Dave Green's Read Alerts

A dark, haunting masterpiece. A Scanner Darkly isn't just a great book, it's an IMPORTANT book!

Phillip K Dick's A Scanner Darkly follows the journey of Bob Arctor, an undercover police officer (code-named "Fred") trying to ingratiate himself into the drug culture in an attempt to bring down the suppliers of Substance D, a highly addictive mind-altering drug that can eventually cause permanent brain damage. Tragically, Arctor himself becomes an addict, first only taking Substance D to earn the trust of the people he's trying to take down, then taking it more and more to relieve the stress of his job. Eventually, Substance D poisons his mind to the point that he truly believes "Fred" and Bob Arctor are two separate people! What follows is a sad but compelling portrait of a sympathetic hero's slow descent into madness.

What makes this book so powerful is that PKD does such a masterful job of detailing the horrors of drug addiction. This book is a classic example of "show, don't tell". PKD doesn't simply hold us by the hand and tell us that using drugs is wrong. Instead, we watch the slow burn going on inside Bob Arctor's mind. Arctor becomes increasingly paranoid. He begins to suffer hallucinations and time distortion. Random thoughts having nothing to do with current events start popping up in Arctor's narrative with no explanation. And what makes this even more jarring is that while we understand what is happening to Arctor, he does not. By giving us a direct view into Arctor's slowly deteriorating mind, PKD perfectly depicts just how tragic the life of a drug addict truly is.

A book with subject matter this bleak would be hard to get through without any lighter moments. Fortunately, PKD manages to inject a lot of dark humor throughout the story, most of which comes from Bob Arctor's bizarre roommate, Jim Barris. From his invention of "the world's loudest silencer", to his rather unique line of deductive reasoning in determining that his forgetting to turn on a tape recorder proves there was an intruder in the house, Mr. Barris provides laugh-out-loud moments that are far funnier than most books you'll find in the "humor" section.

I labeled this book important, not just because of the powerful anti-drug message, but also because of how influential it is. Considering how many elements of this novel are still used in literature today, it's often easy to forget this was written back in the 70s (except maybe for Arctor's tendency to say, "I can dig it"). Writers like Chuck Palahniuk and Bret Easton Ellis owe a great deal of debt to PKD for showing them the way!

An incredibly compelling and powerful novel, A Scanner Darkly does exactly what classic literature is supposed to. It makes you care about the characters, it invokes your emotions, and it stays with you long after you've put it back on the bookshelf!

Don't let the spoilerish title fool you... John Dies At The End is full of surprises!

Life is full of millions of choices. And while some are instantly recognized as "life-choices" (like getting married or picking a career path), others are deceptively innocent. But even the smallest of choices can have huge consequences. That's the hard lesson David Wong learned when he decided to challenge a hack street-magician at a concert. Had Wong simply rolled his eyes and kept walking, his life may not have turned into the horror story it became. We all make millions of choices, and any one of them can ruin our lives forever...now THAT is true horror!

I was very pleasantly surprised by "John Dies At The End" Having read many of his articles on Cracked.com, I knew David Wong possessed a great sense of humor, so I fully expected his book to be funny, but what I wasn't anticipating is how great he is at writing horror as well! Wong's imagination is almost limitless, as he manages to concoct some of the most bizarre creatures I've ever read about, and his ability to channel fear and dread is so strong, it's unfathomable to me that this is his first novel! In fact, I would have loved to have given this book five stars, but there was one problem that constantly detracted from my enjoyment...it's gross...it's really, really gross! As much as there is to admire about this book, the non-stop barrage of potty humor and crudeness makes it a difficult one to recommend to people...

This girl would not get past page 5 of "John Dies At The End"!

After a prologue which expertly depicts the bizarre world David Wong lives in, the majority of the book is comprised of two flashback sequences that explain how Dave's life has gotten to this point. The two flashbacks are bridged together by a framing sequence involving a present-day conversation Dave is having with a reporter who is investigating Dave's claim to be some kind of "monster-hunter". The rather unconventional story structure is just part of the book's charm, as Wong's narrative keeps flipping from past to present, yet it rarely gets confusing and Wong often peppers it with some tantalizing foreshadowing. The first segment covers Dave's first foray into the paranormal, in which he's joined by his smart-ass friend John. After he taunts a wannabe magician as an obvious hoax, Dave is exposed to a substance that seems peculiarly like soy sauce, yet the phony magician claims it will actually expose Dave to the world of the supernatural...

One drop of this magical soy sauce will have a horrible effect on your body...actually, that's kinda how I feel about regular soy sauce, too!

Soon after experiencing the soy sauce of doom, Dave's world falls apart. He begins to see grotesque creatures all around him. People in his life are brutally murdered and Wong finds himself the chief suspect (sometimes even in his own eyes). Soon Dave and John learn that something from another world wants to enter our own, something truly evil and deadly. Thus begins their often-hilarious quest to save our world from a malicious entity of Lovecraftian proportions. Between John's "so-stupid-it's-funny" humor, and Dave's rapier wit, I was howling with laughter throughout most of the first segment.

After the events of the first segment, Dave & John try to get back to what I'll generously refer to as their "normal" lives, which leads to the second segment, where they soon discover that evil from another world is still trying to invade ours...but this time they're targeting Dave and John directly. The second segment doesn't have as much humor as the first, but it more than makes up for this in dramatic storytelling. In the second story, the battle is much more personal and the stakes are much higher. It's here that Wong's talent as an author truly shines. While he already displayed much creativity and wit in the first half, Wong manages to invoke more emotions to tell a very powerful story in the second half. At times, reading this was like a greatest hits collection of the works of Christopher Moore and Stephen King, the way Wong could blend humor and horror together and give equal weight to both genres. All in all, this was an amazing book to read...except...

Look, let's get something out of the way, I'm hardly a prude. My tastes aren't exactly sophisticated, and I've been known to chuckle at a tasteless joke or two...

I think Not Another Teen Movie is one of the funniest comedies ever made...please tell no one of this!

That being said, I did find the gross-out factor of this book to be beyond excessive. There are so many poop jokes, even Beavis and Butt-Head would find this book to be a bit much. And while I applaud Wong's vast imagination in creating new horrors, at times it seems like he's just trying too hard to disgust his readers. In addition to potty humor, Wong displays an almost-obsessive fascination with insects (one segment even involves a man made entirely out of cockroaches), and just when you think Wong can't possibly manage to make bugs any more gross, he finds a way to top himself. It can be almost infuriating, as Wong clearly has a true talent for horror. In his best moments, Wong shows great promise and depth as a writer, which makes it all the more baffling why he felt the need to take such a juvenile approach at times...

If you have a love for dark comedy (as well as a really strong stomach), "John Dies At The End" should be a wild ride for you. However, anyone who's even a bit squeamish (particularly when it comes to insects and...y'know, that bodily function no one ever talks about in polite company) may want to avoid this one. Still, considering his undeniable talent, if David Wong can reign in his love for toilet humor, I have no doubt one of his books will make it on my "Favorites" shelf some day!

Deathless is a hauntingly beautiful novel that will stay with you forever!

Life is often full of beauty and joy. But life can also be cruel and painful at times. So it is only natural that the Czar of Life embodies both the wonderful and the terrible aspects of life. As a young girl, Marya Morevna captured the attention of the Czar of Life, the entity she's heard referred to in hushed whispers as Koschei the Deathless. And when Marya became a young woman, Koschei in turn captured her heart. After being whisked away by Koschei to a land of enchantment and wonder, Marya grows to love the Czar of Life, as well as life itself. But life can sometimes be uncertain as well. A growing war between the country of life and the country of death threatens to take Marya away from everything she's come to cherish. And when a stranger named Ivan stumbles upon the country of life and tries to convince Marya that everything she thinks she knows is wrong, Marya is not sure what to believe. How do you trust your heart once you've completely given it to another?

Wow...just...wow... Deathless is one of the most powerful and heartbreaking books I've ever read! Catherynne Valente has taken a very common tale in Russian folklore and transformed it into something truly unique and magical. The first part of the book introduces us to Marya Morevna...

Marya Morevna says, "You want a strong fantasy heroine?!? I once strangled an enemy combatant with my braid! Your move, Katniss Everdeen!

As a young girl, Marya sees things that others don't, like birds that transform into men and communist elves that maintain the order of the house she lives in. Because of this, others regard her as strange and ostracize her. Marya is a very sympathetic figure in this segment, and when she is in pain, the reader feels it as well. Much of this segment illustrates a very grim portrayal of life in Russia during the Russian Civil War. Marya is forced to live in a cramped house with eight families. When she expresses a desire to keep something for herself and not have to share it with everyone else (even something as simple as a red scarf), she is branded a traitor. The moment when Marya's red scarf is taken from her and she begs to be able to keep it is just one of many moments when my eyes began to water. However, the entire segment isn't so heart-wrenching. The introduction of a society of elves (also known as the House Committee) that live within the walls of Mayra's group home leads to some rather comedic and whimsical moments. This segment does a masterful job of blending reality and fantasy, using fairy-tale elements to create a brilliant allegory of a difficult period in Russia's history.

In addition, the first segment also introduces us to Koschei, the immortal Czar of Life. Marya has heard terrifying legends about Koschei, but when he offers to take her away from the torments of her current life, she feels compelled to follow him into his magical homeland. The final moments deal with Koschei compelling Marya to open herself to a new way of life, one where she allows herself to fully experience the pleasures of life and devour as many of them as she can without ever feeling required to share them with others (save himself). In this scene, Koschei encourages Marya to partake in an extravagant feast, but also demands that she only experience it in the way that he allows her to, which he claims to do only so that she will maximize her enjoyment from this. As this segment concludes, Koschei makes a rather chilling promise to Marya, "Oh, I will be cruel to you, Marya Morevna. It will stop your breath, how cruel I can be. But you understand, don't you? You are clever enough. I am a demanding creature. I am selfish and cruel and extremely unreasonable. But I am your servant. When you starve, I will feed you. When you are sick, I will tend to you. I crawl at your feet, for before your love, your kisses, I am debased. For you alone I will be weak. As the book continues, Koschei does indeed keep his promise, for better and for worse...

The second part of the book jumps ahead a few years, where Marya is now a young woman. While she spent her first few years of life in poverty, her courtship with Koschei has brought her many riches. This segment of the book is the most fairy-tale like (even down to Marya having to embark upon a magical quest), and it was also my favorite part of the book as well. Marya has three close companions in this segment, a sweet and perky gun-goblin named Naganya, a gruff but caring plant golem named Zemlehyed, and a vain and self-absorbed witch named Madame Lebedeva. All three of these characters are quite endearing (even Lebedeva, in her own special way), and their adventures with Marya lead to some of the more tender moments in the book. That's not to say this segment is without tragedy, however. For starters, Marya is a much different woman than the meek girl from the beginning. Koschei's cruelty has rubbed off on her, and there are times when Marya resorts to brutal tactics to impose her will on others, always assuring herself she is doing it for their own good (a claim she's heard Koschei give to her on many occasions). Also, we learn more about Koschei in this segment, beginning with the revelation that he has had many lovers before Marya...

This is Koschei, and women seem to be far more attracted to him than they are to me...not gonna lie, that's more than a little depressing!

Soon, Marya learns that all of Koschei's lovers are destined to betray him. While she vows that she loves Koschei far too much to ever do the same, she is still disturbed by the prophecy that she will one day leave Koschei for a man named Ivan. Also disturbing is the growing unrest between the Czar of Life and his brother, the Czar of Death. This rising conflict leads to the last half of the book, where a man from Russia stumbles upon Koschei's magical kingdom...would anyone like to guess as to what this man's name is?!?

Up until this point, I've been pretty specific in my descriptions of the book's events, but for the remainder of the review, I have to be more vague. While some of the information I've given you can be found on the book's back cover or in various descriptions of the book, revealing too much more would be an injustice to anyone who wants to experience this book for themselves. I will tell you that the second half is even more emotional than the first, and it covers such heavy topics as betrayal, loss, and the horrors of war. In fact, Chapter 23 is quite possibly the most depressing chapter of a fictional book I have ever read (of course, that hasn't stopped me from reading it two more times since then, as it is really that powerful). However, that's not to say that this entire segment is grim. There are some genuine sweet and heart-warming moments as well. One of the most humorous segments in the book occurs when Marya tries to exert control over Ivan the same way Koschei does to her, and Ivan instead gives her the response she should have given Koschei! Ivan proves to be a noble and likeable character, even though he isn't quite as strong or dynamic as Marya and Koschei...

This is Ivan's version of defending Marya...I don't think he's doing it right!

Due to the emotional depth of this book, I would have loved to have been able to give it five stars. However, I did have a couple of problems with Valente's writing style that permeated throughout the entire book. For one thing, Valente has a tendency to hammer a point home so hard that it can give you a headache! This is especially prevalent in any scene involving a meal...while I get that Valente was using food as a metaphor for life and pleasure, I still didn't needed to read pages upon pages of descriptions of every kind of food item Valente could envision! (WARNING: anyone who's on a strict diet may want to avoid this book, as it's impossible to not get food cravings multiple times throughout the story!) Similar to this issue was Valente's tendency to repeat herself. Granted, she was going for a fairy-tale approach to the story, and fairy-tales often use repetition, but it was a bit off-putting when I pretty much knew word-for-word how entire paragraphs would read as I had already read them several times before!

While it may not be a perfect read, "Deathless" is still a most powerful one. Granted, people who embrace a socialist ideology may be offended at some of Valente's political statements, and those who don't have a working knowledge of Russian history may miss some of the references. That said, there is still more than enough here to please just about any reader. A view of real-life through a magical lens, "Deathless" is one emotional roller-coaster that is definitely worth riding!

Dave's confession - "I cried many times throughout this novel...this never happens when I read my Batman books...well, except for Frank Miller's [b:All-Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder, Vol. 1|2239435|All-Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder, Vol. 1|Frank Miller|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348590970s/2239435.jpg|2245283] ,but that was only because it sucked so bad!"

Batman may be continuing his global war on crime, but villainess Talia is the true Demon Star of this exciting adventure!

Haunted by visions of a world in flames, Bruce Wayne has transformed Batman from a local hero into a global enterprise. Working to recruit Bat-men and Bat-women from all over the globe to protect their countries, Bruce believes he is on the right path to saving the world. But not everyone believes the world should be saved...some feel the people of the world should rise up to save themselves instead of waiting for some self-proclaimed "hero" to rescue them. Thus begins the Leviathan movement, spearheaded by Talia Al Ghul, longtime nemesis of Batman...as well as the mother of his son! With tentacles in every country, Leviathan promises a new world order...a world where everyone has the tools and weapons necessary to fight against their supposed oppressors, and no one ever needs to rely on some costumed vigilante to say the day. And to ensure her dream of a world without heroes, Talia plans to force Batman to make an impossible choice..."Whichever, you choose, the other dies! Decide, your city, or your son!"


"Demon Star" picks up immediately where [b:Batman Incorporated, Vol. 1|10863384|Batman Incorporated, Vol. 1 |Grant Morrison|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320415493s/10863384.jpg|15778514] left off. Now, usually when I review a book, I try to focus entirely on that book, but I have to break that rule this time, as I need to give some backstory to properly convey exactly why I enjoyed this book so much. Until fairly recently, I actually considered Talia to be a very uninteresting character. She was introduced back in the Batman comics of the 70s, and at first it seemed like Talia might be full of surprises. While at least 90% of Talia's first appearance relegated her to a damsel-in-distress role (a sexist stereotype that was all too common in comics at that time), she did give readers a nice shock at the very end. Holding a gun to her captor, Dr. Darrk (yes, his name really was Dr. Darrk, comics at that time were not only sexist, they were also pretty corny), Darrk sneered that Talia would never shoot him because she was "far too sweet". Instead of allowing Batman to rescue her for like the 50th time that issue, Talia responded by shooting Darrk in the face, and since killing him once wasn't enough for her, she also pushed him into the path of an oncoming train for good measure! It was a classic moment, as it revealed that Talia was not quite what she seemed...and it also revealed that when Talia wants someone dead, she really, really wants them dead!

Soon, we learned that Talia was the daughter of Ra's Al Ghul, a megalomaniac who believes the world is dangerously overpopulated and seeks to eliminate much of the world's population in order to "save" it. While she didn't always seem to share her father's twisted vision (or his total and complete insanity, for that matter), she still worked in his organization to further his cause. Yet, in one of the most forced cases of "insta-love" to ever make it onto the printed page, immediately after meeting Batman, she declared him to be her "beloved", leading to an internal conflict over whether she should side with her father or her lover. On the surface, this internal struggle had the potential to lead to a beautifully-crafted character. Unfortunately, for the next 20-some years, instead of focusing more on Talia herself, her role was completely defined by the two men in her life! Almost every single Talia story followed the same pattern...for the main bulk of the story, she would obey her father's orders without question, then at the last minute just as Batman was about to be defeated, she would betray her father to save her "beloved". In fact, Talia betrayed her father so many times, it almost bordered on self-parody when Ra's was finally betrayed by someone who WASN'T Talia, yet he just automatically assumed she must have done it...

If Ra's is such a brilliant mastermind, how come he never once figured out to tell Talia the exact OPPOSITE of what his plan was...so when she inevitably betrayed him, Batman would be caught completely off-guard?!?

Talia's ongoing storyline finally took a massive upswing in the late 90s (yes, there were good comics in the 90s, you just had to search really, really hard to find them). It started when a writer named Greg Rucka basically asked the editors at DC, "What if we took the character of Talia, and made her, y'know...not suck?" Since it was something they hadn't tried before, the DC editors agreed. Beginning with the compelling [b:Batman: Death and the Maidens|107118|Batman Death and the Maidens|Greg Rucka|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347714423s/107118.jpg|103249], Talia's role in the DC universe changed. After severing her ties with her father, she took on a more independent role, eventually taking control of Lex Luthor's organization of LexCorp, as well as becoming one of the six major players in consolidating all the villains of the DC universe to form a society to oppose the heroes. Talia also became more formidable as well. Back in the 70s and 80s, while we kept hearing about how Talia was a skilled fighter and a master assassin, she almost never displayed those skills...other than the aforementioned Dr. Daark face-shooting incident. However, modern Talia was frequently seen overpowering her enemies with her strength and cunning!

Yes, Talia is an expert in martial arts and also a master marksman, but in "The Dark Knight Rises", Christopher Nolan decided to showcase her truck-driving abilities instead...sometimes I think Mr. Nolan may be a tad over-rated!

All of which leads us to my review (admittedly...it took me a while to get here). The reason I loved "Demon Star" so much was because it features the continued evolution of Talia as a worthy nemesis of The Dark Knight! No longer following anyone else's orders, here Talia is seen leading a world-wide movement to further her own agenda. As a result, Talia is far more interesting than she has ever been before. Her motives are complex...while she still wants revenge against Batman for ultimately rejecting her advances, she does also embrace an ideology where she believes the poor should rebel against the rich. Her methods are often ruthless, which makes it all the more chilling to witness that she seems to truly believe the end justifies her means. And adding to Talia's character depth is the role of her own son in Batman's crusade. While Talia's ultimate goal is to kickstart a revolution, it's clear that she is also driven by the betrayal of her son. She wants to punish Batman for supposedly "indoctrinating" their son Damian into his cause, as well as punish Damian himself for turning his back on her. In that brilliant move, the mother-son relationship between Talia and Damian parallels her own father-daughter relationship with Ra's Al Ghul.


TALIA - "Betraying your own parent to save Batman?!? Damian, where did you learn to do that?" DAMIAN - "You, alright! I learned it by watching you!"

Talia is more twisted and dangerous than ever before...and she's also never been more fascinating! Fun, exciting, and more streamlined than Grant Morrison's work usually is, "Demon Star" is a must-read for all Bat-fans!

In this thrilling adventure, Scott Snyder breathes new life into the Batman franchise by introducing a terrifying new enemy...The Court of Owls!

While waging his war against crime, Batman has seen many horrible things...




But all this time, an unseen horror has lurked in the shadows of Gotham City. For over a hundred years, rumors have been whispered about a secret society that rules the streets of Gotham, an omnipresent group known as the Court of Owls. Most people assume the tales to be mere campfire stories told for the sole purpose of scaring the citizens of Gotham. After all, in over 100 years, no one has ever found any evidence of the Court's existence...at least no one who has lived to tell about it. But Batman must uncover the truth behind the urban legend, especially now that the Court has sent an unstoppable assassin after...Bruce Wayne!

Despite the fact that I've loved Scott Snyder's writing in the past, I still went into "The Court of Owls" with a bit of trepidation. After all, I first started reading Batman comics in the early 80s, and the idea of DC's "New 52" banner wiping out so much of that history and trying to reboot the Batman franchise sounded like it was doomed to fail. But I still had a lot of fun reading the first story arc of the new "Batman" series. For one thing, this Batman actually makes a joke now and then! Yes, grim and gritty elements can add more gravitas to the story, but so many of the 90s Batman books overdid it to the point that the always-brooding Batman was almost devoid of any personality. In fact, having read so many of those "grim avenger of the night" stories, I especially loved when Snyder had Dick Grayson hit Batman with this zinger, "So it's true...you actually do practice brooding!" Under Snyder's watch, Batman is still haunted, but the fact that he actually cracks a smile once in a while makes him even more likable and sympathetic than ever before. In addition, Snyder’s first-person narration from Batman’s point-of-view provides genuine character introspection, as verses the lame ”I am the night” rhetoric that so many other writers fall back on.

But what really wowed me the most about this story was the inclusion of a new enemy to the Batman rogues gallery. Let's be honest, in the last couple of decades, attempts to introduce the next big Batman villain haven't always been successful. Sure, Bane was cool in "Knightfall" and in the "Dark Knight Rises" movie, but he didn't really serve a whole lot of purpose in the 20 years inbetween. And try explaining The Black Glove and Dr. Simon Hurt to anyone who doesn't have a working knowledge of at least 30 years worth of Batman canon! (Grant Morrison can never make things simple, can he?!?) But I found the concept of The Court of Owls to be executed flawlessly. The idea of Batman fighting an urban legend was such a delicious parallel, considering many Gothamites consider Batman himself to be an urban legend! And Snyder never falls back on hackneyed straw man tactics to make the Court more interesting, his brilliant writing is all it takes for us to feel the same terror Batman does when he realizes just how far the Court's reach truly extends.

An exciting adventure sprinkled with humor and horror, "The Court of Owls" is a fun ride for new and old Batman fans alike. In closing, I'll leave you with this rhyme from the book which citizens of Gotham tell each other to send shivers down their spines...
Beware the Court of Owls, that watches all the time.
Ruling Gotham from a shadowed perch, behind granite and lime.
They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed.
Speak not a whispered word of them, or they'll send The Talon for your head!!!"

Don't let the title of the book fool you, Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between is quite a lively tale!

Rhiannon Murphy sees dead people. But unlike a certain member of the Osment family, she doesn't whine about it, she simply looks the ghosts in the eye and tells them to go find someone else to haunt! But when her abilities to see and communicate with ghosts attract the attention of a vampire named Disco, Rhiannon may finally have found something that scares even her. Someone has been murdering vampires...and stealing their hearts! And as Rhiannon works more closely with Disco, she realizes that he's beginning to steal HER heart. Rhiannon's finds her feelings for Disco are quite dangerous...but not nearly as dangerous as the unknown enemy that's now hunting her!

I entered this book looking for a kick-ass heroine, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. Rhiannon is strong, sassy, and there are many layers to her underneath her gruff exterior. Much of the story is focused directly on Rhiannon, and that is crucial to the book's success, as she is a lot of fun to read about. Like many people, I sometimes cast actors as characters while reading, so for Rhiannon, I needed to go with someone who can perfectly portray a tough-talking and even tougher-acting lady. Add to that the fact that the author describes Rhiannon as having dark hair, dark eyes, and a smoky voice, and I almost wonder why Saare didn't just name the character "Eliza Dushku" and be done with it!

Dushku says, "Yeah, I know my shoes don't match my outfit. Go ahead, say something about it...I dare you!!!"

In addition to Rhiannon, there are other engaging characters to be found within these pages. Disco is a perfect foil for Rhiannon, as he's much more sensitive and reserved than Rhiannon, yet just as strong in his own way. Disco also associates with a family of vampires, some of which also have personalities that sparkle. Ummm...I mean sparkle in the good way...not the "Twilight" way... But after Rhiannon, I think my next favorite character would have to be Ethan (who Rhiannon insists on referring to only as "Goose", much to his chagrin). Ethan is a paranormal investigator who tries to help Rhiannon hone her abilities to communicate with the dead, and he is just awkward enough to be charming without being annoying. His annoyance with Rhiannon's methods provide some much-needed comic relief as the story progresses.

And what a story it is! I don't want to give away too much, but I will say that there were quite a few elements that I really enjoyed. One rather compelling plot point involves vampires selling their blood as a kind of recreational "drug" to humans, as it gives humans enhanced abilities for a few hours. The supernatural elements manage to be exciting and even spine-tingling at times. The overall mystery as to who is killing the vampires is also quite gripping, and I never saw the reveal coming. But one crucial subplot involves the growing love between Rhiannon and Disco. Now, personally, I'm not usually one to pick up a romance novel...it's not that I'm "anti-love" or anything, but it's just not my first genre of choice. However, despite that, I felt this paranormal romance was very well executed! There are moments that are quite tender and moving. While there is a little too much "insta-love" on Disco's part at first, overall it really feels like you're experiencing two people growing more and more deeply in love with each other. Urban fantasy and paranormal romance go almost hand-in-hand these days, and while sometimes the romance element can feel shoe-horned, in this case it flowed perfectly.

I was very close to giving this the full 5 stars...but there were a couple of things that did leave a bad taste in my mouth. While Rhiannon is great throughout most of the book, there are times where she's just grating instead! Yes, her sass is fun for the most part, but there are moments where she can be bitchy and just downright mean. One baffling occurrence of this is when she goes to interview a suspect, and she feels the need to make cruel jokes about the receptionist's weight. And then she even tops it off by flipping the receptionist the bird...despite the fact that the receptionist never does anything to warrant this animosity. While I applaud Saare for being brave enough to give us a genuinely flawed lead character, Rhiannon has her moments where she's completely unlikable. And another problem with her was her backstory. Again, I don't want to give away any twists, but let's just say the story of Rhiannon's past have been told many times...and many more times after that! I pretty much knew exactly what Rhiannon's big secret was going to be, as it is one of the oldest cliches in the book...if an author ever wants to do something that's never been done before, how about they write a story where a child actually has a POSITIVE experience with a foster family?!? Rhiannon may be the book's greatest asset, but there are times she winds up in the liability column.

Even with it's somewhat flawed heroine, I still highly recommend this book. As there is a growing buzz around the "Rhiannon's Law" series, I wonder if this story will make it to the big screen someday. If so, I'm holding out hope that Eliza Dushku will get the part as Rhiannon...and for once, I'm not just saying that because I'd like Eliza Dushku to appear in EVERY movie! ;)

The first book of the Honor Harrington saga may be light on action, but there's still plenty of wonder and intrigue to be found On Basilisk Station!

When Honor Harrington became a Captain in the Royal Manticorian Navy, she never imagined her first assignment would turn out like this! A spoiled senior officer shifts the blame for her own failures onto Honor. As a result, Honor and her crew aboard the light cruiser Fearless have been banished to Basilisk Station, an unpopular dumping ground for screw-ups with no real future in the Royal Navy. As if having to contend with a crew that resents her and a local government that distrusts her wasn't bad enough, Honor soon begins to suspect that a far greater threat endangers everyone under her protection. Someone has been supplying the natives with mind-altering drugs and weapons in an attempt to inspire a revolt against the officers of Basilisk Station. And to make matters worse, an empire with far greater power and influence than the Royal Navy is rattling their sabers and looking to take over control of the station. Now Honor must prepare to stop a war armed with only one spaceship, a modestly-sized crew, and her brilliantly tactical mind. Honor's enemies may have her outnumbered, but they certainly don't have her outmatched!

I always try to avoid spoilers before reading a book...which sometimes works against me...like when I went into "Game of Thrones" thinking it would be a more innocent kind of fantasy like "Lord of the Rings"...as you can imagine, I was caught completely off-guard when I found out what Cersei's dirty little secret was!


That said, even though I avoid spoilers, I usually have a pretty good idea of what the tone of a book is going to be. If I pick up a Dresden Files book, I know I'm getting an action-packed urban fantasy. If I delve into a Christopher Moore book, I'm ready for some bizarre, off-beat humor. But every once in a while, a book comes along that is not at all what I expected...something that recalls the great philosopher Mick Jagger when he said, "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need"! Yes, "On Basilisk Station" was not at all what I expected it to be...and for the most part, I couldn't be happier about that!


Since space operas often feature epic battles, I was all geared up for plenty of action. As it turns out, there's almost no action in this book until the final 25% (more on that later). However, even though I was initially disappointed when I realized Honor wasn't going to be whipping out a laser rifle anytime soon, I found myself more and more enthralled by the world David Weber has created in this series. Much of the first half of the book is dedicated to revealing how Honor and her crew fix everything that is broken on Basilisk Station, and it is truly fascinating to experience. Honor often develops intricate plans for many different situations, which gives the story much variety. Very few chapters are the same, as Honor's approach differs from case to case. Honor plays several roles throughout the story, including pilot, teacher, ambassador, and diplomat, and every one of them brings out a different side to her. As I got further and further into the story, I soon found that watching Honor develop her strategies and seeing how her crew carried them out was far more interesting than just seeing two opponents fire ray guns at each other!

Honor is by far the most prominently displayed character in the book, which means there is a lot riding on her shoulders. Fortunately, she is more than up to the task! Honor is a perfectly endearing heroine. She is tough, but never bullying. She is brilliantly analytical, as well as compassionate. She is charismatic but sometimes also insecure. Weber even avoids the trap have having Honor be too perfect, as she occasionally makes mistakes and lets her pride and emotions cloud her judgment. And while Honor may be the star of the book, her crew often helps her to shine. While I didn't find any other character nearly as engaging as Honor (except maybe for her adorable treecat, Nimitz), many of them had their own personalities and quirks that made them interesting, too. But what really helps make this a somewhat unique reading experience is that the reader often learns more about Honor by experiencing things vicariously through her shipmates. At first, the crew sees Honor as cold and aloof, and she often comes across that way. But Honor's distance is actually a calculated strategy to force her crew members to find their own solutions and become better at what they do. As the crew got to know the real Honor, so did I, and the way they warmed up to her mirrored my own experience while reading about her. At times I wasn't just reading the book, I was feeling it as well.

However, as good as this book is, it may not be for everyone. There were times when I felt Weber dedicated an excruciating amount of time explaining the science behind much of his world. I can easily see someone with a great passion for science giving this book 5 stars, but I had to knock one off, as there were too many parts where the scientific discussions just felt long-winded and plodding to me. Also, the lack of action throughout most of the book may be off-putting to some, although in fairness, Weber makes up for this in the last quarter of the novel, when the action is pretty much non-stop and climaxes into one of the most exciting sequences I've ever read!

I can't wait to delve further into the Honorverse! As for who I picture portraying the leading lady...let's see, we need an actress with experience playing someone who's strong and brilliant. Someone who's charming, but also has a thousand-yard stare that can intimidate anyone in her sights. Paging Stana Katic...

"I reserve this glare for Richard Castle...and for anyone who ever mentions that I was in "The Spirit"!!!"

Beautiful, complex, and refreshingly original, The Killing Moon shines bright!

Ehiru-the dreamer- Ehiru is a Gatherer in the city-state of Gujaareh. He has devoted his life to serving the goddess Hananja. Upon taking a commission, he enters a person's dreams and gathers the dreamer's soul so that they will live in peace forever, even though their body dies in the process. Ehiru has never questioned his faith...until now! After a Gathering goes horribly wrong, Ehiru begins to doubt his own magical abilities. But when he finds evidence of a horrible creature stalking the streets of Gujaareh and stealing people's souls for its own amusement, Ehiru is forced to seek help from a person he cannot possibly trust...the corrupt woman he knows as Sunandi!

Sunandi-the voice- A Speaker for the city-state of Kisua, Sunandi neither possesses nor needs any magical abilities. Instead, a beautiful smile and a cunning mind are her greatest weapons. Investigating the death of her mentor, Sunandi travels to Gujaareh where she suspects a vast conspiracy is looming which could threaten her people. A true pragmatist, Sunandi is willing to do whatever it takes to prevent war between Kisua and Gujaareh...even if it means allying herself with a murderer like Ehiru!

"The Killing Moon" is not your average fantasy novel. In this land, there are no dragons or elves, no evil wizard or one ring to rule them all. Instead, Jemisin has created a rich and unique world, where all magic is fueled by the power of dreams, and even the most secondary of characters have multiple layers to them. Jemisin has even crafted her own mythology in this book...including one of the most fascinating and original legends for the sun and moon that I have ever seen. She doesn't so much describe the scenery, as she uses her words to paint the images directly into the reader's imagination. I was particularly impressed with the imagery she used during the dreaming sequences...not only does she come up with brilliantly original concepts, but her narrative manages to be both beautiful and terrifying...much like dreams themselves can be!

As impressive as Jemisin's world-building is, her character development is even better! What makes the story so compelling is that the two protagonists have completely different morals and points of view, yet both of them seem equally valid. On the surface, Ehiru could be considered a murderer. However, through his eyes, he is using his abilities to grant a person peace in their final moments and to ensure that their soul is preserved forever. Sunandi's willingness to use deception and seduction to control her enemies can be perceived as immoral, but she only does these things to ensure the safety of her people. The clash of ideals is balanced perfectly, where the two characters have severe philosophical differences, yet it never comes across as petty bickering. There is no clearly defined "right" and "wrong" mind set, each side is given equal weight.

While Ehiru and Sunandi were the two characters I enjoyed the most, I was also awed by how much depth the other characters were given as well. Ehiru's apprentice Nijiri (who Sunandi insists on sardonically referring to as "Little Killer") is given a tragic backstory that makes his devotion to Ehiru that much more engaging. Even the villain (whose identity shan't be revealed here) is masterfully fleshed out. This isn't some mustache-twirling Snidley Whiplash clone who's evil just for the sake of being evil, this novel's antagonist has a genuine belief that they are doing the right thing, and while the villain's mind is certainly clouded by madness, you can't help but feel some sympathy towards them once the true motive is revealed.

N.K. Jemisin's world-building abilities are right up there with J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin. "The Killing Moon" is a magical, fantasy epic that will amaze even the most discerning of readers!

By mixing in elements of horror, humor, romance, and action, this Experiment In Terror is a complete success!

Working at a job she can't stand and living with a family who doesn't understand her, Perry Palomino is having trouble finding her place in the world. Maybe that's why she finds herself drawn to other things that don't quite belong in this world as well. Shadowy horrors invade her dreams, and a haunted lighthouse beacons her. When her investigation into the strange lighthouse leads her to wannabe ghost-hunter Dex Foray, the two of them decide to pool their talents in order to learn and document the secrets of the supernatural. But soon Perry isn't sure which is more dangerous...the ghosts that are stalking her, or the man who's helping her chase them!

This horror-movie fan had a lot of fun reading "Darkhouse"...so much so, that I will even be bestowing upon it awards from three of my favorite horror movies of all time...

"The Ring" award - for putting "terror" over "horror"!


I've seen all the "Halloween" movies (although, why would anyone sit through them all, they're all pretty much the same movie), all the "Nightmare On Elm Street" movies (seriously, what the hell is wrong with me) and all the "Friday the 13th" movies (I've wasted my life), yet NONE of them even came close to freaking me out as much as the scene where Samara crawls out of the TV in "The Ring"! Karina Halle takes a similar approach. Rather than drowning the reader with blood and gore, Halle uses chilling prose and a creepy atmosphere to make us afraid of what may happen next. The first half of the book is more dedicated to character development (although there are enough eerie events to keep the terror flowing even then), but the creep factor really picks up in the second half! To give too much away would be a disservice to the reader, as the scarier moments are much more effective when they're experienced first hand (try telling someone who hasn't seen The Ring, "Then this freaky chick crawls out of a TV!"....just not the same as actually seeing it). But I can reveal that Karina Halle manages to infuse elements of fear and dread without ever resorting to schlock tactics (something that even Thomas Harris was incapable of doing by the 3rd Hannibal Lecter book) , and that takes true talent! Oh, and speaking of Hannibal...

"Silence of the Lambs" award - for mesmerizing leads!



Clarice and Hannibal were certainly not your typical on-screen couple (although, if they were, I might start watching a lot more rom-coms). Likewise, Perry is hardly the kind of lead you usually find in a young-adult novel. She's not glamorous, she isn't the best at anything, and forget about love-triangles, she'd be happy just to be part of a love-duo! But she is funny, intelligent, and sensitive, and her personality makes her more endearing than even Katniss Everdeen ever was. Halle strikes a perfect balance in characterizing Perry. Perry's insecurities are just enough to make her sympathetic, but not enough to get on the readers nerves. Perry's narration is often laugh-out-loud funny, but it's her more tender moments that really resonate with the audience. Also, she is the perfect counterpart for the much-more-confident but not-quite-as-sensitive Dex. While he dies provide much humor of his own, there's a darker edge to Dex, and the more we learn about him, the less we're sure Perry should be working with him. Perry and Dex are both enthralling in their own way, and they play off of each other beautifully. And that perfect chemistry leads us to...

"Scream" award - for giving us cool stuff to watch even when scary things aren't happening!


When I remember my favorite parts of "Scream", I very rarely think of the actual creepy stuff. Instead, I remember all the hilarious parts, especially when the characters kept deconstructing the "rules" of surviving a horror movie...one of my favorites being when Jamie Kennedy survived the events of the first movie (sorry for the spoiler of a 15-year-old movie) and announced, "I never thought I'd be so happy to be a virgin!" Likewise, "Darkhouse" is often at its best when scary things AREN'T going on! The heartwarming bond that Perry builds with her younger sister. The hilarious shenanigans of Perry's drunken cousins. This book works on so many levels, there were times I got so caught up in Perry's day-to-day life, I almost forgot that this was a horror novel! That's not to say that there aren't plenty of scares, but rather that the book manages to be equally entertaining even when things aren't going bump in the night.

An enormously entertaining read that promises you will either laugh or scream at least once on every page. If you read "Darkhouse" (and you really, really should), I hope you have as much fun watching Karina Halle flaunt classic horror-movie conventions as much as I did!

Reading Trouble In Mind is a lot like watching an action-packed blockbuster movie...there's not a whole lot of depth or character development, but that doesn't make it any less fun!

A faceless monster is haunting Gotham City, turning unsuspecting people into living weapons. Even more frightening is that this may just be the first step towards a much larger terror plot. Now, a team of women on the run from the law try to save a city that wants them brought down. Sometimes the best person for a dirty job is someone whose hands are already plenty dirty...

I was a little apprehensive going into Duane Swierczynski's first "Birds of Prey" story. As Gail Simone's highly-revered first BOP run was one of my favorite graphic novels in recent times, I was afraid no one would be able to measure up. But while Swierczynski never quite surpasses Simone's work, his writing is more than good enough to make him a worthy successor!

For one thing, this is a very fast-paced adventure. Pages upon pages of heroes punching villains can get old really fast, but Swierczynski ups the ante with new situations and amusing banter. Also, while the storyline is strictly pre-Daniel-Craig James Bond stuff, there are enough twists and turns to keep you invested. One particularly mind-bending twist occurs about two-thirds in, when...well, I shan't spoil the surprise, but trust me, it's quite cool! Plus, while the established characters don't experience a whole lot of development, they still keep things interesting. Black Canary is a strong combatant and a crafty leader. Poison Ivy is a ruthless eco-terrorist who believes she's saving the planet by ridding it of the people trying to harm it. And Katana...Katana believes the soul of her dead husband lives in her sword and can communicate with all those she kills... shudders...

But for me, the real shining star of this book is brand-new character Ev Crawford, code-named "Starling"! Yes, Starling is tough and deadly (with or without her pistols), but ultimately, her most dangerous weapon is her smile! She is so sweet and perky at times, it's impossible not to love her. She also provides a lot of humor throughout the story...like when a man she's rescued starts flirting with her, and she just rolls her eyes and says, "Isn't that a ring on your finger, playah?!?" I went into this book wanting to see Black Canary in action again, but I came out wanting to read more about Starling instead!

While I found no major flaws in the book, the lack of depth prevents me from giving it a perfect score. Yes, the action is intense and the banter is pleasing, but that doesn't change the fact that you're still mostly reading a 7-issue fight sequence. Also, there were some minor nitpicks throughout, mostly with the Katana character. Why does Barbara Gordon object to Starling being on the team, when Starling doesn't seem to use lethal force, and then immediately recommends Katana, someone who racks up a larger bodycount than the villains in the story?!? Why does Canary freak out when she thinks Ivy is about to kill someone in self-defense, even though she seemed to have no problem with Katana killing several people earlier? These little inconsistencies did take me out of the book from time to time.

So, ultimately, Swierczynski doesn't reinvent the genre or revamp classic characters. Instead, he just gives us a really fun adventure, and in the end, that's more than enough!

Much like the titular monster that lurks within its pages, this book is many things. It's terrifying, it's sweet, it's disturbing, it's sad. But most of all, It is amazing!

The town of Derry is haunted by an evil with thousands of faces. With the entire town caught in the horrible creature's grasp, some of the residents are forced to confront their greatest nightmares, while others are forced to become the nightmares! Many years ago, a group of seven outcast children believed they had discovered the secret to ridding Derry of the terrible monster they knew only as "It". But when the murders start again 28 years later, they realize they were wrong. Now, the former "Losers' Club" returns to Derry to finish what they started, but there's one major problem...this time, It's ready for them!

This book has been on my "I've gotta check that out someday" list for years! I heard amazing things about it, but I wasn't sure if it had anything new to offer me, as I was under the impression that it was basically 1,000+ pages of people being terrorized by a clown. Let's fact it, as anyone who's known me for more than 5 minutes is already aware, reading about creepy clowns isn't exactly a rarity for me!



But I'm glad I finally gave this book a chance, because it's about more than just pop-culture phenomenon Pennywise the Clown. Soooooo much more! Yes, this book is primarily a horror novel, and Stephen King's imagination is at full force in this one. He never runs out of creative ways to make readers afraid to turn the page, yet also enthralled enough to brave forward. But there's also a lot of depth to this story, as well. I was very impressed with the amount of detail King explored in the lives of the 7 self-proclaimed "losers". Each of the seven is flawed but likeable. Each of them have their own distinct personalities and they have all had to cope with their own unique tragedies. The way King goes back and forth between childhood and adulthood, and the way all of them tell certain chapters through their own points of view, I was reminded of George R. R. Martin's masterful storytelling technique in his epic "A Song Of Ice And Fire" series.

I was also impressed by how King explored so many themes throughout the novel. The flashback sequences really capture both the magic and horrors of childhood. The bond that quickly grows between the Losers' Club is very heart-warming, and there are many sweet and tender moments throughout. But they also have to cope with terrible things, like abuse, alienation and bullying. And the present-day sequences are very effective as well, as they illustrate how our childhoods often shape who we become as adults. And while there is certainly plenty of supernatural horror to be found in these pages, King is at his most effective when he explores real-life horror! Spousal abuse, racism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, all these things are present in the story, and they are much more disturbing than any of the ghosts or movie monsters that show up. King makes a powerful statement on how real-life people whose minds are poisoned by hatred and prejudice are far more terrifying than any book that sits on the horror shelves!

Throughout most of this book, I only had one minor quibble, and that was in regards to how much detail King provided in the backstories. Yes, I understand how pacing works, and obviously, if scary things happen on every single page, they quickly lose their impact, so I could appreciate what King was going for. But I still felt too many segments dragged at parts. Mike Hanlon's sequences particularly suffer from this...one flashback involving him and his father driving together meandered so long, I was ready to scream, "They were close, Stephen, we get it!!!" But even though the pacing could be plodding at times, the book was still so good that I was ready to give it five stars...

...until I got to the climax!

Okay, I get that after a thousand pages of build-up, it's going to be really hard for any kind of pay-off to fulfill expectations. But that doesn't change the fact that the final battle with It just felt silly and out of place. It's hard for me to get specific about why I was so disappointed with the climax without breaking my strict "no-spoilers" policy, so I'll just leave it at this...after 1,000 pages of true horror, the book suddenly changes gears towards the end, and at which point King seems to be trying to emulate Douglas Adams' "comical science-fiction" style of writing (and failing miserably). The final battle wasn't bad enough to ruin the book for me, but it did cause me to deduct a star.

Still, even though it loses its way towards the end, this book is highly recommended for anyone who loves horror, as well as for anyone who is looking for a powerful, complex story and doesn't mind being terrified and disturbed throughout. Although I do have one other minor complaint about the book...really Stephen, did you HAVE to name an unlikable character "Koontz"?!?

At times, Solitaire is a fascinating read! Sadly, at other times, reading this book is about as exciting as...well...playing a game of solitaire!

In the not-too-distant future, world peace has finally been achieved. As a symbol of this new era, all children born on the first second of the first attempt to unify the world have been designated "Hopes". Now the Hopes are entering adulthood, ready to take their place as figureheads for the global administration. The Hope of the world's only recognized corporate-state is Ren "Jackal" Segura. However, when Ren is blamed for a terrible tragedy, the Ko Corporation, her very homeland, severs all ties with her. Taken away from her lover, her family, and all her friends, Ren participates in an experimental virtual reality form of solitary confinement, where she will be made to spend eight years trapped in her own mind, with no contact at all from the outside world. When we are left all alone, is that when we find out who we truly are?

Solitaire is one of those most heartbreaking of novels, one that could have been so much better than it ultimately was. Even though this was Kelley Eskridge's first novel, the first half of the book was actually quite good. In it, we are introduced to Ren, her eclectic group of friends (whom she refers to as her "webmates") , her dysfunctional family, and her charismatic lover known as Snow. I found many of the characters to be engaging and wanted to keep reading more about them (even if the immensely likeable Snow did have a tendency to overshadow the grumpier Ren). Eskridge's greatest feat while writing this book was the beautiful romance she developed between Ren and her girlfriend Snow. Whereas other writers often fall into pitfalls involving "insta-love" and the so overused "love-triangles", Eskridge avoids all this by having Ren & Snow already be a couple at the beginning of the book, so we get to experience their strong emotional bond from the start. It's no accident that most of the book's most powerful and beautiful moments involve Ren and Snow.

While Eskridge does a marvelous job crafting her characters at the beginning, her inexperience as a writer does show at times. For one thing, Ren's webmates are always referred to by their code names, and since Eskridge almost never bothers to describe the secondary characters, not even by gender, it's difficult to draft a mental picture of them. Later, when Eskridge starts referring to them by gender pronouns, it can get confusing knowing who she's even referring to. Adding to the confusion factor is that Eskridge sometimes jumps back and forth between flashback sequences and present-time without any real transitioning. Also, several scenes in early chapters take place in boardroom type settings, and they're about as thrilling as real-life board meetings...

I almost referred to this as a "bored room meeting", just to see if I could actually hear some of you groaning overseas!

After a couple big plot twists, Ren finds herself in solitary confinement, and while I was afraid things might get dull here, it was this part of the book where Eskridge proved just how talented she truly is! The solitary confinement section gives us brilliant psychological insight into Ren. Ren's internal struggle to preserve her sanity is both heartbreaking and mesmerizing, and it is here that we get a clear picture as to how brilliant and capable Ren really is. Indeed, by the time I got to the book's halfway point, I was convince I wouldn't be giving it any less than 4 stars...

...and then there's the second half... *SIGH*

The second half of the book concerns Ren trying to rebuild her life after her solitary confinement period. No longer welcome by the Ko Corporation, Ren is exiled to North America (now known as the Nations of North America, or the NNA). Unfortunately, Ren's experiences in the NNA are not nearly as interesting as everything that transpired previously. Ren soon stumbles upon a bar named "Solitaire" which attracts former prisoners of the same solitary confinement experiment that Ren participated in. The ex-cons are referred to by the locals as "solos", and they are idolized by fans who call themselves "watchers". You would think a setting like Solitaire would have the potential for many exciting events, but unfortunately most of the characters introduced here are simply dull. The watchers are defined almost entirely by their codependency on the solos, which leaves them with very little personality or spark of their own. The solos aren't much better...bartender Scully possesses very little charisma and may as well have just been named "MacGuffin", while the psychotic Lady Butcher constantly alludes to her supposedly-impressive body count, yet usually only manages to kill my interest in the story...

Lady Butcher presents another big problem in the second half...it makes us wonder what happened to the brilliant girl from the first half of the book! Despite the fact that Lady Butcher is a known murderer, Ren still maintains a friendship with her! Even Scully warns Ren to stay away from Butcher, but Ren insists on placing herself in potential danger from the unrepentant Lady Butcher, to the point that it almost becomes a parody! Remember those camp councilors fom the Friday the 13th movies who would stop to smoke pot and have sex while an ax murderer was chasing them?!? Even they display better decision-making skills than Ren does in the second half of the book!

The person filming Jason while being killed by him still has better survival instincts than Ren Segura!

The book continues to limp towards the not-so-grand finale at a plodding pace. I kept waiting for some big reveal or startling twist, but the book meanders into a disappointing anti-climax instead. Even the ending felt completely unsatisfying, with me simply muttering, "That's it?!?" And, finally, one of the biggest problems I had with the book was its flawed premise. I can't get too specific without revealing major spoilers, suffice to say that there is no real compelling reason given for Ren's willingness to accept complete blame for the tragedy that leads to her arrest. Yes, an explanation is given as to Ren's cooperation, but it is so flimsy, it's hard to suspend disbelief enough to accept that Ren would go along with all this. I refer to this kind of situation as "The Dollhouse Fallacy", referring to Joss Whedon's short-lived "Dollhouse" series, which involved operatives of a secret organization having their memories constantly altered to meet the needs of their clients. While it may seem like an intriguing concept, the big problem with the show (and with "Solitaire") is that the premise just doesn't make any sense when you think about it. When a man's daughter was kidnapped in the pilot episode, why would he hire the Dollhouse to program one of their agents with the memories of a kidnapping expert, instead of consulting, well, an actual kidnapping expert?!?

Even though I thought Dollhouse was a lame show, I still watched every episode...if you didn't know that was because of my crush on Eliza Dushku, please let me welcome you to your very first visit on my Goodreads page!

So, ultimately, I'm giving this book three stars, which is really four stars for the thrilling first half and two stars for the disappointing second half. I still encourage science fiction fans to check this one out, as the solitary confinement chapters alone make this book worth reading, and romance lovers will find a lot of enjoyment from the sweet Ren/Snow relationship. Even if it stumbled towards the finish line, I'm still glad I read "Solitaire".

In the second volume of Batgirl's new ongoing series,Knightfall Descends! Fortunately, the quality of Batgirl's adventures continues to rise instead!


Barbara Gordon has been through a lot in her lifetime. Her mother abandoned her, her brother was revealed to be a psychopathic killer, and she spent three years in a wheelchair due to a spinal injury. Yet she has risen to any challenge thrown at her and has always managed to achieve victory by refusing to accept defeat. Now things are looking bad once again. A chance encounter with a new criminal forces Barbara to relive her darkest hour. An army of unstoppable assassins have launched a massive attack on her city. And a new vigilante has descended upon the Gotham underworld and is willing to kill any superheroes who get in her way. When she's forced to face all these challenges, will Batgirl be able to rise once again?

Since this 2nd collection from Gail Simone's "Batgirl" series features four different storylines, I'm going to change my regular format and review each storyline separately:

Batgirl - Year Zero - (4 stars) 1 issue - This prequel issue explores the set of circumstances that led to Barbara Gordon becoming Batgirl for the very first time. Since people often go into them knowing how it's going to end, prequels can be really tough to successfully pull off...

"That still doesn't let you off the hook for the Star Wars prequels, Mr. Lucas!!!"

However, despite the pitfalls that come with attempting a prequel, Gail Simone pulls it off with aplomb. Opening with a truly sweet introspection of Barbara as she declares her father to be her hero, the spunky heroine is all charm as she finds herself (with her younger brother James Jr. in tow) getting a tour of the police station where her father works. However, when a recently-captured criminal attempts a break-out, Barbara is forced to rescue everyone she can. I loved the parallels between Batgirl's previous origin and the New 52's version. In both instances, Barbara pretty much became Batgirl by accident. But whereas the Batgirl origin from the 60's portrayed her in a weaker light (due to the rampant sexism that was permeating throughout the comic book industry at that time), Simone's Batgirl makes a much more impressive debut. An added bonus was the rather chilling foreshadowing when a criminal looks into 10-year-old James Jr.'s eyes and declares, "I know what he is!" It was also rather ironic to see Barbara trying so hard to "protect" her innocent brother, when the reader already knows about the monster he'll become. I would have loved to give this one the full 5 stars, but I found the main villain to be little more than a brutish thug with painfully insipid dialogue. But even if the villain disappoints, Batgirl certainly doesn't!

Grotesque - (3 stars) 2 issues - For me, this was easily the weakest of the four storylines, as I felt this suffered from the same problems that plagued the first volume of Simone's Batgirl series. Grotesque, a thief and self-proclaimed "snob", makes bizare speeches about how he only steals "the best". But much like "The Mirror" from the last book, Simone doesn't succeed in giving us a creepy villain, rather, she gives us a villain who just tries way too hard to be creepy! Also, a rather uninspired beat-em-up between Batgirl and Black Canary just comes off as simplistic. Still, Simone does offer an interesting twist when Barbara learns that one of Grotesque's henchmen was working with the Joker the night he shot and paralyzed her. I was initially rolling my eyes at the thought of yet another "Killing Joke" reference...KJ was released in 1988 and DC Comics STILL insists it's one of the greatest things ever written...spoiler alert(it's not...it's really, really not). However, Simone managed to come up with a previously unexplored angle of what happened that night, and it leads to one of the more moving moments in Batgirl's history. Another example of Batgirl shining but being saddled by dull villains.

Night of the Owls - (5 stars) 1 issue - Ahhh...now HERE is the Gail Simone who floored me when she first took over the "Birds of Prey" series! Batgirl's tie-in with Scott Snyder's "Night of the Owls" crossover event is only 22 pages long, but what an exciting 22 pages it is! Featuring terrifying and intimidating villains who harken back to some of Simone's creepier villains (Junior and the 12 Brothers in Silk spring immediately to mind), a reference to the fire balloon attacks of World War II that is almost never mentioned in the history books, thrilling action, effective character development, and a shocking climax, Gail Simone's contribution rivals even Scott Snyder's!

Knightfall Descends - (5 stars) 4 issues - At first I was afraid the "Owl" issue may have been a fluke, but with this brilliant story, Simone proves she definitely has her groove back. For any longtime Batman-fan, the name "Knightfall" already conjures up a horrific image...

"If you can look at the awfulness above without sobbing, you're far stronger than I am..."

But in this story, Knightfall is the name of a vigilante who is forming an army to combat the criminals of Gotham City. However, the fanatical Knightfall believes that criminals can never truly be reformed, so her solution is to simply murder them instead (as well as anyone who tries to prevent her from doling out her brutal form of justice). Much like the "Owls" tie-in, the villains of this piece are both compelling and frightening in a way that only Simone can execute. The reasons behind Knightfall's obsession is tragic enough to make her a sympathetic villain, while also disturbing enough to remind us exactly how sick she truly is. In addition to the great villains, we also witness Barbara's inner turmoil as to the excessiveness of her own methods, as well as a more tender side of her when she shows true concern for a criminal who was trying to hurt her just moments before. While such an enthralling "hero vs. villain" piece would have been enough to make this story a winner, Simone also ties a couple more threads together. The last volume introduced a subplot involving the return of Barbara's estranged mother. While it seemed like this plotline was going nowhere previously, here the story picks up momentum and leads to an emotional and satisfying pay-off. Add to that an unsettling appearance by Barbara's deranged brother, and you have an adventure truly worthy of five stars!

I feel a little awkward encouraging people to check out a graphic novel series when I myself had to admit the first few issues weren't very good, but if Simone can keep up the quality of storytelling that is featured in most of this edition, I can promise you that it's worth trudging through the weaker issues when the better ones are THIS good!

The chaotic events in his life may have Harry Dresden feeling Dead Beat...but his books have never been more energized!


As an accountant, when I have a bad day at work, it often means I spent hours poring through various mind-numbingly dull spreadsheets trying to rectify a discrepancy. Now here's Harry Dresden's version of a bad day at work. One of his most dangerous enemies has pictures that could destroy the life of Harry's closest friend and ally. In order to stop the evil vampire-sorceress Mavra from releasing the incriminating photos of Special Investigations director Karrin Murphy, Harry must bring Mavra something called "The Word of Kemmler". Harry has no idea what The Word of Kemmler looks like or even what it is, all he knows is that he's not the only one trying to find it. Three dark wizards who are more powerful than anything Harry has ever faced before are also seeking The Word and are more than willing to kill Harry if he gets in their way (in fact, at least two of them welcome the opportunity)! Add to that an ongoing war between the wizards' council and the vampire court, and a fallen angel trying desperately to ensnare Harry in her web, and you have the makings of a really bad day at work! Y'know, suddenly being an accountant doesn't seem so bad...

I was very exciting going into this book, as I knew that "Dead Beat" is where the larger story that was threaded throughout the earlier Dresden Files books really begins to unfold. The first novels of the Dresden Files were more stand-alone stories, with larger themes being introduced as the series went on, but "Dead Beat" is where many of those subplots begin to come together to make Harry's adventures one continuing epic drama! The war with the vampiric Red Court that began in "Ghost Peril", the debt Harry owes the Faerie courts from "Summer Knight", the bond with fallen angel Lasciel from "Death Masks", and the revelation of who Thomas is to Harry from "Blood Rites", all these events play a major role in this book, and it was a lot of fun to watch something that began as simple supernatural mysteries evolve into something so much more complex.

If you read any of the previous six books in the Harry Dresden series, you already know that you can count on plenty of excitement and humor, but this time around it's become apparent that Jim Butcher is truly growing as a writer. His fight sequences are now so beautifully detailed, they rival even R.A. Salvatore's! Also, Butcher really ups the ante in terms of action and suspense. The battles are larger in scale than ever before, including one involving zombies dueling with specters, and the grand finale features what may just be Harry's most epic moment to date. Also, the odds have never been more stacked up against Harry before, which made for a gripping tale. In addition, I noticed even Butcher's prose has matured. One sequence in which Harry describes seeing through the point of view of both predator and prey is so masterfully written, it's actually poetic. And then there's the twist...many an author has stumbled and fallen trying to yank the rug out from under the reader, but Butcher manages to come up with a moment that not only shocked me, but made complete sense when I thought back on previous events. Yes, almost everything I love about the Dresden books was bigger and better...almost...

As much as I enjoyed reading "Dead Beat", I found myself rolling my eyes far too many times to give the book a perfect score. For one thing, there's Butcher's annoying habit of turning Harry Dresden into...

You know who I'm talking about...that guy! The one who got a laugh once doing a weak Austin Powers impression and now feels the need to incorporate it into just about every conversation! In all fairness, a lot of Harry's witticisms work, but Butcher has a tendency to overdo it to the point where Harry stops being funny and starts getting annoying, and this book was no exception. Even Butcher himself seems to acknowledge this when he has another character tell Harry, "You're not nearly as funny as you think you are." I'm not trying to bash Butcher, as I really do think most of his humor works, but it does get tiresome when Harry has to be a complete wise-ass in every single situation (even in ones where he should be focusing on trying to save lives)!

I had some other minor grievances with this particular story. One was that Karrin Murphy was almost completely absent this time around. Murphy has always been one of my favorite characters, and her chemistry with Dresden worked brilliantly in previous novels, so I thought it was a rather odd choice by Butcher to leave her out of the book...especially considering Harry's whole reason for originally entering into the search for The Word is to protect Murphy's career! With so many things other things going on, Mavra's blackmailing of Murphy becomes little more than an afterthought, and I can't help but feel that this plot point would have been far more effective had Murphy and Mavra actually been in the book for more than a few pages. Instead of Dresden teaming up with Murphy, we get a "bromance" between him and medical examiner Butters, but Butters isn't nearly as charismatic as Murphy. Harry's half-brother Thomas is along for the ride as well, but as he doesn't really have much to do with the story and even disappears without a mention for several parts of the book, he doesn't really serve much more purpose than giving Harry a chance to get out a few more quips. Another minor grievance was one too many James Bond moments, where the villains have Harry completely at their mercy but inexplicably give him more than enough time to escape instead of just killing him when they get the chance...


Still, even with its minor faults, I would recommend this book to just about anyone who enjoys urban fantasy. If Butcher continues to grow as a writer, I see a lot of five-star reviews for the Dresden books in the future!

One last thing, I have a question I want to ask anyone who's read this book...if you haven't read "Dead Beat"yet, I urge you not to click on the spoiler, as it could potentially ruin the big twist for you...
I was convinced that Shiela would actually turn out to be Cowl's assistant Kumori...did anyone else have this same theory, or am I really the only one who fell for this particular red herring?!?"

Very impressive job by Golden. He captured the voices of the characters perfectly, particularly Bulleye's deranged yet mesmerizing personality. Also, Golden makes the Gladiator a truly sympathetic villain which adds some weight to the story. My only complaint is that Golden manages to channel the graphic novel genre a little TOO well, by which I mean his villains are often far more interesting to read about than the actual hero is!

Even though I had heard great things about Scott Snyder's "American Vampire" series, I've been hesitant in checking it out. Like many people, I'm just too "vampired-out" these days! After finally reading the 1st collection, I realize my fears were completely unfounded. Just as Scott Snyder recently managed to breathe new life into the 70+ year-old "Batman" franchise, he has done the same with the vampire genre.

"American Vampire" chronicles the rise of a new breed of vampire...the first vampires conceived on American soil. The main story focuses on Pearl Jones, a rising starlet in 1920s Hollywood who is killed by a group of vampires and rises from the dead to take revenge upon her attackers. Pearl Jones is one of the main reasons why this series works so well. The very first couple of pages are narrated by Pearl as she shares a sweet memory of her first being enchanted by the magic of movies...a touching narrative that acts as a complete contrast to the horrific events happening on panel. Not only are moments like these emotionally jarring, but they also give more in sight into Pearl's backstory and personality, which makes her a protagonist we truly care about and root for, even when we see her doing horrible things.

The main story works on so many levels. Yes, it's quite disturbing and gruesome at times, but there are also tender moments and humor mixed in as well. Pearl's quest to discover just exactly what she has been turned into is compelling, loaded with action, suspense, mystery, and a twist towards the end that I never saw coming. I also loved how Snyder used vampirism as a metaphor for how the innocent were often preyed upon in the early days of Hollywood. This isn't just about vampires running around killing people, there's a much deeper story at work here.

The first "American Vampire" collection also features a back-up story by master horror novelist Stephen King, as he reveals the origin of Skinner Sweet, the very first vampire created on American soil who is also responsible for Pearl Jones' resurrection. When you can say that Stephen King's contribution is excellent, but not quite as excellent as the main story, you know you're reading something truly magical!