It figures that when Once Upon a Time finally airs a good episode it airs opposite the premiere of Game of Thrones, standing very little chance of being something watched by the masses. That being said, this was one of the GOOD ONES! It focused on young Evil Queen Regina, and how she came to be so evil. It also shed some light on Snow White, showing us once again that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

The show opens with a flashback of Mr. Gold and Regina striking up a deal to frame Mary Margaret for the murder of Kathryn. They do everything but shake on it.

(Need to catch up? Check out previous Once Upon a Time recaps: Episode 12 | Episode 13 | Episode 14 | Episode 15 |Episode 16 | Episode 17)

Then we flashback to Fairytale land to find a young Regina free as a bird riding her horse, taking jumps and laughing, while her father watches happily from the ground. Just as Regina dismounts her steed a well-dressed woman shows up (hey, it’s Barbara Hershey!). Regina addresses her as “Mother,” and Regina’s father looks unhappy. The woman who is indeed Regina’s mom is also the Queen, and the way she shows her displeasure with Regina is by magical torture. Regina fights her until the torture becomes too much, at which point  she acquiesces. Wow, abuse much?

[The rise of an evil queen...]

Many people read—especially romance novels and other genre fiction—to escape the stresses of daily life. No need to remind you of a bad economy or rising gas prices; all you have to do is turn on the news.

So if you were able to live in any Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance city out of any book, where would you go? Fellow blogger and pal Chelsea Mueller told us where we wouldn’t want to live, so let’s talk about the positive—the top 5 places where it’d be fun to hang your hat (and leash your wolf, rest your powers, etc.):

Morella Beach, California (Jenn Bennett’s Arcadia Bell Series)
Who doesn’t like the beach? Surf, sand and sun, not to mention a fantastic Tiki bar called the Tambuku run by cool mage Arcadia Bell. This bar boasts great drinks and fun loving earthbound demons. Need a little excitement? Morella Beach has that too, with its local branch of the Hellfire Club. Fight gladiator style against other paranormal creatures, while rich dudes bet who on will win.

Don’t like your current photos? Lon Butler, pirate mustachioed fashion photog extraordinaire, will book a session for you.

[You’ll never wanna leave...]

It’s Miners Day in Storybrook!  You know one of those crazy town celebrations that no one really knows they why or wherefore of? That’s this week’s Once Upon a Time. There is also an underlying theme of understanding love and its unreliability. Oh, and my favorite part, a fairy actually says “Don’t Dream It, Be It” I think Tim Curry might be crying somewhere.

So yes, this week’s theme is love and the power it has over people—how it createsthe desire to do great things, or really horrible things...Let’s just say it has the power.

Oh, and I almost forgot: We learn how dwarves are made, in a scene from Alien.

(Need to catch up? Check our our previous Once Upon a Time recaps:
Episode 1| Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8 | Episode 9 | Episode 10 | Episode 11 | Episode 12 | Episode 13)

[A scene from Alien??? This I gotta see...]

A Perfect Blood (Rachel Morgan series #10)
Kim Harrison
HarperCollins, February 21, 2012, $26.99 hardcover/$12.99 digital

Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in to help investigate by the I.S. and the FIB, former witch turned day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth: a human hate group is trying to create its own demons to destroy all Inderlanders, and to do so, it needs her blood.

She’s faced vampires, witches, werewolves, demons, and more, but humanity itself might be her toughest challenge yet.

I love me some Hallows adventures featuring Jenks, Rachel, Ivy, Al, and oh yes, Trent! Ever since the terrible loss of Kisten Felps, the Hallows took on a bit of the sads for me. That is, until Trent Kalamack became a bit more “present” in the most recent books.  And whoo boy, is he present in this book!

[And who doesn’t love a good elf, even if he’s not bearing cookies?...]

This episode was a retelling of “Beauty and the Beast,” and I am going to trust that you all have at least seen the Disney version. The episode was kind of a chaotic jumble and it’s going to be hard to give you a play by play so apologies in advance.

(Need to catch up? Check our our previous Once Upon a Time recaps:
Episode 1| Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8 | Episode 9 | Episode 10 | Episode 11)

Our story opens with in Fairytale land, where a king is poring over a map with his staff. They are clearly trying to stave off a war, and are hoping for help—help they are certain will not arrive. A woman tries to comfort the King, and it’s his daughter Belle. A hunky boorish guy speaks up, saying he’ll save everyone, oh hello Gaston, yep, still stupid. There’s a knock at the gate, the guards open it, no one is there—but that’s because he’s right behind you, and yes it’s our own David Bowie wannabe, Rumpelstiltskin! He strikes a deal with the King to save the country for the price of...uh huh, his daughter, Belle. Everyone cries outrage, but Belle goes willingly.

So R is our “beast du jour” of the evening. I’d go with him too, he’s hawt!

[Didn’t see that coming...]

This episode should have been called “Bad Romance Writing 101,” it was that predictable. Just disappointing.

(Need to catch up? Check our our previous Once Upon a Time recaps:
Episode 1| Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8 | Episode 9)

********SPOILERS********

We open in Storybrook with mysterious Motorcycle Guy and his strange box (not an innuendo, people, a real box) talking to Henry. Henry is intrigued and guy is being mysterious. Oh, and hot...very hot.

Mayor sees Henry talking to the hot MG and gets freaked out. MG’s last words are “a storm’s coming” in a very Wyatt Earp kind of way...hmm. What could it mean?

[Grab an umbrella and read on...]

When we last left the denizens of Storybrook, they were reeling from the death of Graham/Sheriff/Huntsman. Murdered in cold blood by Regina/Evil Queen.

But this episode is clearly Rumpelstiltskin’s episode, and I couldn’t be happier. Let the David Bowie (whose birthday is today, incidentally) references fly! BTW, the soundtrack to this episode is particularly good, kudos for the Sonic Youth song !

(Need to catch up? Check our our past Once Upon a Time Recaps:
Episode 1| Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Episode 7)

We open to R. (I don’t want to type his long-ass name every time) spinning. He lives in a hovel and you can hear screaming outside. We see soldiers taking all the children away, and some crazy ass sorcerer holding the town at bay while the soldiers do it. It is clear that the next time they come they will take R.’s son. Both of them are terrified.

[Things weren’t always golden for Rumpelstiltskin, then...]

Retired music business ghoul that I am, you can imagine how music permeates every detail of my life. While I am not always on top of every new music release, I have been known to be Judgy McJudge when my friend’s music comes into question. I know it’s wrong, but hey...*shrug*.

A couple of years ago authors were starting to post their writing playlists, and I would look at them and judge assess.

It was interesting to see what song influenced them as they wrote my favorite characters; I remember looking at Kim Harrison’s play list for writing Kisten Phelps and getting all up in my judgy place when I saw Queens of the Stone Age listed. Oh no, please, Kim, not my Kisten...A similar occurrence took place when looking at Sherrilyn Kenyon’s playlist for Acheron. It’s hard not to judge when you have that background.

[Face the music...]

*****SPOILERS*****

Now that we have survived the whole “Jiminy fell down the mine shaft” moment, we move on to the next episode.

I have to be honest: I found the first ten minutes and the last ten minutes of this show captivating. The middle? Not so much; I got bored and distracted.  Here’s hoping the scriptwriters find their pacing soon.

(Need to catch up? Check our our past Once Upon a Time Recaps
Episode 1| Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5)

David gets shown his house by his wife Catherine, and clearly he remembers and feels nothing. There is a welcome home party with all the townsfolk, including a new doctor: Doctor Brown (the dead uncle from The Vampire Diaries). At the party, Henry explains to Emma that they just have to jog David’s memory. He assures her it will be easy. David leaves the party, only to end up at Mary Margaret’s house. He tells her she is all he cares about, and that he didn’t “choose” his current life. She rebuffs him.

[The road to love is never smooth...]

I, Synde Korman, have to confess I am a Black Dagger brotherhood Addict. Let me just say, I am as shocked by this admission as anyone. As a diehard UF/SF/F/LitFic reader, I just didn’t see this coming. But after reading nine books in two weeks, suffered eye rolling from my coworkers (I work in a bookstore), and teasing from my friends, you know what? I DONT CARE! I LOVE MY BOYS...And here’s why you should love them too (if you don’t already).

The boys of J.R. Ward’s BDB are the most loveable set of train wrecks this side of America’s Next Top Model. And who doesn’t love a hot mess? It has to do with our need to “fix” or “take care” of something or someone. We can make it all better, or at least we want to believe we can! Each brother has a curse, a physical disability like blindness, a prosthetic leg, and a hand that is truly a fire hazard. These “curses” barely hinder the fighting ability of the brothers to almost humorous proportions, and yet I find myself, a jaded bitterpants from way back, buying in big time!

[What sold you?...]

****Episode Spoilers Below****

How do you recap a show with no TV reception? I screamed so loudly fellow recapper Natasha heard me all the way in Canada and jumped to my rescue (and it came back eventually). She helped me fill in the pieces. So if it seems a bit choppy, that’s why.

(Need to catch up? Don’t miss recaps of the premiere, episode 2, and episode 3.)

We start by getting the backstory on Cinderella, how she hates being a maid and wants the good life. Enter our old pal Rumpelstiltskin to offer just what she wants (what’s the price? There’s always a price!). I love this character, all toothy grins and manic hand gestures, he’s like the Goblin King Jareth’s meth-addicted brother. Cinderella agrees to sign, but she isn’t told what she is giving to get such a great life...that’s “to be revealed at a later date.”

[Cinderella, what were you thinking, girl?!...]

Huge pecs, flowing hair, anger issues, and odd endowments...What do all these things have in common? They frequently appear in Paranormal Romance, not the Urban Fantasy that I normally read. In fact, I have only been delving into PNR for a few months now. Directed by fellow H&H bloggers Chelsea Mueller, Jessica Turner, and Tori Benson, one realization I have had is that PNR is SO MUCH MORE than HOT GUYS AND SEX!!

In addition to the requisite hot guys and sex, PNR offers fantastic storytelling and many examples of exceptional writing. Some of it is, in fact, so exceptional I thought I’d offer a PNR primer for people who might be on the UF side of the supernatural fence.

Like your Urban Fantasy with a bit of snark? Do you enjoy laughing between fights and death scenes? If you like Jaye Wells’s heroine Sabina Kane or Allison Pang’s A Brush of Darkness, then try Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter series. Kenyon’s Dark-Hunters are full of snark, not to mention chock full of action, monsters, and the bitchiest goddess ever. These guys are Hot with a capital H! Even in when in the pit of despair, these guys can snark. One of my favorite quotes from the series is, “If wishes were horses, I would have been run over in childhood” (Acheron Parthenopaeus).

[Go ahead, give PNR a whirl...]

Episode 2 of Once Upon a Time brings us back to Storybrooke, Maine, the town inhabited by fairytale characters with a bad case of amnesia...

I agree with Natasha, who wrote about the beautiful scenery in I Want to Live in Storybrook: Once Upon A Time Episode 1—this series is beautiful to watch. It’s filled with lush sets, incredible costumes and a notable cast.

I was, however, really disappointed with this week’s show after last week’s deliciousness. It took an hour to get 15 minutes worth of information, and the script was really choppy. There was so much flipping about of time lines that I am going to hit only the high points.

I will henceforth refer to the Evil Queen as EQ.

[*****SPOILERS******]

Making a living in this economy isn’t easy for anyone, let alone your favorite UF/PNR characters. Getting shot at, bitten, burned, staked or banished are only half their problems. Some of them have to earn a living just like us. Well...not exactly like us! Because unlike you and me (one hopes!), many Urban Fantasy characters make their livings on the wrong side of the law.

In Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin Series, Gin “Spider” Bianco is a renowned assassin, not to mention one hell of a chef. Trying to clear her name and “get rid of” criminals on her way to retirement isn’t as easy as she thought it would be. Wisecracking her way through life has gotten her into more trouble than a box of fire ants. Add Gin’s sidekick, investor and sheister Finnegan Lane, into the mix, and you’ve got even more trouble.

[Workin’ hard for the money...]

Steam engines, dirigibles, telescopes, bustles and top hats and Victorian England—all integral elements to the Steampunk genre, which has been around since the late ’70s, but has been gaining steam (no pun intended) in recent months. The classic definition of steampunk is:

a sub-genre of science fiction and fantasy featuring advanced machines and other technology based on steam power of the 19th century and taking place in a recognizable historical period or a fantasy world.

But some of my favorite steampunk novels challenge that very definition; they include alternate histories, aliens, giant spiders, zombies and a pair of drunken professionals. There has been, and likely will continue to be, much debate on just what makes a steampunk book. Some factions that believe that it must be written to the letter of the definition, others say bend and twist the ideas to make it your own. I like the latter’s take on the genre, so let’s take a look at some of my favorite “twisted” steampunk novels.

[Twisted sounds fun...]

The Night Circus came out just last week, and has received accolades from readers of all stripes, as well as already making the USA Today bestseller list. Prior to publication, it was optioned for a film by the people behind the Twilight series, and it’s available in audiobook, read by Jim Dale, who narrates the Harry Potter books. Plus, and most importantly for our purposes here, it’s got a romance.

Here is the blurb:

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

[Oh, young love!...]

I’ve just finished reading a spate of urban fantasy books where magic was a crucial element to the plot. Not just a causal casting of a love spell, but a more esoteric kind of magic where summonings and bindings run wild.

Is this a new untapped market for the genre? Or nothing new? Let’s take a look.

In the past, magic was handled in a “Harry Potterish” way (don’t get me wrong, I love Harry): The protagonist had a problem, they would wave their wand or hands say a few words—problem solved. Dark Magic was only done by evil beings setting themselves up as overlords.

More recently, however, magic has taken a darker forms, done by main characters as way to exist. Banishments and Summonings are regular business, both in Urban Fantasy and PNR. It never goes completely right, either, which again is a new take in the genre. No quick fixes for these mages.

[Make ’em work for it...]

There’s more than just a gender difference between urban fantasy heroes and heroines, there’s a difference in their romantic status, too: Most UF female protagonists have a partner, and the majority of UF males protags do not. Nor are they really looking for one.

What is the norm for male protags, or is there even a norm? Do male Protagonists need a significant other, or do we prefer them when they stroll through endless hookups and sexual innuendo? Is a partner a sexy sidekick—or a pain in the ass?

Unlike female protagonists who tend to either be celibate, monogamous, or looking for the “man of their dreams,” male protagonists range widely in their sexual behavior, going from downright slutty to pure as the driven snow.

As examples, Simon R. Green’s John Taylor has Suzie Shooter usually by his side. It happened so fast that honestly the reader doesn’t have time to think about it. It demands acceptance.

[And apparently that’s how it’s done...]