Christopher C. Payne's Blog, page 24

How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon

by Cressida Cowell

ISBN 031673737

Little, Brown Young Readers, 2003

Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and eighteen other boys are about to be initiated into their Viking tribe. To do that, every Viking boy must steal a dragon directly from the nest and train it to hunt for him and obey basic commands. Then, on the initiation day months later, they will prove they have what it takes to be a Viking by forcing a beast as heartless and uncooperative as a dragon to obey. It's the Viking way.

I've always wondered why books for young adults tend to have the same protagonist. Every kid's book meant for boys I've ever read has this main character: physically lacking, nothing special, is often told he's destined for greatness, always the target of bullies and teasing, and ironically the very thing he's been teased for is what ends up saving the day. Then I realized something. What kind of preadolescent boy is most likely to read a book?

It's obvious who this book is intended for, and because Hiccup fits the profile, it gives away the ending on the first page. He's not a good Viking. He's small, he's wimpy, he's not good at fighting, or yelling, or being a hero, and he's powerless to stand up to the bullies who torture him for being what he is, but of course because it's a kid's book, you know where this is headed.

The boys nearly lose their lives stealing their dragons because Hiccup happens to have a friend who is only slightly less competent than himself, Fishlegs. (It's he who wakes the dragons up, but for no apparent reason everyone blames Hiccup.) While fleeing the nest of waking dragons, Hiccup gives his dragon to Fishlegs because Fishlegs didn't get one, and Hiccup goes back into the cave to fetch another one. It's crazy, but Hiccup comes back with a dragon of his own. A tiny, non-threatening dragonette. He names him Toothless because he lacks teeth.

The bullies that inhabit this kid's life are the usual type. They have names like Snotlout, Wartihog and Dogsbreath The Duhbrain. All they do is tease and mock Hiccup and his miniscule dragon. Their only motivation is to make Hiccup feel worse about himself than he already does because, frankly, he deserves it. I know I deserved it when I was a kid, but I didn't know I deserved it until High School, when I grew up and stopped being so awkward.

Hiccup himself knows he deserves it for not being tough, strong or a fighter–three things every Viking should be. His miniscule dragon sure isn't helping. How is a dragon the size of a housecat, and without teeth, going to earn him entry into his tribe? Furthermore, the only advice he gets on how to train a dragon is to yell at it, which he can't do either. Hiccup tries everything he can think of to get Toothless to obey, but the tiny dragon refuses to listen. Dragons are heartless and have no sense of gratitude, unlike dogs, so his situation is hopeless.

But Hiccup does have one trick up his sleeve. He can speak Dragonese. Yes, Hiccup has been watching dragons since he was even younger. He knows a lot more about them than the average Viking, and somehow he can speak their language. There's no explanation for how he acquires this ability, so just go along with it.

Dragons apparently love jokes, and Hiccup is able to use this as the proverbial carrot on a stick to get the dragon at least to feign obedience. "Catch me a fish and I'll tell you a joke." It works, though Toothless whines about it the whole time.

Then a seadragon, big as a mountain, crawls up from the ocean floor and perches on the beach, ready to eat everyone in the clan. Yelling at it doesn't work, it's too big to fight, they can't run away, they're as good as dead.

But wait! The nerd can speak to dragons! Of course! Adults are only capable of indecisive bickering after all, so the kids will have to save the day!

Uh oh…talking to the massive dragon doesn't work. Now it's up to Hiccup's booksmarts and cunning to outsmart it! Naturally, the bullies are reduced to taking orders from Hiccup, and Hiccup and Toothless are heroes!

It's what every kid reading this book wants to believe will happen, and it's what parents and teachers tell them, too. Sure, you're being picked on now, but one day your brain will make you a success, so don't listen to those bullies. You'll have the last laugh eventually. That's what this book is all about.

Toothless is fairly useless throughout the story because he is, of course, a heartless dragon. He's the size of a housecat and lacks teeth, so there's very little he can do except chase mice and catch fish. Mostly he whines about his wings being tired, or how he doesn't feel like hunting today. But at the end he has a change of heart and he flies in to rescue Hiccup in his moment of need.

It goes against every hint of logic the book establishes! Why does Toothless decide to be selfless now? Instead of providing a good reason, the narrator simply breaks the fourth wall with "who knows why Toothless had this change of heart. Maybe it was this, maybe it was that, maybe we'll never know, but he did."

I wanted to know. Maybe a future book in the series answers this question, but it doesn't feel like a cliffhanger. More like a shortcut to get to the conclusion. I'd sure like for Toothless to have been a real character with some development, instead of just the pet.

I respect this story because Hiccup is an active main character. Unlike a certain boy in a certain wizard school, Hiccup takes action. He knows things that will win the battle, he influences the events, and he takes charge. He deserves to be the hero, and earns his place in the tribe.

I'd still like to know how he came to know Dragonese though. Seems learning about dragons in general is frowned upon in Viking society, so how could he possibly learn how to talk to them? Oh well, it's for the kids, and owning a dragon for a pet is something every little boy would get all giddy thinking about. It also has all the things little boys find funny: underwear, snot, burly men reduced to dressing in women's clothing, boogers, and exploding heads! A good read if you remember its intended audience.

Review written by James Steele

What's a Ghoul to do?

 

 

What's a Ghoul to do?

Victoria Laurie

A SIGNET MYSTERY, year 2007

ISBN: 978-0-451-22090-5

Available format: Paperback & ebook

M.J. Holliday has two rules. One, she and her partner, Gilley Gillespie, work alone; and two, she doesn't date clients. But when handsome Dr. Steven Sable needs her help, the specter-spotting sleuth is ready to break both of her rules.

It seems the hot doc's grandfather jumped from the roof of the family lodge in an apparent suicide. But Dr. Sable knows in his bones it was foul play, and strange things keep happening at the lodge. He'll hire M.J. and Gilley- but only if he can come along. Hey, the duo needs the money- and looking at eye candy all weekend doesn't sound to bad, either…

But once they reach the lodge, the three realize they're dealing with more ghosts then just Grandpa Sable's. And the spooks keep playing nasty tricks on their human visitors. To the untrained eye, it would appear that ghouls just want to have fun. But M.J. knows they're communicating their distress- and it's up to her to figure out why…

I picked this book up because I've read Victoria Laurie series, Psychic Eye Mystery which I totally love. I read this book and thought to myself that Victoria Laurie knows what she's doing! She writes great books that keep you interested and on the edge of your seat. I really loved reading 'What's a ghoul to do?' and I can't wait to get the next book in the Ghost Hunter series 'Demons are a Ghoul's best friend' I bet it's full of Ghoulish fun!

Plot – ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ I really enjoyed the plot. It had that certain something that kept you wanting to read more and more.

Writing – ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ The writing was good and I really enjoyed reading Victoria Laurie's work! What I loved that I didn't have to go and look up words, and I didn't go through the book wondering when it was going to be over.

Characters – ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ I really thought the characters were well thought out and molded. I really enjoyed M.J. ball busting seriousness and her sixth sense for the ultra-weird, Gilley's flirtatious attitude and hacking abilities, and Dr. Steven Sable's dedication to his patients and his non-stop prodding in trying to get M.J. to loosen up and to have a good time.

Mary Jane 'M.J.' Holliday – M.J. has always been able to communicate with the dead and help them cross over to the other side. Now some cross overs are easy and quick, but some can be right now nasty and dangerous if she isn't careful. M.J. and her partner, who is also her long time best friend, Gilley, have be hired by Dr. Steven Sable to prove the his Grandfather did not commit suicide. M.J. agrees to do the job, but there is one complication; Dr. Sable wants to come along and that is a big no-no in M.J.'s book. She doesn't want to bring him along afraid that all he would do is get in the way, but he won't have it any other way. M.J. is a ball busting, serious woman when it comes to her work. She doesn't fool around while she's around the dead, fearing that they might come across friendly and nice, but can't turn ugly if they don't like what they see that M.J. is doing.

Dr. Steven Sable – Steven Sable is sure that his Grandfather, Andrew Sable, did not commit suicide. So he hires M.J. even though he is a total skeptic when it comes to communicating with the dead and other such paranormal nonsense. He wants proof that M.J. can do what she says she can do before hiring her and making her mad in the process. Even though M.J. warns him what he might found out about his Grandfather might not be pretty, Dr. Sable wants to know the truth, even if it might not be what he expects.

Gilley 'Gil' Gillespie – Gilley is M.J.'s long time gay best friend who has a thing for 'one night flings', and then he's all business. He's a 'mad-hacker' and a non-stop flirt! But when Dr. Steven Sable comes with them on their ghost hunt. Gilley finds himself having a crush on Dr. Sable. When M.J. informs him that he will be going into the said 'haunted' house with her and Dr. Sable he is totally against it. He is the van guy, and he has no desire to go and face any ghosts. Which is a good thing and a bad.

Overall I give this book ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ – no more and no less!

Review by Lura

What's a Ghoul to do? – Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's a Ghoul to do?

Victoria Laurie

A SIGNET MYSTERY, year 2007

ISBN: 978-0-451-22090-5

Available format: Paperback & ebook

M.J. Holliday has two rules. One, she and her partner, Gilley Gillespie, work alone; and two, she doesn't date clients. But when handsome Dr. Steven Sable needs her help, the specter-spotting sleuth is ready to break both of her rules.

It seems the hot doc's grandfather jumped from the roof of the family lodge in an apparent suicide. But Dr. Sable knows in his bones it was foul play, and strange things keep happening at the lodge. He'll hire M.J. and Gilley- but only if he can come along. Hey, the duo needs the money- and looking at eye candy all weekend doesn't sound to bad, either…

But once they reach the lodge, the three realize they're dealing with more ghosts then just Grandpa Sable's. And the spooks keep playing nasty tricks on their human visitors. To the untrained eye, it would appear that ghouls just want to have fun. But M.J. knows they're communicating their distress- and it's up to her to figure out why…

I picked this book up because I've read Victoria Laurie series, Psychic Eye Mystery which I totally love. I read this book and thought to myself that Victoria Laurie knows what she's doing! She writes great books that keep you interested and on the edge of your seat. I really loved reading 'What's a ghoul to do?' and I can't wait to get the next book in the Ghost Hunter series 'Demons are a Ghoul's best friend' I bet it's full of Ghoulish fun!

Plot – ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ I really enjoyed the plot. It had that certain something that kept you wanting to read more and more.

Writing – ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ The writing was good and I really enjoyed reading Victoria Laurie's work! What I loved that I didn't have to go and look up words, and I didn't go through the book wondering when it was going to be over.

Characters – ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ I really thought the characters were well thought out and molded. I really enjoyed M.J. ball busting seriousness and her sixth sense for the ultra-weird, Gilley's flirtatious attitude and hacking abilities, and Dr. Steven Sable's dedication to his patients and his non-stop prodding in trying to get M.J. to loosen up and to have a good time.

Mary Jane 'M.J.' Holliday – M.J. has always been able to communicate with the dead and help them cross over to the other side. Now some cross overs are easy and quick, but some can be right now nasty and dangerous if she isn't careful. M.J. and her partner, who is also her long time best friend, Gilley, have be hired by Dr. Steven Sable to prove the his Grandfather did not commit suicide. M.J. agrees to do the job, but there is one complication; Dr. Sable wants to come along and that is a big no-no in M.J.'s book. She doesn't want to bring him along afraid that all he would do is get in the way, but he won't have it any other way. M.J. is a ball busting, serious woman when it comes to her work. She doesn't fool around while she's around the dead, fearing that they might come across friendly and nice, but can't turn ugly if they don't like what they see that M.J. is doing.

Dr. Steven Sable – Steven Sable is sure that his Grandfather, Andrew Sable, did not commit suicide. So he hires M.J. even though he is a total skeptic when it comes to communicating with the dead and other such paranormal nonsense. He wants proof that M.J. can do what she says she can do before hiring her and making her mad in the process. Even though M.J. warns him what he might found out about his Grandfather might not be pretty, Dr. Sable wants to know the truth, even if it might not be what he expects.

Gilley 'Gil' Gillespie – Gilley is M.J.'s long time gay best friend who has a thing for 'one night flings', and then he's all business. He's a 'mad-hacker' and a non-stop flirt! But when Dr. Steven Sable comes with them on their ghost hunt. Gilley finds himself having a crush on Dr. Sable. When M.J. informs him that he will be going into the said 'haunted' house with her and Dr. Sable he is totally against it. He is the van guy, and he has no desire to go and face any ghosts. Which is a good thing and a bad.

Overall I give this book ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ – no more and no less!

Review by Lura

The Sword of Darrow

The Sword of Darrow

By:  Alex & Hal Malchow

ISBN:  9781935618478

Published April 5, 2011 by BenBella Books

Available format:  Hardcover, Paperback, ebook

In a magical realm full of incredible creatures of every possible shape and size, war is brought upon the tranquil kingdom of Sonnencrest by the malicious and greedy goblin King Malmut. Princess Babette, the only remaining member of the royal family, manages to escape.  She soon finds safety with Asterux, a powerful wizard who teaches Babette magic and disguises her as an ugly gypsy girl to protect her from King Malmut's henchmen.

Ten years later, Babette uses her magic to aid Darrow, the kingdom's only hope in defeating the goblins and ending their horrible reign.  Darrow, a scrawny boy who can scarcely pick up a sword, bears a great gift for inspiring others. With Babette's behind-the-scenes support, Darrow begins a journey to free his country once and for all and bring much-needed peace back to Sonnencrest.

Written by a father and his eight-year-old son who struggled with a learning disability at the time, The Sword of Darrow is a charming quest that shows how even the most unexpected heroes can rise up against injustice.

My son received an advanced copy of this book for review from the publisher.  As a part of this early reader group, he also received a signed copy of the published version which lists his name in the back with all the other reviewers.  This was a great honor for both of us!

When we first began reading the book, it was extremely slow-going because it was a bit above his reading level (he was five and in Kindergarten).  I had to hurry and read through the book myself to help him be able to review it on time.  I told him about the story, and we talked about some things that we liked and didn't like.

Overall, there really wasn't much to complain about.  The main thing for us was that we wanted more visual stimulation.  Clayton was still very much into picture books, so as we read along, he was interested in what the characters looked like.  It was even hard for me to imagine some things because the characters were all so different and unique!  We mentioned in our review that we would love to see lots of illustrations in the published version.  In a personal email from Alex to Clayton, we were assured that there would be pictures to help us visualize the characters and events, and, having received our signed copy last week, they certainly fulfilled their promise!  The illustrator, JP Targete, is amazing!

The story is extremely well written, flowing perfectly and always holding the reader's attention.  With so many amazing and creative characters, The Sword of Darrow aspires toward the ranks of The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.  It was refreshing to be able to relate Clayton's attention deficit to Babette's learning differences and Darrow's physical challenges.  Each of them was able to overcome their struggles and accomplish amazing things—they literally were able to change their world.  Anyone who has a child with any kind of difficulty knows how painful it is to see them disheartened and how very important it is to encourage and lift them up in any way we can.  The Sword of Darrow is a wonderful way to convey the message that no matter what challenges we face, we all have the strength to rise above and make a difference in our world.

Clayton and I are rereading the book together and enjoying it very much so far!  I am considering purchasing one of the special edition hardcovers for him.  He has a hard time following along; I often catch him skipping words or lines.  I think he might really benefit from the special format designed for those with learning differences such as dislexia.

If the book itself is not inspirational enough, the story of how the book came about certainly is.  I am extremely grateful to Hal & Alex for sharing their wonderful story with my family and for the opportunity to spread the word about The Sword of Darrow.

You can learn more about the book here:  www.swordofdarrow.com and http://www.facebook.com/TheSwordofDarrow

You can purchase any of the three formats here:  Amazon

All authors' proceeds plus one half of the publisher's profits will be donated to learning disabilities charities.

 

Review by Cassie McCown

Dirty Blood

Title: Dirty Blood

Author: Heather Hildenbrand

Format: Paperback, E-Book

ISBN: 1461065712

Published: April 2011 by Accendo Press

Tara is a typical teenager making her way through high school, dealing with a not so nice girl and coming to terms with the fact that the guy she's dating isn't the guy meant for her. Her father died when she was a toddler, and she lives with her mother who practically smothers her with over-protectiveness.

While on a date with the guy who's better off her friend, she decides she's had enough of his football playing, no date showing, agent having ways. She tells him exactly what she thinks of him and then tells him to hit the road. Too bad that left her without a ride.

On her way to the bus stop she passes an alley where she finds a girl she thinks might need her help. When she gets closer the girl completely morphs into a snarling werewolf and attacks. Tara surprises herself by fighting back-and winning.

Once the shock wears off she finds herself looking down at the body of a dead girl-no longer a wolf. What just happened, and where does she go from here? A mysterious boy shows up and offers her answers and a ride. Little does Tara know that the minute she accepts his help her life will change forever.

I feel it is only fair to disclose that I am a werewolf loving woman. That's right, I'm obsessed. When there's a full moon I run out into my dark yard and wait for a furry hottie to come get me. Sadly, he hasn't arrived yet, but when he does…I'll be waiting.

Now that you know about my little obsession we can continue.

I consider myself a werewolf connoisseur (hey, if people who love wine can be wine connoisseurs then I can be one of werewolves). There are some very strict guidelines that one must follow when writing a werewolf book. What are said guidelines? That's for another time, people. I can tell you that Heather Hildenbrand followed these rules very well.

Dirty Blood has a really great plot. It was simple yet complex. There were layers to the story that unfolded as you read. When I got to the middle of the book I could not put it down, I was hooked. It is not your run of the mill werewolf story, but it still held firm to all the things we love about werewolves. What are those things you ask? I'll tell you. One: they are badass fighters. Two: They can kill you-but won't unless you deserve it. Three: deep down they are big puppy dogs. Four: They run in packs. Five: They like to eat meat. Now of course, there are exceptions…some werewolves are not very nice at all. This book has those guys too. Which, in my opinion, makes the good werewolves look even better.

Tara was a great character. She was strong and independent and never backed down from what she wanted. Curve balls came at her, and she faced them head on-even when everyone else tried to make her duck. She even stood up to those she loved when she thought they weren't treating her the way she deserved. But you know what else? She was really likable. She had a good head on her shoulders, and she was nice.

Now, let's discuss my favorite character in the book: Wes. This was one hottie of a werewolf. He was stubborn, pig-headed, over-bearing and his emotions ran hot and cold. What's not to love? He needed a strong woman to tell him how it is. Too bad that Tara was up to the task cause I would volunteer for that job any day. Did I mention that he was hot? And that he drove a cool car? But seriously, he was a really well developed character, his life had not been easy and instead of being angry and hateful he was driven and focused. He had a sense of duty and honor that he adhered to even when that meant that he couldn't have what he wanted.

The ending was satisfying, but still left enough for you to anticipate the next book, Cold Blood. And I am anticipating it. I can't wait to read it. Also I would like to add, that the book was put together really well. At the back of the book you are given an excerpt and a short story to read. It was a nice bonus in the back of an already good book.

And let me also disclose that the second book will be having a character by the name of Cambria. That's right, it's me. I won the grand prize in a blog contest and now the author will be using my name in the second book. Very appropriate wouldn't you say? Maybe just maybe….this girl might finally get her werewolf after all…..

Review is written by Cambria Hebert

The Dilemma

Title: The Dilemma

Director: Ron Howard

Genre: Comedy

Format: DVD and Digital Download

Rating: PG-13

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder, Channing Tatum and Queen Latifah

      Since college, Ronny and Nick have been best friends. Now, they are partners in an auto design business, and they are vying for a deal that could land them a lot of prestige and a lot of money. Nick (the brain behind the designing) is feeling the pressure of delivering the best design of his life and his wife, Geneva (played by Winona Ryder) is by his side. Ronny, a confirmed bachelor, seems to be unflappable, but still has the support of his girlfriend (Jennifer Connelly).

     But Ronny's cool façade doesn't last for very long.

     While out one day, Ronny stumbles upon Geneva and sees her making out with someone who is most definitely not his best friend. His easy going manner dissolves as he makes it his mission to get answers. As he debates on how to break the news to his best buddy, he learns that Nick has a few secrets of his own. The more he learns the harder his dilemma of confessing what he knows to his best friend becomes.

      To tell or not to tell, that is the question…

      I haven't seen a good ol' Bromance in a long time…if ever. But this is exactly what I would call this movie. Some may say that Ronny and Nick have a brotherly bond, and I would allow that. But to me it's a Bromance all the way.

      I wasn't sure what to expect when I turned this movie on, but you know I liked it. I thought it was pretty funny. Vince Vaughn and Kevin James make a good pair, and they play off each other well. As I watching them on the screen I wondered if perhaps they were friends in real life. They look like they would be. The make a nice couple….awwww.

     Okay, enough of the mushy guy stuff. This movie wasn't that mushy anyway. My favorite (and most manly) part of the movie was the cars. If you like to look at hot cars then this movie is for you. I, for one, have been trying to talk my husband into trading in his Dodge Ram for a Doge Challenger for months now. This movie just made my little obsession worse. Ronny drives a vintage Challenger convertible that is so sweet. And the current model Challenger they show is pretty awesome too.

     Ronny discovers that Nick's wife is cheating on him. He takes the news hard (even a little personally), and it seemed to shake everything he believed was possible for relationships. Which, I found very believable considering that he had seemed to look to his friend for relationship advice. He becomes obsessed with gathering evidence to use against Geneva, and he struggles with how and when to tell his buddy the bad news. Frankly, I found his amateur spying amusing, but not really believable. I kind of find it hard to believe that a man would go to such lengths to out his boy's woman. To me, if a guy was going to say anything, he would just say it over a beer and then buy the guy and extra shot or two. But, in the spirit of a Bromance I went along for the ride, and it was a good time.

     I found myself irritated and mad at Geneva a lot because of her behavior and even her lies. But I think the reason I got so irritated was because Winona Ryder played the character well. She played the part of a neglected, lonely wife to a tee and I understood when she got angry at Ronny for butting himself into her marriage.

      But, hey, lady….you do the crime, you pay the fine. And you deserved what you got.  

      Nick wasn't innocent in his marriage either.  Kevin James played the character well, appearing as a stressed out business man, having his "creative" outbursts but then apologizing later and trying to be a great friend. I think a lot of people can relate to him in that most of us are trying to hold it all together and put out a certain front to the world but behind closed doors…things aren't always what they seem. (Note: I am in no way saying that I visit the same massage parlor as him for certain services…get your minds out of the gutter people!)

     I cannot conclude this review without mentioning Queen Latifah, who cracked me up as a go get 'em business lady who considered herself as part of Ronny and Nick's team. And also, Channing Tatum,who played Geneva's boy toy, Zip. I have a little soft spot for this guy but I will say that when he took a bat to the classic Challenger (Oh, yes, he did!) I thought about smacking him. And what was with those clunky boots he was wearing? Frankly, I preferred when he was underdressed. But that is just me, I guess.

     In conclusion, the cast was good, the lines were funny, and the cars were sexy. What more could you want in a bromance? Even behind all the comedy there was a lesson to be learned here people. The movie is educational. Don't cheat on your spouse….and if you do…don't get caught. Throughout the movie I asked myself and my husband what would you do if you were in the same situation? I pondered the question for a while but could only come to one conclusion:

I'd sing like a canary then run like hell.

What would you do?

Review is written by Cambria Hebert

Zombie Bitches From Hell

ZOMBIE BITCHES FROM HELL

By Zoot Campbell

(Grand Mal Press 2011; 230 pgs. Pb)

The world has gone to Hell and the bitches are taking over. While trying to create an AIDS vaccine, scientists have inadvertently unleashed a new "disease" on the world—one that only affects women and turns them into zombies. Lock up your daughters, wives and granddaughters because the first chance they get they'll chow down on the family jewels and anything else they can get their teeth and claws on.

ZOMBIE BITCHES follows Kent, a reporter from Denver and his friend Tim who decide to make their way to Boston so that Kent can find and hopefully save his girlfriend Jen. Along for the ride in their hot-air balloon is Kent's trusty mutt MG and the owner of said balloon Rick. The story is told from Kent's point of view and relates the trouble they run into—from a convent full of zombie women, a barn with nursing home refugees and an old armory full of white supremacists.

The disease is named the GaGa after Lady GaGa collapses on stage and turns into one of the first hungry harpies from Hell while the world watches on television. As Kent and Tim make their way east the zombie hoardes make their way west, but a change is going on. The packs of screaming banshees are becoming organized. The undead women are evolving and they are determined to take over. When Kent finally makes it as far east as land will go he not only finds a sizeable stronghold of male survivors but he also discovers just how evolved and organized these bitches are.

Between the title, the author's name and the awesome cover art by Michael Lindsey, ZOMBIE BITCHES FROM HELL reminded me of an old pulp novel—in a good way. While I love my zombies the whole "apocalyptic zombie" thing can get a bit repetitive….but not with ZOMBIE BITCHES. Zoot Campbell adds a fresh narrative to the zombie sub-genre. The story flows nicely and character development is very good. The end of the novel totally works for me and there are a few nice surprises thrown in, including the question of Kent's sanity. Zoot Campbell left me wanting more…..and from what I understand, I'll get it. ZOMBIE BITCHES FROM HELL is a great addition to zombie lit and I can't wait to read more!

Colleen Wanglund

Summoning

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summoning

By:  Debi Faulkner

ISBN: 2940011864247

Published October 10, 2010

Available format:  ebook

My Rating: ★★★★☆

Based on an old Irish witch story, Summoning tells the tale of young Meredith.  Sold into seven years' servitude by her parents to pay only a year of their rent, Meredith learns there is more to her master than meets the eye.  One night she spies the Vicar making a deal with the devil himself—his soul as well as Meredith's in exchange for vast wealth.  Over the years as his servant, Meredith learns this dark craft and begins her own correspondence with the demon in hopes of finding her missing family once again.  When Meredith is accused of witchcraft and condemned to death, she must somehow save herself and those she loves before it is too late.

I was the lucky winner of Summoning in a Library Thing giveaway.

I am sure that I read the book description before entering the giveaway, but I actually began reading this book not really certain exactly what it was about.  This was another one that I went into with tentative expectations but found myself extremely impressed.

Debi Faulkner writes absolutely beautifully.  I have since learned that she is a poet, and that is obvious in the gorgeous prose of this novel.  She is a complete pro with imagery.  Without effort, I found myself right there with Meredith in the dank, cold cellar, dark, menacing mansion, and beautiful, rich orchard.  At first, I was a little thrown off by the jumps from the past to the present, but in the end it really worked out wonderfully.  I found practically no grammatical or mechanical errors as well which is always refreshing.

The characters are all strong and captivating.  Meredith is an impeccable protagonist, emphasized even more by the darkness and intrigue of the Vicar.  All the supporting characters, even Legion, were well-developed and added just the right touch to the overall story.  Meredith's entire life is shaped by these characters and the influence they each have over her.

This haunting story immediately grabbed my attention and kept me involved for hours.  I didn't want to leave Meredith's world.  This was a perfect read for a lazy Sunday afternoon!

Review by Cassie McCown

BIOMEGA

BIOMEGA vol. 1

Written and illustrated by Tsutomu Nihei

Published by VIZ Media (English), 2010 – 2011

Dark sci-fi/action/horror

Available in paperback

ISBN: 978-1421531847; 978-1421531854; 978-1421531861; 978-1421531878; 978-1421531885; 978-1421532776

Three-and-a-half stars

BIOMEGA 2

*

Fair warning: this is a review of a six-volume manga, not a prose book.

Roughly one millennia from now, the N5S virus is swiftly covering the earth, turning humans into drones (re: zombies). A young girl named Eon Green might hold the cure in her genes. "Synthetic humans" Zoichi and Nishu are sent to find her before anyone with apocalyptic designs on the human race does, and they'd better hurry: their enemies have decided to "baptize" the entire planet with N5S. But why? Have they gone mad, or do they have some sinister plan for the zombified human race?

BIOMEGA 3

The minute I opened the first volume of BIOMEGA, I was hooked. The dark, detailed art sucked me in and made the action-heavy story race forward. Full of nightmare monsters, awesome sci-fi mechanics, and inventive ideas like talking Russian bears and sentient motorcycles, BIOMEGA is as creative as it is horrifying.

BIOMEGA is mostly visual, and action scenes move the plot. There is zero characterization and very few scenes where the shooting stops, except when someone needs to explain something that inspires Zoichi and Nishu to go shoot at someone else. That's not bad by itself, but unfortunately, Nihei (the writer/artist) crams the manga with dozens of characters–most of whom look exactly alike–and several warring factions with difficult names or acronyms within very few pages. By the time we get to volume three, we have TOA under assault by the CEUs of the DRF, whose matriarch, Niarudi, is fighting

BIOMEGA 4

against Genaral Narein of…some enemy or another, who has a woman working under him that looks just like a) Zoichi's mother and b) a woman killed at the beginning of volume 2, which means I'm not sure when she was introduced or what she's doing exactly, and they're all heading for the MSCF on J9O, and I think I'm developing a headache.

For me, coolness ultimately trumped confusion. I loved looking at the art, at the way Nihei made his world come alive with such inventive ideas and action scenes that really moved. I actually felt the excitement, a rarity for me in pure action stories, and that made it worth sticking with the convoluted narrative. If you're a fan of horror art, action stories. or post-apocalyptic sci-fi, it'll probably be worth it to you, too.

BIOMEGA 5

*

Review by Elizabeth Reuter

The Midnight Meat Train

The Midnight Meat Train

 

Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura

Horror

2008

Rated R

Four-and-a-half stars, despite the ridiculous title.

*

Aspiring art photographer Leon (Bradley Cooper) shows his portfolio to gallery owner Susan Hoff (Brooke Shields), only for her to tell him his photos are no good. They're too restrained. Hoping to catch something more intense, Leon goes down into the subway and spies a mugging. Success: he gets some brilliant shots and scares off the attackers, saving the victim's life.

Bradley Cooper and Brooke Shields

…Except the next day, she's reported missing.

Leon last saw her boarding a midnight train, and begins riding it himself. The things he sees there grow steadily nastier, and his obsession with capturing every bit of filth on film soon drives him deep into secrets he'll soon wish he didn't know.

 

Midnight Meat Train is Clive Barker, and there are certain characters fans can easily associate with Clive Barker. Most prominent is the regular person who grows obsessed with something (gambling in Damnation Game, sex and  murder in Hellraiser) and becomes more and more twisted by their new addiction as the story goes on. Leon is one of these, and Cooper shows his transformation brilliantly. The man is a hell of an actor; I never had trouble

Don't explative deleted with Mahogany.

doubting Leon's obsession with capturing images of horror.

Vinnie Jones is terrifying as the silent murderer known only as Mahogany. With almost as much screen time as Cooper but no dialogue, Johnes had to work with his huge frame and expressive face, and he scared the crap out of me in a few scenes (a screen shot of one of them is to the left). Mahogany had a lot of personality, and I really, really want another movie with him in it.

Not surprisingly, Midnight Meat Train features blood. Lots and lots of blood and twitching limbs and eyeballs popping out of people's heads and the occasional beheading. Personally, I found it kind of silly (there's a great DVD featurette where Jones makes fun of all the gore), but that's just personal preference; if you like blood and guts in your horror films, you'll love it.

Much more interesting to me personally, it features dark, gritty sets that left me on edge wondering what would pop out of the shadows, great acting from the supporting cast, and a twist ending that I can pretty much guarantee you won't see coming. Barker might write similar characters in many of his stories–which is not a criticism, as most prolific authors do this–but no one has an imagination like he does when it comes to creating horrific creatures and shadows of the deep.

Following you? Me? No, of course not!

Midnight Meat Train did not get a wide theater release for some unfathomable reason, but it's found new life on DVD. I recommend it to fans of any kind of horror.

 

*

 

R