Anti-Hero

Writer:
Jonathan Wood
Publisher:
Titan Books
Format:
Paperback 480pp

When it rains it pours… monster machines. That attack during a funeral and ruin everyone’s day. MI317—the government department devoted to defending Britain from cosmic horrors—is under siege, so Arthur Wallace and his team must travel to Area 51, ably—and oddly—assisted by Agent Gran. But their travels don’t end there, not when there’s an Arctic town populated entirely by spore zombies and the 2.0 version of Clyde has some funny ideas about how to save the world.

Jonathan Wood's supernatural thriller is a laugh-a-minute riot. Which is odd for a book about the end of the world.

You know your day isn't going to start well when an attack drone starts trying to kill you at a funeral. Yet that's how the members of MI317- a government department devoted to defending Britain from cosmic horrors- seem to spend their time. Between a nascent A.I that used to be their friend, the team's completely dysfunctional relationship and a CIA that they can't be sure if they trust or not, there's a world to save. In the weirdest way possible.

With Avengers: Age of Ultron out at the moment, it's the perfect time to use an easy analogy. Whereas a more serious novel would attempt something like Age of Ultron, Anti-Hero is more content to have some well written and likeable characters throw quips at one another amidst increasingly destructive set pieces.

It's the humour that really sells the book and a very British sense of humour at that. For make no mistake, pessimism isn't a trait unique to us islanders, but the deadpan nature of it and it's respect for the sillier elements of sci-fi and fantasy (whilst being able to lampoon them) is unlike anything but us. Those who don't quite know what to make of it, just know that it has quick fire gags and wordplay almost every other line.

The title of the book is also a hint to it's themes, as the villain of the piece thinks he's doing what's best for the Earth. It's also about the lead character, Arthur Wallace, coming to terms with how his job isn't so clean cut and 'good' as he imagined. Those themes dove-tail until a hilarious finale that has Arthur and his team fighting against the very good guys of actions films.

There's definitely a feeling of a rag-tag group of misfits up against the world and that's part of the charm of Anti-Hero. Wood's ability to blend humour and character development holds strong and is the core of the book, even if the ending did feel like a bit of a let down of those principles with too much of a happy ending that wraps everything up neatly. It also means that those who like a solid plot probably won't be as endeared to this as I. The book is driven by character motivation over solid reasons and there are plot holes aplenty if you start to look to hard.

But that's not the point – Wood wants to entertain the reader and manages to successfully blend humour amidst stakes that were constantly escalating. Overall, it's one of the most enjoyable, consistently funny books I've read this year, if not in the past few years. You need to read it now.

Image courtesy of Titan Books.

Anti-Hero is available from Titan Books

Flamewalker

This is a standalone book that reads like an EPIC.

Flamewalker is a complex and involving read for lovers of all kinds of fantasy. The story begins with a young firemaiden to be, Khalira about to find out if she is to be a Flamewalker, and if so what path she is to take. A kingdom away a father faces a tragedy that will forever alter two kingdoms.

So. . . this is a great book. I was surprised by exactly how good it was. Reading Flamewalker was very much like an old school courtship. First there is the introduction, a bit formal but promising, then a few tentative first dates that settle in a budding romance. Vogel's characters are deeply interesting. Their thoughts, desires, dreams and fears are addictive. They are tendered gently, just enough to hook you before the action starts.

On a deeper level, Flamewalker has more than it's fair share of duality. The male/female principles are echoed in the heroine and her nemesis, the north and south kingdoms of Saria and Banol, and the lust for power, tempered with the knowing endurance of justice. All this not good enough?

The villain. He is just a guy. A guy that has gone through tragedy. In most books heroes and villains are forged in some tragedy and suddenly they are changed forever. Tired tropes right?
Prepare to not see this with Flamewalker's big bad, and he is Big and he is Bad. But his descent into madness is a journey of degrees. The reader gets a real sense of the progression, and best yet, Vogel makes it logical.

It's a good story. It's a lesson in life. It's a moral to aspire to. Most of all it's High Fantasy at it's very best. I am not ashamed to say that this book brought a tear to my eye more than once.  The initial scene with Adon is so stirring that I had to put the book down twice.  The power to evoke emotions like that and capture the suffering is a rare and wonderful talent.  Wendy Vogel is a name not to forget, she is sure to be a voice that will resonate in years to come.

Flamewalker is available through Amazon and limited retailers.

Flamewalker

Reckless Ambitions (The Medford Family Chronicles Book 1)

“The beloved, highly respected, and automatically obeyed Palamaran Emperor John Cardillion III suddenly has died without naming a successor. He has four very powerful sons, An Arch Cleric, a Fighter, a Wizard and a Merchant Prince (aka thief), who are eager to slay each other and claim their father’s Ruby Throne. Earl Thomas Medford, the former Emperor’s best friend and Commander of the Imperial Guard, has to decide which royal brother to support for the throne and marry his deliciously gorgeous only daughter too. Earl Medford intends to either avert or win a bloody and vicious civil war. “

- Book synopsis

To say the least, Reckless Ambitions is a very complicated novel, peppered with court intrigue, Dungeons and Dragons influences, and a cast a characters worthy of a Robert Jordan novel.  We get a brief interlude at the beginning, which shows us how Thomas Medford meets and saves the future Emperor John Cardillon III and assists him in taking the throne.  Fast forward to Cardillon’s death.  The empire is in chaos and the Emperor’s four sons are schmeing for the throne.  Caught in the middle, are the commoners, and Earl Medford, who is seemingly only interested in staving off civil war.  As the book progresses however, the reader is left to wonder how altruistic his intentions really are.  Early on, it becomes evident that he plans to use his daughter in an effort to retain power after the new Emperor is crowned.

If the mayhem inspired by the succession wasn’t enough, a boat load of Elves fleeting the persecution of their homeland arrive in Paladon City.  The elves provide two of the more interesting characters in the story, Numerian, the leader of the long eared refugees, and his daughter, a mage and gifted psionic, named Serina.  Despite the richness of these characters, the arrival of the elves reads as little more than a plot device.  It’s the hope of this reviewer, that they will get a little more elaboration in successive novels.  Other notable characters of interest are Christina Medford, daughter of the earl, and political chess piece, Nick Armand, an up and coming member of the Imperial guard, Abigail Theosar, friend and confidante to Christina and last but not least, Professor Enalon a dowdy illusionist blessed with the rare gift of psionics, who oddly enough comes off as the pivotal point later in the story, but little more than a footnote early on.

Reckless Ambitions shows considerable promise, but could have done with a bit more editing prior to publication.  Much of the writing comes off as weak due to sentence structure that could have done with a bit more action and a little less description of the actions being performed.  The Dungeons and Dragons meets Game of Thrones framework the author adheres to, reads a bit confining and could be confusing to readers not versed in those works.  The magic system, in particular, seems entirely derived from D&D.  Other than the frequent use of psionics, little or no information is given to the reader on the mechanics of it, which causes the work to fall a little flat. Although the D&D system offers an existing structure for the author to pull from, it does read as a bit confining, making the novel feel derivative at times.  Ried also falls back on contemporary slang and historical quotes, which seem out of place in the medieval fantasy setting.

All in all, it’s evident that John Paul Ried is very passionate about the work and the series it derives from, which is attractive in its own way.  The series shows promise given that the later volumes are given a little more editorial review before publication.  The first book is satisfying but may fall flat with lovers of more conventional high fantasy or pulp fantasy.  For most, I would recommend reading the first chapter before making a decision, because this is a work that you will ever fall in love with in the first few pages, or have little or no interest in due to the constant intrigue, political wrangling and gaming influences.  One huge disappointment, were the squabbling brothers who had little depth, and were given extremist personalities.  Ried gives the viewer instant reasons to dislike them, suggesting that Medford is the only real option for the ruby throne of Paladon City.  I would have enjoyed a bit more depth to those characters to make it a real choice.

Reckless Ambitions is available from Amazon and select retailers.

Reckless Ambitions

For other titles from Az Publishing Services, visit their website:

AZ Publishing Services

For more information about the world of the Medford Chronicles or John Paul Ried, the author, visit his site:  Palamaran Adventures 

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

Spore

A butcher, a baker, a comic book maker, a cop, a nurse, and a ghoul.

The dead are coming back.

Ten naked people walk from a cemetery into artist Sean Casey’s backyard: ten Spore People who used to be dead. One, Mindy, stays with Sean while trying to reclaim her life, but her ex would rather she return to her grave.

As the Spore fungus spreads, so does the fear. When mutilated children match Sean’s nightmares, he realizes his own worst terror may be closer than he thinks.

I was fortunate to have come across this book recently at a horror convention.  On the first read of the description, it will sound like something that has recently been done to death.  This could be The Resurrected, it could be, The Returned, or Les Revenants, but it’s not.  It is in fact the story that all of those wished they could have been.  Jones jumps right into the action, with the “Spore” people stumbling out of the woods bordering Sean Casey’s home, while he reviewing editorial changes for his latest comic, Ghoulbane.

One of the very first things I noticed about this story is how good the characters are.  From the first chapter, I was already falling in love with Sean and Mare.  They were real, interesting and vibrant.  In most fiction, characters are introduced, and it takes pages and pages, if not chapters for them to become personal to the reader.  In Spore, we find that Tamara Jones is able to draw you into her world in just a few sentences.  By the end of the first chapter, you will be genuinely hooked.

The plot builds slowly at first, but then mounts to a crescendo around the halfway point and by the last fifty pages you will be tempted to drop whatever you are doing, just to get to the end of the story.  There are some hefty sociological concepts in the story, but don’t fear, the author doesn’t drown you in mountains of detail about the implications of the Spore fungus and its effects ala Stephen King.  The joy of the book, is that even the global implications of the story are realized in the lives of Sean, Mare, Mindy, Todd, and Paul.

Yet another great aspect to this book, is the use of social media within the story.  Even in recent works, I don’t typically see stories that takes advantage of social media and smart phones the way Tamara Jones does.  One of the first thing one of the spores does when she gets settled in with Casey, is checking her facebook page. Mindy then starts blogging her experiences in much the same way any of us would now.  Another brilliant inclusion by the author, are snippets of social media posts at the beginning of each chapter, giving the reader a sneak peak into what’s happening in the world around her characters.   I found this made me feel like I was really there, while the plot developed.

Finally, the book is deliciously plotted.  The writer starts you off on a gentle introduction, drawing you in, without too many tedious details about the characters lives, the town, the science of the Spores, etc.  She just tells the story.  As it progresses, the reader is drawn more and more into the confluence of events that creates the combined miracle and mayhem, that is the Spore phenomenon.   The pace soon picks up, and by the end of the book, its a roller coaster ride worthy of any best seller.

Buy this book, tell your friends, tell your family, tell anyone who loves fiction, because Spore is equal parts, drama, romance, horror and thriller.  The serial killer angle is subtle and creepy, the drama between Mindy and her Ex is heart-rending, as well as the burgeoning romance she feels blossoming.  The building tension between Sean Casey and his uncle, who previously owned the house before he died, is extremely well done.  This book really does have a little something for everyone.  Do not miss this book.

Spore by Tamara Jones will be available in print and e-book formats on June 1, 2015.

For more information about Tamara Jones books, please visit her site: Tamara Jones.
Like her on facebook: Tamara Siler Jones or follow her on twitter: Tambo Jones.
Also, check out other great books from Samhain Publishing.

Leave Them Laughing

"Leave Them Laughing" is a selection of 17 short horror and suspense stories that range from the everyday to the supernatural. The common theme is laughter, but laughter can result from madness and pain as well as joy.  Each story stands on its own, although some are pieces of a larger yet incomplete whole. Some are brief studies of disturbed individuals, while others are narratives of harrowing experiences and grisly discoveries.

This book is the debut of a promising young author full of amazing potential.  The first story sets the tone for the anthology where we see a pair of teenagers attempting to raise a demon in what else?  The body of  a clown.  The end of the story I’ll leave for you to discover, but its every bit as macabre as it is amusing.  This was one of my favorites from the collection.  The dialogue between the two friends is very realistic.   It captures that element of craziness of adolescence when we are capable of nearly anything.

But don’t stop with this story.  Each and everyone one of these stories is precious in its own way.  Delishus Barbakew is a quaint story that reveals that the best barbecue comes from the Ozarks.  It’s all about the genius of the chef, and the lengths he’s willing to go to fill a big order.  Roll shows a remarkable ability at local color in this tale that will keep you madly turning pages to find out what happens next.

The Christmas There was a Santa and The Cat Came Back are two particularly chilling stories with no real elements of the supernatural but evocative nonetheless.  One displaying the powerful elements of nature, while the latter delivers a treat to the senses that can only be achieved by the best and worst in human nature.

Some of stories read like segues to bigger stories later on.  They are still satisfying, but lack the punch that a short story yearns for.  Other stories could have had a bit more in the way of plot development, making the ending a little too obvious early on to this reader.  Other than that, there is little bad to be said about this collection.  Each turn of the page left me with a desire for more from this author and for the most part, he delivered well for his first outing.

Currently, this book is only available as an ebook for the delectable price of $.99 with a print version currently in the works.  Get this one while you can for this absurdly low price.  Chris Roll is definitely a name to be reckoned with in the arena of horror fantasy, that I am sure we will hear much about in the future.

Leave Them Laughing can be purchased here: Leave Them Laughing

For more information about Chris Roll's upcoming project follow him on facebook: Chris Roll

ArchEnemy

Imagine this...
The power of imagination has been lost!

Now it's all about the artillery as AD52s, crystal shooters, spikejack tumblers, and orb cannons are unleashed in a war of weapons and brute force.

As Alyss searches wildly for the solution to the disaster that has engulfed her queendom, Arch declares himself King of Wonderland. The moment is desperate enough for Alyss to travel back to London for answers, where Arch's assassins are threatening Alice Liddell and her family. But after coming to the Liddells' assistance, Alyss discovers herself trapped in a conundrum of evaporating puddles. The shimmering portals that exist to transport her home through the Pool of Tears are disappearing!

What is happening in Wonderland? Deep within the Valley of Mushroom the Caterpillar Oracles issue this prophecy: "Action shall be taken to ensure the safety of the Heart Crystal. For Everqueen." But who is Everqueen?

As the metamorphosis of Wonderland unfolds, enemies become allies, bitter rivals face off, and Queen Alyss and Redd Heart must both confront their pasts in this thrilling, no-holds-barred conclusion to the New York Times bestselling series.

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My initial reaction? It's over?!? What?!? It can't be over! There has to be more! But, no matter how many times I tried, the back cover was the back cover. I wasn't ready for it to be over and it didn't feel over. I guess I wanted to know what happened to everyone... and I can't tell you more than that without spoilers...drat! I honestly hope that, at some point, Frank decides to give us a slim tome to let us know. So, now that I've semi-gushed, let me get down to details:

The good? This entire series is good. I loved the story, the changes to what we all think we know and the characters.

The bad? This book tends to focus a lot more on the bad guys than the good guys. Granted, if Alyss and the white imaginationists had as much time spent on them, the book may have been another third thicker and the truth? I'd have been okay with that. While I very much enjoyed Arch and Redd, I wanted to know more about the others.

Overall? A series that I will be recommending to others for ages to come. It's one that I *might* even convince my boys to read, so long as I tell them the main character is a bad guy..and not a good girl. ;)

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

Seeing Redd

Alyss of Wonderland's rule has only just begun, and already those who prefer chaos to peace are threatening to destroy everything worth imagining. Trailed by newly appointed royal bodyguard Homburg Molly, Alyss is doing her best to keep pace with the non-stop demands of being queen while attempting to evade Molly for a few private moments with Dodge.

Alyss' life is a challenging mix of duty, love and tough decisions, and then a series of phantom sightings set fire to an urban myth of Her Imperial Viciousness' return and have everyone...Seeing Redd.

Has Redd somehow freed herself and her chief assassin, The Cat, from the confides of the Heart Crystal? If not, then who has resurrected Redd's brutal foot soldiers the Glass Eyes and set them loose to attack Wonderland on all sides?

Battles rage, looking glasses explode, and the Alyssians once again unite to defend White Imagination in this fast-paced follow-up to the New York Times bestselling The Looking Glass Wars.

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Last week, I told you about book one in this series and how much I completely adored it. I confess that I loved this one only slightly less. It was another book that once I started reading, I couldn't put it down, and even after I did, I'd find my eyes straying to the book because I wanted to know what would happen next. Unlike the first book, which in some ways could stand alone, this book certainly has a cliff hanger ending. Thank goodness I have the final book already! I need to dig it out of my travel bag so that I can drive into it.

Like book 1, this book  is filled with action. In fact, for poor Alyss, the action seems to never stop. I could see everything laid out in my head (thank you, Imagination!) and it felt as if I were watching everything through one of the fantastical devices that the Wonderlanders used in the book. If I have one complaint, it's that about halfway through the book (estimating from memory), there is one spot where a bunch of time passes but the narrative doesn't adequately make that clear and for a paragraph or so, I was a bit confused and actually went back and re-read that page to make sure it wasn't in my head. All in all, it wasn't anything that I couldn't get past, so I'm not dinging this book much for that.

If you've read book one and loved it (and I don't know how you couldn't have), get book two. If you don't have this series at all, don't wait until the Looking Glasses are all smashed, go and buy them. You won't regret it and if you do...well...I dunno...

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

The Looking Glass Wars

Alyss of Wonderland?

When Alyss Heart, heir to the Wonderland throne, must flee through the Pool of Tears to escape the murderous aunt Redd, she finds herself lost and alone in Victorian London. Befriended by an aspiring author named Lewis Carrol, Alyss tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Alyss trusts this author to tell the truth so that someone, somewhere will find her and bring her home. But he gets the story all wrong. He even spells her name incorrectly!

Fortunately, Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan knows all too well the awful truth of Alyss' story and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she may eventually battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.

The Looking Glass Wars unabashedly challenges our Wonderland assumptions surrounding mad tea parties, grinning Cheshire cats, and a curious little blond girl to reveal an epic battle in the endless war for Imagination.

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Once upon a time, I went to a convention and I met this man who was incredibly passionate about the books that he had written and after a bit of begging and pleading on my part, he handed me the first book and let me take it home to read. This is the result of that fate meeting.

As a girl who has long believed in magic and the power of Imagination, I was thrilled to find out that the great power in the land of Wonderland was Imagination. I was even more thrilled that as I read page after page, I just kept getting pulled further into a story that is as fertile as any garden I have ever planted. Frank took characters that so many of us grew up on and he reimagined them in ways that most of us never would have imagined and yet somehow, it works. I will warn you that this book may be darker than some might be expecting. For me, that just made it all the more real. In life, nothing is always roses (pun intended?) and sweet smelling things. The fact that this book is full of political intrigue, every day life and the struggle to hold on to who you are when nobody believes in you is what makes it a wonderful read.

From start to finish, this is a book that I couldn't put down. I've now read it twice since he handed me that book nearly two years ago (somehow my original review got lost) and both times was exactly the same. I picked up the book and was pulled into the book faster than someone who jumped into The Pool of Tears. I'm only sad that due to travel and being mislaid, my book is a bit the worse for wear. Perhaps just the excuse I need to invest in a hardcover copy.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

Purefinder

London, 1858: a child is dead, a man is blamed, and dragged through hell - why is he persecuted and who is his persecutor?

Is it possible to write a book that is part metaphysical, part travel diary and part vicious satire through the means of a slightly gothic Victorian mystery? The answer is yes, even if it does come across as a bit muddled.

Purefinder has multiple themes running through it. At face value, it could be taken as a story of a man, Bryn 'Purefoy' Lewis, who loses everything he cares about and is dragged though London on a bizarre journey by a stranger who seems to know all about him. On another level it could be seen as an exploration of London itself and how times have little changed between its 18th century settings and now. It could also be seen as an hallucinatory view of a men's descent into the river styx and his rebirth.

If that sounds confusing, well I suppose that's because it is at times. Know this going in; Purefinder is a smart book. Very smart. Almost tortuously so at times. It twists and turns through a complex landscape that is part reality and part psychosomatic, all undercut with the knowledge of what will be. Its a book that has very little illusions about the effects power and money have on us and how the pursuit of it destroys us. It makes a statement that to grasp the entire horror of our existence would either drive you mad or drive you to suicide, for our fragile egos could not stand before such bleakness.

Its a book the gripped and frustrated me in equal measure. But such is the nature of books like this. If a horrific descent into hell via 24 hours spent in Victorian London sounds appealing, give this a read. Its certainly worth it for the morbid and sometimes terrifying images conjured up by whatever daemon Ben Gwalchmai is channelling.

Just be aware you may have not read much like it before.

Cover image courtesy of Cosmic Egg

Purefinder is available from Amazon.

Make Comics Like the Pros

A step-by-step guide to all aspects of comic book creation--from conceptualization to early drafts to marketing and promotion--written by two of the industry's most seasoned and successful pros.
Every aspiring comic book creator wants to know: what separates the beloved comics of major publishers like Marvel, DC, Valiant, and Image from all the rest? Fan-favorite comic book writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente reveal the secrets of comics' top talents in "Make Comics Like the Pros." The authors take readers step by step through the comics creation process from idea to finished work, and along the way offer examples and insights from their own careers as well as their collaborators'. Not only that, but Pak and Van Lente also join forces with Eisner Award-winning cartoonist Colleen Coover to produce an original comic inside the book! With its unprecedented level of insider access, "Make Comics Like the Pros" gives comic book hopefuls the tools they need to reach the next level of sequential arts stardom.

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 Ever wondered just how many people it takes to make a comic book and what all of those fine folks do? This could just be the perfect book for you. It covers everything and does it in such a way that is easy to follow along and learn a lot along the way. Throughout each section, folks in the industry tell you how they do their job and do it well. As someone who has a minor role within this industry (both as an editor and reviewer), it was a delight to see the full behind the scenes make up for any comic.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments, and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

Foundations in Comic Book Art

A comprehensive guide to creating and developing comic book and graphic novel art, from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), one of the world's leaders in sequential arts instruction.

Artists seeking a way to break into the exciting world of sequential art first need to master the tools, techniques, and habits used by their favorite pencillers, inkers, and digital artists for creating dynamic, exciting comic artwork. In Foundations for Comic Book Art, the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)—a leading force in art and design education—enlists one of its top instructors, John Paul Lowe, to provide aspiring comic book makers with a thorough primer for creative comics, featuring must-know concepts like contour drawing, mastering perspective, using photo-reference, and adding digital patterns. Examples from the works of SCAD faculty, alumni, and students are paired with Lowe’s easy-to-follow, step-by-step lessons and exercises for readers, demonstrating the vital processes all would-be sequential artists have to know before joining the ranks of the comic book–making elite.

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As soon as this book came out of the envelope, there was a mad grab for it by my thirteen year old. He's really the only one of us who has any amount of artistic ability (at least when it comes to drawing) and as he flipped through the pages, I could tell that he would be coming back to this book many, many times. When I had a chance to read through it, I was especially taken with the fact that the author appreciates individuality and leads the reader through the book in a series of chapter leading from easiest to most difficult. So long as you don't skip ahead, anyone with artistic drawing ability should be able to follow along and certainly to learn. I know that I learned a lot and while I had a very solid appreciation for what my artist friends do when they work on comics, this just cemented just how awesome that they are. If you have any interest in comic book art, becoming a comic book artist, improving your own artwork or just want to flip through a book with some amazing work in it, written by someone who is down to earth, pick up this book. It's another that I'm suggesting for the holiday gift giving season.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

Tic Tac Tome

Think you’re pretty smart? Turn the pages to play your moves and watch as Tic Tac Tome beats you forward, backward, and diagonally. Tic Tac Tome features more than 1,400 pages, hundreds of draws and losses, and just one way for a clever reader to win. No apps, batteries, or touch screens required—Tic Tac Tome is powered by good old-fashioned book smarts. It’s deceptively simple, endlessly addictive, and (nearly) impossible to defeat. Complete with introduction and FAQs for the unfamiliar and unsure, Tic Tac Tome is the smartest book you’ll ever cross.





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Okay, let's face it. We've all played this game at some point in our lives. Some of us are better at it than others, but none of us could imagine that a book could beat us. This book, in all it's swagger, declares that it's going to do just that. Well, let me tell you, I couldn't put this darn book in its place. Granted, it never beat me and I'm sure that the war is far from over, but I couldn't beat this darn thing..yet.

With the holidays coming, this would be a great gag gift, stocking stuffer, secret santa or white elephant gift. It's fun and if you can ignore it's pompous attitude, you'll get hours of enjoyment out of it. If nothing else, you can watch as your friends and family take on one little book with a big attitude.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. No matter what this book may tell you, all thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

Never Underestimate A Hermit Crab

Hi all! It's been a while since I've been able to dip my fingers back into the reviewing pool. I spend most of my time making sure all of our reviews get posted and that our reviewers are busy folks! However, this gem showed up in my mailbox and I just had to take the time to share it with all of you.

Never Underestimate a Hermit Crab is a brand new book released by Silver Dragon Books. If you know me, you know that I've been harassing the fine folks at Zenescope to make more use of this brand so seeing that made me squeal just a little bit. On top of that, if you purchase the hard cover edition, a portion of the proceeds go to PAWS: Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society. Those two things alone were enough to have me smiling before I even opened the cover.

Once that cover was opened though, I couldn't stop turning the pages. In fact, my twelve year old was curious what I was reading and he stayed with me all the way until the last page. So, you know there has to be quality there. The story is simple, but cute and one that had a message. Just like the hermit crab, you should never underestimate yourself. The drawings are just like the ones on the front cover and one that I actually loved seeing in black and white. I honestly feel that if they had been done in color, it would have taken away from the story.

What was wrong with it? You know how picky I can be...Nothing! I loved this book. My twelve year old loved* this book. The only thing missing is more to this series. In fact, I'm already vaguely pestering Daniel about adding more to this series. I have an idea for the next book.... *grins*

Want to know more? Check out the book's Facebook page and Silver Dragon Books.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the sole purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

Gentle Carmel

Gentle never meant to rise from school punching-bag to Mexican hobo and desert-dwelling superhero. That fate was sealed when he sided with the water creatures.

Beat-up at school for autism and haunted by a mysterious Hag at home, Carmel just wants to draw, shower and do stand-up comedy. But when he sneaks into Mexico to find and murder the Hag, everything changes. He eats delicious fish, rides the rails, climbs peyote mountain and transforms into flames. 

Artist and author Brian Schrank lets loose in this epic journey that bobs, weaves and bursts with experimental energy. Influences range from 80's cartoons, underground comics, shlock horror, cheap manga, and pop culture iconography. Brian blends a dizzying range of styles together to tell the tale of a boy who has a broken mind but an unbroken spirit.

Hopefully I haven’t lost you quite yet, because there’s still a review coming.  This is without a doubt one of the most unique things I’ve read.  Or perhaps I should say “read”, as Gentle Carmel is more a visual adventure than it is one you enter for a story.  Granted, there’s probably a story present, albeit not one that was completely able to gather.

It should have been obvious from the title that this was bound to be an unusual book, but I can’t say I was quite prepared for this level of weird.  Normally if I’m left confused at a story, it’s because I jumped into a series in the middle or just didn’t understand the direction.  This time I’m just confused.  Then again I could be trying too hard to get a logical story out of something that wasn’t meant to.

Artistically, I won’t deny that I was thrown off at first when I started into this.  As I went on though, the artist in me grew to appreciate all of the different art that the book was full of.  All of the art has a very raw look, and can from a sketchbook feel to inner city graffiti.  At some points it’s simply an explosion of color, while others manage to produce some really cool visuals.

If you’re looking to check out a completely nonsensical book with cool looking art, this would be for you.  Story wise it really made little sense to me, but there’s always the chance someone else might have more luck.  It was a fun journey, and if you feel up for the trip, then give it a whirl.

For more information on Gentle Carmel, check out Gentle Carmel.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

The Guardian's Playlist

It's a rare thing these days when I pick up something at a convention, tuck it into my backpack, take it home and finally find the time to read it simply to fall in love with it. When I met the author at Wizard World - Ohio, I thought she was this fantastic woman with the right convention attitude and I had hopes that she would do well that weekend. Her son made me laugh and I thought they made a fantastic pairing and it was pretty great to see them sharing the convention scene. However, like so many things I pick up, I didn't put much hope in the book wow'ing me. Before I go on and tell you just how wrong I was, let me show you the back cover of the book so you can see what the book is about:

Click to make larger if it's too small!

Right, so I was wrong. It does happen and in cases like this, I am always thrilled when it does. Honestly, when I first read the book cover, I cringed and thought, "Oh no, not another in your face religious fiction piece." Let me stop myself and you right there. It's not. Yes, there are angels and yes, her faith comes into play. However, that's where the religious stops and a fantastic story takes over. These are characters that you grow to love and to care about. When the book ends, you search frantically for the next installment because you need to know what happens to your friends. You may even go so far as to contact the author to ask about the next installment, in a completely non-stalker like way, of course. 

In all seriousness, this was a book that once I started reading, I didn't want to put it back down. The story drew me in and kept me right there up until the final period on the final page and I can't wait for the first capital letter on the first page of the next book in the series. With any luck, we'll be allowed to review it and I can let you know if it held up to the fantasticness that was the first book.

To find your very own copy of the book and more information about the author, head over to http://www.theguardiansplaylist.com/

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer and were not influenced by angels or demons so far as we are aware.