I read two non-LoR stories this week, because I’ve been waiting for Kings Rising to come out for a long time, and then I figured I might as well read the other books I had lying around (but one wasn’t worth a mention; already forgot the title).

First, briefly, Kings Rising by C. S. Pacat is the third book in a trilogy that I’ve mentioned gleefully before. This conclusive novel is just as great as the others. The two characters are wonderfully balanced, and the plot is masterfully woven with all the most amazing things tying into a completely unexpected climax. It was great, and if you haven’t read the whole series, now is a good time.

Secondly, at somewhat more length, I also read Hunter of Demons by Jordan L. Hawk. This one is also good. It’s a…I don’t want to say that it’s a typical paranormal world, because it isn’t, but you can’t say that it’s completely unique, because there are still monsters, hunters, people with unexplained powers, secretive government agencies, people who hate the people who are unlike them, and all the normal every-day things like cell phones and cars. But this world does have a slightly different take, and (as far as it came up) a complete magic system and back story. So it’s as good or slightly better than most paranormal romances out there.

The plot was interesting and well paced. Overall it wasn’t as intense as it wanted to be, but it was a solid and enjoyable read.

My main gripe is that the two characters were doing a slow-romance thing, but then in a way that wasn’t out-of-the-blue, but which still felt a bit obligatory, they ended up screwing in the end. Like the dynamic between them was indicating a few more novellas, but then the book wouldn’t have qualified as erotica, so the author might as well work in a sex-scene. And it wasn’t terrible, just…subtly misplaced, is all. Enough that I noticed, but not enough to complain about, yet here we are.

I still plan to read the sequels, though, just as soon as I finish aaaaalllll the Love is an Open Road stories. And that slow-growing pile of non-fiction books on my table. And a few fairy tale books, too. Assuming the next Don’t Read in the Closet event hasn’t started by then, of course.

Remember when I used to read for fun? No wait, I still do. This *is* fun. Isn’t it?