Phil Giunta's Blog, page 94
April 2, 2013
Book Review: Wrong Side of Dead by Kelly Meding
The fourth and most recent volume in Meding's Dreg City series takes everything that she had built in the first three books, shakes it up, flips it and drops it on its head. Following her escape from torture at the hands of crazed scientist Walter Thackery, Evangeline "Evy" Stone returns to find an alliance forged between humans, vampires, and Therians (shape-shifters that change from animal to human form) united against a common foe, Thackery.
The devious geneticist is determined to find a cure for the infection in humans caused by vampire saliva. Years before, Thackery's wife and son had been attacked and bitten by half-human vampires (known as "Halfies"). When he was unable to find a cure for the raging, murderous insanity that consumes Halfie victims, Thackery had been forced to kill his family. Now, his obsession for finding the antidote has driven him far beyond the bounds of compassion and medical ethics and into ruthless barbarism. After a fruitless attempt to find it through sadistic experimentation on Evy Stone, whose uncanny ability to spontaneously heal was thought to be the answer, Thackery turns his attention along a new path of research...
The adventure begins when Boot Camp, a brutal military-style academy for training human Hunters, is attacked and destroyed by monstrous genetically-altered creatures created by Thackery himself. Evy Stone had been trained there as well as dozens of other Hunters who, upon graduation, are grouped in teams of three known as Triads and assigned to a Handler. The Handler is responsible for sending his or her Triad on missions throughout the city, typically to kill non-human creatures of the night when they get out of line.
This untested and dubious alliance of humans and non-humans makes its headquarters in an abandoned shopping mall, now retrofitted with a war room, crew quarters, infirmary, holding cells, cafeteria and gymnasium. A magic spell surrounds the area, subtly dissuading passersby from paying the slightest attention. The facility is dubbed "The Watchtower." No sooner does this new order set up shop than seven Therians are reported missing from their homes, thought to be kidnapped by agents working for Thackery.
To make matters worse, in a recent incursion with Halfies on a bus, one of their own Hunters, Felix, fell victim to their bite and has himself become one of them. He had managed to escape and is now at large. Due to the danger they pose to society, Halfies are hunted with extreme prejudice and killed on sight. Yet when Evy and her Therian allies corner Felix on the rooftop of a nightclub, they are surprised to find that he is rational, cogent and rather...well...sane. Rather than kill him, they capture and imprison Felix at the Watchtower for questioning where he admits to working with Thackery and that the scientist has found a drug that inhibits the madness caused by Halfie saliva. Unfortunately, before Felix can answer any further questions, a bomb implanted inside his body by Thackery detonates.
Although only Felix is killed, the bomb releases an airborne toxin that infects the pure-breed vampires living and working in the Watchtower. Worse, it is discovered that Thackery has employed not just one, but a pack of werewolves known as Lupa, long thought to be exterminated by the other Therians centuries ago. While on a mission, Evy and her Handler-turned-lover Wyatt Truman are attacked by one of the Lupa and Wyatt is bitten. It is not long before his body and mind are ravaged by the poison from the werewolf's saliva and the Watchtower's CMO is forced to induce coma to stabilize him.
With the odds now stacked against them, will the alliance be able to track down Thackery and the missing Therians before his new line of research leaves yet another trail of bodies in its wake? And what of Wyatt? Will he be cured of the poison that is turning man into beast, or will Evy lose him forever?
And is there an even deeper conspiracy at work? One that calls into question the very founding of the Triads, Boot Camp and the Hunters?
Like the other books in the series, Wrong Side of Dead is a quick, action-packed read that ties up a few loose ends in the previous books without actually resolving all of them—and introduces two or three more. Clues and hints, cleverly sprinkled throughout the series, bear fruit here and are clear evidence of thorough world-building and plotting. Word has it that although Bantam Dell has canceled the Dreg City series, Meding will self-publish the fifth installment. As of this writing, I have not heard of a release date.
Overall, it has been an enjoyable saga thus far. As far as protagonists go, Evy Stone is at times amazing and other times infuriating and unreasonable. However, like any good hero, she undergoes an obvious change from hard-ass killer—who actually enjoys her job—to rape and murder victim only to be resurrected in a new body and slowly transform into a woman still more than capable of handling herself, but also of expressing love and kindness in a life that has precious little of either. As the review states in the cover image below, Meding is a real storyteller who knows how to move the story along, write dynamic action scenes and develop strong, memorable characters.
The devious geneticist is determined to find a cure for the infection in humans caused by vampire saliva. Years before, Thackery's wife and son had been attacked and bitten by half-human vampires (known as "Halfies"). When he was unable to find a cure for the raging, murderous insanity that consumes Halfie victims, Thackery had been forced to kill his family. Now, his obsession for finding the antidote has driven him far beyond the bounds of compassion and medical ethics and into ruthless barbarism. After a fruitless attempt to find it through sadistic experimentation on Evy Stone, whose uncanny ability to spontaneously heal was thought to be the answer, Thackery turns his attention along a new path of research...
The adventure begins when Boot Camp, a brutal military-style academy for training human Hunters, is attacked and destroyed by monstrous genetically-altered creatures created by Thackery himself. Evy Stone had been trained there as well as dozens of other Hunters who, upon graduation, are grouped in teams of three known as Triads and assigned to a Handler. The Handler is responsible for sending his or her Triad on missions throughout the city, typically to kill non-human creatures of the night when they get out of line.
This untested and dubious alliance of humans and non-humans makes its headquarters in an abandoned shopping mall, now retrofitted with a war room, crew quarters, infirmary, holding cells, cafeteria and gymnasium. A magic spell surrounds the area, subtly dissuading passersby from paying the slightest attention. The facility is dubbed "The Watchtower." No sooner does this new order set up shop than seven Therians are reported missing from their homes, thought to be kidnapped by agents working for Thackery.
To make matters worse, in a recent incursion with Halfies on a bus, one of their own Hunters, Felix, fell victim to their bite and has himself become one of them. He had managed to escape and is now at large. Due to the danger they pose to society, Halfies are hunted with extreme prejudice and killed on sight. Yet when Evy and her Therian allies corner Felix on the rooftop of a nightclub, they are surprised to find that he is rational, cogent and rather...well...sane. Rather than kill him, they capture and imprison Felix at the Watchtower for questioning where he admits to working with Thackery and that the scientist has found a drug that inhibits the madness caused by Halfie saliva. Unfortunately, before Felix can answer any further questions, a bomb implanted inside his body by Thackery detonates.
Although only Felix is killed, the bomb releases an airborne toxin that infects the pure-breed vampires living and working in the Watchtower. Worse, it is discovered that Thackery has employed not just one, but a pack of werewolves known as Lupa, long thought to be exterminated by the other Therians centuries ago. While on a mission, Evy and her Handler-turned-lover Wyatt Truman are attacked by one of the Lupa and Wyatt is bitten. It is not long before his body and mind are ravaged by the poison from the werewolf's saliva and the Watchtower's CMO is forced to induce coma to stabilize him.
With the odds now stacked against them, will the alliance be able to track down Thackery and the missing Therians before his new line of research leaves yet another trail of bodies in its wake? And what of Wyatt? Will he be cured of the poison that is turning man into beast, or will Evy lose him forever?
And is there an even deeper conspiracy at work? One that calls into question the very founding of the Triads, Boot Camp and the Hunters?
Like the other books in the series, Wrong Side of Dead is a quick, action-packed read that ties up a few loose ends in the previous books without actually resolving all of them—and introduces two or three more. Clues and hints, cleverly sprinkled throughout the series, bear fruit here and are clear evidence of thorough world-building and plotting. Word has it that although Bantam Dell has canceled the Dreg City series, Meding will self-publish the fifth installment. As of this writing, I have not heard of a release date.
Overall, it has been an enjoyable saga thus far. As far as protagonists go, Evy Stone is at times amazing and other times infuriating and unreasonable. However, like any good hero, she undergoes an obvious change from hard-ass killer—who actually enjoys her job—to rape and murder victim only to be resurrected in a new body and slowly transform into a woman still more than capable of handling herself, but also of expressing love and kindness in a life that has precious little of either. As the review states in the cover image below, Meding is a real storyteller who knows how to move the story along, write dynamic action scenes and develop strong, memorable characters.
April 1, 2013
Chatting up "Root for the Undergods" on the Crazy 8 Press blog!
Today on the Crazy 8 Press blog, I chat briefly about "Root for the Undergods", my short story to be included in ReDeus: Beyond Borders, to be released in late May and launched at Balticon 47.
Click here to check out the article.
Click here to check out the article.
March 28, 2013
Goodreads Joins the Amazon Family
Goodreads announced today that it is merging with Amazon.
Check out the blog post and press release .
Check out the blog post and press release .
March 27, 2013
The Gods are Back...Again!
I am excited to report that I have been invited back to work with award-winning writers Bob Greenberger, Aaron Rosenberg and Paul Kupperberg on their short story series, ReDeus. My latest short story, “Root for the Undergods", will be published in
ReDeus: Beyond Borders, the second volume in the fantasy series
.
ReDeus chronicles the return of the world’s mythological gods in the 21stcentury, beginning with a grand re-entrance at the 2012 summer Olympics. Needless to say, humanity has changed significantly over the many centuries and life certainly becomes interesting as the gods attempt to reclaim their old domains…and worshippers.
In "Root for the Undergods", the year is 2022 and the gods of the Gaul empire have spent the last 10 years hiding in a castle in Luxembourg, forgotten by humanity and overshadowed by the more powerful pantheons, especially the Romans. How do these demoralized, depressed, dispirited deities deal with their dilemma? They call superstar motivational speaker, Orlando Start! However, the return of the gods has ruined Orlando's business and his life. Everyone has abandoned him, including his wife. Orlando finds himself eventually homeless and on the verge of suicide, when he receives a job offer that he simply cannot refuse. In helping these ancient beings redefine themselves in this new age and step out onto the world stage, can Orlando find new purpose in his own life?
The series began with ReDeus: Divine Tales , which premiered at Shore Leave last August. Beyond Borders will debut at Balticon 47 in late May from Crazy 8 Press. Check out the fantastic cover art below from Lorraine Schleter !
ReDeus chronicles the return of the world’s mythological gods in the 21stcentury, beginning with a grand re-entrance at the 2012 summer Olympics. Needless to say, humanity has changed significantly over the many centuries and life certainly becomes interesting as the gods attempt to reclaim their old domains…and worshippers.
In "Root for the Undergods", the year is 2022 and the gods of the Gaul empire have spent the last 10 years hiding in a castle in Luxembourg, forgotten by humanity and overshadowed by the more powerful pantheons, especially the Romans. How do these demoralized, depressed, dispirited deities deal with their dilemma? They call superstar motivational speaker, Orlando Start! However, the return of the gods has ruined Orlando's business and his life. Everyone has abandoned him, including his wife. Orlando finds himself eventually homeless and on the verge of suicide, when he receives a job offer that he simply cannot refuse. In helping these ancient beings redefine themselves in this new age and step out onto the world stage, can Orlando find new purpose in his own life?
The series began with ReDeus: Divine Tales , which premiered at Shore Leave last August. Beyond Borders will debut at Balticon 47 in late May from Crazy 8 Press. Check out the fantastic cover art below from Lorraine Schleter !
March 18, 2013
Testing the Prisoner get a new look!
My first paranormal mystery novel,
Testing the Prisoner
, will soon have a fantastic new cover thanks to Laura Inglis (artist) and Chris Winner (layout). Laura and Chris also created the cover to my second novel,
By Your Side
. Since both are paranormal tales and include a cross-over character, I wanted a cover that held a similar artistic style. My deepest appreciation to a fantastic publisher,
Steven H. Wilson
of
Firebringer Press
for agreeing to a new cover!
The cover is already on Goodreads and Smashwords. Hopefully, it will hit Amazon and B&N soon.
The cover is already on Goodreads and Smashwords. Hopefully, it will hit Amazon and B&N soon.
March 15, 2013
Book Review: Another Kind of Dead by Kelly Meding
The third installment of the Dreg City series follows a simpler storyline and tighter cast of characters than the first two volumes. The book opens with a scene of closure as Evangeline "Evy" Stone, Wyatt Truman, and Leo Forrester pay their final respects to Leo's son at a local cemetary. Alex had been the roomate of Chalice Frost in whose body Evy had awakened after returning from the dead in book one. Unfortunately, the ever-loyal Alex involved himself in Evy's life as a bounty hunter of the city's non-human inhabitants. For his trouble, Alex had ended up a "Halfie" (human/vampire hybrid), forcing Evy to kill him.
After the funeral, Leo moves on with his life, but not before private detective James Reilly shows up asking questions about things he should know nothing about. However, he speaks only to Leo and Wyatt (Evy's manager-turned-lover) because Evy herself is carrying a crystal of invisibility. Evy is considered a fatality of a warehouse fire set by her fellow bounty hunter. In other words, Evy Stone is dead--again.
After Wyatt dismisses the private investigator, Leo leaves the city to move on with this life but not before Wyatt and Evy are shaken by a minor tremor. The fact that Leo does not feel it indicates that it was not an earthquake, but something meant only for those who are Gifted with special abilities.
Back at their apartment, a man known as Jaron arrives mortally wounded. Jaron is a human host who is occasionally possessed (voluntarily or not) by a member of the Fey, a group of fairies and sprites that live far beneath the Earth's surface near the "Break", the source of all magic. The Fey appear in our world strictly in the form of their avatars (hosts).
Jaron's final words warn of betrayal. No sooner does he die than his killer arrives--a half-goblin/half-human out for blood. After a vicious brawl, Evy and Wyatt manage to subdue the creature and learn that he was sent by one Walter Thackery. Thackery is a scientist that had also been the silent partner of Tovin, the maniacal elf who had been experimenting with hybrid creatures in book one.
As the story unfolds, our heroes come to find that Thackery's wife and son had been attacked by Halfies years before. Thackery had raced to find the antidote to the parasite in vampire saliva, but was unsuccessful. As a result, he had been forced to kill them. Now, the scientist will do whatever it takes to continue his research and find a cure--and no one will stand in his way.
Unfortunately for Evy, her ability to spontaneously heal makes her the perfect test subject for Thackery's "study" (read: torture). When Thackery kidnaps one of Evy's friends and demands an exchange, Evy puts her life on the line yet again. Will she survive Thackery's hidden lab of horrors? Will Thackery find the antidote and if not, what further horrors will the lunatic scientist unleash on the city?
Like the previous volumes, Another Kind of Dead was a quick and enjoyable read. Meding should be applauded for her consistency in both her characters and voice. Again, though, I have to chuckle at how often her characters "flinch" when being told off by Evy. That has actually become a noticeable--and somewhat unnatural--trend. At times, some of the characters abruptly change mood or tone or react in ways that do not quite ring true for the situation, but I chalk that up to Meding's style. Next up, the fourth and final entry in the series (for now), Wrong Side of Dead.
After the funeral, Leo moves on with his life, but not before private detective James Reilly shows up asking questions about things he should know nothing about. However, he speaks only to Leo and Wyatt (Evy's manager-turned-lover) because Evy herself is carrying a crystal of invisibility. Evy is considered a fatality of a warehouse fire set by her fellow bounty hunter. In other words, Evy Stone is dead--again.
After Wyatt dismisses the private investigator, Leo leaves the city to move on with this life but not before Wyatt and Evy are shaken by a minor tremor. The fact that Leo does not feel it indicates that it was not an earthquake, but something meant only for those who are Gifted with special abilities.
Back at their apartment, a man known as Jaron arrives mortally wounded. Jaron is a human host who is occasionally possessed (voluntarily or not) by a member of the Fey, a group of fairies and sprites that live far beneath the Earth's surface near the "Break", the source of all magic. The Fey appear in our world strictly in the form of their avatars (hosts).
Jaron's final words warn of betrayal. No sooner does he die than his killer arrives--a half-goblin/half-human out for blood. After a vicious brawl, Evy and Wyatt manage to subdue the creature and learn that he was sent by one Walter Thackery. Thackery is a scientist that had also been the silent partner of Tovin, the maniacal elf who had been experimenting with hybrid creatures in book one.
As the story unfolds, our heroes come to find that Thackery's wife and son had been attacked by Halfies years before. Thackery had raced to find the antidote to the parasite in vampire saliva, but was unsuccessful. As a result, he had been forced to kill them. Now, the scientist will do whatever it takes to continue his research and find a cure--and no one will stand in his way.
Unfortunately for Evy, her ability to spontaneously heal makes her the perfect test subject for Thackery's "study" (read: torture). When Thackery kidnaps one of Evy's friends and demands an exchange, Evy puts her life on the line yet again. Will she survive Thackery's hidden lab of horrors? Will Thackery find the antidote and if not, what further horrors will the lunatic scientist unleash on the city?
Like the previous volumes, Another Kind of Dead was a quick and enjoyable read. Meding should be applauded for her consistency in both her characters and voice. Again, though, I have to chuckle at how often her characters "flinch" when being told off by Evy. That has actually become a noticeable--and somewhat unnatural--trend. At times, some of the characters abruptly change mood or tone or react in ways that do not quite ring true for the situation, but I chalk that up to Meding's style. Next up, the fourth and final entry in the series (for now), Wrong Side of Dead.
March 12, 2013
By Your Side is Available on Amazon!
I am pleased to report that
By Your Side is now available in paperback on Amazon
with the Kindle edition soon to follow!
March 11, 2013
BY YOUR SIDE Makes its "International Debut"
One of my co-workers, Noreen, brought her copy of
By Your Side
to Belgium! Here she is in the Grand Platz (Grand Place) in Brussels. Thank you for helping with my book's "international debut", Noreen! :-)
About This Writing Stuff...
Since it appears that I will have no time at all in March to record the audio verison of
By Your Side
, this blog will return to a semi-regular schedule. Albeit, this week, I'm presenting a slightly thinner edition of About This Writing Stuff as I'm promoting the new book and prepping for a minor home renovation project kicking off on Thursday.
I certainly didn't want to miss out on all the Hydra hysteria this week! Seems that Scalzi and the SFWA want to decapitate this multi-headed serpent. Seriously, aside from being the terrible creature of myth, wasn't Hydra the terrorist organization led by Red Skull in Captain America? For that reason alone, I'd run away from a publishing company so named.
As always, we have articles on craft from Donald Maass and my favorite ginger SF blogger, Veronica Sicoe. Also, my publisher has set up a giveaway for By Your Side on Goodreads through April 8. Exciting!
Rich Relationships by Donald Maass
A Contract from Alibi by John Scalzi
Note to SF/F Writers: Random House's Hydra Imprint has Appallingly Bad Contract Terms by John Scalzi
New Writers, eBook Publishers and the Power to Negotiate by John Scalzi
A Warning about British Indie Publisher Autharium on The Passive Voice
SFWA Fires Back at Hydra With Strongly Worded Letter by Digital Book Wire
Villains - Do You Keep or Kill Them? and The Hero's Journey - My Pros and Cons by Veronica Sicoe
Goodreads Giveaway for By Your Side ends April 8!
I certainly didn't want to miss out on all the Hydra hysteria this week! Seems that Scalzi and the SFWA want to decapitate this multi-headed serpent. Seriously, aside from being the terrible creature of myth, wasn't Hydra the terrorist organization led by Red Skull in Captain America? For that reason alone, I'd run away from a publishing company so named.
As always, we have articles on craft from Donald Maass and my favorite ginger SF blogger, Veronica Sicoe. Also, my publisher has set up a giveaway for By Your Side on Goodreads through April 8. Exciting!
Rich Relationships by Donald Maass
A Contract from Alibi by John Scalzi
Note to SF/F Writers: Random House's Hydra Imprint has Appallingly Bad Contract Terms by John Scalzi
New Writers, eBook Publishers and the Power to Negotiate by John Scalzi
A Warning about British Indie Publisher Autharium on The Passive Voice
SFWA Fires Back at Hydra With Strongly Worded Letter by Digital Book Wire
Villains - Do You Keep or Kill Them? and The Hero's Journey - My Pros and Cons by Veronica Sicoe
Goodreads Giveaway for By Your Side ends April 8!
March 10, 2013
BY YOUR SIDE Premieres This Week!
I'm excited to report that my second paranormal thriller, By Your Side, premieres this week! It should hit Amazon on March 12, but even now, you can find it on:
Goodreads Smashwords
Barnes and Noble
(preliminary information right now).
We are also hosting a Goodreads giveaway until April 8!!
We are also hosting a Goodreads giveaway until April 8!!
