CORRODED continues to move a beautifully written story forward with amazing revelations and new challenges Review Courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
CORRODED continues to move a beautifully written story forward with amazing revelations and new challenges for Cherry St. Croix. Like the previous two books in the The St. Croix Chronicles. CORRODED feels like a dark nightmare with danger lurking around every corner. I enjoyed the progressive darkening of the story as it ramps up the tension and conflict for Cherry. Unfortunately the first part of the story moves too slowly for my taste and at times I felt like I was forcing myself get to the next plot point or chapter. Luckily the story speeds up and gets really exciting and action packed towards the last part of CORRODED which made the slogging first half worth it.
One of the unique ideas in the The St. Croix Chronicles is the fact that our heroine, Cherry is addicted to opium. In CORRODED we get to see her yo yo between withdrawals and drug induced hazes as she seeks revenge on ‘Jack the Ripper’. Her downward spiral into opium and other dangers helps shows that Cherry is very flawed which is how I tend to like my protagonists because it makes their struggles from rock bottom to a ‘happy ending of sorts’ all the more satisfying. While I like Cherry as a main character I wasn’t to thrilled by her relationship with Hawke, the ringmaster of the Menagerie.
Cherry’s relationship with Hawke continues to be very baffling. I just don’t know what I am supposed to think about him. He comes to Cherry’s rescue plenty of times and I enjoyed seeing more of him as that meant the possibility of figuring him out. But I still don’t get his purpose in the story aside from a sort of love interest and a way to get Cherry out of a bind. I assume his identity and background is supposed to be shrouded in mystery but he really doesn’t say or do much to really make him a full character.
CORRODED is an excellent dark steampunk story with a lot wonderful horror elements and a very troubled heroine who I gladly continue to root for as this dark, twisted story continues. I am looking forward to seeing where this story goes in the next The St. Croix Chronicles book which as of now has no release date.
CORRODED continues to move a beautifully written story forward with amazing revelations and new challenges for Cherry St. Croix. Like the previous two books in the The St. Croix Chronicles. CORRODED feels like a dark nightmare with danger lurking around every corner. I enjoyed the progressive darkening of the story as it ramps up the tension and conflict for Cherry. Unfortunately the first part of the story moves too slowly for my taste and at times I felt like I was forcing myself get to the next plot point or chapter. Luckily the story speeds up and gets really exciting and action packed towards the last part of CORRODED which made the slogging first half worth it.
One of the unique ideas in the The St. Croix Chronicles is the fact that our heroine, Cherry is addicted to opium. In CORRODED we get to see her yo yo between withdrawals and drug induced hazes as she seeks revenge on ‘Jack the Ripper’. Her downward spiral into opium and other dangers helps shows that Cherry is very flawed which is how I tend to like my protagonists because it makes their struggles from rock bottom to a ‘happy ending of sorts’ all the more satisfying. While I like Cherry as a main character I wasn’t to thrilled by her relationship with Hawke, the ringmaster of the Menagerie.
Cherry’s relationship with Hawke continues to be very baffling. I just don’t know what I am supposed to think about him. He comes to Cherry’s rescue plenty of times and I enjoyed seeing more of him as that meant the possibility of figuring him out. But I still don’t get his purpose in the story aside from a sort of love interest and a way to get Cherry out of a bind. I assume his identity and background is supposed to be shrouded in mystery but he really doesn’t say or do much to really make him a full character.
CORRODED is an excellent dark steampunk story with a lot wonderful horror elements and a very troubled heroine who I gladly continue to root for as this dark, twisted story continues. I am looking forward to seeing where this story goes in the next The St. Croix Chronicles book which as of now has no release date....more
While I enjoyed this introduction to H. P. Lovecraft's tale of Cthulhu, I can't say it was one of the moreReview courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
While I enjoyed this introduction to H. P. Lovecraft's tale of Cthulhu, I can't say it was one of the more amazing graphic novels I've ever read. The art was very well done and enjoyable, but the story left something to be desired.
I have not previously read THE CALL OF CTHULHU, but from other reviews I have seen, this graphic novel apparently takes some latitude with the original, making the narrative more straightforward. While I suppose I appreciate this, unfortunately, this seemed to have the affect of making the story feel like a lot of info dumps. And honestly, I would have told you I wasn't sure a graphic novel could have that feel, but it is possible!
The artwork was great, however, and that kept me pulled into the story. It had a dark, gritty feel and added to the atmosphere of the story.
All in all, this is a quick read that would probably be good for somebody who isn't familiar with the original story. I can't say I'm particularly inspired to go out and read the source material, but I like having an idea of what it is about. I would maybe recommend this for a younger reader who's curious about Cthulhu.
While I enjoyed this introduction to H. P. Lovecraft's tale of Cthulhu, I can't say it was one of the more amazing graphic novels I've ever read. The art was very well done and enjoyable, but the story left something to be desired.
I have not previously read THE CALL OF CTHULHU, but from other reviews I have seen, this graphic novel apparently takes some latitude with the original, making the narrative more straightforward. While I suppose I appreciate this, unfortunately, this seemed to have the affect of making the story feel like a lot of info dumps. And honestly, I would have told you I wasn't sure a graphic novel could have that feel, but it is possible!
The artwork was great, however, and that kept me pulled into the story. It had a dark, gritty feel and added to the atmosphere of the story.
All in all, this is a quick read that would probably be good for somebody who isn't familiar with the original story. I can't say I'm particularly inspired to go out and read the source material, but I like having an idea of what it is about. I would maybe recommend this for a younger reader who's curious about Cthulhu.
I'm always excited to discover that another book in this series has come out because each book is so fun toReview courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
I'm always excited to discover that another book in this series has come out because each book is so fun to read. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOUR DEMON SLAYER IS EXPECTING is follows its predecessors in the hilarity and heart that I've come to expect from this series. The plot is filled with action, tension, and clever plot twists. While there are a variety of lovable, crazy characters and fun plot shenanigans, I liked how at its core, the plot had a touching message about family, love, and loyalty. I would have liked to have been surprised by Lizzie's pregnancy since I kept wondering when she was going to find out but knowing about it didn't really hurt the story.
I love that even eight books in to this series Lizzie continues to make mistakes in her demon slaying duties and she is willing to accept that she was wrong and adjusts her thinking accordingly to fix the problem. She's always learning and ready to learn. Granted she has a ton of back up to help her out. The biker grannies, her parents, her adorable, food obsessed dog, and her amazing husband, Dimitri. Dimitri and Lizzie's picture should be next to the definition of what a perfectly equal and loving relationship built on respect and duty is. Dimitri continues to be amazing and really proves himself to be in the running for best book husband ever in this story.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOUR DEMON SLAYER IS EXPECTING is a quick read and a wonderful cozy paranormal story. This series never fails to put a smile on my face from the first page to the last.
I'm always excited to discover that another book in this series has come out because each book is so fun to read. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOUR DEMON SLAYER IS EXPECTING is follows its predecessors in the hilarity and heart that I've come to expect from this series. The plot is filled with action, tension, and clever plot twists. While there are a variety of lovable, crazy characters and fun plot shenanigans, I liked how at its core, the plot had a touching message about family, love, and loyalty. I would have liked to have been surprised by Lizzie's pregnancy since I kept wondering when she was going to find out but knowing about it didn't really hurt the story.
I love that even eight books in to this series Lizzie continues to make mistakes in her demon slaying duties and she is willing to accept that she was wrong and adjusts her thinking accordingly to fix the problem. She's always learning and ready to learn. Granted she has a ton of back up to help her out. The biker grannies, her parents, her adorable, food obsessed dog, and her amazing husband, Dimitri. Dimitri and Lizzie's picture should be next to the definition of what a perfectly equal and loving relationship built on respect and duty is. Dimitri continues to be amazing and really proves himself to be in the running for best book husband ever in this story.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOUR DEMON SLAYER IS EXPECTING is a quick read and a wonderful cozy paranormal story. This series never fails to put a smile on my face from the first page to the last....more
Every time I open up a Monster Haven book I fall in love again with these quirky, loveable characters and tReview Courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Every time I open up a Monster Haven book I fall in love again with these quirky, loveable characters and this exciting crazy world. FAIRIES IN MY FIREPLACE comes with more fast paced action, humorous dialogue and dangerous new bad guys. Zoey continues to be a brilliant and hilarious heroine with a very questionable dress sense. Basically, she’s someone I would become fast friends with if she were real.
In FAIRIES IN MY FIRERPLACE, Zoey has a lot more on her plate with more mythological creatures coming to her house for her Aegis protection. This creates a more frenetically paced story that had me feeling just as tired as Zoey at times. I liked that there was no lull in the action or character antics as it really helped to amp up the tension and keep the story from getting too stale.
Along with more characters helping to deepen the worldbuilding, is the expansion of the overarching storyline which has slowly become even more dire and serious for everyone. FAIRIES IN MY FIREPLACE definately adds some creepiness to the plot with the revelation of the antagonist’s methods for capturing and using monsters. While the plot has gotten a little darker there is an excellent balance of lightness and darkness in FAIRIES IN MY FIREPLACE that I was found myself laughing and then tearing up a few pages later. Yes, there is some heartbreak in this story and I was shocked at what happened and kept on hoping against hope it wasn’t true.
Aside from the roller coaster of emotions I felt reading this book there is a lot of hope and great adventure awaiting Zoey and her friends in the future. I continue to absolutely unabashedly gush over the Monster Haven series and impatiently look forward to GOLEM IN MY GLOVEBOX coming out in 2014 by Carina Press.
Every time I open up a Monster Haven book I fall in love again with these quirky, loveable characters and this exciting crazy world. FAIRIES IN MY FIREPLACE comes with more fast paced action, humorous dialogue and dangerous new bad guys. Zoey continues to be a brilliant and hilarious heroine with a very questionable dress sense. Basically, she’s someone I would become fast friends with if she were real.
In FAIRIES IN MY FIRERPLACE, Zoey has a lot more on her plate with more mythological creatures coming to her house for her Aegis protection. This creates a more frenetically paced story that had me feeling just as tired as Zoey at times. I liked that there was no lull in the action or character antics as it really helped to amp up the tension and keep the story from getting too stale.
Along with more characters helping to deepen the worldbuilding, is the expansion of the overarching storyline which has slowly become even more dire and serious for everyone. FAIRIES IN MY FIREPLACE definately adds some creepiness to the plot with the revelation of the antagonist’s methods for capturing and using monsters. While the plot has gotten a little darker there is an excellent balance of lightness and darkness in FAIRIES IN MY FIREPLACE that I was found myself laughing and then tearing up a few pages later. Yes, there is some heartbreak in this story and I was shocked at what happened and kept on hoping against hope it wasn’t true.
Aside from the roller coaster of emotions I felt reading this book there is a lot of hope and great adventure awaiting Zoey and her friends in the future. I continue to absolutely unabashedly gush over the Monster Haven series and impatiently look forward to GOLEM IN MY GLOVEBOX coming out in 2014 by Carina Press.
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy SOUTHERN SPIRITS is a fun and surprisingly fast read. I enjoy some quirk in these light paranormal stories Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy SOUTHERN SPIRITS is a fun and surprisingly fast read. I enjoy some quirk in these light paranormal stories and this book is full of quirks from Verity's pet skunk to the many types of ghosts with their own odd issues and relationships. The story follows Verity on her attempt to solve a decades old murder mystery in order to get money to pay off her debt and keep her house. There is a ton of action and suspense along with a pretty clever bad guy reveal that I did not see coming at first. With a decades old murder to solve, Verity ends up going into lots of old haunted buildings and I spent half the time mentally telling Verity to not go down into the very scary, dark room!
I like Verity and admire her courage in being able to adjust to seeing and communicating with ghosts all of a sudden. The secondary characters I loved most were the ghosts she encountered with fun backstories and interesting lives even in their afterlives. The way Verity can 'see' the ghost world is really cool too. I had a hard time warming up to Ellis, Verity's love interest. In part it was due to his being so horrible to Verity in the beginning but as the story went on and they were supposed to grow closer to some sort of romance I couldn't buy it. Perhaps I need to see more interactions between them to really buy more than them having grown from more than mild respect which is what I had for Ellis at the end of SOUTHERN SPIRITS.
One of the touches I love with Angie Fox's stories is her addition of adorable pets. Her Accidental Demon Slayer series had a talking dog, and now The Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries series has an adorable pet skunk who is the impetus for some very hilarious moments. SOUTHERN SPIRITS is a good start to a lighthearted paranormal mystery series with some loveable characters, spooky sights, and a kindling romance.
Merged review:
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy SOUTHERN SPIRITS is a fun and surprisingly fast read. I enjoy some quirk in these light paranormal stories and this book is full of quirks from Verity's pet skunk to the many types of ghosts with their own odd issues and relationships. The story follows Verity on her attempt to solve a decades old murder mystery in order to get money to pay off her debt and keep her house. There is a ton of action and suspense along with a pretty clever bad guy reveal that I did not see coming at first. With a decades old murder to solve, Verity ends up going into lots of old haunted buildings and I spent half the time mentally telling Verity to not go down into the very scary, dark room!
I like Verity and admire her courage in being able to adjust to seeing and communicating with ghosts all of a sudden. The secondary characters I loved most were the ghosts she encountered with fun backstories and interesting lives even in their afterlives. The way Verity can 'see' the ghost world is really cool too. I had a hard time warming up to Ellis, Verity's love interest. In part it was due to his being so horrible to Verity in the beginning but as the story went on and they were supposed to grow closer to some sort of romance I couldn't buy it. Perhaps I need to see more interactions between them to really buy more than them having grown from more than mild respect which is what I had for Ellis at the end of SOUTHERN SPIRITS.
One of the touches I love with Angie Fox's stories is her addition of adorable pets. Her Accidental Demon Slayer series had a talking dog, and now The Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries series has an adorable pet skunk who is the impetus for some very hilarious moments. SOUTHERN SPIRITS is a good start to a lighthearted paranormal mystery series with some loveable characters, spooky sights, and a kindling romance....more
MONSTRESS is a dark, dark breed of fantasy, where the magic and monsters in the world are more likely to prey upon children's bones than protect them.MONSTRESS is a dark, dark breed of fantasy, where the magic and monsters in the world are more likely to prey upon children's bones than protect them. Wade into the horror and cruelty, plunge into this war, and even the hope hidden within carries betrayal and sadness.
This series opens a direct vein into the horror underlying mythology and fairy tales. Magic is no guarantee of safety or protection, but more likely makes you a target for people intent on harvesting your body parts. And while this is a world of women, turning the usual female to male ratio on its head, gender doesn't soften the cruelty of guards or the zealotry of cults. Children are drawn as fluffy, big-eyed sprites, making it all the more painful when they are dehumanized and abused.
This is fantasy with blood dripping from its claws, horror pumping through its veins. Dangerous and beautiful, even the magic that could save this world seems too terrible to be borne. MONSTRESS may never feel comfortable, but it is definitely unforgettable.
Sexual Content: Threats of rape.
Merged review:
MONSTRESS is a dark, dark breed of fantasy, where the magic and monsters in the world are more likely to prey upon children's bones than protect them. Wade into the horror and cruelty, plunge into this war, and even the hope hidden within carries betrayal and sadness.
This series opens a direct vein into the horror underlying mythology and fairy tales. Magic is no guarantee of safety or protection, but more likely makes you a target for people intent on harvesting your body parts. And while this is a world of women, turning the usual female to male ratio on its head, gender doesn't soften the cruelty of guards or the zealotry of cults. Children are drawn as fluffy, big-eyed sprites, making it all the more painful when they are dehumanized and abused.
This is fantasy with blood dripping from its claws, horror pumping through its veins. Dangerous and beautiful, even the magic that could save this world seems too terrible to be borne. MONSTRESS may never feel comfortable, but it is definitely unforgettable.
MONSTRESS is a dark, dark breed of fantasy, where the magic and monsters in the world are more likely to prey upon children's bones than protect them.MONSTRESS is a dark, dark breed of fantasy, where the magic and monsters in the world are more likely to prey upon children's bones than protect them. Wade into the horror and cruelty, plunge into this war, and even the hope hidden within carries betrayal and sadness.
This series opens a direct vein into the horror underlying mythology and fairy tales. Magic is no guarantee of safety or protection, but more likely makes you a target for people intent on harvesting your body parts. And while this is a world of women, turning the usual female to male ratio on its head, gender doesn't soften the cruelty of guards or the zealotry of cults. Children are drawn as fluffy, big-eyed sprites, making it all the more painful when they are dehumanized and abused.
This is fantasy with blood dripping from its claws, horror pumping through its veins. Dangerous and beautiful, even the magic that could save this world seems too terrible to be borne. MONSTRESS may never feel comfortable, but it is definitely unforgettable.
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