Mind Games - Book Review

Mind Games by Carolyn Crane

What is it about:
Mind Games heroine Justine Jones isn't your typical kick-ass type - she’s a hopeless hypochondriac whose life is run by fear.
She's lured into a restaurant, Mongolian Delites, by tortured mastermind Sterling Packard, who promises he can teach her to channel her fears. In exchange, she must join his team of disillusionists - vigilantes hired by crime victims to zing their anxieties into criminals, resulting in collapse and transformation.

Justine isn't interested in Packard's troupe until she gets a taste of the peace he can promise. Soon she enters the thrilling world of neurotic crime fighters who battle Midcity’s depraved and paranormal criminals.

Eventually, though, she starts wondering why Packard hasn’t set foot outside the Mongolian Delites restaurant for eight years. And about the true nature of the disillusionists.

What did I think of it:
Sometimes you come across a concept and it sounds so cool you just have to read the book. Queen Victoria hunting demons? Check! Nazi Vampires? Check! Neurotic crime fighters? Check!

Those who read my previous reviews may know a cool concept isn't always enough (don't get me started on the nazi vampires again), but luckily Mind Games sure delivers.
Justine is a very likeable person and I couldn't help feeling annoyed at those who made things difficult for her. The story is well written, engaging, unique and the concept of the disillusionists intriguing. I liked how things weren't divided in black and white as in so many stories, but how it shows the world as it really is: a wide variety of shades of grey.

So any negative things in this story?
Well, the book is written in the present tense and I usually hate to read stories in present tense as it creates a distance for me, but in Mind Games I only actually noticed it was written in present tense somewhere halfway through the book, so I must confess that in this case I can't say it's a negative thing.

So I'm left with only one major setback:
I'll have to wait for book two in this trilogy until september!

Why should you read it:
Neurotic crime fighters!
Seriously: if you like well written Urban Fantasy you really should try this book, if only for the unique concept.
If on the other hand you're expecting and want vampires, werewolves and the likes, stay away from this book.

Imaginary Friends - Book Review

Imaginary Friends - edited by John Marco and Martin H. Greenberg

What is it about:
This book contains 13 tales about imaginary friends, those companions - some human, some not - conjured from imagination in times of need.

What did I think of it:
As with all anthologies this book has both good stories and less interesting stories, but all in all it was a great read, although at times very sad as you could expect from a subject like this.
My favourite stories were:
- ‘Stands a God Within the Shadows’ by Anne Bishop - An original and touching take on the Lady of Shalott story
- ‘Say Hello to My Little Friend’ by Kristine Kathryn Rusch - A disaster dating story, very funny in my opinion
- ‘Suburban Legend’ by Donald J. Bingle - About the nastiest imaginary friends you can have
- ‘Greg and Eli’ by Paul Genesse - A young boy finds the best friend he could ever have
- ‘Images of Death’ by Jim C. Hines - A woman’s struggle to deal with Death

Why should you read it:
These five stories alone are enough to go read this book, but there’s eight more and who knows: your favourite might be among them.

Jane Slayre - Book alert!!!

Some of you may remember me mentioning 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' and telling everyone how I'd love for someone to do the same with 'Jane Eyre' or 'Agnes Grey' as well.
I've got good news!
Someone actually made a new, more bloody version of 'Jane Eyre'! No zombies this time, but vampires.
Go here to read what Sherri Erwin has to tell about her book.

Touched by an Alien - Book Review

Touched by an Alien - Gini Koch

What is it about:
Marketing manager Katherine "Kitty" Katt joins forces with gorgeous aliens from Alpha Centauri to protect the Earth, kick evil alien butt, and save the day with hairspray and rock and roll - not necessarily in that order.

What did I think of it:
As this is a very girly book I will let Voodoo Bride tell you all about what she thought about it, but I can say the action scenes were cool.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
This is a great book! It has witty humor, gorgeous aliens, a heroine I could really relate to and a fast paced story packed with lots of action. The romance part of the story didn't overshadow the main storyline while still adding an extra layer to the story and even though the story is kept light by the humor used throughout the book the plot and action still are exciting enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. Kitty is a strong heroine, but luckily she isn't a macho bitch as so many other strong heroines. Instead she is fun, nice and quirky. All in all a delightfully fun read.

There's going to be a sequel in December and I can tell you that I'm going to make sure to get hold of it.

Why should you read it:
Fans of romantic urban fantasy and science fiction will love this book.






Discussion Questions:

1. When dealing with aliens, what do you think is more likely: the scary, super-smart, totally different species entirely aliens? Or the pretty-much just like humans, easy to relate to, here to save Earth aliens?
I think it's more likely that if there are aliens (and I think that's very likely btw) that they are totally different from us. Maybe even so different that we wouldn't even recognise them as life. But those kind of aliens are very hard to write about and relate to, so for my fiction I like the more human and/or monster kind of aliens.

2. Did you think it was convenient that Kitty's parents were so accepting of the aliens and that they both had "secret" jobs?
Ofcourse it was convenient, but hey! It worked for the story so I don't mind one bit. It's fiction not real life.

3. Did it seem that Kitty's sex life actually helped focus her and make better decisions and conclusions?
Well, getting some always helps with relaxing and when being relaxed you can think better and make better decisions, so I would say: Yes!

4. Which one? Jeff or Christopher? Why?
Jeff!
He's cool, empathic and nice. He's got everything Christopher lacks in my opinion.

5. The parasites had a very strange and grossly exaggerated form when they manifested. Do you think this was a little over the top, or just totally kick butt and you would love to take on a giant slug?
It was totally kick butt and I'd take on a giant slug anytime, anywhere, anyplace! Bring on the salt!

Fun link

For the zombie lovers among us:
How to make love to a zombie

The Backwoods - movie review

The Backwoods

What is it about:
Two British couples are on holiday in Spain, but their holiday is interrupted when they discover a young girl imprisoned in a cabin.

What did I think about it:
I got this movie as it has Gary Oldman in it and I love Gary Oldman. He's a great actor. It turns out that Gary Oldman is the only good thing in this movie. Not only is his character the voice of reason in this story, his character carries the movie. When his role in the movie is played out the story completely falls apart and the movie left me with a serious feeling of "Huh? What just happened and why?"

Why should you see it:
If you're a fan of Gary Oldman, you could try this movie, but otherwise you can go without seeing it.

Trapped in a Restaurant Meme

Meme Game Questions:

1. In MIND GAMES, heroine Justine Jones can’t figure out why tortured mastermind Sterling Packard never sets foot outside the Mongolian Delites restaurant. What if you were somehow trapped in a restaurant, what sort of restaurant would you prefer?
I'd love to be trapped in a Chinese Wok Restaurant as you can pick your own food there and because I love chinese food.

2. What if you won the fancy $100 dinner to a restaurant of your choice, and you could dine with any character from any book, movie, or history. Who would you choose?
Hmmmm... difficult question. I'm torn between Tsar Nicholas II and Qui-Gon Jinn....
Ok: Tsar Nicholas II

3. Choose three characters to dine with for a lively dinner party (you can define lively however you want).
Daemon Sadi (Black Jewels series)
One of the zombies from Zombieland
Xena
Should make for a very interesting dinnerparty.
I could even place bets on which one of them was still standing at the end of the party.

Wondering what this meme is all about?
Check The Thrillionth Page