All posts by skyebjenner

Fixer by Courtney Alameda

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

Kisses and CursesTitle: Fixer
Author: Courtney Alameda
Series: Shutter #0.6
In: Kisses and Curses (Lauren Burniae)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: I stop, wondering when Micheline became my girl.

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Synopsis

Ryder has recently rescued the girl he loves from a horrific monster – but that doesn’t mean that the battle is won. Both Micheline and Ryder are left with scars that they are trying to overcome.

Thoughts

This book has made me incredibly curious about the larger Shutter world in general. The idea of one of the descendants of Van Helsing is fun, although I’m still a little bit hazy as to what the team is hunting in the first place. It feels like a dark, demonic hybrid of a vampire, but I’m going to buy the novel to actually find out.

I found this a really interesting story – it flicked between the present day (and the aftermath of THAT NIGHT) to well, That Night. It’s a great way to see the harm that is inflicted upon Ryder in his attempt to save Micheline. The team’s risk and the ways in which this all interrelates is really fun and interesting. And something that I can’t wait to read more about.

The other thing that I really enjoyed about this story was how the name connected to the last scene. It seemed very random and non-descriptive when I first started reading this, but once the story actually unfolded, I finally understood it. And loved it. Which is why I immediately jumped online to actually buy my copy of Shutter.

 <- Trigger Review Shutter Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Trigger by Courtney Alameda

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

TriggerTitle: Trigger
Author: Courtney Alameda
Series: Shutter #0.5
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Tor Books
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: The Bay Bridge stretched from San Francisco to Oakland, covering about eight miles of open water.

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Synopsis

Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat – a girl who sees the auras of the undead in a prismatic spectrum. Now she’s facing one of her most challenging ghost hunts ever. Lock, stock, and lens, she’s in for one hell of a ride.

Thoughts

This is a really interesting novella. I read the short story Fixer before I read this, and the tragedy in Michelline’s future hasn’t quite yet occurred. So it’s nice to see how she is stuck between two worlds – that of her father and mother and two legacies. Yet, Michelline’s gumption somehow saves the day. Albeit in a very destructive manner.

I’m really enjoying the single word names for Alameda’s Shutter series. Somehow they manage to explain exactly the topic and trend of the story. I love how one simple word might seem a little bizarre as a title at the beginning of the tale, but by the end I have this beautiful light bulb moment where everything makes sense and it seems so glaringly obvious.

Now I just have to wait for Shutter to appear in the mail…

 <- Shutter Review Fixer Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Man Who Couldn’t Be Bothered to Die by Norman Prentiss

Book Review, , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: The Man Who Couldn’t Be Bothered to Die
Author: Norman Prentiss
In: Blood Lite III (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Easy reading
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: He’d clicked “Remind Me Later” each day since.

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Synopsis

Sometimes it’s necessary to have an intervention. Especially when your loved one just refuses to actually die.

Thoughts

I’ve never been part of an intervention. And I feel like that’s a good thing. Especially when you’re reading a short story that is effectively about the intervention of a loved one. Who is also a zombie. It was funny. But also seriously creepy.

What I loved about this short story is that it starts with an intervention to encourage the character to die. Then it goes back two weeks and helps to explain why his loving sister is telling him to just go towards the light. All of the angst and emotion of a normal intervention, with just that extra little dash thrown in…

 <- For Sale Review The Last Demon Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Secret Heart by Ann Aguirre

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Kisses and Curses

Title: Secret Heart
Author: Ann Aguirre
Series: Razorland #1.1
In: Kisses and Curses (Lauren Burniae)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Dystopia, Easy reading
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: “We have to lose them before heading back to enclave.”

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Synopsis

A retelling of one of the scenes in Ann Aguirre’s Razorland series, told from a different perspective to give the reader a different insight into the tale.

Thoughts

There seem to be a number of deleted scenes from series throughout Kisses and Curses. This is another such tale. But it is certainly a great way to get me hooked into a series without my awareness – after all, I loved this point of view from the Razorland series, so it will be interesting to read the main stories from another POV.

I really liked the mole man setting of this story. In the introduction, Aguirre explains the setting and the dystopian setting of this tale. Something that works really well, and as someone who has lately been enjoying dystopian novels, it seems like a completely unique and fun idea.

<- Enclave ReviewEndurance Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Gentle Giant

Blog, ,

I have 2 dogs. One of which is a 40kg American Staffy, looks a little like a pitbull or fighting dog. Last night I took giant dog to my friends to meet her dogs.

When we take onyx for a walk, people tend to give us a pretty wide berth. And most dogs are a little hesitant about playing with the lumbering gool. But the reason I took him first instead of my 12kg beagle? He’s a gloriously sweet bonehead.

He spent a good half hour playing with the plug x while it had the zoomies. And the rest of the night trying to make friends with the kelpie. Even when she tried to bite him a few times, he continued to try for kisses. Creepy and inappropriate, yes. But still sweet.

Even the two young kids running around going crazy. And at one point jumping on him and trying to scare him were met with love. As the 4 year old spilt her food everywhere, he sat patiently waiting to be given something.

Even as I write this, he is leanjng on my lap in bed for his morning cuddles. Just goes to show that because something or someone looks scary, doesn’t mean they are…

Making the Cut by Mike Resnick & Lezli Robyn

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: Making the Cut
Author: Mike Resnick & Lezli Robyn
In: Blood Lite III: Aftertaste (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: I promise not to immerse any of you in water.

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Synopsis

A new job as a manicurist with some interesting clients…

Thoughts

I read a lot of fantasy and supernatural stories. There is always something enjoyable about seeing the reflection of the known in the unknown. But, one thing I’ve never really thought of is how these supernatural ghouls and creatures manage to keep themselves looking good on their nightly prowls.

The setting and the idea of a hair salon for the supernatural ghouls was entertaining enough. But, starting a new job as a manicurist at such a place…? FAR more entertaining. And the power of such a unique kind of woman? Just fun.

Yet, that isn’t the only fun thing about this short story… there is also the zombie that really wants to feel pain. And is being stabbed by old women. Who happen to be his fans… did I mention that this story was fun and entertaining? If not a little off kilter?

 <- Typecast Review Acknowledgements Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Magic Flutes by Eva Ibbotson

Book Review, , ,

Overview

Magic FlutesTitle: Magic Flutes
Author: Eva Ibbotson
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, History, Romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Picador
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: Charles was heir to a baronetcy and a famous estate in Wiltshire; she accepted him and had to endure the four years’ martyrdom that followed his injury in Flanders.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

SPRING 1922

Tessa is a beautiful, tiny, dark-eyed princess who’s given up her duties to follow her heart, working backstage at the Viennese opera. No one there knows who she really is or that a fairy-tale castle is missing its princess – and Tessa is determined to keep it that way.

But secret lives can be complicated. When a wealthy handsome Englishman discovers this bewitching urchin backstage, Tessa’s two worlds collide – and in escaping her inheritance, she finds her destiny…

Thoughts

An Austrian princess, a millionaire and an opera, what better setting and couple for a romance? The fact that it is based in Venice in 1922 and features some of the most enchanting imagery I’ve read in a while? It’s just beautiful. This is such a heart-warmingly sweet story that I finished it inside a day. Actually, I refused to do any of the work that I have piling up simply because I wanted to bury myself in the beauty and the romance of this tale.

I like Tessa – she is constantly described as waif-like. And, initially, she is seen as being weak and quiet. A silent almost pushover like woman. Yet, as the story develops, her quiet demeanour reveals a backbone of steel. Even in love and lost to the world that she knows and loves, she is able to hold her head high. At least in public, the heartache of unrequited love and finding one’s soul mate is so beautifully tragic. And sweet. And kind. And just, in general, heart breakingly gooshy.

Actually, I struggle to find the words for this novel. It is filled with a great (if not predictable) love story. The stunningly described backdrop, the slow realisation that the two are in love and the constant challenges thrown in their way take you on an amazing journey. The fact that there is a historical setting and an understanding of the cultural and social outlay at the time. It just makes the story all the better, and far more enthralling to read.

 <- A Company of Swans Review The Morning Gift Review ->
Image source: Amazon

The Last Demon by Don D’Amassa

Book Review, , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: The Last Demon
Author: Don D’Amassa
In: Blood Lite III: Aftertaste (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Demons, Easy reading
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: The years passed as a steady stream of minor torments and when the time finally approached that they would be able to return to hell, Ogerak felt that he had survived the worst that the human world could possibly throw at him.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

On his 666th birthday, the youngest demon escapes into our world. And finds his own world of pain and torment.

Thoughts

At the beginning of this story, the youngest demon escapes hell. And that was pretty much were my expectations were halted. Nothing went as I thought it would, and it was all such a bizarre adventure that I was left with a very perplexed feeling. Not that that is a bad thing, this story certainly made me think… but it was just a little weird.

One of the aspects of this story that I loved was the idea of a demon’s perspective on our world. The confusion surrounding money, food and jobs was kind of fun. And, I really, really loved the punchline at the very end of the story. It’s the kind of thing that a good short story should end with – surprising, off-kilter and memorable.

 <- The Man Who Could Not Be Bothered to Die Review A Misadventure to Call Your Own Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Hard Cheese by Ulf Durling

Book Review, ,

Overview

Hard CheeseTitle: Hard Cheese
Author: Ulf Durling
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Crime
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Locked Room International
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: The murderer must have had some kind of relationship to Nilsson.

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Synopsis

Gunnary Bergman, a detective sergeant in a small Swedish town, is called in to investigate the death of a resident of a shady boarding house. He makes the mistake of telling his father, Carl, all the details of the case, including the fact that the victim’s room was locked from the inside. Carl, a locked room enthusiast, is a member of a small club which meets regularly to discuss locked room classics. He and his fellow members gleefully seize on the case and apply chains of Ellery Queen style logic to devise a solution which Gunnar finds so hilarious he reads out extracts to his wife in bed. Meanwhile, he himself interprets the same set of clues to arrive at a totally different solution, through shoddy police work which follows the path of least resistance. It is left to a cheese-loving local doctor to interpret the clues in yet another way to solve the case and confront the murderer.

Thoughts

This was my first Nordic Noir. And one of the first books that I’ve read that has been translated from English. And it was fun. Maybe not something that I would reread. Or at least, not until I’ve forgotten what it was like… but fun nevertheless.

For something that was translated to English, this story is beautifully lyrical. For the first two chapters, I didn’t actually pay attention to the storyline, just the way that the words flowed, and the great character voice that was telling the story. There was just something about it that I completely adored… Of course, reading a story with a bad storyline is a guarantee that I will put it down quickly, so once I got over my joy of the language, I also discovered a storyline that was quite interesting and unique.

I have heard of locked room challenges, but I’ve never really heard of locked room crime. This introduction to the subgenre was certainly interesting (as was the introduction to Nordic Noir) and I have mixed feelings about it. It was interesting enough that I would maybe look into another such storyline. But, it wasn’t quite captivating enough that I started looking up similar storylines…. Maybe in a few months time I’ll start to dig up more Nordic Noir / Locked Room stories…

 <- More crime reviews More crime reviews ->
Image source: Goodreads

On a Whim

Challenges

Duration: 1st May – 31st May 2018
Number of books: 3
Hosted by: Bookworm Bitches

1. Read a fantasy book – Cavern of the Fear by Emily Rodda
2. Read a book you picked out on a whim (whim = a sudden desire or change of mind, especially one that is unusual or unexplained) – Kisses and Curses edited by Lauren Burniac
3. Read a silly or funny book – Adventures of a Young Naturalist: The Zoo Quest Expeditions by David Attenborough