Mini Reviews: Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by HP Mallory & Club Monstrosity by Jesse Petersen

Title: Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble
Author(s): H.P. Mallory
Genre(s): Chick-Lit, Paranormal Romance
Publisher/Date: Self-Published / February 20, 2012
Series: Jolie Wilkins (Book #1)

Life isn't bad for psychic Jolie Wilkins. True, she doesn't have a love life to speak of, but she has a cute house in the suburbs of Los Angeles, a cat and a quirky best friend. Enter Rand Balfour, a sinfully attractive warlock who insists she's a witch and who just might turn her life upside down. Rand hires her to help him solve a mystery regarding the death of his client who also happens to be a ghost. Jolie not only uncovers the cause of the ghost's demise but, in the process, she brings him back to life! Word of Jolie’s incredible ability to bring back the dead spreads like wildfire, putting her at the top of the underworld’s most wanted list. Consequently, she finds herself at the center of a custody battle between a villainous witch, a dangerous but oh-so-sexy vampire, and her warlock boss, Rand. (synopsis from Goodreads)

Summary Prognosis

Honestly, I don't even know where to start when it comes to this book. So much to say and none of it positive. What I thought might be an entertaining blend of Beautiful Creatures meets True Blood ended up being a train wreck of shallowness, misogyny and flimsy plots. Mallory is an ineffectual storyteller in that she doesn't show us anything, instead, we're smacked in the face with every little fact/detail, so frequently that it's somewhat insulting. She lacks the subtlety and consistency that is characteristic of more seasoned writers. And for the magic in the story to be believable there has to be a set of rules in that world and in this case, there are none. Everything happens too conveniently. There are no limitations and I just wasn't buying it. Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble doesn't deliver anything new in the genre. It's one of those books where you've seen it all before. 

My other big problem with this book was the characters. Every one of them is unlikeable because they're either stupid, vapid or utterly useless. Jolie, our MC, is the a-typical ordinary girl with extraordinary power who cares more about a man's looks than his actual personality. And the men, nearly every one of them is controlling, arrogant or evil. The best example of this is our main man, Rand, who stoops to using the temptation of sex in a vain attempt to control our MC. If I'm being frank, the only thing this book succeeded in doing was making me want to throw it at the wall. I bought this audiobook hoping for something craptastic --- light and fun --- instead, I got something that was TERRIBAD. So yeah. This series is not for me.

Rating: ★½  

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Title: Club Monstrosity
Author(s): Jesse Petersen
Genre(s): Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Vampires
Publisher/Date: Pocket Star / April 29, 2013
Series: Monstrosity (Book #1)

Natalie’s one of Frankenstein’s creations and works in a New York City morgue. So of course she needs therapy. She and her friends—er, fellow monsters—have formed the world’s most exclusive, most dysfunctional support group. What could go wrong? Undetected in the modern world and under pressure to stay that way, Natalie Grey, Dracula, Bob the Blob, and others (including the fetching wolfman Alec) meet regularly to talk about the pressures of being infamous in the Big Apple. Topics include how long it’s been since their last sighting, how their “story” creates stereotypes they can’t fulfill, and—gasp—sometimes even their feelings. But when their pervy Invisible Man, Ellis, is killed in a manner reminiscent of the H.G. Wells novel, it’s clear someone’s discovered their existence and is down for some monster busting. Led by Natalie—and definitely not helped by Hyde’s bloodthirsty tendencies—the members of Monstofelldosis Anonymous band together for security and a little sleuthing. And maybe—maybe—if they don’t end up dead, they’ll end up friends somewhere along the way. (synopsis from Goodreads)

Summary Prognosis

I've been a long-time fan of Jesse Petersen's Living with the Dead series. Her books are some of my go-to reads --- witty, entertaining and snarky as hell --- so it was a no brainer for me to pick up Club Monstrosity. The concept of monsters in a self-help group is so great. C'mon, it's MONSTERS IN A SELF-HELP CLUB! We get to see how a Frankenstein's monster, the Blob, the Invisible Man, a mummy, Dracula, a werewolf, a swamp monster and Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde are all coping in modern day America, that is, until they start being offed in the same fashion as in their horror stories. Hell yes! Where do I sign up? This book was pretty much what I expected it would be --- quick, easy and fun. While it wasn't quite as gripping as Petersen's other series, I definitely enjoyed reading it. The only real quirk that got me were the random POV swaps between two of the main characters. They occur right in the middle of scenes so it makes it difficult to discern who's speaking. Other than that, I found it to be a quirky concept with some really cool characters. While I do prefer Petersen's other books, I will definitely continue reading this series too.

Rating: ★★★

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Book Review: Everything Is Perfect When You're A Liar by Kelly Oxford

Title: Everything Is Perfect When You're A Liar
Author(s): Kelly Oxford
Genre(s): Humour, Memoir
Publisher/Date: It Books / April 2, 2013
Series: Stand Alone

“My mom, Gaye, was a total weirdo and yet she sounded completely normal, with a completely average voice. I like the idea that we can contain our weirdness, but I prefer it when we wear it all over ourselves.” -Kelly Oxford

Case Study

The funniest—and hottest—mom on Twitter plunges you headlong into her life in her hilarious memoir, Everything Is Perfect When You’re a Liar. With her trademark blend of biting wit and self-deprecation, this side-splitting book of essays will make you laugh, cry, and then laugh some more.

Sharing her life story in Everything Is Perfect When You’re A Liar, the straight-talking and riotously funny blogger Oxford opens up about her childhood, motherhood, and life with that zany, skewed perspective that make her the toast of the social media world. 

The Game's Afoot

Not so long ago, I posted this discussionary post about success prompted by an article about renown comedy writer, Kelly Oxford. I'm a  big fan of hers so when I found out she wrote a book, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. Oxford has gained legions of fans due to her incredible wit and irreverent observations as showcased on both her blog and Twitter. Personally, I think she's hilarious so I figured her book would reflect that humour quite succinctly. 

Unfortunately, some of that humour doesn't translate to the page as well as I hoped it would. That's not to say this book isn't funny, because it is, but I found some of the stories to be totally unrelatable, hence---not very funny. The book is broken into individual essays, each one recounting an important moment/event in Oxford's life. Where these little vignettes are exaggerated, they are also disjointed so it makes it a bit hard to follow. You're better off looking at them as separate entities rather than a book.

Now some criticize this book for being too crass and narcissistic, but if you follow her on Twitter, you ought to know better! Humble, she is not. Look, it's not easy writing about yourself so I do have to give her credit for being so bold. I will, however, admit that she's made some poor life choices (as chronicled here), ones that I cannot abide. And there were definitely moments where she comes off as an overly privileged, pretty girl. And these are the parts I didn't like. It isn't until she has a serious brush with reality that her tone changes and the book finally becomes endearing. There's depth and humour in it, the kind of humour that I was waiting to see.

Everything Is Perfect When You're A Liar isn't the funniest book I've ever read, but there is a note of sincerity towards the end that makes it a decent read. I was hoping for more here but this isn't the first time a funny person wrote a book that left me feeling a little disappointed. Perhaps these types of books aren't for me? Or maybe, just maybe, these funny people should stick to their usual mediums of comedy.

Summary Prognosis

Everything Is Perfect When You're A Liar is one of those not-so-funny-books written by a very funny person. While I did find some of the essays to be entertaining, overall, the book was a bit of a letdown for me. I think only a specific demographic (i.e. - her fans) would really appreciate Oxford's style of comedy here.

  

Rating: ★★★


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Audiobook Mini Reviews: Midnight by Dean Koontiz & Inferno by Dan Brown

Title: Midnight
Author(s): Dean Koontz
Genre(s): Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
Publisher/Date: Berkley Publishing / January 1, 1989
Series: Stand Alone

The citizens of Moonlight Cove are changing. Some are losing touch with their deepest emotions. Others are surrendering to their wildest urges. And the few who remain unchanged are absolutely terrified—if not brutally murdered in the dead of night. Enter the shocking world of Moonlight Cove, where four unlikely survivors confront the darkest realms of human nature... (synopsis from Goodreads)

Summary Prognosis

I've never read anything by Dean Koontz before so I wasn't really sure what to expect when I purchased this audiobook. Murder, monsters, mayhem---well, that's right up my alley, I'd thought. Unfortunately for Koontz, my first impression left me with the shivers (and not the good kind). My qualms lie more with Koontz's writing style than with the plot which is a shame because this is a story with some serious potential.

As far as the concept goes, I thought it was pretty fantastic. I thought the creatures' lack of empathy to be quite chilling. But I had a hard time connecting with most of the characters save for Harry (the disabled war veteran) and Moose (his dog). Generally, I thought the writing was repetitive and the story, dated. There's an abundance of archaic technological and historical references which really showed the book's age. Little did I realize Midnight was published in 1989. Koontz also has a tendency to repeat the same minute details over and over and over again, causing no shortage of frustration on my end. 

Midnight started off with a bang and the ending had a lot promise, but alas, all the build-up was for naught. Like the rest of the book, it lacked the real scare-factor that I was looking for. J. Charles was a decent reader and the audio production itself was well done. Overall, I could see this story being adapted for TV and, in the right hands (here's to looking at you Guillermo del Toro!), I think it could be brilliant.

Rating: ★★½

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Title: Inferno
Author(s): Dan Brown
Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Thriller
Publisher/Date: Doubleday / May 14, 2013
Series: Robert Langdon (Book #4)

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno. Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered. (synopsis from Goodreads)

Summary Prognosis

Generally speaking, I'm a fan of Dan Brown's work, particularly the Robert Langdon Series. Sure, Brown's books are predictable. Yes, they're a tad formulaic, however, for me, it's a formula that works so I can overlook all that. I loved the first two books in this series; however, because I was let down by the third, I picked up Inferno bearing some caution. Though it didn't quite live up to Angels & Demons or The DaVinci Code, overall, I found it to be more enjoyable than The Lost Symbol.

Before you go and pick up this book, there's one thing you should know: it's heavy on the history and lacking in action. But if you're like me and enjoy historical fiction, it shouldn't really be a problem. Though it can sometimes read like a giant info dump, Inferno touches on several subjects of interest: Dante Alighieri, the literary masterpiece Inferno, Florence and overpopulation. What? Yes. Overpopulation. I know it sounds a bit out of place but the relevancy behind it is both effective and befitting. In other words, Brown makes it work and in doing so, raises some chilling questions.

You don't really need to read the other books in the series to be able to follow Inferno, although,  some familiar patterns become apparent (i.e. - the supposed good guy who ends up being bad). I did like how Brown structured this book differently than the others, using Langdon's amnesia as a means by which to tell the story. It was unexpected and a nice twist. As a reader, I really liked Paul Michael's performance and would happily listen to him narrate again. Inferno was a likeable book, though I'd hardly rank it as one of Brown's best works to date. If you enjoy books heavy on history or like books dealing with this subject matter, I recommend it.

Rating: ★★★

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Discuss It: Goodreads | Author's Website

Book Review: Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

 
Title: Beautiful Darkness
Author(s): Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Genre(s): Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
Publisher/Date: Little, Brown and Company / October 12, 2013
Series: Caster Chronicles (Book #2)

"If she had known what she was choosing, would she have chosen differently? I owed my life to her, but I didn't feel happy. All I felt was brokenness. The fear of dirt and nothingness and being alone. The loss of my mom and Macon and, in a way, Lena. And something else. The crippling sadness and incredible guilt of being the one who lived."

Warning: This review may contain spoilers concerning Beautiful Creatures.

Case Study

Ethan Wate used to think that life in Gatlin was boring and ever-so ordinary, that is, until he met and fell in love with Lena Duchannes. Ever since then, Gatlin has become a place of mystery, a place of incomprehensible magic. And death. A dark curse looms over Lena and her family, one that can alter the course of history for man and magickind for forever. One that has already taken a deep toll on the powerful caster girl.

After suffering a devastating loss, Lena pulls away from everyone, particularly Ethan. Instead, she finds solice in the dark magic that once terrified her so. With the aid of an unlikely band of misfits, Ethan sets out on a journey not only to save the girl he loves, but to uncover the hidden secrets that have bound him and his family to Gatlin for decades. Ethan was lucky to defeat death once before, but will luck be enough to save his hide (and Lena's) for a second time?

The Game's Afoot

So I've pondered Beautiful Darkness for over a week and I'm still not sure how I feel about this book.Part of me really enjoyed it and part of me, well, part of me was less than impressed.  If you remember, my feelings on Beautiful Creatures were also all over the place, though that had more to do with my comparing it to the movie version (bad habits die hard!). But despite any reservations that I may have had with the first book, there's definitely a good foundation for the story so I decided to continue on with the series. Andeven  after reading this book, all hesitation aside, I probably will pick up Book #3. 

Beautiful Darkness is exactly what the title suggests --- it's dark (much darker than its predecessor) and in it, both Ethan and Lena explore the sinister sides of Gatlin. And, consequently, themselves. The story takes place during the immediate aftermath of Lena's 16th birthday as she struggles to deal with the loss of Macon. Basically, she feels like Macon's death is her fault and her belief that she's doomed for darkness leads to a surprisingly gothic transformation. I really enjoyed seeing Lena-gone-bad, although, at times it got a little too emo. And of course, there's the inevitable romantic tension between Ethan and Lena. Unfortunately, this causes the beginning to drag as Ethan's constant brooding takes over. Enter Liv (a keeper in-training) and John Breed (the mysterious loner dude) to amp up the ambiguity in their already strained relationship.

The story didn't really pick up until about 100 pages in with the appearance of an old fan favourite, Ridley. And let me just say, the mischief that her and Lena get into is well worth the wait. Ridley has quickly become one of my favourite characters. Honestly, where I loved Ethan in the first book, the side characters (Link, RIdley and Liv) really stole the show here. Each of them becomes central to the story, serving an integral purpose. Their choices all have life (or death) altering consequences. Garcia and Stohl flip the script on what we think we know and we quickly learn that people are more than what they initially seem. Especially Ethan.There's a reason he's so deeply bonded with Lena and he learns just how much his destiny is irrevocably intertwined in the caster world.

Again, the pacing starts lacking until Ethan, Liv and Link team up on a hero's quest to save Lena from the clutches of evil. During their journey, there are many anticipated and unanticipated helpers along the way. However, the problem I had with this was in the too-convenient timing and in the identities of some of their saviors. I dunno, it felt too easy. I never really felt scared for the characters in the way I should have been, rendering the shock-value ineffective. Justice is never really served so there's no sense of loss or vindication. There was an emotional disconnect for me as a reader. And like the ending in Book #1, we're left with yet another non-ending. You can tell how Garcia and Stohl are setting the story up for future installments.Needless to say, it was somewhat frustrating.

Beautiful Darkness is a book full of deceit, jealousy, love, loss, confusion and sacrifice. It's one of those stories that reveals many new truths that were previously unknown to key figures in the story. We're  driven deeper into the underbelly of the caster world and shown a darker sort of magic. Just about every character experiences some sort of transformation.

"Lena and I would never be the same. Link and Ridley were so supernaturally altered, they weren't even in the same universe.."

Can I just go on a side rant for a second regarding Link's big change --- umm, why? Can anyone tell me? Because it comes up out of nowhere and then they act like it's all a big joke. What was the point of that? 

I digress.

By the end of the journey, many revelations are made, albeit some were more effective than others. Where there were things I liked (like their quest), there were plenty of things that offset the good. While the story wasn't predictable, it didn't leave me on the edge of my seat. I found it to be amusing in some places and contrived in others. I had kind of hoped that writing all of my thoughts out would help me to sort my feelings more definitively, but it hasn't so I'll leave you with this: I liked the book enough to want to finish the series, but I thought the first one was marginally better (again, probably due to its wayward charm).

Summary Prognosis

Beautiful Darkness is an amusing follow-up to Book #1 in the Caster Chronicles. While the pacing is uneven, the story is magically intense. Featuring some unbelievable appearances from an unlikely band of misfits, it's a dark journey into the bowels of the caster world and not everything is as it appears to be. The book, like Ethan and Lena, has its ups and downs but if you're like me, and you dig the foundation, it's definitely worth a read.

Rating: ★★★

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Discuss It: Goodreads | Author's Website 

Movie Review: The Great Gatsby by Baz Luhrmann

 
Title: The Great Gatsby
Director(s): Baz Luhrmann
Genre(s): Classic, Drama, Romance
Rating: PG-13
Release Date (USA): May 10, 2013

"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter - tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther... And one fine morning - So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." -Nick Carraway

I think most of us, at this point, have read Fitzgerald's famous work, The Great Gatsby --- and if you haven't read it, you've at least heard about it. The Great Gatsby is one of America's greatest literary achievements, and Gatsby, one of the most iconic characters written. When you take one of the most celebrated pieces of literature and turn it into a movie, I think it's safe to say, you have some pretty big shoes to fill.

To date there have been a number of movie adaptations of Gatsby, the 1974 version starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, being my favourite; so when I heard Gatsby was about to get the Baz Luhrmann treatment, I wasn't quite sure what to think. See, like the decidedly mixed reviews on this film, I share similar feelings about Luhrmann's movies in general. While I adored his modernised interpretation of Romeo + Juliet, I could barely make it through Moulin Rouge. Seeing Gatsby was a gamble for me because while there's no doublt Luhrmann has a monopoly on contemporary flare and visual excess, he also has a tendency to skim the surface, missing much of the underlying detail. So what was the end result?

His Gatsby fell somewhere in between the two.

It's hard to know where to start because my thoughts on this movie are all over the place. Though I did enjoy the theatrical experience in a visual sense, emotionally it was incredibly unfulfilling. Not exactly what you expect or want from an adaptation of one of the most hailed novels, like, ever. So yeah. But honestly, was I surprised by this? Not really. It ended up being exactly what I thought it might be: visually striking but lacking in depth and character. It all boils down to way too much focus placed on the aesthetic parts and not enough on the "meat and potatoes" of the film. Sure, there are brief sparks of something special, but overall, it lacked a lot of the heart and soul that comes from the original source material.

Luhrmann's Gatsby is imposing, in-your-face and brash which works both for and against it. This forwardness has a tendency to highlight the obvious making it lack the subtlety that makes earlier versions of the movie so much more effective. For instance, you're beaten in the face with the symbolism of the green light so much so that it feels like you're being insulted. Look Baz, the green light is important, I know, but we're not all that dense, okay? There's something to be said for leaving an air of mystery, of which this movie did none of. However, that being said, I do think he excels in creating striking cinematography which keeps you riveted to the screen. He makes you not want to look away because his world stands out from all the rest. The opulence of this movie matches the excess of the Roaring 20's to near perfection and it sets the stage well while enhancing the mood. I also really liked Luhrmann's use of contemporary music when contrasted against the vintage-inspired glitz and glamour. I know this isn't something that will please everyone, but it worked for me. It's Luhrmann's trademark and he does it well. 

That being said, good visuals aren't enough to carry a movie. I think my biggest issue was the lack of personality. Don't get me wrong, the setting had plenty of it but where it mattered, it had little to none. There was very little natural chemistry between Leo DiCaprio's Gatsby and Carey Mulligan's Daisy. They were solid individually, but not when they were together. I mean, this is the key relationship in the movie and it didn't feel real. And if I'm being real here, I wasn't vibing on Leo's take of Gatsby at all. He was too disingenuous and self-serving for my liking. If you ask me, Robert Redford pretty much has the monopoly on the multi-faceted character. He was self conscious and refined in all the right places. Leo's angry, angsty Gatsby was fitting only in bits and pieces. What I did enjoy, though, was Mulligan's Daisy. She brings a stronger, more defiant side to Daisy's otherwise flighty, dainty damsel-in-distress act. It's a refreshing twist on the character, for sure.

Another thing I noticed (and not in a good way) was how the story was told. More often than not, Nick Carraway's (Tobey Maguire) narrative was mistimed and misplaced, frequently jarring me out of the story. It made every second of the 2hr 23min running time seem that much longer. So that on top of the characters not feeling true to the characters in the book, it was hard to foster a connection to anyone of them --- and in a story that ends so tragically, you want to, no, need to be moved. I, on the other hand, couldn't care less. Baz Luhrmann's Gatsby, unfortunately, was a swing and a miss It's not that the movie is terrible, it's actually pretty enjoyable if you can take it at face value. It's got jazz in all the right places, if you know what I mean. I just happen to like prior versions better, that's all. 

And on a side note: I still think Baz Luhrmann's interpretation of Romeo + Juliet was the pinnacle of his directing career so he's definitely got that going for him because that movie is AMAZING.

Summary Prognosis

While Baz Luhrmann's signature flare worked in tandem with the rich excessiveness of the decade, his version of The Great Gatsby missed the mark in just about every other way. There were strong performances by each of the characters individually but when together, they lacked chemistry. I found caring more about the way the film looked than I did any of its characters which defeats the purpose of translating such a deep and meaningful story to the screen. This movie is all about face value in a world where there's so much more beneath the surface.


Rating: ★★★


Watch It: This movie is currently out in theatres
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Book Review: The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

Title: The Nightmare Affair
Author(s): Mindee Arnett
Genre(s): Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult
Publisher/Date: Tor Teen / March 5, 2013
Series: The Arkwell Academy (Book #1)

Disclosure: I received a review copy via the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Common sense told me I should be afraid of anything that provoked this much anxiety in my mother, but as usual I felt the opposite. My curiosity skyrocketed, and for the first time, I envisioned myself solving the mystery, saving the day, being the hero."

Case Study

Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.

Literally.

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.

Then Eli’s dream comes true.

Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target. (synopsis from Goodreads)

The Game's Afoot

I was really happy to read The Nightmare Affair because the idea of boarding schools, murder and paranormal entities gets me all sorts of excited. I sort of figured that this would be a cross between The Raven Boys and Harry Potter and for the most part, it was. But while Arkwell Academy is like Hogwarts for all manner of paranormal beings, the book lacked that certain mystical aura that Rowling and Stiefvater both managed to create in their series. It's not to say I didn't get a kick out of the book, because I did, I guess I was just hoping for something with a little more oomph.

What I liked most about this book was the overall concept and the fact that Arnett was not afraid to go to a darker place with it. The murders were gruesome (to a point) and the action was weirdly suspensful. Arnett manages to blend reality and magic in a fairly seamless way so that the reader is able to get a clear vision of world she's created. She takes liberties in using just about every mythical creature you could want or need, from sirens to witches to fairies and oracles. She even took a gamble in making nightmares a magical being--- one that paid off. Her world-building is a lot of fun, especially the part where inanimate objects take on a life of their own and develop their own interesting (or bitey) personalities. But where I think the world-building excelled, there were some parts about how the magic worked in this world (like, The Will) that could've been a bit more clear.

Generally speaking, I liked most of the characters though I found many of the secondary ones to be more interesting than the leading lady. While Dusty has her funny moments, I didn't really identify with her. She's lead on easily by others and doesn't really stick to her guns. I wanted so much for her to be stronger and more self-assured. She falls prey to the dreaded insta-love/love triangle thing and lets it get in the way of her common sense far too often. I did, however, admire the bond between her and her BFF/roomie, Selene. And Selene is someone I could totally get down with. Somewhat hyper-feminist, smart and tough, she's a character I wanted more of.

As far as Dusty's love interests go, Eli was your typical tough-guy-with-a-soft-heart and Paul the attractive nerdy dude. What I wish we saw more of was the head-to-head banter between Paul and Eli as they vied for Dusty's affections because that was some entertaining stuff! I think my biggest issue with the book, though, was that the big twist at the end could have been stronger. It was frustrating because Dusty didn't pick up on all the obvious hints throughout and by the end, I was a little let down. It's disappointing when you guess who the bad guy is and, in this case, what type of creature they are before the intended reveal. But overall, I really did think The Nightmare Affair was an enjoyable albeit predictable book with a solid plot and some serious series potential.

Summary Prognosis

The Nightmare Affair is a fun, magical read that will capture the imagination with its superb world-building despite its other flaws. I wouldn't say the characterization was the greatest but the characters are entertaining enough to keep the reader intrigued. I loved the darker plotlines and think the book will do well with a younger audience. I'm interested to see what else Arnett has to offer with this series.


Rating: ★★★


Read It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Discuss It: Goodreads | Author's Website | Tor Teen
Extras: Book Trailer

Book Review: Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

Title: Carnival of Souls
Author(s): Melissa Marr
Genre(s): Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult
Publisher/Date: HarperCollins / September 4, 2012
Series: Carnival of Souls (Book #1)

'The difference isn't in how cruel women can be." Aya spoke louder now so that the line of people could hear her again. "If by action you tried to 'remind me' of what place some think a woman deserves, I would break you, but I won't kill you for ignorant words. I can be a lady and still rule. One does not negate the other.'

Case Study

The Carnival of Souls isn't a place for the faint of heart. Here murder and pleasure reign supreme. Centered in The City where daimons rule, it pays to be either a fierce fighter or one of the ruling class. However, the stakes are upped when a deadly competition open to all daimons affords the winner an opportunity to join the elite few. Kaleb is a contract killer who fights for status in the competition and he will stop at nothing to make his way to the top. Aya is one of the ruling class and she fights for a very different reason --- to protect a deadly secret, one that's keeping her alive. As the competition winds down, the stakes grow higher for Aya and Kaleb because only one of them will come out a victor.

In the human world, Mallory and her adoptive father, Adam, are on the run. Adam's a powerful witch who is hiding something. Trained to fight and kill daimons, Mallory's on a mission to find what it is her father stole and why its so important while still protecting the sanctity of the only family she's ever known. It isn't long though until she's lured in by the temptations of the lethal Carnival of Souls.

The Game's Afoot

I was really excited to finally pick up Melissa Marr's, Carnival of Souls---the concept was intriguing and it sounded racier than the typical YA fanfare which is something I can totally get down with. I wish I could say I was blown away by it, but sadly, not so much. Though I thought the book was entertaining, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I won't go as far as to say it was bad, because it wasn't, but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I thought I would. It read like an info dump of background information making it seem more like a prequel than the first book in a series. Granted, the extensive world building was necessary and pretty spectacular! Seriously, this is where Marr's strength lies. She has an eye for exquisite details and setting the mood. But for a book so short, it was too much and not enough all at the same time. Does that make any sense?

Carnival of Souls tells several stories simultaneously, alternating between the human/witch world and the daimon world. Several of the characters traverse both of these worlds and their stories become interwoven as the book progresses. But because we're shown a myriad of POV's it's hard to form a discernible connection to many of the characters. I felt no warm fuzzies for Mallory what-so-ever and the insta-love factor was more than ramped up between her and Kaleb, which I totally don't buy. She's more concerned about seeing a boy she barely knows than for her own safety. C'mon, girl! Get some self worth for crying out loud! Mallory's just another one of those needy characters who's reactive instead of proactive. Honestly, I was more intrigued by the daimon realm and its wide variety of personas more than the human/witch one. The characters in the human/witch realm were static much like the events that happen there. I craved the seediness, complexity and mystery that came with the Carnival.

Of all the story lines, my favourite was that of Aya and Belias. Their relationship was believable and theirs was the most complex of the bunch--- they are both strong, dynamic and interesting and their story alone is likely to bring me back for the sequel. Had Marr written more about Aya, Belias and the tournament, it would have made for a much more engaging book, I think. In fact, I'll take an entire book solely based in The City. Give me more of that, please! Another issue I had was with the pacing. It started with a slow trickle of information but as we get closer to the end, everything happens in a short time span and it just feels rushed and somewhat unfinished. I don't know about you, but that ending was a total cop out. Granted, I know there's a sequel and all but it felt like the book was published before Marr got to finish her final thought.

I will say this, one of the things I enjoyed most was that Marr uses the daimon world to touch on class and gender issues and it doesn't come off as heavy handed. I liked that Aya was a character who stepped out of the traditional gender roles and fought for what she believed in despite the negativity it might bring to her. Now I know her situation sort of forced her hand but she was passionate and ruthless when it came to preserving her independence. The girl's got sass and ass-kicking abilities! It's just a shame the entire book didn't share this kind of strength and perseverance. The stronger daimon half of the book was negated by its weaker, human half rendering it mediocre for me. Overall, Carnival of Souls had the potential to really be something great. Unfortunately, that just wasn't the case. However, I am holding out hope that things pick up in Book #2!

Summary Prognosis

Carnival of Souls, on the surface, has all the elements of a stellar book--- a provocative locale, paranormal elements, deadly competitions and intrigue. It's unfortunate that, for me, the book didn't quite live up to its potential. While I think the concept is fantastic, its execution leaves little to be desired. It lacked the polish that really takes a story from good to great. Had the storyline been a little more fleshed out, Carnival of Souls might have been a win, but I'll still stick around for the sequel if only to find out what happens to Aya and Belias!


Rating: ★★★


You can preview the first 6 chapters here.
 
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Book Review: The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse by Nina Post

Title: The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse
Author(s): Nina Post
Genre(s): Urban Fantasy
Publisher/Date: Curiosity Quills Press / February 29, 2012
Series: Kelly Discoll/Apocalypse Series (Book #1)

Disclosure: I received a review copy via the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Some of the fallen angels physically bound to Amenity Tower had been cast out, but some left on their own, for their own reasons. In some cases, it was both, and in every case, they left angry. The bound angels were resentful. They all secretly despised themselves. And they were all stuck in perpetual angel adolescence. There was no way they wouldn't want to raze their condo prison behind them. What was one more bridge burned?"

Case Study

Kelly Driscoll tracks down monsters for a living, but the job isn’t what it used to be.

Vampire hunters are the new big thing, but Kelly doesn’t swing that way. When a reclusive client hires her to locate a rival angel, Kelly’s search takes her to a downtown highrise that has become home to hundreds of fallen angels and dimension-hopping monsters.

As the fallen angels take over the condo board, argue over who’s handling pizza delivery, and begin planning for a little shindig otherwise known as the apocalypse, Kelly must team up with an unlikely group of allies to find her target and keep the fallen angels at bay. In the process, she befriends a reluctant Angel of Destruction, gets tips from a persistent ferret, uncovers the mysteries behind Pothole City’s hottest snack food empire, and tries to prevent the end of the world. (synopsis from Goodreads)

The Game's Afoot

To be honest, I wasn't sure how I was going to write this review because The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse was, by far, the strangest book I've ever read. And it wasn't just strange, it was, like, really bad acid trip strange. The entire time I contemplated banishing it to the dreaded DNF pile because I had no idea what the hell was going on. But for some reason, I couldn't. Every time I thought I wanted out, it sucked me right back in. And here's the odd thing --- the more I read the it, the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. This wasn't an immediate revelation by any means, but after several days of digesting the book, it grew on me.

My initial reaction --- WTF?!

The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse was absurd, it was confusing and it was incredibly abstract. But while it is all of these things, it is also lighthearted and curiously entertaining. The book verges somewhere between controlled chaos and total disorganization, often becoming hard to follow. It took me awhile to really grasp what was going on, and at times, the formatting made it hard to understand exactly who was doing the talking. The story is multi-directional with several small sub-plots threatening to take over. But what I really liked was that the book's insanity isn't there for no good reason. It serves as a device to make a smart social commentary and showcase Post's sharp wit.

Kelly Driscoll is a Private Investigator hired to figure out who, among all the fallen angels bound to Amenity Tower (a condo), is going to bring about the apocalypse and total destruction of Pothole City. Also, she's looking for her parents' murderer. During her search,  Kelly teams up with some single-purpose angels and the ever-passive Angel of Death of Mortals, Af. We're also introduced to Murray, Kelly's boss' right-hand man. He pretty much delivers her the assignments and explains the rules. Then there's Tubiel, "Angel of Returning Small Birds To Their Owners," who is more like the "Teller" to Murray's "Penn." He's got a lot of personality for someone so quiet and small. Insert a series of ridiculous hijinks and crazy-ass half-human, half-monsters and there you have it. Only it's not quite that simple. Post uses things like the condo board meetings and sub-committees to poke fun at the every day mundane. I mean, who ever heard of a sub-comittee of creating an escape plan? Her writing, obscure as it is, is highly observant.

I really got a kick out of the funny chapter titles which come directly from a line or thought a particular character has in the chapter. They speak volumes about the story and its personalities. And of the characters, I think my favourites were Kelly, who is no stranger to the strange and Af. Kelly is strong, defiant and sarcastic. Af, on the other hand, is passive and content (for the most part) with his situation:

"He would really prefer to do quiet things indoors that didn't involve massive destruction or the deaths of humans." (pg.50)

There is a hint of a love connection between Af and Kelly but it doesn't envelop the story. It's more of an innocent flirtation than anything and I loved the slight tension in their interactions. 

I guess my biggest issue with the book, though, was the pacing. The story takes awhile to climax and when it does, it's over a bit too quickly. Luckily, brevity is in its corner and once you've grasped the rules of Post's fantasy world, it becomes far easier to navigate through it. The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse was an unexpected read that left me muddled and confused by the end --- not because of the storyline but because I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I will say this, after a few weeks of thinking on it, my feelings have gone from somewhat sour to total appreciation. If anything, The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse wins the award for my most memorable read of 2013.

Summary Prognosis

The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse is weird --- one of those unconventional books that takes some patience to get used to. But it is an unusually smart, lighthearted romp. While being an abstract read, it's short enough to tolerate, and eventually it becomes one of those stories that sets the seeds to grow over time. And though I liked it, I'm not sure I'm smart enough or quite ready to dive into the sequel. On the other hand, maybe, just maybe, I am that crazy...


Rating: ★★★


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Discuss It: Goodreads | Author's Website  |  Curiosity Quills Press 

Movie Review: Bad Ass by Craig Moss

Title: Bad Ass
Director(s): Craig Moss
Genre(s): Action, Drama
Rating: R
Release Date: April 13, 2012

" Bad ass. It's what they're callin' him." –Panther

War. It doesn't just affect those who fight while they're fighting it. For the Vietnam veterans, post-war is one of the biggest battles of all. Decorated war hero, Frank Vega, is no stranger to this. Upon returning home he learns that fitting in is no easy task. After being shunned by society and his childhood sweetheart, he is left to fend for himself. Forty years later and no longer the young dreamer he once was, a deplorable incident on a bus brings him back into the spotlight. But it isn't until his best friend is murdered that he begins the unyielding fight for justice that turns him into the Bad Ass.

I have a confession... Danny Trejo is the sole reason I watched this movie. We have that type of relationship where if he's in it, I'll watch it. Because c'mon... he's a bad ass! And speaking of Bad Ass, if you hadn't already guessed by the no-holds-barred-title, this is a movie I lovingly classify "awesomely bad." So yeah, that should say a lot right there. It's a shame, really, that Trejo's not one of the more well-known action stars of today because he genuinely is a total BAD ASS. I mean, he's no spring chicken and he's still got some seriously impressive moves. I kind of adore him despite his choice in doing awesomely bad and just plain bad movies.

Just look at that face!

Bad Ass is one of those vigilante justice titles much like Grand Torino or The Brave One. I guess the biggest difference is that it takes on a more casual tone and lacks the depth and insight that most movies of this genre do. And it's not to say that Bad Ass is bad necessarily, it definitely makes a point, only it does so with a little less finesse than the others. And I have to give them credit because there's only so much that ass-kicking can make up for when you're working with a subpar screenplay.

One of the prerequisites for obtaining Nikki's seal of "awesomely badness" is that a movie must NOT take itself too seriously. So yeah, Bad Ass definitely doesn't. In fact, there are enough well-timed quips of comedy to make it enjoyable and tone down on the seriousness. It's also notable to mention that the comedy here outshines many of the cliched puns used in action flicks today. They might not be smart but they're original. Bad Ass has a good mix of action, comedy and drama so it never gets stale. And yes, I don't deny that there is a bit of the cheese factor to the movie, however, it's got a decent message at it's core so I'm willing to overlook all that. Plus, it's Danny Trejo and I heart him. 

Read this article and you'll understand why.



Image via

Summary Prognosis

If I had only two words to describe Bad Ass they would be: "awesomely bad." I bet you thought I was gonna say bad ass, right?! Well it's that, too! While not the savviest movie in the revenge department, it's not a total loss thanks to its explosive action and well-timed comedy. It's a fun and likeable and gets the point across without being to heavy handed or serious. And if anyone could get me a bad ass theme song like the one in Bad Ass, I'll give you 100 cool points. Because it's AH-MAZING. K, awesome.


Rating: ★★★


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Book Review: Ten by Gretchen McNeil

Title: Ten

Author(s): Gretchen McNeil

Genre(s): Horror, Mystery, Young Adult

Publisher/Date: Balzer + Bray / September 18, 2012

Series: Stand Alone

"Vengeance is mine; I will repay.
For the time when their foot shall slide.
For the day of their disaster is near.
And their doom comes swiftly."

Case Study

I’m sorry, but if the most popular girl in school invites you to a super exclusive party at her vacation home on a private island, you don’t say no. This is the position in which Meg and her BFF, Minnie, find themselves. Meg’s mega-crush, TJ, and his hot friend, Ben, are even amongst the guests! A raging party and a potentially steamy weekend without parents—what’s a girl to do? Though their hostess’ arrival is delayed, the party is off to a great start. Minnie and Ben hit it off, leaving Meg to grapple with her hidden feelings for TJ. That is, until the weekend takes a turn for the sinister and a girl mysteriously winds up dead. It appears somebody is on a quest for revenge and all of the guests are targets. Meg makes it her mission to find out if anyone else is lurking on the island or if the killer is one of their own. Can she solve the mystery in time or will she herself become a victim in this deadly game?

The Game’s Afoot

I initially picked up Ten because of all its rave reviews. When people compared it to 90’s slasher films and the works of R.L. Stine, c’mon! I can’t resist that! It’s got Nikki-bait written all over it! Because let’s be honest, murder and mayhem make me tingly all over. But excited as I was, I still had some reservations going in. Ten is loosely based off of the classic mystery novel, And Then There Were None, and I absolutely adored both the book and its movie incarnate. See, the problem is that it’s really hard to live up to the high standards set by the queen of mystery and intrigue, Ms. Agatha Christie. Virtually impossible, if you ask me. I guess I just wanted to like the book more than I actually did. Now that’s not to say Ten wasn’t entertaining but it wasn’t as bold or scary as I initially hoped either.

Perhaps I just suffer from the curse of unmet expectations or maybe it’s because the book skewed a little too young for me, I’m not really sure, but by the end I was kind of done with it. For starters, I had issues with mixing up the two main gals, Meg and Minnie. I often had to flip back several pages just to figure out who was who. As for the other teens, they were thinly veiled characterizations of your typical high school cliques—your popular kids, do-gooders, stoners, jocks and techie types. Honestly, I didn’t really connect with any of them so when they were killed off one by one, it didn’t faze me. Ten kind of reminded me of those really bad slasher flicks where you want to scream at the person on screen because they’re doing that REALLY STUPID thing that’ll obviously get them killed. I really do think I yelled “DON’T GO IN THERE, YOU IDIOT!” and “WHY ARE YOU SPLITTING UP!? DON’T YOU HAVE ANY SELF PRESERVATION AT ALL?!” Yeah, come to think of it, I definitely yelled that one pretty frequently.

But though I had my issues with Ten, the story was short and fast-paced enough to keep me engaged. And yeah, the characters were generalized but it made me sort of feel like I was back in high school again. It was easy to get lost in the trivial drama that plagues our teen years, and honestly, I kind of dug that about this book. McNeil also did a decent job at masking the killer’s identity, though I was able to figure it out a few chapters before the intended reveal. Ten did also have its creepier, on-edge moments that made me want to flick on the light and cuddle up to my dog for safety purposes, but overall, for this horror-junkie, it wasn't enough. I do think Ten will be more effective with a less-horror-enthused, younger audience so I will totally be recommending it to my younger siblings and their hormone-driven friends.

Summary Prognosis

All in all, Ten wasn’t quite as good as I hoped it would be. Fast-paced and entertaining, it certainly had that creep-factor that makes it a good choice for a younger crowd and those who are looking for an easy shudder. Though it’s a good book to get you into the Halloween spirit, if you’re looking for something that packs more of a punch, I recommend reading or watching the original, And Then There Were None.

Rating: ★★★


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Discuss It: Goodreads | Author's Website