Vampire Empire - Book One: The Greyfriar

Vampire Empire - Book One:  The Greyfriar

By:  Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith

Series:  Vampire Empire Book One

Published By:  PYR - November 2010

Pages:  301 Paperback

Rating:  5

Book Cover Rating:  3

Read:  January 2011

Genre:  Steampunk, Adult, Paranormal, Alternate History

First Line:  Your Highness would be safer below.

Review:

This Fairy was surprised by such a great ride!!  I must tell you right away; this is NOT your average ordinary bland bandwagon vampire novel.  You will see no sparkle here.  The Fairy devoured this book because it was so good, yet I wanted to read slowly because I didn’t want it to end.  When Greyfrair finally did come to an end I honestly was sad to know I was going to have to shut the cover.  However, when I did I quickly swooped up this book into a huge bear hug.  I was so happy to have read a book this wonderful!

Vampire Empire: The Greyfriar is a mess of genres in such a way that it works.  Steampunk is why I wanted to read this book but it didn't take long to find out that it was choked full of horror, including horrid politics, action/adventure, romance, and some bloody war.  I think I have to admit I'm fond of bloody wars.  Yes, indeed!

However, this book was not amazing just because of the genre mess... which made for different reading.  Clay and Susan Griffith have a gift for stringing words together to provide minimal but optimal images.  I was right there with Greyfriar the whole way!  The images that were floating around in my head were amazing... if I do say so myself.  Not only did the imagery of the world blow me away (& I have wings) but the fight scenes had me all up in a huff of excitement!  Blood, gore, mayhem.  I was in heaven.  A bloody hero *sigh*.

  

The Northern Hemisphere was attacked in 1870, nearly killing and destroying what we know to be the Western Civilization.  The Great Killing!

Princess Adele, the heir of Equatoria is due to wed a renowned vampire killer, Senator Clark (whom I didn't care for at all), which would unite her Empire with America.  This arrangement of merging both of the biggest human empires together now posed a huge threat to the vampires that live in the northern areas of the world.  Adele and her younger brother, Simon, are on their way to Marseilles when their dirigible is intercepted by a larger than normal ban of vampires lead by Flay.  Her master, Cesare, is known for his human massacres & is the youngest son of King Kimitry, Flay follows his orders to capture the heir.  Now the heir of Equatoria, Adele, is running from… Flay.  These vampires are parasitic with very powerful physical characteristics whom roam freely in the colder areas, feedlot humans for dinner, and terrorize others so they are afraid of being enslaved by them. 

Classic damsel in distress... I think not.  She takes out a few vampires before the hero enters.  The Greyfriar swoops in to save her.  I fell in love with this dark cloaked man right when he pulled out all of these weapons and started hacking up the vampires on top of him in a gory morbid way.  *sigh*  It must of been a beautiful sight.  

It is also quite a shock to Adele because The Greyfriar is a man whose stories of heroism and acts of battle are all thought to be fables.  He ended up being this strong yet mysterious man who drew in not only me but our lovely Adele as well.  He is mine, back off Adele! (I should mention that she is crafty with a weapon as well!)  

Ultimately she captured by the war crazed Flay albeit her best efforts of flight and the efforts of her masked mystery fighter, by Flay who brings her to England for Cesare.  I love that the head warrior is a female.  How hot is that!?!

Enter… Gareth, the oldest son and heir to the Vampire Empire once King Dimitry becomes ash.  He lives in Scotland away from his role of heir to the supposed throne.  Drum Roll.... Gareth now swoops in to save Adele by pulling the heir card and takes Adele away from Cesare’s hand.  He starts to learn more about “human” culture through Adele.  It ended up being a cute situation.

Surprise!  Yes, there is a surprise twist.  **Spoiler**  I was doing the dreamy thing and thought maybe it would be awesome if he was he.  Oh, that is code for trying to cover up the surprise twist.  But my dreamy manner ended up shocking me anyway.  **Spoiler Over**  It is something that makes this story just that more incredible.  I urge you to read this one because if you don’t you are missing out on some yummy twist!

The growth and development between Adele and Greyfriar was well played.  I was so happy to watch them become a tender relationship throughout the book instead of right away.  It was refreshing not to have them jump in the sac by page 5.  Gradual is more believable and needed at times.  

Overall, Vampire Empire: The Greyfrair was amazing.  Truly.  A Fairy even a Black or a Disaster of a Fairy would lie.  It is a favorite book and will be forever.  My copy will become greatly ragged from love.  No... I will not borrow it out.  

Get your own!

Rating:  Personal Favorite

More then 5 Kisses!

You can find this utterly wonderful tale at these web locations:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Borders


*Thanks to the wonderful people behind PYR I received a copy of this fabulous Steampunkery novel.  However, this has not affected my actions, feelings, or review of this book.*

Duo Review of the Steampunkery Sort + Giveaway

Hello all!

We have a fun post for you today and I am ever so happy to welcome our very lovely Jen and the Brilliant Mad Scientist.  This dynamic duo has plot, planned, and executed schemed behind all of our backs and produced a wonderful review or the Steampunkery sort!

Now once you are done with the review please head to Steampunkery & Book Reviews to sign up for the Giveaway.  Mad Scientist will be giving away Soulless and Changeless for one lucky winner.

Black Disaster Fairy Proudly Presents:

Changeless

Review By:

Jen the Bibliophile & The Mad Scientist!

By:  Gail Carriger

Series: Parasol Protectorate No. 2

Title: Changeless 

Published: March 30th,2010 By Orbit

Pages: 374 Paperback

Book Art: A utterly wonderful cover! 

Tags:  Steampunk, Paranormal Romance, Vampires, Werewolves, Adult

First Line:  "They are what?" Lord Conall Maccon, Earl of Woolsey, was yelling.  Loudly.  

Concoction of a Review: 

Jen:  Ms. Gail Carriger does it again with her second novel, Changeless, starring none other than the illustriously wonderful Alexia Tarabotti and her marvelous parasol. After I finished Soulless, the first in the series, I could do nothing other than race to the nearest bookstore and purchase my very own copy (as the library was sorely lacking) of Carriger's Changeless.

Mad Scientist:  You could me sporting my bustled derrière *pops parasol* and new pink and black parasol fashioned in honor of our lovely heroine the day Changeless came out.  I was full of curiosity and excited.  I could not wait to get some more Scottish delight!  

Jen:  I immediately began digging into the yummy little paperback of Victorian Steampunk, "vampires, werewolves, and dirigibles". A most excellent collection of characters consume this urban fantasy novel and if given the option, I would like nothing more than to jump head first into 1870 Great Britain as long as I were to have Lord Akeldama hosting me with tea and his drone Biffy, a connoisseur of all things lovely, available for fashion advice.

Mad Scientist:  Lord Akeldama is just a brilliant character.  He was a character that also had me hooked.  I could not wait to get more of him.  *Gasps*  What am I saying?  I loved every character!  I actually had a particular fondness for Madame Lefoux, owner of a hattery - Chapeau de Poupe, which provides more than just Victorian hats.  I admit Madame Lefoux is my muse!

Jen:  I was much depressed at my inability to finish the book in one sitting, but the weekday hodgepodge forced my submission, but I was able to finish it the next morning. Upon finishing, I was rather disheveled and upset and for the life of me I didn't know what to do with myself until Blameless, the next in the series, was out this past September.

Mad Scientist:  Oh my dear Jen, perk up because the adventure continues even after Blameless.  Our love of these most delightful characters will be around for a while longer.  Steampunkery will be had in a wonderful inky goodness form.

Jen:  All I can say is Carriger, you naughty little female, you have done me in with your most suspenseful plot and endearing characters, but why oh why must you torture me with your turn of events cliffhanger? It has suffused me with outright indignation and utter vexation at Alexia's latest predicament for although Lord Maccon has had a place in my heart, I feel as though I must fling him henceforth into an abyss...the brute!

Mad Scientist:  Truly a brute!  His Scottish gruffness is just too much.  *fans self*  Be still my beating heart.  I think it is about to jump out away from me.  As much as I wanted to see more of this scruffy werewolf in this novel I was happy to get to know our lovely Alexia more.  

Jen:  I will say no more, as it would be a shameful disaster to give away any of the deliciousness found within the 374 pages. My last words on the matter are, readers of Changeless may want to clear their schedules before they begin Carriger's novel because if it leaves you anything like it left me, you will find yourself wide eyed and breathless throughout!

Mad Scientist: Jen, you have it put in the most truthful manner.  This book is unbelievable.  The plots twist in unique ways, a mad scientist makes an appearance, and we have goggles & fashionable hats.  You will not want to put this book down nor will you be disappointed.  Trust us, you will jump in the carriage as soon as you set this book down for Blameless. 

As you can see, my goodness I hope so, through our reviews that this series is not to be missed.

A big Thanks to Gail for writing this lovely work of inky goodness.
You can visit Gail's website here.
You can visit Gail's GoodReads profile here.

A big Thanks to Jen for working with me on this review.
See her original review here.

Other Posts these two have created:

Intro & Interview with Jen the Bibliophile

Soulless Review

Tribute to Lord Conall Maccon

Ode to Madame Lefoux

Giveaway!!

At Steampunkery & Book Reivews

 Soulless and Changeless

***OPEN INTERNATIONALLY***

Leave a comment on the Blameless post!

At Steampunkery & Book Review!!

Closes Dec 10th

So, the winner will have a dear Christmas present from the Mad Scientist.

 &  

Fire Burn & Cauldron Bubble Review

 Funny Humorous Fantasy... Part 2

Wednesday is finally here!  Happy Hump Day!

What is up with the Part 2?

 Well, the Fairy will tell you!

You missed Part 1?

You crazy reader you.

It was a Book Review on a great book 

that has worked its way around the blog-o-sphere.  

To Kill A Warlock!

Visit to see the awesome review by Black Disaster Fairy!

Part 2 is TODAY, silly.

A Book Review of H.P. Mallory's second e-book is smashing

up this blog by yours truly, Black Disaster Fairy!

Fire Burn & Cauldron Bubble!

Also, for those of those of you who would love to have a chance to be in a book.

HP Mallory is going to make that happen for one lucky winner.

If you are amazingly lucky you as a character will be in her next book, Toil & Trouble.

Release date in Jan. 2011.  

Not only will you be apart of this coming book but character will continue through the series!

Yes, the Fairy said that right!

The winner will be found in several books!  Fun!!!

More Perks!!

Yes, HP Mallory is that awesome!

You will also get the book before everyone else! 

PLUS

Her other two books, in PAPERBACK! 

Click Here to Enter!

Part 3 is Oct 27th.

Yes, three parts and we are saving the best for last.

We will post a few answers by H.P. Mallory

about random awesomeness and her path as a

Indie Author.
*Shoot us a separate comment if you have a question for Mallory!*

PLUS, there will be a giveaway of the fabulous books that are going under

amazing review, by me!
Otherwise you can visit Smashwords and pick up these
awesome e-books!
*We know how I love to save a few trees!*

Wednesday is a great day!

!

Fire Burn & 

Cauldron Bubble

By: H.P. Mallory

Series:  Jolie Wilkins Series

Publisher:  Smashwords

E-Book!!

Rating: 4.5

Book Art: Cute... 4

Genre:  Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Adult

First Line:  It's not every day you see a ghost.

Review:

Jolie finds out that she simply is not what she thought she was.  How do you go from being a fortune teller to a person with the ability to see ghosts?  Ok, perhaps that would be fun for a little while.  I mean so many of us HUMANS want to be something other then what we are now.  Crazy.  But for Jolie things get a bit crazier, not only does she see ghosts but she is able to make the dead come back to life!  Wow!  Now those are some crazy super powers.  Someone needs to call Batman and tell him to hang up his cape.  Seriously, I love Batman!  Don't really do that.

Soon a tall dark handsome man comes to her psychic shop to sweep her off her feet hire her to help find out who killed the ghost.  Rand is a warlock who helps show Jolie that she is truly a witch, and boy, a powerful grandmommy of them to boot!  He also shows her that she can never go back to being a plain ol' human.  I mean who would want to?  Not I, said the Fairy!  However, Rand has this one rule that makes you grin because you know there will be some rule breaking somewhere, it is a paranormal romance after all!  Rand does not think that a boss should not mix business with pleasure with his employee.

Well, I'll be darn... let the rule breaking begin!  Ok, I will spare you from all of the lusting yummy hotness because I know you want to read that for yourself.  (Which I recommend you do!)  Another witch tries to claim Jolie for herself.  Which I did not see coming but was a great plot twist because our handsome stud, Rand, battle for his right to keep Jolie as an employee.  Wait!  He just wants to keep his employee?  There must be some magical labor laws.  Hmm... There is more!  He is also battling his growing feelings for Jolie.  *Ahh*  I told you there would be some rule breaking!

I did not have a problem getting into the book.  Although, I must admit that I was hoping for a bit more of a clean ending.  Perhaps, just more BANG!  Fear not! This is just the first in the series, we will learn more later on.  Even with the wanting more at the end, I was never bored throughout the book.  It was highly addictive.  Like the Dark Chocolate the Fairy Loves so much!  I hope HP Mallory keeps the wit and interesting characters coming.  This story was just as fun to read as her other book and would be just too hard to pick out which one I liked the most.  


I am now a fan!

4 - Smooches.  

If it was a actual book you would see kiss marks all over for originality!  

I do not think you will be disappointed.

A Review That Speaks Loudl

Speak


By: Laurie Halse Anderson
Publisher:  Puffin
Pages:  198 Paperback
Rating: 5
Book Cover Rating:  5 (It truly fits the story.)
Read:  September 26, 2010
Genre:  Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Sexual Violence 


First Line: It is my first morning of high school.


Recommended by:   Wesley SCROGGINS


This book was recently attacked by Wesley Scroggins in an article.  The book blogging world is all up in arms over this article, creating a Speak Loudly Movement.  You should join in this outcry if you feel that your rights are being broached on by our dear friend Mr. Scroggins.


There is a particular part of his claim that had my eyebrows peak and my brain try to wrap around his intriguing statement, "required to read and view material that should be classified as soft pornography."  Soft porn?  This guy is considering rape to be soft porn?  WOW!  Let's get this out in the open right away, I am a twisted person who came over from the dark side, who reads books that contain sexual violence.  However, I would never ever consider rape to be porn.  That is even way to creepy for me... & that is saying allot.


Now on to the good stuff ~~ Warning, it is hard to not write this review without spoilers.  If you do not want spoilers please stop reading.  I do not want you to stop talking to me.~~


Melinda is our main character/narrator, her voice.  She dose not get much description but for me it was great. (For this book it works, many can relate and put herself in her shoes.)  We enter the book going into high school as a 9th grader.  High school can be the time for great memories but so far for our Melinda it is the time where no one talks to you and people throw mash potatoes at you.  I could not possible dare to begin how that would feel.  Just completely humiliating, too cruel.


Soon we find out that everyone scorns here because during the summer she calls the cops at a huge party were a few people get tossed in the slammer because of it.  Naturally now she has the bullseye of hate on her, even her friends classmates do not even speak to her.  If only they knew the reason why?  Speak Melinda.  She draws into herself, retreating from family, school, and people trying to be friends.  I must admit that I loved her closet, to have your own place to go and hide.


Anderson does not say out right what happened.  This taboo subject normally has people walking around what happened.  She did a good job with this while leaving clues.  Biology class is the biggest one that should ring bells.  I just love her wording here.

"Our frog lies on her back. Waiting for a prince to come and princessify her with a smooch? I stand over her with my knife. Ms. Keen's voice fades to a mosquito whine. My throat closes off. It's hard to breathe. I put out my hand to steady myself against the table. David pins her froggy hands to the dissection tray. He spreads her froggy legs and pins her froggy feet. I have to slice open her belly. She doesn't say a word. She is already dead. A scream starts in my gut - I can feel the cut, smell the dirt, leaves in my hair."

This book hit me, it is profound writing on a subject hard to touch because of society expectations.  I loved struggling with Melinda.  Watching her work on her tree subject for art, yelling at her to pour out her hate, fear, and hurt into the tree (of course only in my head).  Then there was this spark, she wrote on the bathroom wall.  Courageous of her.  What she wrote, not that she did.  That spark shot off as soon as there was a reply.  I almost cried when I read that.  Powerful statement, all on a smelly bathroom wall.


The ending closed so well.   Unbelievable.






5 - Loving Hugs.  




Thanks Scroggins for recommending such a unique book with a voice.  It will be re-read more then once.  Now I recommend it to everyone. 




A few Quotes:


"Next thing you know, she'll be drinking black coffee and reading books without pictures."


"My journal entry of the day: Exchange students are ruining our country."


"My goal is to go home and take a nap."

Read It With A Buddy #2 - Betrayed

Hello again! So Elyssa and I have finished our reviews for Betrayed, but I noticed that we had different ratings. Because of this, I will just post our reviews seperately. Hope you enjoy them,

--Zakiya, the walking butterfly and Elyssa, Black Disaster Fairy

-------------------------------------------------------------

Betrayed (House of Night, #2)
By P.C. and Kristin Cast
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, 2007
310 pages, paperback
Read: 7/17/2010
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Romance

First Line of Book: " 'New kid. Check it out,' Shaunee said as she slid into the big, boothlike bench we always claim as ours for every school meal served in the dining hall (translation: high-class school cafeteria)."
Last Line of Book: "I'll go back for you, Stevie Rae."


Zakiya's Review: Betrayed was even better than Marked. More guy drama, more fun with friends, Zoey's big moment as the head of the school (sort of). It was just a giant step up from the series debut that I was glad I continued the series. Hopefully, Chosen will be even better!

In this book, Zoey and her friends take over the Dark Daughters -- the House of Night's prestigious group of students. Zoey has also taken the position pf High Priestess in Training, a big deal to Neferet (the "principal"). Her first Full Moon ritual is coming up soon, but things always seem to get in the way.

Betrayed was an ah-mazing sequel. IT had some great kick-butt action near the end, which I really enjoyed. Something good (and bad) happens to Heath, but I'm not telling what :). Zoey's vampyre friends are defined just a little bit more, and they have some cool stuff going on with them. Meanwhile, Stevie Rae catches hell, and Zoey just might be able to trust Aphrodite now, even though Neferet is encouraging her not to.

I loved this book, the characters, and the plot. Basically every single letter! I can't wait until I can get ahold of Chosen!

Rating:


Quotes from the Book:

"Cats do roam free all over the school. They often followed "their" kid to class. Nala, in particular, liked to find me several times a day. She'd insist I scratch her head, complain a little, and then take off and go do whatever catrs did with their free time. (Plot world domination?)"

" 'What's wrong with you?' Stevie Rae said.
The attention that the four of them had been focusing on trying to figure out if there was a hair in Erin's salad or if it was just one of those weird strings of celery shifted instantly to me."

" 'We don't do ugly,' Shaunee said.
'Yeah, and pot's ugly. Plus, it makes you eat for no good reasom. It's a shame the hottie football players are into that,' Erin said.
'Makes them less hottie,' Shaunee said.
'Okay, hottie-ness and pot are not really the point,' I said."

"The cat was as fat as a Butterball turkey. I mean, her tummy looked like she had a pouch and could hide a herd of baby kangaroos in there. That's probably why she wheezed. Carrying around all that cat fat couldn't be easy."



Elyssa's Review: I enjoyed this second book of the House of Night Series more then the first time I read it. Probably because last time I did not get to read Marked before I received Betrayed from the hold list at the library.

I was a bit put off by the language that this mother and daughter team used. I was shocked at how much they used slut, skank, and hag bitch. What is with the tossing of these terms? And why is it that when a female is bad she is an automatic slut. Really. I think we could be better then that. All of the pop culture talk is also over done. Plus it really dates the book even though it really is not that old.

Zoey is now the head of the Dark Daughters and sons (a special group on campus) as priestess in training. The detail surrounding by their religion and her priestess duties was well done. Asking for guidance from her Goddess, Nyx, and receiving help must have felt amazing. The religion and Goddess offers some hint of humanity into the assumed horrible existence of vampires. I am just sorry for Zoey that she starts to question her mentors true intentions.

Zoey should really learn to trust the people she calls friends. It is hard to read and enjoy a character if they keep making the same mistakes over and over. For me it is more like banging my head against a wall (or telling my kids to pick up their toys).

Personally, I really loved how entertaining it was to read about her desire for blood. It is all apart of becoming a vampire. The change does not usually include this desire so soon. A fledgling does not also make it through a change. One of Zoey's friends did not make it through the change. It was absolutely a shock for me and I cannot image how she felt. Damion did say the darnest things and they were nearly almost always funny. It was too sad to watch her friends try to cheer her up without much luck.

Another part that I enjoyed was the fact that Zoey is now questioning herself over three different men. Her boyfriend, Erik, is absent from House of Night doing a monologue for a competition for most of the book. Zoey ends up meeting Loren Blake who is a part time professor whom she believes is very interested in her. We can not forget Heath, her human boyfriend/ex-boyfriend.

Overall this book was a fun read. However, you will find flaws in the book. But who picks up a urban fantasy paranormal romance for a literary masterpiece? I'm looking for a read that will transport me to another place that I can enjoy for a few hours. This book did just that.

Rating: 3

Fall Inspires.................... Eventually!

Black Disaster Fairy is finally admitting that it is now time for me to acknowledge that fall is here.

The other day I took the boys to the park, one of my favorite ones.

It is full of paths all around it that lead through the Wisconsin woods, it is such a 

wonderfully diverse place.

However, I pulled in a deep breath and said, "Ok, it is fall!"

There were only a couple of leaves but yellow was all around.  

Forest trees are so beautiful in fall.  

I decided that I would share my new found delight.

Now I can hardly wait to pull out my comfy sweaters, scarf collection, ingredients for pumpkin pie, and my favorite blanket for snuggly reading time.

Here is my Traveling Nook, changing leaves, and a babbling brook.

Yes, all of this is apart of the part system :)

Here are a few fall inspirational pictures to get you stoked for the season!

Fall In Love - Silk Rosette Headband Retro/Vintage Style

ETSY

The Secret Life of Plants