Violet Jordan's Rule #3 of being a superhero: Family first, fur second.

Dear Diary,
With new supernatural creatures popping up at every turn (Ghouls? Really?), the city divided, and my long-lost cousin blazing into town, I've got a lot on my mind. Oh, not to mention I'm supposed to be planning a wedding. Chaz has got to be the best, most patient (and probably clinically insane) fiancée around.
But defeating my sworn enemy in a battle for the souls of Dallas is going to require more than just my full attention. It means learning to depend on everyone—especially Chaz—if any of us are going to make it out of this alive. Because if Plan A doesn't work, I'm going to need them for Plan B. And Plan C . . .

Occasionally you meet a character(s) that you connect with on such an intense level you feel as though you are friends.  I read a lot.  If there is a spare moment in my hellish work day, I always have an escape no matter how brief.  I carry a book, Sybil (my Nook), and/or Sydney (my Kindle) with me everywhere I go.  Obvious book addiction and OCD issues aside, I do have a point to make.  I’m a fan of the written word.  There are days when there is nothing I wanna do but climb inside a book, escape my horrifically stressful life, and spend a little time with one of my fantastic fictional friends.  Some books and/or characters are like comfort food; or for me a warm cup of sweet, cinnamonlicious, caffeinated goodness with a slice of pie on the side cause well pie is some good shit, yo!  Violet is my comfort coffee/pie combo.  She’s stronger than she gives herself credit for, protective to the core, insanely witty, geeky, charming, and snarktastic.

Want a couple of examples why I feel like Violet and I are two peas in a pod?  Well, minus her being a badass Wanderer and me being well not so much with the badass.

(1)        “I’m good at the slash and grrr.  It’s the emotional stuff I’m not too sure about.”

(2)        “Got any books in this place on how to make friends and influence evil?”

(3)        “Damn it, Violet.  If you don’t wake up I’ll torch your copy of Firefly signed by the whole cast.”  Jessa’s shrill voice echoes through my throbbing head.

            “You do that, and I’ll haunt your ass forever.”

So see, if I were fortunate enough to have a signed copy of Firefly (which would be more frakkin awesome than words could ever express) and someone even tried to touch my precious, it would be on with the slash and grrr.       

Nine Lives of an Urban Panther was a great finale to one of my favorite (and in my opinion one of the most under appreciated) urban fantasy series. If you’ve followed Violet on the journey and discovery of her huge destiny throughout the Diaries of an Urban Panther trilogy, you’re gonna love this one. If you haven’t started the trilogy, why the frak not? It’s made of awesome; full of snark and geeky goodness, creepy, evil villains, a fantastic heroine, lots of action, a touch of smexiness, and everything else that makes for great urban fantasy.  Need more motivation to purchase these books?  Digital copies are only $3.99.  That, my friends, is reason enough to give a new-to-you author a try.

Violet has grown so much in the short period of time this trilogy takes place.  It amazes me that someone so shy and awkward can push through not only the boundaries she’s set on herself (intentionally) but also the boundaries that have been set by those in power before her.  Violet is one hell of an urban fantasy heroine and I lurve her like nobodies business.  She’s overcome odds no one thought she could, fought an evil that threatened to take over the world, and made the ultimate sacrifice ala Buffy’s swan dive at the end of season five.

Wanderer, Prima, panther, psychic, and Guardian of the Veil.  One hell of a destiny to live up to but she does it with a geeky brain full of B-movie script goodness, a heady dose of snark, and a huge vat of coffee.  I’m thrilled that Violet and Chaz got the HEA that they fought tooth-and-claw for but am really going to miss her.  The urban fantasy world won’t be the same without her witty, over-caffeinated sarcasm and in my mind; no one will ever replace her.  Stuck with a destiny that others believed she needed to follow alone, she found her way with a loving, supportive, and hunky fiancée, an over-bearing Fairy princess BFF, and a pack of mutts.  Sometimes learning to depend on others is the hardest thing a person can do.  Sometimes allowing someone to help you in a time of need can make you the most powerful person in the world.  I give Nine Lives of an Urban Panther 4 stars.

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• Tags: Amanda Arista, Diaries of an Urban Panther•