll enjoy the book. I'm looking for more stuff by Neil S. Plakey

By Slanderous Tongues

Mercedes Lackey has taken history and childhood tales and woven them together in several novels. One of the latest retellings of history - if elves and other supernatural creatures existed - is set around Elizabeth. By Slanderous Tongues is one of the latest, co written with Roberta Gellis, and I find it fascinating to trace the historical accuracy along with the 'supernatural' reasons for some of the events.

Sweet and Deadly

Charlaine Harris, as always, writes a lovely story. Sweet and Deadly has none of the supernatural elements of her other work that I've read, but loses none of the mystery, charm and suspense. I'll be reading this book again and again.

Demon's Delight

Devilish and angelic passion are what the short stories in the book in the book Demon's Delight are about. I bought it for the Mary Janice Davidson story, but enjoyed more.

The Elysium Commission

I have a lot of favorite authors. L. E. Modesitt, Jr. is one of them. The Elysium Commission is one of the more surreal books from Modesitt. It is still science fiction and adventure with a healthy dose of a love story, but there is more change of appearance and viewpoint than usual. However good struggles vs evil and triumphs in the end.

The Curse of Chalion

I've thoroughly enjoyed the books I've read by Lois McMaster Bujold that are set in the Chalion Universe. The question in this book is how do you figure out and follow the will of God (or in Chailion the five Gods). That is a question that each of must ask ourselves. The answer for one of Bujold's saints is to go about one daily tasks trusting that those tasks are what God asks of one. Seems like the right answer to me.

Myth-ing Persons and Little Myth Marker

I've been enjoying getting to re-read the 'Myth' series by Robert Asprin. This week I got through Mything Persons about what do you do when someone you care about disappears and Little Myth Marker which again is how do you care for the people about whom you care. Perhaps the most pertinent point is when the 'hero' Skeeve makes the point that you can't include someone who makes their living by lying to people among your friends. The magic and demons and all make for a fun read

Rainbow Road

Rainbow Road by Alex Sanchez is a good high school romance. How to come to terms with the fact that your beloved isn't a God is the plot with good fun as three friends travel across country in the summer after high school

Long Hot Summoning

Long Hot Summoning is the third in the "Keeper's Chronicles" of Tanya Huff and introduces the little sister - the terror who we first met in the first book - out on her own and finding her own love interest. Fighting a segue with King Arthur and meeting voracious mummies makes this another fun fantasy where good triumphs and evil fails.

The second summoning

The Second Summoning by Tanya Huff is the second in her series about Keepers who protect the world from other universes breaking in. And while the journey is about finding a lost angel and a lost demon, the story is about how two people fall in love. Fantasy and romance together - I'm a fan.

Summon the Keeper

Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff is one of the fantasy books to which I keep returning. Enough so the edges are getting a little bit worn. The idea is simple enough - some people are born to help keep the supernatural and natural worlds separated, but a fun plot of how to close the hole to hell that's in the basement along with werewolves, vampires and retired gods wandering by makes for a fun read.

Myth Directions / Hit or Myth

I recently returned to a series that I thoroughly enjoyed by Robert Asprin. It's the adventures of Skeeve and Aahz in a fantasy world where demons are dimension travellers and magic exists. If you don't like puns and wordplay avoid this series like a plague, but otherwise come in for a good time with sly allusions and the assurance that through many problems all well end well.

She's No Faerie Princess

I enjoyed the fantasy "She's No Faerie Princess" from Christine Warren. It gives a different slant to down below and demons as well as the courts of the faerie. What happens when a princess - who doesn't want to be a princess - takes a vacation right into the middle of some political machinations? That's the question in this fantasy and romance.

Micah - Anita Blake

Micah is the most romantic of the Anita Blake series. There's a break from the foreshadowing conflicts to just have time with one of her boyfriends. Yes, there's plenty of blood and gore and a realistic assessement of the problems women have in a male dominated field - those appeal to my testosterone and my feminism - but some just plain romance. Thanks Laurell K Hamilton for a series that I can and will keep on reading.