Steven E. Wedel's Blog, page 35
March 13, 2012
Review: Ragnarök: The End of the Gods
Ragnarök: The End of the Gods by A.S. Byatt
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I was really, really looking forward to this book. Pre-release hype billed it as a World War II-era fable incorporating Norse mythology into the life of a young girl evacuated to the British countryside. Unfortunately, all it turned out to be was a retelling of a few Norse myths with a few references to "the thin girl" living in the country. It wasn't a BAD book, and if you don't already know the Norse...
February 27, 2012
School Library Journal review
So, yeah, that little book I wrote with super-talented Carrie Jones got a very nice review today from one of the most prestigious reviewers so far. Yup, nobody babbling about how Carrie is in love with me, or whatever. haha Check this out:
"Told in the alternating voices of Aimee (penned by Jones) and Alan (written by Wedel), this tale has it all: an eerie setting, a powerful romance, and a terrifying dark force. In spite of the slightly over-the-top showdown, Jones's fans will devour this...
February 25, 2012
Scyrbe Press update
The Kindle edition of Murdered by Human Wolves is gone, and I'm told print publication of all The Werewolf Saga titles, as well as Seven Days in Benevolence, will end in about a week. After that, The Werewolf Saga will be pretty much unavailable, other than existing stock.
Hopefully that's a situation that won't last long. I have a few options I'm considering to get the already-published books back in the market with the new one. Of course, updates will be posted here.
Tagged: publishing, scry...
February 23, 2012
Review: Cup of Gold
Cup of Gold by John Steinbeck
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I'd been looking forward to this book for years because it was John Steinbeck's first novel and was just hard to find. Then one of my AP Literature students bought a copy for me. (No, it didn't help his grade.) This was, well, and interesting read. There were flashes here and there of the great author Steinbeck was to become, but overall it was kind of overwritten with some stilted and archaic dialogue. Also, the buildup ...
February 17, 2012
Review: The Road
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wow. I just finished this book moments ago. It's an incredibly bleak but moving story about a father and son in a post-apocalypse wasteland. McCarthy doesn't tell us what happened to the world, it simply is desolate, with roving bands of cannibals and lonely, starving people. The relationship between the father and son is intense and painful at times, maybe more so because I have a little boy about that age. This was the...
February 12, 2012
Review: The Way to Rainy Mountain
The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this very short book, but I actually didn't read it for pleasure. I used this book as a teaching tool in my AP English Language class. It worked very well as a tool for teaching students to look at things from multiple perspectives and evaluating language. They also enjoyed it as a work of literature while learning something about the Kiowa mythology, history, and culture.
February 6, 2012
Review: Tigana
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Overall, this was a good book. I never got so frustrated that I considered giving it up, but there were several spots where it dragged, where Kay seemed to drone on and on about things that weren't all that important. If you're into political thrillers set in a fantasy world of magic, this is a book you'll probably enjoy.
January 29, 2012
Werewolves on hiatus
It was with much reluctance and sorrow that I sent a letter to the owner of Scrybe Press last week withdrawing all my titles from that company. I think the publisher is a nice guy. I don't think there was any malicious intent on either side in the events that led up to the termination of our agreement. However, there were unfulfilled elements of the contract that made me determine it would be in my best interest to end our long-standing relationship prior to submitting Nadia's Children for...
January 4, 2012
A couple of new reviews
This is pretty cool. After Obsession earned a four blue-ribbon review at Romance Junkies. Here's just a little taste of what reviewer Chris had to say:
A young adult paranormal series just ripe for the horror-obsessed, aficionados of the creepy, angst-loving teenager in all of us, AFTER OBSESSION sets the stage for what could easily become an enslaving series.
A series? My goodness, wouldn't that be nice? Do ya'll wanna know what happens next with Amiee and Alan? No?
Here's another recent...
January 2, 2012
Review: The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist
The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist by Matt Baglio
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
If you come to this book expecting it to be anything like the Anthony Hopkins movie you'll be very, very disappointed. There's no red-eyed mule, no frogs, nobody strapped to a hospital bed, and no possessed mentor priest. Other than the basic premise of an American priest going to Rome to become an exorcist, there's almost nothing else common between book and film. Hopefully Matt Baglio was...
