Teaser Tuesdays - This Poison Heart

 

Ivy wasn't a quiet plant. it was reactive and loud. The only place I could keep it was in my room, where no one would see it but me and my parents.

(page 10, This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Certain Dark Things - Book Review

 

Certain Dark Things

by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

What is it about:

Welcome to Mexico City, an oasis in a sea of vampires. Domingo, a lonely garbage-collecting street kid, is just trying to survive its heavily policed streets when a jaded vampire on the run swoops into his life. Atl, the descendant of Aztec blood drinkers, is smart, beautiful, and dangerous. Domingo is mesmerized.

Atl needs to quickly escape the city, far from the rival narco-vampire clan relentlessly pursuing her. Her plan doesn't include Domingo, but little by little, Atl finds herself warming up to the scrappy young man and his undeniable charm. As the trail of corpses stretches behind her, local cops and crime bosses both start closing in.

Vampires, humans, cops, and criminals collide in the dark streets of Mexico City. Do Atl and Domingo even stand a chance of making it out alive? Or will the city devour them all?

What did I think of it:

This was a cool read.

I loved the setting and the atmosphere. The vampires in this book were really cool as well. There are several different kinds, and I loved getting to know more about each kind.

I also liked Domingo. He's a survivor, doing his best to make an life for himself on the streets of a futuristic Mexico City. Then he meets Atl...

I'll be honest: apart from Domingo I didn't like a single character in this book. Atl is supposed to be likeable I think, as Domingo falls head over heels for her, but I just didn't warm up to her.

As the viewpoint switches between several characters, including Domingo and Atl, this made that I was on;y really invested in Domingo's role in the story. I liked reading the other viewpoints, but I only rooted for Domingo.

This makes that this was a good read, bur not an amazing read. All in all I had fun with it, and would most probably try something else by Moreno-Garcia.

Why should you read it:

It's a cool vampire read

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Eat the Rich #2 - Comic Book Review

 

Eat the Rich #2

by Sarah Gailey

What is it about:

Is Joey willing to pay with her life to uncover the gruesome secrets behind Crestfall Bluffs? Joey is beyond disturbed by what she has just witnessed and she has every right to be, but when she confides in her boyfriend Astor, his reassurance about his family's weird rituals and traditions only fuels her suspicions. Still, Joey will need proof in order to expose the truth of Crestfall Bluffs, but what she finds produces more questions and danger than answers! 

What did I think of it:

This issue continues shortly after the gruesome events Joey witnessed in issue #1. The story is a bit less tense in this issue and serves mainly to explain and expand on what Joey witnessed. There are some suspenseful moments though, hinting at what might be in Joey's future.

I very much enjoyed this installment and I liked getting to know more about what's going on and about one of the characters. I hope we will learn a bit more about Joey as well in the next issue, as my one minor grumble is that Joey feels a bit undefined so far.

All in all a great continuation and I'll get the next issue for sure!

Why should you read it:

It's a cool horror story

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On McPig's Wishlist - The Unraveling

 

The Unraveling

by Benjamin Rosenbaum

In the distant future somewhere in the galaxy, a society has emerged where everyone has multiple bodies, cybernetics has abolished privacy, and individual and family success within the rigid social system is reliant upon instantaneous social approbation.

Young Fift is an only child of the staid gender, struggling to maintain their position in the system while developing an intriguing friendship with the poorly-publicized bioengineer Shria–somewhat controversial, since Shria is bail-gendered.

In time, Fift and Shria unintentionally wind up at the center of a scandalous art spectacle which turns into the early stages of a multi-layered revolution against their strict societal system. Suddenly they become celebrities and involuntary standard-bearers for the upheaval.

Fift is torn between the survival of Shria and the success of their family cohort; staying true to their feelings and caving under societal pressure. Whatever Fift decides will make a disproportionately huge impact on the future of the world. What’s a young staid to do when the whole world is watching?

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Married with Zombies - Book Review (repost)

I've been rereading books, this one among them, so here's a repost of my review. It's still as fun on reread I can tell you.

Married with Zombies (Living with the Dead #1)
by Jesse Petersen

What is it about:
Meet Sarah and David.

Once upon a time they met and fell in love. But now they're on the verge of divorce and going to couples' counseling. On a routine trip to their counselor, they notice a few odd things - the lack of cars on the highway, the missing security guard, and the fact that their counselor, Dr. Kelly, is ripping out her previous client's throat.

Meet the Zombies.

Now, Sarah and David are fighting for survival in the middle of the zombie apocalypse. But, just because there are zombies, doesn't mean your other problems go away. If the zombies don't eat their brains, they might just kill each other.

What did I think of it:
After reading Petersen's short story collection 'In the Dead: Volume 1' I just had to read one of her full novels, so that's why I picked up 'Married With Zombies'.

And I can tell you it's a great read.

This book has kick-ass action, humor, suspense and best of all: lots of zombies and zombie mayhem. Petersen has a very pleasant writing style and combined with the cool story it made me tear through this book in record time. The worldbuilding is very good and I loved how each chapter began with a handy relationship tip for those couples who're fighting zombies. The one thing I can say against this story is that Sarah and David are acting very blasé about the zombies very early on in the story, but I'm willing to let that slip as there's so many cool zombie moments in this book.

I will most certainly read the next book in this series and I can advice this book to any fan of zombie books.

Why should you read it:
This fun book is a very handy guide on how to survive a zombie outbreak and save your marriage in the process as well!

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Dune - Movie Review by Gilbert

 

Dune

Director: Denis Villeneuve

What is it about:

A mythic and emotionally charged hero's journey, "Dune" tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence-a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential-only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

What did Gilbert think of it:

I will confess I haven't read the books, and it is ages ago since I saw Lynch's version (which I really liked back then), so I remembered very little of the story.

First notable thing:

This director really loves his yellow and orange filters! He went wild with them in Blade Runner 2049 and decided that hadn't been enough, so lots of yellow and orange filters in this movie as well.

The acting was decent, the overall movie was entertaining, and apart from the filters it was nice to look at. (I did see it in 3D, which I'm not a fan of, and which did some weird stuff to some scenes I must add.)

The pacing was a bit off in my opinion. The first half of the movie was slow, and then all the action was crammed in the second half. 

What I did think was weird was all the swords! What was up with that? I'm going to guess Herbert put those swords in the books, but why? There's such advanced technology, including mechanical killer insects and spaceships that can carpet bomb places, and the armies have swords? I really couldn't take the battle scenes seriously.

All in all I was entertained, but underwhelmed. I think I'll either read the book or rewatch the Lynch version soon to compare..

Why should you watch it:

It's a very entertaining Science Fantasy movie

The Dragon's Daughter and the Winter Mage - Book Review

 

The Dragon's Daughter and the Winter Mage (Heirs of Magic #3)

by Jeffe Kennedy

What is it about:

Invisible Loner

Gendra—partblood daughter of an elite mossback soldier and the only shapeshifter to achieve the coveted dragon form—is anything but interesting. She’s actually plain and awkward and … invisible. Every guy she meets either looks right through her or—worse—thinks of her as just a friend. Fortunately Gen is far too practical to wallow in self pity. Much.

A Search for True Love

But as Gen accompanies her oldest friends on a quest for Her Majesty High Queen Ursula, she can’t help feeling bitter about her lonely fate as, two by two, they pair off with each other. As usual, everyone but odd-woman-out Gen seems to be finding the happiness in true love that has always eluded her. And Gen’s pathetic attempts to come out of her shell have only met with social disaster.

Dragon’s Daughter

Still, with magic rifts plaguing the Thirteen Kingdoms and a strange intelligence stalking them from an alter-realm, Gen has plenty to deal with—especially when she’s cut off from the group, isolated and facing a lethal danger. It just figures that Gen is on her own, once again. But with no one coming to save her, she has only herself to rely upon.

And, perhaps, the help of a mysterious, stranded magician…

What did I think of it:

I will confess I read this book as it was still being written, and I can tell you I was eagerly waiting for every update as this story is amazing!

I love Gen, she is used to being overlooked, but that says more about the men around her than about her. She is kind, levelheaded, and passionate. I loved seeing inside her head and see her hopes, dreams, and vulnerabilities. I was rooting for her to find happiness.

And then she meets Isyn. He is not your typical romantic hero, but I connected with him right away. He had a hard life, and can be gloomy at times, but at his heart he's a survivor. I loved seeing Gen and Isyn get to know each other and fall in love. I will confess I was a little worried about their future, but as always trusted in Jeffe to bring this story to a satisfying end.

And that trust was rewarded!

The problems for the Thirteen Kingdoms aren't over yet, and the last book in this series promises to be fraught with danger, but I was more than satisfied with the conclusion of Gen's and Isyn's romance.

I loved the worldbuilding and overall mood of the story, which next to having some cool new characters, had a fairytale vibe.

Voodoo Bride wants me to add that although no one can outshine Zyr, this book is her favorite in the Heirs of Magic series so far.

Why should you read it:

It's a wonderful Fantasy Romance

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