She Returns From War

by Lee Collins | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
ISBN: 0857662759 Global Overview for this book
Registered by emmejo of Cincinnatus, New York USA on 7/9/2013
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3 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by emmejo from Cincinnatus, New York USA on Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Victoria Dawes lived a normal life for a wealthy, spirited young woman, until the day she and her parents were attacked by enormous dog-like monsters. Both her parents were killed, she survived by the dumb luck of having been thrown from the carriage and into a river. Furious and feeling guilty, she swears to hunt down these creatures. But where to start? She is referred to Cora Oglesby, an American hunter of the supernatural, and heads to the New World to track her down. However, Cora refuses the job, saying she's done hunting. Victoria is not easily dissuaded, and soon both women are drawn into a battle with a local witch.

This book was just as enjoyable at the first in the series, The Dead of Winter. Although I missed having Cora narrate, Victoria was an interesting, relatable character. The author did a good job with her stuttering transition from spoiled lady to action heroine, not making it too smooth or simple.

The plotting was tighter and better organized in this book, and the multiple jobs were woven together well. I was sadden by events that seem to indicate there won't be another sequel. I really love the world Collins has created here.

Journal Entry 2 by emmejo at Trumansburg, New York USA on Thursday, July 11, 2013

Released 10 yrs ago (7/11/2013 UTC) at Trumansburg, New York USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book will be one of the starting books in the Small/Independent Press Bookbox

Journal Entry 3 by wingGoryDetailswing at Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Taking this from the bookbox.

Later: I found the initial chapters, which introduced new character Victoria and gave her a reason to travel across the ocean and half a continent to seek out a monster-hunter, a bit clunky, not least because the rest of the book deals with Victoria and Cora trying to handle a local problem - we never do get back to the Black Shuck question. But it does establish Victoria as a tenderfoot, but one with some spunk, and once she finally does meet the happily-retired Cora (at Ben's Print Shop, which she'd sworn to open at the end of the last book; when I realized just what the Print Shop was I was delighted beyond words!), the story gets into its proper stride. There's a powerful vampire who seems to be in the thrall of a beautiful Diné witch - and the witch has an interest in getting Cora out of the picture. Since Victoria wants Cora to go to England with her to hunt the beasts that killed her parents, she's actually on the witch's side, kinda-sorta, but she doesn't take kindly to being kidnapped and threatened, and when Cora refuses to go anywhere without confronting the vampire and settling an old score, the hunt is on...

I admit I had mixed feelings about the main antagonist in this one, since she had some very good reasons for her own actions, and if she'd fine-tuned her plans for vengeance a little better she might not have wound up at odds with Cora or Victoria at all. [I thought she did go too far regarding the horse - though her ruse was simply beautiful!]

The escalating conflicts were quite dramatic, with a spectacular finish - though a bittersweet one. I don't know if the author's planning any new adventures featuring Victoria, given her new abilities; if so, I might check them out, but while England is rich in spooky folklore, I'd miss the wild-west setting...

Released 10 yrs ago (10/8/2013 UTC) at Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery, off Rt. 113 in Dunstable, Massachusetts USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

I left this book, bagged against the elements, on the stone wall surrounding this atmospheric 18th-century cemetery, at about 1:30; hope the finder enjoys it!

*** Released for the Never Judge a Book By Its Cover challenge; the week-40 theme is books where the cover features a word or words from the title, and as there's a "her" in the title and a woman on the cover, this should count. ***

Journal Entry 5 by NewEnglandHiker at Dunstable, Massachusetts USA on Saturday, October 12, 2013
Received an alert that this book had been at the cemetery for 4 days. It was there when I passed so I picked it up so it can continue its travels.

Journal Entry 6 by NewEnglandHiker at Hamilton, Massachusetts USA on Monday, November 25, 2013

Released 10 yrs ago (11/9/2013 UTC) at Hamilton, Massachusetts USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Passed to a NaNoWriMo participant who is writing in this style.

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