This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission
Title: Dedication of the High Priestess Series: The King in Yellow Anthology #10 Author: Ephraim Unger Rating: 2 of 5 Stars Genre: Cosmic Horror / Short Story Pages: 33 Words: 10K
This was a short story that the author was kind enough to give me a free copy of. It would have fit into a KIY anthology just fine but since that probably won’t be happening anytime soon, I figured I’d take a stab at a standalone short story. While I enjoyed this in expanding the King in Yellow lore, there were a couple of things that dragged this down to the two star level for me.
The biggest issue was that the main character was 12 years old and has visions of being embraced by the King in Yellow. While cosmic horror should be disturbing, I felt like this crossed into territory that I wasn’t comfortable with. At all.
The second issue was a more technical issue. The story was written in the first person perspective and there was a lot of “he did, she wore, they said”. While some of that is inherent to that perspective, there are ways to mitigate sounding like a sports announcer at a tennis match.
I really wanted to like this more and give it a higher rating. But it is what it is. I do give props for that cover though. Ohhhhh, that is some good art right there.
★★☆☆☆
From Bookstooge.blog
A 12 year old ballerina is drawn into the world of the King in Yellow and becomes his high priestess. She brings him into our world and ushers in a new age of cosmic horror.
Last year, the weight of 9/11 felt like it was going to break me. I thought this year was going to be worse. But thankfully, writing about 9/11 each year for the past several years has given me an outlet for the grief and pain. It has been cathartic for an event that, from a national viewpoint, has shaped my life more than anything else to date.
It is time to let the pain go and let this event slide into history.
I will still remember. But I will remember with the tint of time covering the glare of pain and horror and I will CHOOSE to do so.
This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission
Title: Black Sun Rising Series: Coldfire #1 Author: Celia Friedman Rating: 2 of 5 Stars Genre: Fantasy Pages: 524 Words: 200K
Have you read or heard about stories where the main character is a woman but all the reviewers describe her as a man with boobs and absolutely crucify the author? I’ve read a couple of those. This is kind of the opposite. There are supposed to be two men but they are really women with swords.
♪Feelings, it’s all about Feelings♪
Goodness, I could have floated a boat with all the feelings going on. Mr Evil Vampire is so evil that he tortured and killed his own wife and children to get the power to live forever. But he cares for the Pagan Sorceress and doesn’t want to hurt her. The Ultimate Bad Boy, yet one who is sensitive and loving on the inside and not really a bad guy at all. Mr Paladin is supposed to be in love with the Pagan Sorceress and travels into untold dangers to save her. He even, gasp, puts aside his vow of destruction for Mr Evil Vampire because she means so much to him. I’m guessing he had a chiseled chin and 3 days of stubble, all the time.
Yeah, this was not my thing. The men in the story have a goal but are always sidetracked by their feelings instead of doing what needs to be done. It was sickening, like eating a steak only to find out it is actually cotton candy in disguise. This book gave me the same exact vibes from when I read Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts. I will be avoiding anything else by Celia Friedman from here on out. AND. It took me two whole weeks to get through this. Not even the Russians take me that long.
For a much more positive take on things, check out Matt’s Review.
★★☆☆☆
From Bookstooge.blog
A Paladin, a Vampire and a Pagan Sorceress walk into a bar. The Bartender immediately kicks them out for being so cliched that it hurts.
While the Elven Tribes hide in terror from the Emperor of Shadow, Chained though he is, he sends forth his minions across the land. These warrior are eternally loyal, unstoppable and innumerable. Just what every world dominating Emperor wants, shock troops of the highest caliber.
This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress, Blogspot, & Librarything by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission
I have to admit, I was hoping for a little more from this collection. The editor talks about the various stories at the beginning of the book and mentions that the final story by Zelazny might be difficult to fit into a Cthulhu collection. He wasn’t kidding. Zelazny’s story had NOTHING to do with cosmic horror and came across as nothing more than adding a big name to sell the collection. Color me unimpressed.
I did like “Pickman’s Modem”, as I love it when technology dates itself to a point where I can remember using that stuff. The modem in question is a 2400 baud modem. Oh yeah, those were the good ol’ days! The rest of the stories were simply ok (outside of Zelazny) and while I don’t regret that I read them, I do wish they’d been a little bit tastier.
Hopefully the next collection will be better.
★★★☆☆
Table of Contents:
The Barrens, F. Paul Wilson
Pickman’s Modem, Lawrence Watt-Evans
Shaft Number 247, Basil Copper
His Mouth Will Taste of Wormwood, Poppy Z. Brite
The Adder, Fred Chappell
Fat Face, Michael Shea
The Big Fish, Kim Newman
“I Had Vacantly Crumpled It into My Pocket … But by God, Eliot, It Was a Photograph from Life!”, Joanna Russ
This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission
Title: Old Man’s Cave Series: Bone #33-37 Author: Jeff Smith Rating: 3 of 5 Stars Genre: Comics Pages: 128 Words: 5K
I don’t know what to say about this. I semi-enjoyed it and yet I found myself seriously not caring about the overall story. I also was not being very entertained. Not a very good combination.
I only have 3 more omnibus volumes left but I don’t know if I’ll hang in there or not. My patience with the visual art side of books has dramatically dropped. I want the pure words. Art has a way of making artist/authors think they can get away with poor story telling by covering it up with pretty pictures.
Ahhhhhhhhhh, sigh…..
★★★☆☆
From Boneville.fandom.com
Fone Bone and Smiley Bone are seeking for something. Wow, good job Bone fans, you outdid yourselves this time! You bunch of putzes.
This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission
Title: Traitor Series: Victor the Assassin #10 Authors: Tom Wood Rating: 4 of 5 Stars Genre: Action/Adventure Pages: 367 Words: 105K
This was a return to form for Victor the Assassin and a very welcome return in my opinion. Instead of Victor killing boatloads of people because they’re trying to kidnap a retarded kid, Victor is killing boatloads of people because someone betrayed him and is sending killteams after him.
This was a multiple layer story about various jobs that ended up all tying together. And of course, the obvious double cross turns out NOT to be a double cross at all but a mere accident. I thought that bit of a lime twist really added flavor to the story. Victor’s reaction to it however was Classic Victor and exactly what I expected from him.
The only downside was that by the time the story ended Victor was once again in hock to yet another powerful individual/corporation/government. That pattern is old by now even while I acknowledge that it works. It certainly works much better than having Victor “keeping a promise to a kid” so maybe I better be careful what I wish for.
This is the latest release, so now I’m going to have to wait for each new release as it comes out.
★★★★☆
From the Publisher
SOMEONE’S SET HIM UP
SOMEONE’S GOING TO DIE
When Victor is arrested for a murder that, for once, he didn’t commit, escape must surely be inevitable for a hitman of his ferocity.
Yet someone wants Victor put away, and he finds himself behind bars, incarcerated by police who have no idea of the monster they are dealing with and have, apparently, tamed.
Quickly, however, his fellow the prisoners realise that he’s not trapped in there with them: they are in a cage, with the most dangerous of enemies. And Victor has a traitor to find.
This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission
Title: Legend of a Hero Series: One Piece #43 Arc: Water Seven #12 Author: Eiichiro Oda Rating: 2 of 5 Stars Genre: Manga Pages: 215 Words: 10K
Fight, fight, fight, fight and fight.
Waaaaaaaaaaaait for it…..
and fight some more.
Yeah, I’m done. I didn’t enjoy this volume. I think I’m burned out on One Piece for quite a while. Back in the ‘00’s I started OP and made it up until vol 29 and had to quit in August of ‘10. I didn’t try again until July of ‘21.
It started well and I loved the zaniness and silliness. But it has turned into a truly massive shonen manga and I’m tired of the fighting. I don’t like how Oda-san draws the fights because I can’t figure out what is going on.
Therefore I am going to stop. I have no plans of ever picking this up again, but if I do, I’ll start here and not try to re-read all the early stuff. But right now, I suspect I’ll be done with this. If I don’t enjoy it, why read it? And I am definitely not enjoying it.
Sighhhhhhhhh. This really feels like my time with manga overall is wrapping up too. I hate changes, even if it is just a part of life.
★★☆☆☆
From Wikipedia:
“Super-Size Nami”
“Nami vs. Kalifa”
“You Missed Your Chance”
“Hunter”
“Sanji vs. Jabra”
“Heat Up”
“Zoro vs. Kaku”
“Asura”
“Luffy vs. Rob Lucci”
“Legend of a Hero”
With the destruction of Enies Lobby imminent, all government personnel begin to evacuate. The Straw Hats continue fighting and, with the exception of Luffy versus Lucci, defeat the remaining members of CP9. Their battles won, they team up and hurry to stop Robin from being taken past the point of no return. They succeed and Robin is freed.
This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission
Title: Gone for Good Series: ———- Author: Harlan Coben Rating: 2.5 of 5 Stars Genre: Fiction Pages: 319 Words: 120K
My goodness, this was more jam packed than a mexican soap opera. Let me see if I can summarize the utter madness.
We start out with the Main Character’s mother dying from cancer.
The main character’s brother, 12 years in the past, sleeps with his girlfriend and then either kills her or is killed and removed from the scene. The main character thinks he is innocent and alive, but has no proof.
MC’s current girlfriend disappears without a trace.
Her fingerprints are found at a double murder scene
Her body is subsequently found by the side of the road and identified by her parents
When the MC goes to the funeral, the body in the casket is not his girlfriend
the Girlfriend is alive but somebody else
The MC investigates things with the younger sister of his murdered previous girlfriend (12 years ago GF)
they uncover that the brother is alive and that some of his associates are high rollers and one is a big time assassin.
Witness Protection is involved
The older brother cut a deal, then ran to protect his current girlfriend and newborn baby
The assassin is after the older brother
WitSec is after the older brother
The Mob Boss is after the older brother
MC just wants to see and protect his older brother
MC and younger sister girl are kidnapped but escape, thus crushing the plans of both the Assassin and the Mob Boss
Everyone is happy
Everyone meets up for a secret meeting to welcome back the older brother.
IT’S A TRAP!!!!!!
The older brother turns out to be a murdering rapist
Who stole the MC’s baby from the old girlfriend
it was all witnessed by the younger sister
Assassin was in love with Older Sister and had vowed to protect her
Assassin then kills Older Brother
MC has a girlfriend who he doesn’t know much about and a 12 year old daughter who thinks he’s her uncle
TADA! No hablo burrito taca el grande mucho. Mucho mucho mucho grande taco burrito!!!
See, more drama than you can shake a big taco at. I was ready to quit this about 10 times, every time a new revelation happened. It didn’t help that the main character was a fething pansy. He couldn’t protect himself, much less anybody else. But he still kept bleating platitudes about protecting his girlfriend or the younger sister, while failing spectacularly every time. When it’s revealed at the end that he has a 12 year old daughter, maaaaaan, did I feel bad for her. Her daddy is a big fat wuss and she better learn to protect herself real quick!
And yet I will read more by Coben. Of course, if he keeps using pansy wussies for main characters, I suspect I won’t last many more books. He better write some better characters pronto. Mucho pronto in fact.
★★✬☆☆
From Wikipedia.org
As a boy, Will Klein had a hero: his older brother, Ken. Then, on a warm suburban night in the Kleins’ affluent New Jersey neighborhood, a young woman—a girl Will had once loved—was found raped and murdered in her family’s basement. The prime suspect: Ken Klein. With the evidence against him overwhelming, Ken simply vanished, spending the next decade as the elusive subject of rumors, speculation, and an international manhunt. When his shattered family never heard from Ken again, they were sure he was gone for good.
Now, eleven years have passed. And Will, who always believed in his brother’s innocence, has found evidence that Ken is alive—even as he is struck by another act of betrayal. His girlfriend suddenly disappears, leaving behind compelling evidence that she was not the person Will thought she was. As the two dark dramas unwind around him, Will is pulled into a violent mystery, haunted by signs that Ken is trying to contact him after all these years. Will can feel himself coming closer and closer to his brother… and to a terrible secret that someone will kill to keep buried. And as the lies begin to unravel, Will is uncovering startling truths about his lover, his brother, and even himself.
