In San Francisco, the souls of the dead are mysteriously disappearing - and you know that can't be good.

This is the second, and I think the only, book in the Grim Reaper Series that started with A Dirty Job.  In the last installment in the Grim Reaper series everyone is back to once again save the world. A year has passed since the events in A Dirty Job, and for a year it seemed like the world had gone back to normal.  Well, as normal as it can seeing where Charlie Asher's soul ended up.  However, the world isn't anywhere near back to normal.  In fact things have gotten worse, much worse.

I was beyond excited to bust into Secondhand Souls, but I have to admit I was also a little nervous about it too.  This year has been the year of disappointing sophomore books for me.  So I was a little worried that this would be another book that was alright, but wasn't as good as the first book.  That maybe it wouldn't make sense having a second book after the first one tied it up so well, but I was very pleasantly surprised.  In fact I was not a fan of going to bed or work or doing anything that meant I had to book my book down. 

Everything I loved about the first book was what I loved about the second.  The amount of sass that came with Lily was still there, the humor was still there, and that blunt sort of way that Christopher Moore has at looking at the world was there.  There were several times throughout the entire book that I found myself laughing out loud, that ugly laugh that makes people stare.  My favorite bits pretty much always included Sophie, now a year older and fully accepted that she is the big D.  Kids say the weirdest things, and even more so when the kid has seen the things that Sophie Asher has seen.

Some old enemies returned in this book as well, and while at first I was little annoyed they were back again, I realized I do like them.  I love the things they say to each other about "up there".  I also really liked the new plot line for Secondhand Souls.  In many ways it was the same, Death Merchants weren't doing their jobs, but this time it was for completely different reasons.  Except for Rivera, he just couldn't even apparently.

In fact, Rivera really was the only downside for me in this book.  I just, I just found myself annoyed by his general presence.  In the first book he didn't bother me so much, he was sort always there when Charlie needed him.  However, in Secondhand Souls I just wanted to hit him in the face with the book and ask if he learned nothing from the last year he spent stalking Charlie Asher.  I would have been okay if we killed him off.

A few new characters pop up throughout Secondhand Souls, and as well as some favorites from A Dirty Job.  The new characters were fine, in fact the Banshee was the best part of the scenes that involved Rivera.  I really did love her and her lightening box.  She had me ugly laugh on more than one occasion with her sass.  The Squirrel People came back and are weirder than ever, but none as adorable as Wiggly Charlie and his need for cheese.

By the time I finally closed the book with nothing more to read, I realized that I enjoyed Secondhand Souls.  In fact I think I might have enjoyed it more than A Dirty Job.  It felt like Christopher Moore had a better hold of who each character was, the atmosphere felt comfortable.  Whatever it was, it totally worked for me and I enjoyed every second, every page, of the book.  Well, there was one part I did not enjoy at all.  In fact there was a brief moment where I was very upset with Christopher Moore, and was not amused about a dark car ride home.  I'm still not happy about that moment, no matter how the book ended.

Secondhand Souls could be read as a stand alone without too much confusion despite being the second book in the Grim Reaper series.  Christopher Moore does a little bit of explaining here and there about what happened in the year prior to the plot of the of this installment.  Not enough to bore someone who just read A Dirty Job, but enough if you hadn't picked up the first book you wouldn't be totally lost.

I could probably completely fangirl more about how much I loved this book, about how Charlie Asher is probably my spirit animal and Lily completes me in so many way.  I won't though, because you should totally pick up these books and find out for yourself.  If your a fan of Christopher Moore or looking for something fun and a little weird, Secondhand Souls is totally for you.

One for sorrow,

Two for joy,

Three for a girl,

Four for a boy,

Five for silver,

Six for gold,

Seven for a secret,

Never to be told.

Seven for a Secret is the second book in the Timothy Wilde Series by Lyndsay Faye.  Six months has passed since the events of Gods of Gotham.  It followed the same pattern as the first book in the series: same point of view, another horrific crime, and a bunch of sass from Valentine.  The characters were consistent into this book as well.  I still hate Silkie Marsh with the fire of a thousand burning suns. The brothers seemed to have mended some fences since last we saw them.  In fact one of my favorite bits about this book was the relationship between Timothy and Valentine.  Their snipping and sarcasm toward one another was enjoyable, but it was easy to see the two cared for each other.  And, Mercy Underhill wasn't present during this story, which to be fair is a personal preference.  She is a well written character, like all of Faye's characters, I just find her whiny and annoying.

However, there is a reason for not being able to give this book a whole 4 stars.  The closer I got to the ending, the more I realized I was pulling away from reading.  It wasn't just because this story was coming to a close and I wasn't ready, there is in fact another book.  I sort of felt like the story started to drag along.  Like Timothy hadn't learned anything from his first case and was making all the same mistakes all over again.  Which was fine when he was a brand new Copper Star, but it's been six months.  Maybe I'm being a bit judgmental about it.

Then we get to the climax of the story.  Timothy has figured it out and he's running against the clock to stop it.  Only when he gets there it's all over, the thing has happened and he's left with the aftermath.  Why?  Because of reasons due to political things that I still don't really understand.  They blame him of harassing someone, but I feel like I missed the chapter where he actually harassed this character.  The upside to the political upset, we get to Valentine in all of his Dead Rabbit glory.  Which was awesome!  I still would have liked a bit more during the climax of the story, though.  To be fair to the author this issue might be more my personal preference.

As for the every end of the book, I was reeled back in.  Just like in the first book, Timothy manages to get one over on everyone who deserves it: the party, Silkie, and even on Mercy.  I do adore Timothy Wilde as a main character and was glad he stopped pining and found a lady friend.  He deserves a bit of happy.

Seven for a Secret was beautifully written of course.  Lyndsay Faye did a huge amount of research into the time period and it shows throughout the book.  It was hard to not see the streets that the characters were roaming, to feel the atmosphere around them as they tried to solve the crime.  She has a way of making characters tug your heartstrings until you fall in love with them, or writes them in such a way you cannot wait until they die.  Both books have made me very glad not have lived back then for some petty reasons, like plumbing and heating.  Among bigger issues that sadly still seem to be an issue today.

In the end I did like the second book in the Timothy Wilde series, but I don't think I'm going to jump into Fatal Flame, the third book.  For two reasons, it is the last book in the series and I just didn't enjoy this one as much as Gods of Gotham.  So I'm little apprehensive to jump in again.  I do recommend this series for anyone looking for a fun Historical Fiction book, or for anyone who enjoyed Gangs of New York.

Synopsis

Crowned by Evil.
Bound by Duty.
Divided by Love.

Celaena Sardothien, royal assassin, is the King of Adarlan's deadliest weapon. She must win her freedom through his enemies' blood - but she cannot bear to kill for the crown. And every death Celaena fakes, every lie she tells, put those she loves at risk.

Torn between her two protectors - a captain and a prince - and battling a dark force far greater than the king, Celaena must decide what she will fight for: her liberty, her heart or the fate of a kingdom...

Review

Zombie Island is the sequel to Shakespeare Undead, a book that tells the story of William Shakespeare if he was in fact a vampire.  It's a series I stumbled across by accident and I honestly enjoyed the first book.  So when Zombie Island popped up on Book Outlet I had to order it.  As soon as it arrived I put it on the top of my reading pile, because I remembered how much I enjoyed the first book two years ago.  Come on, a vampire Shakespeare who fights zombies with his Dark Lady.  I was sold.

This book though, was not as good as the first.  It was okay, fun in parts, but it just sort of fell flat for me.  I felt like the plot was lacking in places, like how could the only people on one small island not bump into each other more often.  How Kathryn and Shakespeare started questioning their lives together all of sudden, even though it hadn't been a problem in the first book.  Which caused more problems toward the end, only the book ends before our heroes even get to England to fix what they let sail away from Zombie Island.  I'm all over the end of books to be open and not all the questions being answered, but to not now if our villain gets his revenge or if our heroes succeeded. Then what was the point of all the circles we just ran on that island?  Maybe there was a plan for a third book, maybe there still is...

Then there was the need to remind everyone about Shakespeare's "amazing" vampire abilities.  This is the second book, personally it felt excessive.  I already know Shakespeare can do so pretty awesome, and very gory, things as a vampire.  There was also this constant reminder of the fact he was dead.  He is a vampire and that is sort the downside to that.  Of course now I'm getting a bit picky because vampires, love the genre.

All together I just sort of liked the second book in the Undead series.  I do like the way Handeland rights Shakespeare himself, and the world she created around the Bard being one of the undead.  If a third book does get published I'm sure it will find it's way into my reading pile.   

I was very lucky to receive a copy of this book from the publisher through the Goodreads Giveaway section in exchange for my honest review.  Which I will strive to give without fangirling too much over Henry Sturges.

To no surprise at all I loved this book.  Last American Vampire is the sequel to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and this one is all about Henry Sturges.  Personally I think that's all anyone needs to know in order to read it.  I read it over a course of a week because I knew there was a very good chance there will not be a third book any time soon, or if at all.

Last American Vampire finally gives us the story behind the vampire that created the greatest vampire hunter alive, and what a life it was.  This book was everything I have come to love about Seth Grahame-Smith's writing: gory, fast paced, funny, and with all the feels in the world.  There were parts where I laughed out loud, parts that turned me a bit green, and a few where my heart ached for Henry.  A few times I had to put the book down and walk away because I wasn't expecting what happened.  The ending was very similar to the Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter tied up, open ended with the promise there was another story waiting to be told.  Hands down Henry is one of favorite vampire characters.

I have to say I think this is going to be one of my favorites of 2015, and is probably my favorite from Seth Grahame-Smith.  Maybe tied with Unholy Night.  If you want a book on a badass vampire with a twist on our history, then I recommend this book.  In fact if you just like vampire books in general, read it.  Henry is worth it.  Do it!