Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Subterranean Press (2017). Hardcover, 760pp. One of 750 signed and numbered copies. Full-color wraparound dust jacket, as well as full-color and black-and-white interior illustrations by Doris Mantair.
Description
Meet Dina Demille, a nice Texas gal who runs a seemingly ordinary, quaint BnB. But Dina's inn is a magic, thinking entity; her fluffy Shih-tzu, Beast really is a beast; and her guests are the kind that no one on earth is supposed to know about: guests like a dethroned galactic tyrant with a massive bounty on her head, the Lord Marshal of a powerful vampire clan, and a displaced-and superhot-alpha-strain werewolf. So don't expect a normal stay...and don't stand too close, or you may be collateral damage.. In Clean Sweep, Dina-with the unwanted assistance of newcomer (and alpha werewolf) Sean Evans and Arland, a cosmic vampire soldier-takes on an extraterrestrial killing machine that could destroy her Inn, her neighbors, and everything she holds dear. Sweep in Peace, finds Dina hosting an anything-but peace summit between three warring intergalactic species; Space Vampires, the Hope-Crushing Horde, and the devious Merchants of Baha-char. One Fell Sweep sends Dina to the galaxy's worst penal colony to rescue her sister; and back home to fend off a clan of assassins in pursuit, all while saving a guest's civilization from annihilation - and searching for her missing parents.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Dokfintong
This is an omnibus edition of three previously published volumes that were sold as novels but really seem too short to qualify.
While it is of no use to complain about something that has already happened, here we have an excellent series that suffers from being a collaborative effort. Somehow,
These negatives aside, the Inns and their Innkeepers are an excellent premise and the series, if handled correctly, should carry us onward for quite some time.
I received a review copy of "The Innkeeper Chronicles, Volume One" by Ilona Andrews (Subterranean) through NetGalley.com.
While it is of no use to complain about something that has already happened, here we have an excellent series that suffers from being a collaborative effort. Somehow,
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although the method used isn't quite clear from the text, these novellas were written using periodic feedback from online readers and others. This is probably the source of the unevenness in tone, and some strange elements that have been being thrown in. In particular, there are random paragraphs of second-rate sensuality in places where they only break the flow of the narrative. There is clunky backstory (you know the kind – everything that has gone before crammed into a single paragraph) added at the transitions between novellas. There grammar errors that should have been avoided ("lay" and "lie" are consistently misused, as are object pronouns). The artwork is saccharine. The list price for the hardcover is crazy.These negatives aside, the Inns and their Innkeepers are an excellent premise and the series, if handled correctly, should carry us onward for quite some time.
I received a review copy of "The Innkeeper Chronicles, Volume One" by Ilona Andrews (Subterranean) through NetGalley.com.
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LibraryThing member florabundi
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. Thanks to the author and publisher. One of my favorite fantasy authors.
3books make up this collection, all with the same setting and lead characters, just one adventure following another. An inn, neglected almost unto death, afraid to lose its new
3books make up this collection, all with the same setting and lead characters, just one adventure following another. An inn, neglected almost unto death, afraid to lose its new
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innkeeper but brave enough to fright. Humans, vampires, werewolves finding common cause along with assorted other folk. Lovely villainess of a certain age, who doesn't pretend to be anything else. Dina, Innkeeper, may her power grow. Stories to make you laugh and cry. Read this on a bad day and things will get brighter. Snow might not stop falling, temperature may continue to drop, rivers overflow etc. but for a while you might forget it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lauranthalas
Ilona Andrews does it again! Another fun filled, action packed, wild ride with a side of romance.
LibraryThing member pwaites
I’ve long been a fan of Ilona Andrew’s Kate Daniel books, but The Innkeeper Chronicles was the first time I’ve checked out some of their other work. This edition is the first three books in the series bound into one volume. For plot specific commentary, I will divide this review into separate
Dina seemingly runs a humble B&B in an ordinary Texas suburb. However, Dina’s B&B has an unusual set of clientele: aliens. Her permanent guest is a former galactic tyrant with a huge bounty on her head, and Dina regularly plays host to such species as genetically modified were-wolves and space vampires. The Innkeeper Chronicles is an eclectic mix of urban fantasy and science fiction. As ever, Ilona Andrews blew me away with sheer inventiveness of the world they created.
Clean Sweep, the first book in the collection, introduces us to Dina and her inn. Dina’s parents and their inn disappeared mysteriously, years ago, and all Dina wants is to find them. Now she’s trying to run her own inn, hoping that one day a visitor will be able to tell her where her parents are. But she’s struggling to get her inn off the ground, and matters get even worse when something extraterrestrial starts killing neighbor’s dogs. Innkeepers aren’t supposed to get involved, but Dina can’t stand back and wait for it to escalate.
The second book, Sweep in Peace, sees Dina hosting a peace summit between three intergalactic species, who have been warring with each other for years. Sweep in Peace was probably my favorite of the three. I always love books with aliens and alien cultures, so Sweep in Peace scratched that itch for me. Plus, it was mostly without Sean, Dina’s super annoying werewolf love interest. More on Sean and how little I care about him later.
One Fell Sweep, the third and so far last book, gives Dina the chance to help save a guest’s species from annihilation, but she would have to deal with the hoards of assassins his presence would bring. Oh, and she received word that her estranged older sister is in dire need of help.
I like most of the characters all right, but I never really loved any of them. Dina’s suitably competent, and the magic of the inn definitely has a cool factor. I was starting to feel like the books needed more female characters, so I was glad when Dina’s sister Maude was introduced in One Fell Sweep. But I had zero patience for the romance subplot. Dina is sort of in a love triangle with Sean the alpha werewolf and a space vampire warlord. Wow, I’m rolling my eyes just typing that sentence. Anyway, it’s so clear that Sean is the real interest, but he gets on my nerves so much! He’s one of those alpha male love interests who I can’t help but hate. This series in general could feel overwhelmingly heterosexual at times. I guess I’m not really the intended audience.
While The Innkeeper Chronicles could be a bit frustrating or cheesy at times, I still had fun reading it. The three books in one volume format made it oh so easy to binge read. I’ll admit that I read this entire collection in roughly forty-eight hours. What can I say? I love urban fantasy and science fiction mash ups! I’m not sure it’s something I’d wholeheartedly recommend, but you might want to check it out if you’re in the mood for fluff.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.
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parts, so you can read without fear of spoilers.Dina seemingly runs a humble B&B in an ordinary Texas suburb. However, Dina’s B&B has an unusual set of clientele: aliens. Her permanent guest is a former galactic tyrant with a huge bounty on her head, and Dina regularly plays host to such species as genetically modified were-wolves and space vampires. The Innkeeper Chronicles is an eclectic mix of urban fantasy and science fiction. As ever, Ilona Andrews blew me away with sheer inventiveness of the world they created.
Clean Sweep, the first book in the collection, introduces us to Dina and her inn. Dina’s parents and their inn disappeared mysteriously, years ago, and all Dina wants is to find them. Now she’s trying to run her own inn, hoping that one day a visitor will be able to tell her where her parents are. But she’s struggling to get her inn off the ground, and matters get even worse when something extraterrestrial starts killing neighbor’s dogs. Innkeepers aren’t supposed to get involved, but Dina can’t stand back and wait for it to escalate.
The second book, Sweep in Peace, sees Dina hosting a peace summit between three intergalactic species, who have been warring with each other for years. Sweep in Peace was probably my favorite of the three. I always love books with aliens and alien cultures, so Sweep in Peace scratched that itch for me. Plus, it was mostly without Sean, Dina’s super annoying werewolf love interest. More on Sean and how little I care about him later.
One Fell Sweep, the third and so far last book, gives Dina the chance to help save a guest’s species from annihilation, but she would have to deal with the hoards of assassins his presence would bring. Oh, and she received word that her estranged older sister is in dire need of help.
I like most of the characters all right, but I never really loved any of them. Dina’s suitably competent, and the magic of the inn definitely has a cool factor. I was starting to feel like the books needed more female characters, so I was glad when Dina’s sister Maude was introduced in One Fell Sweep. But I had zero patience for the romance subplot. Dina is sort of in a love triangle with Sean the alpha werewolf and a space vampire warlord. Wow, I’m rolling my eyes just typing that sentence. Anyway, it’s so clear that Sean is the real interest, but he gets on my nerves so much! He’s one of those alpha male love interests who I can’t help but hate. This series in general could feel overwhelmingly heterosexual at times. I guess I’m not really the intended audience.
While The Innkeeper Chronicles could be a bit frustrating or cheesy at times, I still had fun reading it. The three books in one volume format made it oh so easy to binge read. I’ll admit that I read this entire collection in roughly forty-eight hours. What can I say? I love urban fantasy and science fiction mash ups! I’m not sure it’s something I’d wholeheartedly recommend, but you might want to check it out if you’re in the mood for fluff.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.
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LibraryThing member humouress
{First 3 of 5; The Innkeeper Chronicles. Fantasy, sci-fi} (2020)
1 - Clean Sweep (2013)
This series comes highly recommended by a lot of other LTers so (despite my first book by this duo not being my best experience - partly due to being from the middle of a series and partly my discomfort with theborrowed the next book on Overdrive bought the first three books as an omnibus for my Kindle.
Dina is an Innkeeper in Red Deer, Texas which means that she maintains an inn, which is neutral territory, for guests from other planets/ worlds. As an innkeeper her first priority is the safety and comfort of her guests for which she employs her magic (which is sometimes indistinguishable from technology) which is strongest within the property boundaries of the inn. Dina is working to reinstate The Gertrude Hunt Bed and Breakfast after it had been unused for a time; to do so she must maintain the inn and have guests staying there. The inn itself contributes its own magic (such as avoiding potential guests from the local planet) and she has a small shi-tzu called (deservedly) Beast.
In the foyer Arland sat on the loveseat, sipping mint tea. The vampire wore a full set of armor; the breastplate and the raised pauldrons made his shoulders and chest appear enormous. His weapon, a giant blood mace, lay next to him on the floor, its head solid black and crossed by glowing red lines.
When something obviously not of Earth starts killing the neighbourhood dogs, Dina feels obliged to investigate even though the crimes occur beyond the inn's boundaries. And so she has to deal with stalkers, vampires and werewolves among other alien species.
"House of Krahr!" the vampire with the banner barked quietly.
"Krahr," the other four vampires exhaled and glared at me.
Usually they roared their house name at the top of their lungs, trying to intimidate... Oh. They were trying to be inconspicuous. I bit my lip to keep from laughing. I'd never had an attempt at intimidation whispered at me before.
Although there are action sequences, the parts that had me gripped were the ones where the characters exercised their brains rather than their muscles. There were a few funny moments too, which I appreciated.
"Yes, Your Grace." Arland smiled and took a big swallow from his mug.
"I believe I've met your grandfather, the Bloody Butcher of Odar."
"That's correct."
"I remember now. A delightful man, wonderfully dry sense of humor."
Arland blinked. "My grandfather has been called many names in his lifetime. Delightful was not one of them. He remembers you also. You tried to poison him."
Although from Earth herself, Dina is obviously comfortable with the alien worlds and visitors; her parents were innkeepers too so she has grown up with them and she is fully capable of meeting any challenge thrown at her. Although we are occasionally left wondering what something meant, we're not left wondering for long and the information is fed to us logically in bite-size pieces.
The book comes to a logical conclusion but there are some questions left unanswered such as 'What happened to Dina's parents' inn?' that intrigue me so I will continue with the series.
4-4.5 stars
1 - Clean Sweep (2013)
This series comes highly recommended by a lot of other LTers so (despite my first book by this duo not being my best experience - partly due to being from the middle of a series and partly my discomfort with the
Show More
narrator of the audiobook) I thought I would give it a go. I'm glad I did and I've already Dina is an Innkeeper in Red Deer, Texas which means that she maintains an inn, which is neutral territory, for guests from other planets/ worlds. As an innkeeper her first priority is the safety and comfort of her guests for which she employs her magic (which is sometimes indistinguishable from technology) which is strongest within the property boundaries of the inn. Dina is working to reinstate The Gertrude Hunt Bed and Breakfast after it had been unused for a time; to do so she must maintain the inn and have guests staying there. The inn itself contributes its own magic (such as avoiding potential guests from the local planet) and she has a small shi-tzu called (deservedly) Beast.
In the foyer Arland sat on the loveseat, sipping mint tea. The vampire wore a full set of armor; the breastplate and the raised pauldrons made his shoulders and chest appear enormous. His weapon, a giant blood mace, lay next to him on the floor, its head solid black and crossed by glowing red lines.
When something obviously not of Earth starts killing the neighbourhood dogs, Dina feels obliged to investigate even though the crimes occur beyond the inn's boundaries. And so she has to deal with stalkers, vampires and werewolves among other alien species.
"House of Krahr!" the vampire with the banner barked quietly.
"Krahr," the other four vampires exhaled and glared at me.
Usually they roared their house name at the top of their lungs, trying to intimidate... Oh. They were trying to be inconspicuous. I bit my lip to keep from laughing. I'd never had an attempt at intimidation whispered at me before.
Although there are action sequences, the parts that had me gripped were the ones where the characters exercised their brains rather than their muscles. There were a few funny moments too, which I appreciated.
"Yes, Your Grace." Arland smiled and took a big swallow from his mug.
"I believe I've met your grandfather, the Bloody Butcher of Odar."
"That's correct."
"I remember now. A delightful man, wonderfully dry sense of humor."
Arland blinked. "My grandfather has been called many names in his lifetime. Delightful was not one of them. He remembers you also. You tried to poison him."
Although from Earth herself, Dina is obviously comfortable with the alien worlds and visitors; her parents were innkeepers too so she has grown up with them and she is fully capable of meeting any challenge thrown at her. Although we are occasionally left wondering what something meant, we're not left wondering for long and the information is fed to us logically in bite-size pieces.
The book comes to a logical conclusion but there are some questions left unanswered such as 'What happened to Dina's parents' inn?' that intrigue me so I will continue with the series.
4-4.5 stars
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Original publication date
2020
Local notes
Dina Demille is a nice Texas gal who runs a magic, thinking inn; her fluffy Shih-tzu, Beast really is a beast; and her guests include a dethroned galactic tyrant with a massive bounty on her head, the Lord Marshal of a powerful vampire clan, and a displaced—and superhot—alpha-strain werewolf.
An omnibus of the first three novels.
In Clean Sweep, Dina—with the unwanted assistance of newcomer (and alpha werewolf) Sean Evans and Arland, a cosmic vampire soldier—takes on an extraterrestrial killing machine that could destroy her Inn, her neighbors, and everything she holds dear.
Sweep in Peace, finds Dina hosting an anything-but peace summit between three warring intergalactic species; Space Vampires, the Hope-Crushing Horde, and the devious Merchants of Baha-char.
One Fell Sweep sends Dina to the galaxy’s worst penal colony to rescue her sister; and back home to fend off a clan of assassins in pursuit, all while saving a guest’s civilization from annihilation…and searching for her missing parents.
An omnibus of the first three novels.
In Clean Sweep, Dina—with the unwanted assistance of newcomer (and alpha werewolf) Sean Evans and Arland, a cosmic vampire soldier—takes on an extraterrestrial killing machine that could destroy her Inn, her neighbors, and everything she holds dear.
Sweep in Peace, finds Dina hosting an anything-but peace summit between three warring intergalactic species; Space Vampires, the Hope-Crushing Horde, and the devious Merchants of Baha-char.
One Fell Sweep sends Dina to the galaxy’s worst penal colony to rescue her sister; and back home to fend off a clan of assassins in pursuit, all while saving a guest’s civilization from annihilation…and searching for her missing parents.