The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo is the first novel in the Spinoza series. The main character is a private investigator that specializes in finding The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo is the first novel in the Spinoza series. The main character is a private investigator that specializes in finding people. He used to be a drunken burn-out, but when he blacked out while driving with his wife and child in the car, he paid the ultimate price. Haunted by the decision to get behind the wheel, he struggles to unite families, seeing as how he can not unite with his. Here, in this first book, Spinoza is tasked with finding a 17-year-old girl who believes herself to be a vampire slayer. Along the way it is discovered that the girl's parents were killed by a vampire and that the girl has gone to find the vampire. The climax takes place in a bookstore and is very symbolic, as many readers hold bookstores like Borders and Barnes and Nobles as sacred spaces. The writing is strong, the characters seem real, and the plot contains some twists. I have not read a great deal of J. R. Rain, but I'm definitely interested in reading more of his work. Also, the quick pacing of this novella-length story makes this almost something that can be read in one sitting. Really good read....more
Despite the fact that I consider myself a hardcore horror fan, I'm not a huge vampire fan. Don't get me wrong. Dracula is great. Salem's Lot is incredDespite the fact that I consider myself a hardcore horror fan, I'm not a huge vampire fan. Don't get me wrong. Dracula is great. Salem's Lot is incredible. They Thirst is awesome. Even the Light at the End is a superior, horror story, but there really are not a lot of vampire narratives that I have found worthy of the category. In Vampire Love Story by H. T. Night my expectations were of a Twilight-style rip, but pleasantly I was surprised to find a unique slant on the vampire mythos. Here there are vampires versus werewolves, but there's an elusive dynamic that includes birds that was more an ancillary ingredient to the story. VLS is the first entry to a series that includes a love story, but even that is not the major thrust of this first book. Josiah is an actual professional MMA-type wrestler. He is running through the streets of San Francisco when he hears a scream and becomes involved in trying to help a girl who was about to get date-raped by some frat boys. In trying to rescue the vulnerable, he becomes unwittingly enmeshed with a gang that seeks justice and instead there's the division between monsters and animals, and a prophecy that may or may not be a hero's journey. Clearly the novel contains some complexity that amplifies the concept of a vampire becoming, as well as the horrific tendencies that generally accompany those that pursue such a milieu. Good overall read that has developed a following (there are more than 8 VLS novels currently in publication). Not bad as a first-in-a-series book....more
First off, it’s a great title for a book that immediately conveys that this novel is going to be about secrets and skeletons that are hidden, hopefullFirst off, it’s a great title for a book that immediately conveys that this novel is going to be about secrets and skeletons that are hidden, hopefully never to see the light of day, but of course that's part of the fun. When I first downloaded to my Kindle, I expected a slow-paced, Agatha Christie type mystery, which is what we got, sort of.
I love the relationship between the sisters who are the main characters, Gillian and Frankie Hearth. Gillian has always taken care of her younger sister, Frankie, who's always been more emotionally vulnerable, trusting. The first line of the book telegraphs what’s going to happen, and it draws you in immediately. It shows that Aalto has some writing chops.
The plot weaves a complex story that you wonder how it will unravel, but then somewhere along this sophisticated course, something happens where it becomes less cohesive, less logical, more predictable. It could very well be my fault that the climax fails to reach the emotional beats I projected Aalto would hit from the beginning, and I was left wanting. Still, there was an intriguing story with characters I would love to know for real. I’m staying down the middle of the road with this one....more
Firstly, I went to High School, then college in the 80s. Those were my most formative years and consequently, this book evoked a tremendous sense of nFirstly, I went to High School, then college in the 80s. Those were my most formative years and consequently, this book evoked a tremendous sense of nostalgia. Secondly, whether you liked this book or not, you should not be ridiculed nor shamed for having that opinion. No matter what it is. You are entitled and the platform is made for that. For me, it was easy to fall in, and so I read this book at a lightning pace. Loved it, although I can understand some people not liking it. If you're an 80s pop-culture geek (as I unapologetically am) you will enjoy this book. If you're not into the time period you probably will not. The novel is also heavy into video games. It has a little cyberpunk, as well. I am very glad I gave it a shot, because it really checks off many of my ya-ya boxes. Ready Player One captured the time so thoroughly that my sons who were raised in the 90s and later, started playing my music tapes and records of Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys as background music for their reading. LOL! I got a real kick out of that....more
Shifting in the Realms by Theresa Snyder is another off-beat adventure fantasy story that not only incorporates fantasy elements, but horror ones as wShifting in the Realms by Theresa Snyder is another off-beat adventure fantasy story that not only incorporates fantasy elements, but horror ones as well. I was pleasantly surprised at how good this story is and how kismet fated it to get into my hands one night. I had tweeted about posting reviews and Theresa Snyder must have gotten some kind of notification over a hashtag. She asked if I could review her book, and my initial reaction was a no. I have so many books already, I'm over-committed. She told me that her books were short reads, that I could probably read both and review all in one night. She was right. The book involves an alternate reality that is between life and death, day and night, good and bad. Cody is a walking-dead werewolf in a realm where monsters, and all sorts of fae exist. There is conflict, magic, and terror. The audience is more YA. The 50 pages or so are sufficient to whet my appetite (get me intrigued), but I totally wouldn't have minded another 100 pages....more
Theresa Snyder is a strong writer with a very creative, yet whimsical imagination. She writes fantasy, and science fiction. Although The Farloft ChronTheresa Snyder is a strong writer with a very creative, yet whimsical imagination. She writes fantasy, and science fiction. Although The Farloft Chronicles are really meant for children, readers of all ages may enjoy the fairytale nature of the narratives. Snyder was frequenting Twitter one night, when I posted something to the effect of "Done writing two #bookreviews," when she invited me to read two of her books. She immediately sent them, and I immediately read them that night. Farloft the dragon rescues a ten-year old James from drowning in a swamp. Farloft flies James to his den, a cave overflowing with treasures, but more important than the treasures are the stories Farloft tells. After all, a long-lived dragon has a virtual library stored in his memories, and when the wizard Laval hears tell of the boy with his enemy dragon, Laval plots a way to hurt his enemy by hurting James. Magical, mystical, and lyrical, the story will make you hearken back to your childhood, when stories enrapt and mesmerized....more
In my defense, I was offered this novel during a time when I was accepting everything offered for free on Amazon. I was so indiscriminate that my KindIn my defense, I was offered this novel during a time when I was accepting everything offered for free on Amazon. I was so indiscriminate that my Kindle is still so full that I have to eliminate stuff whenever I want to download anything. My Kindle memory is full, and I resolved to fix my situation by reading as much as possible, and then removing from my library. Eventually I got my second Kindle and of course I cluttered that one too. It's a sickness; I tell you.
The Hinky Brass Bed is supposed to be a sexy read, but it really isn't IMHO. There's supposed to be a sex-demon attached to a bed. There's condescending male characters, an oppressive, cantankerous, overly-demanding boss, silly, ribald humor (that I'm OK with when it's funny, but here it's not) that's supposed to be about the joys of sex. I don't want to give this a one star because clearly Stevenson was trying to write something unique and witty. It just wasn't something that I liked....more
All right, if you're unfamiliar with my reviews I have to give you context as to why the review is a down-the-middle review. I am a hardcore horror faAll right, if you're unfamiliar with my reviews I have to give you context as to why the review is a down-the-middle review. I am a hardcore horror fan, but I don't like supernatural, ghost stories. A slamming door, or creaking house noises can all be attributable to a drafty house settling. Those are not scary to me. I have beheld some truly horrifying things in my life and I'm a little bit jaded, but a real-life killer wielding an axe 2-feet in front of me would cause me to poop my pants in a second. The tales found in this compilation are ghost stories, and although there are some that are legitimately terrifying (a haunted hotel room with bell pulls, a giant dog in a deserted house?), some are not. I think it's a fair rating for this very short horror anthology, collection of stories simply titled as Ghost Stories by Ron Ripley....more
As a student of Robert Louis Stevenson's writing, I have endeavored to enthuse more people as to the value of his work. Sure, most people are familiarAs a student of Robert Louis Stevenson's writing, I have endeavored to enthuse more people as to the value of his work. Sure, most people are familiar with Treasure Island and the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but there is so much more. In Essays on the Art of Writing, gathered, compiled, and published in 1905, nine years after Stevenson's death, Stevenson writes about Style, the Morality of the Profession, Books which have Influenced him, Realism, Notes on Treasure Island, and the Master of Ballantrae (which I happen to LOVE.) In all there are seven Essays with varying aspects of effectiveness. It was fascinating for me to read some of his inspirations which Shakespeare is one, of course. Also in this version, there are the Fables which are silly and playful, very similar to when he wrote A Child's Garden of Verses. I would not ordinarily use this word to describe Stevenson, but here and in A Child's Garden, I would claim that Stevenson embraced a charming sense of whimsy in order to write with a lightness of tone that was child-like. He succeeds masterfully here....more
While starting grad school my oldest son was 8. We had moved to Connecticut. I couldn't afford cable, and there being a used bookstore practically oneWhile starting grad school my oldest son was 8. We had moved to Connecticut. I couldn't afford cable, and there being a used bookstore practically one block a way from our new home, I had a couple of dollars in my pocket so that my son could purchase some books. He along with his mother went and grabbed several books. The Witches by Roald Dahl was one of them. It became his favorite book for a while, so as a good parent, I remember reading it back then. Checking for appropriateness was already a lost cause. He had read it and loved it. I recently re-read it and I have several thoughts. Despite being considered a children's book, this book is surprisingly horrifying. I call myself a hardcore horror fan all the time, and there are some real scares here. The witch reveal is one of those descriptions I consider chilling. There is a plot to kill masses of children at one time. The threat level here is rather large. Sure, there is some silliness, but again trigger warnings for threats, pursuit, and hurting of children. Also, Dahl is a really intriguing writer. He knows how to get his audience enrapt pretty quickly. Lastly, the movies both capture the story well and manage to add to the horrific elements....more
Anyone that has read my reviews will realize the esteem by which I hold Stevenson. A singular talent whether he was writing adventure or horror, lyricAnyone that has read my reviews will realize the esteem by which I hold Stevenson. A singular talent whether he was writing adventure or horror, lyrical or prose, for adults or for children. Here in A Child's Garden of Verses, Stevenson is writing poetry for children. There is incredible recollection of his childhood and all the magical things that filled him with wonder. In the 66 poems, he writes about the things he dreamed about and the wonderful things he would imagine. In a vivid poem that profoundly resonated with me, he writes about playing with his toys in bed and how soldiers would climb the mountains formed by his pillow and would explore the caves made by his blankets. There is mastery of those nuances of childhood, of having to miss school due to illness. True there are bits of affluenza type superiority, even where nationalistic tendencies may peek through, but those sensitivities are more of a modern concern. IMHO this is a really good sample of Stevenson's literary flexibility....more
When I say something is derivative, I don't necessarily intend feint praise. Comparing American Alchemy: Gold to The Cask of Amontillado, I would makeWhen I say something is derivative, I don't necessarily intend feint praise. Comparing American Alchemy: Gold to The Cask of Amontillado, I would make the claim that is high praise, especially when considering that Oliver Altair is no Edgar Allan Poe. No one is, and although I don't know Altair, I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to be compared to Poe, but here I am, doing just that because American Alchemy: Gold is a short story with thematic beats that echo Cask of Amontillado. Barton Saunders and his best friend are participating in the California gold rush in 1849. After meeting a prospector in San Francisco, they believe that they have discovered an inside track to riches. When they begin their search for gold, they are young and vibrant, but that soon changes when they get bitten by the avarice that is subject to the human condition only when kept in check by tight reins. The story is worth reading, but if you ever read any EC comics or watched any horror anthology series like Twilight Zone or Outer Limits, you get a sense of what is in store. We, humans, are sometimes our own worst enemy. There are cool western elements that add to the horror aspects of the tale....more
When I first got my Kindle, I did a complete 180 degrees. My oldest son had been trying to convince me to get one, so that we could share a library. IWhen I first got my Kindle, I did a complete 180 degrees. My oldest son had been trying to convince me to get one, so that we could share a library. I thought it was stupid to have BOOKS on a machine. He told me that Captain Kirk reads books on his tablet. So, after my first time reading something so compactly, I realized that digital books ALSO have merit. I started acquiring everything I could find regardless of genre. Now, of course, one of the problems with having access to such a vast library of free and relatively free books, one finds that the Kindle library gets just as cluttered as the bookshelves at home. I found Taken by Victoria DeLuis on my Kindle from way back when. This is an urban fantasy involving all sorts of Fae creatures in a modern milieu. A witch's daughter gets abducted, but there is uncertainty as to whether it was a Fae crime. Consequently, Fae investigators are hired to make the determination and solve the mysterious abduction crime. Interesting story, not bad, but not great either. I'm glad I read it and the decluttering of my Kindle, begins....more
The Vampyre is a classic, gothic horror, short story originally published in 1819 written by John William Polidori based on a tale told by Lord Byron The Vampyre is a classic, gothic horror, short story originally published in 1819 written by John William Polidori based on a tale told by Lord Byron on that historic weekend with Percy and Mary Shelley that gave birth to several monster mythologies. Here, the main character, Aubrey, meets Lord Ruthven in London and becomes fast friends with him. They decide to travel Europe together, but when Lord Ruthven seduces the underage daughter of a mutual friend, Aubrey is scandalized and decides to continue his travels without Lord Ruthven. When Aubrey arrives in Greece, he falls in love with Ianthe who educates him about the folkloric elements on which the vampire legends are based. When Lord Ruthven arrives in Greece, horrific things begin to happen. There is more, but I will not communicate any further story beats. The book is short so there really is not much more to tell, other than what makes this tale significant is that it gathers much of the vampire lore into a cohesive plot that would be emulated many times into the present. Classic because it satisfies all three criteria: longevity, paradigm shift, and exceptionalism....more
If you're into Star Wars, then this is an opportunity to fanboy-fangirl out with the background to one of the mysterious villains of that universe. FaIf you're into Star Wars, then this is an opportunity to fanboy-fangirl out with the background to one of the mysterious villains of that universe. Fans get an opportunity to peek behind the façade of the First Order where masks are very important to the cause as they are used to hide the machinations of leadership. Not all of the villains are physically disfigured the way Darth Vader was. Here, Phasma uses her mask to hide her identity from the people of her home planet where she was an important member of her tribe. No spoilers here, but the masking is significant. I found the novel fascinating and very entertaining; not necessarily important enough to alter appreciation of the series, but certainly amplifies what amounts to a very minor character. I think that her total screen time aggregates to 20 minutes over the course of two movies. Have you had enough Star Wars, yet? If your answer is no, this may help. I clearly loved it. Regardless of the fact that I thought Phasma was going to be a bigger deal than she was....more
Rip Van Winkle is a well-known fairytale told from an American perspective by Washington Irving, excerpted from his short story anthology called The SRip Van Winkle is a well-known fairytale told from an American perspective by Washington Irving, excerpted from his short story anthology called The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon. The story goes that Van Winkle lives in a village where he is married to a shrew of a wife. Probably she nags because he is a lazy man incapable of providing for his family, but he is also kind-hearted in his desire to make himself available to help out his fellow villagers. He goes into the woods hunting one day and falls asleep for twenty years. When he wakes, he has missed the American Revolution, the death of his wife, and the growth of his children. Clearly, there is an allegorical significance to the story, but I will not discuss that because it would be venturing into spoiler territory although the story is what I believe a fairly straight-forward tale. It's interesting to me that there is a moral attached to this story that for the longest time seemed to be little more than a Disney story....more
Whenever you get a prologue novella to a series, there are invariably questions asked that are meant to draw you in without expectation of resolution Whenever you get a prologue novella to a series, there are invariably questions asked that are meant to draw you in without expectation of resolution until further along. Full disclosure, I received a copy of Savage and Silver on the Book Funnel app from the author with the expectation of a review. It is my hope that this will serve as the return on that good faith gesture. I have read Collins' work before and have always found it intriguing although I admit that I don't read a great deal of urban fantasy, so I come to the subgenre a novice. The horror aspects of the novella are without question. Blaize (the MC) is apparently a generational monster hunter with an intuition for going to nexus points of fae activity. Here, she must battle werewolves without the benefit of silver weapons because she, herself, is allergic to them. Due to her limitations, she seeks assistance from her father, a mentor of sorts, and a cousin who is accustomed to fighting alongside Blaise. The action choreography is relayed well, and I would find it sufficiently interesting to make me want to read further, if I were a fan of urban fantasy. It's a good start to a series....more
I hate to be uncharitable, but this was a challenge to finish. I thought that, in the first book, the character Judge Willa Carson was quirky and fun,I hate to be uncharitable, but this was a challenge to finish. I thought that, in the first book, the character Judge Willa Carson was quirky and fun, but in this novel, she was intolerably whiny, rude, and entitled. If there were ever a character the living embodiment of white privilege, this would be her. How is it that Agatha Christie can write about a host of sophisticated, upper class, white people and make them sound less entitled and more interesting than these Florida elites. Is it that Capri is less capable than Christie? There's no shame in that. Most people cannot write as well as Christie, but your main character should be someone a reader wants to connect with, and Willa Carson is not it for me. I'm done. Thank you, Ms. Capri, but I cannot continue with this series, nor do you want me, either. It was an absolute challenge to not DNF (something I have never done). This is among the worst books I've ever read. Along with my complaints, this was a too long and wandering a path....more
Due Justice is a murder mystery with a federal judge serving somewhat as an armchair detective investigating a case involving her family, sounded inteDue Justice is a murder mystery with a federal judge serving somewhat as an armchair detective investigating a case involving her family, sounded interesting and I liked it well enough. The story takes place in Florida with a lot of rich older persons along the lines of an Agatha Christie cast of characters, only less deftly managed. I like Willa Carson (the judge, MC) and find myself wanting to try another Justice book. Hopefully it will be better with fewer instances of white privileged individuals, and a few (I would settle for one) ethnic characters, even if it's a servant. This just felt so obnoxiously about plastic surgery and retired folks who are affluent Floridians. It really seems like an odd, monochromatic cast of characters not as diverse as Florida is in reality. You know with displaced Cubans and Puerto Ricans. Just saying.)...more
There's a very adult part of my brain that gets really annoyed with Greg Heffley, the Main Character of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The kid says There's a very adult part of my brain that gets really annoyed with Greg Heffley, the Main Character of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The kid says things that make you laugh. You laugh and then do a double-take realizing that, he can't be serious, right? More often than not, despite believing himself a comedic power-house, he says things dead-pan that make him squarely the butt of his own jokes. The kid is clueless. So you laugh because you are supposed to, but sometimes it is simply not funny. Some of the things that Greg does to his best friend are unkind and mean-spirited. It bothers me that I enjoy these books so much. Dog Days is a snapshot of Greg's summer, where he has professed to being an indoor kid, but his mother has taken it upon herself that Greg's summer will include outdoor activities. He does manage to make it to a public pool where he hangs out with the pretty lifeguard, but is it possible that Greg won't mess that up? Greg's Dad gets a dog for the family and of course, Mom gets to name the dog Sweety. Ugh! This is why the book is called Dog Days (of Summer). Definitely hilarious, even when it's not trying to be....more
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