Okay, honestly, I haven’t really been reading that much lately. Shocking, I know, but I’m trying to keep up with Holly Lisle’s HTRYN class, so that’s taking up a lot of my time. And before that, it was NaNo, so there went a whole month’s worth of “free” time. But I did make time to read two much-anticipated (and big) novels by some of my favorite authors.

First up was Gathering Storm, by Robert Jordan and Brian Sanderson. When Robert Jordan passed away, I wondered if the Wheel of Time series would ever be finished, and if it was, if it would measure up to the rest of the series. Yes, I know there’s a lot of flack out there for this, ah, never-ending, overly-detailed storyline. So? I like it. I like getting to know characters and caring about them, and finding out all the little details of their lives. And I’m pleased to say that I enjoyed Gathering Storm quite a bit. It’s been quite a while since I read the other books, so I was more than a little bit fuzzy on recent happenings, but it didn’t take long to get my memory refreshed. Frankly, I think Sanderson’s writing blended seamlessly with Jordan’s storytelling, and I was very happy with the results. Yes, it’s detailed. Yes, it’s long. Yes, there are a lot of characters to keep up with. But this book built steadily from the beginning, and while there wasn’t really a resolution at the end (How could there be?), it had a satisfying (to me) ending.

I also read Under the Dome, by Stephen King. Every time I read a King book and I scare myself silly, I swear I won’t read another one. And then the next one comes out, and I can’t wait to read it, and end up scared again. This book…wasn’t scary. At all. I don’t think it was meant to be. This is more of a character study. And King creates some great characters, so I really enjoyed this book. Interesting premise, about a small town (in Maine, of course) that gets trapped under a mysterious dome (hence the title). And what changes the trapped townsfolk undergo. I liked the MC, “Barbie” a lot. He was a good character, a strong, upstanding and stubborn guy. The supporting cast is vividly realized, and I found myself actively hating Rennie and wishing horrible things on him (Admittedly, I thought he deserved a LOT more bad things.) In the end, the explanation for the dome was a little bit…out there, but what King story doesn’t have a little bit of the strange and weird in it? I still enjoyed the story a lot, and I’d recommend it to anyone who’s afraid to read King. This one’s not scary. Not even a little bit.

Lately I’ve been reading quite a bit of YA. Some of it in series I’m familiar with, and then a series I’ve been wanting to read for a while and just hadn’t. I enjoy YA books. I guess they speak to a part of me that never really grew up, and maybe that’s why a lot of my own writing ends up being YA. Either way, the books I’ve read lately have been excellent.

First up is Tempted, by P.C. and Kristin House, the sixth book in the House of Night series. By this time, the characters are well-established and I’m completely invested in the series. Completely. Anytime one of these books hits my hot little hands, that’s all I’m doing for the next couple of hours. This book was no exception. There’s a great mystery in this one, with Stevie Rae keeping major secrets from everybody, and of course, Zoey has her little secret as well, not to mention boyfriend issues. A lot of them. This time we get to see some of the action through the eyes of other characters as well, which was really enjoyable. I really like how Aphrodite is turning out, despite my immense dislike of her in the first few books. I…didn’t care for the ending. At all. But it fits the book, so I’m not really complaining (Can I help it if I like a HEA ending?). Just saying. I can’t wait for the next one.

Next is Fade Out, by Rachel Caine, book seven in the Morganville Vampire series. These books are also one my “Must Sit Down And Read Immediately” list. So I did. Another entertainingly good read. Things have settled down a little bit for Claire since Bishop is gone, but things still aren’t good in Morganville. Amelie is having issues and everyone is worried about her. There’s a new Goth chick that is trying to take Claire’s place as Eve’s BFF. And, just for laughs, Ada the crazy computer/ghost is out to get Claire. This book didn’t have the usual dangling-over-a-cliff ending, but I’ll still be anxiously awaiting the next one.

And the “new” (new to me) series I’ve been wanting to read for a while: the Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter, which have really awesome titles. The first one is I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have To Kill You. The second is Cross My Heart And Hope To Spy. The Gallagher Academy bills itself as super exclusive private school for rich girls, but in reality, it’s an all-girls spy school. This doesn’t have a Harry Potter feel, if you’re wondering. They’re in a chick lit, fun voice, that had me drawn in by the second page. The books are about Cammie and her three best friends. Cammie’s mom runs the Gallagher Academy, and was a super spy herself. (No pressure to live up to parental standards there.) The girls know how to do all kinds of things, including speaking umpteen different languages, and killing someone with a paper clip, but when Cammie meets a regular boy from the local town, she’s clueless how to handle him.

In the second book, boys from the even-more-secret boys spy school arrive at the Gallagher Academy; the sparks really fly for Cammie and her friends. There are some awesome little details in these books that make the stories really come alive, from the classes the girls take (like Covert Ops, taught by an Indiana Jones-esque new professor), to the magazines they read (Espionage Today), and things like Evapopaper (paper that disintegrates, of course). Really excellent reads, both of them. The series is now on my automatic buy list.

And, that’s all I have for now. Happy reading!