Tag Archives: Easy Reading

The Four Horsemen Reunion Tour: An Apocumentary by Lucien Soulban

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: The Four Horsemen Reunion Tour: An Apocumentary
Author: Lucien Soulban
In: Blood Lite III: Aftertaste (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fantasy, Horror
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Interviewer: Did you ever consider changing your names?

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Synopsis

The setting of an apocumentary run by the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Thoughts

I like the way that this tale is set – as though it’s a documentary of a reunion tour for a band. Except that this band is the four men of the apocalypse. And the tour is taking place in a hotel where everyone is dead.

This really reminds me of the few documentaries I’ve seen (or even some mocumentaries) about bands and their tours. Especially some of the banter and downright absurd comments that each of the horsemen make… maybe the apocalypse just isn’t that close after all.

 <- Two for Transylvania Review Blood Lite Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Road to Balinor by Mary Stanton

Book Review, , ,
Overview
The Road to Balinor

Title: The Road to Balinor
Author: Mary Stanton
Series: Unicorns of Balinor #1
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Year: 1988
5th sentence, 74th page: “I should…”

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Synopsis

CROSS OVER INTO BALINOR

In the crevices of a glacier mountain ridge there is a secret place – a place that connects our world to the world of Balinor. It is a peaceful, magical world watched over by a herd of beautiful unicorns. But darkness has fallen over Balinor.

The royal princess and her majestic unicorn, Sunchaser, are sent from Balinor to our world to find safety. But they can’t stay for long. Danger has followed them.

Princess Arianna and her unicorn are the only ones who can truly save the kingdom.

It is time for the princess to find her way back to Balinor.

Thoughts

I remember reading this when I was younger. I remember loving it. And, although as an adult I’m not quite as in love with this story, it’s still good. I can see why younger me enjoyed this so much. Older me is a little bit eh about the writing style and language. But, it all still works.

I read this story in an hour. It is the typical young girl story of a girl suprememly attached to a horse… or at least, typical for the 90’s when I was reading this for the first time. The girl is a secret princess and she is going to save the world with her unicorn companion. It doesn’t take a genius to work out how this series will end.

BUT it is something that I would quite happily hand to my young daughters (if I ever have any) and watch them enjoy. It’s not overly “girly”, and it shows that girls have their own strength and independence. It also shows the importance of our relationship to animals and the horrors of being a spoilt brat (the Carmichael kid is a perfect illustration of this). All in all, this is a sweet little story for a mindless half hour read. I’ll probably pick up the next one in the series next time I don’t feel 100%, but still want to read something.

<- More Mary StantonSunchaser’s Quest ->

Image source: Goodreads

For Sale by David Sakmyster

Book Review, , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: For Sale
Author: David Sakmyster
In: Blood Lite III: Aftertaste (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Easy reading
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Carefully reflect on all the intangibles.

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Synopsis

A cleverly worded ad for the sale of a haunted house… would you buy it?

Thoughts

I always think that the adverts for houses are entertaining. The wording is always so majestic, the terms often obscure. And guessing what’s secretly wrong with the place can be kind of fun. Well, with this ad… I really didn’t have to go far to guess. But my god was it an entertaining read.

I love how this ad completely takes the mickey out of real estate agents and haunted houses. Everything that is stereotypical and expected appears here and the determined positive spin on the property had me laughing throughout. It’s kind of a pity that this sort of humour isn’t more prevalent within more for sale ads…

 <- The Steeple People Review The Man Who Couldn’t Be Bothered to Die Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Distressed Travelers by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

Book Review, , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: Distressed Travelers
Author: Nina Kiriki Hoffman
In: Blood Lite III: Aftertaste (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Horror
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: All this extra security was a pain in the butt.

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Synopsis

Somebody’s feeding on the frustrations of those at a airport with delayed flights. But the real question is, who wants to feed on him?

Thoughts

This short story made me feel sick. To be fair, it could have been me getting car sick. Because I was reading this in the car. On windy roads. Late at night. But, I’m pretty sure that I felt sick because this story kind of freaked me out.

It started off innocently enough. Weird alien feeding off of people’s emotions. The veritable smorgasbord of an airport. The added deliciousness of cancelled flights and the stress that this brings. But, then things take a far more incidious turn… he finds someone with no emotions.

You can  kind of see where this goes… packed airport, guy with no emotions, seedy motel… yeah, there’s a reason that I felt a little crook after reading this short story in the dark, on a windy road, in the middle of nowhere…

 <- Short Term Review Bayou Brawl Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Mort by Terry Pratchett

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Mort

Title: Mort
Author: Terry Pratchett
Series: Discworld #4, Death #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Corgi
Year: 1987
5th sentence, 74th page: And so Mort came at last to the river Ankh, greatest of rivers.

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Synopsis

Death comes to us all. When he came to Mort, he offered him a job.

Henceforth, Death is no longer going to be the end, merely the means to an end. It’s an offer Mort can’t refuse. As Death’s apprentice he’ll have free board, use of the company horse – and being dead isn’t compulsory. It’s a dream job – until he discovers that it can be a killer on his love life…

Thoughts

Death is always considered such a horrifying and exacting end. But, in the case of Mort, it’s really just a beginning… and an apprenticeship. With Pratchett’s unique and entertaining take on it.

Alright, that introduction to this review feels very confusing and convoluted. But, honestly, that’s generally how I feel before, during and after reading one of the Discworld novels. They’re weird, they’re confusing, and they have a completely unique take on the world. Even when I feel like there may be a far better, more amazing message than what I’ve absorbed, I feel like I’ve learnt something interesting and fantastic after I turn the last page. The fact that this story is about the personification of Death, something that I have been struggling to deal with a little lately, just makes it all the more fun and poignant.

I loved the princess in distress with her noble rescuer theme throughout this. Yet, it was the fact that the ending wasn’t quite one that I expected that was really enjoyable. After all, the typical story would be tall, suave rescuer saves princess, they live happily ever after. Nothing goes like this throughout, and although Mort makes blunder after blunder in his apprenticeship, there is a really nice happily ever after (of a sorts) at the conclusion.

<- Equal RitesSourcery ->

Image source: Penguin Books Australia

Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Equal Rites

Title: Equal Rites
Author: Terry Pratchett
Series: Discworld #3, Witches #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Corgi
Year: 1987
5th sentence, 74th page: Across the forest animals broke and scattered as the shadow passed overhead, crying and cursing.

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Synopsis

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.

The last thing the wizard Drum Billet did, before Death laid a bony hand on his shoulder, was to pass on his staff of power to the eighth son of an eighth son. Unfortunately for his colleagues in the chauvinistic (not to say misogynistic) world of magic, he failed to check that the bab in question was a son. Everybody knows that there’s no such thing as a female wizard. But now it’s gone and happened, there’s nothing much anyone can do about it. Let the batttle of the sexes begin…

Thoughts

There is an incredibly poignant and obvious message in this novel – that we are all equal and entitled to equal rights. That’s not to say that this tale isn’t filled with Pratchett’s (I hesitate to say) typical sense of humour. There is the satirical humour scattered throughout that draws you into his world, whether you want it to or not. Luckily, for me, I was ready and happy to be swept along in his chaotic, entertaining realm.

Esk is a typical little girl with six big brothers. She’s tough, independent and keen to prove herself against the big, wide world. The fact that she is partnered with a supremely magical and powerful wizard’s staff just helps to complicate things. That, and her mentor is a slightly uneducated witch. And there is no such thing as wizards in this world… when is anything ever simple in Discworld?

As I’ve mentioned before, I completely loved the fact that this book highlights women’s rights and equality. It is something that I strongly believe in, and although sometimes it is a topic touched upon, it isn’t something that people tend to really delve into when writing or reading. We talk about equality, but I haven’t actually read such a well written novel that highlights the importance of this. The fact that this story was written in the 80’s and is still discussing issues that we are facing today just heightens my respect for Terry Pratchett.

<- The Light FantasticMort ->

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Dating After the Apocalypse by Stephen Dorato

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: Dating After the Apocalypse
Author: Stephen Dorato
In: Blood Lite III: Aftertaste (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Julie seemed to be a regular, ordinary girl – a bit reserved, but who wasn’t these days?

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Synopsis

How does one date after the zombie apocalypse destroys the world?

Thoughts

I haven’t been single in a very long time. And I haven’t had the misfortune of too many horrible dates. Which makes it extra enjoyable (and kind of foreign) to read about dating. And horrible first dates. And one night stands… putting what I assume is a zombie apocalypse and the end of the world as we know it into the mix just made it all the more fascinating and enjoyable.

The way that this story, like all good short stories, turns itself on its head at the conclusion was highly entertaining. The idea that there are more terrors in settling down than people already experience kind of made a comment on how hard it can be to actually settle down. Both symbolically and physically, this is a good example of the difficulties of dating, getting married and living your happily ever after…

 <- The Great Zombie Invasion of 1979 Review Typecast Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

A Day in the Life by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Book Review, , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: A Day in the Life
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
In: Blood Lite III: Aftertaste (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Horror
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Stressed.

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Synopsis

Is Elliot about to become the editor for a dead woman? Or is something more sinister happening in the office?

Thoughts

The harsh critiques of editors and readers is something that I think we all fear. So what happens when there is a horror of a writer and the editor is forced to constantly deal with her ghost?

This story started out kind of nice. It had a ghost and one of the first lines is ding dong the bitch is dead. So it feels like it might be a bit of a comedic take on the idea of the editor-writer relationship. Until things take a much more sinister turn. And more ghosts start appearing. And you realise that Elliot, the editor, may not have been as kind as you first thought… karma can be a bitch too.

 <- Still Life Review Old MacDonald Had an Animal Farm Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

BRIANS!!! by D.L. Snell

Book Review, , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: BRIANS!!!
Author: D.L. Snell
In: Blood Lite III: Aftertaste (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Easy reading
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: “Well, your mom sucks.”

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Synopsis

A zombie book signing and release just couldn’t go anymore wrong!

Thoughts

When I read the name of this short story I thought that there was a typo. After all, it is in a collection of short stories that are surrounded by horror and the paranormal… brains would make sense. Zombies after all. But within the first page, it finally makes sense… this is about a book that has a typo in it. It should be BRAINS! The author is an idiot.

This story touches really badly on mumma’s boys. And the irritating things that overbearing mothers do. Reading about it was painful. Reading about the end of this relationship was just… well… weird. I still don’t know how I feel about this short story. I think it’s just something that you have to read to experience it…

 <- Smoke and Mirrorballs Review Still Life Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

A Misadventure to Call Your Own by Adrien Ludens

Book Review, ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: A Misadventure to Call Your Own
Author: Adrien Ludens
In: Blood Lite III: Aftertaste (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this),
My Bookshelves: Easy reading
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: You pop the trunk, hoist the body over your shoulder and hustle up the stairs.

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Synopsis

This short story is like a choose your own adventure. But the decisions have already been made, and they are all the worst ones possible.

Thoughts

I love choose your own adventure stories. The fact that I thought I had found one in Blood Lite III was a bit of a surprise. But, as with every other story in this collection, it was nothing like what I expected. For starters, all of the decisions had been already made.

You know those stories that you feel like the character is constantly making the wrong choice? And it’s almost painful to watch? Well, this is like that… but it’s worse because the other (smarter) choices are actually laid out for you as you go through. Every single time you are forced into a scenario with a horrible decision and my goodness it is kind of painful to read. But incredibly fun.

 <- The Last Demon Review Smoke and Mirrorballs Review ->
Image source: Goodreads