Archive for April, 2010

Twinkle Twinkle Little Bug

April 30th, 2010

“Firefly Island” is going to be exasperatingly difficult to review, not because I disliked the novel, but because this was a fantasy novel that had so many twists and turns that it is almost impossible to sum it up with a simple “this was good.”

We all know that I love fantasy novels, there is something so fantastic and epic about them that its like having a really cool pop-up book inside of your head. They are about journeys and soul searching, conquering evil and finding ones self, they are about ogres and warriors and the kings that lead them. They are about seeing what nobody else sees… and in this particular case it was about what “Daniel Arenson” saw.

Firefly Island is on the brink of civil war and there is only one girl that can stop it, unfortunately she was sold as a slave to an ogre when she was a small child. Knowing that nothing short of a miracle is going to set her free Aeolia jumps for joy when a mysterious, man dressed in battle gear, (and claiming to be her brothers best friend) comes to take her away. It’s just to bad that her knight in shining armor turns out to be evil incarnate. After discovering that things in the outside world aren’t quite so peachy, Aeolia and her band of very gifted friends take matters into their own hands, wielding swords and magical gifts, determined to topple an evil king and change the future of the 5 races.

“Arenson” wrote fantasy in every aspect of the word. He had pages of flourishing details, new lands that were described right down to the color of the leaves, and clans of people that were engaging and unique. The plot was smooth (even throughout the flashback sequences) and unbelievably complex. (several stories, 1 defining plot) The biggest complaint I have (naturally) was with the character development. The majority of the main characters were described flawlessly (emotional thought, appearance, reaction) but there were a few characters that (to me) seemed more like afterthoughts. There were also a few places (in the action scenes) that seemed to stop a tad abruptly, and to be honest the last couple of paragraphs were just kind of BLAH… but up until that point it was an action filled, fun ride.

There were shape shifting girls, chameleon boys, and angry prince with a wicked scar, the most dangerous arrows ever created, roughly 200 battles (ha), and 1 very pissed off girl with a torch.

If you are a fan of books like “Lord of The Rings” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” you will LOVE this book. For the rest of you… you will probably be entertained but won’t be running in the streets screaming it’s praises.

Figure out who you are… and run with it.

Happy reading my fellow Forestfolk and remember: Hiding in a tunnel only works for terrorist and crazy poets, and I’m pretty sure you are neither.

(4/5)

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Dark Goddess – Chapter One!!

April 29th, 2010

Today I was having a pretty crap day. Nothing was going right, everyone around me was acting as if they swallowed “Oscar the Grouch” and to top it all off…. I spilled my $5 cup of coffee all over my desk.  But then I heard  it, that beautiful little dinging sound my phone makes when I have an email, and to my absolute delight, this is what I found. Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Joy is sometimes spelled E-M-A-I-L.

Disclaimer: If you have not read Devil’s Kiss yet this could potentialy blow it for you so read at your own risk.

 

Click Image to Download Complete 1st Chapter


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Burn Baby Burn

April 28th, 2010

I know that I should be reviewing something else right now, but in the spirit of paranormal obsessiveness I just couldn’t control myself. I have been waiting (literally) for months for “Burned” to be released, and for those of you that follow the “House Of Night” series I’m sure you have my back on the sudden book ADD I developed yesterday morning.

Anyways,

For those of you that have NOT jumped on this action packed/spirit filled/to much drama for your mama vampire band-wagon then I want to be the first to scold you. (Shame Shame!) and to tell you that there is plenty of time to catch up… and I do mean catch up. This series is NOT one you can pick up in the middle and hope to have a clue as to what is going on, the continuing plot is extremely complex and boast a VERY large cast of characters. (the total history is necessary…trust me)

!!!!STOP!!!!

Disclaimer: If you have not read “Tempted” yet do not read any further because there is a VERY BIG spoiler in the paragraphs below…don’t say I didn’t warn you.

After a shocking (I actually screamed out loud) ending to “Tempted” I was a little concerned that “P.C and Kristen Cast” had jumped the shark by killing off their main heroine, but again… this Mother/Daughter duo shocked me with their ability to twist the story to their favor. “Burned” like all of the other HON novels was action packed from cover to cover and in a surprising twist…amazingly current. How you ask? Well, for starters they made a “Glee” reference which, being a lover of the show, I found very amusing (and accurate) also the characters “generic” cell phones from the previous novels suddenly turned up as hip little iPhones in this novel.

The writing was (as always) flawless, as it should be by now, and even though additional character building could have been considered unnecessary, I was please to see that “Cast” expanded upon her already (aggressively) detailed characters. The plot was broken into several different stories, (Zoey/Stark/Heath – Stevie Ray/Rephaim/Red Fledgings – Aphrodite/Darius) each having a significant connection to the main plot, but also generating its own underlying subplot (which will be used in novels to come) There were a few NEW perspectives in the multi-narration (have no fear each person’s point of view was clearly marked) but more importantly… we were again left hanging (not as bad as last time, but enough to assume this is going to be an ongoing theme from now on.)

There were beautiful Indian boys, a lost giggling girl, an electricity wielding red fledging, a dedicated boy with a body full of cuts, 2 bulls, lots of kilts, even more fights, and 1 very broken soul.

Get to the store quickly my paranormal junkies because this one is going to sell out quickly.

Happy reading my fellow Vampires and remember: when in doubt, a Scottish accent counts!

For a complete book description click image

(5/5)

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Bedtime With A Twist~

April 27th, 2010

Hello All!  It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done a Tiny Tot Tuesday, but I saw this while shuffling around my watering hole the other day and thought: “How in the world can I deny small children the pleasure of a parody?” So without further ado…


Goodnight Goon

Click Image For Complete Details

 

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–3—Imitation can indeed be sincere flattery, as Rex proves in his slightly eerie reworking of Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd’s classic bedtime tale. The young bunny has been replaced by a little monster, but he still wears striped pajamas as he lies in his bed and says good night to his surroundings. “In the cold gray tomb/There was a gravestone/And a black lagoon/And a picture of—Martians taking over the moon.” The parody is clever, matching original verse with rhymes that seem unforced and appropriate for the new setting: “Goodnight skull/And goodnight shoe/Goodnight creature/Goodnight goo/And goodnight to the old werewolf hollering ‘Boo.’” Rex’s color drawings create a monster child’s bedroom filled with the same late-evening light of Hurd’s illustrations. The book ends on the same peaceful note as the original. A clever offering just right for graduates of bedtimes with Goodnight Moon.—Kathleen Whalin, York Public Library, ME Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

A clever offering just right for graduates of bedtimes with Goodnight Moon. –School Library Journal

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When Fate Is In Your Hands

April 26th, 2010

Let me start by saying that I very rarely ever wish for a book to be longer; shorter maybe; but never longer. Now, keeping that in mind, this was a novel that barely capped the 90 page mark and could have very easily blown past 500 without even batting an eye.. and that one fact alone made it even more intriguing to me.

Before I get started on the more boring aspects of this review, let me set the scene for you… Think “Babylon A.D.” think “Mad Max” think “Concrete Jungle” got it? Great! Welcome to “The Tea Goddess.”

Remy and Darling don’t know each other (or at least that’s what they thought) but when a very odd turn of events (Remy has a mild panic attack and takes it out on a mailbox, and Darling jumps from a moving boat) thrust them together they realize they have something in common…they used to be married, oh yeah.. and they can see the future. After days of endless questions and dream analysis the duo suddenly realizes that THINGS aren’t always what they seem, and even worse…neither are the PEOPLE they are with. In a race to save a dying world can they save themselves in the process or will their pasts come back to haunt them?

This novel, even though it’s length was lacking, was (I have to admit) wildly entertaining; tackling a point of view that is not often thought of. Action Vs. Reaction. Here’s an example to help you understand what I mean. I’m sure most of you have heard of the “Butterfly Effect’ (no… not the movie, the theory) it is said, that a tiny butterfly can flap its wings and change the course of nature..setting off a tsunami thousand of miles away simply because the smallest amount of air generated from it’s wings changed a ripple in the ocean. Now… think of this on a larger scale (this is how this novel works) What if you could see the future? What if you saw that a drought was going to kill hundreds of villagers in Africa, so you change it… made provisions so it didn’t actually happen. However…now that you have changed the course of nature (Africa is nice and green) you have inadvertently shoved the planet off of it’s axis and 3 months from now there is going to be a earthquake killing thousand in Iceland. Would YOU keep trying to change things or would you leave them alone and live the life you’re dealt?

“Dreyer” did what nobody does…he created his own genre, called it “Ecopunk,” and then wrote a novel with such captivation that I read it in 1 sitting. His ability to describe a torn world and then have his characters see the beauty in it was stunning, however with the good comes the bad. It was a little hard to get emotionally connected to the heroes of the novel (and their battles) due to sloppy character development (I’m about 98% certain this would have been solved if the novel was a tad longer) and there were a few moments (dreams) of repetition I thought were completely unnecessary. (Once was enough.. we get it… Armageddon is coming.)

But at the end of the day…when it comes right down to it… this book was a good one. It was fast, it was well plotted, and most importantly it was entertaining.

My suggestion? If you need a quick read (on a plane or in a train for example) This novel is just what the doctor ordered.

Happy Reading my fellow Tea Goddesses and remember: Everything you do effects someone else… so remember to put down the toilet seat. :-)

For A Complete Book Description Click Image

(4/5)

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Eat Your Heart Out!

April 24th, 2010

Island Life“Monster” novels are unlike anything else you will read. They do not follow classic literary structures, they are not written with the intention of teaching, and they are not in depth studies of the human psyche. What they are… is pure unadulterated entertainment; penned to make your mind run wild with creepy images and scare the panties off of fully grown men.

“Island Life” by “William Meikle” was most definitely a “Monster” novel.

Living on an island is supposed to be peaceful, but when the residence of a small Scottish town start disappearing…or better yet, turning up in multiple pieces, rest and relaxation aren’t exactly at the top of anyone’s list. An archeological dig site suddenly becomes the mouth of hell, fog becomes a blanket of impending doom, and when what residence once thought were nothing but “crazy ramblings from a crotchety old lighthouse keeper” start to make perfect sense…it’s suddenly to late to listen. What happens when one very pissed off, very hungry spawn of Satan decides to wake up? What is it exactly that he’s looking for, and… are those human puppets?

“Meikle” created a fantastic story of monsters vs. humans, but unfortunately during the actual telling of it a few things got in it’s way. 1. The chapters that focused on the folklore aspect of the story were a little long, and misplaced. I understand the necessity of these chapters, because they explain the history of the monster, however the sudden appearance of them broke the plot. Here is what I mean… “Meikle” was spinning his web, setting up characters, showing their fear and starting to expand upon their upcoming challenges when BAM! all of a sudden your are 5000 years in the past listening to a story that had relatively no set up, made no sense (at first) and drug on for so long that I almost forgot what I was reading before I was whisked away to another time. I think this entire issue could have been (easily) resolved by adding a chunk of the history into the prologue and then waiting for slower points in the plot to expand upon them (aka…don’t interrupt a chase scene.) 2. The character development was impressive (even giving a voice to the dog) but at one point there were so many perspectives in narration that they started to get confusing. It’s ok to have multi-narration but it’s important to not crowd the plot.

Now… onto the positive side of the boat. The “intended” plot (when it wasn’t being abruptly interrupted) was fast paced and expertly written. “Meikle’s” visual descriptives left nothing to the imagination painting the reader a very clear (and very horrifying) picture of his creatures as well as the destruction they left in their wake, and like I stated before, his character development was spot on, allowing the reader to not only understand the characters ACTIONS, but to see into their minds and feel their REACTIONS.

All in all… it was a pretty decent tale.

There were blood covered campsites, pointy teeth, slaughtered sheep, tentacles, mysterious blue rocks, men afraid of stairs, and 1 very lost girl on the top of a cliff.

I don’t think this book is for everyone, it is a novel that takes an extreme amount of concentration to keep up, but if you like monsters (and really freaked out people) I think you will find it enjoyable.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: fog + dead people = ??? Duh! we should all know this by now. RUN AWAY!

For a complete book description click image

(3/5)

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Product Review – *Speck* Kindle 2 Cover

April 22nd, 2010

Evening All!  I know that I promised to post a video review for this cover and I assure you that I will, but to cover all of my basis it is important that I actually WRITE a review as well.  So for those of you who want to wait to see my goofy face… you will have your moment… for the rest of you (aka my Amazon subscribers) here is the low down.

Edith from Speck contacted me about a week ago and asked if I would like to review their new DustJacket for the Kindle 2.  My first thought (of course) was “Hell Yeah!! Free loot” but after a few minutes (and a not so quiet moment of self lecturing) I decided I should actually take a look at what I was getting myself into.  I hopped on the their website, did a little research and then waited (not so patiently) for the cover in the mail.

Here is the 1st thing I noticed.

IT IS BIG.

The cover I currently use (created by Amazon) is very thin and very sleek. Speck’s DustJacket is significantly bigger, but bigger does not necessarily mean bad.

The padding on the DustJacket leaves Amazon’s cover in the dust boasting not only thicker padding on the exterior of the cover but a micro fleece interior (to protect your screen from scratches.)

Now, I know what you are thinking…How exactly do I know that the padding is worth a dang? Well for starters I dropped it. (GASP!!!) yes… that’s right, I attached my Kindle, and commenced to purposely dropping it on the floor. End result? I pretty huge sigh of relief when I didn’t hear a crack and more importantly a scratch free Kindle!

Dropping my Kindle on the floor brought up another plus.

SECURE.

Yes, Amazon’s product securely attaches the Kindle to the case, but unfortunately the design (clasp) allows the Kindle to flop around.

Speck’s DustJacket has sort of a Kindle “cradle” that is permanently attached to the rear interior of the case allowing 0 movement, making it feel as though your Kindle is nice and snug.

The design of the cradle also allows easy access to all of your Kindle’s function buttons, as well as it’s charging port and speakers (which is important if you use the Text To Speech function – like me – in the car).

The only flaw I noticed is that the opening for the charge port should have been scooted up just a tad allowing more room for you to plug it in.  It works, but it is snug.

BUILT IN STAND

One feature the DustJacket has that my current cover lacks is a built in stand.  While most of you may think this feature insignificant, for some of you..this may actually be the clencher.  With one quick flip of your wrist your cover instantly turns into a book stand.

Here is just a few benefits to having this feature:

  • 1.  If you read while eating lunch, having your book propped up not only allows you to see the screen easier, but it can actually open up your eating area, and deplete your fear of food splatter on your screen.
  • 2.  If you download cookbooks, propping your Kindle up will open up your workspace and make it easier for you to read your recipe.

Wow!! I sound a little like a pig after those examples, but you get my point.

And last…

PRICE & VARIETY

Speck’s DustJacket is priced at $34.95 and while some of you are gasping right now, I want you to stop and think about this for a second.

  • 1.  The case I currently have (that I would never willingly drop with my Kindle in it) is $39.99
  • 2.  You have 2 colors to choose from not just 1 (even though I love black)
  • 3.  You are getting more bang for your buck! (Case + Stand = happy camper)

Overall, I’m more than pleased, and trust me when I say… I’m keeping this case!  My Kindle was not cheap, and if I can spend an extra $40 bucks and not have to worry about it cracking when my 1 year old throws it across the room I’m game.



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But I Like Breath Mints!!

April 21st, 2010

It’s been a while since I have read a suspense novel. I have read horror, and psychological thrillers like they are going out of style, but a book that is 100% suspense? Not so much.

Note to self: quit ignoring the genre.

“Mahko’s Knife” which was written by John O’Dowd was actually sent to me through his publisher (whom all of you should know by now) Scott Nicholson, and what caught my eye (as I scanned his list of review submissions) was the synopsis.

“Take Jason Bourne, give him Apache blood, threaten his family, and drop him in the Southwestern desert, and you’d have Mahko.”

Well…loving Jason Bourne and all his stellar kick-ass-ness (yes I know that’s not actually a word) I was thrilled to read a book that was claiming to be similarly structured.

The blurb is correct. Mahko is one skilled Apache, but not in that hey-look-at-me-I-can-make-bone-tools way, more the I-was-a-badass-in-special-ops-and-you-have-just-pissed-me-off-you-better-watch-your-back sorta way. When a drug war gets a little to close to home and Mahko’s son Geronimo is snatch by thugs, he makes it his mission to get him back…regardless of who gets in the way, but when his son (who is as equally and as frightfully skilled) decides he’s tired of being held hostage, he springs into action. What do you do when you have an angry drug lord after you? What happens when the hunter becomes the hunted, and what do you do when you’re stuck in the desert thousands of miles from home?

The first couple of chapters had me a little confused, jumping from several different perspectives and several different story lines with no defined plot, but luckily by about 10% in, the chaotic-ness finally settled down and the story emerged. The character development in this novel was stunning, leaving no man behind (even the most minute of characters had development paragraphs so you could understand their motive.) The majority of this novel is a chase (there are a few flashbacks stuck in for dramatic effect) but even with the immense amount of detail, (for example, explaining how the hero was planning each physical step he would take,) the flow never stalled. John O’Dowd delivered an action packed fight to stay alive from cover to cover, and as an added bonus left the reader to their own assumption in the final chapter.(This is usually annoying, but this time it was brilliantly fitting)

if you are an adrenaline junkie and enjoy the thrill of a well thought out chase then this is most definitely worth the cash.

There was an arrogant 2nd in command who had trouble walking, a girl who hated beans, boxing ring mishaps, miscalculated sleep cycles, and one hell of a torture scene that has now left me afraid of thermometers (even if I’m not a guy.)

This one is a good, relatively cheap read… get it, live it, love it…pass it on.

Happy reading my fellow Hunters and remember: you never know when you’re being watched…so be sure to close your blinds.

For a complete book description click image.

(4.5/5)

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Will The iPad Kill Ebooks?

April 19th, 2010

Will The iPad iBooks Kill The Ebook Reader?

by Ebook Doctor on April 1, 2010

 

ipad-ibook

In typical Apple fashion, the iPad has generated a huge amount of interest. Steve Jobs has described the device as “magical”, “extraordinary” and sees the device as redefining the personal computer.

This tablet type device launches on the 3rd of April in the US, and will hit the UK at the end of April. Featuring a glossy 9.7” LED, touch screen, the device which resembles a large Iphone will support email, web browsing, all the main features (except the phone bit) of the Iphone as well as an eBook reader built in.

But is it an eBook reader killer?

Lets first look at what makes eBook readers so popular:

  • The ability to carry a near unlimited amount of books around
  • The sharp E-Ink screen, which reads like a real book (so you don’t get eye fatigue and you can read under any environment)
  • The long battery life (most eBook readers can get over 2 weeks of use)
  • The ability to purchase books from the device (available on the Kindle, Nook, Bebook Neo for example)
  • The ability to load up any pdf, pre purchased eBook, or document into the device for reading later
  • The compact form factor
  • Varying price points (you can pick up an ebook reader for as little as $100, and as much as $500)

Add to these the fact that you can use your eBook reader as a note taking device, you can annotate text, and on some readers actually listen to music or audio books on the go.

kindle-dx

How does the iPad compare?

  • The iPad has a huge memory capacity (starting at 16GB)
  • The iPad features a high resolution glossy colour screen, but this is the same as what you will find on most laptops. Which means you won’t be able to read as comfortably as on an E-Ink device (think about it as reading text from a laptop screen)
  • The iPad has 10 hours of battery life which is great, but simply cannot compare to 2+ weeks of use on standard ebook readers. If you travel a lot this will be a huge issue.
  • The iPad comes with an improved Itunes which will include an ebook store. Although you won’t get as many ebooks as say on Amazon or Borders, you will be able to purchase eBooks on the go.
  • You can import any unlocked (non DRM) epub ebooks into your iPad through Itunes but you can’t read your ibooks from any other device then the iPad.
  • The device will be bigger than most eBook readers, but definitely compact: (height: 9.56-inches, width: 7.47-inches, depth: 0.5-inches, weight: 1.5 pounds (1.6 for the 3G model).)
  • Price wise, the iPad will start at $499, which is much more expensive than most ebook readers out there, but in line witht the pricing of the Kindle DX.

The iPad also innovates by providing interactive magazine content and tailored news content which mixes text and multimedia.

The verdict?

So is the iPad the next eBook reader? We don’t think so yet, but its definitely going to be a key player, and Amazon definitely acknowledges that by releasing a Kindle App for the iPad.

If you are a keen book reader, and you like having your books with you when travelling there is no better device than an E-Ink eBook reader. You won’t get eye fatigue, you will be able to read indoors and outdoors and you will be able to read for weeks without having to recharge the device.

But the iPad will change the landscape of eBook readers.

The start of a revolution?

So the iPad isn’t yet an EBook Reader Killer, but it is an impressive device which will force many eBook reader companies to push more innovative features.

What we will start to see in the next 3 to 12 months is:

  • The introduction of colour E-Ink screens
  • Faster refresh rates on E-ink screens
  • Downloadable & purchasable eBooks available from the eBook reader as standard
  • More magazine content becoming available for eBook readers
  • More news based content becoming available for eBook readers
  • Larger screens (more 8”+ devices to compete with the Ipad)

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Dreaming Out Loud

April 16th, 2010

Shortly after I reviewed her novel “Homefront” “Kristen Tsetsi” asked me to review her collection of short stories. “Sure” I said…”No Problem, but be aware I review compilations 1 story at a time” Well, first of all…damn me and my big fat mouth and second…yeah, there is no way in hell I can do that with this book. (sorry Kristen)

“Carol’s Aquarium” is not your everyday collection of shorts; they are not a couple of pages long, they are (more often than not) a couple of paragraphs long, and where a “conventional” short has plot line basics (beginning, middle, end) you are lucky if you get any of these in “Tsetsi’s” work.

This is not to say that they aren’t worth your time. Let me explain…what “Tsetsi” wrote were “dream shorts” – imaginative snippets that are structured and written to fuel free thinking minds. Still don’t get it? Ok…bare with me. If you have every attended a creative writing class, whether it be in college or otherwise, your professor/teacher will at one point or another hand you a concept piece and ask you to expand upon it. That is exactly what “Tsetsi’s” stories are… thoughts. They will generally start somewhere in the middle, more often than not they will be an insignificant part of a larger story, and they will abruptly stop.

This is where you the reader come in. YOU are supposed to figure out the rest, (what happens to the neurotic girlfriend or postpartum inflicted mother?) YOU are supposed to take the set up that was provided for you and let your creative juices run wild, (why did she bail on her wedding?) YOU are supposed to write the beginning, the middle, and the end. (What happens when he finally leaves his wife?)

Let me give you a few disclaimers though, (if you do in fact decide this is something you would like to read.) 1. Do not read this book in one sitting. Yes, it is only 90 pages and yes, it can easily be done (because I did it) but to truly “get” what the experience is about read only 1 short a day, stew on it and then move onto the next one the following day. 2. Read them more than once. Like I said before they are very short so doing this isn’t going to steal away more than a few minutes of your time. And lastly, do not over analyze, there are not subliminal messages in the book, you are not missing the ending…I assure you it is not there.

Overall the writing was good. Yes, it was a little flowery in places (especially when it came to talking about buttercups) but with beautiful prose, comes beautiful dreams.

If you think you can handle not having the story laid out for you… snatch it up, (it’s worth the 2 bucks) but if you aren’t willing to compromise your need for typical literary structure, this is NOT a book for you. Consider YOUR character closely before making the decision, because I don’t want to have to say “I told you so.”

Happy reading my fellow Artists and remember: beauty surrounds you daily… you just have to know where to find it.

For a complete book description click image

(3.5/5)

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