The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman

The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman (audiobook)-69 pages in print

I really enjoy Neil Gaiman's works and this one was no different in that respect. I enjoyed listening to a full cast read this, instead of one voice reading the entire novelette. This is a new twist/take on a combination of many popular fairy tales. It also reminds me a bit of The Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit. It has a Gaiman feel to it and I really enjoyed listening to it. Additionally, I enjoyed the sound effects and music. The music, especially, set the tone as eerie and dark.

A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice & Fire #3), by George RR Martin

A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice & Fire #3), by George RR Martin, 1177 pages

In this installment, all of the self-named kings are still at war, but treachery is afoot! And it means an end to some beloved characters... or DOES IT??  Jon Snow learns about love, loss, and honor; Arya takes up with some strange traveling companions; Daenerys is on a little mission to end slavery (and totally winning!); and Tyrion is in some serious trouble.  Oh, and Joffrey totally gets what's coming to him. The author has created such a rich collection of characters- some of whom you hate, and then grow to love.  It is authorial manipulation at its best!

Also, I found this, which is what I desperately wish would happen with the Jaime and Brienne storyline.  (Pardon the commercial in the beginning) To dream!
    http://www.vh1.com/video/misc/901957/game-of-thrones-as-a-rom-com-trailer.jhtml#id=1706066

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire #2), by George R R Martin

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire #2), by George R R Martin, 926 pages

I was a little on the fence with the first book in this series- it was good, but tedious at times.  This book has really grabbed me, however.  The action is bursting in this second book of the series, and even chapters told by boring characters hold suspense, intrigue, and dramatic changes.  Also, slowly but surely, more fantastic elements are finding their way into the story.  Things are getting REAL- war is raging all over the place, the dragons are cat-sized (which is a little cute and terrifying all at once), Theon is a JERK, and Tyrion is, as usual, running it like a BOSS.  Does it seem like I overdid the all-caps?  Not if you've read the book.  This is an awesome epic fantasy series- I'm biting my nails, hoping that my favorite characters live and that the evil ones get what's coming to them.

The Infernals by John Connolly

The Infernals by John Connolly --- 309 pages

This is the sequel to Connolly's The Gates. It was originally published in Great Britain under the title Hell's Bells. Continues the adventures of Samuel and his loyal dachshund Boswell, along with their friend the demon Nurd, as they fight to save Earth from an infernal invasion made possible by the Large Hadron Collider Project. Disaster narrowly averted in The Gates, rears its head again as the forces of evil seek to avenge themselves on Samuel by dragging him down to Hell. Now Nurd, with the aid of two police officers, an ice cream van driver, and Mr. Merriweather's horrible Elves, must free Samuel and his faithful hound from Mrs. Abernathy, a devil in a flowered dress, hat, and matching shoes and purse, before she can deliver him up to the Great Malevolence, regain her place at the GM's left hand, and launch another invasion of Earth (because it seems these scientists never learn from their mistakes). A third volume is promised. Click HERE to vist author John Connolly's web site and watch a video of him talking about his book and where he gets his ideas. Fans of Terry Pratchett, J.K. Rowling and Eoin Colfer might want to give this author a look.