98.
Author: Terry Pratchett
Title: Snuff
publication: Hardback
Pages:
Genre: Fantasy/Satire
Acquisition: Preordered
Date: December 26, 2011
Rating: *****

Snuff by Terry Pratchett is a novel of evolution: Vimes evolving, culture evolving, and Pratchett evolving. Featuring an older, more diplomatic Samuel Vimes, Snuff does not attempt to stick to maintain, but rather to accept the changes that time brings. While this is presented most obviously in the world's acceptance of goblins as a people, this is also evident in Vimes's own approach to the crimes he sees, the shift in how others perceive Vimes, and the way in which Pratchett himself tells the story. While not the humorous satire that I've come to expect of the series, I still enjoyed Pratchett's masterful storytelling, and his commentary on our own society.

99.
Author: Laini Taylor, et al.
Title: Lips Touch: Three Times
publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance
Acquisition:
Date: December 26, 2011
Rating: ***

Lips Touch: Three Times is a collection of three supernatural "romances," each exploring the consequences of a single kiss; at least, that's what the product description suggests. Only one story truly follows this pattern, with the other two loosely weaving in an element of romance used to justify the artistic title. In the end, the book contains three very different works, with varying levels of success. This is a collection to which each reader will respond differently, and so the ultimate quality of the work will rely primarily on the reader's expectations. From my own point of view, the stories were nothing groundbreaking, and did little to hold my interest, but will likely satisfy the expectations of the new audience for the genre.