Magic practitioners are being targeted and killed in Chicago and many more have disappeared. Harry Dresden is called in by his police friend to take a look at one of the murder scenes and he finds a very important clue. The murderer is leaving a calling card and it is a message for Harry. So he sets out to find the killer.

The list of suspects is short but one starts to stand out more than anyone else, Harry's half brother Thomas. Wanting to make sure justice is done and the real murderer is caught Harry goes about clearing his brothers name. All the while he is attracting the attention of the White Court of vampires and suddenly finds himself stuck in a power struggle.

This ninth book in the Harry Dresden series was, in my view, not the best yet. I really enjoyed the beginning of the series but as things progress I find myself not enjoying the stories as much as I used to. Less Bob, too much politics, an annoying apprentice and a lack of police support are just a few of the thoughts this book left me with.

Of course I will never give up on Harry. I do love this famous wizard and there is no way that I could not keep following his adventures. However when a series gets as long as this one there will always be certain books or aspects that every reader will like or not like. White Night is obviously my not like for the series but it isn't enough to put me off.

Labels: Books Read, Jim Butcher

Harry Dresden always seems to find trouble. Or is it trouble is always finding him? When Harry's friend Karrin Murphy is threatened he will do everything he can to save her. And that is when the trouble starts. The vampire blackmailing him wants something that is extremely powerful and also has some rather nasty people trying to find it. Harry doesn't even know what the Word of Kemmler is but he has found himself in the race to get it.

With necromancers roaming the Chicago streets on Halloween you can be sure that there will be alot of trouble. The White council are on the job but the Special Investigations department is on holiday. Will Harry manage to save the city again? Will he keep Karrin Safe? Will he keep himself in one piece?

Book seven in the Dresden Files series and I am not bored yet. This just keeps getting better and better and I am looking forward to joining Harry again soon. I missed Karrin in this book though. She was the reason Harry got into the trouble in the first place but she only had a small role in this installment. Hopefully she will be back next time.

Anyone who has been reading the Dresden Files will no doubt have enjoyed this book already but people who haven't read about this amazing wizard yet should go and catch up on the fun!

Labels: Books Read, Jim Butcher

It is time for something a little different! No paranormal author this week because Halloween weekend is just going to be full of them...

This week my guest on Amberkatze's Book Blog is Arlene Russo! Arlene is the editor of Bite Me magazine. If anyone has been following my blog for a while they will know that I wrote the book reviews in the last issue of the mag and Arlene and myself have been putting together a Bite Me Blog to help support the magazine!

So read a bit about the lady and then keep going for the contest!

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Amber - Arlene it is great to have you here on Amberkatze's Book Blog! Maybe you can start things off by telling us a little bit about yourself?

Arlene - I am Arlene and I publish and edit Bite Me magazine. I am also the author of Vampire Nation, about real life vampires in the UK.

Amber - You are founder and editor of the magazine 'Bite Me'. How did Bite Me come about?

Arlene - basically a visit to the 'world's biggest Dracula party' sparked the idea for Bite me. Over 1000 Drac fans converged on Los Angeles in August 1997 for a convention to celebrate centenary of Bram Stoker's immortal novel Dracula. Over 4 days I met a host of interesting characters, Hammer Horror legend Countess Dracula Ingrid Pitt & other Hammer stars, also son of Bela Lugosi. Also the very first man to ever spend a night alone in the real Castle Dracula in Romania, and a psychic vampire.

Back in Scotland, I was on a mission: to produce a publication that would unite fans from all around the world. Fans with one thing in common- a love of Dracula! (I had no prior experience of producing a magazine.) From an initial plan to produce a small fanzine, I decided I wanted to produce a 'proper' mag. One that could sit amongst shelved in stores across the world. So big, glossy, and colourful it had to be. I therefore undertook a self -taught crash course in publishing. I had to teach myself every aspect of an industry I had no experience of. It was very daunting and had elements of a true nightmare! Prior to Bite me, I had a healthy interest in fanged fiends. A mere ten years old, I first became captivated by Christopher Lee, when my parents allowed me to stay up late to watch the horror double bills.


Amber - How long has Bite Me been out on the market? Where can people get their hands on a copy?

Arlene - It launched in 1999.. It is available to order from www.bitememagazine.com. I deliver all over the world. It can also be bought in most Forbidden Planet and Borders stores

Amber - What can readers expect to find inside an issue of Bite Me?

Arlene - anything dark and interesting, from haunted places to visit to the latest research on real vampires plus a load of fun stuff too. I try to keep it light.

Amber - Bite Me isn't released on a regular basis. How often is an issue released? What factors play in the decision? When can readers expect issue 21?

Arlene - It did used to be released 4 times a year, and is so often the case with independent publishers, things get harder. I have to work twice as hard and find twice as much money to fund the mag. But I am always hopeful it will get back to 4 times a year or even more! I do have to say that I have found that people don't seem to buy magazines these days as much as say ten years ago. It's a pity people don't support independent mags like Bite me, as without support they will all die away...

Amber - So are you a vampire? Ever met one? ;)

Arlene - I'm afraid not, I'm quite human! Indeed I have met loads of vampires. You can read all about them in my book Vampire Nation.

Amber - Who is your favourite vamp? Movie, book, TV or otherwise. And why?

Arlene - It's got to be Christopher Lee- as he was the one that caused me to fall for vampires. He has a lot to answer for!

Amber - Do you have any other projects you are working on?

Arlene - I am working on several books, some vampire-related, some not! I will post new info on the new blog when it is hot off the press!

Amber - You are stranded on a desert island. What 5 items do you want to have with you?

Arlene -

1. Lavender Oil- for when things get stressful
2. my laptop and everlasting batteries
3. my entire bookcase (does that count, it is one item but it is crammed full of books)
4. my beloved teddy bear
5. The Bible.

Amber - Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions! I look forward to reading more Bite Me!

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Contest time!

I have 4 copies of the latest Bite Me magazine to give away to 4 lucky people! This is the issue with my book reviews inside as well as some other cool stuff!

I am also giving away a copy of Blood Lite! The new anthology with a cool vamp on the cover! With stories inside from Kelley Armstrong, Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher and Sherrilyn Kenyon!

To enter the contest all you have to do is comment on this thread and tell me who your favourite vamp is? Book, film, TV or otherwise.

If you want to get another entry then post about this contest somewhere on the web and leave me a link so I can check it out!

To get another entry you can go to the new Bite Me Blog and leave a message and/or sign up for the newsletter (one entry each).

Also posting somewhere on the web about the new Bite Me Blog or the mag will earn you another entry and buying a copy and emailing me a copy of your order will also get you entries! (If you already have a copy then show me proof and I will also give you an extra entry!)

So with so many ways to enter this contest and 5 prizes to be won this is a big contest! Just warming us up ready for Halloween weekend!

The contest closes on Sunday November 2nd at 4pm CET.

Winners have to check back to see if they have won and I will draw a new winner if a prize isn't claimed within 7 days!

Good Luck!!

Labels: Author Interviews, Bite Me Magazine, Charlaine Harris, Contests, Jim Butcher, Kelley Armstrong, Sherrilyn Kenyon

The Horror Writers Association Presents Blood Lite. A collection of entertaining tales that puts the fun back into dark fiction, with ironic twists and tongue-in-cheek wit to temper the jagged edge.

Charlaine Harris reveals the dark side of going green, when a quartet of die-hard environmentalists hosts a fundraiser with a gory twist in "An Evening with Al Gore"...In an all-new Dresden Files story from Jim Butcher, when it comes to tracking deadly paranormal doings, there's no such thing as a "Day Off" for the Chicago P.D.'s wizard detective, Harry Dresden...Sherrilyn Kenyon turns a cubicle-dwelling MBA with no life into a demon-fighting seraph with one hell of an afterlife in "Where Angels Fear to Tread"...Celebrity necromancer Jaime Vegas is headlining a sold-out séance tour, but behind the scenes, a disgruntled ghost has a bone to pick, in Kelley Armstrong's "The Ungrateful Dead". So let the blood flow and laughter reign -- because when it comes to facing our deepest, darkest fears, a little humor goes a long way!

Blood Lite has put my fear of anthologies to bed for a while. With some great contributors writing some equally great stories this is one I can say is worth buying. My favourite story has to be the first in the book by Kelley Armstrong. Her short story starring Jaime and Savannah from the Women of the Otherworld series was fun and it I can't wait for the new release in the series because I have missed that world. Sherrilyn Kenyon's addition to this collection was very interesting and made me hope that she is starting a new series and this was the taster. Jim Butcher finished things off with another Harry Dresden escapade but inbetween there were some real gems.

Of course there were some disappointments and a few that weren't amazing but overall this was a very good collection of stories and I am glad I ordered it.

Labels: anthologies, Books Read, Jim Butcher, Kelley Armstrong, New Releases, Sherrilyn Kenyon