Cassie Alexander
urban fantasy
2012
***** (5 out of 6)
cover - I like this cover - there's this silhouette of a dragon behind the doors, the woman is obviously a nurse...
Sometimes I try a new book/author and I'm less than impressed, other times I feel like oh WOW and yet other times I'm left with a feeling of ...hmmm - good book. Maybe I'll try the next one. I liked Nightshifted - And there is going to be a next one, in just a few months.
Basic premise - Edie Spence is a registered nurse, one who has recently been working at a upper end hospital (i.e. private pay). Problem was, she had this brother who has a certain problem. A stranger offers help if she goes to work at a county hospital...so she does, and ends up on a restricted ward. It's so restricted that most people - even in the hospital - don't even know it exists.
There are supernaturals on this ward...And so the story begins. Edie is new at her job, and unfortunately, one of her patients dies on her watch. She feels pretty bad about this; but not only did this guy die, but as he was dying he tells her to protect someone and her oddysey begins, bringing her into all kinds of danger and to the special notice of these shadow entities... (real shadows, people!) ....
The narration is first person (my favorite), the dialogue is decent - believable, and I enjoyed all the different species of 'others', as well as Alexander's take on vampires, dragons, and ....er...zombies. Which brings me to... I enjoy the occasional zombie book, where people are killing zombies, etc. I even enjoy that hugely popular book about that 'white trash' zombie girl.....even though I do get a little squicked out when I think too deeply about the whole zombie thing. It's the diet, okay?
possible spoiler (if you haven't already read this book, or even if it hasn't yet been mentioned...) coming up...
*spoiler* So according to the Amazon blurb - 'falling for a zombie'....This zombie is different than your normal literature zombie - but it's very, very hard for me to get past the whole need for human flesh thing. And this zombie apparently even is kind of like the Igors in Terry Pratchetts discworld novels, in that he uses parts from ...other people...to replace parts of himself. no matter what kind of zombie is being used, it's a little difficult for me to get the whole zombie as a love interest thing. Hell, if I think about it too hard, I get a little spooked with the whole centuries old vampire as a love interest either. *spoiler end**
Okay, now that I've re-established my almost queasy belly - there are times when reading that I just have to not think too much, just read for the story. I have to say that Nightshifted was an interesting story. It had a little of everything, including a haunted cd player, a gamey quadriplegic, baby in danger, a dragon, shifters, shadows, and the main character comes close to being done in.
The sequel Moonshifted will be coming out in November, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy it.
As soon as I saw "zombies" I decided to pass this one by. I love paranormals but just can't read about zombies - dead and rotting just doesn't attract me. Great review though.
ReplyDeleteThankfully, there's just one zombie, but I really have to work at ignoring that part to finish a love story with a zombie. ugh! And for some reason, I bought the second of the White Trash Zombie seris. Why? I don't know. It's weird. :(
Deleteyeah, the whole reason I don't read Stephen King/Paranormal/Fantasy is because of my weak stomach. Cannot stand the thought of blood, violence or eerie things that will keep me up at night. I'm a wimp.
ReplyDeleteI say - don't force yourself. There are so many good books out there without the stomach turning things. I can handle most of the gore etc, but once in a while, something does get to me. Zombies in a love relationship - that gets to me. But people fighting zombies - I can read it, even though if they get too graphic, I'm not enjoying it quite as much. :)
DeleteBy the way - I know people think Stephen King is one of the greatest writers around, but I don't see it. His dialogue sucks. I don't enjoy much of his narration either - I've tried read a few of his books and could never get into them. I don't think he's so much talented with words and conversations as that he has a good imagination and is prolific in his writing. But he has a large audience, so clearly he's doing something that people like. I just don't see it, myself.
This sounds good - medical drama and urban fantasy - what's not to love!
ReplyDeleteShelleyrae @ Book'd out
What helps is the writer really is an RN, so she can make the medical parts sound real.
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