I like that SK started a newer series that is diverging from the Dark Hunters. I liked the pirate theme and motif. However, I do feel like it was a biI like that SK started a newer series that is diverging from the Dark Hunters. I liked the pirate theme and motif. However, I do feel like it was a bit one-note and a bit too samey as her Dark-Hunter books. I was fairly interested, and I wanted to see where the story went. As always, I enjoyed her dialogue and the snark that is freely traded between the characters. I was surprised about who ended being the couple. I thought it was going to be someone different. I would continue this series, but clearly two years later, it hasn't been a priority for me....more
Wow. This volume wrecked me. I mean....yeah. I find Catman aka Thomas Blake such a compelling character, and the things that he goes through and the lWow. This volume wrecked me. I mean....yeah. I find Catman aka Thomas Blake such a compelling character, and the things that he goes through and the limits he pushes to achieve a very personal goal, well I had feels. The ending left me devastated, but I know that it was the right thing for him to do. I can't remember everything about this book, but I do remember how it made me feel. That's why this review is so brief. As usual, the art is fantastic in this volume. It's a feast for the eyes. I hate the fact that DC is no longer producing this series. As much as I love the Suicide Squad, I think I love the Secret Six even more....more
I was going to go with a 3.5 star rating for this book, but I talked my way up to 4 stars, as I thought about it more. I believe that my rating indeciI was going to go with a 3.5 star rating for this book, but I talked my way up to 4 stars, as I thought about it more. I believe that my rating indecision is based on the fact that I was disappointed with some aspects, and I felt that it was different from what the name implies. I was expecting more of a caper type book with a magical ensemble. It's actually about a young man who finds out that he is part of a magical world he had no idea existed, and how his father kept him out of this world to keep him safe. Now that the scales have fallen from his eyes, he is under threat and must learn to master the powers that he inherited from his father, and uncover secrets about the mother he never knew.
The Good:
*Very creative magical system and world-building. Magic is introduced as something that feels solid and foundational, with checks and balances, and the fact that most humans are unaware of it happening has a believable explanation. *The lead character feels like an everyday late twenties man, but he felt like something was missing. It makes sense for his history but also resonates with readers who are experiencing some of that same confusion about what adulting means nowadays. *Some stellar action sequences that seemed very cinematic. *Ruthless bad guys and characters whose alignments kept me guessing. *Thoughtful twists and turns in the storyline
The Not-So-Good:
*It was hard to keep up with what was going on at times. The story seems to jump from one scenes to others with very sharp edits. *Many characters weren't that likable. I mostly liked the lead character, but most of the others, not so much. *Very high body count. I think that a death in a book should matter. In life, people die so often that it makes me want fiction that is very thoughtful about when and how a character dies. *As I mentioned earlier, I was expecting something very different than what this story delivers. I would still like my magical caper urban fantasy ensemble book. I hope someone somewhere is writing it for me.
Overall, this was enjoyable and it drew me in. The idea was very interesting and the author has a way of writing imagery in a way that stimulates vivid mental pictures. I could see this as a very good movie one day.
Another book that I read in 2017 that I never got around to reviewing. As such, I don't remember much of it, other than it was weird in a fun way. A gAnother book that I read in 2017 that I never got around to reviewing. As such, I don't remember much of it, other than it was weird in a fun way. A good book for people who like strange superhero teams ala the Doom Patrol.
I believe this one was in the 3.5 star range....more
Some OG fans may view my next words as sacrilege, but I think I prefer the newer incarnations of the Suicide Squad. I found this book kind of dense anSome OG fans may view my next words as sacrilege, but I think I prefer the newer incarnations of the Suicide Squad. I found this book kind of dense and hard to get into. I honestly do prefer the current style of art and paneling than the Bronze Age era comics. The half-tones and the super-bright but one note colors don't work for me as well as the beautifully diverse artwork featured in contemporary comics. I can be completely honest and state that I read comics for the art, and the writing is important, but if the art doesn't hook me, I don't pay attention to the story. I feel that the newer Suicide Squad stories are more engaging. I'm not saying I won't give this series further reading. I will. I just didn't get into this volume to the degree that I would have liked. ...more
Beautifully quirky and unique from all the books I've read. I am enamored with stories that embed magic-use and systems into the culture, and the concBeautifully quirky and unique from all the books I've read. I am enamored with stories that embed magic-use and systems into the culture, and the concept of being a 'craftsman' being part of one's heritage is really interesting. I liked how this book is also multicultural in that it doesn't just look at magic from one ethnic perspective. It explores the uniqueness of magic based on the culture of the people who practice it. One of the aspects of a story that most appeals to me is how well it stimulates imagery when I'm reading. This book definitely rates high in that department. I like the infusing of both history and literary references such as Poe and Lovecraft (often as though the worlds they built were real and a part of accepted history).
The lead characters are well fleshed out and have enough flaws and good points to make them feel like real people who just happen to be magicians.
I do have to say the beginning is a bit rocky and confusing, but it's worth sticking it out for a book that is distinctive and involving, with nuanced characters.
Bizarre and spooky in turns, I definitely recommend this book to urban fantasy or contemporary fantasy readers looking for something slightly off the beaten path. I'm eager to continue this series....more
I read this back in September and I'm just now able to write a review. I really dug this book, well at least until the abrupt ending. If you're a fan I read this back in September and I'm just now able to write a review. I really dug this book, well at least until the abrupt ending. If you're a fan of Greek Mythology, I'd consider it a must read. Blake does something very interesting with Greek myths and legends. It has some elements of reincarnation, which is normally a turnoff for me, but it was fairly well accomplished in the book. Well, one aspect was disturbing, the character had to die violently to recall who they were in their previous life.
Largely, this was a really exciting read. I haven't been reading much young adult lately because I'm not interested in high school life anymore. The good thing about this book is, these characters are technically teens, but most of the main characters are reincarnated personages from the Greek myths, so they act a lot more mature and have interests and concerns far beyond typical high school drama.
There are some unanswered questions, which I think is a standard tactic of a writer who's putting together a series. I just wish it wasn't so overused. Frankly, I get tired of the whole, "Keep Reading" tactic.
Another issue was Blake sort of picks and chooses which gods/goddesses she'll feature and to what degree. It's up to her as the author, but that was a bit of a letdown how she represented some of them. The curses or fates of some of the gods/goddesses were maliciously creative, and I won't even go into them, because that's part of the fun. I felt that overall the characterization is very strong for the main leads, not as much for the secondary and villainous characters. I especially liked the way that Blake humanized the ancient god/goddess figures and endowed the human (sort of) reincarnated characters with such depth.
Hera is always portrayed as a mega-bitch in just about everything. I've never been into Hera, but in a way it seems kind of sad that her reputation is so low. I would want to feel sorry for her, honestly, seeing as how she's the wife that's been cheated on by her lothario husband for many millennia. But she's always scheming and making peoples' lives miserable. In this she gets an update as a fashion forward Queen B who would fit right in with the One Percenters.
Athena and Hermes have strong points of view as they travel looking for the reincarnation of the person who could be the key to stopping the god or goddess behind the curse that is slowly killing them. They encounter high school student Cassandra, who is the key to their plan, and whose life and family is about to be in terrible danger, because Hera is headed her way.
This book has fantastic action and arresting imagery. The opening scene is the hook that grabbed me and wouldn't let go. I knew I wanted to finish this book just with the beginning. I just wish the ending wasn't so abrupt. I can't tell you how much of a buzzkill that is when you are reading a great book and then it sort of fizzles out. Maybe fizzle isn't the right word. This book goes from atomic explosion to the sizzle when you throw water on a campfire. I was confused at how fast things resolved. Having said that, I was hoping my library would have book two.
Yeah, so I'm giving it four stars because it really is a very good book. I wasn't happy with the ending, so that's why I took off a star. Despite that, I was really excited about this book and I could hardly put it down. This is one I think would make a great movie. Maybe someday soon.
I wanted to like "Anna Dressed in Blood" a lot more than I did. It was good, but it felt too derivative of popular horror movies for my tastes. I think that based on this novel, Blake has grown as an author, and I'm really excited to see where she goes from here....more
I felt like this was very short but eventful. Superman is no longer neutralized, and he's madder than ever. Constantine is up to his scheming at maximI felt like this was very short but eventful. Superman is no longer neutralized, and he's madder than ever. Constantine is up to his scheming at maximum levels. I liked that this one had lots of magic in it. Injustice messes with my head, because Superman is a terrible and formidable villain. Wonder Woman as well. Ugh, her crush on Superman has made her into a terrible dupe. I am and always will be Team Batman, just saying. The body count is always high in this series, and I hate that people fall in with an authoritarian because he know how to manipulate fear (sounds familiar with the current situation in the US right now). I will finish this because I want to know how this ends. But I will be holding my breath and gritting my teeth the whole time....more
I read this a long time ago. I find this series pretty high on the silly and ridiculous, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. They can be fun, but I read this a long time ago. I find this series pretty high on the silly and ridiculous, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. They can be fun, but over the top too. I remember liking this one a lot out of the series. It has more intensity, and no big surprise, considering it spotlights Harley's toxic relationship with the Joker. I do remember loving that Harley comes out of this out of the Joker's thrall once and for all. While I know that Harley has been a villain and has done villainous things, there are aspects to her character I really like. I really despise The Joker. I prefer Harley not being associated with him in any way. As such, this story gave me some satisfaction....more
Second in the John Puller series, this book gives a better look at what makes Puller tick and what lies beneath him as an Army criminal investigator. Second in the John Puller series, this book gives a better look at what makes Puller tick and what lies beneath him as an Army criminal investigator. Puller goes to Florida to investigate his aunt's death, which turns out to be a murder and has connections to some sinister events down near the beach. Puller is a big, tough guy, but he's not a fool, and nor is he a bully. He uses his intellect more than one would expect from a tough guy, and I think that's one of the reasons I like him a lot as a character. I also like that although the reader thinks he's behind on the eight ball, he isn't. He's smarter than people take him for. And people assume because he's military and follows the rules, that he can't think outside the box. That is patently false.
The narrative goes in interesting directions with a point of view by a character with their own motivations that gives the reader insight into a human trafficking operation that has been going on on the sunny shores of the resort town. This character is an interesting foil for Puller. Puller gets some help from a friend he makes in the last book, who turns out to be something more for Puller. I wasn't sure what to think about the relationship that develops, but I ended up liking it. I also enjoy that his brother, Bobby's character is developed more in each book.
Lots of good action in this book, but also good mystery and intrigue. While I'm more of a Will Robie fan, I enjoy Puller as a character and this series. ...more
I really enjoyed this audiobook. I think the narrator nails Joe Ledger. At first, I wasn't sure about his voice, but it didn't take time to see that hI really enjoyed this audiobook. I think the narrator nails Joe Ledger. At first, I wasn't sure about his voice, but it didn't take time to see that he got inside of this character very well.
This story is crazy! The villain is a schmuck and a loser but he's also a supervillain. Interesting conundrum. I can't remember all the details, but I do remember this story being action-packed and extremely well-plotted.
I read this so long ago, I can't do a review justice, to be honest. Suffice it to say I found it a good read and I liked the artwork, so it's at leastI read this so long ago, I can't do a review justice, to be honest. Suffice it to say I found it a good read and I liked the artwork, so it's at least 3.5 stars....more
This was a very good rebirth/reboot of Wonder Woman. It introduces a character who I would consider Wonder Woman's arch-nemesis, although their relatiThis was a very good rebirth/reboot of Wonder Woman. It introduces a character who I would consider Wonder Woman's arch-nemesis, although their relationship is very complicated, Cheetah aka Barbara Minerva. Also, Steve Trevor plays a big role.
I loved the artwork. While nice, the cover art doesn't live up to the wonderful illustration inside the book.
Greg Rucka is an excellent writer, and his skills are beautifully displayed in this volume. His understanding of what makes the characters tick is evident. He gets Diana, Steve and Barbara. He also examines our society in which the lives of girls and women are disregarded as not valuable, especially if they don't serve some usefulness. Barbara's character arc shows the damage that a misogynistic culture can do to a person.
I also liked how this volume delves into the Greek mythology aspects of Diana's heritage. Her father is not who she thought he was. She also realizes that the Amazons have kept secrets from her. This leads to her sense of disillusionment. Also this book explores Diana's relationship with Steve. Although I not-so-secretly ship Diana and Bruce, WonderBat, I like her and Steve together. I think the problem is that Steve is a soldier and is entrenched in the human world, whereas Diana is immortal and pretty much a demigoddess, which puts a time limit on their relationship, and they're still trying to figure all out that out.
I'm pretty happy with this first book in the Rebirth series of Diana. This is the best Wonder Woman comic I've read so far. Looking forward to reading more....more
I am torn in that I miss Logan as Wolverine, but at the same time, I love X-23, or Lara Kinney. this was a great introduction to her taking up the manI am torn in that I miss Logan as Wolverine, but at the same time, I love X-23, or Lara Kinney. this was a great introduction to her taking up the mantle of Wolverine. This story was practically non-stop action, and the storyline was well-written with some good surprises. The cameos of others from the Marvel Universe fit the story instead of it being like some kind of advertisement to read other Marvel titles.
X-23 kicks some serious butt, she's enormously lethal, but she respects life. She doesn't kill unnecessarily, and flashbacks show her with her father and why her ethos is what it is (including her extremely tragic backstory). I'm glad that this story shows X-23 as a character who has to deal with that tightrope of knowing when to kill or not.
The plot is highly related to X-23's origins and its excellent pathos integral to the plot. I would recommend this book to fans of X-23 aka Lara Kinney, or fans of Wolverine. If you watched the movie "Logan", this sort of ties into the storyline pretty smoothly.
I picked this one up on a lark from my library. It was fun and really quite disturbing in its way. Yes, Dorothy is the villain. Tin Man, Lion, and ScaI picked this one up on a lark from my library. It was fun and really quite disturbing in its way. Yes, Dorothy is the villain. Tin Man, Lion, and Scarecrow are all abominable in different ways. Oz is a freaking nightmare. If you got a few shivers from watching The Wizard of Oz movie, you will likely feel some similar vibrations when you read this book. One way that his story diverges is that the Wicked Witch of the West might not be the Big Bad you're used to. In fact, Glenda is the Hot Mess Witch in this book. I have to give it to the author, she really showed a lot of dark imagination in writing this book. I liked that Amy Gumm is the unlikely hero in every way, and there's a romance embedded in this story.
I won't lie, this one is pretty dark. I didn't give it a higher rating because some aspects felt a little underdeveloped, such as Dorothy herself. Also I would like to understand what corrupted her and her three companions in such a way.
I did appreciate some nice motifs, such as the fact that all of Dorothy's outfits reflect her Kansas attire but dark queen glammed up. I think this Dorothy could give the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Huntsman a run for her money.
The narrator was pretty good. I liked her matter of fact narration. It felt very much like a young girl from the wrong side of the tracks that life has hit a little too hard and who had seen too much dark stuff in her life.
This was kind of weird. It was a skewed version of the Wonder Woman origin story, but instead of their patron goddess being Hera, it's Aphrodite. You This was kind of weird. It was a skewed version of the Wonder Woman origin story, but instead of their patron goddess being Hera, it's Aphrodite. You can imagine how that could change a few things. It has a lot more overt sapphic tones than I've seen with Wonder Woman (but hardly surprising or shocking). I mean its a Utopian all female society, so why wouldn't the women pair up together as partners and lovers? I was fine with that. I think some of their rituals were on the verge of kinky if I'm honest. I've always been leery of sex and violence together thought.
I did like that Steve Trevor was black in this version. The relationship that Diana has with him is undefined. Since Wonder Woman has a lover already, I wasn't sure that there were any romantic undertones in her relationship with Trevor as it was written.
When Diana comes to the world of men, she is portrayed as very dominant with an edge of cruelty. I didn't love that about her characterization. I don't see Diana as being that kind of person.
The storyline where she encounters the sorority girls on a wild spring break trip and bonds with a particular girl was a bit odd. I know it was a way to group Diana and teach her the ways of the modern world. I didn't much care for it.
Honestly, I was glad this is Earth One. While I didn't mind the aspect of Diana being queer, and I liked that Steve was black, I didn't care for other aspects of the storyline. It wasn't terrible, so I would still give this three stars....more
Influx is a really different kind of read. It was selected for the Techno-Thriller group read for the Action/Adventure group on Goodreads, and it defiInflux is a really different kind of read. It was selected for the Techno-Thriller group read for the Action/Adventure group on Goodreads, and it definitely fits the bill. The author conceived of a concept that is very novel, and I was immersed in this story.
What if there is a secret group that suppresses and appropriates new technology, so that things are a lot more advanced than we think? That's what happens to Jon Grady when he comes up with a device that can bend and manipulate gravity in an extremely different way. Things quickly become horrific beyond description for Jon on the same night when he demonstrates his invention to investors. Jon goes through some events that are truly frightening and I felt deeply for him. I loved how he would never give up or in. Jon is the key to tearing the lid off this group and seeing justice done. Jon was all of us fighting for justice under impossible odds and stress. And he finds an important support system that gives him the courage and skills to keep him going.
I found this book riveting, distinctive and I was so involved in the story that I didn't want to stop listening to it. While this isn't horror, there is an aspect of horror in the idea that science can be used to such nefarious ends. I realize this is reality, with inventions like the atomic bomb and other weapons of mass destruction. But the inventions in this book are even more scary. And I tell you, AI freaks me out. This book hasn't changed that for me. In fact, I'm probably worse about it.
The characters were diverse, with a very interesting twist with one of the characters that I liked as well. Alexa starts out as someone very unlikable, and her evolution was well done.
This book does introduce some thought provoking questions. Such as should we fear the government or should the government work for us? When should the government intervene in situations such as advanced technology? Is there a happy middle ground? Technology, should it be allowed to be secluded and kept away from the public good?
I didn't care for the way the agency swoops in with this excuse about how the world could not handle having technology that advanced, so they have to protect the world by sequestering it, and of course, they benefit from it. And they can use it against people they perceive as their enemies, even the government agencies that try to rein them in. I can imagine why Jon was so angry and fixed on getting revenge.
I was on the edge this whole book, and I was pretty sure Jon was done for many times. The ending was satisfying and unpredictable. The science was really interesting and educational, without being dry. It made me want to learn more about physics.
I would recommend this to readers looking for an innovative sci-fi thriller. It's like nothing else I've read before....more
Danielle The Book Huntress
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