Saturday, September 27, 2008

Author Spotlight to start off: Rachel Caine urban fantasy & YA

Because I can't just leave it with a post with no mention of a book or an author, here is one I am currently reading. Consider this an author spotlight:

Most people are familiar with Rachel Caine. http://www.rachelcaine.com/
She is an author who writes the popular Weather Warden series about a group of people who can secretly control the weather or other elements in contemporary time. It is a really good series. One of my favorite aspects is the elements of adding the Genies or D'jinn in. I rarely see that in urban fantasy or fantasy series. She does it with a neat twist. If you haven't read this series, you are missing out. The first book is probably the slowest at the beginning and starts picking up fast. The ending will NOT be what you are expecting. Just warning you. It is good. I like being surprised. Great for fans of the urban fantasy series with strong female leads (that aren't bitchy) as well of people who have an interest in the weather or genies.
http://www.rachelcaine.com/ww_books.html


Ill Wind
Heat Stroke
Chill Factor
Windfall
Firestorm
Thin Air
Gale Force
Cape Storm
( to be released in 2009)



She also has a series of vampire books for the young adult genre called the Morganville Vampires. While the town's mayor is human, unbeknownst to most of the population it is actually run in cooperation with a group of vampires. Claire Danvers, the main character of the books, is 16 years old and just started at Texas Prairie University with no knowledge about vampires even existing which causes her...problems. Claire is very intelligent, but doesn't have an easy time socializing because of her age and her attending college early. Each book is adds layers to the town history and to the characters. It also usually means they are getting in more situations that are going to lead to deaths or trouble. I should warn, this series is highly addictive. They also have a habit of ending almost in a cliffhanger manner that makes you impatient for the next one. Not a bad thing at all. http://www.rachelcaine.com/morganville.html

Those in the series are:

Glass Houses
The Dead Girls' Dance
Midnight Alley
Feast of Fools
Lord of Misrule
( to be released January 2009)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey I noticed we have similar tastes in authors. But I didn't see Kim Harrison listed as one of your favorites. If you haven't read anything from her make sure to check it out. I think you'll enjoy the series alot.

Shartyrant said...

Thanks Heidi. I actually have all of Kim's books including her short stories in the anthologies. Her last two novels have been my favorites in the Rachel Morgan series. I love it when the demons get involved in her business.

You right, we do have very similiar taste in authors. >:)