Review: Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara

Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara - Seven years ago Kaylin Neya left Nightshade, the home of criminals, prostitutes and the poor, when children with strange patterns on their were being murdered. The same patterns that had appeared on her skin.

Seven years has passed, and Kaylin is now a Hawk in Elantra; she can read, write, and fight, and as a Hawk, polices her new home. But when children start dying again, with the same strange patterns on their skin, she is ordered back to Nightshade to investigate the murders and face her past. Accompanied by someone she'd rather not see alive, a Dragon lord, and a device to control her mysterious powers no-one understands, she goes to find and stop the killer. But no task is ever easy.

Interview with Book Cover Illustrator Aleta Rafton

You must all know by now how huge a fan I am of Lisa Shearin and her novels Magic Lost, Trouble Found and Armed and Magical. Other than the wonderful stories, I also love the beautiful covers. I was recently lucky enough to get to interview Aleta Rafton, the book cover illustrator from California who created these wonderful covers. All images, bar the Lisa Shearin book covers, can be clicked on for larger versions, and with permission to use.

Can you tell us about your background as an artist? When did you decide art was what you wanted to do; when did art become a passion? What and where did you study?

My mother is an artist and loved to paint when I was young. She would set up still life arrangements on the kitchen table when I was 7 or 8 and we would paint them. Then when I was 12 I had my first formal art class and loved it. It’s been my passion ever since. I would draw for hours and became interested in figure drawing around age 16. I was blessed to have an amazing, creative and inspiring art teacher all through middle and high school, Helen Brainerd. She still teaches there, after a hiatus, and her students have shows regularly at the Oakland Museum.

Review: Armed and Magical by Lisa Shearin

Armed and Magical by Lisa Shearin - WARNING! This is the second book in a series. I cannot talk about this book without spoiling the first. Read no further if you plan on reading Magic Lost, Trouble Found.

Raine benares needs to get rid of her link to the Saghred. With it, she has unlimited power at her disposal - and the evil Khrynsani shamans on her tail. She has just arrived on the Ilse of Mid, hoping one of the mages of the Conclave can help her get loose of the Saghred's grasp. But she's followed by the goblins who want "their" stone back, and now amongst magic users are those greedy for power, who will go to any lengths to get it. And when spellsinging students disappear from the school on Mid, Raine is expected to find them.

Review: Stray by Rachel Vincent

Stray by Rachel Vincent - The difference between the movies and reality? In real life, I was the monster.

Faythe Sanders looks like an ordinary student, but she's hiding a dark secret: she is a werecat, a powerful, supernatural predator. Yet headstrong, independant Faythe a resents her power, heading to college to escape her family and her overprotective ex, Marc.

That is until a stray - a dangerous werecat without pride or territory - catches her scent. With two werecat girls already missing, Faythe is summoned home for her own protection.

But Faythe will do whatever it takes to find her kidnapped kin. She has claws - and she's not afraid to use them. From the blurb.