I’ll be honest, I’ve had a lot of mixed emotions over writing this final book in my Black London series, Dark Days. I’m sad, of course—for the foreseeable future, this is the end of my time with Pete and Jack and all of their misadventures. I’m happy, too—this is my longest series to date and sustaining an overarching plot, keeping all of my threads together and following Jack and Pete from their first page to their last is something that I’m incredibly proud of as a writer.

But most of all, I’m thankful. The Black London series has led me to some truly incredible readers, some of whom have become friends. The outpouring of support and excitement I receive for each new book is the best thing a writer could ask for.

These books aren’t for everyone. They’re the sort of books where magic isn’t good or evil, where creatures from nightmares truly exist, and where folk tales aren’t cuddly campfire stories but all too real and ready to eat you alive if you cross them. They’re steeped in dark mythology from every corner of the globe, and the hero isn’t really a hero at all—he’s just a damaged guy trying to make his way in a world that’s dangerous beyond all imagining. I found out a long time ago that hero or heroine, I don’t do well writing lawful-good good guys. I prefer my heroes with some shadows on them, and because of that, I appreciate the Black London readers all the more, for coming with me on this journey into the heart of darkness at the center of the books.

Dark Days is an ending I can be proud of. Jack and Pete were never the type to pull a rabbit out of hat last minute…and the apocalypse they face hasn’t come on with a bang, but with a slow build started six books ago. Now they have to face the consequences of everything they’ve done, and just like life, not everybody gets what they want. Some don’t even make it out alive.

So thank you, readers. Thanks for buying the books, reading the books, talking about the books and for making Jack and Pete and the world of the Black part of your lives for almost five years now! Of course, I hope that some day I’ll get to write the next chapter of their story. It’s sitting there, the next six books, all plotted and laid out on my hard drive. The great thing about readers today is that I have so many more options to reach you, so stay tuned—I doubt this will be the end of Jack and Pete’s story.

But it is the end of this part of the story, and I’m so grateful that I was able to share it with each and every one of you.

Books in the Black London series in the order they should be read:
Street Magic
Demon Bound
Bone Gods
Devil’s Business
Soul Trade
Dark Days

Author Bio:

“Caitlin Kittredge is the author of 14 novels for adults and young adults, ranging from paranormal romance to steampunk fantasy. Her books have been RT Award nominees and The Iron Thorn was a YALSA Best Book for 2012. Caitlin lives in Western Massachusetts and although she writes almost all of the time, she also enjoys photography, collecting vintage anything and fixing up her 1881 Victorian house, affectionately known as Stately Wayne Manor.”

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Caitlin Kittredge’s Reviews and Events at Bitten by Books

http://www.caitlinkittredge.com/
http://twitter.com/caitkitt

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Dark Days, the stupendous sixth and final installment in the superb Black London series, grabs the reader by the throat with its opening scene and does not let go until its final satisfying page. Plagued by particularly disturbing visions, Jack Winter feels less than enthusiastic but not particularly surprised when Belial, the demon who previously held his soul and enjoyed torturing him, shows up. What does surprise Jack is Belial’s request for help in tracking down and stopping a demon whose goal seems to be unleashing hell on earth by knocking down the barriers between the Black, Hell, and the mundane world. Even more astonishing — Belial says he will owe Jack a favor for his help.

Given the connection between Jack’s visions and Belial’s dire predictions, Jack agrees to assist the demon, but knows better than to trust him. First up: a trip to Hell to meet up with the other two Princes and convince them of the seriousness of the situation. Though the meeting itself does not go well, Jack does acquire a key that will allow him to return to Hell anytime, hopefully with the rogue demon in tow. Once he gets home, Jack tells Pete everything: the visions, his trip to Hell, and what he needs to do. Of course, Pete agrees to help, and the pair reluctantly contact the Prometheus Club, the group of mages they went toe-to-toe with in the previous book. Despite the reaction their news receives from that group, Jack and Pete soon learn the seriousness of the threat they face, and they once again find themselves at the center of averting apocalypse.

The author’s unique and highly effective approach to the series has been to alternate between the two main characters’ points of view every other book, with one, three and five being told from Pete’s perspective, and  two, four, and six from Jack’s. This cleverly-employed method allows the reader to get to know two very different individuals who nonetheless share a common goal and a transforming love. This knowledge of both characters enables the reader to experience their chilling world right along with them, resulting in an immediacy of events and a suspense level that keeps the pages turning almost on their own. The welcome thread of humor that runs throughout the narrative (much of it coming out of Jack’s mouth) never completely banishes the feeling of menace that drips from every page, but serves to lighten the darkness.

Though readers will mourn the ground-breaking Black London series coming to a close (as well they should), rest assured that the author provides a fitting ending for the two protagonists and their world. This reviewer will be first in line for whatever Kittredge produces next, as should all urban fantasy fans.

Book Stats:

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks; 1 edition (April 30, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312388268
ISBN-13: 978-0312388263

Purchase a print copy of Dark Days from Amazon
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Books in the Black London series in the order they should be read:
Street Magic
Demon Bound
Bone Gods
Devil’s Business
Soul Trade
Dark Days

BBB: Tell us 3 things not in your bio we don’t know about you that might make us leery of befriending you. LOL

CK: Just three? Kidding. Okay…I have an almost encyclopedic knowledge of serial killers and their victims due to reading through every Stephen King book in the library when I was a kid and moving on to true crime. Let’s see…I hate most pop music but am compelled to sing along when Taylor Swift is on the radio. And if you’re allergic to cats, I have six, so we probably won’t work out.

BBB: What actors would you choose to play some of your characters if your book were made into a movie or a TV show?

CK: This question is always so hard! I much prefer to hear fan’s ideas, since I usually don’t spend much time fantasizing about the Big Movie Deal (tm.) Of course, if it actually happens my answer will change!

BBB: How do you keep track of your world building?

CK: Most of it is in my head. I have a pretty fantastic memory for detail, though I usually can’t find my car keys or my wallet. If I can’t remember I refer back to earlier books.

BBB: Please tell us more about The Mirrored Shard and the storyline that drives it.

CK: The Mirrored Shard is the third book in the Iron Codex trilogy, and it’s where everything comes to a head. Not to give any spoilers, but Aoife finally has to face the consequences of her actions in the two previous books, and make a hard choice to be happy but put the world in jeopardy or finally step up and be the hero at great personal cost.

BBB: How many more books there be in this world?

CK: This is the last one, sadly! The Iron Codex was always meant to be a trilogy.

BBB: Did you do any kind of research to determine the details of your characters lives / lifestyles?

CK: It depends totally on the story. The Mirrored Shard and all of the Iron Codex novels required quite a bit of research, since they’re alternate history novels. My modern-day set urban fantasy requires a little bit less, but I still always research details as best I can to make sure they’re accurate. Of course, that hasn’t stopped me from making mistakes, but I at least hope I’ve learned to double and triple check facts!

BBB: Are you a plotser or a panster? or a Planster (a combo of both – lol)

CK: Plotter, plotter all the way. I get very unproductive if I don’t know where the story is going.

BBB: What types of creatures can readers expect in your world?

CK: In the Iron Codex books: Fairies, shapeshifters, all manner of Lovecraftian creatures and monsters, goblins, and humans who control elemental magic. There’s also a plethora of steampunk machines and gadgets, and in The Mirrored Shard, Nikola Tesla’s ghost!

BBB: What’s coming up for you in 2012 and 2013?

CK: I’m working on a brand new YA series, a Gothic paranormal story set in the modern day, and I’m writing a new adult novel set in the American South. It’s urban fantasy, but a totally new direction for me, so I’m very excited!

Books in the Iron Codex Trilogy in the order they should be read:
The Iron Thorn
The Nightmare Garden
The Mirrored Shard

Author Bio:

“Caitlin Kittredge is the author of 14 novels for adults and young adults, ranging from paranormal romance to steampunk fantasy. Her books have been RT Award nominees and The Iron Thorn was a YALSA Best Book for 2012. Caitlin lives in Western Massachusetts and although she writes almost all of the time, she also enjoys photography, collecting vintage anything and fixing up her 1881 Victorian house, affectionately known as Stately Wayne Manor.”

•✿◦*☺.•✿◦*☺.•✿◦*☺.•✿◦*☺.•✿◦*☺.•✿◦*☺.•✿◦*☺.•✿◦*☺.•✿◦*☺

Caitlin Kittredge’s Reviews and Events at Bitten by Books

http://www.caitlinkittredge.com/
http://twitter.com/caitkitt

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Soul Trade, the gripping fifth installment in the wonderful Black London series, pits new parents Pete and Jack against a new threat with a mysterious origin. Since the events at the end of book four left the Black in a state of imbalance that many in the magical community blame on Jack, Pete has been taking on mostly straightforward exorcism cases to pay the bills. The book begins with Pete working on a case for a former colleague in the police department, but she gets more than she bargained for when she discovers that rather than a typical spirit, this pesky problem shows all the signs of being a wraith. After using her Weir talent to drain the creature’s power, Pete gets ready to head home when her client leaves.

Since nothing ever goes completely smoothly for Pete, her exit from the cemetery gets delayed when a group of five shadowy figures delivers an invitation to her to appear before the Prometheus Club, being warned that a refusal does not end well. When Pete does open the invitation, a spell physically attaches to her hand, making it difficult to resist the compulsion to attend the meeting. Despite his reluctance and worry that nothing good will come of it, Jack agrees to accompany Pete to the Prometheus Club, and they get a close friend to take care of baby Lily. Beginning with their arrival in Manchester and an encounter with a harried, terrified man who passes a package on to Pete, events spiral into a situation involving the past, present, and future.

Despite depicting a both a gritty mundane world and a very scary Black realm, the narrative does not descend into bleakness. In addition to one another, both Pete and Jack now have someone else to fight for, and their actions and choices reflect this fact. As one can always expect from Kittredge’s nimble prose, the vivid imagery used throughout the tale places the reader smack-dab in the middle of the action with the players. The excellent Soul Trade contains some very creepy villains, as well as a surprise which shall not get spoiled here. The pacing and suspense level ensure rapid page-turning, even if it does mean the ending will come all too soon. This fantastic series remains a must-read for all urban fantasy fans, and this reviewer eagerly awaits the release of book six in the series, Dark Days, due in April 2013.

Book Stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks; 1 edition (August 28, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031238825X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312388256

Purchase a print copy of Soul Trade from Amazon
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Books in the Black London series in the order they should be read:
Street Magic
Demon Bound
Bone Gods
Devil’s Business
Soul Trade
Dark Days

Devil’s Business, the absorbing fourth installment in the terrific Black London series, begins shortly after the point in time where book three left off. Jack and Pete, though living together, feel distant from one another while at the same time attempting to figure what type of relationship they want after their child is born. While in line at the corner store, Jack gets attacked by the cashier, a young woman obviously possessed by someone or something else. Most of the supernatural community desires to see Jack either dead, or at the very least, gone, after all Hell broke loose—literally. Jack determines that getting out of town would be much safer for both he and Pete, but when he tells Pete his idea, she has a surprise for him: she plans to go to Los Angeles to help a former-cop-turned-private-investigator on a tough case that he says requires her expertise. After an argument with Pete over the trip and an admonishment from an adversary for them to both leave town, Jack convinces a reluctant Pete to allow him to go along.

Upon their arrival in L.A., Jack and Pete meet her friend, Mayhew, who shows them crime scene photos from ten years earlier and almost identical ones from a recent murder. At first, both Jack and Pete feel that the horrific murders could easily have been human in origin, but when they visit both scenes, they realize otherwise. In an unfamiliar city where things and people are often completely different than what they seem on the surface, Jack and Pete work to solve the murders and protect themselves.

Devil’s Business so effectively pulls the reader in that one can easily believe that demons do indeed walk among us. The move in setting from London to Los Angeles does not diminish the series focus on the Black and its denizens one bit. Not only does Kittredge skillfully evoke the grit and grime of L.A.’s seedy underbelly but also presents the reader with some truly frightening characters. Given the author’s take-no-prisoners approach demonstrated in previous installments, the suspense quotient rises even higher in Devil’s Business.

The books in the series told from Jack’s perspective offer a look into a troubled, sometimes jumbled mind that nevertheless has one goal: to protect Pete and their unborn child at whatever the cost to himself. The often grim tone of the narrative matches Jack’s point of view perfectly, given his penchant for attracting every unsavory entity inhabiting the Black and the predicaments resulting from those encounters. Though the visit inside Jack’s head may prove unsettling while there, do not miss making the trip. The fantastic Black London books remain a must-read urban fantasy series for fans of the genre, and, as always, this reviewer can hardly wait to discover what their creator has in store next for Jack and Pete.

Book Stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks (August 30, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312388233
• ISBN-13: 978-0312388232

Purchase a print copy of Devil’s Business from Amazon
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Books in the Black London series in the order they should be read:
Street Magic
Demon Bound
Bone Gods
Devil’s Business

PLEASE NOTE: The contest portion of the Caitlin Kittredge event is now closed. The winners will be chosen at a later date and contacted via email.

A big Bitten by Books welcome to author Caitlin Kittredge today! Caitlin will be dropping in at noon central to begin chatting and answering questions.

A Brave New World

Readers of Iron Thorn will notice that Lovecraft, the city where the story takes place, isn’t wholly fictional.  That’s on purpose—Lovecraft is based on my home town of Boston.  But here’s a few other things about the city readers might not know:

• The abandoned subway tunnels from Iron Thorn actually exist—in New York City. The most famous is the abandoned subway station under the Waldorf Hotel, which I loosely based a scene on.
• The mentions of Seattle in The Iron Thorn are a nod to the Seattle of Boneshaker, by Cherie Priest. Us steampunks have to stick together!
• Arkham is based on my current home town in Wester Massachusetts, which is also where H.P. Lovecraft got the inspiration for the original Arkham, MA.
• Side note: Did you know Arkham Asylum in the Batman comics is based both on Lovecraft and on the Danvers State Mental Hospital in Danvers, MA?  They also filmed a great horror movie called Session 9 there.  Unfortunately, the whole place was torn down soon after.
• Danvers is also very close to where executions from the Salem Witch Trials were carried out.  It’s a spooky place!
• In the second Iron Codex volume, we visit Innsmouth, MA, another Lovecraft location.  That one is based on my childhood home town of Nantucket and a bit on Gloucester, MA.
• There are three cities that are powered by Engines in Iron Thorn—Lovecraft, New Amsterdam (aka NYC) and San Francisco.  We visit San Francisco in the third volume.
• The Babbage Bridge in Iron Thorn was designed (in the novel) by the same engineer who designed the Golden Gate Bridge.  There’s another, older bridge in the novel based on the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge (aka Bouncing Betty) that collapsed only a few days after opening.  I’m a little bit obsessed with bridges and city planning.

I’d love to answer your questions about creating cities, Iron Thorn, or writing in general!  Thanks for having me.

Read a 4.5 Tombstone review of this book here: http://www.bittenbybooks.com/38338/the-iron-thorn-by-caitlin-kittredge/

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Caitlin Kittredge’s Reviews and Events at Bitten by Books

http://www.caitlinkittredge.com/
http://blackaire.livejournal.com/
http://twitter.com/caitkitt
http://www.facebook.com/caitlinkittredge
http://www.myspace.com/caitlinkittredge

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CONTEST INFO: The contest portion of the event runs until 11:59 pm Central on 4/23/11 and is open to readers in the US/Canada.
Prize: Two copies of Iron Thorn

The Contest Entry rules have changed so read them carefully

This contest lasts for TWO DAYS Ending on 11:59 pm Central on 4/23/11

These are the ways you can enter to gain points towards winning the prize offered here today. The only one that is mandatory is #1. The rest are optional. The more you do, the more points you gain, the better your odds at winning the prize. Prizes are chosen using the random.org number generator. Making a purchase is NOT mandatory, it is only one way to gain additional points. There are free ways to get points. Remember to add in your RSVP points if you RSVP’d.

1. LEAVE YOUR FIRST NAME AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME AND YOUR COUNTRY in your comment/post so we can give you the proper credit for your entries. Mandatory, if you don’t leave this,  your entries will NOT count. It is NOT mandatory to make a purchase to be entered into the contest.

2. Ask them some questions. Please make sure they are NOT duplicates. Good for 5 + points per question. (Max 4 good towards 20 points)

3. Tweet this event: http://www.bittenbybooks.com/?p=40818 + 10 Points (max 5 times a day please not all at the same time) include @bittenbybooks in your tweet.

4. RSVP and attend the Alma Katsu Guest Blog on Monday + 5 points here: http://www.bittenbybooks.com/?p=40471

5. Tally Your own points total 1 + Point

Aoife Grayson is a ward of the state. However, she is attending one of the best schools and is one of the few female students in her class. But with her family background, who knows how long she will remain there. Her father is a mystery, her mother is in the madhouse, and her brother is on the run. When she receives a cryptic message from him, she has to risk everything to go help him.

The Iron Thorn was fantastic. The concept was unique and engrossing. I have not read many steampunk novels, but after reading The Iron Thorn, I will be mixing that genre into my reading rotation. There is depth to Aoife’s character. I immediately wanted to know more about her and while there were times I wanted to smack her upside the head for her stubbornness, there were times I also felt sorry for her. I look forward to watching her grow and mature as the series progresses. Her companions, Cal and Dean, are equally as intriguing and I look forward to learning more about them, as well. Kittredge kept me in suspense and on the edge of my seat throughout each page turn. She has such a dynamic fusion of writing styles and solid world building that is tightened down and honed in to make her own very unique voice ring out in the adult genre, and now as a dead ringer in the YA realm as well. The Iron Thorn is a must-add to your reading list. You will be glad that you did!

Book Synopsis:

“In the city of Lovecraft, the Proctors rule and a great Engine turns below the streets, grinding any resistance to their order to dust. The necrovirus is blamed for Lovecraft’s epidemic of madness, for the strange and eldritch creatures that roam the streets after dark, and for everything that the city leaders deem Heretical—born of the belief in magic and witchcraft. And for Aoife Grayson, her time is growing shorter by the day.

Aoife Grayson’s family is unique, in the worst way—every one of them, including her mother and her elder brother Conrad, has gone mad on their 16th birthday. And now, a ward of the state, and one of the only female students at the School of Engines, she is trying to pretend that her fate can be different.”

Book Stats:

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (February 22, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780385738293
• ISBN-13: 978-0385738293
• ASIN: 0385738293

Purchase a print copy of The Iron Thorn from Amazon
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Books in The Iron Codex series in the order they should be read:
The Iron Thorn

PLEASE NOTE: The contest portion of this event is now closed. The winners have been chosen and contacted by EDGE publishing

BBB: Thanks for joining us today for the BBB launch of “Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives” edited by Justin Gustainis, published by EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing.

Many of our Bitten by Books readers may know your characters from other series.  Could you please tell us a bit about the characters in your stories in Those Who Fight Monsters?

T. A. Pratt: Despite lacking much in the way of tact and having a tendency to solve all her problems with violence, Marla Mason has been chief sorcerer and protector of the city of Felport for a few years now, and no one’s succeeded in assassinating her yet.

Laura Anne Gilman: Danny Hendrickson is a former NYPD officer, currently working as a private investigator in New York City. He likes to keep his half-faun genetics under his hat, so to speak.

Julie Kenner: Soccer mom Kate Connor spends her days driving carpool, organizing Gymboree playdates, and hunting demons. Just another day in suburbia…

Simon R. Green: John Taylor is a private eye who operates in the Twilight Zone, solving cases of the weird and uncanny. His beat is the Nightside, that sour secret heart of London, where the sun has never shone and it’s always three o’clock in the morning, the hour that tries men’s souls. Gods and monsters can be found there, often attending the same self-help groups. John Taylor is your last chance for justice, the truth, and other disturbing things.

Lilith Saintcrow: Jill Kismet is the resident hunter of Santa Luz, a city somewhere in the American Southwest. She likes bullwhips, .45s, and breakfast burritos. Oh, and holding back the tides of Hell. She’s a big fan of that.

Carrie Vaughn: Jessi Hardin is a homicide  detective with the Denver Police Department. She heads the department’s new Paranatural Unit and has (rather inadvertently) become an expert on  emerging issues  of law enforcement and the supernatural.

Justin Gustainis: Quincey Morris, who is descended from the man who gave his life in the fight to destroy Count Dracula, is an occult investigator living in Austin, Texas.

Tanya Huff: Tony Foster is the second assistant director on “Darkest Night”, the most popular syndicated vampire detective show on television.   He’s one of only three wizards currently practicing in the world and he intends to keep practicing until he gets it right. Given the amount of supernatural flotsam showing up in Vancouver lately, he’s being given a lot of opportunity.

Chris Marie Green: Former Hollywood stuntwoman Dawn Madison is currently in retirement from vampire hunting and resides near San Diego. Kiko Daniels, who lives nearby, runs a paranormal detective agency with his partner, Natalia Petri.

Caitlin Kittredge: Petunia Caldecott is a former Detective Inspector with the Metropolitan Police, London. She graduated from London City College and currently resides in Whitechapel. Jack Winter is a mage and a pain in her arse, but he sometimes makes himself useful. He hails from Manchester, England.

C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp: Tony Giodone’s skill as a hit man has resulted in a stack of cold case files in the homicide divisions of a number of major cities. Even before he was attacked and turned into a werewolf, if you met Tony in a dark alley, he’d be walking back into the light alone. Although still an assassin, he’s now working for Wolven, the police force of the Sazi council—in other words, the good guys.

Jackie Kessler: The succubus Jezebel has turned her back on her Hellish past (sort of) and now lives as the human Jesse Harris, working as an exotic dancer in New York City. Note: this story takes place before Hell’s Belles.

C. J. Henderson: Museum curator Piers Knight is a quiet fellow who likes good food, quiet evenings with a pot of tea and a good book, and being left alone by all the world. While usually well fed and well read, he rarely gets more that a week or two to himself before Fate, Destiny, or some other joker comes knocking at his door, bringing him all manner of bothers.

Rachel Caine: Cassiel was once a Djinn (genie), and is now, thanks to a disagreement with a higher ranking Djinn, trapped in human form as a punishment. Her only hope for long-term survival is partnership with a supernaturally-gifted Warden, Luis Rocha, who controls the elements of the earth. Cassiel and Luis both reside in Albuquerque, New Mexico, when not battling supernatural forces elsewhere.

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Read Justin’s Reviews and Interviews on BBB

http://www.justingustainis.com/

Justin’s Myspace page

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Read a 4.5 Tombstone review of  Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives here: http://www.bittenbybooks.com/38809/those-who-fight-monsterstales-of-occult-detectives-edited-by-justin-gustainis/

Contest: Open to readers worldwide, contest ends at midnight tonight 4/13.

Enter a draw for 3 copies of Those Who Fight Monsters, signed by Justin Gustainis.

1. To enter ask the authors a question – Mandatory

2. Leave your first name and your country – Mandatory

This new collection of short fiction has been put together by Justin Gustainis and published by Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing. I was anxious to read it because I love mysteries with paranormal elements. I was not disappointed by this collection in any way.

First of all, it has two great stories by two of my favorite authors. There is a wonderful John Taylor story by Simon R. Green. If you have not been introduced to John Taylor, a PI in the Nightside, you are missing something great. In this particular story, John Taylor has been hired to find out who is haunting the “Jolly Cripple.” It is a bar most people would not be caught dead in, so why would a ghost choose to haunt it? John Taylor finds out not only the why, but the how, and the ending will leave you with a delicious sense of justice done.

My favorite series by the wonderful writer Tanya Huff is Smoke and Shadows with Tony Foster. Tony works on a cable television show about a vampire detective. The thing is, Tony once had a vampire lover, and he is a wizard, so even he finds where he works ironic. The cast and crew of the show keep finding themselves in situations where Tony’s expertise is the thing that saves their butts. In this story, Lee, Tony’s boyfriend and the co-star of the tv show, appears to have a stalker — an otherworldly one, and that worries Tony. It is not simply jealousy that this beautiful young woman is attracting Lee’s attention, it is that he fears what she will do to Lee — especially when a string of bodies seem to follow where she has been before. In the end, it is Lee’s kindness that saves them.

There were many “new to me” writers in the book, and I enjoyed the stories. They are all well-written, and they each hit different notes in terms of the reader’s emotions.

One of the things I liked the best about the book was at the end of each story there is a brief description of the author and what he or she has written, and a short description of the main character of the story and what other works they have appeared in so that the reader can go find more if they should so desire.

Those Who Fight Monsters:Tales of Occult Detectives is a terrific anthology and one well worth the paranormal fan’s attention.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: EDGE Science Fiction & Fantasy; 1st edition (March 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1894063481
• ISBN-13: 978-1894063487

Purchase a print copy of Those Who Fight Monsters:Tales of Occult Detectives from Amazon

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Bone Gods, the gripping third installment in the Black London series, picks up six months after the end of the previous book, with Pete Caldecott drifting somewhat aimlessly through her life without Jack, yet still carrying on the work they did together. Called to a rather dodgy crime scene at the British Museum by her former partner, Ollie Heath, Pete determines that there is indeed something off with the corpse of Gerard Carver, which is covered with unusual markings. During the course of her investigation, Pete enlists the aid of white witch, Lawrence, makes the unpleasant acquaintance of Ethan Morningstar, representative of the Order of Malleus, a group sworn to root out sorcery, and must deal with the reappearance of two people from her past.

Just when it seems as though things could not get much worse, Jack reappears from his stint in Hell, though Pete wisely questions how he managed to get away, as well as whether or not he has returned the same person he was when he was taken by the demon Belial. The two learn that warring factions within the Black have their own agendas that will affect the mundane world, as well, and they are both pulled into the battle. As the larger problems rage around her and suck her into their vortex, Pete must also contend with her conflicting feelings and concerns over Jack’s odd return and what it may portend.

Readers will feel as though they have stepped right into the London locales Kittredge so skillfully depicts, from the authentic scenery to the speech cadence and vocabulary of the people. With its heady atmospheric detail, the mesmerizing Bone Gods also provides a clearer picture of the Black than its predecessors. With delightfully and unapologetically villainous bad guys and flawed good guys, Kittredge succeeds in creating a world filled with magic that feels very real.

Though a tough, resilient woman, Pete realizes all too well her own weakness: “…as much as heroin and adrenaline were Jack’s drugs of choice, he was hers. The only thing she could never kick” (Ch. 30). This situation raises thorny ethical issues for Pete in this novel, ones that test the limits of her inner strength and her perception of her purpose as the Weir.

Kittredge avoids the pitfalls often seen in the genre by employing pitch-perfect suspense rather than frenetic, further enhancing the narrative. Bone Gods raises the level of this excellent series even higher, and belongs in the hands of all urban fantasy fans. This reviewer anxiously awaits book four.

Book Stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks; Original edition (November 30, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312388209
• ISBN-13: 978-0312388201

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Books in the Black London series in the order they should be read:
Street Magic
Demon Bound
Bone Gods

The fabulous Shades of Gray, the second installment in the Icarus Project series, lives up to the high standard set by its predecessor, Black and White. Picking up immediately after the events of book one, Jet and a small group of heroes have their hands full subduing the substantial number of rogue and rabid extrahumans/heroes running amok after being disconnected from the dictates and control of Corp. Iridium, on tentative footing with Jet, nonetheless takes the opportunity during the chaos to release her father, Lester, from prison, in the hopes that he can offer assistance. Unfortunately, during the escape, Iridium finds herself at the mercy of Gordon, a Corps operative, offering a deal – Lester and his five cohorts will be permitted to leave, as long as they agree to bring New Chicago back under Corp’s control. Knowing that for the short term, at least, they really have no choice, Iridium and her father reluctantly agree to Gordon’s proposal.

Meanwhile, back at the makeshift headquarters that Jet’s team has set up in the old Wrigley Field, the exhausted group tracks outbreaks of violence being committed by the rabid extrahumans, often having to perform the unsavory task of capturing former friends and colleagues. When the group learns that one of the most feared former heroes, Dr. Hypnotic, jailed in a psych ward after going insane and massacring hundreds of people many years ago, has somehow escaped, they realize that the stakes have been raised considerably in their ongoing battle.

In this outing, the backstory examines the rise and fall of Jet’s and Iridium’s parents and their contemporaries, providing an invaluable piece of the puzzle as to how the past impacts the present events of the narrative, adding breadth, scope and richness to the tale. Kessler and Kittredge seamlessly weave the alternating perspectives of the two main characters, as well as those of the additional players introduced in the sections relating the past.

As before, the authors do a splendid job of delving deeply below the skinsuits of their characters, heroes and villains alike, exploring their motivations, hearts, and ultimately, their humanity. In the society of Squadron, one’s given name is a closely-guarded treasure to be shared only amongst friends and family, the heroes hiding behind the masks of their assigned designations, seeking acceptance from the world outside while at the same time truly only trusting one another.

In a barren, almost post-apocalyptic world that feels all too possible, the reader nevertheless gains a sense of hope from the characters who work tirelessly to right the wrongs perpetrated by an unscrupulous organization. Realizing that their efforts often go unappreciated by the normals, Jet reflects, “No matter what she did, it would never be enough” (246).

With its nonstop action and suspense balanced perfectly with psychological insight and exploration of the bonds between individuals fighting side by side, Shades of Gray satisfies on every level. This reviewer hopes for future volumes in this excellent series.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Spectra (June 22, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553386328
• ISBN-13: 978-0553386325

To purchase a print copy of Shades of Gray from Amazon click here.
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To purchase an eBook copy of Shades of Gray from OmniLit click here.

Books in the Icarus Project series in the order they should be read:
Black and White
Shades of Gray

Luna Wilder has had her hands full since her promotion to Lieutenant of the SCS division of Nocturne City’s police department. Even though the division offices are kept in the basement in the attempt to achieve out of sight, out of mind, the supernatural cases keep rolling in. Luna is sent to investigate the death of a young girl werewolf. Between the threats of the girl’s pack and the Russian mob, Luna has her hands full. But this case gets to her. She has done so well caging the animal within, but this time, all her self control breaks and causes her to goes off half-cocked, getting her into all kinds of trouble. And of course, along with all the difficulties she is experiencing with the investigation, it is at this time that things come to a head in her relationship with the sexy ATF agent, Will Fagin. Will Luna be able to survive the nasty situation she has gotten herself into and return to decide what she wants out of her life?

All I have to say is what a finish!! Unfortunately, Daemon’s Mark is said to be the last book in the Nocturne City series. I have to say I am a little disappointed, but I guess all good things must eventually come to an end. I was first exposed to Ms. Kittredge’s Nocturne City series because of RT 2008, and it has been a wild ride since then. Luna is normally one tough cookie, but in Daemon’s Mark, we are exposed to a softer side of her.

I have to say, Daemon’s Mark is darker than any of the other Nocturne City series books. It is non-stop action and Luna gets herself into some scary predicaments that I was not quite sure she would be able to get out of. I think this last book opens up more questions than it answers, and it does have what I thought was a cliff-hanger ending. I am hoping that maybe someday there will be a return to Nocturne City, but that could be just wishful thinking on my part. If you have stuck with the series this long, then do not miss this final chapter. If you have not read this series at all and love crime-oriented books, then grab Night Life, the first book in the series, today.

Book Stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks; 1 edition (May 25, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312943660
• ISBN-13: 978-0312943660

To purchase a print copy of Daemon’s Mark from Amazon click here.
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To purchase an eBook copy of Daemon’s Mark from Barnes & Noble click here.

Books in the Nocturne City series in the order they should be read:
Night Life
Pure Blood
Second Skin
Witch Craft
Daemon’s Mark

As the gripping second installment in the Black London series opens, mage Jack Winter and former DI (Detective Inspector) Pete Caldecott are attempting to raise the ghosts of a recently-deceased couple at the request of their surviving children who seek to learn why nothing was left to them in the will. Jack and Pete have gone into business together, essentially, pooling their respective talents into marketable skills. After returning to Jack’s flat after the less-than-satisfying end to their spirit-raising job, Pete leaves for the store, and Jack receives a visit from a demon – the one he promised himself to thirteen years earlier when he almost died. Reminding Jack that only days remain until he must give his soul over to the demon and begin his residence in Hell, the demon disappears when Pete returns.

Fearing for her safety, Jack determines that Pete can know nothing of his bargain with the demon so he keeps the visitation and its further implications to himself. That same evening, Pete and Jack receive a visit from another potential client whose family home seems to be haunted. The man’s brother recently committed suicide there and he wishes to have the place cleansed. Prior to leaving for the country, Jack and Pete observe a pair of sluagh, restless spirits, in the train station. After their arrival at the Naughton estate, the two are beset by additional creatures from the black. Fearing that these events are connected to his demon situation, Jack bears the burden of this knowledge alone as he seeks to find his way out of his bargain.

As before, Kittredge deftly depicts a dark, shadowy, thoroughly creepy world so tangible that the reader feels as though they are witnessing the action first-hand. A considerably bleaker tone and atmosphere than its predecessor demonstrates that this book is essentially Jack’s story, told from his perspective, whereas the first book revolved around Pete. From the very beginning, this approach is apparent: “Always, the Black clawed at his mind, and the dead, which came to Jack because he radiated power like a torn electrical cable, hovered. The madness that had caused him to shove a needle in his arm in the first place sat in the corner with its face hidden, and it laughed” (20).

Jack’s dependence upon Pete as the only truly good aspect of his life gets exhibited in ways both visceral and heart-rending, a characteristic that adds depth and layers to the narrative. As with the first installment before it, the excellent  Demon Bound deserves a space in any core collection of treasured urban fantasy. This reviewer fears the wait for book three will be much too long.

Book Stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks; Original edition (December 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312943636
• ISBN-13: 978-0312943639

To purchase a print copy of Demon Bound from Amazon click here.

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To purchase an eBook copy of Demon Bound fro Barnes & Noble click here.

Books in the Black London Novels series in the order they should be read:
Street Magic
Demon Bound

I have to admit, I’m not much of an anthology reader. But I had to read Strange Brew because it had some authors that I have not had a chance to read yet, and I figured even reading a short story was better than not getting to read them at all.

In “Vegas Odds” by Karen Chance, Accalia de Croissets is a teacher in The Corps. When her students turn on her, she tries to get down to the bottom of what is going on.

In “Signatures of the Dead” by Faith Hunter, Molly needs to use her powers as a witch to find out what is happening to local families. She enlists the help of Jane Yellowrock to get to the bottom of the murders.

In “Ginger” by Caitlin Kittredge, the reader gets a look at things from Luna’s cousin Sunny’s perspective. When Sunny is contacted by a mysterious party, she gets dragged into one of Luna’s cases yet again.

There are many other great stories in the anthology, all told, nine in all. Other authors include Rachel Caine, Charlaine Harris and P.N. Elrod. I really enjoyed reading Strange Brew, since its actually based primarily on witches and magic, something that is not a primary focus in most of the books I read for review. Each author has picked an interesting character from their series to base the short story on. In some stories, such as Ms. Kittredge’s, it might be a secondary character. In other ones, such as Jim Butcher’s, it is based around Harry Dresden the main character in the Dresden Files series. As I said earlier, I rarely read anthologies, but I am glad I picked this one up, because it introduced me to many great authors that I will definitely have to add to my TBR pile. If you enjoy anthologies, or just want an introduction to these nine different authors, then pick up Strange Brew today.

Book Excerpt: “Today’s hottest urban fantasy authors come together in this delicious brew that crackles and boils over with tales of powerful witches and dark magic!

In Charlaine Harris’ “Bacon,” a beautiful vampire joins forces with a witch from an ancient line to find out who killed her beloved husband. In “Seeing Eye” by Patricia Briggs, a blind witch helps sexy werewolf Tom Franklin find his missing brother—and helps him in more ways than either of them ever suspected. And in Jim Butcher’s “Last Call,” wizard Harry Dresden takes on the darkest of dark powers—the ones who dare to mess with this favorite beer.

For anyone who’s ever wondered what lies beyond the limits of reality, who’s imagined the secret spaces where witches wield fearsome magic, come and drink deep. Let yourself fall under the spell of this bewitching collection!”

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin; 1 edition (July 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312383363
• ISBN-13: 978-0312383367

To purchase a print copy of Strange Brew from Amazon click here.

To purchase a print copy of Strange Brew from Barnes & Noble click here.
To purchase an eBook copy of Strange Brew from Barnes & Noble click here.

Witch Craft is the fourth installment in the Nocturne City series, and I’m sad to say, the second to last. Luna has assumed control of the SCS, which is the Supernatural Crimes Squad. When SCS finally gets a real case that is in their jurisdiction, they are just days from being shut down. Luna and her squad must stop a bunch of pyromaniac witches from setting the whole city ablaze. To add to that, creatures that only appear in nightmares begin to attack the city. Luna will need all the resources she can get in order to stop this sisterhood of witches from wreaking mass destruction. She will need the help of ATF agent Will Fagin, along with her sister, to stop the nefarious plans of the villains.

I enjoy each Luna book more and more. She is growing and changing as the series progresses. I am sad that the series will end with the next book, seeing as there are so many directions that Luna’s story can go, but perhaps, someday, she might return. I know I will anxiously await the release of her final book.

As with the previous books, trouble always manages to find Luna, and she always manages to find a way out of it in the nick of time. Her love life gets more and more interesting with each book, but being an Insoli and being unable to stay away from the non-human community, it stands to reason that her love life is unique. The plot is engaging and contains some very interesting twists and turns that will keep the reader on the edge of his or her seat through the end of the book and then wanting more.

If you have not read the Nocturne City series yet, I highly recommend reading it in order, or you may get lost as to some of the references back to prior events in the series. If you have been as eager to read the next installment in Luna’s series as I have, then you will not be disappointed. So, run, do not walk, and pick up your copy of Witch Craft by Caitlin Kittredge today. You’ll be glad you did.

Book Excerpt: “Someone, or something, is setting fire to the homes of the city’s most infamous non-humans, racking up a body count that’s growing by the day. And strange, otherworldly creatures no one has seen before—selkies trolls and harpies—are causing chaos throughout the city. Racing to stop the carnage, Luna turns to sexy federal agent Will Fagin for help. As they work to uncover the source of the bloodshed, Luna’s attraction for Will deepens. But just as she learns Will’s darkest secret, Nocturne City is thrust into total chaos—leaving Luna and Will in a path of destruction they may not be able to stop…or survive.”

Book Stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312943628
• ISBN-13: 978-0312943622

To purchase a print copy of Witch Craft from Amazon click here.

To purchase a print copy of Witch Craft from Barnes & Noble click here.

Books in the Nocturne City series in the order they should be read:
Night Life
Pure Blood
Second Skin
Witch Craft

Here to answer your burning questions about life, the universe and everything—rogue mage and hero of Street Magic, Jack Winter.

Jack was generous enough to answer a few questions for this blog, and he’s ready to pop in and field queries from the general public—while his author gives away some fabulous prizes.

Here we go…

Jack, I see you have calluses from playing the guitar. What was the first song you learned to play?

That’d be “Yesterday”.  Most likely, I was trying to impress a girl with what a sensitive bloke I could be.  Don’t think it worked, because I ended up in a loud and abusive punk band playing an electric rather than sitting under a tree attracting a host of nubile fans.

Jack steps up to the bar and orders, what?

Newcastle Brown Ale with a whisky chaser.  And yes, it’s “whisky”, not “whiskey”.  I won’t argue with you heathens across the ocean.

Jack, what’s the best pub in London? Please don’t tell me any of those dark & dingy old man pubs either.

I live in the Mile End Road, so I consider my local to be the White Hart near the Whitechapel tube.

Jack how does using magic make you feel? Is there a rush or a gradual seduction to it’s use?

It’s a high like no other.  It can make you feel alive or as if you’re dying.  There’s no way to describe it unless you have a talent, except to say it’s the best ride you’ll ever take.

Jack – boxers or briefs? Or neither?

Well, you’re saucy, aren’t you?  I guess you’ll just have to come and find out.

Readers feel free to ask Jack any questions you like!

****************************************************

Readers, learn more about Caitlin Kittredge here:

Read the Bitten by Books reviews of the author’s work here.
To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

****************************************************

CONTEST: Readers, here’s how to enter the contest. You can do just ONE or ALL of these things, and each one will give you additional entries at a chance to WIN. Caitlin will be giving away 2 AWESOME prizes! A signed copy of Street Magic and a bound and signed copy of an original, unpublished Black London short story. The contest portion of the event will run until 11:59 pm PDT 6/6/09 and is open to readers worldwide! PLEASE NOTE THE NEW CONTEST EMAIL ADDRESS TO SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO BELOW. Also please state WHICH CONTEST you are entering when you send your verification emails.

1. The easiest way to enter is by purchasing copies of Caitlin’s books from Amazon here:

Books in the Nocturne City series in the order they should be read:
Night Life
Pure Blood
Second Skin
Witch Craft

Street Magic

Black and White

OR you can use the Barnes & Noble search banner on the right hand side of the site or this link HERE to make your purchase during the contest. Good for 100 entries to the contest for EACH copy you purchase.

It is NOT mandatory to purchase anything to enter the contests, there are plenty of other ways to enter and win. Just email us a copy of your purchase receipt to bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces). Sorry no faxes or snail mail copies.

2. In order to be entered into this contest the ONE thing you ALL have to do is ask Jack Winter a question. It can be ANY question you like. No questions = no entries! You can come by through TOMORROW 6/6/09 and ask your questions. Good for 10 entries. (max 2 questions that count towards entries)

3. SUBSCRIBE to the Bitten by Books newsletter here on the top right hand side of the site. Be sure you VERIFY your subscription, an email is sent with the verification link. Unverified subscribers will not be entered and will be deleted from the mailing list. If you are already a subscriber, just let us know and you will get entries too. Good for 20 entries.

4. Spread the word, the more places you post the event, the more entries you get. Use this direct link to the event: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=8041 at another blog, website, Myspace, Ning Group, Facebook, Yahoo Group, Goodreads, Shelfari (any group where it is appropriate). You MUST come back here to this interview and post those links in one response here in this thread so we can verify your entries. Good for 50 entries per place you post the event link.

NOTE: if you post multiple links here, your post will not show up right away. If you don’t see it, don’t keep posting it, we WILL approve your entry later on in the day.

5. Be friends with Caitlin by joining her here:

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/caitlinkittredge

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1231353078

Twitter: http://twitter.com/caitkitt

Then send us all the confirmations you receive verifying subscription and friendship to: bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces). Good for 20 entries per place you friend her.

6. Twitter and ask your friends to re-tweet the URL for this event be SURE to include us in your tweet @BittenbyBooks http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=8041. Good for 10 entries each day you tweet it. Max 1 tweet per day counts for entries.

7. Add Caitlin’s blog and website to your blog roll or links page:http://www.caitlinkittredge.com/blog/index.php and http://www.caitlinkittredge.com/ Good for 10 entries for each place you post the link.

IMPORTANT CONTEST RULES AND LEGAL DISCLAIMERS

GENERAL CONTEST INFORMATION:

The contest ends on 6/6/09 at 11:59 pm PDT and the winners will be contacted the following week. You will receive your prize directly from the author. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FIRST AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME as well as a valid email where we can contact you. REMEMBER the more things you do, the more entries, the greater the chances of winning.

1. Please note, the prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be absolutely no substitutions or changes the prize is non-transferable. If you don’t want the prize being offered, please don’t enter the contest. If you ever win an electronic copy of a book, please note that it is ILLEGAL to forward, give away or copy it in anyway once you receive it. Doing so violates copyright. If we find out that it has been done, you will no longer be eligible to win any of our contests.

2. You have THREE days from the day the we contact you to claim your prize by sending your name/mailing address to me. Failure to contact me will forfeit your prize. BBB can at that time, choose either to re-award the prize to another entrant or not.

3. The prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be no substitutions, trades or changes. No exceptions. Please do not ask. If for some reason you do not wish to claim your prize, please let me know as soon as possible. Bitten by Books has the option to re-award it or not.

4. Contest is open to readers worldwide. The prizes are shipped directly from the author.

5. Bitten by Books is in NO way responsible for the prizes being offered in any of the contests. If for some reason a contributor does not honor their prize, there is nothing we can or will do about it. We are not worried that this will happen, but we want to be very clear that WE are not offering these prizes, the contributor is and it is their responsibility to fulfill their prize obligations.

6. These rules are subject to change or be modified without prior written notice.

7. Contest is void where prohibited.

8. By entering this contest you are agreeing to our terms of entry

The gripping first volume of the Icarus Project series captures the reader’s interest and holds it hostage until the very last page. In the dystopian landscape of the not-too-distant future, those with superpowers or special abilities, dubbed extrahumans, are sent to the Academy at the age of thirteen to learn how to control their powers. In addition to self-control and focus, students also learn how best to market themselves. Jet and Iridium, the two main characters, are products of this environment, though with differing results. Jet, blonde and petite, is a Shadow power, while the tall, brunette Iridium controls Light. Both girls come from home lives that others do not let them forget. Iridium’s father went rogue, or “rabid,” meaning he chose to fight back against the dictates of Corp, the organization that controls the heroes, and is now in prison. Jet’s father, overcome by the Shadow power within him, went insane and murdered Jet’s mother in front of her.

The novel’s narration switches smoothly back and forth between the points of view of the two characters. When the book begins, Jet and Iridium are both in their early twenties, out of the Academy since the age of eighteen, and are now sworn enemies. Juxtaposing perfectly how very different their lives are, the first two chapters find Iridium robbing a bank of digichips, and Jet accepting a humanitarian award from the mayor of New Chicago. Iridium, considered rabid like her father, works outside the confines of the law to keep her area of the city under a modicum of control. Jet, the superhero darling of New Chicago, operates by-the-book and considers it part of her mission to bring in her former friend. With the Everyman Society, a group dedicated to ridding their world of the superheroes, thrown into the mix, in addition to some odd goings on within Corp, both ladies have their work cut out for them.

Given how the book begins, one of the main mysteries that advances the story and draws the reader so thoroughly into this fascinating world is that of Jet and Iridium’s history together, and what lead to it all coming apart. In addition to the switching points of view, sections of the book alternate between the present and the girls’ past at the Academy, revealing how the rift between them transpired. This approach may sound confusing, but it works perfectly due to its skillful handling by the authors. The authors manage to maintain their own narrative voices in their respective chapters, and at the same time meld them together seamlessly.

The poignancy of Jet learning to come to grips with her scary powers that she fears will engulf her, as well as that of Iridium loosening up her heart enough to chance making friends, adds depth to the story. The irony of the women’s physical attributes being counter to their power sources, yet reflective of their inner psyches, demonstrates the sophisticated characterization technique exhibited by the authors. Full to the brim with action, emotional resonance, and humor, Black and White has something for everyone. The Icarus Project series sets a new standard for superhero novels, and this reviewer anxiously and avidly awaits the next installment.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Spectra (June 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 055338631X
• ISBN-13: 978-0553386318

To purchase a print copy of Black and White from Amazon click here.

To purchase a print copy of Black and White from Barnes & Noble click here.

To visit Jackie Kessler’s website go here.
To visit Jackie Kessler’s blog go here.

To visit Caitlin Kittredge’s website go here.
To visit Caitlin Kittredge’s blog go here.

Luna has transferred to the SWAT unit and enjoys the comradarie of her fellow team members. When she is approached by a detective from her former department, Luna spends all her spare time investigating the murders of four of Nocturne City’s werewolves. She risks alienating Dmitri when she goes in search of a mysterious breed of shapeshifter which was believed to be a myth. Luna finds herself torn between Dmitri and Lucas Kennuka, the leader of the Wendigo. As Luna gets closer to solving the mystery, the more danger she puts herself in. Will she be able to find the answer in time to keep anymore of the packs from getting involved?

I give this book 4 tombstones. I really enjoy Caitlin Kittredge’s writing style. Luna is a fascinating main character who cannot turn her back on the investigation. She risks losing it all and still puts her case load first. It seems like for her that the motto “Live to work” is appropriate. Second Skin has some really unexpected twists and turns. I never knew quite what to expect next. The tension Luna faces between Lucas and Dmitri added to the suspense of the book. The world that Ms. Kittredge has created with Nocturne City is an exciting one, and I do not think there is ever a dull moment in the series. I do recommend that this series should be read in the order that it is written, as each book seems to build from the previous one. I am anxious for the next book in the series, Witch Craft, to come out, with the unforeseen ending. If you enjoy mystery and werewolves, then check out the Nocturne City series today. You will not be disappointed.

Book Excerpt: “When werewolves from Nocturne City’s oldest packs start showing up shot through the head execution-style, police officer Luna Wilder must find out what’s killing them and why…before she becomes the next victim.

Luna traces the killings to a band of shapeshifters made of smoke and shadow who drink the blood of their victims for strength. Believed to exist only in legend, their race is all too real—and now their leader, Lucas Kennuka, is out to wrest Luna’s heart from her beloved Dmitri. To make matters worse, Dmitri is suffering from a mysterious illness brought on by a demon bite, and his condition grows more grave with each passing day. Now Luna must rely on Lucas to defeat an invisible enemy—a serial were-killer bringing death and destruction to all who stand in its path…”

Book Stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks (March 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031294831X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312948313

To purchase a print copy of Second Skin click here.
To purchase a Kindle copy of Second Skin click here.

Books in the Nocturne City series in the order they should be read:
Night Life
Pure Blood
Second Skin
Witch Craft

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

Street Magic, the first installment in Caitlin Kittredge’s Black London series, will pull you in instantly and keep you captivated throughout. The story begins with DI (Detective Inspector) Pete Caldecott on her way to follow up on a tip regarding a missing girl, and reflecting, as she often does, upon her last meeting with Jack Winter, her sister’s boyfriend at the time. Pete and Jack had met in Highgate Cemetery twelve years ago to work a bit of magic, but when events went awry, Pete fled the scene with Jack apparently dead. Imagine Pete’s surprise when she arrives at the grimy hotel to meet the tipster and finds Jack — alive, yet far from well. Pete discovers that Jack has become a heroin addict, as the heavy drugs seem to be the only method he can find to mask the pain of his awareness of ghosts, his “seeing.” Jack seems a shadow of his former self: “He was light, far beneath healthy, like a starving vampire or a reanimated sack of bones” (43). When his tip turns out to be true, Pete returns to Jack, determined to force him through withdrawal so he can help her track down two other children who have been taken in the same way. During the course of their investigation, Pete experiences the Black – that shadowy area between life and death, between worlds, that only those with special abilities can see. Pete learns of sorcerers, fae, and other beings, as well as what her own special place in this dark world may be.

Palpable and gritty, Kittredge’s London, Black and mundane, comes alive on the page, as do her characters. Pete and Jack complement one another, though that becomes evident to the reader long before either of them realizes it. As a police officer, Pete prefers to operate by the book and within the rules, but she learns through her experiences with Jack that there are beings and places not governed by the same rules she lives by. Jack is more than just the typical bad boy with a heart of gold – he sometimes kills without compunction to protect those he cares about, yet would also die for those same individuals. Sharp and witty dialogue enhances the novel, as well as adding just the right touch of humor. The running gag of Pete’s name, with all and sundry pointing out how odd it is, has a great pay-off near the end.

Kittredge’s stunning novel illustrates two worlds existing side by side, and does so in a way that makes us believe it could be true. Fans of the Nightside novels and well-written urban fantasy will not only be satisfied but also impressed. While anxiously awaiting the second book in the series, readers may find Pete and Jack in the short story “Newlydeads” in the anthology My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon.

Book Stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks (June 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031294361X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312943615

To purchase a print copy of Street Magic click here.

Books in the Black London Novels series in the order they should be read:
Street Magic
Demon Bound

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

Pure Blood is the second novel in the Nocturne City series. Picking up where Night Life leaves off, Luna Wilder has just returned to duty after a leave of absence from the Nocturne City police force. She has a new captain who assigns Luna a partner. Luna must get used to working with Shelby O’Halloran. She gets drawn into the middle of a gang war between the oldest witches families in the city. She has to deal with the pressure in her department and her partner and the return of Dmitri. Will she be able to find out what’s going on in time to save the city and end the witches gang war?

I give this book 4 1/2 tombstones. I really enjoyed the first book, Night Life and the second in this series did not disappoint me. I enjoy a good mystery novel and this had the elements of a good mystery, mixed in with the paranormal and of course there was some romance. I think Caitlin Kittredge does an excellent job of drawing all these threads of the story together. Luna is an interesting and great character and Pure Blood continues to the depth of who she is. She doesn’t try to fight who she is. She embraces it even though those around her try to change who she is. If you have not read the first book in the series, you must read it in order to understand where Pure Blood begins. If you’re looking for a good paranormal mystery story and enjoy reading about shapeshifters, give Caitlin Kittredge’s work a try.

Book Excerpt: “In the shadows of Nocturne City, witches lurk and demons prowl, and homicide detective Luna Wilder must keep the peace—while living life as a werewolf. Now bodies are turning up all over town, the brutal murders linked by a cryptic message: We see with empty eyes…

To make matters worse for Luna, she can’t get wolfishly handsome Dmitri Sandovsky out of her mind. The last time he helped her with a case, Dmitri suffered a demon bite that infected him with a mysterious illness…and now his pack elders have forbidden him from associating with Luna. But she’ll need his help when high-level witches start turning up slaughtered. Because a war is brewing between rival clans of blood witches and caster witches—a magical gang war with the power to burn Nocturne City to the ground.”

Book Stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks (August 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312948301
• ISBN-13: 978-0312948306

To purchase a print copy of Pure Blood click Pure Blood.

Books in the Nocturne City series in the order they should be read:
Night Life
Pure Blood

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

In the book Night Life, Luna Wilder is a werewolf who works for the Nocturne City Police Department. Luna comes from a family of witches, but she didn’t inherit the family witch blood. She is tough, has a temper and tends to get herself into trouble. She strives to close her cases and be a successful detective.

Luna struggles with the beast that is within her. The werewolves run in packs, but Luna is an Insoli and travels without a pack because of the way she became a werewolf. She lives with her cousin Sunny, a witch who is always trying to find ways for Luna to overcome the werewolf blood in her. Luna doesn’t have much contact with her grandmother because of the werewolf blood.

Luna is on a case where she finds girls that are killed in a ritualistic fashion. Her first suspect is a pack leader named Dmitri Sandovsky. At some point in the case, she stops suspecting him and starts to fall for him. Luna runs into a wall with who she thinks the true suspect is and needs Dmitri’s help to prove it.

I give this book 4 1/2 tombstones. I think its a good start to what will be a great series. There was action, mystery and romance. The book leaves you hanging in the end, wanting to know what will happen in the next book.

The mystery aspect to this book made it intriguing and interesting. Ms. Kittredge does a great job in helping the reader to visualize the world she has created. I enjoyed Luna as a main character, since she was on the tough side and the romance in the book wasn’t too over done. I recommend this book, and if you enjoy it, you won’t have to wait long for the second in the series called Pure Blood, which will be out at the end of August.

Book Excerpt: “The first book in a thrilling, addictive new series by a talented new voice in dark fantasy. Welcome to Nocturne City, where werewolves, black magicians, and witches prowl the streets at night…

Among them is Luna Wilder, a tough-as-nails police officer whose job is to keep the peace. As an Insoli werewolf, Luna travels without a pack and must rely on instinct alone. And she’s just been assigned to find the ruthless killer behind a string of ritualistic murders—a killer with ties to an escaped demon found only in legend…until now.

But when she investigates prime suspect Dmitri Sandovsky, she can’t resist his wolfish charms. Pack leader of a dangerous clan of Redbacks, Dimitri sends her animal instincts into overdrive and threatens her fiercely-guarded independence. But Luna and Dimiri will need to rely on each other as they’re plunged into an ancient demon underworld and pitted against an expert black magician with the power to enslave them for eternity…”

Book Stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312948298
• ISBN-13: 978-0312948290

To purchase a print copy of Night Life click here.

Books in the Nocturne City series in the order they should be read:
Night Life
Pure Blood

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.