Vampire Challenge 2014 Finished

Vampire Challenge 2014 hosted by Parajunkee.

THE RULES:

1. The Vampire Challenge runs from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014
2. The challenge is to read 10 books that have a VAMPIRE as a main, or supporting character
3. Books can be in any format and should be at least 100 pages. Short stories do not count. You can also post about rereads.
4. Post about this challenge on your blog stating that you are participating or create a shelf via Goodreads, Booklikes etc. That post or shelf is the link that you will include in the link-up below. The link should be the post link not just your direct blog link. Please be courteous and include a link back to this post.
5. Post your reviews on the Review Post: Click here to log your reviews!

My goal was to read at least 10 books with vampires either as main or supporting character and I have reached this goal. I have no doubt I will be reading quite a few more vampire books this year but for now I have completed this challenge.

THIS is all posts for this challenge.

List of books:

1. Aurora Sky by Nikki Jefford 
2. The Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison
3. Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison
4. A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison
5. Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh 
6. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
7. Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh
8. WitchHunt by Emma Mills
9. For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison 
10. The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison 
11. White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison

White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison

Confusion reigns for characters and readers in the complicated seventh urban fantasy outing (after 2008's The Outlaw Demon Wails) for witch detective Rachel Morgan. Rachel's reputation is in tatters—to save humanity, she used powers that are considered evil—and she's still devastated by the mysterious death of her boyfriend six months earlier. Her attempts to solve his murder bleed into a case involving an emotion-sucking banshee, and soon Rachel has to bring in her PI partners—Ivy, a bisexual vampire, and Jenks, a pixie in existential crisis—along with empathic psychiatrist Ford and the banshee victim's father, Federal Inderland Bureau captain Edden. Harrison's unique vampire mythology unduly complicates world-building, and newcomers will be desperate for a glossary, but the nearly nonstop action nicely plays off the poignancy of Rachel's difficult life. From Goodreads.




This series just keeps getting better. Rachel and her life is as complicated as can be and she has to fight both enemies and so-called friends this time around. I am now glad I read the short story "Dirty Magic" in Hotter than Hell as the story about the banshee now makes sense. It is also a very good idea to read the short story "Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel" from Holidays are Hell as that helps clarify another major theme in this book.
Of course Rachel finds herself in love again in this book.
I have the next two books in the series on loan from the library ready to read.

This book qualifies for:
I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014
2014 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge
2014 Full House Reading Challenge (best so far 2014)
Color Coded Reading Challenge 2014
Vampire Challenge 2014
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: 2014 Chubby Chunkster
Crazy Challenge Connection Chinese New Year Challenge
Sequel Spring Reading Challenge
Nothing but Reading Challenges - April Showers
Paranormal Addicts & Newbies - Paranormal Creatures Seasonal Challenge
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
Nothing but Reading Challenges - Spell it Out - Animal Alphabet (W-narwhal)
Crazy Challenge Connection Bard of Avon

The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison

When you dance with demons, you lay your soul on the line...
In the Hollows, where the natural and the supernatural co-exist - not always peacefully - desperate times often call for unorthodox measures. But bounty hunter-witch Rachel Morgan did the absolutely unthinkable to save the lives of her friends: she willingly trafficked in forbidden demon magic. And now her sins have come home to haunt her.
As Rachel hunts for the truth behind a terrifying murder, the discovery of a shocking family secret is about to throw her entire life into question. And the long-lost ancient knowledge she seeks resides in the demonic ever-after. But there are some lines that should never be crossed--like the one Rachel Morgan's stepping over...again! From Goodreads.

This sixth book of The Hollows is full of surprises and secrets of the past. We learn a lot of new stuff about Rachel's parents and most of it is unexpected. Also the life of demons might not be as easy as it seems.
This book included a short story "The Bespelled" about how Ceri became Al's familiar. The Hollows # 6,1
I have book 7 + short stories 4,5 and 5,5 ready to read.

This book qualifies for:
I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014
2014 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge
Vampire Challenge 2014
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
The Challenge Factory Spell It Out - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (O)
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: 2014 Chubby Chunkster (528 pages)
Sequel Spring Reading Challenge
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
Nothing but Reading Challenges - Spell it Out - Animal Alphabet (O-coyote)
Crazy Challenge Connection Monopoly

For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison

Despite dating one vampire and living with another, Rachel Morgan has always managed to stay just ahead of trouble...until now.
A fiendish serial killer stalks the Hollows, and no one living in or around Cincinnati - human, inhuman, or undead - is safe.
An ancient artifact may be the key to stopping the murderer - a mysterious relic that is now in the hands of Rachel Morgan, fearless independent bounty hunter and reckless witch. But revealing it could ignite a battle to the death among the vast and varied local supernatural races.
Rachel's been lucky so far.
But even she can't hide from catastrophe forever.
This mass market paperback edition includes the short story "The Bridges of Eden Park. From Goodreads.




This is the fifth book in the Hollows series and I am still enjoying it and have several more lined up to read. Life is still not easy for Rachel. Both her room-mate and boyfriend are vampires, she is part of a werewolf pack (very small) and an elf wants something she has.
There is not a happy ending in this book.
The short story at the end of the book was a nice wee story.
This series should be read in order as everything that happens is a continuation of earlier books.

This book qualifies for:
I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014
2014 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge
Vampire Challenge 2014
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: 2014 Chubby Chunkster (512 pages)
Crazy Challenge Connection Chinese New Year Challenge (series #5)
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
Nothing but Reading Challenges - Spell it Out - Animal Alphabet (R-dragonfly)
CCC-Read your age
Crazy Challenge Connection Monopoly
Nothing but Reading Challenges - Book Buffs’ Battleship

WitchHunt by Emma Mills

‘I know it’s selfish, but I don’t want you to go,’ Daniel said, a couple of minutes later.
I looked at him and smiled.
‘I’ll be fine, I will.’
‘You’d better be. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Those months I stupidly spent apart from you… they were torment for me,’ he said.
‘They were torment for me too.’
As the Christmas season is ripped apart by the news that Jess’ old friend Alex has been turned into a vicious killer, festivities are dropped, Jess returns to England and the hunt begins. But Alex isn’t the only one being hunted, for Mary has found a way to extinguish the entire bloodline of Malden witches, and it is Jess’s book of shadows that’s the key. As things hot up, Jess finds she must leave Daniel and the safety of Manchester in a final hunt for her nemesis, Mary. In a fight-off that only one of them can survive, loved ones will fall… daemons will rise… but who will survive? From Goodreads.

I like reading about witches and I like reading about vampires. The protagonist Jess is both and sometimes has difficulties accepting her vampire part.
I have enjoyed this WitchBlood series by Emma Mills and as this book seems to be the last in the series  I will keep an eye out to see if she publishes anything else.

This book qualifies for:
2014 Ebook challenge
2014 Quick fix Challenge (254 pages)
2014 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge
Vampire Challenge 2014
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
The Challenge Factory Spell It Out - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (E)
Crazy Challenge Connection Chinese New Year Challenge (Witchblood #4)
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
CCC Winter Seasonal Spell Challenge 2013-2014
Nothing but Reading Challenges - Spell it Out - Animal Alphabet (E-eagle)
Crazy Challenge Connection Scrabble, anyone? (E)

Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux wakes from a year-long coma to find herself changed—an angel with wings the colors of midnight and dawn—but her fragile body needs time to heal before she can take flight. Her lover, the stunningly dangerous archangel, Raphael, is used to being in control—especially when it comes to the woman he considers his own. But Elena has never done well with authority.
They've barely begun to understand each other when Raphael receives an invitation to a ball from the archangel, Lijuan. To refuse would be a sign of fatal weakness, so Raphael must ready Elena for the flight to Beijing—and to the nightmare that awaits them there. Ancient and without conscience, Lijuan holds a power that lies with the dead. And she has organized the most perfect and most vicious of welcomes for Elena. From Goodreads.





This series is getting more interesting. Elena has been made an angel, the first in a very very long time and not everybody is happy. Elena also has to fight the nightmares from her childhood that is haunting her. It is not easy being both hunter-born and now also an angel. I will try and get the next book from the library some time next week.

This book qualifies for:
I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014
Jumble Your Genres Reading Challenge 2014 (urban fantasy)
Vampire Challenge 2014
2014 Women Challenge
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
Crazy Challenge Connection Chinese New Year Challenge (AndaM's bookshelf - she is a ox)
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
Nothing but Reading Challenges - Spell it Out - Animal Alphabet (E-coyote)
Crazy Challenge Connection 2014 RaT #2
Dansk Readathon March 2014

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

It began with A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES. Historian Diana Bishop, descended from a line of powerful witches, and long-lived vampire Matthew Clairmont have broken the laws dividing creatures. When Diana discovered a significant alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, she sparked a struggle in which she became bound to Matthew. Now the fragile coexistence of witches, daemons, vampires and humans is dangerously threatened.Seeking safety, Diana and Matthew travel back in time to London, 1590. But they soon realise that the past may not provide a haven. Reclaiming his former identity as poet and spy for Queen Elizabeth, the vampire falls back in with a group of radicals known as the School of Night. Many are unruly daemons, the creative minds of the age, including playwright Christopher Marlowe and mathematician Thomas Harriot. Together Matthew and Diana scour Tudor London for the elusive manuscript Ashmole 782, and search for the witch who will teach Diana how to control her remarkable powers... Fall under the spell of Diana and Matthew once more in this stunning, richly imagined, epic tale. From Goodreads.

This book has been on my TBR pile for more than 1½ year. I bought it as soon as it was published on Kindle in July 2012 but then never got round to reading it.
I enjoyed it and it was interesting being back in 1590 Europe. It just wasn't as good as the first book. I am however looking forward to the final book coming in July.

This book qualifies for:
2014 Ebook challenge
2014 Literary Exploration Reading Challenge (historical fiction)
2014 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge
2014 Full House Reading Challenge (historical fiction)
2014 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge (award winning)
2014 Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge (Night)
2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge (bought on Amazon.co.uk 10th of July 2012)
Vampire Challenge 2014
2014 Women Challenge
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
The Challenge Factory Spell It Out - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (D)
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: 2014 Chubby Chunkster (592 pages)
Crazy Challenge Connection Chinese New Year Challenge (Shan's bookshelf - she is a goat)
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
Setting Alphabet Reading Challenge (Europe)
Nothing but Reading Challenges - Spell it Out - Animal Alphabet (D-badger)
Crazy Challenge Connection 2014 RaT #2

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she is the best- but she does not know if even she is good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, Elena knows failure is not an option—even if the task is impossible.
Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.
The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt does not destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just might. For when archangels play, mortals break. From Goodreads.

I read a short story, a prequel to this book, in Must Love Hellhounds and decided I wanted to try the series. It was good and I like Elena. I have already ordered the next book from the library and will hopefully get it in March.

This book qualifies for:
I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014
Vampire Challenge 2014
2014 Women Challenge
CCC A-Z Authors 2014
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
The Challenge Factory Spell It Out - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (S)
Crazy Challenge Connection Chinese New Year Challenge (Rat - series #1)
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
CCC Winter Seasonal Spell Challenge 2013-2014
Ten Book Author Train Challenge
Nothing but Reading Challenges - Spell it Out - Animal Alphabet (N-dragonfly)
Nothing but Reading Challenges - 50 States Challenge
Crazy Challenge Connection Scrabble, anyone?

A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison

The evil night things that prowl Cincinnati despise witch and bounty hunter Rachel Morgan. Her new reputation for the dark arts is turning human and undead heads alike with the intent to possess, bed, and kill her -- not necessarily in that order.
Now a mortal lover who abandoned Rachel has returned, haunted by his secret past. And there are those who covet what Nick possesses -- savage beasts willing to destroy the Hollows and everyone in it if necessary.
Forced to keep a low profile or eternally suffer the wrath of a vengeful demon, Rachel must nevertheless act quickly. For the pack is gathering for the first time in millennia to ravage and to rule. And suddenly more than Rachel's soul is at stake. From Goodreads.





Rachel leaves Cincinnati to go rescue Jax, a pixi and her human ex-boyfriend Nick. Nothing goes as planned. Another book I couldn't put down. I now have to wait a bit before reading the next as I have to get it from the library. It will be soon though.

This book qualifies for:
I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014
2014 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge
Vampire Challenge 2014
2014 Women Challenge
CCC A-Z Book Titles 2014
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
The Challenge Factory Spell It Out - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (F)
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: 2014 Chubby Chunkster (496 pages)
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
Nothing but Reading Challenges - Spell it Out - Animal Alphabet (F-fox)
CCC-Read your age (published 2006)
A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2014

Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison

There's no witch in Cincinnati tougher, sexier, or more screwed up than bounty hunter Rachel Morgan, who's already put her love life and soul in dire jeopardy through her determined efforts to bring criminal night creatures to justice.
Between "runs," she has her hands full fending off the attentions of her blood-drinking partner, keeping a deadly secret from her backup, and resisting a hot new vamp suitor.
Rachel must also take a stand in the war that's raging in the city's underworld, since she helped put away its former vampire kingpin - and made a deal with a powerful demon to do so that could cost her an eternity of pain, torment, and degradation.
And now her dark "master" is coming to collect his due. From Goodreads.

Book 3 of the Hollows. This series is a very enjoyable read, there is something happening all the time and I just can't put the books down. Demons are as usual tricky to deal with, vampires are not much easier. Rachel is a brilliant protagonist and I am continuing this series right away.

This book qualifies for:
I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014
2014 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge
Vampire Challenge 2014
2014 Women Challenge
CCC A-Z Book Titles 2014
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
The Challenge Factory Spell It Out - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (E)
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: 2014 Chubby Chunkster (501 pages)
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
CCC Winter Seasonal Spell Challenge 2013-2014 (E)
Nothing but Reading Challenges - Spell it Out - Animal Alphabet (E-badger)
A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2014

The Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison

Rachel Morgan, sexy witch, independent bounty hunter, prowls the downtown Cincinnati for criminal creatures of the night. She can handle leather-clad vamps and a cunning demon or two. But a serial killer who feeds on the experts in the most dangerous kind of black magic is an ancient, implacable evil that threatens her very soul. From Goodreads.

Another series where I really liked the first book but just never got back to the series. I am glad I am back. Things just don't get easier for Rachel in this and a lot of things actually go badly. I read this book in a day starting at 3 in the afternoon and with a few breaks thrown in finished at 6.30 the next morning which for me makes it a very good read.

This book qualifies for:
I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014
2014 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge
2014 Full House Reading Challenge (more than 400 pages)
Vampire Challenge 2014
2014 Women Challenge
CCC A-Z Book Titles 2014
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
The Challenge Factory Spell It Out - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (G)
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: 2014 Chubby Chunkster (453 pages)
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
Ten Book Author Train Challenge
Nothing but Reading Challenges - Spell it Out - Animal Alphabet (G-badger)
Nothing but Reading Challenges - 50 States Challenge (cincinnati - Ohio)

Aurora Sky by Nikki Jefford

If there is one thing eighteen-year-old Aurora Sky wants, it’s to get off the iceberg she calls home. Being kissed before she graduates wouldn’t hurt either.
Then a near-fatal car wreck changes everything. Government agents step in and save Aurora’s life in exchange for her services as a vampire hunter. In Alaska. Basically she’s a glorified chew toy. All thanks to her rare blood type, which sends a vampire into temporary paralysis right before she has to finish the job… by hand.
Now Aurora’s only friends are groupies of the undead and the only boy she can think about may very well be a vampire. And if he’s a vampire, will she be forced to kill him? From Goodreads.

This was okay but it is a low 3 Polar Bears. I didn't think much of Aurora or her friends. If the next book in the series also became free on Amazon I would maybe read it but I am not paying to read any of this series.

This book qualifies for:
2014 Ebook challenge
2014 Quick fix Challenge (242 pages)
Meet the Protagonist Reading Challenge 2014 (a charachter in a book series - Vampire Hunter)
Vampire Challenge 2014
2014 Women Challenge
2014 Read Your Freebies! Reading Challenge (free on Amazon.co.uk 18th of November 2013)
CCC A-Z Authors 2014
CCC A-Z Book Titles 2014
You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014
The Challenge Factory Spell It Out - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (A)
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2014
CCC Winter Seasonal Spell Challenge 2013-2014
Nothing but Reading Challenges - Spell it Out - Animal Alphabet (A-auk)
Nothing but Reading Challenges - 50 States Challenge  (Alaska)

Vampire Challenge 2014 Sign Up

Vampire Challenge 2014 hosted by Parajunkee.

THE RULES:

1. The Vampire Challenge runs from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014
2. The challenge is to read 10 books that have a VAMPIRE as a main, or supporting character
3. Books can be in any format and should be at least 100 pages. Short stories do not count. You can also post about rereads.
4. Post about this challenge on your blog stating that you are participating or create a shelf via Goodreads, Booklikes etc. That post or shelf is the link that you will include in the link-up below. The link should be the post link not just your direct blog link. Please be courteous and include a link back to this post.
5. Post your reviews on the Review Post: Click here to log your reviews!

My favourite genre is Paranormal and I have no doubts I will be able to read 10 Vampire books in 2014. My goal is to read at least 10 vampire books.

List of books:

1. Aurora Sky by Nikki Jefford 
2. The Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison
3. Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison
4. A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison
5. Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh 
6. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
7. Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh
8. WitchHunt by Emma Mills
9. For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison 
10. The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison 
11. White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison