Caroline's 2013 Challenge

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Caroline's 2013 Challenge

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1craso
Dic 9, 2012, 11:25 pm

It's getting near the end of 2012 so it's time to think about setting up my 2013 Category Challenge. I will offically start things up when I have time off work at the end of December...unless the world ends on December 26th! :-)

My theme will most likely be Series and Sequels.

2mamzel
Dic 10, 2012, 12:02 pm

I hope the world doesn't end. I have way too many books I have to read yet!

3majkia
Dic 10, 2012, 5:26 pm

lol, mamzel. me too!

4lkernagh
Dic 10, 2012, 10:02 pm

Yay for a series and sequels theme.... and a good chuckle at mamzel's comment at post #2! ;-)

5DeltaQueen50
Dic 10, 2012, 10:24 pm

Great to see you back, Caroline.

6craso
Dic 10, 2012, 10:24 pm

Mamzel and majkia, the end of my world would be no books left to read on my shelves and no books on my wish list. Of course that could never happen. Another thought is Burgess Meredith in the Twilight Zone "Time Enough at Last."

Lori, I am drowning is series books. Some series I am going to have to restart from the beginning because I can't remember the story thread. Others are the first books in a series that's new to me. Yes, as Mamzel says, I have way to any books left to read.

7craso
Dic 10, 2012, 10:26 pm

Hi Judy, thanks for dropping by.

8AnnieMod
Dic 10, 2012, 10:44 pm

>6 craso:

Every time when this thought crosses my mind, I find myself finalizing the payment for a double digits number of books....
I am serial series reader so I will be sticking around to see what you will be reading :)

9hailelib
Dic 11, 2012, 5:26 am

I've discovered way too many new series on LT!

10majkia
Dic 11, 2012, 7:18 am

#9. gods, yes...

11craso
Editado: Dic 11, 2012, 11:05 pm

8, 9, 10 Thank you everyone for stopping by.

Interesting, all I had to say was "series" and everyone gets excited. I hope you're still as excited when you see what I am reading. :-)

12cyderry
Dic 11, 2012, 1:57 pm

We're all series junkies here!

13mamzel
Dic 11, 2012, 2:31 pm

Must...have...next...book!

14AHS-Wolfy
Dic 11, 2012, 3:40 pm

I've based my 2013 challenge mostly around my ongoing series books too. Though no doubt a few new ones will be thrown in as well.

15psutto
Dic 11, 2012, 4:41 pm

I used to read a lot of series back in the day but mostly read standalones nowadays not sure why that is

16cyderry
Dic 11, 2012, 4:56 pm

Four of my categories are related to my series so that I can get caught up a little bit.

17craso
Dic 11, 2012, 11:14 pm

What's good and bad about reading a series is that a new book comes out every year. If you don't keep up you can get lost. Then again, you are always sure that another book set in a world you enjoy entering or characters that seem like old friends is just around the corner.

18craso
Dic 21, 2012, 11:18 am

Well I thought the end of the world was on Dec. 26th, but I was wrong. Tells you how much I pay attention to these predictions. The end of the world was today and guess what. . . we still have plenty of time to read our books. Yay!

19-Eva-
Dic 23, 2012, 6:44 pm

LOL! We had a big "We Survived the End" party yesterday, so I certainly hope it doesn't surprise us on the 26th! :)

20DeltaQueen50
Dic 23, 2012, 11:26 pm

Glad everyone is still here so I can wish you a Merry Christmas, Caroline. I won't be around much for the next couple of weeks, but I am getting excited to kick off my challenge when I get back!

21craso
Dic 25, 2012, 8:47 am

Merry Christmas Judy! I might actually have this thread up and running by the time you get back!

22craso
Editado: Dic 25, 2012, 12:40 pm

SERIES, SEQUALS, AND PREQUALS CATEGORY CHALLENGE 2013

1. MOVIES AND TELEVISION
Doctor Who, Star Trek

2. GRAPHIC NOVELS
Fables or Fairest, Ghost, Buffyverse, Dark Shadows

3. ONYX COURT
Midnight Never Come
In Ashes Lie
A Star Shall Fall
With Fate Conspire

4. MYSTERIES
Brother Cadfael, Maisie Dobbs

5. DARK FANTASY
The Night Watch Tetralogy, Sandman Slim, Romantic Poets and Nephilim

6. HISTORIC FICTION
Benjamin January, The Cemetery of Forgotten Books

7. HIGH FANTASY
Book of Swords, The Dark Tower

8. STEAM PUNK
A Weird West Tale

9. NON-SERIES: NON-FICTION

10. NON-SERIES: FICTION: NEW AND ARCS

23craso
Editado: Jul 7, 2013, 1:20 am

MOVIES AND TELEVISION

1. Shada: The Lost Adventure by Douglas Adams and Gareth Roberts (Finished 04/03/2013)
2. Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness by Mike Johnson (Finished 04/28/2013)

24craso
Editado: Dic 22, 2013, 12:03 pm

GRAPHIC NOVELS

1. Ghost Omnibus Volume 2 by Eric Luke (Finished 01/03/2013)
2. Gambit, Vol. 1: Once a Thief by James Asmus (Finished 04/20/2013)
3. Ghost Omnibus Volume 3 by Eric Luke (Finshed 12/19/2013)

25craso
Editado: Oct 26, 2013, 7:30 pm

ONYX COURT

1. Midnight Never Come by Maries Brennan (Finished 08/21/2013)
2. Deeds of Men by Marie Brennan (Finished 08/23/2013)
3. In Ashes Lie by Marie Brennan (Finished 09/15/2013)
4. A Star Shall Fall by Marie Brennan (Finished 10/08/2013)
5. With Fate Conspire by Marie Brennan (Finished 10/26/2013)

26craso
Editado: Jun 3, 2013, 12:00 pm

MYSTERIES

1. The Black Country (Murder Squad) by Alex Grecian (Finished 05/18/2013)

27craso
Editado: Ago 10, 2013, 12:22 am

DARK FANTASY

1. Devil Said Bang by Richard Kadrey (Finished 02/14/2013)
2. London Falling by Paul Cornell (Finished 02/09/2013)
3. Kill City Blues: A Sandman Slim Novel by Richard Kadrey (Finished 08/09/2013)

28craso
Editado: Jul 27, 2013, 3:49 pm

PROFESSOR CHALLENGER

1. The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle (Finished 07/21/2013)
2. The Poison Belt by Arthur Conan Doyle (Finished 07/27/2013)

29craso
Editado: Jul 21, 2013, 5:49 pm

HIGH FANTASY

1. The First Book of Swords by Fred Saberhagen (Finished 06/03/2013)
2. The Second Book of Swords by Fred Saberhagen (Finished 06/13/2013)
3. The Third Book of Swords by Fred Saberhagen (Finished 07/06/2013)

30craso
Editado: Nov 5, 2013, 9:41 am

STEAMPUNK

1. Lord Kelvin's Machine (Narbondo Series) by James Blaylock (Finished 05/06/2013)
2. The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason (Finished 11/05/2013)

31craso
Editado: Nov 14, 2013, 9:50 am

NON-SERIES: NON-FICTION

1. Who I Am by Pete Townshend (Finished 01/11/2013)
2. Thieves of Book Row by Travis McDade (Finished 05/13/2013)
3. Divas, Dames & Daredevils by Mike Madrid (Finished 11/14/2013)

32craso
Editado: Nov 5, 2013, 9:40 am

NON-SERIES: FICTION: NEW AND ARCS

1. Interview with the Vampire: Claudia's Story by Anne Rice (Finished 02/17/2013)
2. American Elsewhere by Robert Jackson Bennett (Finished 03/27/2013)
3. The Small Hand and Dolly by Susan Hill (Finished 09/04/2013)

33majkia
Dic 25, 2012, 1:56 pm

Oh dear I foresee book bullets here

34rabbitprincess
Dic 25, 2012, 2:17 pm

Doctor Who AND Star Trek? You have my attention! :) Welcome aboard!

35mamzel
Dic 25, 2012, 2:48 pm

What rabbitprincess said! *watching Dr. Who marathon*

36PawsforThought
Dic 25, 2012, 2:54 pm

The combined effects of you lot, my brother, one of my best friends, and my favourite podcast all raving about Doctor Who is making it very difficult for me to stay away from watching it (I don't have time for a new TV show at the moment).

37rabbitprincess
Dic 25, 2012, 3:35 pm

That reminds me, have to tape the Christmas special this evening!

38lkernagh
Dic 25, 2012, 9:16 pm

Oh, I see lots of book bullets here! ;-) I hope you had a great Christmas, Caroline. I am so looking forward to following your reading in 2013!

39craso
Editado: Dic 25, 2012, 11:39 pm

Hello all Doctor Who fans! My husband gave me Shada: Doctor Who The Lost Adventure by Douglas Adams by Garth Roberts for Christmas. I'm a big Douglas Adams fan as well as a fan of Doctor Who from the 1980s up to now. This story takes place in the Tom Baker era. There's another Doctor Who book coming out this year written by Stephen Baxter. That one will take place in the Patrick Troughton era.

Fo those interested in Star Trek, specifically the new movie "Star Trek Into Darkness", IDW is publishing a countdown graphic novel that will serve as a prequel to the movie. Maybe I will finally find out who Benedict Cumberbatch is playing!

Lori, I hope you had a great Christmas too! Spent time with friends and family and ate to much. Hope you did the same! :-)

40AHS-Wolfy
Dic 26, 2012, 9:10 am

Plenty of book bullet potentials from your thread again, Caroline. Have fun with your challenge.

41mamzel
Dic 26, 2012, 4:33 pm

Chiming in to say I loved the new Dr. Who Christmas show and the new companion.

The latest I've heard about the character that Benedict plays is from the original series' episode called 'Where No Man Has Gone Before', Lt. Cdr. Gary Mitchell, who was killed but through the magic of television...

Wikipedia link

42christina_reads
Dic 26, 2012, 11:01 pm

Some good reads here -- I love the Cadfael series, and I really enjoyed Midnight Never Come as well. I didn't realize there was a whole series now, although I do have In Ashes Lie on my shelves...

43craso
Dic 27, 2012, 2:18 pm

Mamzel, I think it's Gary Mitchell, but a lot of fans think it's Khan. I can't see how it could be although Dr. Carol Marcus is supposed to be in the movie.

I missed the Doctor Who Christmas show, so I will need to catch up. I saw the actress playing the new companion on the first show of the season, she was the Darlek, but I don't know how that character fits in with the new companion character.

Christina, I've already read Midnight Never Come and In Ashes Lie, but I have had the other two books in the series sitting on my shelves for 2 years. I want to restart the series and read it straight through so I know what the heck is going on. :-)

44electrice
Dic 27, 2012, 7:07 pm

Hi craso, I'll be following the Steam Punk category with attention as I wish to start to read this genre for some time now ...
Could you maybe recommend some books ?

45-Eva-
Dic 28, 2012, 12:23 am

I have no idea who Cumberbatch is supposed to be, but I did see somewhere that he said that he isn't Khan. I'm not even a Star Trek fan, but the previews I've seen have certainly gotten my attention. :)

46craso
Dic 28, 2012, 6:32 pm

Hi electrice, I am pretty new to Steam Punk too. Maybe we can learn about it together?

Eva, the mystery continues. I have seen the announcement and teaser trailers. J.J. Abrams is notoriously close mouth about the plotlines of his films. I am a big Star Trek fan and was dubious about the reboot until I saw it and was blown away. I am hoping In To Darkness doesn't disappoint.

47electrice
Dic 29, 2012, 8:23 am

#46 seems like a good and fun plan craso ...

48DeltaQueen50
Ene 4, 2013, 5:30 pm

Happy New Year, Caroline. I'm back and you definitely have your thread up and running - lots of great categories that will probably have me adding to my ever growing wishlist!

49craso
Editado: Ene 5, 2013, 5:51 pm

This is my first read of the year. I finished it a few days ago, but didn't feel like writing a review because I am in bed with the flu.

--------------------------------------

Title Ghost Omnibus Volume 2 by Eric Luke
Format IPad
Rating 4 Stars
Category Graphic Novel



Ghost is still reeling from the death of her sister and parents. She is no longer out for vengeance against men who abuse women, now she is out to stop all underworld activity in Arcadia. The head of criminal activity, Crux, hires a strange woman named Miasma who takes over Ghost’s consciousness and uses her to unleash terror on the criminals in the city. She is saved by her friend Focus, who uses her unusual ability to make Ghost focus on her adversary to release her mind. She then takes a bizarre road trip with Barb Wire and discovers that besides anger issues she also has jealous issues. This leads to the climactic story where she literally goes under Arcadia to find the key to her death and her salvation.

I enjoyed most of this collection except for her exploits with Barb Wire. This two issue arch was too sexual and violent for my tastes. I understand the dark humor, but the violence and use of humans as sexual beasts was unsettling. Maybe that’s the way the Barb Wire comics are written. If so, I won’t be reading the Barb Wire Omnibus anytime soon.

I liked that Ghost is learning more about herself and is growing as a character. Her afterlife as a ghost is spiritual in a way. Some people believe that after you die you work out you problems from your previous life in a new life. That is what she is doing. I hope she keeps gaining knowledge and becoming a better person throughout these comics. I also hope that when she discovers who actually pulled the trigger that killed her she isn’t too devastated by the knowledge.

-----------------------------------

I am caught up in reading Who I Am by Pete Townshend. I am a big fan and I can't put this book down.

50lkernagh
Ene 6, 2013, 3:51 pm

Sorry to learn you are down with the flu. Hope you are feeling better soon!

51-Eva-
Ene 6, 2013, 6:58 pm

Sending lots of sympathy for the flu - hope you feel better soon!

52craso
Ene 6, 2013, 8:26 pm

Thank you Lori and Eva! Going on my 5th and hopefully last day with this bug. Getting a lot of good reading in though.

53sandragon
Ene 7, 2013, 12:48 pm

Good that you're able to get lots of reading in. I hated it the odd time when I get too sick to even read. What's the point of getting sick then? Waste of good reading time!

I keep seeing Benedict Cumberbatch in the media/news and on LT. And now I find out he's narrated some audiobooks. Very exciting! Except I only get audiobooks from the library and my library doesn't have any :op

Hope you're feeling better today!

54christina_reads
Editado: Ene 7, 2013, 5:44 pm

@ 49 -- I'm so, so sad that Townshend's book is titled Who I Am. I like a pun as much as the next person (actually, probably more), but that's a groaner if I ever saw one! ETA -- I'm sure it's very interesting, though!

55rabbitprincess
Ene 7, 2013, 6:15 pm

>53 sandragon:: Make a purchase suggestion! The library would be much better off for having Benedict audiobooks on its shelves ;)

56craso
Ene 7, 2013, 8:36 pm

Hi Sandy and Rabbitprincess, I know how popular Cumberbatch is, but I have not seen him act before. (Please don't hit me!). I am interested in who the villain will be in Star Trek Into Darkness and if he is a good bad guy I am sure I will be an instant fan.

Hi Christina, yes Pete has used that pun before on many occasions; Who's Next and Who Are You come to mind. I have been looking forward to reading this book since he first said he was writing it a few years back. It has been a page turner and I am most impressed by how well it is written. He is an extremely complicated personality.

57rabbitprincess
Ene 7, 2013, 10:19 pm

>56 craso:: There will certainly be no shortage of opportunities to see him this year! He's got quite a few movies coming out. :)

58sandragon
Editado: Ene 8, 2013, 3:49 pm

55 - I'll try, a year ago when I made some suggestions I was told the library wasn't able to take suggestions at that time. Hopefully that was only temporary. And their site says the suggested audio has to be less than two years old. But I think that's release date. Hmmm. I'll have to do a little research on what Cumberbatch has narrated.

59christina_reads
Ene 9, 2013, 11:49 am

@ 56 -- Haha, that's true. I suppose it's all part of the charm of The Who. The book does sound very good. I'm not usually one for rock star bios, but I may have to give it a shot!

60donnao
Ene 10, 2013, 4:16 pm

58> At my request my library ordered 2 copies of Ngaio Marsh's Artists in Crime, narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch. He's also done The Tempest, Death in a White Tie, and Sherlock Holmes: The Rediscovered Railway Mysteries and Other Stories.

61rabbitprincess
Ene 10, 2013, 9:23 pm

Ooh, The Tempest? Didn't know about that one! :D Will have to investigate.

62craso
Ene 11, 2013, 5:07 pm

Title Who I Am by Pete Townshend
Format Hardback
Rating 5 Stars
Category Non-Fiction



Pete Townshend is not just the lead guitarist for The Who. He is an icon for the Mod generation with songs like “I Can’t Explain” and “My Generation.” To him The Who’s destructive live performances were a form of art. He was the first composer to write a rock opera, “Tommy”, which was followed by the rock opera “Quadrophenia.” Townshend was and is an innovator in sound systems and studio recording. In his personal life he became a follower of Meher Baba and created spiritual learning centers. After Keith Moon’s death and the short break up of The Who, he became an editor at Faber and Faber and wrote a short story compilation titled “Horses Neck.” His solo efforts proved to be as popular as his work with The Who. A few years back he created a musical for the Young Vic from the Ted Hughes story “The Iron Man.” He still tours as The Who with Roger Daltrey and is working on another stage production.

Unfortunately, he is known now as a pedophile, a tag that is undeserved. As a child he spent a year living with his mentally ill grandmother and believes that during that time he was sexually abused. He decided to become an advocate for abused children by exposing child pornography online. He used a credit card to show how easy it is to download child porn from the internet and how credit card companies allow it to happen. Townshend then wrote an online essay and hoped to write a book about it. Instead he was charged as a sex offender. He was exonerated, but decided to accept a warning and be put on a sex offenders list for five years. Even though he performs in charity concerts and gives money to charities he will never be honored in Britain like other musicians and performs.

Townshend has written a thoughtful autobiography. His writing style is easy to read and kept me engaged throughout. He is truthful about the mistakes he has made and is open about his negative personality traits. He is by no means a saint, although he feels guilty about cheating on his wife and playing the rock star. Like most artists he is self-obsessed spending all of his time working and enjoying his wealth and little time with his family. Still I admire him as an artist, he is truly a great song writer and a talented musician.

63sandragon
Ene 11, 2013, 7:54 pm

60 - Donnao, I looked on the audible site to find out what audiobooks are narrated by Cumberbatch, and the ones by Ngaio Marsh were abridged. Do you know if the ones your library ordered are abridged as well? What are the chances of there also being an unabridged version by Cumberbatch?

64donnao
Ene 12, 2013, 4:26 pm

63> I believe they are abridged. I didn't realize that until after I requested them. I'm sure I'll enjoy Cumberbatch's voice anyway.

61>The Tempest is a full cast production with Sir Ian McKellan as Prospero. Cumberbatch is Ferdinand.

65craso
Feb 15, 2013, 10:12 pm

Finished Devil Said Bang yesterday. I'll write and post a review when I have a day off this Sunday.

66craso
Editado: Feb 17, 2013, 7:34 pm

Title Devil Said Bang by Richard Kadrey
Format Hardback
Category Dark Fantasy
Rating 4 Stars



This is the fourth book in the Sandman Slim series. In the third novel, Jim Stark parted ways with his angel half after almost becoming a zombie and discovered the true nature of God. Lucifer decided to go back home to Heaven and become Sameal. Stark was then stuck in Hell as the new Lucifer. This novel picks up with Stark running Hell, with its planning and budget meetings, while watching his back because all the Hellions want to kill him. Stark finally finds a way to get back to his beloved L.A. but as always the city is in peril. His angel half has disappeared, a ghost child is killing Sub Rosa and the fabric of reality is falling apart.

Like all the books in this series a few plot points are resolved and new ones are introduced. The author does this to keep you interested in reading the next installments. In this novel the author does a good job weaving previous plot points into the storyline so the reader remembers what happened in the first books.

Kadrey’s writing is fast paced. All the characters are anti-heroes with good and dark sides. Even though Stark is called the “monster that kills monsters” he cares for the people in his life. If you don’t like reading gritty novels then this is not the series for you. I usually read lighter fare, but the world Stark lives in is interesting and a lot of fun to read about. The next book will be out soon and I am look forward to it.

67craso
Editado: Feb 17, 2013, 7:37 pm

Title Interview with the Vampire: Claudia’s Story by Anne Rice and Ashley Marie Witter
Format Hardback
Category Non-Series: New and ARC
Rating 4 Stars



Claudia is a little girl with the mind and emotions of an adult woman. She was turned into a vampire by Louis and Lestat and treated as their own little china doll. As she grows older, she realizes that she will never have a life of her own because she is a small helpless looking child. Claudia wants to free herself from Lestat’s grip and leave with her beloved Louis. She rebels against Lestat with disastrous results.

This is a beautifully drawn adaptation of Claudia’s story from “Interview with a Vampire.” The illustrations are in sepia tones. The color red is used for blood and tears. Claudia’s story is a compelling one and makes a lovely, sensuous graphic novel.

68DeltaQueen50
Feb 18, 2013, 12:58 am

Oh, I'm going to have to track down a copy of Claudia's Story, it looks good.

69craso
Feb 18, 2013, 7:23 pm

Hi Judy, It really is a lovely book.

70-Eva-
Feb 20, 2013, 12:59 am

I'm going to have to take a look at Claudia's Story as well. It's been ages since I read the novels, though - would that matter, or is it independent enough?

71craso
Feb 20, 2013, 9:36 am

Hi Eva, this is a retelling of Claudia's story from Interview With The Vampire. It was a major part of the novel. You can probably read Interview With The Vampire: Claudia's Story as a stand alone. It's a complete story in and of it's self.

This isn't one of the sequels like Pandora or Armand. Some people have been confused and disappointed because they that it was a new vampire novel.

72-Eva-
Feb 20, 2013, 5:46 pm

Oh, so it's a version of the story that's already in there. Well, good, no rereads needed (there's very little room on the agenda for those). :)

73lkernagh
Feb 25, 2013, 11:12 am

I don't usually read vampire stories - haven't read any Anne Rice - but Claudia's Story does look interesting. Glad to see it ran be read on its own!

74craso
Mar 2, 2013, 2:11 pm

Hi Lori, since you read fantasy books I think you will like Interview With The Vampire: Claudia's Story.

Speaking of reading fantasy books, I am about to start a new fantasy book I received form Amazon Vine, London Falling by Paul Cornell. This is a new author for me, but I'm not worried. He is British and he has written Doctor Who books so how can I go wrong. :-)

75-Eva-
Mar 3, 2013, 6:02 pm

London Falling looks great - putting it on the wishlist!

76craso
Mar 4, 2013, 12:04 am

Hi Eva, I am about a third of the way through London Falling and I am really liking it. It's part police procedural and part urban fantasy. It's also a quick read and hard to put down.

77craso
Mar 9, 2013, 6:58 pm

Well, some how I have managed to start a new dark fantasy or urban fantasy series. I just finished London Falling which I will post a review for very soon. It will be a very positive review.

78craso
Mar 9, 2013, 8:42 pm

Title London Falling by Paul Cornell
Format ARC
Rating 4 ½ Stars
Category Dark Fantasy



London coppers Sefton and Costain are undercover in a gang run by Rob Toshak. They are part of the Goodfellow Task Force; along with lead detective Quill and intelligence officer Ross. After Toshak is arrested he mysteriously dies during interrogation. When the group starts investigating the gangster’s death they get a big surprise, the Sight; an ability to see all the underlying evil in London. These visions lead them to Mora Losley, an elderly woman who worked with Toshak. They think she was involved in a football betting scheme. Then they realize that footballers scoring hat-tricks against the West Ham team were being killed. Worst yet, the deaths of small children are involved. The team must find Losley before the next match or more children and players will be killed.

I enjoyed the use of history in this book. The evil that the officers see are the things that London remembers. Ghost like ships on the Thames, phantom double decker buses, and creatures from folklore, inhabit the city. Only those with the Sight know they exist. Most Londoners are oblivious to the strange visions. This is a very interesting idea, using the long history of London and Britain to explain ghostly occurrences. Some of the remembered things are evil and can disturb the living. The villain is even connected with the death of one of Henry VIII’s wives.

The author also includes religious and mythological ideas such as: an all knowing being that intervenes when needed, a “smiling man” that may be the devil, and the notion that Hell may be a real place or one of our own making. They ask the advice of three religious leaders from the community to see if the use of blessings, crosses, and holy water will help them against Mora Losley. The idea of the heroes’ journey is represented in the story when a character must look into himself to face his fears and discover a “higher power.”

This was a well written book by an author that has produced scripts for the new Doctor Who and pitched this story to Steven Moffat as a new television show. I look forward to reading the sequels.

79AHS-Wolfy
Mar 10, 2013, 8:19 am

I'm really enjoying the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch (just reviewed book 3) and London Falling sound like it might be on similar lines. Will have to add it to the wishlist.

80rabbitprincess
Mar 10, 2013, 11:02 am

Ooh, goody! That sounds like a very interesting book indeed. I love London and its history.

81craso
Mar 10, 2013, 1:15 pm

Hi Wolfy, Rivers of London does sound a lot like London Falling. I think you will enjoy reading it.

Hi Rabbit Princess, thanks for stopping by. I'm a bit of an Anglophile myself. If you are into urban fantasy and London you should like London Falling.

82psutto
Mar 11, 2013, 7:01 am

Looks like I should track this book down, but I guess it's not published yet if you got an ARC?

83craso
Mar 11, 2013, 10:35 am

Hi Pete, it should already be out the UK. It will be published in the US in April.

84psutto
Mar 11, 2013, 12:47 pm

Ah right OK - thanks

85-Eva-
Mar 11, 2013, 7:28 pm

I'm another one who's adding London Falling to the wishlist!

86majkia
Mar 11, 2013, 9:10 pm

I'm so bad I've preordered it.

87craso
Mar 13, 2013, 7:50 pm

I hope everyone likes London Falling. Sounds like it will be a very popular book. :-)

88craso
Mar 27, 2013, 6:45 pm

Just finished American Elsewhere by Robert Jackson Bennett. This is a ARC I received through Early Reviewer. I will be reviewing it shortly.

89craso
Mar 27, 2013, 10:30 pm

Title American Elsewhere by Robert Jackson Bennett
Format ARC
Category New Books - Fiction
Rating 4 ½ Stars



Nestled in a valley beneath a vast mesa is a small town called Wink, New Mexico. Don’t bother to look for it on a map, it won’t be there. It was built to support a scientific laboratory located atop the mesa. It’s a curious little town. All the homes are perfect with immaculate lawns. The people look exactly as they should and do exactly what they should. The local radio station plays Buddy Holly and the television station plays “Ozzie and Harriet” reruns. It’s a quiet idyllic little place; just don’t go out at night.

Mona Bright has inherited a home in Wink that belonged to her mother who died when Mona was just five years old. Her mother had worked as a physicist at the laboratory before marrying her father. Mona sees this as an opportunity to learn more about her.

The theme of the book is mothers; what a mother should be and how children view them. Mona is searching for her lost mother and so are the inhabitants of Wink. They feel abandoned and long for her to return. Yet was their progenitor right to do what she did and what were her motives?

This fantasy novel explores theories on pan-dimensional reality. The laboratory was doing quantum physics research on bumping or “bruising” dimensions adjacent to ours when something came through.

Even though this book was long, it was an engaging and quick read. I enjoyed the New Mexico setting. I could picture the landscape and the people who populate Wink. The plot was sometimes creepy and strange, but I never lost interest. The only problem I had was with the main character Mona. She always seemed a few steps behind in understanding what was going on. Her character is important so the reader should think she is awed or confused about the bizarre occurrences not totally slow and dense. I understood everything long before she did which I found frustrating. Otherwise, this book was a fun read and I will be looking for more books by this author.

90DeltaQueen50
Mar 27, 2013, 11:21 pm

Caroline, I received American Elsewhere as well and haven't been too keen on reading it. but your 4 1/2 stars has perked up my interest. Now I just have to fit it in.

91craso
Mar 28, 2013, 10:41 am

Hi Judy! When I received the book I was surprised at how big it was. I wondered if it could have used an editor, but everyone word and every scene was needed.

You usually don't read Fantasy or New Weird so I don't know how much you will like it. It's the type of book I enjoy and I hope you enjoy it as well.

92AHS-Wolfy
Mar 28, 2013, 11:33 am

That's the second very good review for American Elsewhere that I've seen now. Onto the wishlist it goes.

93craso
Editado: Dic 22, 2013, 7:34 pm

FIRST QUARTER RECAP

Movies and Television 0/1
Graphic Novels 1/1
Onyx Court 0/4
Mysteries 0/1
Dark Fantasy 2/1
Historical Fiction 0/1
High Fantasy 0/1
Steampunk 0/1
Non-Series: Non-Fiction 1/1
Non-Series: Fiction 2/1

BEST READS THIS QUARTER

94craso
Abr 5, 2013, 12:55 am

Title Shada: The Lost Adventure by Douglas Adams and Gareth Roberts
Format Hardback
Category Movie/Television
Rating 4 Stars



The Doctor and Romana are in Cambridge visiting an old friend of The Doctors, Professor Chronotis, when a student accidently takes an important Time Lord book out of Chronotis’ office. The book is “The Worshipful and Ancient Law of Gallifrey” a priceless artifact. At the same time, Skagra, an evil man bent on dominating the universe through mind control has arrived on Earth to steal the tome from Chronotis. The volume holds the secret to unlocking the Time Lord prison Shada, a forgotten place of confinement that keeps the worst criminals from Gallifreyan history in cryogenic freeze.

This book was a delight to read. I could see Tom Baker strutting about with his long multi-colored scarf. At the end of each section I could hear the Dr. Who theme song. The novel was just like watching the show. In fact the third chapter was a scene used in “The Five Doctors” episode.

Douglas Adams was the script supervisor for Dr. Who during the fourth doctor’s tenure. He pinned one of my favorite episodes “The Pirate Planet.” “Shada” was written by Adams and partially produced. The few scenes that were filmed were released on video tape, but the production was never completed. Gareth Roberts does a wonderful job filling out the story. If you are a true Whovian who has seen the Tom Baker doctor in action you have to read this book.

95rabbitprincess
Abr 5, 2013, 8:52 pm

I HAVE to read this!

Incidentally, the Classic Who section of the BBC website has an animated re-creation of Shada: http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/webcasts/shada/
I bookmarked this ages ago but never checked it out -- so I have no idea what it's like, just that it exists!

96craso
Abr 6, 2013, 10:13 am

Wow! Thanks rabbitprincess! I'll have to give it a look.

97craso
Abr 20, 2013, 7:42 pm

Started to read The Buntline Special for my Steampunk category, but when Bat Masterson literally became a bat I decided not to continue. I read a lot of Fantasy so plot twists like that usually not bother me. I felt like Bat being a bat was a bit cheesy.

Just picked up a copy of Lord Kelvin's Machine by James Blaylock to replace it. It's "A Tale of Langdon St. Ives". I've been meaning to try reading a James Blaylock book for awhile. He writes with Tim Powers sometimes and I am a fan of Tim Powers especially The Anubis Gates.

Waiting for Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness to arrive from Amazon. They said it shipped, but it is taking longer than normal to arrive.

98lkernagh
Abr 21, 2013, 3:09 pm

but when Bat Masterson literally became a bat I decided not to continue.

LOL! I read The Buntline Special back in 2011 and while the bat thing was an eye roller, the repetitive plot and dialogue pretty much killed my enjoyment of an otherwise interesting mix of steampunk technology and the good olde Wild West.

99craso
Abr 21, 2013, 11:37 pm

Hi Lori! I would have loved the book if it was a straight retelling of the gunfight at the OK Corral with Thomas Edison refitting everyone with steampunk gear. One of my favorite plot devices is using historical characters in Fantasy or Science Fiction stories. I didn't get far enough into the book for the repetitive dialogue and plot. After about 60 or 70 pages it went into the used bookstore trade-in pile.

100craso
Editado: Abr 22, 2013, 12:28 am

Title Gambit Vol. 1: Once A Thief by James Asmus
Format TPB
Category Graphic Novel
Rating 4 Stars



Remy Lebeau, otherwise known as Gambit, is tried of playing the good guy and teaching teenage mutants at Professor Xavier's school. He was a thief before he became an X-Men and old habits die hard. Gambit is invited to a fundraiser for the students of Empire State University at the home of Mr. Borya Cich a rich man with an interesting collection of firepower. When Remy steals an ancient relic it boars into his skin and taps his energy. With the help of a mysterious woman, Gambit travels to Guatemala in search of answers before the object imbedded in his chest kills him.

Gambit is one of my favorite X-men. He is a suave Cajun bad-boy with the power to turn ordinary objects into explosives. He usually throws exploding playing cards and fights with a staff. I liked how the author portrayed him in this graphic novel. He is handsome, great with the ladies and constantly getting into trouble.

The story was good and the art work was great. I missed the X-Men Rogue though, she had been his girlfriend and I liked their love affair, but Gambit states at the beginning of the book that they have broken up. If you are a fan of the X-Men then you know what a rascal Gambit is and you will enjoy this graphic novel.

101craso
Editado: mayo 26, 2013, 8:12 pm

Title Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness by Mike Johnson
Format TPB
Category Movies & TV
Rating 3 Stars



The crew of the Enterprise discovers a high-frequency energy field on a planet with a level of development comparable to the Roman Empire on Earth. Kirk decides to take a look so he beams down with, Spock, Sulu and a red shirt. What they discover is a former captain of the Enterprise who is arming one side of the inhabitants against the other side who are being armed by the Klingons.

The storyline is a basic Star Trek someone-screws-around-with-the prime-directive synopsis. How boring. We are introduced to the Klingons for the first time in this timeline. This must be the reason for this graphic novel. Otherwise, it was a big disappointment. The only interesting plot development was Spock having to deal with the death of his mother and the destruction of Vulcan. We get no information about John Harrison, the bad guy in the new movie. He is mention only once on the last page of the book.

102rabbitprincess
Abr 29, 2013, 6:00 pm

Thanks for the info re Countdown to Darkness -- John Harrison would have been my reason for reading! ;)

103craso
mayo 6, 2013, 11:30 pm

Title Lord Kelvin’s Machine by James P. Blaylock
Format Paperback
Category Steampunk
Rating 4 Stars



This book is divided into three separate stories with one theme running through all of them; Lord Kelvin’s machine. In the first story, Dr. Ignacio Narbondo is trying to shift the orbit of the Earth into the path of a passing comet. The Royal Academy wants to use Lord Kelvin’s machine to change the magnitude of the Earth’s poles to repel the comet but Professor Langdon St. Ives believes that using the device will harm, and not help, the planet. The second tale starts with a mysterious explosion at the Royal Academy where Lord Kelvin’s machine is being stored. A little while later there are reports of steel hulled ships going down off Dover. Then a creepy mother and son show up searching for an elixir that prolongs life. They think that the people who stole the apparatus also have the potion along with the cryogenically frozen Narbondo. In the third plot St. Ives is in possession of Lord Kelvin’s apparatus and has turned it into a time traveling device.

This is what I imagined steampunk to be; real scientists from history working on impossible technology during the Victorian era with plenty of action and adventure. There really was a scientist named Lord Kelvin who developed the absolute temperature scale called the ‘Kelvin scale,’ formulated the second law of thermodynamics, and worked to install telegraph cables under the Atlantic. Another real scientist mentioned the novel is Sir Alexander Fleming who discovered penicillin. These aren’t just science fiction stories they are also adventure stories. Professor St. Ives has a group of men, including his faithful valet Hasbro, who follow him as he tracks down the evil Narbondo and saves the day. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

104AHS-Wolfy
mayo 7, 2013, 9:21 am

I have Homunculus sat on my tbr shelves which I think is the first of that series. I'm hoping to squeeze it in with the steampunk group read at the end of the year. Glad to know you enjoyed the next one.

105lkernagh
mayo 7, 2013, 10:02 am

Adding James P. Blaylock to my list of authors to keep an eye out for. Great review, Caroline!

106craso
mayo 7, 2013, 10:39 am

#104 Hi Wolfy, I didn't know Homunculus had been reprinted until I saw it in the publisher ads at the end of the book. I know it's a popular book so I should pick it up even though it means I will be reading the series out of sequence.

#105 Hi Lori, I had been meaning to read Blaylock for awhile. He is good friends with Tim Powers who wrote the terrific The Anubis Gates. They write together sometimes and Blaylock mentions Ashbliss, the main character from The Anubis Gates, in this book.

107craso
Editado: mayo 19, 2013, 1:55 pm

Title The Black Country by Alex Grecian
Format ARC
Category Mystery
Rating 4 Stars



Inspector Walter Day and Sergeant Nevil Hammersmith from the Scotland Yard Murder Squad are asked to come to the village of Blackhampton by Constable Grimes to investigate the disappearance and possible murder of three of the town’s residents. From the moment they arrive Day and Hammersmith can tell that outsiders are not wanted in the village. Blackhampton is a dying coal mining town with tunnels running under its foundations that cause the buildings to sink. The people are superstitious and believe that a bogey-man called “Rawhead and Bloody Bones” has taken the three members of the Stern family. Half the towns people are ill with a mysterious ailment and it’s a good thing that forensic scientist Dr. Kingsley is on his way there to help with the investigation.

I was surprised by the setting of this book. It is very different from the London setting of the first volume in the series. I did however grow to like the grim atmosphere of the coal mining village with its sinking homes and gray ash mixed snow. The town was the perfect setting for a gloomy dark tragic tale.

The characters the author chose to put in this setting were the most intriguing ones from the first book, but I still missed the Murder Squad and I hope the next novel brings the inspector, sergeant, and doctor back to London.

108DeltaQueen50
mayo 19, 2013, 4:28 pm

I have the first book of this series on my wishlist and now I am adding this one as well. I love the covers on these books, very atmospheric.

109craso
mayo 19, 2013, 5:31 pm

Hi Judy! This series is just your cup of tea. I think you will enjoy it.

110lkernagh
mayo 19, 2013, 7:20 pm

Oooohhh.... Saw The Black Country on another thread so it is already on my future reading list but I have to say your review has made me doubly sure to add this one to my reading list, after I get around to reading The Yard. ;-)

111craso
mayo 19, 2013, 11:33 pm

Lori, I hope you have the chance to read both books and that you enjoy them. :-)

112majkia
mayo 20, 2013, 9:40 am

I've got The Yard and hope to get to it soon. And the second is now in the wishlist.

113craso
mayo 21, 2013, 12:25 am

Hi majkia, thanks for stopping by. I hope you like this series as much as I do.

114craso
mayo 26, 2013, 5:23 pm

I just got back from seeing Star Trek Into Darkness. It was great! And I can now tell you unequivocally that the graphic novel Countdown to Darkness was utterly useless.

115rabbitprincess
mayo 26, 2013, 8:53 pm

Yay! I'm going to see it on Thursday, finally. :)

116craso
mayo 26, 2013, 9:58 pm

You will really enjoy it! Have fun!

117craso
mayo 31, 2013, 8:08 pm

Title Thieves of Book Row by Travis McDade
Format ARC
Category Non-Series Non-Fiction
Rating 3 Stars



Book Row was “the” place to buy and sell used books in New York. During the Depression some people resorted to stealing when they couldn’t find work. This book tells the story of a notorious book theft ring working the libraries in Massachusetts and New York. The thieves would steal books from libraries “scrub” them of library markings and sell them to dealers on Book Row. Some of the purloined books were taken from the rare books room of different libraries and were quiet valuable. The book dealers weren’t naïve, they knew what was going on, but they were desperate for good stock. The libraries hired men to track down the stolen items and bring the thieves to justice.

I read this book because I work in the antiquarian book field. It’s amazing how much things remain the same. The internet has changed the book field considerably, but the types of books that are considered collectable hasn’t changed. The way con-artists steal books hasn’t changed either. We have had more than a few book thieves try to steal from our store or try to sell us what they have stolen from other stores. They use the same tactics today as they used in the 1930’s

Even though this is a subject I am interested in, the book was a very dry read. It was hard to keep track of names. The author peppers the narrative with so much history that when you finally get back to the story you can’t remember who did what where. I would only recommend this book to book sellers or librarians who are really interested in the history of antiquarian books. I don’t think it would hold the interest of the casual reader.

118lkernagh
Jun 1, 2013, 1:18 am

The concept of Thieves of Book Row does sound fascinating so I was disappointed to see that it was a dry read. ;-(

119craso
Jun 1, 2013, 2:18 pm

Yeah, I was disappointed too. I'm going to hand it off to my boss. He is interested in reading it. Hopefully, he will get more enjoyment out of it than I did.

120mstrust
Jun 1, 2013, 2:31 pm

I was also all ready to put this one on my wishlist until I got to the bottom of your review. What a disappointment! I love books on books. If you haven't read it, The Man Who Loved Books Too Much might be more enjoyable for you.

121craso
Jun 1, 2013, 8:45 pm

Hi Jennifer, I wonder if I've seen you around town. I work at a shop in Phoenix.

I looked at the book page for The Man Who Loved Books too Much and I wonder if this is the same man that is notorious with ABAA dealers. There is a man from the San Francisco area that has been in and out of prison for book theft and we are constantly on guard for him. If it is I don't think I can ethically read the book. The guy is a loon. :-)

122craso
Jun 4, 2013, 11:20 pm

Title The First Book of Swords by Fred Saberhagen
Format iBook
Category High Fantasy
Rating 4 Stars



The god Vulcan forges twelve magical blades and uses the blood of men to quench them. Jord is the only blacksmith left alive out of six that were called to assist Vulcan. He lost his arm but the god repaid him with the sword Townsaver. Jord is told that this sword is for him and his eldest son to wield. Jord’s oldest son Kenn is killed using the sword to defend an attack. His younger son Mark is accused of killing a cousin of the evil Duke Fraktin during the assault. Mark takes Townsaver and leaves home.

He soon meets three people in a wagon headed to a fair in good Sir Andrew’s domain. The leader of the group is Nestor, a dragonslayer who uses another of the twelve enchanted swords. Each blade has a different purpose; kill dragons, defend innocent townspeople, make the bearer lucky, disguise the wielder, etc. The swords were forged to use in a game that the gods have set in motion for their own amusement.

The setting is a future Earth that has changed into a medieval serfdom after a devastating war. The presence of magic and dragons isn’t explained. The characters all have names that are easy to read unlike some high fantasy novels.

This was a fun quick read. There are two other volumes in this series and I am eager to start the next.

123mstrust
Jun 5, 2013, 11:41 am

>121 craso: Well, I work at a shop in Phoenix too!

Yes, the book is probably about the guy you're thinking of. His reasoning for stealing wasn't right, but he wasn't crazy either, at least not in the legal sense. I thought it was really interesting to see how he managed to get away with so much, but there was so much satisfaction to read about him being busted.

124craso
Jun 23, 2013, 11:46 pm

Title The Second Book of Swords by Fred Saberhagen
Format iBook
Category High Fantasy
Rating 3 1/2 Stars



It’s been five years since the battle at Sir Andrew’s castle. Ben has enlisted in the Blue Temple Guard and is on a mission to escort bags of treasure to a hiding place deep in a cave guarded by a dragon. Once his company unloads the riches he becomes concerned that it is a trap. He escapes and sets out to find Barbara and the sword Dragonslicer. Ben’s friend Mark has gone back to his village after serving with Sir Andrew’s army. He sees the poverty and destruction caused by the war and decides to go back to Barbara and Ben and take the sword Coinspiner to Sir Andrew to help his cause. When the three friends meet again they devise a plan to steal the treasure. Ben wants to use part of the wealth to buy a home so he and Barbara can marry and live a normal life away from fairs and dragonslaying. Ben tells Mark that some of the swords forged by Vulcan are part of the precious valuables in the cave so Mark decided to join Ben on his adventure. On the way to the treasure trove they meet Baron Doon who is using the sword Wayfarer to find the very loot they are looking for.

This volume in Saberhagen’s Sword Series is about Wayfarer, a sword that points you in the direction of your heart’s desire. Other swords come into to play, but only at the end of the book.

I was a little disappointed in this novel when I first started reading it. The first book in the series ended so abruptly I thought the next book would pick up the action right at the end of the first story. Instead the novel picks up five years later. This story didn’t seem to have anything to do the first tale except for the characters and the magical swords. By the end of the book I understood where the author was going and how this novel will link to the next.

125craso
Editado: Dic 22, 2013, 7:33 pm

SECOND QUARTER

Movies and Television 2/1
Graphic Novels 2/1
Onyx Court 0/4
Mysteries 1/1
Dark Fantasy 2/1
Historical Fiction 0/1
High Fantasy 2/1
Steampunk 1/1
Non-Series: Non-Fiction 2/1
Non-Series: Fiction 2/1

BEST READS THIS QUARTER

126craso
Jul 4, 2013, 10:13 pm

Sorry to be so late with my quarterly roundup. My parents have been in town lately. My mother is ill and getting treatment at the Mayo Clinic. My husband is on parent patrol tonight so I have time to talk to you guys and catch up on my threads.

Still reading the last in the Saberhagen Swords Trilogy. This book is much better than the second and is tying up the story pretty neatly. I'm only half way through and I hope the novel continues to meet my expectations. I hope to finishing reading it and post a review soon.

I only need to read the Onyx Series and a book for the historical fiction category and I will technically be done for the year. Of course I will read more than just those books.

I am also reading books for my ROOT challenge. I am half way through over on that thread which is right on target.

127lkernagh
Jul 5, 2013, 9:25 am

Sorry to learn about your Mom, Caroline. I hope the treatments are going well. You have made great progress with your challenges - I am at the halfway mark with my ROOTs challenge as well!

128rabbitprincess
Jul 5, 2013, 5:43 pm

Hope your mum's treatments are going well. Enjoy the remaining reads of your challenge!

129craso
Jul 5, 2013, 8:39 pm

Thank you Lori and Rabbitprincess! So far her care has been excellent.

Good luck to both of you on your challenges.

130DeltaQueen50
Jul 6, 2013, 12:30 am

Hi Caroline, I am so sorry to hear of your Mom's illness, and I'm adding my best wishes towards successful treatment.

131craso
Jul 6, 2013, 4:26 pm

Judy, thank you very much for your support.

132-Eva-
Jul 6, 2013, 10:43 pm

Sorry to hear about your mom! I too am sending my best wishes - she's in a very good place and I have no doubt she's receiving excellent care.

133craso
Jul 7, 2013, 9:04 pm

Thank you Eva! Yes, Mayo has been great. Much better than the care she was getting before.

I have made a change in my challenge. I changed Historical Fiction to Professor Challenger and I started reading The Lost World last night. By reading these books I will be fulfilling both this challenge and my root challenge.

I finished reading The Third Book of Swords but I'm being lazy about writing a review. It was the best book in the series and I gave it 4 stars.

134rabbitprincess
Jul 7, 2013, 10:02 pm

Looking forward to your Professor Challenger reviews! I haven't read anything of Doyle's outside of Holmes and will be interested to see what his other works are like.

135Bjace
Jul 7, 2013, 10:42 pm

I read the second Professor Challenger, The poison belt, earlier this year. It was kind of fun-awful, but I've heard that The lost world is better.

136craso
Jul 8, 2013, 12:17 am

I've read some of Conan Doyle's horror short stories and liked them. I think I will like the Professor Challenger books even though I've seen reviews saying the are "of their time." If you go into reading a book knowing that it will reflect the social morals of the time its easier to understand than going in cold and being offended. I suspect they will be Victorian adventure stories and not great literature. :-)

137craso
Jul 16, 2013, 12:28 am

I finally found time review this novel. Sorry for the delay.
--------------------------

Title The Third Book of Swords by Fred Saberhagen
Format iBook
Category High Fantasy
Rating 4 Stars



The gods gather together to discuss the swords after they realize they are not immune to the weapons powers. They decide to interfere in the game and collect the swords from the humans.

Ben and Barbara have married and live a comfortable life on the small amount of jewels Ben took from the Blue Temple treasure. They are working with an underground group to get swords to Sir Andrew to help him battle the Dark King.

Mark is visited by “the Emperor” who may be his true father. He gives Mark the sword Sightblinder and is told where the Dark King and his men are encamped. When he arrives he finds that the Dark King has the Mindsword, a sword that commands all who come in sight of it to bow down and worship the holder.

This novel was the story I was waiting for after the first installment in the series. I liked the use of mythology in the first book and the gods finally becoming a main plot point. They come down to earth to try to collect the swords and fall victim to their powers. A question brought up in the first book when the gods are asked “where did you come from?” is answered in this book when they are told the gods did not create humans but the other way around.

Many swords come into play in this book, Sightblinder, the Mindsword, Woundhealer, Soulcutter, Shieldbreaker, Doomgiver, and Coinspinner. It’s interesting to see how the swords work; when Aphrodite takes Woundhealer from a young man wielding Doomgiver she is doomed to love him forever, Woundhealer can regrow limbs, no weapon can beat Shieldbreaker and the bearer cannot stop using it until all the attackers are killed, Soulcutter causes everyone around it to give up and become despondent including wielder.

Even though this book wraps up the story of the god’s involvement with the swords, it does not have a satisfactory conclusion regarding the main human characters. There are many other books in the series, but they seem more about the swords than the characters. I still enjoyed reading the novel.

138craso
Jul 16, 2013, 12:30 am

My husband and I took my parents home yesterday. My mom is doing well recovering from stomach surgery. Thank you again to everyone for their well wishes. :-)

139majkia
Jul 16, 2013, 6:49 am

oh that is wonderful. hope she continues to improve.

140lkernagh
Jul 16, 2013, 9:08 am

Happy to learn your Mom is now at home and doing well after the surgery.

141-Eva-
Jul 16, 2013, 6:52 pm

Great to hear about your mom - hope she continues to improve!!

142craso
Jul 17, 2013, 10:55 am

She is doing great! She really needed to get back into her routine to help with her recovery. Thank you Jean, Lori, and Eva. I appreciate everyone's kind thoughts. :-)

143DeltaQueen50
Jul 18, 2013, 7:03 pm

Great news about your Mom. Getting back to the familiar and routine can help a lot, I know my Mom frets if she is pulled away from her routine for any length of time.

144craso
Jul 22, 2013, 12:07 am

Hi Judy,my mom actually left her hotel a day early because she felt she could rest better at home. It has worked out well and she has called me a few times to give me updates. :-)

-----------------------------------------

Title The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle
Format Kindle
Category Professor Challenger
Rating 4 Stars



A young journalist, Edward Malone, is looking for adventure. He meets with Professor Challenger who claims that a prehistoric lost world exists on a plateau in South America. During a raucous meeting at the Zoological Institute Hall, Challenger presents his controversial evidence. A fellow zoologist, Mr. Summerlee, refutes Challenger’s claims and calls for an expedition to verify his assertions with two members of the audience volunteering to accompany Summerlee; Edward Malone and British sportsman Lord John Roxton. After arriving in the Amazon they are surprised by Challenger who bullies his way into the exploration party. Using drawings made by a lost American adventurer named Chapel White and Challenger’s own recollections they find the plateau only to be stranded there by rebellious native porters.

The novel is written through the eyes of the young journalist. He writes letters home to his newspaper publisher. They are carried to civilization by trusted natives. The story is fast paced with a lot of action as they encounter one amazing creature after another.

Professor Challenger is the anti-thesis of Sherlock Holmes; Conan Doyle’s other more widely known character. Where Sherlock is described as tall and angular Challenger is stocky and bullish. Challenger is as egotistical as Sherlock but the great detective is more quietly British whereas the Professor is brash and assertive. Conan Doyle has said that he preferred the Challenger character to his famous detective.

I have read some reviews that claim the book is too racist. The depiction of their loyal black assistant is racist, but again this novel was originally written in 1912 and does show the imperialism of that time. I didn’t find it overly disturbing.

I enjoyed the novel and recommend it to anyone who is familiar with Arthur Conan Doyle’s style of writing or enjoys H. Rider Haggard and other turn of the Twentieth Century adventure authors.

145craso
Jul 28, 2013, 4:30 pm

Title The Poison Belt by Arthur Conan Doyle
Format Kindle
Category Professor Challenger
Rating 4 Stars



Professor Challenger has issued a warning. The ether of space has a poisonous belt and the earth is going to pass through it. He invites his friends from the “Lost World’ expedition to his country home and asks them to bring canisters of oxygen. As Malone, Lord Roxton, and Summerlee are traveling by train to Challenger’s mansion they start acting strangely; becoming overly emotional, saying and doing strange things. They are already being affected by the poisonous cloud. When the friends arrive at the estate Challenger explains that they will be riding out the poison in a sealed room using the oxygen canisters.

I enjoyed this Challenger story more than “The Lost World.” It was like an armchair mystery. The good comrades sit and discuss the events as they unfold believing they are watching the end of the world. It reminded me of British post-apocalyptic novels.

It’s a short book and a quick read. I suggest reading “The Lost World” before reading this novel because the first book introduces the main characters.

146craso
Editado: Oct 7, 2013, 1:11 pm

Title Kill City Blues by Richard Kadrey
Format ARC
Category Dark Fantasy
Rating 4 ½ Stars



James Stark, otherwise known as Sandman Slim, is back in his beloved LA squatting in Lucifer’s luxury hotel suite with his jade girlfriend Candy and Kasabian, who is now wearing a hellhound body. Stark gathers together the whole gang, Candy, Vidocq, Brigitte, and Traven, along with a mechanical man named Delon to hunt for the Qomrama Om Ya, the only weapon that can kill a god. It is hidden in Kill City, a haunted abandoned shopping mall. The building is full of ghosts and crazy ex-Sub Rosa families. It’s a harrowing journey through many levels of this kill zone and not all of the members of the search party will survive.

This was my favorite of the Sandman Slim novels so far. The characters have formed a strong bond and I enjoyed revisiting all of them. It starts out slower than the other books, but picks up speed when they get to Kill City. At the beginning the author reacquaints the read with Sandman Slims world. This is a benefit but a bit redundant.

This book sets up the next novel in the series nicely. I have become fond of Stark and his outcast comrades and look forward to the next book.

147craso
Ago 10, 2013, 12:57 am

Trying to set up my reading for this month. I want to start my Onyx Court challenge since I just received the ebook Deeds of Men from EarlyReviewer. The first book in the series is Midnight Never Come which will be a reread, then I'll read Deeds of Men. I am currently reading a book a friend gave me called Women, Food, and God by Geneen Roth. It really doesn't fit in a category so I might just call it a bonus read. I am one book up on my ROOT reads, but I still feel like I need to read one this month so I will be reading Best in Hollywood: The Good, The Bad, And The Beautiful by James Best. Then I need to read an Amazon Vine book I just got called The Small Hand and The Dolly by Susan Hill. Yes, I have a lot of books to read and I am not a fast reader. Just thinking out loud. :-)

148lkernagh
Ago 10, 2013, 10:48 am

I also won Deeds of Men but didn't know it was the second book in the Onyx Court series.... I really should pay more attention when I request books that interest me. Luckily, my local library has a copy of Midnight Never Come! ;-)

Looks like you have some interesting reading lined up for the month.

149craso
Ago 10, 2013, 2:14 pm

Hi Lori! It's actually a short story or novella based on the characters from the Onyx Court Series. I really enjoyed Midnight Never Come when I first read it. I hope you enjoy it as well.

150lkernagh
Ago 10, 2013, 3:59 pm

Well, that puts my mind at ease. *Whew!* I am okay with jumping into a novella with no prior knowledge of the characters. Of course, if I like Deeds of Men as much as I think I will, it is good to know there are more books already out there that I can quickly gravitate to! ;-

151craso
Editado: Oct 7, 2013, 1:10 pm

Title Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan
Format Paperback
Category Onyx Court Series
Rating 4 Stars



This novel is a reread for me. I remembered this book fondly and was not disappointed. It’s the story of the Onyx Court, a fairie court beneath London. Invidiana, the evil fairie queen, has intruded for years in Queen Elizabeth’s reign. Lune, a fae, and the mortal Deven must stop Invidiana before she brings down both courts. If you are entertained by historical fiction about Elizabethan England or you get a kick out of Fantasy novels you well thoroughly enjoy reading this book.

152craso
Ago 21, 2013, 10:36 pm

#150 I just started reading Deeds of Men. The main characters from Midnight Never Come, Lune and Michael Deven are the main characters in this short story. Turns out reading the first book is a good idea.

153lkernagh
Ago 21, 2013, 11:48 pm

> 152 - Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Just kidding. Thanks for the heads up!

154craso
Editado: Ago 25, 2013, 3:55 pm

****POSSIBLE SPOLERS****
This means you Lori! 

Title Deeds of Men by Marie Brennan
Format ebook
Category Onyx Court Series
Rating 3 Stars



In Midnight Never Come Lune and Michael Deven became co-rulers of the Onyx Court, the faerie court under London. Lune wants to rule with a human because understanding human politics would help her protect her people and the fae could help preserve the safety of England. Being a mortal, Deven cannot rule with the immortal Lune forever. He decides to look for a future replacement that will safe guard his beloved Lune as well as look out for the fortunes of England. He thinks he has found that person in Henry Ware, a new recruit in the King’s Gentlemen Pensioners. When Henry is found dead Deven assumes he has been killed by a fae. Henry’s younger brother Antony shows up and claims that Deven had a hand in his brother’s death because of the vile world he brought Henry into. What Deven doesn’t realize is that Antony is not speaking about Onyx Court, but about King James’ court.

This novella works as a bridge between the first two books in the Onyx Court series; Midnight Never Come and In Ashes Lie. I remember reading the second book and wondering; who is this Antony Ware character and what happened to Michael Deven?

I was disappointed by this novella. It didn’t hold my interest like Midnight Never Come which is a very enjoyable read. It took me awhile to get used to the back and forth of the narrative. One chapter would be 2 to 3 years in the past and the next would be up-to-date. The background story of King James court and all the political intrigue didn’t hold my attention. Unfortunately, I remember having the same problems reading the beginning of In Ashes Lie. I remember it as being very slow and hard to start then it kicks into gear in the middle.

If you are planning on reading the whole series then this is a must read, though you may want to bone up on the end of King James reign before reading it.

155lkernagh
Ago 25, 2013, 7:45 pm

*Sees note and quickly scurries to bottom of thread!*

Whew! That was close! I didn't even stop to see if you liked or disliked it. I will have to make a mental note to come back and read your review after I have read the book!

156craso
Ago 31, 2013, 1:43 pm

I've been trying to organize my reading for the rest of the year so I can set up my 2014 Category Challenge. As long as nothing shiny catches my eye I should be set. My only problem is Early Reviewer and Amazon Vine. I can't help myself. :-)

157craso
Sep 5, 2013, 11:14 pm

Title The Small Hand and Dolly by Susan Hill
Format ARC
Category Non-Series Fiction
Rating 3 1/2 Stars



This book contains two short novels in one book. Each story has a similar theme; how traumatic childhood events can come back to haunt adults, literally. If I could rate each story I would rate “The Small Hand” four stars and “Dolly” three and a half stars.

“The Small Hand” is the story of Adam Snow a book dealer who gets lost in the English countryside and finds himself in an overgrown neglected garden in front of an Edwardian house. As he stands at the garden gate he feels a small hand take his hand. There is no one else around but he is sure of what he feels, that a small cold hand is gripping his. After that day he starts to experience this feeling whenever he is near a small pool of water. The hand is drawing him toward the water. He begins to have panic attacks and decides to confront his fears by returning to the garden and home. What he finds there leads him to ask his brother if they ever visited the garden as children.

I enjoyed reading “The Small Hand.” It was very atmospheric and kept me guessing about the outcome.

“Dolly” is a mixture of “Turn of the Screw” and “The Bad Seed” with a bizarre ending that I can’t quite grasp. A delicate young boy named Edward is sent to spend the summer with his maiden aunt. Aunt Kestrel worries that he will be bored without a playmate so she sends for his cousin Leonora. Leonora is a spoiled rotten brat. Edward discovers that Leonora wants a beautiful dolly for her birthday. Aunt Kestrel buys her a lovely doll, but it is not the right one so Leonora smashes the head against the fireplace. Years late that single event has dire consequences for Edward and Leonora as well as their families.

I understand that in horror stories no one lives happily ever after, but both Edward and Leonora are subject to the dolly’s curse and I can’t figure out why. Maybe curses don’t care whether they affect the innocent or the guilty.

158lkernagh
Sep 7, 2013, 12:39 am

Horror stories with a doll's face on the cover tend to make me think of Chucky from Child's Play and then I avoid them like the plague. Don't ask me why, it just does. Happily passing on The Small Hand and Dolly.

but both Edward and Leonora are subject to the dolly’s curse and I can’t figure out why. Maybe curses don’t care whether they affect the innocent or the guilty.

Malevolent curses would fit that category. ;-)

159craso
Sep 7, 2013, 1:04 am

My husband can't stand dolls because of the Talking Tina doll in a Twilight Zone episode. The doll tells the little girl who owns her "I love you!" and tells the abusive step-father "I'm going to kill you!" That's not what happens in the novel, but I had that in the back of my mind when I read it.

If you like ghost stories The Small Hand is pretty good. I can also recommend The Woman in Black.

160DeltaQueen50
Sep 8, 2013, 2:54 pm

Hi Caroline, The Small Hand sounds really good, and since dolls creep me out, this sounds like a good Halloween read. I am already planning on reading The Woman In Black this year, so will take note of this one for next year.

161craso
Sep 9, 2013, 10:20 am

Hi Judy, Susan Hill is very good at atmosphere and suspense. Her stories are very gothic especially The Woman in Black. I hope you enjoy reading her work.

162craso
Sep 15, 2013, 10:45 pm

Title In Ashes Lie by Marie Brennan
Format Paperback
Category Onyx Court Series
Rating 3 1/2 Stars



This is the second novel in the Onyx Court Series. It isn’t as good a read as Midnight Never Come. For some reason the first half is very slow. It might be because it’s set during the English Civil War and Puritans aren’t very exciting. Once Charles I is beheaded and Queen Lune losses her throne the story picks up. When Lune fights for her throne and the British fight to bring back Parliament and Charles II it becomes a faster more enjoyable read all the way to the end when the Faerie Queen and her Prince fight the London fire of 1666. If you don’t mind slogging through 150 or so slow pages the rest of the book is an enjoyable read.

163majkia
Sep 17, 2013, 7:51 am

Even her detective series beginning with The Various Haunts of Men is very atmospheric and amazingly gothic for something set in current day.

164craso
Sep 17, 2013, 6:27 pm

Hi Jean! I've never read Susan Hill's detective books. I see starting yet another series ahead for me. :-)

165craso
Editado: Dic 22, 2013, 7:32 pm

Boy, didn't realize I haven't been on here since Sept. 17! I've been reading A Star Shall Fall and I have about 90 pages to go.

Here is my recap. If the numbers look weird it's because I only have to read 1 book per category except for the Onyx Court Series.

The only category I have left to complete is the Onyx Court category. I still have plenty of books to read (of course) and 2 books coming from Early Reviewer.

-------------------------------------

THIRD QUARTER RECAP

Movies and Television 2/1
Graphic Novels 2/1
Onyx Court 3/5
Mysteries 1/1
Dark Fantasy 3/1
Professor Challenger 2/1
High Fantasy 3/1
Steampunk 1/1
Non-Series: Non-Fiction 2/1
Non-Series: Fiction 3/1

BEST READS THIS QUARTER

166rabbitprincess
Oct 7, 2013, 6:06 pm

I can't believe we're already into the last quarter of the year!

167craso
Oct 8, 2013, 3:28 pm

#166 Yes, it's hard to believe the year is coming to an end. I can't believe Halloween is almost upon us not to mention the Holiday Season!

-----------------------------

Title A Star Shall Fall by Marie Brennan
Format Paperback
Category Onyx Court Series
Rating 3 1/2 Stars



***May Contain Spoilers For In Ashes Lie***

During the London fire of 1666 a powerful Dragon was born. It was first trapped in an iron box, but the box could not contain it so the fae banished it to a passing comet in 1682. However, Sir Edmond Halley of the newly formed Royal Society of London calculated that the comet would return. The Dragon is a hungry creature who wants to consume the Onyx Hall. Lune asks her Prince of the Stone, Galen St. Clair, to join the Royal Society to find a way to destroy it. Can mortal science help them save there court?

This was an enjoyable novel. It reads like a “hero’s journey.” The character of Galen St. Clair is young and untested. The only reason he became Lune’s prince was because he was in love with her. He knows that fae can only give their hearts to one person and that Lune’s love is the first Prince of the Stone, Sir Michael Deven, who died years ago. She made Galen Prince because her last consort died suddenly and he was the only London born mortal at hand. He grows and changes throughout the book and truly becomes a hero. The same can be said for the little sprite Irrith. She left the court for 50 years after being manipulated by a fae who wanted to usurp Lune’s throne. Irrith loses her naiveté and learns to care for others.

My only problem with this book is that Lune is not the central figure. She is pushed to the background and used as a symbol for the Onyx Court. I thought for a while that she would be killed and a new fae would become ruler. The Court is fading as London grows and the queen is fading too. Her character still acts like Elizabeth I, which is becoming out dated and shows how the court is becoming a part of the past. Still, her struggles were the focal point of the first two novels and I like the character better than the boyish sprite Irrith who takes center stage with Galen.

168lkernagh
Oct 8, 2013, 9:58 pm

Skimming through and thanks for the reminder - courtesy of your last review - that I still need to read the Onyx Court novella I received as an LTER. ;-)

169craso
Oct 26, 2013, 7:32 pm

Title With Fate Conspire by Marie Brennan
Format Hardback
Category Onyx Court Series
Rating 3 1/2 Stars



The Onyx Court is literally falling apart. It is 1884 and London is full of iron railways and steam engines. The Underground is almost complete and when the last rail is laid the Hall will be destroyed. As always, the Court reflects what is happening in the human world above it. The wealthy of London live side-by-side with the poverty-stricken. In the Faery court the realm is divided into two parts, The Galenic Academy, a mirror image of The Royal Society, and The Goblin Market where everything is for sale including stolen humans.

In the world above Eliza, an Irish refugee, struggles to survive in the mean streets of Whitechapel. She is haunted by the memory of her friend Owen who disappeared when they were young. It’s been seven years since she has seen him, but she knows the faeries took him. At the same time Dead Rick, a death omen that can take both human and dog form, has lost his memories. He is forced to serve Nadrett, the leader of The Goblin Market. Nadrett has come up with a plan to save The Onyx Court, but it involves taking human souls. It is up to Eliza and Dead Rick to stop him.

Again, Lune is only briefly in this novel, though she is very important. Her spirit is literally holding the Onyx Hall together. When an iron rail is laid she feels the pain as though the spike was entering her flesh and the Hall shakes. By this installment in the series I have gotten used to her not being a main character in the story.

The emphasis of this novel is the Industrial Age in Britain and the gap between the rich and the poor. It was depressing at times and I felt like the only reason I was reading it was to finish the series, then I got to the end of the book. The final few chapters are great and they bring the whole series together. The conclusion makes this book worth reading.

170craso
Oct 26, 2013, 7:53 pm

I am now technically done with this challenge. I have read one book in each category and all of the Onyx Court Series.

*Just a note about the Onyx Series. Each book was very well written, but none of them was as good as the first Midnight Never Come. I may be a novice when it comes to reading series, but I expect the main character of the first book to be the main character in the other books. In this series The Onyx Court and the City of London are the main focus. There is one fae and one human in each book, but they are never the same characters as the book before. I know the human has to change because they are not immortal, but I thought we would be following Lune's life throughout the series. I prefer a series with one main character to root for. I am use to that with the Sandman Slim Series and the Thursday Next Series. That is why I took half a star from the three books after Midnight Never Come. It wasn't that the books weren't well written, although the beginning of In Ashes Lie does drag a bit, it was just a lack of consistency where the characters were concerned.*

I still have plenty of books to read including two ER books so I will be sticking around here for a while. I have started construction on my 2014 thread and that will be up and running before the end of the year.

171AHS-Wolfy
Oct 26, 2013, 10:04 pm

Congrats on completing your challenge!

172lkernagh
Oct 27, 2013, 12:57 am

Getting caught up with your reading Caroline. Sounds like With Fate Conspire has a sort of steampunk feel to it. Looking forward to giving Brennen's series a read through , and very good to know about the changing main characters!

Congratulations on completing your challenge!

173craso
Oct 27, 2013, 1:46 am

Thank you Wolfy and Lori. I feel pretty good about finishing the challenge. I've had the opportunity to read a lot of good books this year.

Lori, I hope you enjoy The Onyx Court Series. Yes, With Fate Conspire does have some steampunk elements with the Industrial Age threatening the fae in there underground home. Marie Brennan is a good author and I will be reading more of her books.

174rabbitprincess
Oct 27, 2013, 11:21 am

Hurray for completing your challenge!

175-Eva-
Oct 27, 2013, 3:39 pm

Congratulations on completing!!!

176majkia
Oct 27, 2013, 3:53 pm

huzzah for finishing:)

177DeltaQueen50
Oct 27, 2013, 9:43 pm

Congratulations on completing your challenge, Caroline. Glad to hear you are sticking around.

178christina_reads
Oct 28, 2013, 10:21 am

Congrats! I've only read Midnight Never Come from the Onyx Court series, but I've been meaning to read the rest. Have you read Brennan's other book, A Natural History of Dragons? It's totally different, but I enjoyed it quite a bit!

179craso
Oct 28, 2013, 11:01 am

Thank you everyone for your congratulations. It's been a good year for reading.

Christina, A Natural History of Dragons is on my wish list. I'm hoping to get it for my birthday in a couple of weeks. :-)

180mamzel
Oct 28, 2013, 12:29 pm



Well done!

181craso
Oct 28, 2013, 10:42 pm

Oh wow! That's a neat graphic! Thank you Mamzel!

182craso
Editado: Nov 6, 2013, 10:59 pm

Title The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason
Format ARC
Category Steampunk
Rating 3 Stars



Young society girls have been found died with a strange clockwork scarab next to their bodies. Irene Adler, at the behest of Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, has called on Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes to investigate. Evaline is the younger sister of Bram Stoker and a vampire hunter. Mina Holmes is the niece of Sherlock Holmes. She has inherited the Holmes ability for deduction. The girl’s deaths are linked to a strange Egyptian cult. Stoker and Holmes must go undercover to investigate.

This was a very disappointing novel. I’ve read many Holmes pastiches so I was excited to receive this book. Unfortunately the story had many flaws. The biggest problem was that I couldn’t stand the main characters. Evaline is a thinly veiled copy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Mina is insufferably arrogant. They both become flustered whenever they get near the opposite sex. After a while I just skipped the scenes with their love interests.

The steampunk setting felt forced. Electricity has been outlawed because it is too dangerous so everything is run by steam. Mina dresses like a steampunk cosplay at the San Diego Comic-Con. A character can’t even have a normal pocket watch; it has to foldout to display more than one clock face. London is built in different levels with steam lifts and dirigibles dot the sky. Mina has a steam stream gun. The male character she is all nervous and excited about drives a steam motorcycle.

The plot was very thin. I kept reading the book because I wanted to find out the identity of the villain, but the ending was far from satisfying. This is going to be a new series so the author didn’t wrap up the storyline. She also left a time traveling character high and dry. I do not plan to read the other books in this series when they are released.

183lkernagh
Nov 6, 2013, 11:31 pm

I had requested that one and then removed my request when I realized that I had too many ER books that I still needed to read and review. I was sooooo hopeful that it would be a good read but it appears to be a 'meh' read. I find it difficult to write reviews for books that don't work for me. I think you have done a really good job capturing the 'whys' the book wasn't a stellar read. Thumb!

184craso
Nov 7, 2013, 9:56 pm

Hi Lori! Thank you for the thumb! Most of the time I use the 50 page rule, but this time I decided to keep reading because I thought I would be rewarded with an answer to the mystery in the end. No such luck.

185-Eva-
Nov 9, 2013, 12:15 am

I was very tempted by that one too because the cover looked so luscious - kind of glad I passed on it now. :)

186craso
Nov 9, 2013, 12:23 am

Hi Eva! The cover is great. I guess the old adage applies - don't judge a book by it's cover. :-)

187-Eva-
Nov 9, 2013, 12:32 am

Haha! Very true.

188craso
Editado: Dic 22, 2013, 7:36 pm

Title Divas, Dames & Daredevils: Lost Heroines of Golden Age Comics by Mike Madrid
Format ARC
Category Non-Series /Non Fiction
Rating 4 Stars



Wonder Woman wasn’t the only strong female in comics during the 1940s. This book explores the lost heroines of the comic book golden age. These are female characters that were introduced before the 1950s when the comic code took effect. The code watered down female characters and turned them into love interests instead of superheroes and adventurers.

The different types of characters are grouped together in chapters. War, espionage, jungle, science fiction and fantasy comics are represented in the book. Each of these chapters includes five or six full comics reproduced in black and white. The comics range from well written and illustrated to poorly written with amateurish art work to bizarre and almost psychedelic. Some of the comics were worth finding and others should have remained lost.

It’s always interesting to read old comics because they reflect society at the time they were first published. I also enjoy the art work, it’s the same kind of illustrations you see on the covers of pulp magazines. This book is for those readers interested in comic book history. Superheroes like Superman and Batman were not the only comics during the golden age.

189craso
Dic 22, 2013, 12:02 pm

Sorry I haven't been here in awhile. A lot over things happened while I was gone including my birthday on November 21. I received some Amazon and ITunes gift cards so I loaded up on books, comics and graphic novels. This is a review of one of my purchases.

-----------------------------------------------

Title Ghost Omnibus Volume 3 by Eric Luke
Format IPad
Rating 4 Stars
Category Graphic Novel



Ghost has been given the key to the heart of the city of Arcadia and has sworn to defend it, but she is distracted by her pain over the loss of her sister. On one of her nightly patrols she saves a young woman and becomes her mentor. Things start looking up for her new friend until she kills herself and becomes a ghost. This leads Ghost to discover a mad scientist named Dr. Trouvaille who is experimenting on the spirits of the recently departed. He calls Ghost “the failed one”. On another nightly patrol she encounters a shadowy woman who resembles the dark side of Ghost. She is another spirit who has comeback with the same hatred of men that Ghost had when she first returned. Ghost wonders why the woman named Silhouette seems familiar, then she realizes it is her sister Margo.

This volume sets up the revelations in Ghost Omnibus Volume 4. The stories are important, but don’t have the impact of the other volumes. They are very tame by comparison. I felt like Ghost made some progress in overcoming her hatred of men and finding out who Elisa Cameron was. She fell flat when she tried to be the guardian of the city. She is too wrapped up in her own issues to help save Arcadia from the many evil gangsters and cut throats. Frankly, I don’t know who would actually want to live in Arcadia. It’s a real dump with bad guys out numbering the average populous. Read this volume to get some clues to the major developments in omnibus 4.

190rabbitprincess
Dic 22, 2013, 1:12 pm

Happy belated birthday! Spending gift cards is such fun :)

191craso
Editado: Dic 22, 2013, 7:45 pm

I need to wrap up this thread so I can spend time building my 2014 challenge.

FOURTH QUARTER RECAP

Movies and Television 2/1
Graphic Novels 3/1
Onyx Court 5/5
Mysteries 1/1
Dark Fantasy 3/1
Professor Challenger 2/2
High Fantasy 3/1
Steampunk 2/1
Non-Series: Non-Fiction 3/1
Non-Series: Fiction 3/1

BEST READS THIS QUARTER



BEST READS THIS YEAR


.
.

192DeltaQueen50
Dic 22, 2013, 10:48 pm

Happy belated Birthday, Caroline.

193craso
Dic 22, 2013, 11:39 pm

Thank you rabbitprincess and Judy for the Birthday wishes!

194craso
Dic 23, 2013, 1:33 pm

My 2014 TV Character Challenge is up and running here