Publicity Manager, Events Coordinator, and MG co-owner Maryelizabeth (MeH) reads across all of our chosen genres, with an emphasis on sociological fiction. Whether a book involves werewolves, spaceships, faeries, forensics, or all of the above, her main concern is the impact of their world on the characters in it. For periodic comments on non-genre reading, visit her MySpace page.

	And Another Thing... by Colfer, Eoin Format:  Hardcover (Cloth) Price:  $25.99 Published: Hyperion Books, 2009 Inventory Status: On Our Shelves Now   See all editions of this title. Having reread my way through the first five books in the Hitchhiker's trilogy over the past year, I felt pretty well immersed in Douglas Adams' life, the universe, and everything when I started reading And Another Thing. Colfer's sense of the absurd feels like a good match to Adams' work, especially in sentences like "... continued Ford in a voice so superior it would have caused single-dell life forms to accelerate their evolution so that they could use their fab new opposable thumbs to pick up a rock and beat him to death." Many of our favorite characters are back and very much themselves __ The Vogons are determined, Arthur is long-suffering, Random is sullen, Trillian is ambitious, Ford is hedonistic, and Zaphod is the center of his own and everyone else's universe -- with a few surprise recurring characters, as well as some new additions to the universe. -- MeH
	Eve of Chaos (Marked Novels) by Day, S. J. Format:  Mass Market Paperback Price:  $6.99 Published: Tor Books, 2009 Inventory Status: On Our Shelves Now   See all editions of this title. Third in the Marked series. Demon hunter Evangeline Hollis has an incredibly complicated life already -- she's torn between her attraction and affection for Cain and Abel; she's still a person of interest in a police investigation into a series of homicides in Orange County; and she has not only attracted the attention of Satan himself, but also has to meet the 'rents: Adam and Eve. Chaotic high-octane fun with a different slant on urban fantasy. -- MeH
	Eve of Destruction (Marked Novels) by Day, S. J. Format:  Mass Market Paperback Price:  $6.99 Published: Tor Books, 2009 Inventory Status: On Our Shelves Now   See all editions of this title. (If you haven't read Eve of Darkness, the first book of the Marked, go read it now. And don't read this review.) Having survived (more or less – being painfully brought back to life counts as surviving, right?) the rigors of her introduction to the world of the Marked, where human sinners are transformed into demon hunters on a mission from God, overseen by the Archangels, Evangeline Hollis is off to "boot camp." While her lover, Abel, is assigned to hunt down a particular rouge demon, his brother, Cain, is pulled in to help when the trainees in Eve's group are murdered in particularly horrific ways -- ways that suggest a traitor in their midst, and an escalation of the Infernals' powers to previously unprecedented levels. Eve must struggle with her relationships with the brothers, her teammates and whatever is hunting them, and her own changes, both physical and philosophical, as her powers develop. Another exciting outing in one of my favorite new series. -- MeH
	Eve of Darkness (Marked Novels) Format:  Mass Market Paperback Price:  $6.99 Published: Tor Books, 2009 Inventory Status: On Our Shelves Now by Day, S.J. Interior designer Evangeline Hollis hasn't given the existence of various monsters and demons much credence, beyond suspending disbelief to watch reruns of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" with her neighbor, when a call on a potential client turns her world inside out. First, she has an out-of-character sexual encounter with a strange man, which leaves her "Marked" physically and metaphysically. She has just been involuntarily recruited for an elite team of demon slayers. And her instructors in the new skills she urgently needs to acquire? Her former lover, Alec Cain, and his brother, Reed Abel, the man who marked her. And if their names sound familiar, it's because, yes, they are that Cain and Abel. Eve is going to have to manage the men, various demons and angels, and well-meaning neighbors and families if she is going to survive her new destiny. A fun fast new urban fantasy with a different spin. -- MeH
	Bad to the Bone by Smith-Ready, Jeri Format:  Trade Paperback Price:  $15.00 Published: Pocket Books, 2009 Inventory Status: On Our Shelves Now   See all editions of this title. The vampires of WVMP are back ... but struggling to stay on the airwaves, especially when either broadcasting songs by female artists or a show with a female DJ. It's not enough that the station has to deal with religions fanatics who are targeting them for the "vampire DJs" (who are real vampires, who are cleverly promoting themselves via protagonist Ciara Griffin's campaign as humans masquerading as vampires), but also they have to deal with the sudden attacks of extreme misogyny. At the same time, Ciera has to deal with two equally terrifying issues -- she has unintentionally become the owner of a vampire dog, and her vampire boyfriend wants to move their relationship forward in a more committed manner. Suspense, music, and mythos, as well as a bit of romance make for another great entry in what is rapidly becoming one of my favorite urban fantasy series. -- MeH
	Dismantled by McMahon, Jennifer Format:  Hardcover (Cloth) Price:  $24.99 Published: Harper, 2009 Inventory Status: On Our Shelves Now   See all editions of this title. Jennifer McMahon's latest modern gothic novel is another winner for fans of Shirley Jackson and her literary daughters. Nine year old Emma has a neighborhood friend (sort of), an imaginary (or is she?) playmate, and a desire to reconcile her estranged parents, both of whom still live at home, but are separated by a vast emotional chasm, containing a dark secret. When Emma finds some paperwork referring to her parents' participation in a group known as "The Compassionate Dismantlers" in their youth, she initiates contact with their past in hopes it will bring them together. Instead, it brings an unsettling ghost into clearer focus, powered by the forces of destruction. -- MeH
	The Magic Mirror of the Mermaid Queen by Sherman, Delia Format:  Hardcover (Cloth) Price:  $17.99 Published: Viking Children's Books, 2009 Inventory Status: On Our Shelves Now Neef, the Changeling of Central Park, returns in this charming New York fantasy. Neef has reached the age where she is required to attend changeling school, along with the changelings from all the other areas of New York Between. There, she is given instruction in diplomacy and manners and questing and other skills to help her become the best mortal representative and ambassador for the Lady of the Park. Oh, yes, and a copy of Miss Van Loon's Big Book of Rules. Many of which, it appears, Neef and her allies among her classmates are going to have to break in order to maintain peace between the Mermaid Queen of New York Harbor and the Lady of the Park. Neef's coming of age at school tale, while lacking some of the emotional impact of Changeling, offers a great modern take on classic fairy tale motifs. -- MeH
	Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow by Rollins, James Format:  Hardcover (Cloth) Price:  $16.99 Published: HarperCollins, 2009 Inventory Status: On Our Shelves Now   See all editions of this title. This is a great adventure for kids and adults alike. It's Young Indiana Jones meets Land of the Lost with a little bit of Road to Eldorado and Kage Baker's novels of The Company thrown in, while being its own unique flavor of adventure (with just a touch of James Clemens' scary fantasy monsters). I particularly appreciate the relationship between siblings Jake and Kady, and the way each of them brings their own skill set to helping save the Valley of Calypsos without ever being annoyingly precocious or acting in a manner discordant with their age and nature. I also appreciated the fashion in which The Skull King's Shadow reached a conclusion, while leaving room for more adventures, but not ending in such a cliffhanger that the reader is unsatisfied. Signed copies available while supplies last. -- MeH
	Predatoress by Gabor, Emma, Marshall, June, Werrin, Sarah Format:  Trade Paperback Price:  $21.95 Published: Newmedia Publishing, 2009 Inventory Status: Special Order - Subject to Availability Predatoress has a pretty effective conceit -- the author is also purportedly the vampyr protagonist of the novel. Emma is a young promising Hungarian student whose future is diverted when she becomes the unwilling victim of a vampyr and experiences the transformation herself into a creature of the night. While the writing definitely bears some weaknesses, the flaws have a certain charm in her first person narration, and her cultural details, self-obsessed friends, and unusual takes on the science of vampirism make for an oddly charming read. -- MeH

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