Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

To read Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews (if Saturday 10/26 is good for Bill). :)

10/26 is good for Bill. :)

Haha perfect!

Diving in! :)

Through Ch 3 (view spoiler)[so far I’m liking it. It’s difficult not to make comparisons to the other books. There’s very much a consistent relationship dynamic formula they use, with no exception here. Cranky, dangerous man (usually rich), and a capable, somewhat snarky woman who isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with him. Even so, I like Dina. She seems independent and relatable and I like how she casually handled capturing that creature. Very capable. It’s giving me that Ilona Andrews fix I crave every couple months or so lol. (hide spoiler)]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Through Ch 3 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I had exactly the same thoughts. As soon as Sean was introduced I felt like I knew the character immediately and saw exactly where their relationship was heading.

I had such a hard time figuring out the world. The fact that her sister moved off planet after getting married is so casually dropped into the conversation I’m not sure what the deal is. (hide spoiler)]

Bill wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Through Ch 3 [spoilers removed]"

I had exactly the same thoughts. As soon as Sean was introduced I felt like I knew the character immediately and saw exactly where their relati..."

(view spoiler)[ Oh, wow. Somehow I missed that drop in detail! That definitely increases my interest a bit because hopefully it means we get to explore that more later. I'm curious how they'll weave together a scifi idea with the strong supernatural vibe going on (with the werewolves and whatnot). (hide spoiler)]

How many of the other series by them have you read?

Just Kate Daniels

So far this is reminding me most of the Edge series. I appreciate the different world concepts they generate though.

Bill wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Through Ch 3 [spoilers removed]"

When I read this, that one thing about the world was what I found interesting and different. That's one reason I liked it.

Niki Hawkes wrote: "So far this is reminding me most of the Edge series. I appreciate the different world concepts they generate though."

Keep reading! There is a surprise later on.

Tammie wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "So far this is reminding me most of the Edge series. I appreciate the different world concepts they generate though."

Keep reading! There is a surprise later on."

I was about to say that...

Bill wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Through Ch 3 [spoilers removed]"

I had exactly the same thoughts. As soon as Sean was introduced I felt like I knew the character immediately and saw exactly where their relati..."

In that way, the first book in most IA series is my favorite, because it's the one time you don't know how the characters are going to differ from characters in other series... like you said, you can guess the broad strokes, but the details are new...

I did a quick re-read yesterday, and will comment as you guys progress...

In a weird way, I'm always tickled when a book, especially UF/PNR, has a scene in a Costco or Sam's Club, having worked there for a decade now... this series has a scene, Neighbors from Hell has a scene... Monster has a scene, Rosemary and Rue, and Boundary Lines all start in grocery stores...

Timelord Iain wrote: "I did a quick re-read yesterday, and will comment as you guys progress...

In a weird way, I'm always tickled when a book, especially UF/PNR, has a scene in a Costco or Sam's Club, having worked th..."

It's always pretty funny when they have scenes like that. One of the Dresden Files books has an epic scene in a Walmart.

Tammie wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "I did a quick re-read yesterday, and will comment as you guys progress...

In a weird way, I'm always tickled when a book, especially UF/PNR, has a scene in a Costco or Sam's ..."

OH YEA... around book 13-14, when he first starts to understand the Outsiders...

Tammie wrote: "Bill wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Through Ch 3 [spoilers removed]"

When I read this, that one thing about the world was what I found interesting and different. That's one reason I liked it."

It's definitely keeping me hooked to discover more!

Tammie wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "So far this is reminding me most of the Edge series. I appreciate the different world concepts they generate though."

Keep reading! There is a surprise later on."

!!!

Timelord Iain wrote: "Bill wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Through Ch 3 [spoilers removed]"

I had exactly the same thoughts. As soon as Sean was introduced I felt like I knew the character immediately and saw exactly where..."

That's a good point! At least they always offer some variation.

Timelord Iain wrote: "I did a quick re-read yesterday, and will comment as you guys progress...

In a weird way, I'm always tickled when a book, especially UF/PNR, has a scene in a Costco or Sam's Club, having worked th..."

haha, whenever i see a scene in one of those, I think of Idiocracy... "welcome to costco... I love you." lol

Chugging along at 25% now... nothing new to add. Save that I'm enjoying the banter and how casual a badass Dina is. And the dog...

I didn't find the thread but I'm here now. Starting this as soon as I keep the kids to bed.

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Chugging along at 25% now... nothing new to add. Save that I'm enjoying the banter and how casual a badass Dina is. And the dog..."

IA animals are the best...

Laura wrote: "I didn't find the thread but I'm here now. Starting this as soon as I keep the kids to bed."

<3

Timelord Iain wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Chugging along at 25% now... nothing new to add. Save that I'm enjoying the banter and how casual a badass Dina is. And the dog..."

IA animals are the best..."

Right? Always so funny

Through ch 10 (view spoiler)[most of their works are funny. This one has topped them all. The naked caffeinated vampire got me XD (hide spoiler)]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Through ch 10 [spoilers removed]"

That was one of my favourite parts in this book. Well that and the (view spoiler)[cute little doggy mauling a huge branch and chasing the big bad werewolf on a tree. I literally burst out laughing at both these scenes. (hide spoiler)]

Are Ilona's other series the same? Because Clean Sweep is both funny and entertaining and I love it.

Laura wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Through ch 10 [spoilers removed]"

That was one of my favourite parts in this book. Well that and the [spoilers removed]

Are Ilona's other series the same? Because Clean Sweep ..."

Yes... Kate Daniels is UF, but starts the weakest as the first published books (mostly that first book)...

Hidden Legacy is split into UF/PNR trilogies about the Baylor family (and the 2nd trilogy just started)...

The Edge is a light PNR series where Earth is considered the Broken, and a magical parallel universe is the Weird... the Edge are little pocket universes that connect the Broken and the Weird... the 4 stories are relatively standalone with lightly connected elements, that explore different facets of the world created...

People see tons of similarities in the relationships/characters in all these series, and 90% of the books are narrated by Renee Raudman, which doesn't help with the comparisons... all are pretty great, tho...

Laura wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Through ch 10 [spoilers removed]"

That was one of my favourite parts in this book. Well that and the [spoilers removed]

Are Ilona's other series the same? Because Clean Sweep ..."

That made me laugh too haha. This one was definitely the most delightful IA I've read to date... they clearly had a lot of fun, and I loved everything about it aside from some minor pacing/info dump things (I'm picky these days).

Like Iain said, all of their works are similar, so the good news is that if you like 1, you'll probably enjoy them all! :) Based on what you said you liked about this one, I'd hand you Hidden Legacy next.

I'm excited for the next one! I'm thinking maybe I'll be ready to read it in a few weeks...

I'll add Hidden Legacy to my list then and I'm ready for the sequel of this anytime you feel like it. No rush. :)
I really loved this one even on second read and even though love triangles bother me like hell, the slight one over here didn't. Maybe I'm ok with it because of the hilarious marking the territory by one suitor and drunk courting by another. :D
Plus, it helps that they really didn't do anything by this point so I'm curious to see which way the axe will fall. :)

I’ll keep you posted on the next one. I made myself a reading schedule, and it’s lined up about four books down haha. I’ll see where you’re at about a week beforehand. I’m eager to see what happens next.

For whatever reason, ideas that other authors would make cliche, Andrews always manages to pull off. I imagine the love triangle thing will be no different. The drunk thing was my favorite part of the book. So funny haha.

Niki Hawkes wrote: "I’ll keep you posted on the next one. I made myself a reading schedule, and it’s lined up about four books down haha. I’ll see where you’re at about a week beforehand. I’m eager to see what happens..."

I remember reading on the blog that a fan asked if IA planned to have the vampire and the werewolf share an Irish Coffee sometime for some guy talk, and they said no, but NOW they do :D

I finished last weekend but had such a crazy and exhausting week that I didn’t have a chance to join the discussions. I really liked how they did something different with werewolves and vampires while also keeping them recognizable.

Niki Hawkes wrote: "haha, whenever i see a scene in one of those, I think of Idiocracy... "welcome to costco... I love you." lol"

Lol. I thought of idiocracy too.

Laura wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Through ch 10 [spoilers removed]"

That was one of my favourite parts in this book. Well that and the [spoilers removed]

Are Ilona's other series the same? Because Clean Sweep ..."

The dog was amazing. Completely mastered the “badass” werewolf.

I’m up for the next book whenever.