The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge

 The Nightmare Garden  by Caitlin Kittredge      471 pages

This is the second book in the Iron Codex series.

Everything Aoife thought she knew about the world was a lie. There is no necrovirus and she isn't going to succumb to madness because of it.  She is allergic to iron and time is running out for her. Aoife isn't human she's a changling-half human and half fae-from the land of thorn. This time Aoife sets off on an exhausting adventure, spends time with her estranged father and travels in a sub with Russian pirates. Aoife needs to find the nightmare clock which has plagued her dreams and leads her to the arctic circle. The ending promises even bigger adventures to come. I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a strong heroine and constant adventure set in a world that is unlike any other that you've seen before.

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

  The Iron Thorn  by Caitlin Kittredge      492 pages

Aoife (pronounced Ee-fah) Grayson has spent most of her life living as an orphan while attending a prestigious school. Her mother, who is locked away in a madhouse, tells Aoife about her dreams and stories when Aoife visits. Her brother, Conrad, is missing and she has never met her father. One day a mysterious letter arrives just like several she has received in the past. This letter has "Help me" written on it . With the help of her childhood friend, Cal, Aoife begins a trip that will change her entire world. This book is odd and mysterious with spooky and dangerous creatures everywhere you turn, but none as dangerous as the rigid government that dictates your every step and belief.

The Iron Thorn (Iron Codex #1) is the first Steampunk genre book I have read so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect.Therefore it is hard to compare with other books in this genre. This book was filled with interesting characters, non-stop action and twists and turns you don't see coming. I look forward to reading the second and third books in the series, "The Nightmare Garden" and "The Mirrored Shard".
                                                             

Strange Brew edited by P.N. Elrod

Strange Brew edited by P.N. Elrod, 371 pages

Since these are all short stories, to say anything would give too much away. So I'm just giving my impression of each:

Seeing Eye by Patricia Briggs -- excellent story and unusual twist. Loved the most with a witch and werewolf as the main characters.

Last Call by Jim Butcher --  completely lost.

Death Warmed Over  by Rachel Caine-- a whole new look at "raising the dead."

Vegas Odds by Karen Chance - my second favorite story in the book. Well written with a shock a the beginning, middle and the end.

Hectate's Golden Eye by P.N. Elrod - There is more than meets the "eye" in this story. It's up to a vampire to figure it out.

Bacon by Charlaine Harris - the title had  me curious until the end. Then it made perfect (and hilarious) sense.

Signatures of the Dead by Faith Hunter - lulled me to sleep.

Ginger by Caitlin Kittredge -- if you haven't read her stories, this is apparently a novella of one and you'd be completely lost like I was.

Dark Sins by  Jenna Maclaine -- A vampire witch but then something more.