You may also read my review here:http://www.mybookishways.com/2011/10/review-shotgun-sorceress-spellbent-2-by-lucy-a-snyder.html

After the hell (literally) that Jessie went through to save her love,Cooper,she’s ready to take it easy for a bit and adjust to her new powers. We’re talking about Jessie Shimmer here,so you can bet that’s probably not going to happen.Her familiar,Pal,has changed from his cute,little,furry,ferret self into a giant creature somewhere between a ferret,a bear,and a spider,and Jessie is setting things on fire with her flaming hand (yes,literally,makes gettin’ some lovin’ kinda tough). Also,portals are opening up willy nilly in midair,and her long lost father (who she’s long thought dead) is trying to get in touch with her. After meeting with Riviera Jordon (of the powers that be),to discuss the recent events that resulted in brain damage for her diabolical brother,Jessica,Cooper,Warlock,and Pal are sucked into a portal while being chased by the Virtii (wicked,wise,winged things.) After landing rather painfully in a huge pile of hay,they soon discover they’re in the tiny town of Cuchillo,TX,and something is very,very wrong.

An irresistibly sexy Japanese demon (and soul stealer) named Miko has taken over the tiny Texas town,turning people into zombies (with nasty diseases,no less) and blocking magic so any Talents in the town can’t use their powers. However,a group of townspeople have banded together and with Jessie,they prepare to make a stand against Miko. There are a few issues,though. Jessie just might be inhabited by a devil (no biggie,right),that turns her into a berserker killing machine (think River when she fights the Reavers in Serenity,and you get the picture),her flame hand is acting up (to say the least),and the lady that heads the resistance might be a teeny bit loony (the place is swarming with magic cats of her making.) Yes,you read that right. Magic cats that enable the townspeople to use what powers they might have,in spite of Miko’s magic block. And they’re super cute too. Also,don’t forget the sexual powers that Miko wields on men and women alike. Jessie’s been to hell and back. Surely she can defeat Miko,right?

Ms. Snyder brings the crazy with Shotgun Sorceress,and like Spellbent,it’s all kinds of awesome. There are lots of horror elements woven into this one too,and the author’s talent to bring the creep is showcased to great effect. The town of Cuchillo reminded me of something out of Stephen King,and did I mention hordes of meat puppets? Pretty scary stuff! The action is nonstop and the author’s imagination seems to know no bounds. If you haven’t yet discovered this series,you’re in for a treat! Switchblade Goddess comes out in December,and I plan on dropping everything to read it. Fans of UF and horror can’t go wrong with this exciting,scary,and highly imaginative series! ( )

http://bactra.org/weblog/algae-2011-06.html#snyder ( )

This is the second book in the Spellbent series by Snyder. The third book, Switchblade Goddess, is due out sometime in 2011. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I think if you liked the first book, Spellbent, then you will also like this one.

The book is split into two parts. The first part of the book starts right after Spellbent ends. Jessie is under house arrest with Cooper, Pal, and friends. She finds out that she can't control her new fiery hand when her emotions get out of control and ends up going into Fairy with Cooper to strike a deal with the Fairy about his brothers and their renegade situation. The second part of the book Jessie, Cooper, and the Warlock are stranded in a rural Texas town where a very bad devil has them trapped and is playing with them. Well the devil finds out that picking on Jessie is a bad thing.

The book was non-stop action and I devoured it. I also laughed out loud a number of times and made "ew, gross" faces a few times. Like the first book, this one isn't for the faint of heart. There isn't a ton of tenderness here and the descriptions are gory, grisly, and gritty. Even the sex scenes (which there are more of in this book than the first) are pretty hard, fast, and furious. The book is darkly funny though and I enjoyed actually getting to see more of Cooper in this book. It was great to learn more about both Pal and Jessie's new powers. Some of the scenarios that Snyder comes up with are so strange that I have no idea how she thinks up this stuff; I am glad she does though because it always keeps me guessing.

This book reminds me a lot of the Sandman Slim books in tone, but with a female lead. I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the situations, the awesome powers Jessie is wielding. I really enjoyed all of the characters they are all tough and gritty and fun to read about. The pacing was amazing and I was never ever bored. The book is pretty darn funny at parts too, but in a dark way.

Overall an absolutely fabulous addition to this series. If you loved the first one you will love this one. If the first one was too gory and graphic for you...well this one will be too. If you have read the Sandman Slim books by Richard Kadrey and enjoyed those, I think you would really enjoy this series too. Loved it and I can't wait for the third book to come out! ( )

"Shotgun Sorceress" is the second in Lucy Snyder's series aout Jessie Shimmer. Jessie has quite a knack for magic. She just recently saved her boyfriend from Hell. In the process, she broke a few rules and the magical powers to be aren't really happy with her. Things get worse (and the real excitement kicks in) when Jessie, Cooper, Warlock (Cooper's brother) and Jessie's familiar Pal (a spider ferret) get attacked. To save themselves, Jessie opens a portal that takes them to a small town in Texas.

Things are a little unusual there and the group comes to find out that a devil named Miko has taken over the entire town. A lot of the residents are dead while others are Miko's zombie like meat puppets. The town has been completely blocked from any kind of aid.

I loved this book. I might've liked it more than I did the first one, Spellbent. My husband commented on how quickly I read this story. This is due to the books quick pace, entertaining storyline, and colorful cast of characters. I'm not a Cooper fan. He is easily the dullest character; very one dimensional. I keep wanting more for Jessie than what he seems to provide. But I love Warlock, Pal, the babies, and the others. Jessie feels so real. We learn more of her history here and I love that she is painted so realistically, flaws and failings and all.

I only have a couple of negatives. The first third of the book dealt with the consequences of the climax to the first book. Then it abruptly switched to the new plotline. I found the change abrupt and very noticeable. There are some parts of the book where I wondered whether things were really happening or if they were taking place in some kind of alternative existence. I'd like this to be presented more clearly in the future.

This wasn't a perfect book but I enjoyed it enough to forget that fact. I'm going to be waiting not-so-patiently for the next installment, "Switchblade Goddess". ( )

This was a disappointment to me after enjoying Spellbent so much. We pick up the story where Jessie has rescued her boyfriend Cooper and they are seeking respite at Karen the Healer's place in the burbs of Columbus. I love the way Snyder writes--here's a simile from early on "The previous Friday had been busier than a damful of beavers on crystal meth." Lively, fast-moving, fun, modern and entertaining! And Jessie is a great character--spunky and in-your-face--someone I love spending time with. However Snyder needs to work on her plotting a bit. This one had me totally lost--there was one really evil demon, named Miko (think Ursula in Little Mermaid) who seemed to be reanimating the dead ("meat-puppets" they were called) and there were lots of great action scenes. The overall arc of the story becomes lost in the wonderful detail. I will try the sequel, but will not feel compelled to finish it! ( )