In terms of Female Characters, I am adding:

Ahdri, Dewshine, Huntress Skyfire, Kahvi, Krim, Joyleaf, Leetah, Moonshade, Nightfall, Savah, Tyleet, and Venka (from Elfquest)

Miranda Lyonette (from Rachel Aaron’s The Legend of Eli Monpress)

Ayesha (from H. Rider Haggard’s She)

Nomi Sunrider (from Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi)

Tenel Ka (from Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights)

Pearl Jones (from Scott Snyder’s American Vampire)

In terms of Male Characters, I am adding:

Bearclaw, Cutter, Dart, One-Eye, Pike, Redlance, Scouter, Skot, Skywise, Strongbow, Treestump, Two-Edge, Two-Spear, Tyldak, and Windkin (from Elfquest)

Ace, Crocodile, Luffy, Sanji, and Zoro (from Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece)

Exar Kun, Master Thon, Tott Doneeta, and Ulic Qel-Droma (from Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi)

Gin and Josef (from Rachel Aaron’s The Legend of Eli Monpress, Please Note: Eli is already on the list.)

Zaraki Kenpachi (from Tite Kubo’s Bleach)

Geronimo and  Benjamin Stilton

Grand Admiral Thrawn (from Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn Trilogy)

Gingivere Greeneyes, Lord Brocktree, Martin, Matthias, and Mattimeo (from Brian Jacques’ Redwall series)

Skinner Sweet and Henry Preston (from Scott Snyder’s American Vampire)

Rin Okumura and Ryuji Suguro (from Kazue Kato’s Blue Exorcist)

Kyo Usui, Sho Usui, Sagami, Hoki, Zenki, and Kensuke Dodoji (from Kanoko Sakurakoji’s Black Bird)

I’m always looking for more fictional people to add though. So what are some of your current favorite characters?

The Eye of the Celts: Darwin’s Diaries #1 by Eduardo Ocana and Sylvain Runberg (Cinebook) – 2.5 Stars. This volume left me with more questions than answers and not in a good way. However, I’m curious to see what Darwin’s deal/damage ends up being as well as finding out the cause behind the monster he’s investigating. I’m not sure I could recommend this title without seeing how the next volume plays out, but it does remind me a little bit of The Monstrumologist series by Rick Yancey.

  Pandemonium by Chris Wooding and Cassandra Diaz (Scholastic) - 4 Stars. Although I do sort of wish there had been a bit more substance and explanations, I was completely won over by the artwork. Not to mention how quirky, imaginative, and endearing the characters, the world, and the demonic Prince and the Pauper plot were. I also really liked the humor of it all. I think this will really appeal to fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Naruto, and Kazu Kibuishi’s Amulet. If there’s a sequel, I will definitely be back for more Seifer and Carcassa.

How did I get it: The library.

Why did I read it:  I loved volume 1 and 2 of American Vampire so I just had to get volume 3 as soon as it came out.

How I would rate it: 5 out of 5 stars.

Summary:

This volume of the critically acclaimed series follows the star of American Vampire, Pearl, and her husband, Henry, as he is recruited by a mysterious group of vampire hunters, and head to World War II Japan to find a new breed of blood sucker. But what does the notorious vampire Skinner Sweet have to do with it?

Review: Without a doubt, this is one of the best graphic novels of 2012.

Divided into three separate parts, the scope, the horror, and the plot of American Vampire volume 3 were all top notch. I also loved all of the characters, particularly Pearl, Henry, Felicia, and Cash. “Strange Frontier” shed even more light on Sweet and also how it would feel for humans to be at the end of the era with no role left to serve outside of as a sideshow attraction. “Ghost War” dealt with Vietnam and a new strain of vampires that looked like H.R. Giger’s Aliens. It was so much fun and, as always, Pearl and Henry’s love for one another was very touching. “Survival of the Fittest” featured vampire Nazis, which was really cool, and the action was really engaging. The ending was incredibly sad in several ways, but fitting in keeping with the tone of the series thus far. I can’t wait to see what comes of certain revelations about vampire species, and what new plot points lie ahead for the all the timelines being explored.

In conclusion, awesome! For those who long for fiction where vampires are menacing, complicated, and just plain entertaining, I heartily recommend reading the American Vampire series ASAP.

Related Reviews:

• American Vampire vol. 1 by Scott Snyder and Stephen King
• American Vampire vol. 2 by Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque

Why did I read it: I haven’t been in the mood for much of anything at all lately, but I was pretty excited about the new Geronimo Stilton book. I remain completely unashamed of my Geronimo Stilton addiction.

How I would rate it: 5 out of 5 stars.

Summary: 

When my friend Petunia Pretty Paws gave me a crystal figurine of a boat as a gift, I had to accept it. After all, I have the biggest crush on Petunia! But oh, was that crystal boat ugly! So I wasn’t too sad when my cousin Trap accidentally broke it, especially when I discovered a piece of paper inside with a mysterious message from someone in Venice, Italy, asking for help! A gentlemouse never ignores a request for assistance. So I, Geronimo Stilton, would do whatever it took to save the day!

Review: In Geronimo’s 48th adventure, he ends up in Venice and attempts to help out a mouse in trouble while failing to learn to be a glassblower’s apprentice. There’s plenty of humor and adventure as Geronimo handles both unrequited, irritating love and a bet which requires him to enter an annual rowing contest called the Regatta delle Befane. Thankfully his family and friends come to the aid of the party, and everyone ends up just fine plus or minus a few crystal boats, but that’s just as well.

I just cannot imagine finding fault with this series on any level. Even though there’s a bit of a formula to them in that Geronimo is bound to deal with a series of whacky misadventures before ultimately ending up happy with friends, I think that’s more a cause for celebration than cynical nit-picking.  I consider the half an hour I spent reading Mystery in Venice on Friday to have been the highlight of a rather dismal week, and you better believe I am putting a request in for Geronimo Stilton #49: The Way of the Samurai ASAP.

In conclusion, wonderful.

Why did I read it: I’ve been enjoying this series a lot. The second this third installment came out, I checked it out and devoured it.

How I would rate it: 4 out of 5 stars.

Summary: 

My killer is out there.

And my sister might be next.

Two months before I died, my best friend’s brother disappeared. I have no idea where Thayer went or why he left, but I know it’s my fault. I did a lot of horrible things while I was alive, things that made people “hate” me, maybe even enough to kill me.

Desperate to solve my murder, my long-lost twin, Emma, is pretending to be me and unraveling the many mysteries I left behind–my cryptic journal, my tangled love life, the dangerous Lying Game pranks I played. She’s uncovered my friends’ darkest secrets, but she’s never had the chance to dig into Thayer’s past–until now.

Thayer’s back and Emma has to move fast to figure out if he’s after revenge . . . or if he’s already gotten it.

Review: As I noted previously, it is difficult to review books in a series and come up with something new to say if the books continue to be similar to one another in quality and content. That said, I read this book even faster than the last two, and it’s probably my favorite so far.

Matters are becoming increasingly more complicated and confusing for both Emma and her deceased twin Sutton. All the light shed on alibis and motives has really come to amount to nothing much, particularly in the case of close friends and family members including Laurel. Although the adults have remained at the very periphery of the series’ plot, I wonder how long that will last since it seems like one or more of them could be up to no good.

I really liked that Emma’s distinct disadvantages became more a part of things, particularly now that finding the answers requires asking questions Sutton would be expected to know the answer to. I really loved the moments where she spent time with Sutton’s mother, continued to reach out to Madeline, learned that Sutton also named stars, and finally made the decision to do something to make herself happy by being far less secretive about her feelings/connection to Ethan. Thayer, of course, complicates everything and even by the end of the book, Emma knows far less about him than anyone else including Sutton and the reader, which I think is pretty cool.

More than anything else, I’ve just really been enjoying the crazy suspenseful ride Emma has been on throughout the first 3 books of The Lying Game series. Nothing is ever dry, clear cut, or straightforward as it first appears. No progress ever gets made without making a mess of the conjectures or notions Emma had initially arrived at, and while I initially expected this to drive me up a wall, instead it’s just been a blast.

In conclusion, can it be July now? I need Hide and Seek so badly it’s not even funny.

Related Reviews:

• The Lying Game by Sara Shepard (The Lying Game #1)
• Never Have I Ever by Sara Shepard (The Lying Game #2)

Couples like Ash Turner and Margaret Dalrymple from Courtney Milan’s Unveiled, Carrot and Angua from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books, Chess and Terrible* from Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts series, Eve Dallas and Roarke from J. D. Robb’s In Death series, Kate Daniels and Curran from Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series, and Warren and Kyle from Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series.

Yet even as I make that list, it occurs to me that the reason I love those couples? The reason I want to visit them again and again? Is that they have, often literally, a working partnership. They provide one another not just with happy times under the covers but with a support, friendship, and really a wonderful sort of love that is always worth reading about and paying attention to. Besides, it’s only logical to assume that the person who has your back all year round is the person most likely to garner some kind of Valentine’s Day card or stuffed toy or e-mail. Or at least they ought to.

So in addition to those couples listed above, all of which come highly recommended for various reasons, I would suggest checking out the following fictional (and strictly platonic**) partnerships:

Bertie Wooster and Reginald Jeeves from P. G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves series, Everett Hitch and Virgil Cole from Robert B. Parker’s Cole/Hitch series, Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner from DC Comics, Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin from Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin series, Serge A. Storms and Coleman from Tim Dorsey’s Serge A. Storm series, and Wolverine and Nightcrawler from Marvel comics.

I suspect it would be remiss of me not to mention animal companions as being deserving of some acknowledgement of all the unconditional love they can provide throughout the year. But just in case you don’t have a beloved pet, there’s always Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and his dragon Toothless from Cressida Cowell’s How to Train Your Dragon series or Arren and his griffin Skandar from K.J. Taylor’s Fallen Moon series.

Then again, if you’re alone this Valentine’s Day and none too happy about it so you want to read about fictional people who are likely to be forever alone, there’s always Christopher Carrion from Clive Barker’s Abarat series. He’s bound to make you feel better about your day, night, or lot in life at the present moment.

If none of those sound good… Well, I’m sure I could think of something else. Let me know!

* Right now there’s a short story about them called Home over at heroesandheartbreakers.com! To read it, all you have to do is sign up for a free membership.

** Unless read from a certain vantage point. In some cases. Not that I would know anything about that. Ahem.

In the Mail:
                          Review copies of Black Howl by Christina Henry (February 28), Doubletake by Rob Thurman (March 6), Fated by Benedict Jacka (February 28), and How to Be Death by Amber Benson (February 28) from Ace/Penguin.

From the Library:
American Vampire vol. 3 by Scott Snyder
Black Bird vol. 12 by Kanoko Sakurakoji
Blue Exorcist vol. 6 by Kazue Kato
Dorohedoro vol. 1-3 by Q. Hayashida
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Indigo by Beverly Jenkins
Infinite Kung Fu by Robert Venditti
Two Truths and a Lie by Sara Shepard

Why did I read it: The last sentence of the summary was very relevant to my interests.

How I would rate it: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Summary:

After filing charges that put his abusive ex-Dom behind bars, Jesse Turbul relocates halfway across the country, hoping to escape his past—but, of course, it’s never that easy. When Jesse meets third-year law student Aadon at the library where he works, their mutual attraction is instant and obvious.

Despite the sparks, they just can’t seem to make it work. Aadon is mired in guilt over his inability to help his older brother, damaged by events far too similar to Jesse’s past. Jesse is stuck in his own desperate wish to forget the painful shadow that continues to threaten him and any hope of a happy future.

The only way to move forward is for Jesse to acknowledge he’s broken and for Aadon to accept he can’t make him better.

Review: Oh, Jesse and Aadon! Where can I even begin? Both of these characters were so, so terrific in so many flawed, wonderful ways. Jesse is just a heartbreaker, struggling to recover from a lot of scars, both internal and external. Aadon is struggling to pretend he doesn’t have as many issues as he does as he fights an uphill battle for his ailing older brother, Ricky.

Samms did a great job avoiding easy solutions or turning either of her leading men into stereotypes. In fact she did a great job of sort of setting up a cliché dynamic only to make it clear that such a relationship wouldn’t work for either Jesse or Aaddon. I especially love that their being people in need of love and happiness was far more central to Better‘s plot than their sexual orientation.

Along the way to finding a fresh start with each other, both men mess up badly together and apart in such natural and painful ways. There was so much give and take, so many emotions, so many moving scenes, and just so much believability to their relationship from start to finish. Neither one is fixed, neither one is completely broken, and neither one is stronger than the other. They will probably never have all the answers or a cure-all for all they’ve been through, but they have each other and that was a lovely message.

So the plot was really engaging and the writing was lovely. There were a lot of cooks in the kitchen as far as minor characters were concerned, but they all served a purpose. I particularly liked Aadon’s friends and family as well as his therapist. I got a bit tired of Jesse’s support network since there seemed to be a lot of guilt-tripping from all sides and plenty of anxiety-inducing phone calls involved that never seemed particularly helpful. The light shed on Jesse’s close friend Sarah’s behavior towards the end of the book made me roll my eyes and groan because I really hoped the author wouldn’t go there, but none of the minor characters actively interfered or ruined the book for me.

In conclusion, Better is a beautifully executed Romance that I could not recommend highly enough and one that I will certainly re-read in the near future. After I read more of Mrs. Samms’ books, of course. And do not even get me started on how much I want to have the babies of Chapters 20 and 21.

How did I get it: Netgalley.

Why did I read it: I liked the summary, I liked the cover, and I figured I’d enjoy a book about gay werewolves.

How I would rate it: 2 out of 5 stars.

Summary:

It’s nine o’clock the morning after his father’s funeral, and Ezra Jones already knows it’s going to be a bad day. He wakes up hungover, sore, and covered in blood. Then it gets worse: the handsome and compelling Callum Dawson shows up on his doorstep claiming Ezra’s been turned into a werewolf. Ezra wants to be skeptical, but the evidence is hard to ignore.

Ezra doesn’t have a lot of time to get used to the rules Alpha Callum imposes—or the way his body responds to Callum’s dominance—as he’s busily working for the CDC to help uncover the origins of a lycan epidemic. When the sexual tension finally breaks, Ezra barely has time to enjoy it, because a new danger threatens. Someone wants Ezra for their own unscrupulous purposes and will do anything to get him.

Review: Over all, the writing was pretty solid and I never felt like I was reading something by two authors, which is always cool. That said, I felt severely let down by the book as a whole, particularly in terms of character development, plot, pacing, and organization. I wanted to like what happened just as I wanted to enjoy Ezra becoming comfortable being a werewolf, but I didn’t like the sort of werewolf he was fated to be or that the plot was sort of all over the place and really didn’t come together all that well. 

 As werewolves/lycans/etc, none of the pack members were really well-developed and most of them were irritating due to being defined by one to two characteristics. I spent the whole book wishing all of them would go away so that there could have been some more Gay Romance in my Gay Romance. Sadly, the first 100 pages of the book offer very little. I had a very hard time caring about Callum and Ezra’s sudden yet inevitable relationship. I liked both characters individually as well as their situation and the humor in their point of views, but I felt like the book really went out of its way to say that what was going on between them initially had no genuine romantic vibe so much as werewolf pheromones that they both had little control over there pheromones due to lack of experience on Ezra’s part and an inability to want to reign himself in on Callum’s.

While I was waiting for them to make some progress, Ezra had awkward scenes with werewolf woman that nearly made me abandon the book. Then he went out and found someone else to sleep with, which really didn’t help matters. Then Callum explained to him what was going on and they just sort of decided to see what happens sometime after the Full Moon once Ezra has come to terms with what he is. But as soon as the Full Moon hit and after an awkward human to wolf transition, they go at it like crazed teenagers without any further adieu or really any sort of conversation.

The book got somewhat back on track somewhat once the werewolves were finally in a relationship although I didn’t really get why they’d developed one and by then I wasn’t sure what the actual plot was supposed to be either. Then another plotline showed up and while I didn’t mind the kidnapping angle? By the time it was added to the mix along with a villain named Darius Maulsby,* it couldn’t be more than a nice notion that couldn’t serve as interesting a purpose as I would have liked. Similarly, the ending struck a fairly sweet chord for me, but not nearly as much of one as it might have had I been invested in Callum or Ezra for the bulk of the book.

Maybe more die-hard fans of Werewolf Paranormal Romances will view Pheromones Made Them Do It as a pleasant break from the Insta-Soul-Mate angle that continues to be very popular? But somehow I doubt it because at least if Callum and Ezra had been mates there would have been some engaging aspects to the brief not-courtship they had. Learning to control scents combined with copious usage of the words Alphas, alphas, and betas** to explain the dynamics between Callum and Ezra was not an adequate substitute for emotional chemistry.

In conclusion, a quick and fun read with a clever title, but not a very successful Gay Romance. There such a real rushed and uneven quality to so much of what I actually liked that I really wouldn’t recommend Hair of the Dog to others. 

* That’s right. Darius Maulsby. Granted, that was apparently not his real name… But honestly it just isn’t a name anyone should adopt as an alias, particularly not an evil werewolf who doesn’t want to get laughed at. For one thing, a name like that belongs in a Historical Gay Werewolf Romance. For another, it is a hard name to take seriously. It’s like naming an evil vampire Markus Von Plasmastein.

** I’m still not sure when one uses a Big A or a little a. Or what the actual difference would be.

• Never Seduce A Scoundrel by Heather Grothaus (Zebra: March 1)
• The Runaway Countess by Leigh LaValle (Samhain Publishing: March 6)
• The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan (CreateSpace: April)
• My Lady Rival by Ashley March (Signet: May 1)
• No Longer a Gentleman by Mary Jo Putney (Zebra: May)
• Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt (Grand Central Publishing: July 1)
• The Mad Lord’s Daughter by Jane Goodger (Zebra: August)
• A Woman Made for Pleasure by Michele Sinclair (Zebra: August 7)