This is the vampire story of orphaned Juliana and her two older brothers, Marcus, the eldest and Rocco. They were angel looking kids. TCristiane70heirThis is the vampire story of orphaned Juliana and her two older brothers, Marcus, the eldest and Rocco. They were angel looking kids. TCristiane70heir souls were black, but for Juliana’s. Since they were children they were prone to be the bad neighbor kids pranks,until they killed an old woman throwing a rock on her skull. They started to be called Murderous Little Darlings.
But now they were not kids anymore. And they didn’t play, they killed, as vampires they were. Well, the two brothers did, but Juliana. She still didn’t believe they were vampires…
So story begins. I have given John Hennessy’s horror books 5 star reviews before, but now in the face of this novella, I have to give him a 6 star rating. John is an Indie and beginning author but that doesn’t take an ounce of his talent. John has a way with words that appeals to me and what I like most in his plots is that I can’t discover what is happening until the end, when he reveals everything to the readers. To keep me in the dark is quite a feast because I am an avid reader and I lover of Agatha Christie (but I’ve never read a book from The king of horror — Yes, him, Stephen King scares the hell out of me). But John Hennessy’s horror stories are… hmm… agreeable while a scary. And this one has a psychopath side that is even more interesting. If you like this kind of stories, read it. You won’t regret it....more
This review was due for a couple of days because I had some difficulty expressing my feelings. I had the pleasure and honor to read the first draft of This review was due for a couple of days because I had some difficulty expressing my feelings. I had the pleasure and honor to read the first draft of this manuscript as a beta reader a few months ago. I re-read the final version to acquaint myself with the book again and to revisit the plot and ideas to know if they were still the same. No, they weren't. They are better if that could be possible.
"What if God had created Eve first?” Jillian Cornell, in The Genesis Reversal
The subtitle says a lot, and some could say this is a feminist book. Although the author states she is the fourth generation of feminists and writers, I could clearly see a humanist approach that spoke directly to my heart.
Tommy, a nine-year-old child, is our narrator. He is inquisitive and intelligent, a dear child every mother would love to have (view spoiler)[but his (hide spoiler)]. He needs to do a homework assignment about American presidents, but he doesn't understand why America has never had a male president.
With questions and doubts that will make Tommy rethink everything that had been drilled into him since his birth, the story begins.
While it can seem a bit humorous - and it has its laughing moments, even if ironic - the fundament of the plot is extremely serious.
With smooth writing and an easy approach using Tommy's voice, Jillian Cornell touches issues that are contemporaneous and even shocking, such as: - abusive relationships; - divorced parents x their abandoned children; - the ever fascination with wealthier partners, who think they can do whatever they want to their poorer partners just because; - flawed anti or pro isms, which corrupt the idea of equality they promote; In resume, - how evil is done by the lack of thought or questioning and by sheer and blind obedience to what is supposed to be right.
I’ll not spoil the plot but I’ll say that even having read the manuscript, I was gratefully surprised by how the book turned out to be; its resolution is exactly what I wish - and dream everyday - to a sad, very real, entirely fictional, upside-down, inside-out story.
This book should be read in schools; high schools and even colleges. It deserves not only one award but many.
It’s a great YA & NA inspirational/motivational story, and it can surely make adults think again before doing their unconscious, habitual, routine daily acts.
I’m pretty sure this is my worst review ever, and I apologize in advance.
I’m tired. And I’m sure my liver is sick and rotten, because there is so muchI’m pretty sure this is my worst review ever, and I apologize in advance.
I’m tired. And I’m sure my liver is sick and rotten, because there is so much bile in my mouth and acid in my stomach that it can't be working properly. Me, after reading NFU
With real sufferings and struggles of my own, no rage against the world, and each and every day searching for enlightenment and compassion, I was in a state of shocked disgust when I finished the book. I have a tendency to get too emotionally invested in my reads and as I was reading NFU with my daughter I tried to maintain a bit of detachment so she could let her own feelings bloom. But I couldn’t. I almost told her to stop reading it, but as it was her choice, I let her finish it alone (and felt a horrible mother for that).
Dostoyevsky can be a master of words and NFU can be one of the greatest works by one of the greatest writers, one of the first existentialists novels, but, well, opposing the Underground Man’s arrogance, I have to say: - I may have somehow missed all the intelligent, thoughtful musings on the condition of mankind; - Maybe I misinterpreted everything the Underground Man had to say about the modern man, utopianism, rationalism, et cetera. But maybe exactly because of my eternal faith in mankind — in spite of its nastiness —, I couldn’t see anything redeeming about the Underground Man (not about the literary work).
The character’s spite and his choice to remain with an untreated liver disease corroded not only his mind, but also his character — which he didn’t seem to have had any since I could find nothing to vouch for it in his early life.
The lack of medical treatment just because and his reasoning (?!) of masochism and sadism levels humans can achieve and perpetuate while enduring aches and pains of a sickness, well, made me sick.
The Underground Man is a misanthropic beyond redemption, albeit intelligent and educated he is the lowest form of humanity, frustrated, powerless and inert by his own laziness, with a disturbed mind, totally lacking in social skills and, unlike he affirms, not having an ounce of self-respect or self-love. He deliberately punishes himself and everyone around him. His thoughts and actions are paradoxical. He is emotionally tough — even insensitive — then emotionally fragile. He stands for great unequivocal moral virtue, then cowers further in his morally rotten state. He needs love, but rejects it whenever it might be obtainable.
Either in penance for UM's irredeemably flawed human nature, or to drive out the cold void of life's existential nothingness with misery and pain, I found NFU to be a form of self-flagellation — maybe it was meant to — but I am not as masochist as the Underground Man.
Is everything so meaningless? Is human nature so rotten and awful?
“But, since nothing can be explained by reason, why reason?”
Why reason? Why?! Because. Because there are other possibilities than inertia, than arrogance, than living in a dirty, dark and self-consuming underground. Because while there is life, there is hope. Just because.
The Underground Man took much from me and gave me nothing back that I felt like my soul has been sucked away from my body.
If the Underground Man was a part of FD’s psyche, all I can say is I’m glad he could get it out of his chest; perhaps he found a bit of hope and redemption for himself afterward.
All said and done, I’ll refrain from rating NFU - not only because I have none literary skills to rate Dostoyevsky - also because I’m sure it will please many other readers.
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P.S. - I didn't find the Underground Man to be depressed or with any mental problem which could justify my lending him a hand.
He is extremely cognizant of the condition he has deliberately chosen to be in and remains so by his laziness, arrogance and utter discredit to a "lesser" society (and its integrants).
If I had detected any afflicting malady, my review would be completely different....more
Crescent Moon is the second installment of the Dark Winter trilogy and cannot be read as a stand-alone. A bit different from The Wicca Circle (DW #1), Crescent Moon is the second installment of the Dark Winter trilogy and cannot be read as a stand-alone. A bit different from The Wicca Circle (DW #1), this one is heavier on psychological terror and relationships. It is very hard to review this book without revealing giving away spoilers not only because it's a terror thriller, but also it has twists and turns galore.
The Wicca Circle tells us how Romilly, our teenage heroine, gets the mysterious (and evil?) Mirror of Souls that modifies completely her life and her friends', and that malevolent human beings, demonic spirits and diabolical ghosts abound in Gorswood forest.
Crescent Moon brings Romilly, her friends and her enemies back to us.
With additions to the ones presented in the 1st installment, Crescent Moon has a whole casting which leaves nothing to desire to Hollywood's, and it covers a greater span of time, with hints and tricks scattered masterfully on the plot that keep the reader on the edge of the seat. John Hennessy is an accomplish author and leaves the readers guessing what, who, when, why and where.
In The Wicca Circle, many have died, many have disappeared and the few have survived have been profoundly affected by the facts that occurred.
In Crescent Moon, the relentless evil that has been awakened is stronger. The former girlfriends, Toril, Beth and Romilly don't know in whom they can believe and trust anymore, and they carry heavy burdens and many secrets. They are afraid of humans, Zeryths, demons, and apparitions; Their own faiths and families don't offer comfort or protection anymore. Their own nightmares are their lives and their shadows.
In comparison, Dana, Don, the Zeryths and Diabhal are ready to pounce and destroy the whole city of Gorswood.
Don (Donald) Currie opens this installment in a shocking scene that grabbed me and I kept flipping the pages as I was dying to see how Michael Dean would accomplish to kill Beth, one of Rom's friends.
I highly recommend this thriller for older YA (and adults who like the style) and I'm looking forward to reading more riveting, exciting tales from this talented author.
P.S. - Ah... GAWD! He left me cliffhanging! Again. In a good way. I want the next book right now!!...more
I love Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree since I was a kid. My Grandmother, a giving tree herself, read it to me when I was three as she was teachingI love Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree since I was a kid. My Grandmother, a giving tree herself, read it to me when I was three as she was teaching me to read. She was a teacher and new exactly how to hook a kid on books. Bless you grandma!
Now, this book. This book didn't make me cry as The Giving Tree does - yes, until today. But it makes me think.
As anyone knows Shel delivers his messages as a punch, he doesn't loose time, he doesn't waste words or draw unnecessary drawings. With his simple sentences, singular drawings, (view spoiler)[and even blank pages (hide spoiler)] Shel uncovers and disrobes a complex subject he calls the missing piece.
Why are we never satisfied ourselves? Why can't we look deeper inside and sigh contently?
Is it so difficult to see something that should be obvious?
Poet Gentleness
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