Christopher C. Payne's Blog, page 28

Flutter (My Blood Approves #3)

Flutter (My Blood Approves #3)

By:  Amanda Hocking

ISBN:  978-1453816905

Available Format:  Paperback, ebook

 

My Rating: ★★★☆☆

 

In the third installment of Hocking's My Blood Approves series, the protagonist, Alice Bonham, has finally joined the ranks of the undead.  Unfortunately for Alice, things aren't as great as she thought they would be when she crossed over.  While Milo is thriving both physically and emotionally, Alice finds things are still quite complicated for her.   Her relationships with Jack and Peter, as well as the brothers' relationship with each other, are still strained.  There is trouble at home, as Mae tries to reconnect with her former human family members.  Alice's best friend, Jane, now aware of the vampires' existence, is becoming a vampire bite addict.  Her whole world seems to be in chaos as Alice tries to adjust to her new abilities and desires.  In order to escape some of the stressors at home, and perhaps atone for hurting Peter, Alice volunteers to join Ezra on a rescue mission.  It could be, however, that the savage vampires they are up against will prove to be too much for even Ezra.

I bet quite a few of you are probably just about sick of hearing about this series from me!  It is getting a little more difficult for me to review these books, because really most of the issues have already been covered in previous reviews.  However, I am usually one to see things all the way through, so bear with me if you will.

The reader will certainly find much more action in Flutter than there was in the previous two installments of the series.  Now that Alice has been transformed, a lot of her human angst is finally in the past.  She certainly still has some issues, but Hocking seems to begin to move the focus on something else for a change.  The love triangle between her and Jack and Peter is obviously still there, but I believe it is less of a concern at this point.  I still prefer Peter over Jack, and I'm afraid I will never be satisfied.

The new characters Hocking introduces in this book, the "lycans," are interesting and refreshing.  It is also nice that we get to travel away from Alice's home and spend some time without Jack.  I couldn't help but be a tiny bit irritated about Jane, and I guess with any addict there will be some frustration.  It seems like my reaction to that situation was proper, and Hocking did a good job writing that in.

I was intrigued by the ending and anxious to see how the new situation with Mae and Peter would turn out.  It was a huge relief that all the tension between Alice and Jack was finally removed!  Flutter left me with enough interest to continue on to the next book.  I'm pretty easily persuaded, of course.  Ha!

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the other two, but it was still a good, quick read.  There are still quite a few grammar and mechanical errors in the ebook, but, as I mentioned in previous reviews, these may be forgiven because Hocking is self-published.  Some readers will absolutely adore this series, and some will just not be able to get through it.  The basic story is good and the writing could probably use some work, but I know from Hocking's other work that she does indeed improve!  If nothing else, the cover art is really pretty!  (I love trees and green is my favorite color .)

The moral of the story is:  Don't write the entire series off until you at least try it!

Review by Cassie McCown

 

Hanna

She's coming to get you...

 

Directed by Joe Wright.

Rated PG-13.

*

Hanna is the story of…Hanna (Saoirse Ronan), a 15 year old whose father Erik (Gerard Butler) has raised her alone in the woods, which isn't creepy at all. He's trained her to kill from birth for her protection, as powerful CIA agent Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett) is out to kill them both. Escaping from the woods when Wiegler finds them, Hanna and her father separate. Hanna must find her father and kill Wiegler before her life is cut very short.

Hanna is a fairy tale. A "princess in a tower" (Hanna) and her "kindly father" (Erik) must battle a "wicked queen/witch" (Wiegler), helped along the way by "kind-hearted and eccentric strangers" who, in defiance of reality and logic, help Hanna for no reason other than because they can. Sometimes the fairy-tale roots of the story are blatant–there's a scene where Hanna fights her

Getting ready.

way through an amusement park, owned by a man named Grimm, designed after fairy tales–but usually it's just a background to set action against.

…Which, unfortunately, doesn't quite work in my opinion. For an action story, writers can bend reality any way they want but the characters must feel real and the action must be awesome. Hanna didn't manage either. Character-wise, Hanna stumbling around the world trying to understand it is cliché; you'll recognize the "fish-out-of-water" jokes from every other fish-out-of-water movie you've ever seen. And the ease with which Hanna got things from people just by asking for them

Wiegler is displeased!

was hard to believe (though true to a fairy tale).

The action scenes were repetitious and sometimes a bit silly. There's one scene where Erik is surrounded by armed CIA agents, all of whom fight him hand-to-hand! None of them thinks to SHOOT him (until only one is left), and go at him one at a time so he can beat them up individually. How considerate.

The acting was great, though. Ronan is a rising star for a reason, and Butler and Blanchett are always exceptional. Blanchett, in particular, was pretty scary as a woman with

"I just missed your heart."

serious control issues. Her sidekick, the chipper, perverted psychopath Isaacs (Tom Hollander), made me want to crawl under my seat. Truly creepy, which made him a great movie villain.

Altogether, Hanna is well set up, well shot, and well acted. The content of the movie didn't work for me, but I went with a friend who found it "thrilling" and know plenty of others who thought the same. If you like action movies, Hanna just might be for you.

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire #2)

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire #2)

By:  George RR Martin

Available Format:  Hardcover, Paperback, ebook, Audiobook

My Rating:  ★★★★★

A Clash of Kings, the second of George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire epic fantasy series, picks up where A Game of Thrones ended.  It follows the same style—each chapter focused on a particular character from a limited third person view.   The newly contracted second season of HBO's Game of Thrones will depict this installment of the series.

Civil war plagues The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros as The War of the Five Kings ensues.   Joffery Baratheon, Renley Baratheon, Robb Stark, Balon Greyjoy, and Stannis Baratheon all declare themselves king and fighting breaks out in different areas of the kingdom for each of them.  When the brothers, Renley and Stannis, attempt a meeting to work out some sort of peace agreement between themselves and the Starks, mysterious events begin to occur.  After the failed meeting, Renley is murdered in his tent by a mere shadow in the night; a shadow that will later reappear to insure the Renley forces are completely disbanded.   Could the strange Red Priestess that Stannis has named his banner "woman" be the source of this cruel sorcery?  How far will Stannis take his claim to the iron throne?

In the North, Greyjoy, Eddard Stark's former ward, moves on Winterfell, now governed by little, crippled Bran and his Steward.  Greyjoy hunts down and murders the young Stark boys to strike fear and loyalty into the hearts of the citizens, but things are not always what they appear.  It seems karma is all that is in store for hasty Greyjoy.

King's Landing is also under attack.  Tyrion Lannister, Queen Cersei's dwarf brother, is now the Hand of the King and virtually ruling the broken kingdom as best he can.  When Stannis finally attacks the city, Tyrion finds himself where he never thought he would be:  right in the thick of raging battle.  The sudden arrival of his father, Tywin, changes many things for the so-called Imp.

On the wall, a ranging party is assembled to travel north and investigate the disappearance of others of the Night's Watch, particularly Jon's uncle, Benjen Stark.  The threat of the evil white walkers is ever present, but it soon becomes apparent that a more immediate danger is closing in on them.  The wildings are gathering together to march south, and the rangers are severely outnumbered.  Jon Snow is forced to make a dangerous choice that will either save his life or insure his death, while possibly aiding his homeland.

I know if you have read this far, you may be thinking, "What the heck is going on???"  You are absolutely correct in believing that there is a lot to follow in this series!  I think Martin had no other choice but to write each chapter from a different character's point of view (there are nine main characters in this book).  How else would he be able to tie in all the diverse events occurring across the Westeros and beyond?  With that, I think he does a wonderful job.  He is able to give the story a seamless flow, even as he is jumping from one person and place to the next.  Everything fits together like one big beautiful puzzle, and it takes some amazing talent to be able to do that with such a complex story.

My favorite character in A Clash of Kings is Arya, Eddard Stark's youngest daughter and sister to the newly named King Robb Stark of the North.  In A Game of Thrones, Arya was able to escape King's Landing with a group of men and boys en route to the Wall.  In this book, she and some of her companions are captured and essentially made slaves at the Lannister-held Harrenhal, where Arya now poses as a peasant serving girl.  She is approached by a mysterious man, Jaqen Hagar, who repays Arya for saving his life by taking three lives of her choice.  When his payment is complete, and the ownership of Harrenhal is subsequently changed, Hagar gives Arya a strange coin and phrase for her to use in an emergency.  There is obviously more to Hagar than we know, and I am anxious to see how that plays out.

I think I like Arya so much because she is a spitfire little tomboy with a huge, courageous heart.  I wonder if she will ever be able to make it home, and if she does, will she even have a home to return to?  I also anticipate some romance between her and Gendry, the former king's bastard son.  At least I hope there is!

A Clash of Kings is full of war and betrayal and mystery.  Martin certainly leaves enough unexplained to keep the reader interested in the series.  There is no way I could stop reading now!  Just like A Game of Thrones, each chapter is a little teaser that raises more and more questions while still carrying you a bit closer to the truth.

If you are fans of epic fantasy and massive, imaginative plots, then the Song of Ice and Fire series is must for your to-read lists!   My boring little review doesn't even being to do justice to Martin's immense talents.  Pick up a copy, get good and comfortable, and see for yourself!

Review by Cassie McCown

The Secret of the Sacred Scarab

The Secret of the Sacred Scarab by Fiona Ingram

iUniverse 2008

ISBN: 9780595457168

Available in paperback and e-book

 

Egypt – full of fantasy, adventure, secrets, curses, and treasure.  This intriguing land is one that I have always wanted to experience for myself, so anytime a fun new book comes out surrounding the mysteries of this extraordinary land, the temptation to dive in is overwhelming.

The same feelings sit with the heroes of our story.  Justin and Adam are two youngsters getting ready to go on a family outing with their famous Aunt Isabel. Adam and Justin cannot wait for the adventures to start, after all, if an adventure was going to start anywhere, Egypt would be the place.

Soon after the group arrives the mysteries start to unfold; a merchant slips free gifts  to the boys in a hurry and runs off before the boys can question him or even thank him!  Cameras are broken and rucksacks are nabbed.  In contradiction to Isabel's claims of "NO ADVENTURES", this trip is turning out exactly the way the boys would like.  Hidden messages, sacred objects, and danger at every stop.  Throw in a smuggling ring, and this is turning into a true life  story for these young boys.  What the boys soon learn is that the real adventures are often more dangerous and frightening than they seem from the outside.  Once fully immersed in the danger, you cannot wish yourself out.

This is a grand adventure for any child who is looking for a journey to one of the most fascinating areas on the planet.  With all of the secrets Egypt still has to offer, people of all ages are drawn to this place as were the boys in the story.  The pacing may be a bit slow for older readers, but I think any young adult will have a full experience with this book.  The story really gripped my interest as the final chapters unfolded.

The different tombs, areas, and the culture in this book will make even the most reluctant student want to pick up another book about Egypt.  This is the first of a series, and I have no doubt that the children will be waiting on pins and needles to get the next installment of the  adventures of Adam and Justin.

No Rest For The Wicked

Title: No Rest For The Wicked

Author Kersley Cole

POCKET STAR BOOKS, year 2006

ISBN:978-1-4165-0988-2

Available format: Paperback & ebook

A vampire soldier weary of life…
Centuries ago, Sebastian Wroth was turned into a vampire- a nightmare in his mind- against his will. Burdened with hatred and alone for ages, he sees little reason to live. Until an exquisite, fey creature comes to kill him, inadvertently saving him instead.



A Valkyrie assassin dispatched to destroy him…
When Kaderin the Cold Hearted lost her two beloved sisters to a vampire attack long ago, a benevolent force deadened her sorrow- accidentally extinguishing all of her emotions. Yet whenever she encounters Sebastian, her feelings- particularly lust- emerge multiplied. For the first time, she's unable to complete a kill.



Competitors in a legendary hunt…
The course will take them through ancient tombs and catacombs, seeking relics around the world, and the prize for victory is powerful enough for Kaderin to change history and prevent her sisters' death. Sebastian competes as well, and begins winning her. But when forced to choose between Sebastian and reuniting her family, how can Kaderin live without either?



No Rest For The Wicked is the 3rd book in the Immortals After Dark series, and I will just say one thing…this book doesn't disappoint. As I read this book I found myself losing myself through the pages and wanting to know more and more about Kresley Cole's supernatural world of darkness, life, family and the true meaning of love- and that nothing can change it when it happens to you, or anyone else.



Plot – ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ I really enjoyed the plot, it didn't give too much away or what was going to happen later in the book. At some points I was finding myself not beginning able to guess what was about to happen, or what had yet come to pass… I give the plot five stars!



Writing – ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ The writing in No Rest For The Wicked didn't really change any from A Hunger Like No Other, which I was glad to see. I enjoyed the writing in A Hunger Like No Other as such I enjoyed the writing in this book as well. I give the writing five stars!



Characters -  ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ I really enjoyed the characters in No Rest For The Wicked. I enjoyed getting to know them and knowing what they liked, disliked, and learning their each and every desire. I give the characters five stars!



Kaderin the Cold Hearted – I really enjoyed Kaderin's character. She was interesting, and the way her emotions came flooding back with a simple look or touch from Sebastian was just so romantic!



Sebastian Wroth – I don't know what it was about Sebastian, but I found myself just feeling so lost when he was the focus of the story at points. Learning about his turning, his family and such was just so amazing and sad all at the same time. He was strong, dark and mysterious and surprisingly innocent!



Bowen – Bowen is back and strong as ever…! He is as well in the hunt for the powerful item in hope of getting his mate back. Bowen will do anything to get his mate back, even if it means making some enemies in the process. That makes him a very powerful foe to mess with and if Kaderin and Sebastian aren't careful they could end up hurt, or worse…!



Overall I give this book ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ – nothing more and nothing less!

 

Tempest's Legacy

Tempest's Legacy by Nicole Peeter

Orbit 2011

ISBN: 978-0316056601

Available in e-book, mass market paperback and audio book

I never knew sea creatures could be so bad ass while holding on to that cute little innocence that drives photographers wild. The fantasy realm has a new contender vying for the most incredible supernatural creature. Weres and Vamps better hang on to their fangs because, in some cases, the flipper may be mightier…

For those of you who have not yet met Miss Jane True, she is a selkie. Part seal – the rest – all woman, which I think makes her extremely adorable, but do not let your guard down. She is a "do not mess with me" type of gal who will put you in your place, and then stand there wondering how she managed to do it. With the waves driving her strength, there are few opponents who can stop her once the tidal force behind this little woman is unleashed.

Miss Jane True is having quite the tough life lately, her mother is dead, and the new world she recently learned she belonged to is now in another struggle for survival. Someone/something is kidnapping her people and doing who knows what with them. All the community knows is that when they finally locate the missing women, it is only good because they can plan a burial. Jane thinks she knows who is behind all of these kidnappings and murders, but could she really be right? If she is, can they all be strong enough to bring this murderer to justice?

This story has a lot of what other fantasy novels have in them these days. Supes, half-bloods, magic, and sex. The one thing that I did really love about this book, is that although it hints at things at times, there was no real sex involved in this book. A few mentions of naughty thoughts, but nothing graphic…and definitely nothing overdone. I really love vampire and were books, but lately, a trend seems to have started…authors think that we have to have sex mixed with out supes in order to enjoy the story. They could not be more wrong, Nicole Peeler got it right in this book. There are hints of "adult" situations, but we could sit back, love a great, fast paced, gritting your teeth adventure without having to read through soft or hard core porn.

5 stars to Tempest's Legacy!! LOVED IT!!!!

Rango

Rango

Directed by Gore Verbinski

My Rating:  ★★★★☆

Rated PG for crude humor, language, action, and smoking.

Okay, I am aware this movie has been in theaters for almost two months, but when you're a mom of three you just have to get to things when you can!

In Rango (March 2011), Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski teams up once again with the ever-engaging Johnny Depp to create another theatrical masterpiece.  Paying tribute to classic favorites such as Don Quixote and Chinatown with a bit of Blazing Saddles tossed in, this film has a little something for everyone to love.  The stunning animation (finally something that is NOT in 3-D!) is courtesy of Industrial Light & Magic and is their first full-length animation venture.

A pet chameleon (Johnny Depp) who fancies himself as quite the thespian is accidentally tossed from his owner's car in the middle of the Mojave Desert.  After narrowly escaping becoming a hawk's afternoon snack, he meets a desert iguana, Beans (Isla Fischer), who takes him to the Old West town of Dirt where the water reserves are running dangerously and suspiciously low.  The once make-believe hero suddenly finds the opportunity to reinvent himself as a true hero by becoming Rango, a tough wanderer and the newest sheriff of Dirt.  Along the way he faces foes such as the gang of moles and Rattlesnake Jake (Bill Nighy).

Rango is not just a charming, entertaining animated flick.  It carries the viewer along Rango's existential journey to self-discovery and enlightenment.  There is also a strong overtone of the timeless issue of Socialism—the fine line between individual and society.  As usual, the desired balance is corrupted largely by the pursuit of personal wealth and power.  Romance also plays a part in the story, although it is kept refreshingly subtle throughout.

This film is certainly a clever, satirical, and beautifully animated venture designed for adults and children alike.  I truly believe this is simply a movie-lover's film, regardless of age.  The quirky dialogue holds the majority of the humor, and honestly that part is better suited for a more mature (and knowledgeable) audience.  Still, my almost-six-year-old was completely engrossed, and when I wasn't wrangling the two-year-old, I was too!  The only reason I could not give it five stars was because some of the humor and language was not exactly suitable for young children.

I definitely recommend getting out and catching Rango while it is still in theaters, or at the very least, be sure to purchase or rent it when it is available on Blu-ray and DVD (date unknown).

Review by Cassie McCown

Bone Marrow Stew

(Tasmaniac Publications 2011; HC limited, 460 pgs.)

BONE MARROW STEW is a fantastic short story collection from Tim Curran. With stories ranging from a man who can resurrect the dead in Paris, a theoretical physicist who sees into another dimension, the people caught in the middle of a migration of epic proportions on a mining colony and the things the men on a prison road crew actually do, there is something here for everyone.

My favorite story in the collection (although it's hard to choose) is "The Chattering of Tiny Teeth" about the things seen on a muddy, trench-filled battlefield in Flanders during World War I; it's so much worse than the dead, dying and usual horrors of war. Another favorite of mine is "Queen of Spades" about a group of children trying to scrape out an existence in a bombed out city during World War II; what's come looking for these children may be worse than the Nazi soldiers they were able to hide from. And how could I possibly leave out "The Legend of Black Betty", a tale about zombies and voodoo in the Old West.

Other great stories include "The Puppeteer" about the things that puppets may be able to do when no one is looking; "One Dark September Night…" about the scars one man has carried from a night with his friends; "The Architecture of Pestilence" about a snake-oil salesman and the consequences of his actions; and "Reign of the Eater" about the bringer of death….this one reads like dark poetry.

BONE MARROW STEW is an amazing collection. Tim Curran has a way of writing that draws you into the story. It's as if you're really there. You can almost hear the sounds and smell the smells. His prose is descriptive, dark and visceral. The introduction by Simon Clark and artwork by Keith Minion (the cover was designed by Deena Warner) just add to the collection. If you've never read anything by Tim Curran this is a good place to start. Have I mentioned that I'm a huge Tim Curran fan?

Review by: Colleen Wanglund

Bone Marrow Stew by Tim Curran

(Tasmaniac Publications 2011; HC limited, 460 pgs.)

BONE MARROW STEW is a fantastic short story collection from Tim Curran. With stories ranging from a man who can resurrect the dead in Paris, a theoretical physicist who sees into another dimension, the people caught in the middle of a migration of epic proportions on a mining colony and the things the men on a prison road crew actually do, there is something here for everyone.

My favorite story in the collection (although it's hard to choose) is "The Chattering of Tiny Teeth" about the things seen on a muddy, trench-filled battlefield in Flanders during World War I; it's so much worse than the dead, dying and usual horrors of war. Another favorite of mine is "Queen of Spades" about a group of children trying to scrape out an existence in a bombed out city during World War II; what's come looking for these children may be worse than the Nazi soldiers they were able to hide from. And how could I possibly leave out "The Legend of Black Betty", a tale about zombies and voodoo in the Old West.

Other great stories include "The Puppeteer" about the things that puppets may be able to do when no one is looking; "One Dark September Night…" about the scars one man has carried from a night with his friends; "The Architecture of Pestilence" about a snake-oil salesman and the consequences of his actions; and "Reign of the Eater" about the bringer of death….this one reads like dark poetry.

BONE MARROW STEW is an amazing collection. Tim Curran has a way of writing that draws you into the story. It's as if you're really there. You can almost hear the sounds and smell the smells. His prose is descriptive, dark and visceral. The introduction by Simon Clark and artwork by Keith Minion (the cover was designed by Deena Warner) just add to the collection. If you've never read anything by Tim Curran this is a good place to start. Have I mentioned that I'm a huge Tim Curran fan?

Review by: Colleen Wanglund

Wolves Dressed as Men

Wolves Dressed as Men by Steve Lowe

Eternal Press 2010

ISBN 9781615722372

Available in e-book and paperback

 

Mercy – it is a word that many people hope will be shown to them in their time of need, but what does mercy truly mean? Snuffing out one life for the sake of many other lives, or is the risk of saving that one life merciful enough?

The Tracker understands his form of mercy.  Handed down through generations his task has been sent down from God to save the world from the demons of the Devil himself.  He will destroy every last one of them and anyone who stands in the way.

Theiss is in need of true mercy.  His life has been stripped from him, right down to his very being.  He can not recall even his own name.  All there is – is right now – and the urges that come in the night.  Momentary eases in the anger and pain come in the beautiful form of Maria, a woman who sees the turmoil behind his eyes and resting in his soul.

Jocoby is a journalist who has seen his better days, reduced to writing drivel in a common tabloid.  Stumbling across the story that could make his career with this company, he discovers that the unbelievable is happening.  The werewolf exists; the werewolf lives.  A real story is here, not a manufactured one waiting on the presses.  Jacoby starts out to catch the truth, and ends up with more than he can claw his way through.

Although quite short, this book gives plenty of bang for the buck.  There is no time in its pages for a lull in the action.  Everything is there that is needed, no extra garbage added in to give the author the feel of a "full" novel.  This has everything one one quaint, convenient package.  The cover is brilliant.  The tracker is depicted on the front, outlined and see-though.  To me this represents his personality and his purpose perfectly.  Noticeable – but without true substance.  He was following an old set of laws blindly, mindlessly.  The thought of true mercy never crossing his mind.

The depth given to the characters in the book are surprising given the short amount of time we have with each of them, the feelings and thoughts are expressed without many of them saying a word.  Steve does not take his audience for fools – having to spell out to the letter what is going on with each of them, giving us a chance to feel it with them through the experience.

A werewolf story truly turns into a thought provoking read in Wolves Dressed as Men.  Don't be that lazy reader and let these pages slide by you without picking up the brilliance and subtlety contained between the covers.