It is creepy doing human type things during the day, staying away from bright sunlight and easing casually amongst the growing number of Goths out for a stroll - or a much needed airing going by the smell. Being a vampire does have its special moments, like wafting like a ill breeze through my closest Borders and speed reading a novel or two.
Holly Black, an apt name when I think about it, drew my hand away from a woman's throat and caused my fangs to quiver with a different kind of expectation. 'White Cat' from Gollancz is, despite bans on such practices, a magical journey of discovery, of crime and of course criminal families; and trust me, I have known a few over the centuries. There is a brooding darkness and constant threat that, for me, slowed the flicking pages long enough so I could absorb even more of the style, scenes and mood Holly Black has created. I oohed and ahhed a few times much to the chagrin of the store owner, who already knew better than to interrupt a vampire while enraptured. 'White Cat' in a way is a strange beast with comparisons made with great dark fiction writers, but I feel Holly is unique enough to be deserving of her own comparison; she writes like herself and I am well pleased by this. But the question for the reader will not be will you buy this book, but more, will you survive it?'. With the care of someone of great age, I slipped the book into my bag and gave the owner a wink of 'put it on my bill'. He never complained, didn't dare too. I knew what I liked and he appreciated his life enough to allow my simple shopping method.
Not far along the shelf a book barely having time to even collect the finest dropping of dusty time is something I have actually been looking forward to, almost as much as my nightly feed from the purveyors of interesting services. 'Dead in the Family' by Charlaine Harris literally levitated into my hand and I took the whole thing in via osmosis, submerged my very being into the slick, pacy and colourful world. Sookie Stackhouse would indeed make a good meal for me, she is so clean of mind, direct of person and strong of blood and indeed this is about blood, family blood. This is another Gollancz book that delves even deeper in a world only I know too well - okay, in reality it is quite different to Harris' depictions, but who is splitting teeth here?
The world of Bon Temps Louisiana is wild, alive and bristling with weirdness, tension, sex and even more weird - good weird mind you. Though this is yet another Sookie Stackhouse novel (True Blood TV Series is based on the books) I always find myself journeying anew into the redneckish backwater. If this story had been set in NYC it wouldn't work, it would lose to depth and colour, the vibrancy of the characters and the heat and bugs - did I mention bugs... maybe I'm just remembering good times. 'Dead in the Family' is a must grab, a must read and of course warm a bottle of True Blood in the microwave while you are at it.
The colour green isn't my favourite, it often brings back memories of some feeding I had on a party of Green Peace activists in the forests in Tasmania. I know it is all in my head, but their blood tasted like celery and I really don't like vegetables. That being so, the colour stood out a little way down the shelf, and given I was starting to draw a crowd - biting a man on the wrist as he headed to the coffee lounge tends to draw attention, even in the city - I did a flash take on Orbits 'The Eternal Prison' by Jeff Somers. I admit it is harder and edgier than the works I have just mentioned and at times the stories and characters are very unforgiving, but true to form, as shown in 'Electric Church' and 'Digital Plague', Jeff exploits fear and tension to maximum effect. I remember when I was only new to this walking dead vampirish life, I was brutal and harsh, never caring for what transpired about me, and I can comfortably say 'The Eternal Prison' does a fist clenched good job of that brutality. You will flinch, gag and feel more than just a little uneasy here but you will also be compelled and dragged through the story all the way to the gripping end. Yes, it was a reflect to grab the green cover, but it was a good moment in the sun.
The sun is setting and security, despite the owners own cautions are getting quite uncomfortable with my person and the few drops of blood on the yellow carpet. It will wash out I whisper across the room. The owner winks, for he has cleaned up before. I have purchased 3 books this day and I will sleep beneath my bed after feeding long and hard on the people of the city and once more savor these interesting literary feasts. Until I dare walk amongst the great walls of books again, sleep well, and lock the door. I am hungry, always hungry.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Gothic Reign Review # 5
Gothic Reign Reviews #5
Sarina
Let the Darkness Come
Well sleeping for months at a time can be very draining, and quite disorientating when you first open your eyes and the brain stutters alive – well stutters dead because I'm not really alive, am I. I did feed about an hour ago and in the process I found a box of books I am supposed to read. As a vampire I am blessed (funny) with the ability to read a book just by touching it. The osmosis feed is exhilarating as words and stories flow into me like a deep ink river. I see there is much to learn about my kind and every dark author is trying to find the path to endarkenment.
I touched a strange book yet a thrilling and frightening volume that requires much thought and consideration in light of the decay of the modern world. Carla Buckley's ‘The Things That Keep us Here’ takes us into the heart of panic and the terrifying ordeal of a family running from a pandemic – the edgy reality of this story will keep you tucked in close to death and fearing the day, and the man down the road with the sneezy nose. For me there held no great fear, but for the human population there is much to worry about here. With the rise in population and ease of world travel it will only be a matter of time before a pandemic like this with take you all. Available from good book stores in Australia or Amazon or other stores worldwide. Very good.
This is a book that made me smile, and it is part of a series I think many a fan of my world may enjoy. Jeanie Frost’s ‘Half Way to The Grave’ is a sweet mix of romance, paranormal activity and more than a reasonable amount of angst. True, Vampire novels are everywhere, then being like me would be, wouldn’t we. I think the interactions between the quirky characters gives this the fang over some other out there and even with a mysterious search, a dangerous partnership and the pursuit of really, really nasty types the ride is anything but tame. This is book one and you can get it from any store in Australia or Amazon – Also available throughout the USA and Canada
Even in my death sleep I sensed something quite strange in the inkworks of the world, not a movement but more a perverse jangle that said someone was doing something close to me. Nalini Singh has delivered an interesting blend of beast and intelligence coupled with the dynamic explosions of emotional turmoil with her books in the Psy-Changeling Series. Here I have been flooded psychically with the messages of ‘Slave to Sensation’ and ‘Vision of Heat’ just 2 book in this wonderful series. I, like any vampire, love the joy found in words well placed and in the flow of the world around the characters – here is a pleasure. Nalini Singh delivers words in a way that make you want to weep, laugh and even growl along with the story. Here we have a tale of the super unemotional and intelligent humans, the Psy and the beastly, beast animals of the Changelings. In all things they stand against each other and yet they desire business, trade and sharing on too many levels to just ignore. The problem comes when the Changeling want to hunt down a serial killer of their kind, a Psy. Would this hunt mean the death of all of them? Of course I have book 2, so it wasn’t a total destroy type thing but it did bring to for some insights that remain dangerous. There is much happening and much to wonder about and Sign does manage to make you think more than most writers. If I had to rank this series so far it would be a full two fangs and a pint of type ‘O+’
I can take little more of the word flow coming my way; I must again feed and savour the taste of warm blood on my lips. To wait too much longer would mean the coming of the rage, the temporary mind blank that can mimic the frenzy of a beast in hunger. ‘Angel’s Blood’ and ‘Archangel’s Kiss’ sit before me the exquisite text of Nalini Sing once again has eased me into a sombre, yet joyous position under my bed – for that is where I sleep, beneath a bed with the clawing of my nails upon the slats staring down. Now, I don’t usually go in for Vampire Hunters as a rule, obviously, but credit where credit is due; despite my unease at hunters of my kind I did find the marvelous nature of the story captivating me and leaving me wanting more. Now, what could be worse than a bad vampire (not me), well, and I am pleased to say this, but a bad dude angel who has lost his way. Bout time that lot got theirs I say. Like most books that run in the paranormal field there is romance but it has a nice balance that doesn’t make you feel queasy and the actions is so crisp it cuts. The second in the series isn’t any easier for our intrepid hunter, not just a bad angel but a bad archangel; now I have always know these guys have been dodgy, so it was not surprise to me to see a rogue on the loose. Of course angels don’t really have the same power as us vampires, nor are they anywhere near as attractive, but this is fiction so I allowed the ideas to simmer for a time in my mind. Yes, I say, yes Nalini Singh is a legend on the rise; get all her books and just fall back into the worlds and dip into the glorious words. You won’t be able to see things like me; you’re not dead for a start but you will be able to enjoy great story writing.
Please note this box of books was supplied by Hachette Australia www.hachette.com.au
Sarina
Let the Darkness Come
Well sleeping for months at a time can be very draining, and quite disorientating when you first open your eyes and the brain stutters alive – well stutters dead because I'm not really alive, am I. I did feed about an hour ago and in the process I found a box of books I am supposed to read. As a vampire I am blessed (funny) with the ability to read a book just by touching it. The osmosis feed is exhilarating as words and stories flow into me like a deep ink river. I see there is much to learn about my kind and every dark author is trying to find the path to endarkenment.
I touched a strange book yet a thrilling and frightening volume that requires much thought and consideration in light of the decay of the modern world. Carla Buckley's ‘The Things That Keep us Here’ takes us into the heart of panic and the terrifying ordeal of a family running from a pandemic – the edgy reality of this story will keep you tucked in close to death and fearing the day, and the man down the road with the sneezy nose. For me there held no great fear, but for the human population there is much to worry about here. With the rise in population and ease of world travel it will only be a matter of time before a pandemic like this with take you all. Available from good book stores in Australia or Amazon or other stores worldwide. Very good.
This is a book that made me smile, and it is part of a series I think many a fan of my world may enjoy. Jeanie Frost’s ‘Half Way to The Grave’ is a sweet mix of romance, paranormal activity and more than a reasonable amount of angst. True, Vampire novels are everywhere, then being like me would be, wouldn’t we. I think the interactions between the quirky characters gives this the fang over some other out there and even with a mysterious search, a dangerous partnership and the pursuit of really, really nasty types the ride is anything but tame. This is book one and you can get it from any store in Australia or Amazon – Also available throughout the USA and Canada
Even in my death sleep I sensed something quite strange in the inkworks of the world, not a movement but more a perverse jangle that said someone was doing something close to me. Nalini Singh has delivered an interesting blend of beast and intelligence coupled with the dynamic explosions of emotional turmoil with her books in the Psy-Changeling Series. Here I have been flooded psychically with the messages of ‘Slave to Sensation’ and ‘Vision of Heat’ just 2 book in this wonderful series. I, like any vampire, love the joy found in words well placed and in the flow of the world around the characters – here is a pleasure. Nalini Singh delivers words in a way that make you want to weep, laugh and even growl along with the story. Here we have a tale of the super unemotional and intelligent humans, the Psy and the beastly, beast animals of the Changelings. In all things they stand against each other and yet they desire business, trade and sharing on too many levels to just ignore. The problem comes when the Changeling want to hunt down a serial killer of their kind, a Psy. Would this hunt mean the death of all of them? Of course I have book 2, so it wasn’t a total destroy type thing but it did bring to for some insights that remain dangerous. There is much happening and much to wonder about and Sign does manage to make you think more than most writers. If I had to rank this series so far it would be a full two fangs and a pint of type ‘O+’
I can take little more of the word flow coming my way; I must again feed and savour the taste of warm blood on my lips. To wait too much longer would mean the coming of the rage, the temporary mind blank that can mimic the frenzy of a beast in hunger. ‘Angel’s Blood’ and ‘Archangel’s Kiss’ sit before me the exquisite text of Nalini Sing once again has eased me into a sombre, yet joyous position under my bed – for that is where I sleep, beneath a bed with the clawing of my nails upon the slats staring down. Now, I don’t usually go in for Vampire Hunters as a rule, obviously, but credit where credit is due; despite my unease at hunters of my kind I did find the marvelous nature of the story captivating me and leaving me wanting more. Now, what could be worse than a bad vampire (not me), well, and I am pleased to say this, but a bad dude angel who has lost his way. Bout time that lot got theirs I say. Like most books that run in the paranormal field there is romance but it has a nice balance that doesn’t make you feel queasy and the actions is so crisp it cuts. The second in the series isn’t any easier for our intrepid hunter, not just a bad angel but a bad archangel; now I have always know these guys have been dodgy, so it was not surprise to me to see a rogue on the loose. Of course angels don’t really have the same power as us vampires, nor are they anywhere near as attractive, but this is fiction so I allowed the ideas to simmer for a time in my mind. Yes, I say, yes Nalini Singh is a legend on the rise; get all her books and just fall back into the worlds and dip into the glorious words. You won’t be able to see things like me; you’re not dead for a start but you will be able to enjoy great story writing.
Please note this box of books was supplied by Hachette Australia www.hachette.com.au
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)