A. Renee Hunt's Blog, page 58

Hell Freezes Over: Book 3, The Paladin Sequence by Lance Tuck

     Monsters are terrifying because they're things we can't control.  They're vicious and vile things that creep from beneath our beds and slither from our closets.  But what about the ones formed from faith?  When they come from the very Word we seek comfort from... The Bible, or worse?

     Book 2 in The Paladin Sequence, Hell Freezes Over, is where the monsters aren't just from the dark recesses of our imaginations, but from the fiery pits we're told could be our eternal fate!  Lance Tuck takes the creatures God put into being and says: There's so much more!  Well, actually Abandon said it, but WOW!  This book took it all to another level, featuring an epic battle of demons, Demon Lords and more, fighting against priests and exorcists!

     It's hard to tell the good from the bad, and that's what makes this novel such an adventure.  The story comes in with Paladin racing to the hospital; Ironblood is in mortal distress and something is using the situation to lure Paladin into a brand new war.        Hell Freezes Over gave me views of more than just one hero and a villain or two.  It gave everyone's views, where they came from, how they began work with the B. O. E. (Bureau of Exorcisms) or the Vatican and Hands of God.  It also gave some nightmarish background information that made me wonder who's really the bad guy?  That's what's so great about Tuck's novels.  You aren't quite sure who to cheer for because everyone's got a reason to be angry, hurt or vengeful.  

​     If you think you're interested in reading this book- be sure to go back and catch up by checking out books one (Devil's Garden) and two (Devil's Night).  You will be swept away,  I guarantee it!
On to the next read!

Insects (The Insects Trilogy) by John Koloen

     The best part of having a Kindle Unlimited account is being able to snag up just about any book!  Before KU, I only owned book one of this trilogy.  After I joined, I found out the entire set was available for download, so I jumped right  in.  

     Nothing makes me happier than a good insect book and this trilogy, Insects, by John Koloen, kept me pretty happy.  I can't say I was 100% satisfied, but you'll understand into my review.  I'll begin with book one: Insects.      Insects is the story of the guy who wanted to become famous.  Duncan is an entomologist looking to not become rich (though as the gravy, that's primo!) but for fame.  He wanted his name published in papers, books and lead lectures= a form of immortality.  He wanted the notoriety in discovering what no one else had ever been able to touch, witness and study first-hand.  The reptilus blaberus was his thing, his bug and his ticket to fame, but at what cost?    The three books, Insects, Insects: The Hunted and Insects: Specimens, all three were about the carnivorous reptilus blalerus.  They were vicious critters that attacked the eyes and other soft tissue before using orifices to attack from within.  Koloen used his literary skills to describe attacks that made it impossible for me to sit still while reading.  The communal attacks by the scouts and colony were ungodly.  In book three, I had to turn past a page and a half as one man, covered in the killer creatures, fell into a full tank of the monsters... ghastly!  But the author did his job and I was grossed out.  Excellent job!

     But now I need to say why I gave this series a lower rating.  I love horror and I like monsters- and these were  unique- but in each book, there was a lot of lag.  There was so much by way of description of the activities made by the scientists and their bad luck, I was bored to freaking death!  Then the climax of each book hit at the end of the story, keeping me hooked only because I wanted to get to the nitty gritty!  I HATE THAT!

     Lastly, while the expeditions were conducted in Brazil, many times the author stated something in Portuguese but didn't give the translation.  Good thing I was reading on my trusty iPad mini, equipped with the iTranslate app.  ANY language and I'm set!  But seriously, if you're going to have another language going on, put the translation in there, so I won't have to look for it.  He did the same with a few scientific/entomological definitions.  I had to look them up too, but someone must have said something around the second book, because book three explained a bit more.

     So that's it.  I loved all the horrific activity, but I had to really dig to get to them.  I just thought there'd have been so much more. If you like to be creeped out and jump at the smallest strand of hair that brushes your neck, this is your book!  Check it out while I move on to the next read! 

The Autopsy of Jane Doe

     If you're looking for horror on a classic scale, this is the movie to watch.  The Autopsy of Jane Doe is written with one mission in mind: to give you a goreless and classic scare.  This is usually not my cup of tea, but it's what I grew up with, so it didn't take long before I was caught up.

     The story is about a young man and his father, working the family business: Death.  The father is a pathologist, with his son assisting him- training, so to speak. (There's a story behind that)  When the Sheriff brings in the body of a young woman, an enigma, the men get to work, hoping to find the cause of death by morning.  What they find is confusing, baffling, and eventually horrific.

     Carried out in a style that kept me glued to the front of my tv, even standing before the screen at times, I was sucked right in.  The movie had its way, manipulating my security, leaving me unable to guess anything that happened next.  I watched in wonder as these men, accustomed to death, attempt to comprehend the nefarious question that was Jane Doe.  It also managed to distract me, encapsulating me in the WHY of the story, allowing me to not even miss the clichéd horrors of most horror movies for something so much better.  THAT's why I loved the movie so much!  

     Unpredictable and conundrum-ish, I think you should check out The Autopsy of Jane Doe. You can find it in theaters, but for a short time, iTunes is renting it for $6.99.  It's a good movie and very different- I've no doubt you'll enjoy it too! I'm on to the next pic!

The Autopsy of Jane Doe
Written by Ian B. Goldberg and Richard Naing
Directed by André Øvredal
December 21, 2016

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

*Audio Review     NOS4A2 pays tribute to a King of horror, by mentioning the True Knot crew, from Doctor Sleep.  Very cool, Joe Hill.  Very cool!  I enjoyed this novel very much- but to say that this one was a truly horrific and scary tale isn't true.

     The story is a scare of a different breed. Instead of something coming to snatch away children for a stew or to extend life or even to sacrifice to some blood-thirsty diety, Charlie Manx (the beast of the story) comes to rescue children from a certain future.  It knows what may or may not happen, so it seems... but for Vic, now the only one who's escaped the Christmasland horrors, Charlie is finding himself in a bit of a holiday nightmare himself.  Vic is a formidable foe.


     I wasn't sure what to make of this tale at first.  It carried the feel of a King novel, but Hill didn't follow in his father's footsteps per se (hence the pen name).  NOS4A2 carried a different sort of vibe, and for that, I enjoyed this story.  Although I can say, when it came to henchman, Bing Partridge, was like a fellow from daddy's arsenal of dimwitted sidekicks! 

     The horrors weren't gruesome and gory, as I was expecting.  I didn't even get the vampire I thought was coming- but Manx was a vamp of a new age, so to speak, stealing lives through deception.  Because of this creative style, I found myself intrigued- especially in the land before you entered Christmasland.  It was right out of one of my own nightmares!

​   The characters, all flawed, were perfectly set up, and felt real for me.  Even with them being whisked away, into a ghoulish space between worlds where children live forever, they were REAL  There was no blabber and whining on how 'It's not real!  It's not real' that you get with other characters.  With fun backstories that mixed well with today's issues, the characters, honestly did their jobs in making this a book that will stay in my arsenal of reads.  I loved it all.

     NOS4A2 isn't one of the best horror tales, but I can say that it was exciting and kept me  from the very beginning, to its end.  I'm now a small fan of Hill, and I hope to grow.  I'm off to the next read!    

The Passage Trilogy by Justin Cronin

     It's so funny; when I found the first book in this series, I'd not heard of Justin Cronin nor The Passage Trilogy.  I actually got the book from Dollar Tree (everybody knows Dollar Tree!)  So with my book that cost me one buck, I happened to see, about three weeks later, that there was a third book being released.  I was panicked- I had a book that belonged in a series and I didn't know the title of book two! So I set out and purchased book two (Cost me $20!) and signed up to possibly win book three.  Well guess what...        I lucked out and ended up with all three, paying a whopping $22 for three huge novels, and let me tell you: They're amazing.  Justin Cronin is amazing.  You should have these books in your library!

​     All three of these books are one enormous story that spans well over a millennia.  The world has fallen and its only hope to carry on any semblance of humanity stems from a single girl.  Amy Harper Bellafonte.  In The Passage, an FBI agent and his partner are called to pick up a girl for a special, government project, along with other malefactors.  She doesn't belong, she doesn't fit but she and Agent Brad Walgast form a bond that causes him to go against the grain and hide her away.  And it's good that he does!  There's a viral infection that sweeps the nation, killing over 7 billion people.  

     Anyone who comes into contact with Amy seems to benefit from her special gifts, and she is very special.  But with all the good Amy unusually shares, the world can not be saved.  Those infected change.  They become something horrific and they eat people.  Before you know it, civilization, as we know it is gone.  But there are survivors...  

     Book 2: The Twelve,  has an epic beginning, sounding off the previous book's events like the Book of Genesis.  It then dove into filler stories that told you what happened with folks in The Time Before.  You find out the details on Deputy Director Horace Guilder- Walgast's boss.  You even find out what happened to Lila, Walgast's wife.  There are a ton of new folks to add to the list, including Zero's familiar, Grey ( the pedophile).  Anyway, the story gives great backstories and tidbits here and there.  The story, for me, is epic, though very dark and saddening.  There's nothing but suffering, torture and death throughout the book.  Gory and sickening too; it was all right up my alley when it comes to such a tale!

     In the final telling: The City of Mirrors, Cronin takes us back a bit, to the making of Zero and why.  At first, I was bored out of my wits with the story, but I finally understood.  In the final edition to The Passage, you receive an ending worthy of a trilogy.  I found myself so saddened by many of the events, again, but it was all necessary.  The best part, no SPOILERS- don't worry, was that everyone was recognized.  There was a peace in the ending that left me satisfied at using 93 hours of listening time.
 
​     Epic is not the word for this series, but it will do.  Though lengthy and filled with stories that offer more than backstory, I was left happy and willing to seek out more Cronin stories.  I'm off to the next read!

Happy Christmas Message!

     Hey Friends!
  
     I just wanted to send you a brief message, wishing you a Happy Christmas and I hope you receive the love, time with family and gifts that you deserve!  I also wanted to let you know, since I will be signing off of social media or posting a review of any sort till the Monday after Christmas.  I will be happily at play with my family during that time.  I may still be reading- but nothing to post.  

​     I wish you all the best for this holiday season and now I must dive in to my next read.  Peace to you all - Cheers!
*The Dispatcher is next.

Night's Curse by Justin Sloan

"Merry Christmas" Audio-Review!      I was attracted to this ebook, NIght's Curse by Justin Sloan, all because of the cover.  It's bright, eye-catching and just pretty!  I loved it- especially the mystical wolf along the character's shoulder.  It just looked like something I wanted to read, YA or not.

    This free short, introductory story was about a young girl who'd been on a camping trip shortly before Christmas.  She gets attacked by something- wolf, bear or what have you, and returns home.  While home with her family, enjoying the holiday, she wakes on Christmas morn to a massacre, and  that's all I can say.  Anything else will give away the story and I mean that with all honesty.  It was so fast and rushed, I was rather disappointed.  I think I got a few chapters in to the ebook, when I discovered there was whisper-sync for a buck and change.  I got it to listen while working out and man- that was a dollar I coulda kept!    

      I don't knock authors, because it takes a great deal of courage to put a book on a shelf- digital or physical, but this book was not written well.  It was rushed, giving the story an elementary feel.  It was as if Sloan was in a rush to get to the good stuff, skipping all the necessary dialogue, emotion and filler that would have allowed me to develop an attachment with the main character.  Sad to say, it left me uninterested and fussing about my lost dollar!

     He tried though.  I always check reviews and surprisingly, he received 4 & 5-stars for this story!  It had to have been shared by his friends...  Maybe his other books are better, but when it comes to YA, you either have me or you don't.  Sorry Sloan.  I'm on to the next read! 

Christmas Present by Jodi Taylor

*AudioReview      I thought I'd finish out the rest of the week with Christmas stories.  This one was only a few hours long.  Jody Taylor is the author of a book series The Chronicles of St. Mary's - a cool, time traveling series.  I am not familiar with the stories, but this short story has interested me: Christmas Present.

     It's a very brief tale of how a woman and her friends decide that a friend's unhappy holiday can not continue.  So, if I understood correctly, guided by a goddess, Max decides she and her companions need to rescue two senior historians who were left in Roman Colchester 60AD! 

     The story is sweet, short and rather humorous.  If you're in to historical fiction and lots of tea- this could be your next series!  
On to the next read!

Checking It Twice by Melissa L. Webb

     Here's a VERY good, short story: Checking It Twice by Melissa L. Webb!  When I read it, I actually hoped for more, but alas, there was none...

     Have you any idea what Santa would do if there was a shortage of elves?  What if there was a shortage of elves, close to the Christmas deadline?  This story answers such a hypothetical.  It's the story of a boy who finds out first-hand when Santa's gotta do what Santa's gotta do.

     Written with an air of mystery, this short is sure to please- especially the ending.  I honestly wished there was more.  I guess I'll have to see what else Ms. Webb has to offer!
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     On to the next read!

Z-Minus: A Zombie Novella by Perrin Briar

*an Audiobook review

     Any time I am offered an audiobook for FREE, I am over it like bees and pollen!  Yesterday I was offered the audio version of Perrin Briar's Z-Minus: A Zombie Novella.  It is the start of a zombie series concerning a father, Chris and his daughter, Maisie.  As a natural lover of the Z-pocalypse, I felt it my duty to listen to the three hour tale.

     I was walking when I listened to this audio, around 7am.  I had to admit, I probably surprised people with the faces I made while listening.  There were so many things wrong with this book, I wasn't sure if I was going to finish it or just delete it from Audible library!  No joke, there are so many things wrong with our lead protagonist alone, that I was disgusted!  Is this a sign of a horrible story, or a great storyteller?

     I won't offer up any SPOILERS, but I can say that I don't believe I'll be reading the rest of the books in this series.  There's a handful of issues.  First one was the reader, Kenneth Toles.  I found several people under this name, so I couldn't place a link, but he was a cool narrator, just NOT for this book!  It took place in London and the narrator had no accent!  What's with that?!  Then, there's the lead character, Chris.

     He wasn't real enough for me to enjoy.  It may be the author's writing technique, but he carried no real emotions.  He didn't panic when he saw his daughter dead and even talked to his dead wife about sleeping all day, though he clearly saw the gaping wound on the back of her neck!  "Oh no, I've said too much- I set it up!"  Okay, the thing is, there's a lot not quite right with this novella and it prevented me from enjoying it.  I have to be real about it.  I don't even know how to rate it.  It wasn't scary.  It wasn't horrifying and it wasn't gross, but there was a bit of funny.

     I guess I'll leave you with this:  There's something that takes place that's worse than a British tale with no British accent!  I"m off to my next read!