Archive for the ‘Book Rants!’ Category

Coffee = Crack

October 20th, 2011

“In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city’s most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.’s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidentally poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she’s to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight–at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.”

 

Ok…if I’m being honest, the first thing that drew me to this novel was it’s “Dystopian-esq” synopsis.

“In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty.”

Interesting right? I thought so too. BUT…don’t let the synopsis fool you. Even though I found the book entertaining, it is less of a dystopian and more of a prohibition type read. Why? Well for starters there’s a heavy mob footing in this book, (starting with Anya’s father…a dead crime boss.) if that wasn’t enough, there are dirty politicians, bribes, hits (as in.. “Hey Vinny, I need you to make Carl swim with the fishes”) and enough illegal activity to make Tony Montoya proud.

So what does this mean for the book itself? Let’s start with the writing.

As a whole, the writing was good, but if you break it down and really pay attention, there are little nuances throughout the book that are going to drive you crazy. First there is the flagrant use of the word “Daddy.” Since Anya is now solely responsible for keeping her family together (her grandma is bed ridden and her older brother’s development is slightly stunted due to a wreck) she relies a lot on left over wisdom from her father. This would actually be ok, (endearing in fact) if every other sentences wasn’t a rehashing of “My Daddy said…” After 4 or so chapters you will find yourself wishing “daddy” were still alive so he could just speak for himself. My second issue is the lack of plot focus. This doesn’t necessarily effect the entire book, but there are several occasions where the forward movement of the book almost stops completely, (yeah, that’s NOT a good thing.) AND…most of these little pauses come with a note from the “narrator” telling you things like “I’m not boy crazy, keep reading.” Luckily for Zevin, she had enough action (and angst) in her story to bring it back around, but there were definitely a few chapters that could have been edited out.

As for the characters themselves…I LOVED Win. He was honest, persistent, funny and (by the end of the book) tough. How so? Well, out of all of the characters Win had the most difficult task. (This is going to sound weird considering the book was about Anya) He was forced to make hard decisions that would effect not only the his life, but his family’s, he was forced to grow in unforeseen ways, and in the end was broken. All of these things made up one hell of an interesting person. Anya on the other hand was a tad grating. I’m not saying I didn’t like her (or appreciate her familial sacrifices) I just think the author could have spent a little more time developing HER instead of developing her “perceptions” (Does that make sense?)

Overall…I thought the book was interesting. It definitely had it’s up and down moments, and I did (despite my effort) find I was drawn to the characters by the end of the book. So do I think it is worth your time? Sure..why not, but my advice would be to wait until you have a lull in your “to be read list” before you pounce on it.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Not everyone can be bought…some people have morals.  Not me of course…but some people.

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(3/5)

 

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Roid Rage

October 19th, 2011

Do you ever have those days where you want to do absolutely nothing; sit in bed and gorge out on bon-bons while the rest of the world does amazingly productive things? (Please nod your head because I don’t want to feel like  the only loser on the planet) Today was one of those days for me. Long story short, yesterday (the day I have formally dubbed “The Nursing Home Debacle of 2011″) sucked.  I spent hours (HOURS!) stuck in a Dr’s office surrounded by people who (despite my killer glare and several inconspicuous coughing fits) did NOT get the hint that all I wanted to do was pretend I was on a cruise to Tahiti and read my book. As a result…I woke up in a crabby mood with the motivation of a pot smoking snail, (<– that’s slang for “none”) Since my motivation was pretty much as low as it can get, I came to the realization that zombie thrillers, psychological who-ta-do’s and anything of the fantasy variety probably wasn’t a good idea, (they require brain function…no pun intended.) So instead I opted for this, “Blind Sided” by Cheryl Leigh. A no thought required, could pop up on ABC Family at any moment romance novel.  (Fist pump for romance!)

“Jenna Rainey can turn the reality of the bitter northeastern winter wind into a daydream of her childhood summers in Texas just by sinking to the bottom of the pool. It’s only a brief respite from the climate that she detests, but it’s the only one she’ll get after relocating from her southern home to Baltimore to live with her cousins, Rowdy and Laura. A tragic drunk driving accident has robbed Jenna of her mother and damaged her eyes, transforming a successful college graduate into a lonely, disabled dependant. “

“After finding employment as a spin instructor and volunteer at the local school for blind children, she begins to gain confidence and independence in her new surroundings. When Jenna meets Rick Bentley, a swimming coach and accomplished athlete, her feelings of uncertainty and vulnerability mask her kindness leaving him rightly offended and their first two encounters threaten to be their last. It will take forgiveness, loving families, and a debilitating migraine to take their two broken hearts and make them into one great everlasting love.”

So first…lets start with what this book IS NOT. It is NOT a YA novel.  It is NOT a Harlequin (the sweaty sailor saved me from a man-eating octopus) novel.  It is NOT erotica. It is NOT depressing (though it does have a few tear worthy moments) and it is NOT for everyone.

What this book is, is a nicely written CLEAN romance with a few (and I do mean FEW) religious undertones and a pleasant plot.

The characters are believable, and flawed (which makes them wonderfully realistic.) Especially Rick, who (like most of us) jumps to conclusions, has demons in his past and has a hard time swallowing his pride.  These traits mixed with Jenna’s southern charm make for a delightfully charismatic couple.

As for the plot, it’s nice. Yes, it can be a bit hokey at times (think Valerie Bertinelli ala the Hallmark Channel) but the simpleness of it is what makes the book work. (Sometimes less really is more.)

Overall, I thought it was a cute book, with a few great moments of depth, and glimpses of unexpected sparkle.  It may not be for everyone, but it will definitely call to those of you that are into romance for more than heavy petting and 1 night stands.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: it’s not stalking if they don’t catch you. Right?

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(3.5/5)

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A Lesson in Coping

October 13th, 2011

I am a huge fan of literature that makes you step outside of your comfort zone and think about the complexities of reality, so when I first heard about “The Beginning of After” I got excited. Having loved books like “If I Stay” by Gayle Foreman and “The Truth About Forever” by Sarah Dessen (both of which were referenced on the binding of this book)I was certain that this would be no different.

I was right.

The story (in short) is about 2 teens struggling to cope with loss. Laurel, a sole survivor of her immediate family it forced to live her life “seemingly” alone. Though her grandmother is near, she finds it difficult to (internally) move past the hand fate has dealt her. David is also a survivor, but..unfortunately for him, he is the surviving son of the man who caused the deaths of Laurel’s entire family. This book follows their journey through the stages of grief, as well as their own self-discovery and the realization of what happens when you finally let people see you are stronger than you appear.

Jennifer Castle’s writing in this novel (her debut by the way) was quite impressive. There were several scenes that relied solely on her ability to form an image in the readers mind (panic attacks, depression…etc) and she accomplished these feats without missing a beat. The characters were wonderfully crafted, sucking the reader in from the very first page, and the push and pull between the to leads was masterfully penned.

I did find myself irritated by David’s actions on several occasions, but by the end of the book those same actions spoke to his “reactions” and made for a deeper emotional connection between the person reading and the material that was being read.

Overall…and stunning debut and beautiful read, one I wholeheartedly recommend and will pass along to my friends.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Some people need help when healing, others just need space.

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(4/5)

Here is the actual synopsis….in case you were curious.

“Anyone who’s had something truly crappy happen to them will tell you: It’s all about Before and After. What I’m talking about here is the ka-pow, shake-you-to-your-core-and-turn-your-bones-to-plastic kind of crappy.”

“Sixteen-year-old Laurel’s world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel’s life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss–a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.”

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Paris: The Remix

October 7th, 2011

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Misty.  She lived in a normal house, with normal parents and a brother who (for dramatic purposes) was also normal.  Misty on the other hand was NOT normal.  See, Misty looked like a girl, was forced to dress like a girl, and from time to time was even forced to do girly things (to appease her mother.) But this was not the REAL Misty.  See…Misty was obscure.  She like to do boy things, read boy books, stay up until 3 am watching contraband horror flicks on her parents ridiculously tiny TV. Then, one day Misty was introduced to her savior.  A man that made her feel normal, socially excepted and ironically…alive.  That man’s name was George Romero. The zombie King. Misty instantly fell in love and then…. Oh, forget it… you know where this is going. I love zombies and this is a zombie book…yada yada.

“The City of Lights is crawling with the undead who care nothing for love or wine and are hell-bent on getting the one thing they want – your brains. The living have only one hope – Bethany Nitshimi who carries with her an encrypted file containing the key to the cure. Unfortunately Bethany is battling the undead, the apocalypse, and a group who will stop at nothing to keep her from curing the plague.”

NOTE:  My Zombie My picks up where I Zombie I left off and heads into Paris. Bethany’s gang of heroes has picked up a few more strays and mankind is getting dangerously close to the end. As Bethany battles the zombie horde she must crack the file, get the cure, and save the human race, before we are just meat for the beasts.

Well, we all know that I could talk about zombies for days. So instead of boring all of you (<–do you see that…I didn’t say y’all) into your own personal zombie like stooper, how about I just tell you the ups and the downs of “My Zombie My.”

Bad first.

There were no definitive chapters in this book. (Say what??) That’s right…this heeping helping of zombie loving goodness was just that. 1 big fat heaping helping.  There were no pauses for the potty. No intermissions for emergency gummy bear breaks and…in case you are a person whose diet consist of 85% coffee (*cough*) there was no damn time for that either.  For me (if I’m honest) this wasn’t really that big of an issue, but I am also not your average reader, (as in causal) I don’t read a chapter or 2 before turning out the lights and hitting the hay.  I sit, and read. The whole book. For everyone else though…Wallen might have considered using some of Bethany’s blog entries as stopping/starting points.

Also, unlike in the first novel (I Zombie I) Bethany’s internal dialogue got a little flouncy (hmm…not so sure that’s a word.) For instance: In the first novel, Jacob keeps a journal of what is happening (both to himself and the world around him.) While his entries were just as lengthy as Bethany’s blog entries, her’s seemed to take on a more self-deprecating tone. Now…this would have been 100% a-0-k with me IF Wallen (ok, that just sounds weird…I’m gonna call him Jack) had kept the internal diatribe to just that…her blog entries, instead…a few short paragraphs AFTER the blog entry her minor moments of instability (though completely understandable) would start up again, and cause Jack to repeat himself, (Hello deja’ vu.)

So, what about the good?

Well let me first re-assure you that despite my harsh ramblings in the two previous paragraphs, this book is an absolute winner for anyone whole loves a good cult/zombie/I-am-woman-hear-me-roar book.  There is enough comedic relief to keep you from taking the book TOO seriously, but at the same time…there is just as much emotional torture to keep you invested in the characters and their fate, (and boy…were there a lot of characters.)

The most impressive part for me however was not Jack stellar job at describing zombies that eat their own brains, or the way he can twist a story so much you aren’t even sure you can trust yourself, or even how he has the genius to create an “outside” perspective through radio show called (straight-forward enough) “Zombie Radio.” Nope…Jack’s most impressive feat in this entire book was his ability to keep the technology talk from sounding like a “Hacking For Dummies” learners manual.  With Bethany’s main duty being “hacking” this whole angle could have very easily come back to bite Jack in the ass. Instead, he chose to give just enough info to sound convincing (and knowledgable) without making me drool on my kindle.

Do I think this installment of the “I Zombie” club was a good as the last? No…but it definitely wasn’t a slacker, and if the ending bares any weight to the future of this series; the next book is going to be one hell of a wild ride.

Zombie lovers unite, and for God’s sake…grab this book!

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: I love all of you, but if Moaners start roaming the Earth…ya’ll better hope you can run faster than me.

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(4/5)

 

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The Best Laid Plans

October 5th, 2011

You know that old saying “Never judge a book by it’s cover?” Well…I suck at that.  A few months ago (and by few I mean about 6) I got my Tor catalog in the mail.  Like always (after I stopped jumping up and down and acting like a complete idiot) I saw a few things that peaked my interest. Then (cue dramatic elevator music) I saw “Anna Dressed in Blood” by Kendare Blake. To say it was love at first sight sounds a tad ridiculous, I know, but there is no denying that I was head-over-heals-googly-eyed-should-be-in-a-padded-room in cover love with this book. Now, that being said…I was frightened of actually reading it.  Why? Because here I was, (basically drooling over some chick with wicked cool “floaty” hair,) knowing that there was no way in hell this book was going to live up to the hype I built in my own head. To say “crash and burn” would be nice compared to the pictures I had spastically flickering in my over-active brain, think…exploding sun. Luckily for me…my predictive skills suck and this book was (dare I say it) just as good as the cover. (Insert mildly humiliating happy dance.)

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas’s life.

So why was this book so good? Because it was. (Ha, just kidding.) Because just when you think the story ends, it’s actually just beginning. (How’s that for completely abstract.)

How about I break it down for you.

First, lets discuss Cas, the lead.  While at first he can be a bit abrasive (that’s code for an arrogant ass) you quickly discover it’s all an act.  Like most of us…he is jaded, and being so causes him to hide behind sarcasm, wit and loads of pop-culture references.  You know what? Cas can explain who he is better than I can:

“I’m not a superhero, ” I say. It’s an awful tag. It’s egotistical, and it doesn’t fit.  I don’t parade around in spandex. I don’t do what I do to receive accolades and keys to cities.  I work in the dark, killing what should have stayed dead.  If people knew what I was up to, they’d probably try to stop me.  The idiots would take Casper’s side, and then I’d have to kill Casper and them after Casper bit their throats out.  I’m no superhero.  If anything I’m Rorschach from Watchmen.  I’m Grendel. I’m the survivor in Silent Hill.”

Witty right? (This is where you nod your head yes.) Anyways, Cas is actually narrating this little shin-dig and because he is, we are privileged enough to experience his grief, confusion, determination, (and eventually) heartache first hand; adding an emotional element to one seriously bad-ass ghost story.

Now, as for the story itself…it’s twisty, it’s turny and chalked full of some of the most impressive descriptive passages I have ever come across.  For 316 pages I lived inside of this novel, swallowed whole by it’s beauty and anguish.  It’s was easy to read.  It left no stone unturned, and (as a bonus) it was horrifying in all the right spots.

In short…it was captivating.

Spend the cash, you won’t be sorry…

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember:  Cellars are overrated.

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(5/5)

 

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High Heels…More Than Just a Fashion Statement

September 30th, 2011

Ahhh…Fall. My favorite season. Not, for the reasons you might expect however.  Yes, I am quite happy to be rid of the daunting 118 degrees Texas heat, but cooler weather, and only 1 deodorant pit-stop a day pales in comparison to Fall’s true, most glorious of perks…Zombies.

Oh yes. Fall is the season for “Chiller” TV, “Zombie Girls from Mars” marathons and more importantly, post apocalyptic literature.  With Halloween in the not-so-distant-future, I get to lose myself in the slightly demented minds of people like King, Nicholson or Wallen, and not get judge harshly when I chuckle at a particularly gruesome passage.

Fall…the time of year when the freaks get freakier, and the books come along for the ride.

Today’s helping…”After The Virus” by Meghan Ciana Doidge.

“After the virus decimates 99.9% of the world’s population, and all traces of humanity along with it, Rhiannon and Will are forced to move beyond their past fame, fortune, and personal demons to rescue a mute girl from the clutches of two warring cults.”

I know what you are thinking…there is nothing in that synopsis that indicates Zombies, but trust me…they are there. To prove it, I’ll share a particularly brilliant passage with you.

“It cat-batted the jutting knife and got it loose along with a chunk of its brain. The mushed brain matter squelched under the knife as it hit ground.  They all, including it, just stared, dumbfounded at the goopy pile.”

Awesome right? I thought so.

Anyways, like all good its-the-end-of-the-world-and-we-know-it novels, the “Infected” as they are appropriately deemed in “After the Virus” are not the story.  Yes, they are ooey and gooey and like to pop up at the most inconvenient of times, but it’s the people trying to survive that drive the story, (think…The Walking Dead.)

Now, if I’m to be honest, I was a little concerned at the start of this story. The original blocking (story set up) was all over the place and the editing was a train-wreck (there were “he’s” where there should have been “she’s” and “it’s” where their should have been…well, I don’t know really.) The details felt rushed, the characters’ felt void, and despite my assumption as to what the hell was going on, it wasn’t really confirmed. Thankfully however, about 6 chapters in Doidge found her line and she rode it smoothly to the finish.  As a matter of fact, after I got past Doidge’s confusing 1st/2nd person mayhem I had difficulty putting the book down, (despite the 100 or so typos that followed *cough*)

The action was nonstop, the evil was surprising and by the end of the book I wanted to grab a gun and take part, (which says a lot considering I hate guns.)

Even better…Doidge’s choice to alternate chapters between Rhiannon’s point of view and Will’s slightly more frantic one was a stroke of genius, (so was the last damn sentence if you don’t mind me saying.)

Overall, a fantastic post apocalyptic/zombie/angsty/romance that delivers in all of the right areas, even if one of those areas does not include editing.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember:  when in doubt, a high heel makes an excellent javelin.

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(4/5)

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Misguided Guilt

September 29th, 2011

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve had to write a “less-than-glowing” review, so the fact that it comes at the expense of an author like Susan Beth Pfeffer, (The Survivor Series) seems ironically fitting.

Before I get into paragraphs of explicit details, let me start off by saying this is NOT an overly pleasant read. The main plot aside (guilt for her father’s actions) Pfeffer decided to take a very serious issue (cutting) and treat is as though it were a verb like “jumping” or “smiling.” Now, while some of you may not see this as an issue, I view this as a personal injustice to the hundreds of teen readers who WILL decided to purchase this book. Why? Because if a writer makes light of an issue, who’s to say that they reader won’t as well.

Anyways…before I get so high and mighty that I find it difficult to come down, here is what “Blood Wounds” is about:

“Blood can both wound and heal . . .

Willa is lucky: She has a loving blended family that gets along. Not all families are so fortunate. But when a bloody crime takes place hundreds of miles away, it has an explosive effect on Willa’s peaceful life. The estranged father she hardly remembers has murdered his new wife and children, and is headed east toward Willa and her mother. Under police protection, Willa discovers that her mother has harbored secrets that are threatening to boil over. Has everything Willa believed about herself been a lie? But as Willa sets out to untangle the mysteries of her past, she also keeps her own secret—one that has the potential to tear apart all she holds dear.”

Ok, off to the races…

First, the writing was actually pretty good, it was the nature of the story (and how it affected the character development) that I took issue with.  Here was this girl (Willa) who in the first several chapters appeared happy and healthy.  Even though her dialogue was very obviously leading up to something tragic, the adjectives surrounding her family were of the pleasant sort, so imagine my surprise, when about 50 pages in, she all of a sudden started to rebel and (here’s the important part) blame everything on the people who had cared for her for years.  The intention (I’m certain) was to convey this overwhelming sense of disconnect and misguided guilt, but instead, Pfeffer managed to turn Willa into an insufferable, whiny, inconsiderate, bitch.  That’s right…I used the “B” word.

I am not insensitive, I can understand and even appreciate the complexities that loss will afford a person (especially a teenager) but in changing the way HER personality came across, it forced the rest of the family’s dynamic to morph as well, which made (almost) everyone  in the story unlovable. (It’s kinda hard to like a book when you hate everyone in it…right?)

Now, characters aside, lets talk about the plot. In short…it was odd.  We all know things like this happen, the news channels would be out of business if the world were all puppy dogs and rainbows, but the way that it all unfolded felt a little too bitter to be fiction. (Aka, Ms. Pfeffer watches a lot of CNN and this was a convenient way to vent her frustrations.)  If Pfeffer had picked 1 very solid topic (the murder angle) then maybe the read (as a whole) would have come off as slightly less arrogant, but the fact that she chose a heaping helping of social/emotional issues to hash out in 260 pages (murder, guilt, greed, abuse, neglect, cutting, phschosis…etc.) made the book feel heavy, and in the end…not worth the effort it took to swim through it.

In the end…I vote for no.  Spend your money elsewhere (maybe on her other books) and consider yourself lucky to have missed this trip down memory lane.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: If certain people of our past didn’t make it to our future, there’s probably a very good reason why. Don’t over-analyze it, just live with it.

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(1.5/5)

 

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Love Makes Us All a Little Wacko

September 26th, 2011

When I was a junior in high school, my teacher (Ms. Jenkins) asked us to write a fairy-tale.  To say I was super excited would be an understatement. I was thrilled! Here was my chance to write mayhem. (Yeah, not what you were expecting right?) See…the thing that I appreciate most about fairy-tales is the inevitability that something will go horribly wrong.  Someone is going to eat a poisoned apple, be cursed be an evil witch, or hell…even be locked in a very tall tower because they have magical hair.  The story will always end beautifully, that’s the way a fairy-tale works, but not without the evil “B” first getting her payback handed to her on a rusty platter. It’ important to be happy of course, but if the beautiful princess, (with her hair so shiny and bright) didn’t have oodles of missteps and evil ogres chasing her along the way, she would never be able to fully appreciate her happiness in the end.

In LK Rigel’s “Give Me, An Adult Fairy Tale” the journey IS  the story and the happily-ever-after…well, it’s just a fact.

“A young witch with a good heart. Two lovers in mortal danger. A spell that ends in disaster. 

Lilith Evergreen lives in the California desert, an ordinary woman until her fiancé returns from London with a ring he bought from a street vendor. When Lilith puts it on she dreams of a green land that’s anything but desert, a tree at cliff’s edge, a ruined castle, and a handsome prince.

Then she discovers that it’s all real.

When Lilith visits the ruins of Tintagos Castle, she discovers a world of magic and love – and its dark side when she’s entangled in the remnants of an ancient spell gone bad. From the moment Lilith sees Cade Bausiney, she’s overwhelmed with desire for him. Cade is drawn to Lilith too – but their feelings might only be sparked by dark and dangerous magic.
Lilith and Cade must break the old spell or be forever possessed by spirits who’ve waited a millennium to consummate their love.”

Ok, so first let’s talk about the synopsis. It’s…a little misleading. Yes, the story is about Lilith and Cade, but not in that “all encompassing” way the description implies. As a matter of fact, they are only about 1/3 of the story.  The “human embodiments” if you will.  In truth the story is about Galen and Diantha, two people who were ripped away from each other hundreds of years ago by a really pissed off witch, who… (wait for it) …holds their souls captive because of a beef she had with her sister. (See… mayhem!)

Anyways, as far as stories go, this one was a pretty interesting. Not only did LK (whom I adore by the way, and whose novel “Space Junque” happens to be free right now) manage to embody all of the elements necessary to make a fairy-tale succesful, but she managed to do it in a very unique way.

How was it unique exactly? Well…for starter, we are first introduced to Galen and Diantha through Lilith’s dreams, (as in: I’m-a-ghost-and-I’m-going-to-take-control-of-your-subconsious-but-don’t-worry-all-I-really-wanna-do-is-have-sex-with-my-fiance-so-this-will-be-a-hot-dream type unique)  Rigel then went on to masterfully infuse a very intricate magical history (aka back story) with today’s inclination to disbelieve anything that can’t be logically explained. (wow…that was really wordy way to say “she makes you believe in magic.)

The characters were interesting, though some could have used a touch more embellishment when it came to their “nature” (*cough* Galen) and for the most part the plot was very well thought out.  My only complaint would be with Rigel’s choice of narrative formating. (Huh?) Instead of alternating chapters between present and past, or even using * marks to transition, Rigel chose to plot hop. What does this mean exactly? It means that one second I would be reading about Lilith and then WHAM! the next thing I knew I was 500 years in the past learning about looking glasses.  This didn’t damage the plot (or the way the story was told) but it was mildly frustrating. In short…it could have used some separation.

Overall however, very enjoyable little ditty that does well to remind us all why we love a good fairy-tale.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Even Glenda the good witch had her moments of PMS.

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(4/5)

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Being Scott’s Agent

September 20th, 2011

Morning Folks!

So about 2 months ago my good (author) friend Scott Nicholson approached me about being his agent for the month of September. Cool right? Yeah, I thought so too, but then…as the month of August went on my life took a sudden turn and as a result, KO was in shambles for a few weeks. (*hangs head in shame*) Anyways… about 3 days ago (at roughly 4 in the morning) I thought about Scott. (Hmm…that sounds a little bad…) I suddenly realized that I was the worst agent on the planet (because truthfully I hadn’t done shit to promote his work) and I knew that I had to make amends.  So, since I basically dropped the ball (and kicked into orbit) I am making a last ditch effort to drum up some, much deserved, hype for my compadre.

So what does this have to do with you? Well…you can help me. (picture me getting on my knees right now) The book I chose to promote is “Liquid Fear.” Yes…I know…I have already reviewed this, but let’s face it, this book was wicked good.  What I need you to do is Tweet, Facebook and talk the hell out of this book for the next few days. (Be shameless…I promise, it will be ok.) You can start by sharing this post. See the really nifty buttons at the top?? They aren’t just there to look pretty, they are functional too! (*Gasp!*) Just “click” and TADA… I have made life easy for you.

Now…since this was totally my fault, and I basically suck, I’m not going to ask y’all to do all of this hard work for free. Nope, I am a generous person (sometimes) so I’ve decided to give out 3 $10 Amazon gift cards to whoever helps me the most. (*cue confetti*)

Just leave me a comment below (or shoot me an email misty@kindleobsessed.com) telling me what exactly you did to help promote “Liquid Fear” and I’ll put your name in the hat. The more you do, the more times your name is shoved in there. Got it? Great! Now let’s get to work. (Before Scott reenacts one of his books and my husband wakes up tomorrow morning to find my body cold and slightly bloody on the bathroom floor.)

Cheers!!!

*PS – Click Scott’s über sexy picture up there to find out more about why I am doing this, and maybe grab you some goodies along the way!*

 

What’s Your Liquid Fear?

By Scott Nicholson

 

A man ought to be able to control his monkeys.

Martin Kleingarten accepts that as a core moral principle. But Martin is a man whose principles can be bought and sold. As a hired goon, he’s only too happy to help Dr. Sebastian Briggs and his mysterious backers carry out their research, even if it means a few corpses here and there.

But Martin also sees an opportunity to further his own career. A former security guard turned small-time thug, he has a chance for a final payoff and retirement if he can play his cards right. And as Martin sees the drug’s effect on the research subjects, he’s entertained but also appalled.

When fear becomes a weapon, then force is useless, and bullets carry no power. In the remote research facility, with crazed test subjects running wild, Kleingarten must decide which side he’s on.

It’s a decision made even tougher when all sides are wrong.

Liquid Fear. Just a drop will do.

 

It is no secret that I have concerns for the mental stability of Mr. Nicholson, but today… my fears have taken a drastically different turn. While under normal circumstances I would be concerned by the number of bodies found in barns, or cult leaders that make David Koresh look like a saint, today I find myself more concerned that Scott may actually be plotting world domination from his hideout in the mountains. I was NOT expecting what I got with “Liquid Fear.” I can usually distance myself from books like these because the chances of something like it  happening in “real life” are few and far between, but with this little piece of literary mastery, the BEAUTY and FEAR come from the fact that it actually COULD happen.

I do have 1 very important suggestion when reading “Liquid Fear” (which I usually wouldn’t give, but the nature in which I read the novel forces me to point it out.) Take your time.  I read this book in 2 days… a full out sprint (if you will) in order to have my opinions ready for y’all today.  Do Not Do That!  The story line in this novel is a complicated one AND is jamb packed with characters.  If you want to keep it all straight (and not have to keep flipping back and forth like I did) then take your time and properly soak it in one page at a time.

Overall, (with the exception of the occasional WTH!?) I found “Liquid Fear” packs a punch that leaves a mark.  As a matter of fact, this may just be my favorite Nicholson novel to date (and that is saying a lot considering I never thought I’d get past “The Red Church.“)  If you love a good psychological thriller, don’t delay in picking this one up.  I promise you, you will not be disappointed.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Everyone has bad days, it’s just that most don’t include dead hookers in motel bathrooms.

Click image for complete details.

(5/5)

Comments ( 7 )

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When Sparks Fly

September 19th, 2011

It doesn’t take a lot to get me excited. Let’s face it…I’m a pretty simple person.  It takes even less to get me excited about a book, so when I run across a book that triggers the “eh” button in my head, obviously it is missing something.

I’m not saying “Elemental Reality” by Cesya Cuono was bad.  It wasn’t, if I’m being honest I did enjoy the book. BUT…sometimes a good story could be GREAT with just a little more focus.

“When Callie Pierce was ten, her mother disappeared without a trace. On the eve of her disappearance twelve years later, the Earth seemingly comes alive. The elements speak to Callie, and that’s only the beginning. Everything she has ever known was a twisted fabrication to protect her. Now the truth is set free. Callie and her sister are more powerful than any Faerie ever born. Now they have to use their powers to save their mother and family from the evil hands of fate that threaten to tear them apart. Welcome to her elemental reality.”

Well, in the nature of directness…lets just get down to business.

First…Callie was a very interesting character externally (aka her dialogue and banter) but she lacked depth. How exactly?  Callie is a very sarcastic person, she uses her wit and sarcasm as a defense mechanism (damn that sounds familiar) she even admits this in the story, however…her internal dialogue never gave way to her insecurities (ok…maybe it did in the last 5% or so) but with her doubts and fears missing for the majority of the book, her character came off as more of a smartass than scared or concerned (which was obviously what Cuono was going for.)

The second issue I ran into was the set-up.  I know that authors love getting to the juicy bit of their stories, but it’s very important that they take the time to set up their building blocks first before trying to knock them all down.  While the second half of the story was paced wonderfully, the beginning felt rushed and a little off-balance, which then caused problems for me later in the story when the lead and her “man-meat” (as Lola -Callie’s sister refers to him) start to declare their feelings for each other. Yes, I get that the “surprise” regarding Callie’s “upbringing” was supposed to be on this “fast-track-hurry-up-and-figure-this-shit-out-or-you’re-gonna-die” bullet train, but in the interest of emotional immersion, slowing it down for even a few pages would have help solidify their connection.

Now, since I don’t want you to thinking this is the worst book on the planet (since all I’ve done is bitch so far) let me point out a few of the positives.

1.  The story.

When all is said and done, (and I overlook my perpetual need to over-analyze ever damn thing when it comes to books) I have to say the story was a very unique and intriguing one.  As a person who reads more books about Faerie’s than I would ever like to publicly admit, this is the first time (in a long time) I was introduced to “unique abilities.” (As in…been there, done that, yes…you sparkle big damn deal.) Because of this, I found the read especially refreshing.

2.  I loved the family unit in this book.

I (of course) prefer “tortured” literature to that of the “happy” variety so it’s not often that I get to enjoy the complexities of a family that so obviously care for one another.  Each character had a very distinct personality and because of this, the conversations/arguments they had with each other were fascinating to read. (I even found myself chuckling out loud at some of the good-natured smack talk.)

So, what does this mean for the book as a whole? Not the best I’ve read…like I said above it could have used a little more work. BUT, it is definitely a solid start to what seems to be a promising new series.  My advice? Get caught up on all of the other series you have going first, and then consider giving this one a chance.

AND…before I forget, yes…this one ends in a cliffhanger as well. (For the record, this trend is really starting to piss me off.)

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember:  Unless your goal is to look like a pale version of The Hulk…steroids are NOT your friend.

Click image for complete details.

(3.5/5)

Comments ( 0 )

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