Excellent start to what looks like a new favorite for me.
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A surprisingly sympathetic small (ish) crime family makes the moves to the big leagueExcellent start to what looks like a new favorite for me.
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A surprisingly sympathetic small (ish) crime family makes the moves to the big leagues with a new drug called Ash. Made with the bones of the dead, a strictly guarded recipe known only to the daughter of the family, this drug allows the user to experience portions of another's life. And while the concept of Ash should be enough to carry the story, Bunn doesn't stop there.
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The family drama is exquisitely done, and the twist with the father took me completely by surprise. I cared about each of these people and wanted to find out more, and that made the ending even more wonderfully excruciating. The criminal side of things was also well done. You're honestly rooting for these killers and dealers to come out on top by the end of the last issue.
Unreported Murders is another fantastic installment in the Trese title.
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Each issue is an individual case that could be read as a stand-alone in Unreported Murders is another fantastic installment in the Trese title.
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Each issue is an individual case that could be read as a stand-alone in no particular order, which might bother some people who were hoping that this volume would answer some of the questions they have about Alexandra's family & origins. I'm fine with this just being a paranormal detective story for now because I think the issues are really interesting and well-written.
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The art is still phenomenal. I can't say enough about how much I enjoy looking at Kajo Baldisimo's work. I've never been such a huge fan of black and white, but everything is so crisp that I'm not having any trouble figuring out what's happening in the panels.
A witchy woman who has lived off the grid since childhood and works as a paranormal detective gets recruited by a shadow agency that deals wi3.5 stars
A witchy woman who has lived off the grid since childhood and works as a paranormal detective gets recruited by a shadow agency that deals with the supernatural threats to the world.
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Not a particularly new concept, but it's always a fun one when done right. This was done right. And I think this one has the potential to be a good series for those of us who enjoy the mystical stories.
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I've never heard of Cavan Scott before, but this was pretty cool. I'll definitely read more if I get the opportunity to continue this series....more
Eager to try and show Hannah how he feels, Wycliff asks her to stay for a month at his ancestral home. His broke down, saggy, ancestral home.3.5 stars
Eager to try and show Hannah how he feels, Wycliff asks her to stay for a month at his ancestral home. His broke down, saggy, ancestral home. Secretly hoping this means he wants more from their marriage than just convenience, Hannah agrees. He does finally work up the courage to put the moves on his very willing wife. And the crowd goes wild as they finally get on with the sexytimes. <--fade to black, people! Give the couple their privacy for god's sake!
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When they arrive at his seaside home, they discover that several young women have supposedly thrown themselves into the ocean in despair. Is there a pattern to their deaths, and if so, does it involve the paranormal?
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Of course it does! Once again our couple solves the mystery and finds out about a new creature. <---I was really hoping for mermaids, though. Just saying. Looking forward to reading more of these adventures soon. Recommended for fans of the cozy mystery....more
So what's the problem, Anne? Ok, in this one Hannah and Wycliffe investigate murders made to look like wasSomeone is taking out rich party boys.
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So what's the problem, Anne? Ok, in this one Hannah and Wycliffe investigate murders made to look like wasting illness. Is it a vampire or something else?
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Wycliff and Hannah are also slooooooowly realizing how much they care about each other but he still hasn't put the moves on her yet. Come ON, man! Also, we get to know the characters from Tilly's other series. Team-up? I think so. Another cute installment that introduces a few more of the 'monsters' that live in this alternate world. Recommended for fans of cozy paranormal mysteries....more
This little hidden gem of a series continues to be a lot of fun with the second installment, Galvanism and Ghouls, as Hannah has to navigate this straThis little hidden gem of a series continues to be a lot of fun with the second installment, Galvanism and Ghouls, as Hannah has to navigate this strange, sometimes scary, and mostly silly alternate universe.
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The last book left us with a mystery as her father's new after-mage medical apprentice told Hannah he was sorry when he touched her, leaving the reader with the feeling that not all was as it seemed with our heroine. The book also closed with the impoverished Lord Wycliff moving into Hannah's family home at her mother's invitation. <--and we only had hints at what his curse might be!
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Ok. So, in an attempt to reverse the curse that created the zombies, someone is trying to use galvanism to restart the hearts of the afflicted. However, they're also killing innocent people to do it. When women start turning up dead with limbs sewn onto them that weren't originally theirs, and a disembodied hand starts running around London with a mind of its own, Wycliff is called in to investigate. As he gathers more and more evidence, the culprit begins to look like none other than Hannah's own father. A long-held grudge causes his premature arrest and sets off a chain of events that will change all of their lives forever. Good? Bad? Only time will tell. In the meantime, Wycliff and Hannah will have to work together to find out who is really behind all these strange murders. And as their list of suspects starts to grow, so do some unexpected feelings towards each other.
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I enjoyed this quite a bit. I loved this world's version of Frankenstein's monster, Mary Shelley, and the Addams Family's Thing that Wallace folded into the story and into this crazy family.
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Finding out Hannah's unique problem puts everything into a new perspective, and I'm looking forward to seeing how this new arrangement she and Wycliff come to all turns out for everyone. Recommended for anyone who's looking for a paranormal cozy mystery....more
How have I never heard of these books? Interesting mash-up of several different genres that worked (shockingly!) well together.
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I'm going to be How have I never heard of these books? Interesting mash-up of several different genres that worked (shockingly!) well together.
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I'm going to be 100% honest, I really didn't think I was actually going to listen to this one when I downloaded it. It was one of those Hoopla Bonus Borrows that sort of caught my eye, so I went ahead and snagged it just in case I ran low on listening material. Which I inevitably did. So I started flipping through a few things I had, then stopped on Manners and Monsters after a few minutes of listening. It was throwing off this really good cozy mystery vibe while being set in an alternate Victorian England that had mages and werewolves and a really different take on zombies.
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So, the French sent infected face power over to England during the Napoleonic Wars and this stuff turned hundreds of women (and a few men) of the ton into brain craving undead. Now, as long as they get a steady diet of brains (from the already dead bodies whose family's have been financially compensated) these gently bred ladies can stave off the rot. It's a whole thing. <--but don't worry, it's all explained.
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The story picks up with our Plain Jane heroine at her BFF's engagement soiree. All is going well until... MURDER! A footman is murdered and all of his brains are scooped out!
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Hannah gets involved for REASONS that totally make sense and helps uncover the perpetrator with a very broody noble who works for the police department. <--he has reasons, as well. And there's a whole lot more to the story but I don't want to spoil the fun.
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An this was fun. Not change-your-life fun but fun nonetheless. I'm genuinely curious to listen to the next book in the series and see what secrets it reveals about our hero and heroine. Because a lot was hinted at that piqued my interest in finding out more about what these characters are hiding. I'm in, Ms. Wallace.
Did you know that this was the basis for the Disney movie The Black Cauldron?
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I didn't. I didn't even realize that this beloved fantasy story eveDid you know that this was the basis for the Disney movie The Black Cauldron?
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I didn't. I didn't even realize that this beloved fantasy story even existed until recently. And now I can see why fans of Lloyd Alexander's books were upset over the Disney treatment. Yes, the basic bones of the story was there but that's it. I'm assuming that's because they tried to smoosh 5 books worth of stuff into one animated children's movie. A children's movie that is apparently amazing to watch if you're tripping balls. <--or so I've been told by sources that will remain unnamed.
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Taran is an assistant pig keeper at Caer Dallben, and when Hen Wen (a white oracular pig) runs off, he sets out on an adventure to save her from the Horned King. He meets up with the sassy Eilonwy who bosses him around, and the annoying & smelly creature Gurgi who always wants his munchies and crunchies. Is he good? Is he bad? Read it and find out because I'm not telling you. Along with the good prince Gwydion, the wandering minstrel Fflewddur Fflam (also a king, btw), & a grumpy dwarf named Doli, Taran tries to stop an undead hoard from wreaking havoc in their kingdom. There's more to it than that, but you get the basic gist.
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Man, was that movie missing a lot of the characters and PLOT. Not to mention the character growth of Taran! He turns into quite the leader and hero in this one. I don't want to spoil anything but this was a very good story. And short. I loved that it didn't drag on and on and on. For a classic (1964) fantasy novel aimed at a young adults, this was surprisingly readable to me. That does NOT mean I think it's going to be a winner for everyone. Classic. Fantasy. For kids. If you go into it knowing what it is, I think it's more than likely something you will be able to appreciate. If you go into it thinking you're getting some Harry Potteresque story, you will be sorely disappointed. Recommended for people who know what they're getting.
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On a side note, I was gifted a really lovely copy of The Prydain Chronicles but I haven't had the time to sit down and read it yet, so I decided to jump into the series with the individual audiobooks till I can peruse my copy. James Langton was the narrator of the one I listened to and he did a wonderful job....more
The Wheel Weaves as the Wheel Wibble Wobbles...or something like that. Ok, so in terms of a great fantasy, I think this has all the right components. IThe Wheel Weaves as the Wheel Wibble Wobbles...or something like that. Ok, so in terms of a great fantasy, I think this has all the right components. I can see why this is such a beloved series. For me personally, though? This was far too long and far too, not boring per se, but there was never a point where I couldn't put this book down. Even the battle at the very end. Like, they were right in the middle with all the light and fire and screaming -I pushed pause and went to grab a burrito without a second thought. Well, I'm sure it will all come out in the wash. Oh! I wonder if I have any fresh guacamole?
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Ok, so this group of young (yet special) teenagers from a small village goes on a quest with some adults who have various important powers and backstories. The trailer for the upcoming tv show led me to believe that this would be filled with action and magic.
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Ehhhh. Not so much. There's action and battling but it's pretty mundane regular-dude fighting with some jazz hands thrown in until you get to the very end. And even then I didn't feel like it was worth the 30 hours it took to listen to this audiobook. I hate to be this person, but I think I'd rather watch the show. Hopefully, they chop out all the boring riding on my horse for 3 days stuff and just get on with the more interesting parts.
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It's not that the story has anything wrong with it, it was just that when it was over I realized that I had no interest in investing years of my life to find out how it all ends. If book one was (and I feel I can't say this enough) 30 HOURS, I can't imagine how long the next 13 books are going to be, and I'm just not ready for that sort of commitment. Having said that, I'm reserving the right to change my mind later on down the line.
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This is definitely a book that is geared toward readers who love that sort of dense high fantasy. Right now, that's not me. But who knows what the future holds? After all, the Wheel of Time turns and whatnot....more
If you (like me) were wondering where the story of Scarlet Witch's fakeish twin boys disappear, eventually leading to her breakdown and the now infamoIf you (like me) were wondering where the story of Scarlet Witch's fakeish twin boys disappear, eventually leading to her breakdown and the now infamous House of M storyline, then look no further!
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It's a two-part story that ends in the next issue, and believe it or not, it's pretty fun. Hmmm...in a so-bad-it's-good sort of way, at least. This has the best kind of cheesy plotline, complete with an amazing c-list villain. Pandemonium Man! Or Master Pandemonium if you want to get technical...Zach!
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The fuck is Master Pandemonium? <--is what you're thinking. Well, he's was a Hollywood muckety-muck that crashed his car one fateful evening because of his boozy ways. His arm got crushed and... Wait for it... Mephisto popped up with an offer he couldn't refuse! So, he sold his soul for an arm. An arm made out of a DEMON, no less!
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Alright. So the cover makes it look like this issue is about the return of Iron Man to the team, but that's just a blip in the overall tale of Master Pandamonium stealing Wanda's kids and sticking them on his arms - like evil mittens made out of freaky toddlers! And then he runs off to another dimension. Because honestly, what else is he to do at that point?
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Luckily for Wanda, her good pal and fellow witch, Agatha Harkness, has recuperated from being burned at the stake. How? Magic, of course! Side note: Vision now looks like Silver Surfer and has all the personality of a Commodore 64.
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So, what is this neer-do-well with the clever name planning for our heroes? Why does he want to use Wanda's imaginary children as oven mitts? And is there someone even more nefarious pulling the strings in this tale of magic and madness?! Find out in the next issue of AVENGERS WEST COAST....more
I love Julie, and this is about a young Julie. So. Julie has a rare ability that allows her to actually see magic and tell what kind of magic is being uI love Julie, and this is about a young Julie. So. Julie has a rare ability that allows her to actually see magic and tell what kind of magic is being used.
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Kate wants Julie to go to a school for kids with magic but Julie isn't having it. Instead of forcing it on her, she sets her loose in the school as a detective to solve a dangerous missing persons case. As you do. Of course, this means Julie will meet, potentially grow to like, and perhaps even want to continue to hang around the classmates she comes into contact with at the school. And the best way to do that would be to attend the school itself. Which proves that Kate understands there's more than one way to skin a cat. Not that you should ever skin cats, sicko!
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Anyway. It's a cute shorty and if you're a fan of the series, you should check this one out....more
Potential Spoiler Warning! Sorry, I can't talk about what I want to without at least hints of what happens in this one leaking out. ISo. Much. Happens.
Potential Spoiler Warning! Sorry, I can't talk about what I want to without at least hints of what happens in this one leaking out. If you haven't read this volume yet...well, go read it!
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Lemire is getting the band back together in a big way in volume 3. Some of the band members look a little different, some stayed exactly the same. I'm here for all of it.
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I will say I agree with some of the complaints that other readers have about deaths not sticking or things getting resolved too easily. This could be a problem down the road if Lemire keeps wacking beloved characters at the end of one issue and reviving them at the beginning of the next. However, if this was a one time thing to wow fans of the series and bring everything full circle, then he did a wonderful job. I really wasn't expecting to see a lot of these faces again.
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Last page of the volume got me! Boom! Ah! I squealed and scared my husband. <--then had to explain it was a comic and not something serious - like a spider that needed killing or something.
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You know what I want? And some of you are going to be really pissed and disappointed if I get it, but I want a happy ending for these guys. I know, I knoooow... Still....more
This is a continuation of Thompson's Sabrina the Teenage Witch and in my humble opinion should have a Volume 2 behind it.
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I really hate when thThis is a continuation of Thompson's Sabrina the Teenage Witch and in my humble opinion should have a Volume 2 behind it.
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I really hate when things aren't labeled properly. Since Archie comics have tons of titles featuring the same character in unconnected worlds/storylines, and this isn't labeled as Volume 2, I passed on it several times thinking it was some new title.
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Ok, so this takes off with Sabrina trying to help her old bully and (unbeknownst to him) her brother. To complicate things further, the brother is also one of Sabrina's love interests. As we discovered in the last volume, these two have been cursed and when the circumstances are right they become a wendigo - two kids but just ONE wendigo. And while Radka is aware of what happens to them, Ren is not. And the origin of the curse? Well, to say that finding out who the witches that apparently did this to these kids completely tilts Sabrina's world on its axis would be an understatement.
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The rest of the story is Sabrina dealing with magic, the mortal world, a love triangle, friendships, family, and the deeper mystery of an old evil that has infesting Greendale for a long time. To be totally honest I wasn't actually surprised when the big reveal happened at the end, but it was still a good story. Recommended for fans of Sabrina the Teenage Witch....more
I ran across this while I was pawing through stuff on Marvel Unlimited and it looked like it might be kind of cool.
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1st issue is ok. It's an intI ran across this while I was pawing through stuff on Marvel Unlimited and it looked like it might be kind of cool.
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1st issue is ok. It's an introduction to Elsa Bloodstone. Her father is now dead and left his estate to his ex-wife, Elsa's mother. <--she's pregnant but the father isn't in the picture, so she's looking for somewhere to land. The estate is mysterious and filled with spooky artifacts - including what seems to be a vampire who runs it.
The art isn't anything to write home about but it's not obnoxious, either....more
You know those books that are based on something cool at the core that you reaaaaaally want to like but they're just about 300 pages longer t2.5 stars
You know those books that are based on something cool at the core that you reaaaaaally want to like but they're just about 300 pages longer than they need to be because the author wanted to cram in all the little details that would make the book seem steeped in realism? That's Ninth House in a nutshell. I mean, parts of it are good but there's a lot of boring packed into this one, and it took a long time to get anywhere interesting. The pacing was so goddamn sloooooooow that I think the story would have really benefitted from a good chop to the page count. And the magic societies were kind of lame. Or if not lame, less awesome than I would have hoped. Whiny rich kids manipulating the stock market and picking what single goes to #1 on the charts? Ehhhh.
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The two main characters - Alex & Darlington? Neither was super likable. Not that I have to like characters to enjoy a book. But both of them were kind of off-putting as people. And they both had good reason, I guess. But every time I'd think that I felt a bit of sympathy for either of them, they'd do or say something that would just take me back to square one. I don't know. I just couldn't muster up any sort of feelings of kinship with them. Now, by the end? I liked Alex a lot more. And Darlington...? Well, I wish him the best.
So the gist is that this girl, Alex, can see ghosts. Now because of this, she's been horribly misunderstood as a child, had some terrible things happen to her, ended up on drugs & living with awful people, and eventually wound up in the middle of a murder that left her boyfriend and best friend dead. Enter Leafy.<--I listened to the audiobook and had to look it up. It's actually Lethe, but while I was listening to it I was like, what the fuck kind of secret society calls itself LEAFY?
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Lethe is the 9th House that sort of supervises the magic that all the other (real) Houses do, in order to keep them from killing hobos. <--I'm really not joking. And since Alex can see ghosts these guys want her to become the new Dante (it's a stupid code name) for their house. This comes with a full ride to Yale and a new start. Which looks pretty good when you wake up in a hospital and find out everyone you lived with is dead. <--naturally, there's way more to that story, but you have to read the book to find out what it is. Anyway. According to this, all of the secret societies (Scroll and Key, Skull and Bones. etc.) are steeped in magic, available to the rich and famous, and alive and well at Yale University. There's a lot of research that Bardugo must have done for this book, and it shows. Unfortunately, not necessarily in a good way for someone like myself. There was too much crunchy wah, wah, wah history of New Haven, and not enough cool/spooky magic stuff. And it's really hard for me to wade through a lot of who-gives-a-fuck and come out on the other end of it smiling.
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Don't get me wrong, there were some excellent bits to Ninth House, so it's not like I hated it or anything. The book ended on a cliffhanger (which was fine) but I'm not sure if I'll keep going with this series or not. It really picked up during the last bit, so I guess I'll just wait and see.
Lauren Fortgang - Narrator Michael David Axtell - Narrator...more
Belly of the Beast picks up where Vol. 4 left off - with Mikey as a prisoner of Mastema, & Rya about to pop out their kid.
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Last time around we fBelly of the Beast picks up where Vol. 4 left off - with Mikey as a prisoner of Mastema, & Rya about to pop out their kid.
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Last time around we found out about Mikey's grandfather and this time around we're finding out more about Rya.
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How she came to end up being raised by Rook, and also how she and Mikey got to know each other as children. There's a lot of history to unpack between these two before we find out exactly what led each of them to where they are now.
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Also, everyone in the family is getting a little tired of Mikey's I'm a good guy! Just kidding - I'm evil! Ooop! No, seriously. I'm good. game that he's been playing for about 25 issues. Looks like they might be ready to use some tough love on him.
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Oh, and Kallista comes back and does some more crazy shit. For me, this is an easy comic to binge on and I'm looking forward to more of its insane soap opera storyline! Recommended!...more
Kirkman's Oblivion Song didn't do much for me and I'm kind of burned out on his Outcast, so I wasn't as excited as I should have been for Birthright.
[Kirkman's Oblivion Song didn't do much for me and I'm kind of burned out on his Outcast, so I wasn't as excited as I should have been for Birthright.
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This is one of those comics that builds and builds and builds on each volume until you can't stop turning the pages. In this one, you meet several of the original mages that Mikey has been hunting. And none of them are what they seem!
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I can't really say anything without ruining the big reveal at the end, but it was good.
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This is (to me) the perfect blend of fantasy, mystery, & family drama. If you're not reading this yet, you're missing out!...more
Aptly named Family History, this volume of Birthright gives you the skinny on Mikey's grandfather. <--if you read the last volume, you know exactly whAptly named Family History, this volume of Birthright gives you the skinny on Mikey's grandfather. <--if you read the last volume, you know exactly what I'm talking about. I'm still on the fence about that guy.
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BUT THEN! You also have Mikey's mom and his pregnant wife doing some serious bonding. I have a feeling that those two are going to kick his ass at some point.
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Then there's little bro, Brennan going all glowy. What the hell is up with this family?!
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Again, this is one of those comics that you can't really say much about without spoiling it for everyone. Read it!...more
Eh. It's not bad but it's not great. It's a wacky premise and I thought the story would have been better served if it had been a bit more detailed withEh. It's not bad but it's not great. It's a wacky premise and I thought the story would have been better served if it had been a bit more detailed with his origin and abilities in the first issue. It's a dorky power set, so the more information you have, the more realistic it might seem.
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The gist is that this adventurer dude has somehow been given the gifts of these five literary characters. They're never named, but you recognize them. Power of Sherlock Holmes - ACTIVATE! And then he has super-deduction or something.
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Power of Robin Hood - ACTIVATE! And now he can shoot arrows like a champ.
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The Samauri, Vampire, and Wizard are pretty useful, though. Anyway. He's on a mission to right a wrong that happened to someone he loves. I don't know. There are only two more volumes, so now that it's on my radar I'll finish it out and see if it gets better.
Big thank you to my friend for sending this one to me to check out! (view spoiler)[ Look at those pearly chompers and weep, my friend.
How did I miss this one? No idea. But it's a cool start that introduces a brand new superheroish ghost. And I really love Phil Noto's art.
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The How did I miss this one? No idea. But it's a cool start that introduces a brand new superheroish ghost. And I really love Phil Noto's art.
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The gist is that these two reality show ghost hunters accidentally conjure up a real ghost with a piece of (unbeknownst to them) equipment stolen from a lab run by...a demon? Kinda-sorta.
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But this ghost girl doesn't just float in the air moaning, rattling chains, and flickering the lights. She can reach in and pull the still-beating heart out of your chest if you piss her off. She has no idea who she was, how she died, or who what led to her demise, but she knows she didn't die a peaceful death surrounded by family and friends. And she wants revenge. So. Best use your nicest inside voice and try to help her out, right? Right.
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This was fun! It was legitimately a fun story with fabulous art. Mystery, science, magic...maybe even a little bit of love? We'll see about that last one.
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Good stuff and highly recommended if you're looking for something supernatural without the horror or gore of a traditional Halloween read.
This was part of the Halloween/birthday package sent to me by a good friend and his wife. Thank you both! (view spoiler)[May Donny's voice sing you to sleep always...
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