Two Lines by Melissa Marr

Two Lines, Melissa Marr.  New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2011.  

In this short story authored by Melissa Marr, Eavan is a young woman caught up in a world not of her choosing.  Her mother is a glastig and her dad is human.  Eve is human and wishes to stay that way.  For a hobby, she is chasing a human fellow named Daniel around.  He is an evil dude who turns women into zombies.  Eve wants to stop him.  She does rescue a woman from time to time and then dumps them on her hawt bisexual glastig friend Muriel.  Eve's granny Nyx is a bit put out by her granddaughter's behavior.  Glastigs are supposed to live together in a communal heap but Eve refuses, and furthermore is resistant to the idea of losing her humanity.  If Eve has sex and makes a kill within a month, she will become what she considers to be a monster.

sapphoq reviews says:  I found Two Lines to be a very satisfying short story.  The characters have personality and spunk.  The predator Daniel operates like predators do.  Eve is resourceful and finds a way to do what must be done.  Those readers who are in early stages of recovering from sexual assault may find this offering to be too triggering.  Recommended.  Fans of Melissa Marr's gothic fantasy style will especially love this and will want to read more of Eaven in the future.  I know that I certainly do.

Dead Man's Deal by Jocelynn Drake

Dead Man's Deal, Jocelyn Drake.  New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2013.  e-book, 333 pps.

Dead Man's Deal is the second book of The Asylum Tales.  Angel's Ink is the first.  There are also two shorts-- The Asylum Interviews: Bronx and The Asylum Interviews: Trixie.


Having read Angel's Ink and liking it, I decided to read Dead Man's Deal.  I can now declare myself a fan of the writing of Jocelynn Drake.  I liked Dead Man's Deal too.  A lot.  I am waiting for the third e-book in the series to be published.

Dead Man's Deal continues the story of Gage the tattoo artist and his buddies.  The first chapter starts out with the words, "They were killing pixies." [page 6].  It was a perfect beginning.  Gage was once again embroiled in a dilemma not necessarily of his own making.  Through his ingenuity, he and his troll buddy got out of that one.  Naturally, Reave [not a nice guy] was pissed off by this.  Naturally, Gideon [Gage's sort of guardian and his defender to the Towers] showed up to admonish Gage for his use of magic which was forbidden.

There is a steamy love scene in Dead Man's Deal between Gage and his hot elven girlfriend Trixie.  I don't enjoy many fictional love scenes but I liked this one.  The end result was another problem added to the list of on-going problems between Trixie and the Summer Court.

The last bit of the book featured some unexpected new characters and a dual to the death for Gage.  The new characters were refreshing to me and held my interest.  The dual was not entirely unexpected but was expertly described.

sapphoq reviews says:  If you don't mind a talking cat, an urban alternative setting, and non-humans in your fantasy tales, you should be reading Jocelynn Drake.  Dead Man's Deal continues in the most excellent tradition of The Asylum Tales.  Readers who like Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar Series [with talking horse-like Companions] will enjoy the writing of Jocelynn Drake.  [If you don't like talking animals, stay away].  Highly recommended.

Angel's Ink by Jocelynn Drake

Angel's Ink: The Asylum Tales, Jocelynn Drake.  New York: HarperCollins Publishers: 2012.  ebook, 310 pps.

Angel's Ink is the first of a trilogy written by Jocelynn Drake.  It is urban fantasy at it's best.  In the techno world where some magic works, Gage makes his living as a tattoo artist who gives a bit of a zing along with the body art.  An elven beauty by the name of Trixie and the troll Bronx are his employees.  Gideon is his watcher from the Towers and his nemesis.

The trouble starts with a tattoo of angel wings-- with a bit of a zing-- done on the back of a female patron.  The trouble doesn't end there.  Along the way are complainers, snobs, an old woman and a talking cat, werewolves, an ex-mentor, and some good old fashioned hullabaloo.  

sapphoq reviews says:  I enjoyed Angel's Ink.  I was quickly immersed into the world that Jocelynn Drake created with an urban buzz and equally quickly involved with the serpentine plot.  Angel's Ink is the first of a trilogy subtitled The Asylum Tales.  There are also two short stories available which contribute nicely to the series.  For those who like a bit of gritty with their fantasy, highly recommended.