jaymi elford
Disclaimer: I received an eARC in exchange for a review.
Witch Hunt is the first in a new series by SM Reine. I have several of her other books but haven't gotten to them yet. I'm glad I decided to hit this book first. It features a male protangonist, which you don't see too often in urban fantasy settings. Cèsar Hawk's a witch working for a “secret” government society that helps keep the paranormal under wraps and patrolled. Right from the beginning of the book Reine sets us into the action and it never lets go from there. We're treated on a 2-hour romp (it took me only two hours to read this book) through Cèsar's life as he hunts down help in discovering a murder mystery that turns out to be a set up for a wider arc.
The world felt real and yet had great elements of the fantastic. Cèsar isn't just some guy who runs around thinking like a “cop” or with his genitals... he actually cares and has depth that comes out through the book. And it's a real fun read.
Bottom Line: Want a quick and fun read in the urban fantasy genre? Try this one out.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this from netgalley.
I've been eagerly awaiting for The Ghost Train to New Orleans as soon as I heard it was being worked on. Campbell Award winning author, Mur Lafferty is a great writer and has done an amazing job in blending a supernatural world (also known as coterie in her books) in with believable settings and characters. Editor, Zoe Norris, is on assignment in the Big Easy and once again she's being dragged into nefarious plans.Zoe is a great character who's quirky and geeky, and still trying to figure out how to deal with the supernatural while keeping to her travel book schedules. Part of the reason I love these books is due to the snippets of travel book writing that Mur adds in-between chapters. It really does show her RPG word building background and makes the world she created alive. Now I'm totally looking forward to the 3rd book in this series. Thanks for continuing to show us all why you're mighty, Mur and I hope you're hard at work on the next installment.
Disclaimer: I received a eARC from netgalley. Also, the author is a friend of mine from the Tarot circles. Just wanted to get that out of the way.
Relationship questions are the bread and butter for tarot readers. I know, because I get asked about them a lot in my practice. So, when Tarot Coupling came out, I was very interested in seeing what Gina Thies could add to the discussion. I was not disappointed. This book has a LOT to offer new and advanced tarot readers. She spends a lot of time discussing the science behind relationships and how tarot readers can support relationships at different stations. She also gives unique and impressive meanings for each card that help support people in relationships at any level. The last chapter in Tarot Coupling includes a tarot spread that you can use in your own practice.
What I Liked: Tarot Coupling goes DEEP into the study of relationships, romance, and the science of attraction. This is important to know because questions on love and romance are psychologically based. We need to know the science on how partners are picked in order to really help our clients. I also loved that Thies took the time to create her own meanings for relationships throughout the four stages of their lifecycle. This is the bang for the buck. No longer will you need to pigeon hole a meaning when the client is in a new relationship stage. Now you can see how the meanings deepen or change throughout the relationship changes. I also liked the lists of romantic suggestions/dates, etc. to help inspire people.
What I Disliked: This is a heavy book. There's so much science and psychology in the book that it takes awhile to read. I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing, but you will want to take notes and digest what Thies says. I would have also liked it if Thies included a few other spreads (she has just the one), and some sample readings with them.
Bottom Line: I've read and reviewed many tarot and relationship books and most of them leave me feeling empty. They are light on the use of tarot in relationships and heavy on the card meanings. Tarot Coupling is my new favorite relationship book. Not only does it provide original and creative meanings for the cards, but it gives a lot of practical advice on how attachments are made and this information can be used to inspire and counsel any client.
Disclaimer: I received a eARC of this anthology from netgalley.
Lovecraft and his works hold a special place in my heart. So when I got a chance to review one of Datlow's latest anthologies I took it. This is the 2nd Lovecraftian anthology Datlow has edited. Datlow says in the introduction, “I had three goals in choosing stories: the first, as usual, was to avoid pastiches; the second was to use stories that have not been overly reprinted in the many recent mythos anthologies; third, I wanted to showcase Lovecraftian-influenced stories by at least some authors not known for that kind of story.” And she hit the mark because this book is really entertaining.
The stories in this tome vary in the decades they write about. There's some steampunk flavored stories, there's some noir, and there's some weird futuristic sci-fi. However, they all share one thing, they celebrate Lovecraft's works through his monsters and the horrible things they do to us as mortals.
Bottom Line: Love anthologies? Love Lovecraftian style prose and monsters? Need a break from those novels you've been reading? Get this book. The stories within will entertain you, gross you out, and long for the good old days of reading Lovecraft for the first time.
Disclaimer: Dixie Vogel gave me a free ePub of her book in 2012 in exchange for an honest review. Despite the fact that it took me forever to read and review this book, here's my review. (Added after contacting the author: Dixie and I have been chatting via email and she told me that since this version came out, she's gone back and revised the book a bit. She even added all the minor arcana cards. Her goal for this volume was to see if she could publish a book and obviously, she succeeded in that goal. I applaud her for having gotten something out and for continuing to write and share it with the world.)
I have a hard time with books that have been converted from blog posts. While I love reading short articles focused around my favorite interests (tarot, decluttering, games, productivity, etc.) they're usually a hit or miss deal. The same thing holds true for this volume. Dixie Vogel collected some of her articles from her blog “A Fool's Journey” and converted them to this book. She goes through each card and then gives her personal opinion and story to go along with each of the major arcana cards.
What I liked: I love reading personal stories that connect the cards to the reality of one's life. This book covers that in spades. Vogel writes poignant articles connecting each card, Astrology, and her family and life. I like that she also includes reversed cards and how they relate to her world as well. In some cases Vogel selected two articles to reflect a single card. At the end of each essay, she poses a wonderful question that helps the reader delve into their own connection to the card. Seeing these questions alone excited me because it actually gave the book a push away from being “yet another blog to book” conversion.
Where I had problems: Like I stated in my introduction, blog to book articles aren't the same thing. There are many inside things in Vogel's articles that I had issues following. I'm a huge tarot buff but when it comes to connecting the Astrology in general and to tarot, I need a lot of hand-holding and explanation. When I read an article that talks about the planet or sign's effect on a person, I expect them to tell me more about that planet, how this relates to the card and to the story they're telling. This book fell flat in that department. Due to this nature, and some of the awkwardness of the prose, it was very hard for me to read and want to keep reading, despite the amazing insights into the cards Vogel has. (This is also why the book received the GoodReads two-star review for “it's okay”). The inconsistency of the formatting and the loose editing was apparent throughout the eBook.
Bottom Line: If you are bored and want to read a quick personal read on how people relate to each tarot card, then this is your book. The questions at the end of each section are great to use for exploring your own connections to the cards as well.
Disclaimer: I received a eARC from netgalley in exchange for this review.
I love the Geekomancy series. Smartly written, filled with tons of pop culture (and geek!) references, each story is just a delight to read. And when I got to read this story I squealed. I knew we'd be in for a treat. And I was right, this “side quest” was fun.
I've seen other reviewers give this story weird and mixed reviews; saying that they didn't get this story or how it fits into the series. The key to understanding this narrative is in the description. “side quest.” Like a small interlude of a D&D campaign, Attack the Geek, gives us a rip roaring good trip through the world of Ray Reyes. The world in this tale broadens to include many of the other supporting characters. They all come together to snark, fight, and work together to defeat the quest's “big bad.” And Ree, Eastwood, Grognard, and Drake survive and manage to take it down.
However, like all side quests, this story does have it's twists and turns, and I wonder how the revelations in this book will play out in the greater series for Ree and her stalwart companions.
Bottom Line: Geeks rejoice. Crossing geek references and urban fantasy magic, Attack the Geek is a heck of a good story. Read it and smile along with the references for this side quest isn't just a short story!
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is/was one of my favorite TV shows. I'll admit, the movie... was very cheesy and turned me off. But then, one night while bored and needing something to escape into, I ended up watching one of the season 2 episodes. From that moment on, I was hooked. I devoured the series faithfully from season 1 to season 5. As my life grew more complicated (as Buffy's did), the seasons became harder for me to watch due to appointments and meetings. I haven't even read Season 8.
I was at PantheaCon in 2012 when I met Valerie Estelle Frankel, the author of this book. She and I were talking tarot and she mentioned to me that she had written this book. I got so excited that I asked her for an electric copy, because I really wanted to read it and review it. And although it has taken me two years (in a way, following my own heroine's journey through my tarot and writing lives), here's my thoughts.
Buffy and the Heroine's Journey takes the reader on a adventure through the Buffyverse. This book examines the heroine's journey, which is very different than the hero's journey, and uses the Buffy movie, 90's TV series, and the comics created by Joss Whedon to frame the narrative. It's as entertaining as it is instructive.
The hero's journey has a special place in my heart as a writer and a scholar. I have read a lot about it. In school, they don't talk a lot about the Heroine's Journey. While each has some parallels— it feels like the hero has an easier time and is more linear, while the heroine goes through this long, convoluted process that isn't always easy or happy. In fact, you could say that it's very complex, just like us women! Frankel does a great job framing the information of both Buffy (from season 1 to the comic season 8) and the idea of a Heroine's journey in such a way that makes both accessible as an introduction and to seasoned pros.
Re-reading about Buffy brought many of the episodes and more memorable scenes back into my head. I want to watch the whole series over again, now that I have been enlightened with this perspective. There were many things that confused me about Buffy back when I watched it. Things and scenes that made me uncomfortable. Things that paralleled with my own life, and Frankel's book helped show me why these things had to happen. It made me grateful and I can now say, “ah, I understand it now when this happens in the series.”
I'm impressed, Frankel did her research. It oozes from the text. I thought I was a fan girl who spoke to others on end about aspects of this series. Frankel really dove into the mythology, the subtext, and made an amazing book. However, there are bits in this book that are confusing and a bit too scholarly. There were many times where I had to re-read sections over to grok what she was getting at. Sometimes, reading the book felt like reading a college text book and it was hard to push forward. I am glad I did because this is an important book.
Bottom Line:
Scholars and fans of Buffy will want to read this book. Heck, anyone interested in learning more about why Joss Whedon is the best at what he does needs to read this book. To end with Frankel's own words, “Buffy, a modern classic like Harry Potter or Star Wars, will surely last. It will be repackaged, rereleased, and most of all rewatched by long-time and new fans the world over. Because like Harry Potter and Star Wars, it's the classic Chosen One story complete with humor and real characters the audience loves. But it's also something special and far too rare on television—the classic quest of the heroine.” (Excerpt From: Valerie Estelle Frankel. “Buffy and the Heroine's Journey.” ePub version, iBooks.)
Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through netgalley.com
The Waking Dreamer caught my eye due to the lyrical nature of the title and cover. This is a coming of age/coming into being story about Emmet, who's “adopted” and trying to find his place in the world. We first meet him as he's making his way out of Houston, heading into Florida. The story quickly veers off into urban fantasy when Emmet runs into a Druidic group called “The Children,” who work in tandem with Druids (seemingly the warrior class of the group) and a Bard (the seemingly magical user who directs magic with their voice). In this one night, Emmet's world is turned upside down as he's pulled into a plot between the Druids, himself, and those called the Underdwellers (who are aligned with The Old Ones).
This book introduces us to the overview of the good guys and bad guys and shares with us the powers that Emmet himself holds. It doesn't really tell us flat out what will happen if Emmet goes bad... just that it could be the end of everything we know.
As one who has many friends in the ADF ( a real druidic order), I loved how this book sort of blends the fantasy world in with some reality. Druids are real, they do have some of the ideas that this book contains (albeit very different from the fantasy one): like druidic orders do have Bardic subsets. They also believe in a concept very similar to the underdwellers. The first few chapters are very lyrical in nature and it really sucked me right into the world. The book does take place (in part) here in portland, OR and i've always been fond of books that feature my beloved town.
Bottom Line: If you like your urban fantasy with some magic realism mixed in, then you'll love this book. The writing is crisp and the characters and group dynamic are intriguing. I hope that Alexander is able to continue with the next volume, for I'd love to see what happens with Emmet and the others.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC from netgalley.com.
Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells kept me up all night long. This is the story of Katie Prospero (more commonly referred by her last name) and her attempt to prove her worth. The story opens up with her walking a night beat in Babylon City when she comes into contact with a murder involving the latest designer “drug”. In Babylon, potions and magic are the drug of choice and it seems that everyone wants some.
I loved the magical system Wells created. Technically this book can be classified as an alternative history where magic comes out in the world and asserts it's worth as a technology. There are two classifications of magic, clean and dirty and the dirty magic is the stuff junkies are hooked on. Magic has a physical bond in this story, where the more you use it or imbibe, the more it changes you.
The world feels alive because of this history, sprinkled in amongst the main story line. Wells brings Prospero's world alive with real-life dialog and action and police knowledge.
Bottom line: If you like your urban fantasy a little bit dark and dirty with an edge of realism then you'd love this book. I'm already looking forward to where this series goes.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC from netgalley.com.
Lenormand is all the rage this year it seems. There have been many books published on the cartomancy technique this year, and I've read three of them. Rana George's book, The Essential Lenormand, is by far the easiest of the 3 to read and use for those beginning with the cards.
Rana George has used the cards all her life. She does not come from a tarot background as the other authors seem to come from. It's as if the cards are in her blood. She's been reading with them since she was a young girl in the Mediterranean area. And this book shows her passion, her wide range of knowledge and examples of the cards.
I loved this book. Her down to earth prose mirrors her speaking patterns (I happen to know her just a smidge). She uses real examples and tells you a single version (hers) of how to read the cards. The first section takes you through what each card means, how it can manifest in a wide variety of life-examples and she even shares stories of how the cards wove their magic in her life. The next part gives you exercises and ways for you to build your Lenormand muscles and reading formats. Then she goes into spreads and the Grand Tableau (the spread that uses all 36 cards), each with a real example and diagrams on how to read the many patterns with the cards. Finally, the book closes out with a series of Appendices that give history, quick reference sheets and more information about the Lenormand cards.
It's hard to find fault in this book. As it was an eARC from Llewellyn, there are some weird stuff going on but I can't wait for this to be released in 2014, for I will be buying a copy for my library.
Bottom Line: If you are a beginner and want a workbook to use with your Lenormand cards then get this book. It's that good. If you already know the cards but want to read real-life vignettes about other readers' experiences with the cards, then you'll also enjoy this book. Rana George is a great teacher and The Essential Lenormand is a fun read!
Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through netgalley.com.
The two Lindseys are back with their second installment of their Ending series. into the Fire begins where book one left off. It's hard to talk about this book without spoilers so I will do my best. Dani and Zoe are back, along with the rest of the gang that they've travelled with across the states. In addition to the gang, we meet the darker side of this new world, those that live in Colorado Springs (which seems to be redubbed as The Colony). We're introduced to MG (and his real name), new characters with new abilities, and some new technology.
What I liked: I love dystopian books and this series give the genre a superhero bent to the whole end of the world thing. I loved seeing the characters pushed to their limits on what they'd do for one another. I loved seeing Dani's humanity come out in spades and how she treats others is amazing. The ending, once again, ends on a great cliffhanger that keeps readers waiting out for book 3.
So, if I liked all these things, then why did i give the book 3 stars? Well, it was the pacing and what I can only describe as the “second book” blahs. The first book was new and exciting and kept me reading from the first word to the end. In this book, the writing felt flatish, and it took me forever to get into it (and I was really looking forward to this). However, the last bit of the book made up for the trudging through parts.
Bottom Line: If you liked the first Ending book, and want to know what happens next, then you'll be surprised and happy for this book. If you've read this book first then you will be a bit confused but I think it's still new enough where you can understand where it's going.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.
A Study in Silks is the first in a new series from Emma Jane Holloway. In this book we're introduced to the infamous Sherlock Holmes's neice, Evelina Cooper. She is attempting to get into Society highlife during an alternative steampunk/urban fantasy London Victorian period. Murder occurs, and she decides to try her hand at the whole detective gig.
I liked that this book sort of extends and pays homage to the original mysteries of Doyle's world. In this series, we're reintroduced to the characters as they are a bit older (wiser?) and mature. Eveline's character grows on you and her attraction to magic, while in the infant stages, has a lot of promise behind it.
The writing is a bit dry at times, which is common for books trying to tie into the past linguistics. But once you get beyond the oldish vocabulary and vernacular, there's a rich world full of interesting characters, magic, and intrigue.
This was a fun read and those who like their mystery with a bit of magic and steampunk will enjoy this series. Sherlockians who are purists, need not apply. Looking forward to the mischief and mystery that this series will offer in the future.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC from netgalley.com. However, there was so much good in this book that I went out and got my own copy so i could add notes.
This book took me almost 6 months to read. For someone who goes through books in a day, that's rather impressive. Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself is one those books that has the power to change your life on a deep level. At it's core, Breaking the Habit is a seven step meditation process that can help you change yourself so that what you want in your reality matches inside your body. However, 2/3rds of the book has to provide so much neuroscience and background information that the power this book has gets lost.
Dispenza's work seems solid, which is why I think he front-loads the science up front. Once you get past the slow chapters that remind myself of BioChemisty classes, the chapters that outline the meditation show you the power that this book contains. Dispenza even gives you the full meditation scripts in the Appendices and breaks the meditations down in four one-week chunks so that you know the changes can take affect.
I wish i could say that this book is for everyone. It was meant for everyone, and I do believe that. But if this book takes forever to read, then the power behind what it encourages people to learn does get implemented. This book requires a deep commitment and the desire to work at change. If you want a change that takes hold and stays in place, then this is a program for you.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC from netgalley.com. However, I had already purchased my copy of this book, so I'm basing my review off the purchased copy.
Underwood takes us 6 months into the future with the second installment of his Ree Reyes series. In Geekomancy, we're introduced to pop culture style magical system that works off all things geek. Our heroine Ree Reyes, a hopeful screen writer, gets clued into the fact she has talent. In Celebromancy, we catch up with Ree as she finally gets a break on her first manuscript for a series called Awakenings. When the lead actress is attacked by something invisible, we see just how powerful Celebromancy is. As a bonus, the starlet is infused with that sort of magic, and has taken a liking for Ree. So, it's up to her and her growing “scooby” gang of those in the know, to protect the star and solve the mystery.
What I liked: I liked the smart, snarky humor of the book. This series is definitely getting better as it progresses. Ree reminds me of myself and many other geek girls I know. She's smart, pretty, and seems real. I loved that we got to see more types of “-mancy” in this book besides just Ree's geeky style. I also liked that this book takes on a modern romance stance with Ree having feelings for both girls and boys. Oh and the geek references were toned down just a tad bit in this book, making it less like a NaNoWriMo geek reference and more like a well-rounded series that is coming into it's own.
What I didn't like: Hmm, Ree doesn't seem to have a better grip on her magical talent. This book is set 6 months after the events in the first and it doesn't seem fair that she's still a fledgling after all this time. We're introduced to the more movie-style magics but it doesn't seem like she's grown much in her own styles. I hope that she's given someone in the know to help her advance a bit more.
Bottom Line: If you likes your books filled to the brim with geeky and pop culture references and a heroine who has flaws and a kick ass attitude, then this book is for you.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC from netgalley.com.
Spellbound and Determined is a quick but fun and quirky read. The book tells the tale of high-schooler Cam and her friend Reade as they attempt to gain love and maintain their GPA with spell work. Cam works in her grandma's New Age store peddling spell components and tarot cards. Reade is a lovesick girl who would do anything to get the handsome Troy's attention. When Cam is given a spell guaranteeing “power supreme” she'll do anything to cast the spell and get what she and Reade deserves. The magical system in this book seems to fall on a more realistic pagan/Wiccan scale but there is a hint of supernatural in here.
What I liked: This was such a fun read. Reade is so dramatic and her attempts to Woo Troy over are over the top and hysterial (and the ways that they backfire on her) make the book just fun. Cam's belief that the spell will solve all her english class woes is fairly spot on and I really liked the development of Cam and Zach's relationship goes.
What I didn't like: The Grey Guy as an antagonist just didn't work to well. He is rarely there and doesn't really present a good case for being “bad”. The three kids go around and gather all these ingredients for the spell and then only after it comes together does the “bad guy” appear out of nowhere and just attempt to get what “he” deserved. It just seemed a bit... um...fake. The story was very light on plot and tension; with Reade and her desire for Troy being the only things that give the reader a push to keep reading. Varley also left me wondering why Cam lived with her grandma, and what happened to her family, and why magic in this book seems real but... isn't.
Bottom Line: if you like light-YA books that make you laugh at the folly of dating and reliving the desires for a straight A grade point average then Spellbound and Determined is for you. It's a quick, fun, rainy day read that will pass the time away. I don't know if Varley plans on making this a series but I do hope that we're treated to more of Cam, Reade, and Zach in the future.
Disclaimer: I received a PDF ARC of this through netgalley.com
Following a pagan path is very spiritually fulfilling. The basis of the book is that pagans don't need to feel spiritual on holidays and sabbats. That with some creativity and understanding of our personal yearly devotions, we can walk a pagan path every day. Early chapters focus around learning one's personal Wheel of the Year and personal holidays and how to incorporate these into your life; while later chapters discuss specifics of getting back to nature and spirituality. Albertsson shares his personal Saxon beliefs for examples but balances these with other ideas from heathens and others. A great majority of the book discusses working with the land and critters to understand nature and its cycles.
What I liked: I loved Albertsson's creativity. He really does show that he lives an inspired pagan path every day. The book is filled with examples of how many different pagans can live their spirituality daily. There are spells, rituals, and recipes (food and incense). I liked that Albertsson starts us out with thinking about our own personal Wheel of Life. That we should look at what dates are important to us and use that as a basis for our holy year. What a unique and awesome idea.
What I disliked: I felt that the chapters on working with familiars and the land went a bit long. Albertsson is a dog owner and he spent way too much time discussing how to care for dogs. It was cute and good information but i felt a bit out of scope of this book. Likewise, he's very connected to the land and describes how to farm, raise chickens, and keep bees to a dizzying detail. I felt that he should have given a few more suggestions on how non-land people could connect to the land when they're in a city (he does get into potting plants for house, etc).
Bottom Line: If you are a pagan and find your days lacking some touch of spirituality, then this book is for you. It will show you techniques and ways to reconnect your self and your daily lives back into a earth-bound path.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC PDF from netgalley in exchange for this review. However, because I already love the series, I purchased an ePub the day it came out.
Tad Williams is a master storyteller. Happy Hour in Hell is the second book in his Bobby Dollar series. In this book, we get to follow Bobby down into Williams's version of Hell, as Bobby attempts to rescue his love, Caz, from the demon Eligor. Hijinxs ensure and we're treated to a very spooky, but well written second story into the life of Bobby Dollar.
Williams really can write. His vision of Hell is dark, gross, disgusting and every bit a horror as we can think. I'm impressed with the descriptions of the various levels and the critters that run around in the planes. It really does give us the impression of how crappy a place it is and how horrible it can be looking from an angel's perspective. We're also treated to Dollar's personality and quips as he runs around the underworld, looking for Casimira.
What I didn't like was the direction that this series took quickly... we went from book one where we introduce our protagonist, the setting, and how Heaven and Hell work to this book where we see our protagonist jump straight down to hell to rescue someone he had a weekend fling with. It seems a bit contradictory to everything that I've read in the genre but... then again, I can only wait to see where this is going.
Bottom Line: If you're a fan of Tad Williams, good gumshoe urban fantasy novels, and dark views of Hell, then this is the book for you.
I think I'm falling in love with Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Cycle series. The Dream Thieves is book 2 in this series and it takes off from where the first left off. Blue, self-proclaimed anti-psychic, lives in a world of magic. Where she and her friends from an all boy school are on the hunt for the grave of a long lost king.
In this second tome, the book focuses on Ronan, the self-destructive one of the bunch, and the shy but changed Adam. The two boys are growing into their powers and seem to be tied to the Cabeswater area. They learn how to use their powers for good (and some bad) and in the end, they grow stronger in their abilities to help the group.
Like I said, I love this series. Stiefvater's language is magic and so is the world of Henrietta. I love that this story combines a hero's journey with tarot and magic. As a tarot reader, it pleases me to see the cards used correctly. It's also fun to sneak peeks into Blue's family house and watch their banter together.
The only thing I'm disappointed in is that it's going to be a bit of a wait for the next book.
Bottom line: if you love stories filled with magic, hope, tarot, and adventure buy this book.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC through netgalley.com.
Only Mira Grant could write a scientifically accurate, character driven horror book that leaves you wishing the next book in the series was out. Parasite is a wonderful what-if book of the future where designer drugs that make many illnesses a thing of the past. Whereas, you'd be thinking this was a prelude to a zombie novel, you're wrong. Very wrong. The hint of what's to come lies in the novel's title.
At its core, Parasite, is the story about survival and the pitfalls of designer drugs. Sally, our protagonist, survived a fatal car accident, mostly due to a new drug manufactured by SymboGen. Six years later and Sal is owned by the company, for testing. They want to know how their product helped her survive. Of course, this being a horror book, things in this world, go horribly wrong and Sal finds herself at the core of a new global threat.
Grant writes wonderful worlds that are built as much as one can on reality. She has done her home work to make the designer drug featured in Parasite as real as she can. The results of the book are amazing and one heck of a fun ride. The characters, are very much alive and each has their own personality. The way the book cliff-hangs just begs the readers in wanting more faster.
I really enjoyed this book. In fact, I read it straight through and could not put it down because I wanted to know what happened next. I recommend this book for all of Mira Grant's fans, and those who want to delve into a horror series that isn't as gory as most of the books can be.
Disclamer: I received a review copy through netgalley.com.
I first stumbled on Anne McCaffery's Pern series in the 8th grade. I had fallen in love with dragons and vowed to read anything that contained dragons between the covers. Enter the Dragon Riders of Pern. I loved the series, the way the dragons bonded with their riders and fought against a common goal. I loved the fire lizards with their antics. And I loved the world McCaffery wrote.
A few months ago, while at Baycon, I met Todd McCaffery and he told me about this anthology. He loved his mother and wanted to share his memories of his mother with the world. So what better way to do it with an anthology. This anthology is not like anything you've ever read. It's not filled with short stories that thank the Dragonlady and the worlds she created. No it's a posthumous toast to the woman, the mother, and the writer that we all loved.
McCaffery starts each essay with a poignant memory of his mother and the people she called friend. This is then followed by an essay from writers, editors, or artists that bonded with Anne. It's a genuine heartfelt outpouring of love for the woman who wrote about dragons in a science fiction setting.
Other reviews have said that the essays sort of blend into one another after awhile. I have to agree with this, for there's only so much toasting one can take in a single setting. However, this book is great for those who want to know the author as a person better. It's inherent that Anne McCaffery loved people as much as her craft and her beloved Ireland. The only thing I'm disappointed is that I never got the opportunity to meet this author.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through netgalley.com.
The second book in a very awesome steampunk/urban fantasy series jumps right out from the gate. Once again we're treated to the awesome world that Schwarz has created for us in A Clockwork Heart. Elle and Marsh are married and things aren't going well. Elle is much more of a modern woman than her time period and she does not want to be tied down to duty between her man and the love of the open airways. However, when she decides she wants to be with Marsh, he goes missing and strange tickers are afoot. We're treated to old characters and some new friends and left with a heart-wrenching (get it??? hurr hurr) ending that just left me wanting more.
What I loved: clockwork zombies! Holy cow, what an awesome concept. Love this idea and it played out so well in this world. I loved the end battle with everyone pitching in to help save Marsh. The imagery of the Battle was just awesome.
What I disliked: Mz. Schwarz, duuuuude... the ending! How could you. Talk about having one's heart ripped out. I cried. Way to show how one morns for lost love; and now, I must wait another half a year or more to read more! Gaaah, how could you!!!! grins
Overall, A Clockwork Heart and this series is an amazing and fun tromp through imagination. I'm so looking forward to the third book and I just finished the second.
Disclaimer: I received a copy via netgalley.com for review.
This anthology was on my to get list before I received a copy via netgalley. With an all-star line up of authors, and the carnivale as a setting, it had me hooked at the name. If you were expecting something darker, however... look elsewhere. This anthology is made of mostly urban fantasy stories. There is bits of horror here and there but... it's more urban fantasy. I'd even go as far as to say that I'm not sure why they included the “punk” in the title. Sure, some of the stories do have a punkish attitude but more often than not, they just feel more urban and fantastic than what I've come to expect from anything with a -punk subheading. The stories revolve around main characters we know and love from pre-existing series. However, there are many stories that seem to fit into worlds of their own.
Some of the stories that I enjoyed the most included:
Delilah S. Dawson's “The Three Lives of Lydia” told the tale of a tattooed lady, stuck in a world not of her own making.
Mark Henry's “The Sweeter the Juice”: which features transgendered ladies for protagonists and a horde of zombies. Totally laugh out loud-able.
Rachel Caine's “The Cold Girl”: which portrays victims in a whole new light, as well as just how far love can go to prove itself.
Allison Pang's “A Duet with Darkness” is probably my favorite in this volume. This story reminds me of Charles de Lint's work in that the carnivale is not just the setting but does have a bite to it, and interacts in a huge way with her characters. The end of this story left me wondering if Pang has written more about this world and the characters in it (which she does and I will now investigate).
Overall, if you're like me and have an attraction to the mystique of a carnival, then you'll like this anthology of stories. All the attractions are in it, fun houses, ferris wheels, and fortune tellers... just waiting for you to pick it up and give it a read.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this for review from netgalley.com.
This is a hard book to categorize. It's not really a “zombie” book, but there's elements of it there. It's not really a coming of age book, but there's bits of it there too. Contaminated tells the story of Velvet and her sister Opal, as they struggle to remain together after the Contamination, an event that left their parents sick with a disease. Velvet is sure she'll find here mother and ends up doing so.
The first part of the book is about Velvet's struggles as she tries to keep the 3 of them together. As her mother is contaminated, no one wants them around. Her neighbors kick them out of their house, Opal's school creates rumors to get her out, and Velvet is unable to handle the burden of working a job and taking care of three people. They are forced to leave the town and head towards their old house.
This story of struggle, of doing what matters despite the odds and what's expected, is a great story to write. Velvet is doing her best... and succeeding. I'm not sure that Garner knew this when writing this story, but it's an important tale to write. Of what struggles we go through just to survive.
The second part of the book is where things devolve again. Another outbreak happens and the Contaminated are rounded up. Only people who can speak are spared. With the help of her new friend Dillon, they learn that Velvet's mom can talk by removing the collar. Things end with a glimpse of hope but not much.
There is a lot of good and bad in this book but it's Velvet's strength to keep going... despite how everyone feels about her mother that makes this book so strong and what kept me reading. As always when there's a cliffhanger ending, I can only hope that the next book gets written and this isn't any different.