Review: The Complete Book Of Tarot Reversals

The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals
By: Mary K. Greer with forward by Barbara Moore
ISBN: 1567182852 (9781567182859)
Series: Special Topics In Tarot

1. The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals: Mary K. Greer
2. Tarot For Self Discovery: Nina Lee Braden
3. Tarot & Magic: Donald Michael Kraig
4. Designing Your Own Tarot Spreads: Teresa Michelsen
5. Tarot & Dream Interpretation: Julie Gillentine
6. Tarot Tips: Ruth Ann & Wald Amberstone
7. Understanding The Tarot Court: Mary K. Greer & Tom Little
8. Past Life & Karmic Tarot: Edain McCoy
9. Tarot Outside The Box: Valerie Sim

Review:
Mary Greer did a good job with this book. I like how she covered this topic because most of the time tarot reversals are like the ugly stepchild, no one wants to say anything about them. When reading this book I noticed I got the most out of the first couple of chapters than the rest of the book. I think this is mainly because of my approach to tarot and my experience. I believe that you can refer to books but it is your job to make the final verdict and if that is really what the cards are saying.

What is good about this book is that Mary Greer really broke down many of the most popular ways to read reversals. Her list seems to be a nice clear list that a reader will have no problem understanding. However, this is still not really what I took away from this book no matter how interesting this may be.

What I took away from this is two things. One being the following quote:

"The Hanged Man epitomizes the nature of reversed cards. As Mary writes, this card is about "total surrender to an opposing point of view, reversing your consciousness, and imagining differently." I am reminded of a scene from the movie, The Dead Poets Society. Actor Robin Williams plays a teacher who urges his students to stand on their desks, simply to see the room from a different point of view. That's what reversals can do. Sometimes that's what we need."
-Barbara Moore, October 2001

I simply loved The Dead Poets Society and Robin Williams (he is my favorite comedian). I think Barbara Moore must be on my wavelength because I have used this example to explain the Hanged Man many, many times so its nice to see it in a book.

The second being the ideas behind illness, reversals, and remedies.

"Traditional interpretations of reversals usually include illness. This makes sense because reversals suggest that an adjustment needs to be made, and stress is the body's response to adjustment and change... [and that]* sickness is thought to be a positive messenger that says you need to rebalance..."

Thus turning illness or reversals into remedies, a positive thing instead of a negative is an amazing concept. For many readers be they beginners or experienced sometimes having negative news is really hard but the ability to change the wording and turn it into a positive thing is great. I know that when I do readings many of my clients gasp when they see a reversal and the obvious major arcana cards maybe this will help in a way that requires less explanation and more thorough understanding.

In this way Mary Greer did a great job on this book but, it is more for beginners once you get passed the two sections I mentioned. So if you are first coming to tarot and have made the time and figured out the upright meanings but have great difficulty with reversals this book is for you! Beginners remember all the books in the world can not tell you everything about Tarot it is a life long study with much introspection. This book I say deserves at three. A relatively decent book for the experienced and a good book for beginners.

* brackets mean I added my own words.

Review: The Argeneau Vampires Series: 1-7

Book 1	A Quick Bite By: Lynsay Sands ISBN: 0060773758 (9780060773755) Main Characters: Lissianna Argeneau, Gregory Hewitt My Little Blurb:  What woman wouldn't like a birthday present like this?
Book 2	Love Bites By: Lynsay Sands ISBN: 0505525534 (9780505525536) Main Characters: Etienne Argeneau, Rachel Garrett My Little Blurb:  Morgue? Is that really where you want to meet Mister Right? Not exactly the Meet Market one generally would find him in? (Does anyone find someone at those things?)
Book 3	Single White Vampire By: Lynsay Sands ISBN: 0505525526 (9780505525529) Series: Argeneau Vampires: 3 Main Characters: Lucern Argeneau, Kate Leever My Little Blurb: Talk about editor from hell!
Book 4	Tall, Dark & Hungry By: Lynsay Sands ISBN: 0505525836 (9780505525833) Main Characters: Bastien Argeneau, Terri Simpson My Little Blurb: Beware of weddings! You never know what you might be pushed into.
Book 5	A Bite to Remember By: Lynsay Sands ISBN: 006077407X (9780060774073) Main Characters: Vincent Argeneau, Jackie Morrisey My Little Blurb:  Appearances can be deceiving.
Book 6	Bite Me If You Can By: Lynsay Sands ISBN: 0060774126 (9780060774127) Main Characters: Lucian Argeneau, Leigh Gerard My Little Blurb:  I love it when the hardened guy turns into a marshmallow.
Book 7	The Accidental Vampire By: Lynsay Sands ISBN: 0061229687 (9780061229688) Main Characters: Victor Argeneau, Ellen "Elvi" Black Stone My Little Blurb: Surprise, Surprise! Not what you expected, hmmm...

Review:
This series is probably one of the best vampire stories I have ever read. Lynsay Sands is a real dynamite author and her stories intertwine is really great ways. As a matter of fact because of the way she wrote these stories its hard to take them apart from one another hence the series review rather than singular book review.

Each of her stories in essence is very similar in that they are all romances and thus all have happy endings. The stories also all have their action parts, which is great! The action parts aren't just a background piece but rather an essential part of the character's life. I will also note that unlike many romances Lynsay Sands definitely makes sure to keep the romance and the action at even as opposed to too much of one or the other. Each and every story had its ups and downs and some were very much like a roller coaster because you thought it was done and then you are on to another crest in the ride.

Her hotter scenes were amazing. They built up through out the book it wasn't just "Bamph! Here's a sex scene." It was also nice that she didn't automatically jump to sex at every turn it was more of a seduction. The language used wasn't crude which was really a great thing. As a matter of fact her romance section of each book is so well written, you will definitely need a cold shower after it.

Lynsay Sands has done an amazing job in the making of her vampires (or as they prefer it immortals). A basic synopsis is the original immortals are actually from Atlantis. As we all know Atlantis is theorized to be a very advanced society that fell due to natural disaster. Before Atlantis fell, their scientists made these special nanos that once injected would repair all internal damage without the need for invasive surgery. Once the nanos did their job they would disintegrate and be flushed from the body but what the scientists didn't take into account was the fact that the body is under constant attack by the environment. This made the nanos continue to work on and on to keep repairing the damage brought on from life. The nanos fuel to do this is human blood. Now the nanos needed more blood to keep up the repairs, so much more that the human body couldn't keep up and would need regular blood transfusions. When Atlantis fell blood transfusions didn't exist so the nanos evolved the body to be able to get the blood they needed, hence the teeth, senses, strength, speed, and mind reading abilities. (They avoided sunlight because sunlight creates damage and thus the nanos would need more blood.) As you can see her vampires are quite well done and put an amazing new spin a vampire mythology.

One thing that you must do when reading this series is you MUST read it in order. If you read it out-of-order you will have extra knowledge that destroys some of the illusion in the story. As you can see I really enjoy this series and I am sure you would too. If you love vampire stories, or romance this is a must read! If you love action stories with romance thrown in for good measure this is a great read! Overall, I give this story a high four. Mostly because if you read through them really fast, one after the other they can get a little much so I suggest sometime in between them. You will definitely appreciate them much better with a little time in between the stories.

Review: My Little Red Book

My Little Red Book
By: Rachel Kauder Nalebuff
Publisher: Twelve Books, Hachette Book Group (2009)
Received from: vvB32 Reads
ISBN: 9780446546362

Summary from the back of the book:
MY LITTLE RED BOOK is an anthology of stories about first periods, collected from women of all ages from around the world. The accounts range from lighthearted (the editor got hers while waterskiing in a yellow bathing suit) to heart stopping (a first period discovered just as one girl was about to be strip searched by the Nazis). The contributors include well-known women writers (Meg Cabot, Erica Jong, Gloria Steinem, Judy Blume, Diablo Cody), alongside today;s teens.

Ultimately, MY LITTLE RED BOOK is more than a collection of stories. It is a call for a change in attitude. By revealing what it feels like to undergo this experience firsthand and giving women the chance to explain their feelings in their own words, MY LITTLE RED BOOK aims to provide support, entertainment, and a starting point for discussion for mothers and daughters everywhere.

For additional stories, video, and more information, you can visit the website listed above.

Review:
This book is a must have for women and the men that want to understand them. This was probably the coolest book I have read on the subject. You get to read stories going back as far as 1916 until today. This book really reveals how different cultures look at your first period. What traditions occur during this time. How a girl is now viewed in society. This book has replaced Judy Blume in my opinion in regard to what book should you hand a girl when it comes to her time. This book is very positive even in the sadder stories. The stories themselves are mostly told with a sense of light hearted humor even if at the time it was a horrifying experience (with a few exceptions that just wrench your heart). This book is definitely a beginning to a revolution in which women no longer fear or hide our time of the month at the very least from each other and show support for other women and girls.

Probably the most amusing essay I have ever read is "If Men Could Menstruate" which was not harsh on the men. Even if you don't buy this book (and you should) you have to read that essay it will make you crack up for at least a half hour, longer if you have men around you. This book without a doubt receives a five. I wish I had the money because I would totally gives this book to every woman I have ever met. What is great about this book also is that the royalties for this book are actually going to be donated to a charity to advance women's health and education.

Review: Once Dead, Twice Shy

Once Dead, Twice Shy
By: Kim Harrison
ISBN: 0061718165 (9780061718168)
Series: Madison Avery Trilogy
There is also a short story in Prom Nights From Hell

1. Once Dead, Twice Shy
2. Early To Death, Early To Rise
3. Something Deadly This Way Comes

Summary from GoodReads:
My name is Madison Avery,  and I'm here to tell you that there's more out there than you can see, hear, or touch.
Because I'm there.
Seeing it.
Touching it.
Living it.
Madison's prom was killer—literally. For some reason she's been targeted by a dark reaper—yeah, that kind of reaper—intent on getting rid of her, body and soul. But before the reaper could finish the job, Madison was able to snag his strange, glowing amulet and get away.

Now she's stuck on Earth—dead but not gone. Somehow the amulet gives her the illusion of a body, allowing her to toe the line between life and death. She still doesn't know why the dark reaper is after her, but she's not about to just sit around and let fate take its course.

With a little ingenuity, some light-bending, and the help of a light reaper (one of the good guys! Maybe ...), her cute crush, and oh yeah, her guardian angel, Madison's ready to take control of her own destiny once and for all, before it takes control of her.

Well, if she believed in that stuff.

Review:
Once Dead, Twice Shy was a fun read but definitely isn't my favorite Kim Harrison book. I have come to expect spunky characters that just love to push buttons from Kim Harrison and this to me feel short. Madison was a bit spunky but to me it just wasn't enough for a main character. I loved Grace of the G.R.A.C.E.S. who was a supporting character but brought more of the humor than Madison. I would have liked to see more of the supporting characters because they were much too flat until the peak of this book.


I liked this take on the universe's goings on with all its reapers, timekeepers, and such. I also loved the ideas on what fate and destiny are and led to many interesting thoughts. This was a much more thought provoking book than an action-good and evil book. Overall, the characters in this book are not as remember-able as that of The Hollows series Kim Harrison also writes. The story itself is interesting so I will be reading the next book but I am not super excited about it. This book receives a two and I hope the next book will be more well put together. This book felt rushed and perhaps needed more time in development.

Review: Spirit Bound

Spirit Bound
By: Richelle Mead
ISBN: 1595142509 (9781595142504)
Series: Vampire Academy

1. Vampire Academy
2. Frostbite
3. Shadow Kiss
4. Blood Promise
5. Spirit Bound
6. Last Sacrifice

Summary from GoodReads:
Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever.

Review:
Spirit Bound was a great book but if you do not read the others previous to it you miss out on a lot. In this book the story that has been accumulating has finally reached its peak. We finally know the answer to the millions of questions the first four gave us and leaving us with a hell of a punch in the gut question at the end of this book. 

What I really like about the characters in this series is that Lissa who you would suspect to be the protagonist is really more part of the supporting characters or maybe a dual protagonist. Rose is really the one in the limelight and through out this series she has steadily grown into this amazing character. Richelle Mead is truly great at character development because she didn't make any jumps but rather made smooth transitions that are only apparent upon reflection. One example of the above is the love/death threat letters between Rose and Dimitri. These later prove to be invaluable when we understand their dynamic.

Richelle Mead's take on these vampires is truly an interesting one. She splits the vampires into two camps one being the (good) Moroi and the (evil) Strigoi. The Moroi feed off of people (humans) but never kill whist Strigoi feed off people (Moroi and humans) and kill. The underpinnings of the Moroi society is intriguing as well. As a whole the Moroi are a passive community being protected by dhamphirs (half Moroi). If I were Richelle Mead in the last book I would include a family tree and a glossary because it can be a little tough keeping all the families straight.

Mead's characters are all really interesting even the supporting characters that you hear so little about. When Richelle Mead finishes Rose's story I have heard that she plans on making a spin-off with other characters in the same universe. So far I really liked this series but this book moved it into loving this series. The only other book I may have come close to really loving was Rose's trip to Russia in Blood Promise. Overall, I give this book a four and I really look forward to the next book.