Poltergeist, by Kat Richardson

pros: good writer, good series; interesting premise, well handled; same group of characters as before, but with different emphases; noirish detective novel feel; only a hint of romance; really works in the city and its quirks and personality; coffee addiction worked in as small detail, including Starbucks

cons: not a lot gets resolved; love interest was there as a plot device; Harper’s personality and circumstances could have used more details; too long since I read first book in series

misc: Greywalker Book 2; Harper Blaine; Seattle; psychokinesis; research project; fake experiment

ISBN 0451461509; 352pp; pub. 2007
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The Prydain Chronicles, by Lloyd Alexander

pros: classic fantasy; great characters and world; fast, easy read; there is reality and the darkness of war and evil, but has an overall upbeat and positive feeling; Gurgi; Kaw; the magic gifts at the end of The Book of Three; Taran’s banner; the final ending

cons: repetitious elements of characters habits and sayings get a little annoying; some pat situations and solutions; a little predictable; Eilonwy was headstrong and foolish; Glew

misc: The Book of Three; The Black Cauldron; The Castle of Llyr; Taran Wanderer; The High King; Assistant Pig-Keeper; Caer Dallben; Hen Wen

ISBN: various editions and an anthology
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One Hex of a Wedding, by Yasmine Galenorn

pros: likable characters; believable plot; believable family issues; the way Em uses her abilities to track down the stalker; Murray and White Deer; Jimbo and his dog

cons: predictable; reads like any romantic suspense with magic thrown in; the business with the ex at the party didn’t really add to the story; the myriad of family strife details, everyday life issues, etc., don’t add to the story

misc: Chintz n’ China mystery; Emerald O’Brien mystery; crystal necklace; redheaded stalker; bustier; wedding-dress fiasco; Irish faerie and magic

ISBN 0425211177; 272pp; pub. 2006
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The Truth about Dragons: an Antiromance, by Hazard Adams

pros: dragon story with Celtic flavor; ironic; clever enough premise; cynical; accurate read on real estate developers; view of historical Ireland from a dragon’s perspective; twist on dragons’ reputation as collectors

cons: a little self-involved for my taste; slow-paced; quasipoetical; some parts are more jaded than cynical; female is unlikable

ISBN 015191320X, 179 pp, pub. 1971
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