The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

So this was a good book, but rather confusing.
You meet Towner, who hints that she has had some mental health issues in the past. She comes from a long line of 'lace readers' - women who read the future in lace. The book introduces you to the rest of her family, her mom May, (dead) twin sister Lindley, brother Beezer, uncle Cal and aunt Emma, and great aunt Eva - most of whom are as unbalanced as she is.
Towner returns to Salem when her beloved aunt Eva goes missing. As she unravels the mystery of her aunt's disappearance, the reader is given glimpses to Towner's unhappy and abusive childhood. It isn't until the last 50 pgs that the reader discovers the true roots of Towner's past, and how hard her sisters death has impacted her.
I give this book a 8.5/10

Firebird by R.Garcia y Robertson

So I stuck with an author I had read before, and was quite surprised by how different this book was compared to 'Knight Errant."
Firebird begins with the young 'witch-girl' Aria. She lives in the forest with the 'Bone witch' and likes to make up stories about her childhood. She enjoys a secluded lifestyle until, a young knight from the mythical land of France and hides the Firebird egg in her forest. They are captured by enemy troops who want the magical egg back. Thus begins their journey through various enemy kingdoms, losing then finding each other, meeting with 'the Killer of Children,' and finding the truth about Aria's past.
The reason I was surprised by the book was that it was much more 'steamy' than Knight Errant, rather unexpected, but not unwelcome!
So overall I'd give this book a 8/10. It wasn't too long and it was a very easy read.

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

This is a MASSIVE book - double my last 'long' book at 816 pgs. The first 200 pages or so, for the most part, was rather confusing and uneventful. Maybe it's just me, but I found it really hard to remember which character was connected which side/conspiracy. The complicated names were another thing that I had a hard time with. Once I was past that first 200 pages and could remember some of the outlying characters, I found the book quite enjoyable - especially the last 300 pages. This book is told from the point of view courtesan/spy, Phedre. It takes place around a Renaissance-type era, though the names of the countries have changed.
Sold by her parents into the 'Night Court', Phedre is marked by a scarlet mote (dot) on her iris; the mark of Kushiel, a rather masochistic apostle who feels pain and pleasure together. She is eventually taken in by a man, Delauny, who recognizes her value as 'Kushiel's Dart' and she begins her training as a spy to court events. Phedre is given access to court secrets as she practices her 'art.' As she is finishing her 'marque' (tattoo to symbolize her freedom), her world is torn apart. Phedre and Jocelin (who for all intents and purposes is her bodyguard) find themselves amongst savages, escape, then become messengers to the Queen. I enjoyed the challenges Phedre and Jocelin overcome and the growth of their characters.
Overall I would rate this book 7/10
However, I will say that I really enjoyed the last half or so of the book and will read the next in the series.

Black Ships by Jo Graham

Black ships is the story of a girl who is born after her people are conquered and become enslaved. She is given to a temple and becomes a priestess of Death. One day a vision brings her face to face with the remnants of her people as they sack her town. She makes a snap decision to join them on the journey to find a new home. The writer recreates the vivid world of ancient Rome, the characters experience growth and are very likable. Overall I would rate this book 8.5/10