High Action UF Reads

Here are 2 action-packed UF reads. There's vampires, mages, demons and assassins in one, and an interesting new mythology in another. Also, I celebrate the eBook release of one of my favorite novellas with a heroine who kicks ass in her own way.

Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane #1) by Jaye Wells

I should have started this series long ago. Fun, action-packed, good humor and quick pacing make for an enjoyable read.

Sabina Kane is half-vampire, half-mage in a world where inter-supernatural species dating is frowned upon. She grew up under the not-very-tender care of her vampire grandmother who molded Sabina into an assassin. Sabina's always trying to prove that she is good enough to be a vampire, but still is mainly an outsider. Then she's given a job to go undercover to infiltrate a half-demon's cult and kill him. She meets a mage who seems to follow her every move, ends up with a demon familiar and gets a perky dryad for a roommate, all the while the truth about her family comes out swinging.

Expect heavy doses of snark, lots of fighting, and a hilarious demonic hairless cat.

I'll be getting book 2 to read more. If you are looking for a fun summer read, give the Sabina Kane series a try.

Shaedes of Gray (Shaede Assassin #1) by Amanda Bonilla

Lots of action and a unique mythology make for a very enjoyable read.

Darian is a Shaede, an immortal being who can fade into shadow and has increased strength and healing ability. These powers make her an excellent assassin. Since her maker vanished leaving her to believe that there were no others like her, she has been alone. She is attracted to her current business contact, Tyler, but doesn't want to risk their friendship, and more importantly let down any emotional walls.

Then she gets a job that throws everything she "knew" in the dumpster, sets it ablaze and stomps on the ashes.

I really liked the supernatural mythology at play here, and in book 1 we've only tasted some of it.

Darian is prickly, standoffish and cold, but she's earned every emotional wall. I liked seeing how a certain character got through to her. Also, the final battle wouldn't have been as effective without those walls.

Will be reading book 2.

Magic Dreams (Kate Daniels 4.5) by Ilona Andrews

I first read this novella in the Hexed anthology. One of the things I love about eBooks is that so often my favorite short stories eventually get released digitally on their own. If you love the Kate Daniels series I highly recommend it. Not that Kate is really in this one. This story is about Dali and Jim. I think that the story works best if you are caught up to book 4 in the series.

We met Jim in book 1 - a fellow merc, he is one of the few people that Kate could grudgingly call a friend. He is also a werejaguar, the Alpha of Clan Cat, and the Pack's head of security. We met Dali in book 3 - a weretiger who can't see well and faints at the sight of blood, Dali is a skilled magic user.

This time around, Jim is in trouble and Dali is the one he turns to to break the spell he's under. There's a dragon, a very scary vengeful being, and a very smart girl kicking ass with her brain.

Don't mess with the smart girl, she will own your ass.