Exit Interview - Release Day Book Review

 

Exit Interview an a.k.a. Jayne novel

by Dana Cameron

What is it about:

Reporter Amy Lindstrom has just witnessed the sudden, suspicious death of the powerful arms dealer she's been investigating. Jayne Rogers, the deadly covert operative assigned to work with the arms' dealer, has been accused by her boss of killing him, as well as turning traitor and picking off her former colleagues one by one. The only one who believes Jayne is being framed is Nicole Bradley, whose technical skills are as stealthy and lethal as Jayne's abilities with her fists and weapons. All three must work together to prevent a hidden arms cache from falling into the wrong hands.

What did I think of it:

I love everything Dana Cameron has written and that I have been able to get my trotters on so far, so I was very happy to get an ARC of this release.

And this is yet another amazing read!

The story switches between three women: Jayne - who is accused of going rogue, Amy - who ends up in trouble while investigating a story, and Nicole - a colleague of Jayne and the only one who doubts Jayne's guilt.

I loved all three of them. They're all resourceful, smart, and kick-ass in their own way. I was drawn into the story from the start and eager to find out what was going in and if Amy, Jayne, and Nicole would escape harm, save the day, and get a well deserved happy end.

There's lots going on,and next to tons of cool action, there's intrigue, suspense, and humor as well. I had a great time with this book, and you bet I pre-ordered a copy as soon as possible so it can sit next to my ARC on my Keeper Shelves once it arrives.

Why should you read it:

It's an awesome kick-ass read!

buy from Amazon

On McPig's Radar - Exit Interview

 

I had the opportunity to read the ARC of this book and it's totally amazing! So you bet I preordered the book to add to my keeper shelves. And you should totally preorder as well, because you need to read this book!

Exit Interview: an a.k.a. Jayne novel

by Dana Cameron

Reporter Amy Lindstrom has just witnessed the sudden, suspicious death of the powerful arms dealer she's been investigating. Jayne Rogers, the deadly covert operative assigned to work with the arms' dealer, has been accused by her boss of killing him, as well as turning traitor and picking off her former colleagues one by one. The only one who believes Jayne is being framed is Nicole Bradley, whose technical skills are as stealthy and lethal as Jayne's abilities with her fists and weapons. All three must work together to prevent a hidden arms cache from falling into the wrong hands. 

Expected publication: December 6th, 2022

Seven Kinds of Hell - Book Review (repost)

Seven Kinds of Hell (Fangborn #1)
by Dana Cameron

What is it about:
When archaeologist Zoe Miller's cousin is abducted by a vicious Russian kidnapper, she must come to grips with a haunting secret. Unknown to even her closest friends, Zoe is not entirely human. She's a werewolf and a daughter of the "Fangborn," a hidden race of werewolves, vampires, and oracles.

Zoe's attempt to rescue her cousin leads her on a quest for artifacts—including Pandora's Box, an object of world-ending power. With the fate of humanity in the balance, Zoe will be forced to renew family ties and pit her own supernatural abilities against a dark and nefarious foe.

At once captivation, deftly worded, and character-rich Seven Kinds of Hell expands vampire legend and werewolf noir in both intensity and charismatic bite.

What did I think of it:
I will confess I totally bought this book for the gorgeous cover, but luckily it turned out to be a pretty cool read as well.

From the first chapter I was intrigued by Zoe and her life. She grew up outside of the Fangborn community and has lots to learn about herself and others like her. Even though this trope has been used lots of times before, Cameron manages to make it work and she had me hooked from the start.

The story is action-packed and leads from America to London, Berlin and even further. I really liked the mythology that was used and loved how Cameron weaved this mythology into the story in a natural way.

I didn't really get into the romance storyline, I will admit. I think it's because the love interest is introduced after I already started to like another male character and I was disappointed I once again rooted for the wrong guy. But that's very personal, so I think other readers won't have the same problem.

Romance aside I loved this story and I am more than curious to see what happens next for Zoe. I will certainly keep an eye out for the next book.

Why should you read it:

It's a cool Urban Fantasy read. 

buy from Amazon

Pandora's Orphans - Release Day Book Review

 

Pandora's Orphans: A Fangborn Collection

by Dana Cameron

What is it about:

The Fangborn are werewolves, vampires, and oracles dedicated to protecting humanity. Known as “Pandora’s Orphans,” the Fangborn Family is the hope that was left behind when evil was released into the world. Through the millennia, they’ve tracked and fought that evil in secret.

Since 2008, and the publication of “The Night Things Changed,” ten award-winning tales of the Fangborn have been published in best-selling anthologies and magazines. They are collected here for the first time, with an all-new adventure, never before published.

What did I think of it:

I've been a fan of Dana Cameron's work ever since reading Seven Kinds of Hell, the first novel in the Fangborn series. But it has been difficult to get hold of all the shorter stories and novellas, as buying all the different anthologies and magazines isn't always an option. So you bet I jumped on the chance to read an early copy of this collection of Fangborn stories.

And this is such a great collection.

There are stories featuring Gerry and Claudia, the brother and sister who are also characters in the novels, but other stories as well. There were a few historical stories, a Sherlockian story among them, and even one about Zoe's parents ( the lead character of the Fangborn novels)

I totally enjoyed each and every last story. Some gave new insights, some were just really intense, and others brought some laughs as well. I loved rereading the ones I knew, and gobbled up the new-to-me ones. 

When I finished this book I wanted to reread the novels to stay in this exciting and intriguing world just a little longer. And I'll definitely get the print book for my collection. I can advice this book to everyone who loves the series, and to everyone who's unfamiliar with the series, but is looking for a new world and new characters to fall in love with.

Why should you read it:

It's an awesome Urban Fantasy read.

buy from amazon

On McPig's Radar - Pandora's Orphans

 

I love Dana Cameron's Fangborn series and managed to get hold of some of the short stories and novellas, but soon they'll all be available in one awesome collection!

Pandora's Orphans: A Fangborn Collection

The Fangborn are werewolves, vampires, and oracles dedicated to protecting humanity. Known as “Pandora’s Orphans,” the Fangborn Family is the hope that was left behind when evil was released into the world. Through the millennia, they’ve tracked and fought that evil in secret.

Since 2008, and the publication of “The Night Things Changed,” ten award-winning tales of the Fangborn have been published in best-selling anthologies and magazines. They are collected here for the first time, with an all-new, never-before-published adventure. 

Nationally best-selling author Dana Cameron writes across many genres, but especially crime and speculative fiction. Her work, inspired by her career in archaeology, has won multiple Anthony, Agatha, and Macavity Awards, and has been nominated for the Edgar Award. Several of Dana's archaeology mysteries appear as the “Emma Fielding Mysteries” on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

“The Fangborn are unlike any other fictional werewolves and vampires either of us have ever seen, and trust us when we say we’ve seen a lot of werewolf and vampire fiction. Then Dana took that original concept, added historical depth, and extrapolated beautifully to create her world. It’s an amazing achievement.”— Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner, from the Foreword

releasing July 13

Buy from Amazon or find other buy links here

A Fugitive Truth - Book Review

 

A Fugitive Truth (Emma Fielding Mystery #4)

by Dana Cameron

What is it about:

The past's blood stains the present

The opportunity of a lifetime awaits archaeologist Emma Fielding in the Berkshire foothills of Western Massachusetts: the chance to study the eighteenth-century diary of Margaret Chandler, the accused witch and murderess whose home Emma excavated only months before. However, the three other Shrewsbury Foundation fellows she must share the premises with are a disturbingly odd bunch, and before too long one of them is dead.

But Emma can find no solace in the bleak beauty of the surrounding wilderness, for there are dark secrets encoded in Madam Chandler's writings, and shocking parallels between an ancient slaying and the strange brutal demise of her colleague.

When the killer strikes again, Emma realizes her own life is at stake. And suddenly there is no choice left: she is driven to investigate bloody crimes past and present -- before her own death becomes a footnote in a chilling, three-centuries-old story.

What did I think of it:

I loved the first three books in this series, but there are so many books I want to read that I kept forgetting to pick up the next book in the series.

I seriously need to step up and finish this series though as this book was yet another awesome read.

Emma is a fun character. She's serious about her work, but also curious to the point it puts her into harm's way. I rooted for her to both uncover the secrets of the diary she's researching and to find the killer who is stalking her and others.

I loved how this murder mystery has parallels with Emma's research, creating more mystery and suspense. I was invested and intrigued and couldn't put this book down. I feared for the life of some of the characters and hoped my favorites would survive.

All in all a great read, and I'll have to get hold of Sugarplums and Scandal which contains book 4.5 in this series, so I can dive into book 5 afterward.

Why should you read it:

It's a really cool Murder Mystery.

Buy from Amazon

Past Malice - Book Review

Past Malice (Emma Fielding Mystery #3)
by Dana Cameron

What is it about:
What bones are buried in the shadows of the past?

Asked to join a dig at the site of the eighteenth-century Chandler House, archaeologist Emma Fielding and her student crew have descended upon Stone Harbor, Massachusetts. But certain residents of the tiny coastal community are none too happy about Emma's arrival -- especially when her excavation uncovers a pair of freshly slain corpses.

There are dark forces at play in this dangerously divided town, where a distrust of strangers wars with a desire for tourist dollars. And when a young local's life is snuffed out, Emma is determined to get to the twisted roots of the strange secrets buried in this killing ground. But a mystery that lies among the tumbled ruins of a once grand manor could change Stone Harbor forever. And for some murderous someone, one more death -- Emma's -- would be a small price to pay to keep it hidden.

What did I think of it:
This is yet another great read.

I really like how Cameron builds up the mystery in these books, letting you guess at what could be going on. The characters are interesting and intriguing, even those not involved in the mystery.

Emma can't help getting involved in the murders and gets herself in danger. I love how the people close to her (like her husband) react to her adventures. It makes everything feel even more real.

In this book Emma has her sister over for a visit, and I suffered along with Emma over Bucky's behavior. I would have send her packing for less than what she says and does to Emma, I can tell you.

This book also has a quote that I LOVE and have to share:
"I was still surprised that people only wanted money for books. Not body parts or firstborns or souls. Just money. It always seemed like a steal to me."
(page 222)

All in all this is a really wonderful read and I can advice it to anyone looking for a good murder mystery. You bet I'll continue reading this series.

Why should you read it:
It's a really great murder mystery.


buy from Amazon

Top Pearls 2015 - Continuing Awesomeness and Stand Alone Awesomeness

And today the rest of my 2015 Pearls.

Today I highlight the authors who continue to write awesome books. Most of these have been on my Top Pearls list before in previous years.

I will also list two books by new to me authors that blew me away this year.


Continuing Awesomeness:


Dana Cameron
This year I read Hellbender, the third book in the really cool Fangborn series, and the first two books in Cameron's Emma Fielding series. The Emma Fielding series is very different, but just as cool as the Fangborn series, I must say. I have the next 3 books in my TBR pile.


Gini Koch
I can't believe there are already twelve books in the Katherine 'Kitty' Katt series. I've read both books that released this year, and I'm still loving this series.


Jeffe Kennedy
Fantasy, BDSM Romance, Erotic Paranormal Suspense: Jeffe Kennedy has all of them covered, and well! I haven't come across a book by Jeffe that I didn't love. Next to the books pictured here I also read Master of the Opera, and a few novellas as well.


Laura Bickle
I read both new books by Laura Bickle this year. The Dark Alchemy series is dark and totally awesome.


Linda Poitevin
I loved the first two books of the Grigory Legacy, so I was over the moon when the last two books became available in print this year. I read both and they were beautiful!


Stand Alone Awesomeness:


The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord
I won this book in a giveaway and was totally blown away by how beautiful it was. I'm even reluctant to pick up the sequel, because I don't want anything to spoil this story.


Last Flight by Liane Merciel
Yes, I'm totally cheating here. Last Flight is part of the Dragon Age world, and I got addicted to the Dragon Age games, and world this year. So technically it's not a Stand Alone. Still I think this book deserves a mention, because it's the book that was the most emotional read for me this year. It's beautiful and sad.



Check back tomorrow for a giveaway!

Grave Consequences - Book Review

Grave Consequences (Emma Fielding Mystery #2)
by Dana Cameron

What is it about:
Archaeologist Emma Fielding is beginning to doubt the wisdom of spending her vacation in England helping friends excavate a twelfth-century abbey, especially when they uncover an all-too-modern skeleton in a nearby medieval graveyard. But it's the second discovery--of a murdered graduate student recently missing from the dig--that suggests to Emma that Marchester isn't exactly the quiet riverside town that it appears to be.

There are dark passions and lethal secrets buried here, heinous crimes that shake the conflicted community to its core. And it's up to Emma, an outsider far from home, to delve into a past that too many people--including her friends--would do anything to hide.

What did I think of it:
I very much enjoyed the first book in this series, so was eager to give the second book a try as well.

And this is yet another really great read.

I like Emma. She has her flaws, and she keeps digging into secrets she should possibly leave untouched, but then we wouldn't get a cool mystery, so I'm only too happy to see Emma soldier on forwards where others would back away.

After the American setting in book one, I very much enjoyed the change to a British setting in this book. Emma is out of her element and a stranger, but still she manages to find people who can help her with her investigation.

Next to the murder mystery there's lots of other things going on. People at odds with each other, secrets, jealousy, and lots more. Slowly things fit together and you get a picture of what is going on. I very much enjoyed reading how things developed and how Emma tried to solve all the mysteries that surround her.

All in all this is a really enjoyable read, and if not for the fact that the next book in this series got lost in the mail after I tracked it down online, I'd be reading it now. But I will hunt down another copy soon, because I want more.

Why should you read it:
It's a very enjoyable Murder Mystery.


Buy the Kindle version on Amazon

Site Unseen - Book Review

Site Unseen (Emma Fielding Mystery #1)
by Dana Cameron

What is it about:
Brilliant, dedicated, and driven, archaeologist Emma Fielding finds things that have been lost for hundreds of years--and she's very, very good at it. A soon-to-be-tenured professor of archaeology, she has recently unearthed evidence of a 17th century coastal Maine settlement that predates Jamestown, one of the most significant archaeological finds in years.

But the dead body that accompanies it--a corpse washed ashore near the site--has embroiled Emma and her students in a different kind of exploration.

With her reputation suddenly in jeopardy--due to the ruthless machinations of a disgruntled rival--and a second suspicious death, heartbreakingly close to home, Emma must unearth a killer among the artifacts. But that means digging deep into her past to dark secrets buried in the heart of the archeological community--which, in turn, could bury Emma Fielding.

What did I think of it:
I love Dana Cameron's Fangborn series, so I was curious about her earlier Emma Fielding series. The first couple of books are out of print, but I managed to hunt down a second hand copy of Site Unseen. (Yes, I know: I could have gotten the ebook, but I wanted a print copy.)

When the book arrived I was about to start on another book, but decided to have a peek at the beginning of Site Unseen...

Yup: I got hooked right away and read it immediately instead of letting it wait its turn. It's that good.

I liked Emma from the start, and soon was rooting for her. The archeological dig she's working on was very interesting to read about (and having Time Team on in the background helped set the mood, I must say), and when the mystery part kicked in I almost couldn't put the book down. I had to know what was going on.

This isn't a fast paced mystery. There's a slow pace at which things progress, but still I was hooked. Both by the developing story, and the way this book is written.

All in all this is a really enjoyable read, and I will most certainly try to get hold of all books in this series, because I want more.

Why should you read it:
It's a very compelling Mystery.


This book is out of print, but available as ebook here

Teaser Tuesdays - Site Unseen

I watched as she scuttled, crablike, from he room, jamming that cigarette she had stashed behind her ear into her mouth before the door shut behind her. The sheriff went over and closed the door after her, then with a piece of paper picked up the gum and deposited it in the trash.

(page 147, Site Unseen by Dana Cameron)


This book is out of print, but available as ebook here

===

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Hellbender - Book Review

Hellbender (Fangborn #3)
by Dana Cameron

What is it about:
I-Day is near at hand, and soon the Fangborn will reveal themselves to humankind. As a member of this secretive race of werewolves, vampires, and oracles, will archaeologist Zoe Miller be prepared?

Still grappling with the newfound powers she gained after opening Pandora’s box, Zoe shares the responsibility of protecting “Normal” humans. Having long preferred to keep to the shadows, she knows the pending revelation of the Fangborn will set the world on fire. With Fangborn enemies in the Order of Nicomedia forcing their hand, Zoe and her supernatural Family have no choice but to step into the spotlight. But that decision has garnered the attention of the powerful and otherworldly beings known as the Makers. They claim to have created the Fangborn—not as saviors, but as predators. And it seems they have their own plans for Zoe…and for the fate of all the Fangborn.

Filled with stunning twists, Hellbender takes the Fangborn series to a thrilling new dimension.

What did I think of it:
This series is so awesome!

The last book ended on quite a cliffhanger, so I was thrilled when I got my trotters on an early copy of Hellbender for review.

The story continues where Pack of Strays left off and soon Zoe is in the middle of action and danger again. She has quite a lot on her plate this time: The Makers are contacting Zoe, forcing her to make decisions she might not be ready for.

I love how Zoe stays so down to earth and caring, even with all the power that is thrown her way. She keeps trying to do what she thinks is right. She manages to gather people (and creatures) around her who help her stay strong and on course.

The romance in this book is mostly on a back burner - there's so much going on in Zoe's life, it would be a surprise if she managed to fit in a passionate affair - but there are still some scenes between Zoe and her two love interests. I can tell you I'm still hoping that Zoe will find happiness with Adam.

The events and action in this book feel epic and world changing. Often I lose my interest when stories take the DOOM! route, but Cameron manages to make me believe in the unfolding events, and care. I was rooting for Zoe and her allies to survive and safe the day.

And the ending: Argh! I need the next book! I want to know what's next.

You can bet I'll be stalking Dana Cameron's website for news on the next book. In the mean time I'll be giving her Emma Fielding series a try.

Why should you read it:
It's an awesome, action packed Urban Fantasy read

World folklore and the Fangborn - Guest Post by Dana Cameron + Giveaway

Today a guest post by Dana Cameron, the author of the awesome Fangborn series.


*

World folklore and the Fangborn

I use a lot of real-world folklore and mythology in Seven Kinds of Hell, Pack of Strays, Hellbender, and the Fangborn short stories, so I can explain how my heroic werewolves, vampires, and oracles have influenced humanity from behind the scenes for as long as there's been...well, for as long as there's been humanity to protect and stories to tell. Since every culture has stories about shapeshifters, I figured that indicated something about the prevalence of the Fangborn and their exploits. Plus, it's fun to make the most of my anthropology and archaeology training, and explore things I find intriguing.

One of the problems I initially encountered was that in a lot of the European shapeshifter stories, the shapeshifters are really terrible creatures. How can my Fangborn be the good guys, when so many European stories about werewolves and vampires involve predation, soulless carnage, and damnation? And how could I reconcile the facts that dragons are often considered emblems of evil in the West and symbols of strength, fertility, and order in the East?

I don't draw from any one tradition. If I happen across a cool image or a description of a supernatural creature in a museum, it goes into my Fangborn folder. I don't try to reconcile all the world's cultures either. For one thing, I'm writing fiction, not a scholarly work. For another, it can't be done: Even if there are similarities between two or three (or a dozen or two dozen) traditions, that's not necessarily proof that there is a real-world cultural connection. In my business as an academic archaeologist, I had to be very careful to demonstrate with a lot of proof of every sort, that similarities were actually direct cultural connections. How do I make this work in my novels and short stories?


**
It's easy: I behave like a bad academic. I do all the wrong things. I pick whatever suits my fancy and use that, figuring, if I think it's neat, the reader will think so too. I hand-wave about the history, and then...don't try to formulate any hypotheses. I get back into the story. So Zoe, my protagonist, sees these artifacts and observes that a snake or wolf may not indicate that the Fangborn were too visible in their tracking of evil, and found their way into local folklore. Or if she sees a contradiction, she muses that perhaps it was part of their camouflage: Who wants to go looking for a bloodthirsty creature that will tear you're throat out? This bad publicity gives the Fangborn a smoke-screen to hide behind, while they fight evil in secret.

This is getting to have it both ways. You can do that in fiction.
On the other hand, I do make my descriptions about what exists in the real world as accurate as possible, so the reader will get into the story. If I use an artifact, I research it. If I use a character from Greek (like Pandora's Box or Heracles), Norse (Jörmungandr, the Midgard serpent), Japanese (yokai), or Maya traditions, I'll do the research (I'm still a good academic in that respect!).

In fiction, you tell the truth, as best you can, all of the time. In fantastic fiction, you do this so that at the moments you need to make something up, you will have convinced the reader that your creatures are not only possible, but believable.

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

* = The statue with the bib is an Inari-Fox or kitsune, a messenger or symbol of Inari. Notice there is candy beneath him, as an offering!
** = The snake is a detail from a 2nd c AD statue of Antinonus, Hadrian's lover. Clearly, a vampire!

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


About Dana Cameron:
Dana Cameron can't help mixing in a little history into her fiction. Drawing from her expertise in archaeology, Dana's work (including traditional mystery, noir, urban fantasy, historical fiction, and thrillers) has won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards and earned an Edgar Award nomination. Her third Fangborn novel, Hellbender, will be published in March 2015 by 47North. Her most recent Fangborn short story is a Sherlockian pastiche; "The Curious Case of Miss Amelia Vernet.” Her story, "The Sun, The Moon, and The Stars," featuring Pam Ravenscroft from Charlaine Harris's acclaimed Sookie Stackhouse mysteries, appears in Dead But Not Forgotten: Stories from the World of Sookie Stackhouse.
www.danacameron.com



About Hellbender:
I-Day is near at hand, and soon the Fangborn will reveal themselves to humankind. As a member of this secretive race of werewolves, vampires, and oracles, will archaeologist Zoe Miller be prepared?

Still grappling with the newfound powers she gained after opening Pandora’s box, Zoe shares the responsibility of protecting “Normal” humans. Having long preferred to keep to the shadows, she knows the pending revelation of the Fangborn will set the world on fire. With Fangborn enemies in the Order of Nicomedia forcing their hand, Zoe and her supernatural Family have no choice but to step into the spotlight. But that decision has garnered the attention of the powerful and otherworldly beings known as the Makers. They claim to have created the Fangborn—not as saviors, but as predators. And it seems they have their own plans for Zoe…and for the fate of all the Fangborn.

Filled with stunning twists, Hellbender takes the Fangborn series to a thrilling new dimension.

Buy from Amazon

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

Giveaway:

Dana Cameron kindly provided me with a signed copy of Hellbender and some bookmarks for one of my readers!

For a chance to win this book:
- Leave a comment for Dana on this post
- Leave a way for me to contact you
- Do so before April 12, 2015
- Open internationally to anyone who's legally allowed to enter.

Winner is Erin!

(Pearls Cast Before a McPig is not responsible for things getting lost in the mail.)

Pack of Strays - Book Review

Pack of Strays (Fangborn #2)
by Dana Cameron

What is it about:
Archaeologist Zoe Miller has only recently learned she is Fangborn, a secretive race of werewolves, vampires, and oracles dedicated to protecting humanity. But after she discovered and opened Pandora's Box, the fabled item has lived up to its myth, and for Zoe and her friends, all hell has broken loose. Now she's on a double mission: to prevent a politician from revealing the existence of the Fangborn and to foil the diabolical plans of the powerful Order of Nicomedia, a group dedicated to eradicating her kind.

But Zoe is also noticing disturbing changes in herself - new and unique abilities. Her visions are intensifying too, drawing her to faraway places to find more artifacts like the bejeweled bracelet embedded in her wrist.

In a world of dizzying shifts, who can Zoe trust? For while her former lover wants to turn her in, her former adversary seems dedicated to helping her mission succeed . . .


What did I think of it:
I loved the first book in this series, so I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Pack of Strays.

And this book was well worth the wait!

Just a couple of pages into the book I was hooked, and if not for my eyes refusing to cooperate at a certain point, I'd have devoured it in one sitting. It's so good!

Zoe gets thrown from one dangerous situation in the next. She stumbles upon conspiracies and secrets that have her fighting for survival. Each piece of the puzzle she manages to discover, leads her to a new mystery.

There were some new characters in this book that I really liked, and some returning ones as well. I hope to see lots more of some in the next book, while I hope others will get what they deserve.

If there's one thing I didn't get into in the first book it was the romantic storyline. I just really didn't like Will. So I can tell you I was so happy to see a second love interest in Pack of Strays. Normally I'm no fan of love triangly stuff, but here I could only cheer to see Zoe get attracted to a man I could root for. I'm readying myself to be disappointed (as I am so often) in who Zoe will eventually end up with, but I'll keep hoping and rooting until the end!

The story was thrilling and action-packed. Rarely Zoe gets time to catch her breath. I love how Cameron takes the story to all kinds of different locations and countries. In my opinion Cameron succeeds in making those settings feel real, and making them a natural part of the developing story.

The mythological and historical elements in this series are also really well done. It's clear Cameron did her research, but she manages to blend the information into the story without it becoming info dumps. There are some dream/vision sequences to reveal some things, but they never felt disruptive or out of place. Instead they added to the suspense of the story.

All in all this book is even better than the first. And the ending! I need the next book! You can bet I will get my trotters on it as soon as it releases.

Why should you read it:
It's an action-packed and cool Urban Fantasy read.

An Interview with Dana Cameron + Giveaway

Dana Cameron is the author of Seven Kinds of Hell (Fangborn #1), a cool and action-packed Urban Fantasy read. She also wrote the Emma Fielding Mystery series. Today she drops by on my blog for an interview in which I ask her about her books, pigs and more.


Photo by James Goodwin

Welcome to Pearls Cast Before A McPig, Dana.
Could you tell a bit about yourself for those people who don’t know you yet?

Sure! I live in Massachusetts and spent the first twenty years of my professional life as a archaeologist. My first six novels were mysteries featuring an amateur sleuth, who like me, was an academic arcaheologist who worked on colonial sites in New England and abroad. I've also written historical, noir, thriller, traditional mystery, and urban fantasy in short stories. It was in a short story, “The Night Things Changed,” in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (ed. Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner) that I first wrote about the Fangborn. I've been nominated for the Edgar Award, and have won multiple Anthony, Agatha, and Macavity Awards. I'm married and have two Benevolent Feline Overlords, who are named Kaylee and Zoe.

How many books will there be in the Fangborn series?

There will be at least three novels. There will also be a number of short stories (in addition to the five already available; some are standalone (from my publisher, 47North), and some are part of collections with other authors. The next one story from 47North is called “The Serpent's Tale” and will be out in fall 2013.

You also have a series with another archaeologist: Emma Fielding. I tried hunting the books down on bookdepository.com, but could only find a few of them. Any chance they’ll be re-released? Or can they be found in ebook form somewhere?

Thank you! Yes, the books are on sale as e-books on Amazon.com, BN.com, and other sites, and I'm hoping to see them re-released in print form soon.

Are there any other projects you’re working on or thinking about starting in the near future?

Right now, it's nearly all Fangborn, all the time! However, I do have a thriller short story, “Dialing In,” that will appear soon in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and I'm working on another Anna Hoyt “colonial noir” story.


Where can you be found when you’re not at your desk writing?

I like going for long walks to clear my head, and I enjoy museums and traveling. We just returned from Japan, which was wonderful! I've been wanting to go since high school, and the food, the gardens, the people, the museums, the cities all surpassed my wildest hopes!

What did you do to celebrate the release of your first book?

I had a big party! These days, I still celebrate, either by going out some place special or getting together with friends—any excuse to have champagne!

What is the best thing about being a published author?

Getting to meet other authors whose work I've loved, knowing a reader has enjoyed my book, and and especially being given the chance try lots of different types of writing!

What authors have been an influence to you? And have you read any books lately that you want to share with us or have you been too busy with writing to read?

For story-telling and characterization, my three main influences are Shakespeare, Edith Wharton, and Dorothy Sayers. I often read non-fiction when I'm working, but because I was on vacation I just finished DEAD EVER AFTER by Charlaine Harris and loved it (though I'll miss Sookie). I also read and enjoyed PROFESSOR MORIARTY: THE HOUND OF THE D'URBERVILLES by Kim Newman, and I'm looking forward to INVITATION TO DIE by Helen Smith.

Are there zombies or pigs in any of your books or will there be any in future books?

There are some pigs in my forthcoming short story (“The God's Games”) in a featured, but not pivotal, role. Zombies...not so far, but I never say never. Zombie pigs, however, might be more difficult. :-)

Thanks so much for these great questions!

Thanks for dropping by!
I hope to meet you next month at WFC 2013 in Brighton :-)



About Seven Kinds Of Hell:

When archaeologist Zoe Miller's cousin is abducted by a vicious Russian kidnapper, she must come to grips with a haunting secret. Unknown to even her closest friends, Zoe is not entirely human. She's a werewolf and a daughter of the "Fangborn," a hidden race of werewolves, vampires, and oracles.

Zoe's attempt to rescue her cousin leads her on a quest for artifacts—including Pandora's Box, an object of world-ending power. With the fate of humanity in the balance, Zoe will be forced to renew family ties and pit her own supernatural abilities against a dark and nefarious fo.

At once captivation, deftly worded, and character-rich Seven Kinds of Hell expands vampire legend and werewolf noir in both intensity and charismatic bite.



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Giveaway

Dana kindly offered a copy of Seven Kinds Of Hell to one reader of my blog.

The winner is Kim!

A winner will be picked at random on September 29th.
Open internationally to everyone who's legally allowed to enter this giveaway.

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Don't forget to leave a comment:
I decided to have an event wide giveaway on my blog for commenters.

At the end of this event I'll pick one commenter on any author post of this event at random and that person will win a book of his/her choice as long as bookdepository ships to where you live, you're legally allowed to enter, and the book costs no more than 10$

And drop by Between Dreams and Reality as well for more great author posts.

Seven Kinds of Hell - Book Review

Seven Kinds of Hell (Fangborn #1)
by Dana Cameron

What is it about:
When archaeologist Zoe Miller's cousin is abducted by a vicious Russian kidnapper, she must come to grips with a haunting secret. Unknown to even her closest friends, Zoe is not entirely human. She's a werewolf and a daughter of the "Fangborn," a hidden race of werewolves, vampires, and oracles.

Zoe's attempt to rescue her cousin leads her on a quest for artifacts—including Pandora's Box, an object of world-ending power. With the fate of humanity in the balance, Zoe will be forced to renew family ties and pit her own supernatural abilities against a dark and nefarious foe.

At once captivation, deftly worded, and character-rich Seven Kinds of Hell expands vampire legend and werewolf noir in both intensity and charismatic bite.

What did I think of it:
I will confess I totally bought this book for the gorgeous cover, but luckily it turned out to be a pretty cool read as well.

From the first chapter I was intrigued by Zoe and her life. She grew up outside of the Fangborn community and has lots to learn about herself and others like her. Even though this trope has been used lots of times before, Cameron manages to make it work and she had me hooked from the start.

The story is action-packed and leads from America to London, Berlin and even further. I really liked the mythology that was used and loved how Cameron weaved this mythology into the story in a natural way.

I didn't really get into the romance storyline, I will admit. I think it's because the love interest is introduced after I already started to like another male character and I was disappointed I once again rooted for the wrong guy. But that's very personal, so I think other readers won't have the same problem.

Romance aside I loved this story and I am more than curious to see what happens next for Zoe. I will certainly keep an eye out for the next book.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool Urban Fantasy read.