Category Archives: Authors M

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Book Review: The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act

Book Title: The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act
Author: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Jamie Mckelvie

“It’s not that I’m afraid my parents wouldn’t approve. I’m afraid they would. I want this to be all mine. Amaterasu’s only been around for a couple of weeks. How many of these girls have even seen her?”
Laura in The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act by Kieron Gillen and Jamie Mckelvie

Final Verdict: A beautiful comic with a plot you may not always follow, but is intriguing and leaving you wanting to know what happens next.

For the full review, click the name of the book.

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Book review: The Crow: Pestilence

Book Title: The Crow: Pestilence
Author: Frank Bill
Artist: Drew Moss

“Let my words be carried with you until my return. ‘Cause I will return, to right the wrongs you’ve forced upon on this day, a hundred times worse.”
The Crow: Pestilence by Frank Bill and Drew Moss

Final Verdict: A new Crow story for old fans that can handle lots of violence and blood, but not for first time Crow readers. Plus, an ending that saves the mess of the first 60 pages.

For the full review, click the name of the book.

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Book Review: Swords, Sorcery, & Sundry

Book Title: Swords, Sorcery, & Sundry
Author: Mina MacLeod

“Sylvain watches Niklas reveal the pastries, watches how Ashe leans back and doesn’t mind in the least. They’ve met such a short time ago, and yet here they are: the very best and closest of friends. Walls are dropped, boundaries are gone…Sylvain doesn’t want this to end. The prospect of leaving these two makes his heart twist painfully.”
Swords, Sorcery, & Sundry by Mina MacLeod

Final Verdict: A fun read for summer travels, which breaks many of the overused conventions in YA novels, and reminds you what good friends are! An added bonus is that it is just the start of a series.

For the full review, click the name of the book.

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Book Review: Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2)

Book Title: Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2)
Author: Marissa Meyer

“Amusement touched the corner of his lips. ‘Animals love me.’
‘Oh, I’m sure they do,’ Scarlet said, beaming with fake encouragement. She shut the door before muttering, ‘What farm animals don’t love a wolf?’
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

 

Final Verdict: A modern adaptation of Red Riding Hood that will enchant readers of all ages.

For the full review, click the name of the book.

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Random News: News from/About Three of the Best Female Authors

Hello Lovely Readers,

This week, two of my favorite authors made announcements that I thought I would pass on to you guys. Then a third author was the subject of a rather “interesting” criticism, that I just can’t help weighing in on! Best yet, is that I realized I have met all three of these wonderful women!

First up is Anne Rice. She announced that she will be on her son’s (author Christopher Rice) podcast show on March 9. This in and of itself is not that exciting, but what she is going to talk about is. She has said she will release the official details about her next novel on the show. Read more about the show and her upcoming announcement here. Additionally, Rice has been making waves by taking on many internet bullies/trolls in several ways. I will have a post about this coming out soon, so look for that!

Second to make an announcement this week is Robin McKinley. While I was hoping for a new book, she has instead been given the honor of being asked to be the Guest of Honor at Boskone (a science fiction convention hosted by the New England Science Fiction Association (NESFA) in Boston, Massachusetts). This is very exciting news for you American readers, as McKinley doesn’t do many book events, and especially not in the USA. Having seen her in London in 2011, both Frances and I would recommend reading her books and meeting her! You can read her amazement at the honor here on her blog.

The last author that was in the news this week was JK Rowling. In a very strange move, novelist and copywriter Lynn Sheperd, wrote a rather scathing opinion about Rowling. You can and should read the article here. It is a very strange move, especially as she opens with a note that her friend told her it was a bad idea to write this piece. The article titled, “If JK Rowling Cares About Writing, She Should Stop Doing It.” I will admit it was very hard for me to keep a level head while I read the article, but it was hard when Sheperd not only attacks Rowling, but those of us adults who read “children’s” novels. Sheperd’s basic argument is big names in adult (she doesn’t care about children’s or YA novels or their authors) literature should step aside and let new people try their luck. Unfortunately, I (and most commentators) do not believe that publishing is a zero-sum game. Instead big authors get people’s initial attention and then cause the readers to look for similar titles, thus bringing attention to the newer writers. Not only are Sheperd’s arguments feeble, she judges Rowling’s works without ever having attempted to read any of her works. Basically the article comes across as another author being bitter and delusional. Worse it has probably done the opposite of what she wanted, she has angered many readers, who will most likely never give her books a fair chance (I know I feel rather personally insulted by the article and have no wish to read any of her work).

What did you guys think of the article about Rowling? Are you excited about Rice’s or McKinley’s news?

Until next time,

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Book Review: Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories from History without the Fairy-Tale Endings

Book Title: Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories from History without the Fairy-Tale Endings
Author: Linda Rodriguez McRobbie

“Perhaps the best way to make sure that the fairy tale doesn’t become the expectation is to talk about real princesses and to stop turning their lives into fairy tales. Some real princesses were women who found themselves in circumstances they couldn’t control.”
Princesses Behaving Badly by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie

Final Verdict: A nice introduction to some of the interesting women who have held the title of Princess throughout the ages. A good book to read on holiday.

For the full review, click the name of the book.

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Book Review: Warm Bodies (a second look)

Book Title: Warm Bodies: A Second Look (Scroll down to the second review for my thoughts on the book).
Author: Isaac Marion

“My friend “M” says the irony of being a zombie is that everything is funny, but you can’t smile, because your lips have rotted off” R, Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Final Verdict: Overall a page turner that suffers from a few issues with pacing.

For the full review, click the book title.

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Book Review: Warm Bodies

Book Title: Warm Bodies
Author: Isaac Marion

“There is no benchmark for how life’s ‘supposed’ to happen, Perry. There is no ideal world for you to wait around for. The world is always just what it is now, and it’s up to you how you respond to it.”
Mr. Kelvin, Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Final Verdict: A good book that is a quick read. But if you had to choose, go with the movie!

For the full review, click the book title.

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Movie Review: The Host

Movie Title: The Host
Director: Andrew Niccol
Notable Stars:  Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel, Diane Kruger, Chandler Canterbury

Ian: “You don’t feel bad at all. I’d have killed her.”
Jared: “It doesn’t matter. It’s not human.”
Ian: “So we stop acting human?”

Final Verdict: Wait until the movie shows for free on the TV. That way, if you feel the same way I do, you won’t lose money paying to watch this movie. It has to be the worst movie I’ve seen in a long while and definitely worse than any of the Twilight Saga.

For the full review of this movie and the movie trailer, click the movie title.