This was an okay story for what it was – but for what it was supposed to be. This is/was a full short story. Instead it was more of a teaser.
As may or may not be common in short stories – this is a solo point of view story. From the point of view of one ‘Cat’, who is on a long dreamed of road trip. Driving wherever, stopping at whatever strikes her fancy. She’s whining and annoyed, though, because it is less fun than she expected. Mostly because it was supposed to be a two person road trip and her friend got food poisoning and dropped out of the trip – mid-trip.
She stops at a dinner when her stomach rumbles at her. She promptly gets hit in the face by a hamburger (there are reasons). The waitress flirts with her. Something might happen between the two of them. And . . . . well, that was the story. The end.
Is a teaser. TEASER! WHERE’S MY STORY I PAID A WHOLE $0 FOR! Hehe, I joke with self. Yes, this is another of those free short stories findable on the Dirt Road Books website.
Rating: 3.25
March 28 2018
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Friday, March 30, 2018
Out Here by Yeaka
If you were ever curious about: 1) an Empire version of Uhura (you know, mirror universe on the various television shows has the Federation be an Empire; 2) a lesbian version of Uhura; 3) a dominant sexual version of Uhura – well, here you go. This story. If you also had a desire, based maybe on seeing Carol Marcus on one of the alternative time line Star Trek movies, based maybe on something else – well, this story also includes Carol. Though she’s pretending to be ‘Carol Wallace’. And the story is entirely from Uhura’s point of view.
Right, so – this story may or not be both a mirror universe story and an alternate time line story. Not sure. There’s a tag that normally gets used on Archive of Our Own if the fanfiction is based on the alternate time line universe, and that tag isn’t used on this story. But then, the tags are oddly wrong in many ways – I mean the tags that did get used. Actually, maybe just the ‘animal play’ one – sure, Uhura had a thought about leashing Carol and having her crawl around on the bridge, but that was a thought, not actual action in the story – and it was a very brief thought.
Distracted myself. There’s several reasons why I believe this might also be an alternate time line story because several of the things seem to line up that way, albeit in a mirror universe way. Like Chekov being described as fragile – weak to see this as a hint, but he did seem more fragile in the alternate time line than original series (though that might be faulty memory) – and Carol got aboard the Enterprise under false pretenses in this story, like in the alt time line . . . etc. etc. Not important, really. Important is that this is a mirror universe story. And humans are assholes and take every advantage to show how sexually aroused they can be. Or something like that. Considering the stuff that went on during the original series run . . . that just means Kirk is: 1) shown to be more emotional; 2) more prone to making cruel jokes that have more bite; - but is at about same sexual level as ‘non-mirror universe’ time line, heck, he might be even a little less sexualized in the mirror universe. Everyone else, though, is more sexualized. Including Uhura.
I keep writing paragraphs as if I forgot what I wrote before and not really getting anywhere. Pfft. Right, so, Uhura is the main and only point of view character. She’s in the same or similar position on this Enterprise as she is on the TOS television series. Unlike Alternate Time Line, she hasn’t had anything to do with Spock sexually (actually, that reminds me that I saw everyone in the story in the form of the TOS actors, except for Carol Marcus, who I saw in the form of the film actress); who is more like his television series and original film time line films – a cold fish sexually. Only mentioned to indicate a difference – important because the story starts with Uhura feeling ‘lonely’, and deciding to go ‘on the prowl’.
After an exchange between Uhura and Kirk, Uhura begins looking for a ‘yeoman’ of her own – someone about on the same status level as an Orion slave girl.
One thing leads to another and Uhura targets Carol Wallace – whose name popped up on the crew register as Uhura was staring at it – there's something fishing going on there.
Blackmail/power games/dominance/submission/graphic depictions of sex fill out the rest of the story.
Entertaining in its way. More of a sex story set on the Enterprise than a Science Fiction story of exploration and stuff. Though it is a Mirror universe story, and they did tend to go that direction, albeit not as graphically as here.
Rating: 3.50
March 28 2018
Right, so – this story may or not be both a mirror universe story and an alternate time line story. Not sure. There’s a tag that normally gets used on Archive of Our Own if the fanfiction is based on the alternate time line universe, and that tag isn’t used on this story. But then, the tags are oddly wrong in many ways – I mean the tags that did get used. Actually, maybe just the ‘animal play’ one – sure, Uhura had a thought about leashing Carol and having her crawl around on the bridge, but that was a thought, not actual action in the story – and it was a very brief thought.
Distracted myself. There’s several reasons why I believe this might also be an alternate time line story because several of the things seem to line up that way, albeit in a mirror universe way. Like Chekov being described as fragile – weak to see this as a hint, but he did seem more fragile in the alternate time line than original series (though that might be faulty memory) – and Carol got aboard the Enterprise under false pretenses in this story, like in the alt time line . . . etc. etc. Not important, really. Important is that this is a mirror universe story. And humans are assholes and take every advantage to show how sexually aroused they can be. Or something like that. Considering the stuff that went on during the original series run . . . that just means Kirk is: 1) shown to be more emotional; 2) more prone to making cruel jokes that have more bite; - but is at about same sexual level as ‘non-mirror universe’ time line, heck, he might be even a little less sexualized in the mirror universe. Everyone else, though, is more sexualized. Including Uhura.
I keep writing paragraphs as if I forgot what I wrote before and not really getting anywhere. Pfft. Right, so, Uhura is the main and only point of view character. She’s in the same or similar position on this Enterprise as she is on the TOS television series. Unlike Alternate Time Line, she hasn’t had anything to do with Spock sexually (actually, that reminds me that I saw everyone in the story in the form of the TOS actors, except for Carol Marcus, who I saw in the form of the film actress); who is more like his television series and original film time line films – a cold fish sexually. Only mentioned to indicate a difference – important because the story starts with Uhura feeling ‘lonely’, and deciding to go ‘on the prowl’.
After an exchange between Uhura and Kirk, Uhura begins looking for a ‘yeoman’ of her own – someone about on the same status level as an Orion slave girl.
One thing leads to another and Uhura targets Carol Wallace – whose name popped up on the crew register as Uhura was staring at it – there's something fishing going on there.
Blackmail/power games/dominance/submission/graphic depictions of sex fill out the rest of the story.
Entertaining in its way. More of a sex story set on the Enterprise than a Science Fiction story of exploration and stuff. Though it is a Mirror universe story, and they did tend to go that direction, albeit not as graphically as here.
Rating: 3.50
March 28 2018
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Elfin Magic by R.G. Emanuelle
After reading one of the free short stories by this author released by Dirt Road Books, I promptly read another. By the same author I mean. Even though I was somewhat disappointed in the first I’d read.
It’s March and I’m reading a Christmas story. Heh.
Right, so, another solo point of view story – from the point of view of an elf – or, at least, a woman who wears an elf costume at a department story during the holidays to work the register in the little hut that processes photos taken with Satan. Yes, bring your kids to see Satan. Bah. I mean Santa, of course. Stupid fingers not type what I want (and yes, I’ve fought them to actually write all rest, they wanted to type ‘time’ instead of ‘type’ earlier, among other things . . . dangnabbit, stop removing my spaces, fingers!)
While her stomach rumbles (a reoccurring theme for this author? Hehe, I joke with myself, just noticing a reoccurring plot point in two stories read on same day), the woman plans to go on break. But wait! There’s a gorgeous woman who is next! POV woman (and here remember people’s names would be nice, I think her ‘elf’ name was something like Jangles, and her human name was something like Maddy, but I might be wrong about both) and gorgeous woman (whose name escapes me completely) flirt.
Then, I think it’s the next day, that same woman returns. Sans kid. Asks if POV woman is about to have a break.
The two sneak into an out of the way area that consists of a den of bears. Stuffed bears. Graphic depiction of sex may or may not occur, with some odd bell ringing, and almost constant mental reminders that they have a thin layer of bears (and. . . other stuff) between them and the public).
Despite not much happening in this story, it seemed a lot more complete than the other story I read by this author today. Much more satisfying; much less of a teaser.
Rating: 3.75
March 28 2018
It’s March and I’m reading a Christmas story. Heh.
Right, so, another solo point of view story – from the point of view of an elf – or, at least, a woman who wears an elf costume at a department story during the holidays to work the register in the little hut that processes photos taken with Satan. Yes, bring your kids to see Satan. Bah. I mean Santa, of course. Stupid fingers not type what I want (and yes, I’ve fought them to actually write all rest, they wanted to type ‘time’ instead of ‘type’ earlier, among other things . . . dangnabbit, stop removing my spaces, fingers!)
While her stomach rumbles (a reoccurring theme for this author? Hehe, I joke with myself, just noticing a reoccurring plot point in two stories read on same day), the woman plans to go on break. But wait! There’s a gorgeous woman who is next! POV woman (and here remember people’s names would be nice, I think her ‘elf’ name was something like Jangles, and her human name was something like Maddy, but I might be wrong about both) and gorgeous woman (whose name escapes me completely) flirt.
Then, I think it’s the next day, that same woman returns. Sans kid. Asks if POV woman is about to have a break.
The two sneak into an out of the way area that consists of a den of bears. Stuffed bears. Graphic depiction of sex may or may not occur, with some odd bell ringing, and almost constant mental reminders that they have a thin layer of bears (and. . . other stuff) between them and the public).
Despite not much happening in this story, it seemed a lot more complete than the other story I read by this author today. Much more satisfying; much less of a teaser.
Rating: 3.75
March 28 2018
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Season's Meetings by Andi Marquette
My fourth short story read today, and second involving a Christmas theme. Odd. Right, so, this is another of those free short stories findable on the Dirt Road Books website.
Rae is attempting to fly to California to be with sister and her kids for Christmas. But the story starts with her at the airport watching as her flight moves from delayed to cancelled. While waiting in line at the airline desk, Rae interacts with ‘art gallery woman’, aka Erika. They flirt. Rae isn’t 100% certain if they are or are not actually flirting. She does feel sparks in her intestines though (well, sparks are mentioned, I forget where they were striking her).
Luckily for Rae, the mountain of snow fell on the airport where she lives (well, she lives in Washington DC and this is Reagan she’s at, but it’s one of the two regional airports, if you don’t include BWI, which is really close, really, so there’s like – at least, three regional airports, though I say regional but I think all of them are international. Is Dulles considered International? I don’t remember. Ah, it is, though Reagan is considered national not international; did the story call Reagan an international airport? I don’t’ remember).
My reviews sometimes seem like I just opened my brain and dumped whatever was in there onto the screen. They ramble, but, no, there generally is some filtering. The above was an example of the unfiltered version.
And now I’ve forgotten what I’ve written.
Rae, while at Reagan National Airport two days before Christmas, watches as the announcement board moves her flight status from delayed to cancelled. There’s, like, a mountain of snow outside. She informs certain people, like her sister, before moving over to the airline desk to see about what’s next. While in line, she interacts with a woman she calls ‘art gallery woman’ because of the way she’s dressed.
Later, Rae gives Erika a ride from the airport to her, Erika’s, hotel. And they interact/flirt more. A spark is sparked. A fire is fired. A pickle is pickled. Okay, I do not know where I’m attempting to go there.
Now this one, of the four short stories I’ve read today, is the fullest most complete short story that I’ve read. Today. Quite satisfying. Not sexually explicit. Except for the kissing.
Rating: 4.44
March 28 2018
Rae is attempting to fly to California to be with sister and her kids for Christmas. But the story starts with her at the airport watching as her flight moves from delayed to cancelled. While waiting in line at the airline desk, Rae interacts with ‘art gallery woman’, aka Erika. They flirt. Rae isn’t 100% certain if they are or are not actually flirting. She does feel sparks in her intestines though (well, sparks are mentioned, I forget where they were striking her).
Luckily for Rae, the mountain of snow fell on the airport where she lives (well, she lives in Washington DC and this is Reagan she’s at, but it’s one of the two regional airports, if you don’t include BWI, which is really close, really, so there’s like – at least, three regional airports, though I say regional but I think all of them are international. Is Dulles considered International? I don’t remember. Ah, it is, though Reagan is considered national not international; did the story call Reagan an international airport? I don’t’ remember).
My reviews sometimes seem like I just opened my brain and dumped whatever was in there onto the screen. They ramble, but, no, there generally is some filtering. The above was an example of the unfiltered version.
And now I’ve forgotten what I’ve written.
Rae, while at Reagan National Airport two days before Christmas, watches as the announcement board moves her flight status from delayed to cancelled. There’s, like, a mountain of snow outside. She informs certain people, like her sister, before moving over to the airline desk to see about what’s next. While in line, she interacts with a woman she calls ‘art gallery woman’ because of the way she’s dressed.
Later, Rae gives Erika a ride from the airport to her, Erika’s, hotel. And they interact/flirt more. A spark is sparked. A fire is fired. A pickle is pickled. Okay, I do not know where I’m attempting to go there.
Now this one, of the four short stories I’ve read today, is the fullest most complete short story that I’ve read. Today. Quite satisfying. Not sexually explicit. Except for the kissing.
Rating: 4.44
March 28 2018
Monday, March 26, 2018
Coming to You Live by Mira Grant
I mentioned in a status update that this story would need a very good ending for me to give a rating higher than 1 or 2 stars. The ending was on par with the story.
On the one hand, I do not really understand the point of having this story, on the other hand – of course, people are curious about the ‘afterwards’ part. It is somewhat unfortunate that the fourth book in the trilogy (heh) that followed a different group of people was set in the same time period as the first book in the series, otherwise it would have been the perfect book for a little cameo ‘this is what they are doing now’ to occur. That’s ‘easier’, in a way, than a full on story. At least for me. Otherwise you get a story like this – one that many liked, but that I didn’t. It was way too wordy, I mentioned in the same or different status update I’ve already referenced, that the used 99.9% more words than it needed to (actually, I worded it differently – that it could have been told with 99.9% fewer words).
Long and short – not a story I needed, and I realize that it is my fault that I read it. I read it because I generally like, no, love the short stories that got released along with the ‘trilogy’. But, not really a story I liked – and I kind of knew hat going in (and no, I am not rating it the way I am because of preconceptions, otherwise the short story I read between finishing this one and writing this review would also have a rating around 2 stars, instead of 5).
ETA: putting this review into the review box caused me to look at my shelves. You know one of the reasons I probably didn't like this story? Spotted it when I spotted what I'd already put on my shelves. 'Zombies'. 'Horror'. There is psychological trauma and a bunch of PTSD going on in this story, but no horror, and the only zombies representation was one wolf (if I recall correctly - Shaun is mentioned going out and 'getting' various types of zombies, animal or human, but the reader doesn't see that, just told. So this really was a navel gazing story with no action. I'm going to have to take a ton of shelves off this book I'd put on preread. No this isn't a horror, no this isn't a zombie book, it's barely post-apocalyptic - only that because . . . it is, but . . . bah).
Rating: 2.0
March 25 2018
On the one hand, I do not really understand the point of having this story, on the other hand – of course, people are curious about the ‘afterwards’ part. It is somewhat unfortunate that the fourth book in the trilogy (heh) that followed a different group of people was set in the same time period as the first book in the series, otherwise it would have been the perfect book for a little cameo ‘this is what they are doing now’ to occur. That’s ‘easier’, in a way, than a full on story. At least for me. Otherwise you get a story like this – one that many liked, but that I didn’t. It was way too wordy, I mentioned in the same or different status update I’ve already referenced, that the used 99.9% more words than it needed to (actually, I worded it differently – that it could have been told with 99.9% fewer words).
Long and short – not a story I needed, and I realize that it is my fault that I read it. I read it because I generally like, no, love the short stories that got released along with the ‘trilogy’. But, not really a story I liked – and I kind of knew hat going in (and no, I am not rating it the way I am because of preconceptions, otherwise the short story I read between finishing this one and writing this review would also have a rating around 2 stars, instead of 5).
ETA: putting this review into the review box caused me to look at my shelves. You know one of the reasons I probably didn't like this story? Spotted it when I spotted what I'd already put on my shelves. 'Zombies'. 'Horror'. There is psychological trauma and a bunch of PTSD going on in this story, but no horror, and the only zombies representation was one wolf (if I recall correctly - Shaun is mentioned going out and 'getting' various types of zombies, animal or human, but the reader doesn't see that, just told. So this really was a navel gazing story with no action. I'm going to have to take a ton of shelves off this book I'd put on preread. No this isn't a horror, no this isn't a zombie book, it's barely post-apocalyptic - only that because . . . it is, but . . . bah).
Rating: 2.0
March 25 2018
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Apple by Gill McKnight
I wasn’t sure what I’d be getting myself into by entering this story here. I kind of expected to dislike it. That I was setting myself up for two ‘bad’ reads in a row. So why’d I enter it? Well, one – there’s a ton of people out there that like/love this author’s work (even if I hadn’t before now), and two, I like giving authors a lot of chances before just cutting them off. And this was a short story – free at that (there are 14 free short stories on the Dirt Road Books website).
I had a vague idea that this would be a fairy tale retelling and or that there would at least be a Snow White character and a huntsmen character (and that the huntsmen would be ’different’ than normal). Otherwise, I didn’t know what the story would be about.
So, I plunged in. To find Snow White, Snowie, talking to someone named ‘Red Cap’ (yeah, stupid me, took me forever to realize who that was, and for too long moment thought maybe Red Cap was a bird, since there were some Black Caps that turned up that were, in fact, birds (ETA: the animals, including the birds, had the ability to talk in this story, which I failed to mention when I initially released this review) – I won’t mention who the character is modeled on, there’s a tendency to play with names in this story, so I’ll leave it as something for the reader to find out (though they might know immediately just from ‘Red Cap’, but, meh).
Where was I? Right. Story opens with Snowie holding an apple while talking with Red Cap. Red Cap is quite paranoid and believes Snowie shouldn’t eat the apple. A bite is taken, Snowie falls to the floor, and the action is commenced – Red Cap must find help! And the story unfolds from there.
There is one and only one POV in the story – Red Cap. The story was quite interesting, and unexpectedly erotic. Fun story.
So, my reading of this author has gone from: 1st story: DNF; 2nd story: barely 3 stars; 3rd story: 4.75 stars – I assume if I continue on this trajectory, I’ll read something that will get placed on my six star shelf despite that being closed to solo reads (only rereads can get there).
My first story from a publisher I didn’t really realize existed (I didn’t know they existed, but I’ve seen one of their two (or is it three?) novels that they’ve released – I’ve just not read it).
Rating: 4.80
(yes, I overrated based on the fluffiness, and the erotic nature of the story *shrugs*)
March 25 2018
I had a vague idea that this would be a fairy tale retelling and or that there would at least be a Snow White character and a huntsmen character (and that the huntsmen would be ’different’ than normal). Otherwise, I didn’t know what the story would be about.
So, I plunged in. To find Snow White, Snowie, talking to someone named ‘Red Cap’ (yeah, stupid me, took me forever to realize who that was, and for too long moment thought maybe Red Cap was a bird, since there were some Black Caps that turned up that were, in fact, birds (ETA: the animals, including the birds, had the ability to talk in this story, which I failed to mention when I initially released this review) – I won’t mention who the character is modeled on, there’s a tendency to play with names in this story, so I’ll leave it as something for the reader to find out (though they might know immediately just from ‘Red Cap’, but, meh).
Where was I? Right. Story opens with Snowie holding an apple while talking with Red Cap. Red Cap is quite paranoid and believes Snowie shouldn’t eat the apple. A bite is taken, Snowie falls to the floor, and the action is commenced – Red Cap must find help! And the story unfolds from there.
There is one and only one POV in the story – Red Cap. The story was quite interesting, and unexpectedly erotic. Fun story.
So, my reading of this author has gone from: 1st story: DNF; 2nd story: barely 3 stars; 3rd story: 4.75 stars – I assume if I continue on this trajectory, I’ll read something that will get placed on my six star shelf despite that being closed to solo reads (only rereads can get there).
My first story from a publisher I didn’t really realize existed (I didn’t know they existed, but I’ve seen one of their two (or is it three?) novels that they’ve released – I’ve just not read it).
Rating: 4.80
(yes, I overrated based on the fluffiness, and the erotic nature of the story *shrugs*)
March 25 2018
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Impostor Syndrome (The Arcadia Project, #3) by Mishell Baker
It is hard to read a book in which the main character spendm a good portion of it thinking about how it'd just be easier if they were dead (well, something like that). But this is the third book in the series, and, well, Millie is still Millie . . sooo...
In this third book - the 'civil war' between branches of the Arcadia Project continues. Apparently, a little recap, all of human advancement has come from matching up humans with their fae counterparts - matching up 'Echoes' - the fae gets to think rationally through this exchange, while the human gets vast amounts of inspiration. Apparently everyone - at least those at the top percentage of their profession - that deals with things like science, engineering, inventions in general, and . . . television shows has a fae echo. Without them humans would either be dead or still living in caves. Without humans, fae would bascially also be beasts. The Arcadia Project has been in operation for a really long time, and the current head is a woman who was active during the second world war - and has treated the project as if she were an Empress (or something like that) - and has done things 'for the greater good' which are unethical, disgusting, and . . . lead to parts of the project attempting to break free. Specifically the part where Millie operates (the LA branch) - prior book brought in Alvin and the New Orleans office (which is also the national office), though NY has stayed with London (the International Office).
sooo . . . . Millie's partner, Tjuan (sp?) is framed by the head of the international office. The police want Tjuan. Millie is super deep into trying to help Tjuan. While, at the same time, having mean bitchy thoughts about the 'new girl' (who has actually been in the project longer) and mean and bitchy thoughts about herself. Oh - Millie, you see, is in a downward spiral and her mental condition is bad - so bad she's literally beating herself up - as in slamming her fists into her head.
As I said, not always easy to read a book where the main character keeps thinking longingly for death. If death walked through the door, Millie would hop up (as much as she can with her two fake legs), and hop over hoping death was there for her. She'd give death a big old kiss on the mouth - deep, passionate, with darting tongues.
Also - there's a bunch of people Millie's fucking in this book. And or, being really really close to. Like that boyfriend guy . . . whats-his-name, her neighbor, who she basically started fucking because he is her neighbor, and who she constantly ignores when he calls or texts. Course when she does text, his likely response is 'ok' so... (actually, more accurately, the fucker is always whining at Millie).
Then there's her echo, Clairbear (not actual name, just what I kept reading), who is a faun. And who she can't actually fuck because it is literally painful to Clairbear to come into physical contact with Millie - because of the steal/iron in her bones (see: she tried to commit suicide before start of book one, they rebuilt her like the six dollar man, which includes two fake legs and .. . . trouble peeing in the woods; oh, right, sorry, iron in her blood, which is painful to fae and to spellcraft). Even though that is the case, the two still long for each other, constantly, and risk pain for kisses and stuff.
Then there's Millie's female boss, the 20 year old . . . [insert name her; crap I'm bad with names, Carly? noo, that's wrong somehow, but something like that]. The boss has indicated that she loves Millie. Many times has she indicated this love. Millie's all like 'dude, you are my boss, and it's icky and stuff' (not really, but indicated she can't love back or .. something like that). Until they go to Fae land and . .. well, spoiler-land.
There's a reason why this book is also on the LGBT shelf. That's right - that's because . . . . as a faun/beast, Clairbear sees sex like others see handshakes, or, maybe, how some human cultures are more inclined to kiss hello - well, Clairbear seems to fuck hello - doesn't matter sex/gender/race/whatever. Hell, he fucks his most bitter rival because . . . that's the kind of faun he is (should I mention that Millie makes a good human for him? from the times in the story when someone tells Millie she needs to pay attention and to take her hand out from between her legs? Yes, no?). Okay, it's on the LGBT shelf more for the . . . stuff that happens between Millie and her female boss.
This was an incredibly weird tale.
Rating: fuck. Well, I clicked on 4 stars when I marked this read so . . . something like that?
March 24 2018
In this third book - the 'civil war' between branches of the Arcadia Project continues. Apparently, a little recap, all of human advancement has come from matching up humans with their fae counterparts - matching up 'Echoes' - the fae gets to think rationally through this exchange, while the human gets vast amounts of inspiration. Apparently everyone - at least those at the top percentage of their profession - that deals with things like science, engineering, inventions in general, and . . . television shows has a fae echo. Without them humans would either be dead or still living in caves. Without humans, fae would bascially also be beasts. The Arcadia Project has been in operation for a really long time, and the current head is a woman who was active during the second world war - and has treated the project as if she were an Empress (or something like that) - and has done things 'for the greater good' which are unethical, disgusting, and . . . lead to parts of the project attempting to break free. Specifically the part where Millie operates (the LA branch) - prior book brought in Alvin and the New Orleans office (which is also the national office), though NY has stayed with London (the International Office).
sooo . . . . Millie's partner, Tjuan (sp?) is framed by the head of the international office. The police want Tjuan. Millie is super deep into trying to help Tjuan. While, at the same time, having mean bitchy thoughts about the 'new girl' (who has actually been in the project longer) and mean and bitchy thoughts about herself. Oh - Millie, you see, is in a downward spiral and her mental condition is bad - so bad she's literally beating herself up - as in slamming her fists into her head.
As I said, not always easy to read a book where the main character keeps thinking longingly for death. If death walked through the door, Millie would hop up (as much as she can with her two fake legs), and hop over hoping death was there for her. She'd give death a big old kiss on the mouth - deep, passionate, with darting tongues.
Also - there's a bunch of people Millie's fucking in this book. And or, being really really close to. Like that boyfriend guy . . . whats-his-name, her neighbor, who she basically started fucking because he is her neighbor, and who she constantly ignores when he calls or texts. Course when she does text, his likely response is 'ok' so... (actually, more accurately, the fucker is always whining at Millie).
Then there's her echo, Clairbear (not actual name, just what I kept reading), who is a faun. And who she can't actually fuck because it is literally painful to Clairbear to come into physical contact with Millie - because of the steal/iron in her bones (see: she tried to commit suicide before start of book one, they rebuilt her like the six dollar man, which includes two fake legs and .. . . trouble peeing in the woods; oh, right, sorry, iron in her blood, which is painful to fae and to spellcraft). Even though that is the case, the two still long for each other, constantly, and risk pain for kisses and stuff.
Then there's Millie's female boss, the 20 year old . . . [insert name her; crap I'm bad with names, Carly? noo, that's wrong somehow, but something like that]. The boss has indicated that she loves Millie. Many times has she indicated this love. Millie's all like 'dude, you are my boss, and it's icky and stuff' (not really, but indicated she can't love back or .. something like that). Until they go to Fae land and . .. well, spoiler-land.
There's a reason why this book is also on the LGBT shelf. That's right - that's because . . . . as a faun/beast, Clairbear sees sex like others see handshakes, or, maybe, how some human cultures are more inclined to kiss hello - well, Clairbear seems to fuck hello - doesn't matter sex/gender/race/whatever. Hell, he fucks his most bitter rival because . . . that's the kind of faun he is (should I mention that Millie makes a good human for him? from the times in the story when someone tells Millie she needs to pay attention and to take her hand out from between her legs? Yes, no?). Okay, it's on the LGBT shelf more for the . . . stuff that happens between Millie and her female boss.
This was an incredibly weird tale.
Rating: fuck. Well, I clicked on 4 stars when I marked this read so . . . something like that?
March 24 2018
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Berlin Hungers by Justine Saracen
Berlin Hungers by Justine SaracenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
*I received this book from Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley for an honest review*
This is a good solid story set mostly just before and during the Berlin airlift operation in 1948-1949. Actually, it starts on VE day (victory in Europe), which occurred three years earlier in 1945. And the book ends slightly after. So – mid-20th century book with most of the action taking place in Berlin (with moments here or there elsewhere, like various places in England for training and the like).
Gillian Somerville is happy enough that the war in Europe is over, but not about two things in particular (well three tings) – men keep trying to kiss her (or do), she’s still trying to ‘get over’ the fact that her parents died in the blitz, and her job kind of went away. Her job as a pilot with the ATA – her only way to fly during the war was with the Air Transport Axillary, which, as the afterword put it, had the pilots who were unsuited for the RAF (for various reasons, including, most importantly for Gillian – gender). Gillian had been one of the 168 female pilots (vs 1,152 male pilots), but the service was being disbanded. In November 1945. Hold on, it’s May 1945. Hmms. Well, I assume VE day lead to a winding up of operations, though I do not specifically see anything on-line about it.
Right, sorry, got distracted. Gillian had been a pilot with the ATA, ferrying planes around – sometimes into Germany, sometimes with bullets and stuff in the air, but was not a member of the RAF (which she gets reminded when she boasted of her service to an actual RAF fighter pilot). But her time with the ATA ended when the war ended, and she needed work. So, looking around, she decided to join the WAAF as there was a chance she’d still get to be near planes. And she was right – after training, she finds herself in Germany working as an air traffic controller – guiding planes by way of radar.
Before turning to the other point of view in this novel, I insert the part where several characters are included in this book because of Gillian. Betsey – meet in WAAF training, seemingly constant companion there and then in Germany; Mrs. Base Commander (Mrs. Horwick), who had a rather direct and intimate impact on Gillian’s life; various pilots, like Jack Higgins, Nigel Katz, and Dickie Collins; and . . . um . . random other military personnel.
So – that’s one of the main points of view. Gillian is British, in the female version of the military, spent the war ferrying planes, has no living relatives due mostly to the actions of the Germans, and now works as an air traffic controller in Germany. But Gillian isn’t the only point of view the book – no, there’s also Erika.
Like Gillian, Erika has lost most of her family. And, just like Gillian, Erika’s parents died as a direct result of German action (Gillian’s parents died in the bombing of London; Erika’s parents died before the war in a concentration camp – because they were not the right kind politically, as in, they were Social Democrats). Unlike Gillian, Erika had been married at some point, though her husband also is dead now. He was a pilot for the German air force. As the action in the book starts – the Russians move in and occupy Berlin. With drastic and horrible results. Especially after Erika moved out of hiding for reasons I don’t recall now and was spotted by Russians, and raped. Not all of Erika’s interactions with the Russians were so violent and disgusting; several even helped her at various times in the book.
Erika spent the book attempting to survive. Working whatever jobs she could find. Doing whatever it took to survive. And her sections pulls into the storyline several important side characters: Hanno the son of Gerda (her friend and her husband’s former lover), Gerda, Wilhelm, Henrich, and Charlotte (oh, and a bunch of people here and there with some importance – like the two Russians, one of whom was in the Sniper book, at least I think she was, though not a main character in that book, who were friendly with Erika and – at different times and occasions, interacted with both Erika and Gillian as the book unfolded). Immediately after the war ended, Erika, Gerda, Hanno, and Wilhelm lived in the same apartment building and in the nicest apartment (eventually); later Erika, Gerda and Hanno moved from the Russian sector to the British and moved into Charlotte and Henrich’s apartment. I know I’m forgetting people. Hmms. I mention all of that more for my own memory purposes, to remind myself who is who, and how they know each other.
Right, so, the book follows along as Gillian lives her life in the WAAF and Erika struggles to survive as a starving German in Berlin. Eventually the two meet. I’m digging deep into my brain, but I just can’t recall how they meet. Shesh. I’m recalling scenes from the book – Gillian says she’ll put in a word with the base to help Erika get a job; Gillian, Nigel, and either Dickie or Betsey run into Erika cowering in a doorway but that was after Gillian helped Erika. Oh, right – if I recall correctly, Gillian, while still stationed somewhere else in Germany (not Berlin), took a trip to Berlin to visit. She went with Nigel on one of his flights into Berlin. While there the two wander and visit the black market. Whereupon the two unconnected story lines merged . . . for roughly 3 seconds (heh, slightly more, but roughly that), when Gillian bought a plane Erika was selling. Neither expected to see the other again, but they did keep bumping into each other – first with Gillian running into Erika again at the Berlin airport, after Gillian transferred there. At that time Erika was working as a runway . . . um . . paver/constructor/digger person.
That’s how the book bounced. A lot of action from one or the other point of view, and the two women rarely saw each other. Just occasionally bumping into each other – that is until they became friends . . . then more. Whereupon . .. they continued rarely seeing each other. They didn’t keep away from each other by choice, just the circumstances of the situation. So this was a slow burn because of circumstances romance. Though, being the 1940s, the fraternization policy, the homosexuals being illegal issue (lesbians less so, though not exactly acceptable I the military), there would have been a need to take things slow anyway (counter to this: the other female-female relationship in this book (I’ve rewritten this review so many times I don’t even remember now if the hints I dropped are even still in this review: Gillian learned why she had issues getting romantic with men from her time spent at that other German airport, the non-Berlin one (she learned she liked kissing women more than kissing men)), that was entirely sexual, and by no means slow burn; course, it also wasn’t a romance so . . ..).
Books like this have a tendency to think that the need to include everything. Like, there’s a trial going on in Nuremberg where Germans were being tried at the same time the action in this book took place. Some books would think – ooh, I need to include that. In person. Is Important Historical Fact. And there was a way that the author could have had a character there in person to get a front row seat. I liked how the author didn’t take that approach though. It was an important moment in history, and it was mentioned, even debated, but the book didn’t take a long-winded detour with some random unknown person suddenly ‘in on the action’ (unlike, say, ‘The Sniper’s Kiss’ book, where a random unknown to history person seemed to run into every one of importance during her time on earth). Right, concept badly worded by me. Hopefully coherent enough. Oh – there was two points strenuously pointed out in this book: the trials were multilinguistic and required translators; Erika, who actually came from a location much closer to Russia than Berlin, specifically Russia. Heh. They were ‘Volga Germans’ – ‘ethnic Germans who colonized and historically lived along the Volga River … southeastern . . . Russia. And therefore could have worked as a translator between Russians and Germans at the trial. Instead she ‘just’ used her Russian knowledge with Russians in Berlin.
Solid book, though there was at least one issue I found vaguely confusing: Gillian mentioned that she made 2/3rds of her male co-workers in her post-war job, and her response to the situation was just a shrug, and a comment that that was just the way it was. That’s life. Which I just nodded at, because, sure, 1940s . . . that’s the way it was. Then I read the afterward, and later looked up some stuff and reminded myself of what I’d read in the afterword. Gillian made the same amount of money when she worked for the ATA (at least since 1943, I forget if there was a mention of when Gillian started working with them). Sure, she made less than men when she transferred to the WAAF, but she did have experience ‘being equal’ for at least 2 years. Just shrugging at the situation and saying ‘it is what it is’ or words to that effect, seemed . . . out of character somehow.
Right, so, likeable book. Enjoyable. Readable.
Rating: 4.33
March 20 2019
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Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Rocks and Stars by Sam Ledel
Rocks and Stars by Sam LedelMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
*I received this book from Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley for an honest review*
I start off noting what this book is, and, later, something that it isn’t. What this book is: a young adult coming of age story told through one person’s eyes over a period of two years. What it is not is a romance with a capital R. There are several relationships on display in this book, and many different characters, and personalities to tangle with, but capital R Romance? No.
I had no real idea what I was getting into when I decided to request this book. I mean, yes, I read the description. I knew the book was about a young woman who is, or very recently had come to the realization that she had particular feelings that mean that she might or might not be a lesbian. And that the book would ‘deal with that’. In the sense that that means this is a coming of age story, yes, that’s what this book is about. In the sense of ‘dealing with being a lesbian’? Well . . . yes, but I worded that wrong since that isn’t what I said before. What it isn’t is a struggle to determine if the main point of view character might or might not be a lesbian. No, despite how the book description is worded, she knows at the start of the book that she’s a lesbian. She admits it to herself. In the prologue. This occurs two months before the start of the book and consists of her playing with herself. Hehe, I worded that sentence that way on purpose – she was ‘playing with herself’ in that she was playing soccer. While thinking about the various people she’s lusted after. Mainly Beth, a fellow soccer player, but also other women.
Then chapter one rolls around – starts I mean, and it’s a high school graduation party. So – that’s another thing that may or may be different than what I thought the book would be about – since I do not recall if I thought more time would be spent in high school. No, looking at the book description, I ‘knew’ the book would be focused on college.
So, I mentioned some of the things the book is not, and some of the genres the book does fall into. But what exactly is the book? Well, as I said, a coming of age story about a young woman – specifically one who plays soccer at the college level (has a full scholarship to college by way of her soccer talents) who struggles less about the fact that she is a lesbian, and more with acting on the fact she’s a lesbian. And the book unfolds from there – watching her descend into madness for two years before attempting a recovery. Okay, not that, but . . . that.
There are three people of major importance in this book who are not named Kyle Lindsay (Kyle being the main character and only POV). There’s Emily, Kyle’s best friend since forever, and the same person who talked her own college coach to watch Kyle play high school soccer (Emily is a year older), thereby helping Kyle get that scholarship. Emily is also the only person, in the beginning, Kyle has told about her ‘situation’. Then there’s Jax – a soccer teammate who flusters Kyle immediately, and who she wants to hump. Jax is also a year older than Kyle. Then there’s Joey, a fellow freshman, who is one of the goalies on the soccer team. Kyle has . . . weird disjointed thoughts about Joey.
There’s massive amounts of drinking in this book. I do not know what it is about soccer books, but the last one I read, that one involving professional soccer/football players in Scotland, did something this book really dove into with a lot of enthusiasm – weirdly inappropriate hazing of new teammates, and including lots and lots of alcohol drinking. I recall a comment about that other book – that they didn’t know how the main character was able to do what they did – being as old as she was, and drinking so much. Well, that’s one thing here, eh? How’d they be able to drink so much and still walk? They didn’t. But when they did, it was because they were kids. Or something like that – able to overcome their self-created attempts at destroying their own talents.
Sorry, dwelt a little long on that. There really was a ton of drinking in this book. A ton. I don’t want to play with spoilers, but will say – I know some people, who would read this, would point towards Jax for Kyle’s drinking, but the first bits were inspired by Emily – she was the team captain, after all, who lead the hazing/initiation drinking thingie.
Right, sorry. Moving on.
What else to say. The book was interesting in the beginning, and I was really gulping it down as I went along. Until I came to the words ‘Part Two’. And started into that section. And, before I even read a page, I had to stop reading for 4 to 6 hours. I just . . . I couldn’t . . .. Disappointment overwhelmed me. This is where we get to ‘this is a coming of age story, not a Romance’. You know what you get in coming of age stories, in growing up? Massive mistakes. Well, the vast majority of this book shows Kyle make mistake after mistake. Then ends (view spoiler)
Readable book. I look forward to more work by this author. I believe this is the author’s first published work, though the copyright page gave me pause in that thought.
Rating: 3.23
ETA: Of note (maybe): I read, reviewed, and rated this book before I realized that someone had beaten me to first rating/review.
March 14 2018
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Monday, March 12, 2018
A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole
Didn't like either main character (or any of the characters, for that matter). One was a weird mix of stubborn push-over; other was a stuck up lying asshole who did everything he could to do creepy things (keep touching the female lead, despite Ledi not wanting anything to do with him at the time; it was a constant and incredibly off-putting thing - he just wouldn't stop touching her, at every opportunity, gripping her, caressing her, etc.; it was 'okay' because 'she liked it' even though she was in the middle of her 'I hate him and I've told him not to touch me' phase; and what the fuck was up with taking a donkey up the mountain - one donkey? Obviously SUV's could get up there, they had to dodge around one when they got to the village; and he admitted that he could have gotten another donkey but . . . fuck I hate this fucking asshole. I loath being touched and this guy . . fuck him).
A lot of culture clash here - between the characters, and between the characters and me. I felt no connection to the Prince, and the only thing similar to me and the female lead was instantly rejecting the emails from Africa from 'a Prince' (seriously, though, why the fuck did she not block the email address? She gave some lame reason in her brain, but shesh).
Culture clash is okay - I've met up with it a lot in reading - expands the mind and all that crap. My problem was that I just couldn't figure out the lead female character. She was all over the place. A stubborn push-over, who had walls around her heart, but let everyone in and push her around, and abuse her. Um, wha? I'd a better understanding of the Prince - he has a rich, spoiled life, but also great pressure (both from being the 'sole-heir' (seriously? You know who is 18th in line for the British throne? David Armstrong-Jones - and why do I mention him? Because he is the Queen's sister's son; point being, kingdoms never have just one heir, hell, most of the conflict, if you look at history - especially the part where the Kings/queens/princes/etc. had actual power, was because heirs to the throne were fighting each other, and with the current holder of the throne).
I completely forgot where I was going in the last paragraph. *rereads*
Right - I understood the Prince's character better than Ledi's character. And he's literally from a completely foreign alien culture in more ways than one. While Ledi's grew up in and is currently living in the city I currently live in - New York.
Bah.
Rating: 2.4
March 12 2018
A lot of culture clash here - between the characters, and between the characters and me. I felt no connection to the Prince, and the only thing similar to me and the female lead was instantly rejecting the emails from Africa from 'a Prince' (seriously, though, why the fuck did she not block the email address? She gave some lame reason in her brain, but shesh).
Culture clash is okay - I've met up with it a lot in reading - expands the mind and all that crap. My problem was that I just couldn't figure out the lead female character. She was all over the place. A stubborn push-over, who had walls around her heart, but let everyone in and push her around, and abuse her. Um, wha? I'd a better understanding of the Prince - he has a rich, spoiled life, but also great pressure (both from being the 'sole-heir' (seriously? You know who is 18th in line for the British throne? David Armstrong-Jones - and why do I mention him? Because he is the Queen's sister's son; point being, kingdoms never have just one heir, hell, most of the conflict, if you look at history - especially the part where the Kings/queens/princes/etc. had actual power, was because heirs to the throne were fighting each other, and with the current holder of the throne).
I completely forgot where I was going in the last paragraph. *rereads*
Right - I understood the Prince's character better than Ledi's character. And he's literally from a completely foreign alien culture in more ways than one. While Ledi's grew up in and is currently living in the city I currently live in - New York.
Bah.
Rating: 2.4
March 12 2018
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Kill Chain by Andy Diggle
James Bond: Kill Chain by Andy DiggleMy rating: 3.68 of 5 stars
*I received this book from Dynamite Entertainment and Netgalley for an honest review*
I have something of a kind of love/hate relationship going on with the Bond franchise. I got hooked on watching John Wayne films shown late at night or during the day by my grandfather. I got hooked on watching Bond films by way of marathons via my father. Though it was my mother who had collected the books as they were published – the original books – that I found in the basement and read (the Ian Fleming ones, I had to get the others myself). This was back when I was like ten (13? I forget now). Watched and loved the films. Read and mostly enjoyed the books. This was back when Timothy Dalton was Bond, at least on the big screen, my first Bond experience was with the original Connery, though – see: movie marathons), and my first Bond film in the theater was License to Kill.
I just loved watching Bond films. Reading the continuation novels. Then there was a six year gap (something like that) do to legal issues (what I was told at the time, I’ve never looked it up to see if accurate). And I kind of fell away from Bond while he was off the big screen. Oh, sure, I continued reading Benson Bond books, but . . . they lacked something. So I drifted away.
When I looked again, I was smacked in the face, so to speak, by certain aspects of Bond that were despicable (like how Connery’s Bond doesn’t like being told ‘no’ when it comes to sex; and, weirdly, just hates when the woman is all over him (see: Goldfinger for both – with lesbian Pussy Galore being forced by Bond, and apparently liking it so well that she turned on her boss; and … okay, I can’t find which woman I mean here for the other, was she not in Goldfinger? I recall a hotel room, the woman comes on to Bond, he pushes her away, because ?, film continued). So I had that to deal with. And I still watched the films, read the books, and stuff. But it was always there in the back of my mind – the male-thing (saw Lasenby’s film again the other day – weird dynamic there, Bond in that film didn’t force himself onto women, and actually seemed happier when the woman wanted him – the women at the institute he was undercover at; sure there was the ‘bribed to date gangster’s daughter’ part, but he didn’t force himself onto her).
All that just to note that I’ve mostly steered clear of the comic series. But hey, might as well try, eh?
James Bond in ‘Kill Chain’. As the book description notes: the spy world is in massive conflict, there’s a plot against NATO, MI6 and the CIA are in conflict, and the Russian SMERSH (seen a few times in the films, a lot more often in the books) is plotting against . . . well, the West. SMERSH being the Soviet Union spy service in WWII in real life, which was either disbanded or absorbed by the KGB after the war (I forget which), though found extended life in Fleming’s books and the Bond films. The book opens in Russia. Where some unknown man is talking to another unknown man – while that second man literally uses his fists on rocks (okay, not really, he slams two rocks together in his fists).
After unknown man 2 makes an arrow head, the scene shifts to two people fighting – a man and a woman. Presumably the man is James Bond, though, eh, I mostly say that because: 1) of the three men seen so far, he’s the closest to Bond’s looks; 2) he almost immediately gets sexual with the woman. You know, like Bond does. It’s his thing. Afterwards, and I’m only continuing this so I can mention – the woman takes a shower while wearing her clothing? I think? While she does that Bond robs the place. Because, hey, he’s a spy. All of this, by the way, the two men in Russia, and Bond & blonde woman in some undisclosed location – are the ‘precredits’ action. The after title credits action shifts ‘stuff’ to Rottendam. Which I mention because the book description notes that ‘operation in Rottendam goes catastrophically wrong’ so I guess I get to see that now. (Whereupon we learn that Bond and the blonde woman, later called ‘Rika’, were actually already in Rottendam).
Oh bloody hell – so action finally occurs and . .. Bond drives his car through a crowd? Seriously? After everything we’ve had happen lately with so many terrorists driving cars through crowds, the first actual action in this comic shows Bond driving a car through a crowd? Pfft. (counter: he’s trying to get away from a gunman in a boat; counter-counter – so? Just don’t show him driving the car through a crowd, but just along the road, racing away from the boat, while the boat fires at him, showing Bond drive through a crowd just seemed needless; wait, he was chasing the guy in the boat, not racing away . . crap, trying to figure out action in graphic comic form isn’t always easy, hehe).
Right, so, as said, conflict in the spy world – and that’s what the reader reads.
Oh, wait, what the heck is this book doing with SMERSH in it? If it’s set in modern times? At least that’s what I assume when Bond is given a cell phone. Gah – it’s not always easy to tell, some ‘continuation’ novels are set back in Fleming’s time period, some are set in ‘modern’ time periods (most recent ‘continuation’ book I read was set in Flemings time – 1969 – William Boyd’s Solo). Having SMERSH involved made me think this had to be set before the Soviet Union fell, but cell phone. You know what would have helped? Dates. What graphic novel forgets to include dates when giving location data? Pfft.
I’ll devote a second paragraph to this issue: not knowing the date is seriously annoying when trying to read a book. The world changes to bloody fast to be ‘generic 20th to 21st century Earth’. Mmphs. Though the evidence, including Leiter missing an arm, lost in that first Bond film I saw at a movie theatre, plus the cell phone, makes me think this really is 21st century ‘current present time’. Also Leiter mentions that the current administration hates things like NATO and the world. And England’s mentioned to be getting ‘out of Europe’. And Stuff. So, yes, modern times. Mention of SMERSH in book description, plus lack of dates really messed me up here.
Right so – one specific problem mentioned: the lack of dates and the mention of SMERSH without mention of the current date from beginning of book (you know, have ‘present day’ or ‘2018’ listed next to ‘Russia’ as every other graphic novel would do it), caused me issues. SMERSH being mentioned can be and was explained in the book. And I did eventually pick up that this was ‘present day’. The fact that I had to spend so much time thinking about it, though, is a major issue. Heh, I didn’t mean to have a third paragraph on dates. I meant this to be my: beyond that one specific problem, already mentioned, the book was interesting and good, paragraph.
Good strong story. The ‘forcing himself onto women’ didn’t come up, though he did avoid the advances of one woman who was quite clearly desirous of spending ‘quality time’ with Bond. Course it wasn’t the right time – but with Bond, when is it ever the right time?
Rating: 3.68
March 11 2018
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Saturday, March 10, 2018
Survival Instincts by May Dawney
Survival Instincts by May DawneyMy rating: 4.4 of 5 stars
*I received this book from Ylva Publishing for an honest review*
This was one of those dense rich stories that took a while to read. If I recall correctly, and I might not, there was a similar denseness/richness in the short story I read by this same author – the only other work I’ve read by them. ‘What does that mean?’ Um . . . hmms. Boiled down: there’s a lot of ‘stuff’ packed into the words/actions/scenes. Right. So.
This story, entirely seen through the perspective of one character, Lynn Tanner, is a future post-apocalyptic world. And the majority of the story takes place in New York (well, all of it, really, just there’s references to Lynn having been elsewhere, like ‘up north’ in Canada). It is unclear what exactly happened – there are references to ‘bombs falling’ but this story takes place centuries later and I’m not sure Lynn herself knows what happened. I pause here to insert a paragraph as this reminded me.
There are two specific things I had ‘trouble with’, which were ‘problematic’. First is easy enough to mention – I despised all side characters, who were basically one step away from being evil, with the possible exception of Toby – no, strike that, he was way too loud to survive – and was a massive liability. Though some of the side characters grew on me, mostly Dani Wilson. Right, with that out of the way let’s get to the second major specific trouble spot – remember how I mentioned this is a future world, and that Lynn herself might not know what happened? Well . . . that was a mixed bag type of thing. There were things she knew, things she didn’t know, and it didn’t always make sense – considering this sometime in the future after a traumatic event, that’s somewhat reasonable. Some weird and wacky things get remembered, other things get lost. This area she’s in had once been called ‘New York’? Sure, reasonable for that to either get remembered or forgotten. Was remembered here. Remembering that a particular type of building was an ‘office building’ when their culture, their being the centuries later people living on earth, eh, okay. Remember a certain area was the ‘receptionist area’ . . . um, really? Seriously? She ‘learned’ this fact from someone? Who learned it . . . how exactly? Bah, sorry, as I said, some things get remembered that are wacky to remember, and maybe this is just one of those wacky things. But Lynn’s ability to ‘know’ the world around her was oddly off and on – like ‘knowing’ that a particular area was the receptionist area, and not knowing what a zebra is. That’s the off and on – there’s parts where she calls them zebras, and other times calling them weirdly colored stripped horses (and hey, what are zebras but stripped horses, eh?). I suppose here it’s more an off and on on what she called the zebras.
Which leads me to: one of the things I had to remind myself almost immediately is the fact that I’m reading a story set far (ish, it’s unclear how far in the future) into the future and the people and whatever culture cannot really have ‘our’ (as in 21st century) ideas forced upon them. Or, more specifically, for a while there I was thinking that Lynn was quite immature for her stated age, and seemed to be acting more on the level of a teenager (as did most of the others), until I recalled that she was – in ways, quite immature – and quite mature. Depending on the thing talked about. I think I messed up noting what I wanted to note. Basically I needed to, initially, remind myself that I wasn’t reading about characters living in my own time period, and that I couldn’t put my own time period standards and stuff onto them. This is way too many words. I move on.
Lynn has lived the vast majority of her life as someone who wanders the wilds – as someone Dani Wilson’s people call ‘Wilders’. As opposed to Wilson’s people who Lynn called ‘Settlers’. Lynn had a mother and father and . . . let’s not reveal the whole plot here, eh? Lynn has lived in the wilds most of her life and is now something like 39. While looking for food she hears something in the distance and creeps closer. Watches as a group of humans ‘take down’ an elephant. She remains hidden until she can’t – for the dog she’s with charges forward to get into the fight. And Lynn runs out to get her dog. Whereupon she’s almost immediately tackled, pummeled and almost killed by some kid. For . . . reasons. One thing leads to another and Lynn’s now these other humans captive. Based entirely on the dog – for, you see, the other humans know this dog – it’s the dog that had been with the scout that they had sent out – the scout who isn’t around anywhere. How’d Lynn get the dog? Did she kill Richard?
Eventually, after 99% of the settlers show how much of a dick they can be, Lynn meets up again with Queen Bitch (who had been off doing something or other), Kate. Who tells Lynn to lead them to Richard, the dead guy, or Lynn will die. One thing leads to another, and before you can say boo . . . Lynn’s in a closet like it’s a cage. Then later off on a journey with one of the settlers, Dani.
And that’s the story the book tells. The quest of Dani and Lynn to retrieve a dead body in the wilds of post-apocalyptic New York. Lynn is wild and, at times, feral. But the settlers, as . . . well I didn’t show did I, well, they aren’t as civilized as they might appear.
I liked the story of Lynn and Dani. Though Dani really comes off quite badly in this story. It seemed like every time you turned around let’s reveal another bad personality trait of Dani’s. But, meh, she was still okay-ish.
I liked the book and enjoyed it. For those wanting to know – there’s a bit of romance, a lot of action/adventure/thrills, a bit of sex (here or there, barely), and . . . ums, stuff.
One last bit: Warning, there are scenes that occur in this book that you do not want to read while eating food.
Rating: 4.44
March 9 2018
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Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Battle Angel Alita Vol. 1 (Gunnm, #1) by Yukito Kishiro
Battle Angel Alita Vol. 1 by Yukito KishiroMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
*I received this book from Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for an honest review*
Right, so - this is a futuristic world . . . . and um. hmms. I've no real idea what this world is. I don't even know if it takes place on earth. There's this junkyard the main male character lives in, and that the main female character was found in (without her memory). There's something floating in the sky that was called 'utopia', but beyond that I know nothing. Well, not nothing, obviously, not after reading this book. But I mean I don't know much about the setting - the world the book inhabits.
I kind of despise the man. 'I would gladly feel their blood on my face! And in exchange I need you to be as pristine as my dream for you!' - so said the man; to which the woman/cyborg responded 'I'm not your dress-up doll!' - to which I applaud. Mildly.
'I keep hunting for the pleasure'
Wow this is one bloody gore filled manga. Really really bloody/gorey - it seems like . . . what's that called, blood porn? Gore porn? Something like that.
Also one in which I didn't really understand what was going on 45 percent of the time.
This was a very violent, very weird story. I can't imagine it being turned into a movie, like the book description on Netgalley noted ('James Cameron is currently producing a live-action adaptation'). Considering the story, and what happens in it, making a live-action film will probably end up looking like that Film franchise 'Pacific Rim'.
Right, so - that's read. The first volume, at least. I do not currently plan to continue the series. This just wasn't my type of thing.
Rating: 2.78
March 7 2018
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Monday, March 5, 2018
Casa Nostra by Chris Sarracini and Nick Kilislian
Casa Nostra by Chris SarraciniMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
*I received this book from Udon Entertainment and Netgalley for an honest review*
This is an annoying book from beginning to end. From the super slow snail pace, to the many times flashbacks interrupted the story; to the many times some random scene would suddenly occur and there’d be no explanation or the sudden change in plot line until much later. Biggest problem, though? The art was such that I had trouble telling the characters apart. This ‘matched perfectly’ with the text that liked being vague about who was who and what was going on. Like how the book opens with a prologue, some unnamed ungendered narrator talking about papa the criminal. Long after the fact we learn that the narrator is 26, a woman named Claire, and half-Italian, half-Japanese.
Story: A graphic novel set in 1933, mostly in Indiana, with occasional trips elsewhere, like into Chicago.
As noted, the story opened with someone telling about the first time they heard their father's name. Not that the reader knew the narrators name until much later. Nor did the reader actually learn the father’s name (unless it was in some section I couldn’t read). Narrator, Claire, had something of a tough upbringing, tough childhood I mean. What with the criminal father, and having the police routinely stop by to beat up her mother to try to get her to tell where father was. Not that she ever did talk
After that beginning bit, we get to 'I'm 26 now and still wonder if he is still robbing banks' (not an exact quote - it's hard to get the book to work on my system, so I can't really get back to get exact quote). So the 'meat' of the story starts when the narrator is 26. We still didn't know gender by the time the book moved to 'present time' (1933). Though the book description had me assuming that we were learning about the daughter of this bank robber. Assumption was correct. Narrator is 'Claire' and female.
Claire, with four other women, runs a 'safe house' where criminals hide from the law. They’ve been doing it a while, and set things up with the Chicago Syndicate. So the criminals know not to break the rules (don’t touch the women; turn over firearms; etc.) or the Syndicate would get them (not that all criminals obeyed – I mean, we are talking about criminals here). Things were going well enough with Claire and the safe house until the ‘golden boy’, Capone’s favorite guy Rizzo, started to go insane and kill women. And the Syndicate wanted to stay at the safe house. Naturally Claire wanted no part of it and naturally she couldn’t’ say no. And naturally things didn’t go well. What with Rizzo having a history of going around being a serial killer and killing women.
There's a lot of backstory in this book, by the way. Even after we got to present day, we still had bits of the past being spilled on the reader. Not my favorite thing to have happen.
One of the problems with the book is that the art makes it hard to tell who is who. Like, somewhere along the way one criminal kills another - I could tell the two apart because one was fat. A cleaner came and cleaned. Then . . . some story about a man killing a woman (this would be Rizzo and some random woman, though the reader doesn’t know this at the time, learns after the fact). Just . . there. Is that the cleaner? Claire the narrator? Didn't know immediately because all the women look the same (for the most part, okay, not really, but it isn't easy to tell them apart), and the men aren't that distinctive either. More impressions of men and women than exact representations. So, I couldn’t always tell what was happening because I couldn’t always tell which characters were doing stuff (seriously, I’m not just saying that – the woman in the snuff piece? Looked like Claire – at least to my poor eyes; or at least close enough to possibly be sister or mother). I couldn’t tell what was going on despite this being a graphic novel - and I could literally see them doing stuff. But . . . which vaguely Italian looking guy is this? The one I already meet? Someone else? Which vaguely mixed race woman is this? Claire? One of the other women who work in the safe house? Some completely different woman? As could be seen from my description of the beginning - the text itself doesn't help matters. Since I didn't even know the narrator's name or gender for a good portion of the time until we finally got to 'the present' (of 1933). Sooo hard to tell what's going on.
This happens several times. 'This' being random scenes suddenly interrupting the flow of the story. Giving information about a new character. Quite annoying and quite breaking the flow of the super slow, very very slow story. This thing was on snail time.
Tough story to tell what was going on – more because I literally couldn’t tell the characters apart. There are large pieces of the story I am unclear on because of that factoid, though I know/picked up the major pieces.
An okay story, I suppose. Just . . . difficult to read.
Rating: 2.6
March 5 2018
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Sunday, March 4, 2018
Kellen's Moment by Robin Alexander
Kellen's Moment by Robin AlexanderMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
There was a brief moment, as I mentioned in my only status update, when I worried about this book. That was in the prologue that opens with two people apparently on the way to commit crime. And one is reluctant to do so while the other is gung-ho on the idea. And, as I also mentioned, that’s somewhat common with me and Alexander books – I open them, gaze upon the opening with some worry and fear, then gobble the book like it was chocolate and someone was coming to take all my chocolate (I’ve no idea why I went to chocolate). As in, I end up really enjoying the book and reading it in quick gulps.
Right, so, this book is about a 39 year old and a 34 year old (I forget which is which, though I’m fairly certain the 34 year old is Stevie Sealy, while the 39 year old is Kellen McLin). While Stevie grew up in a small town in Louisiana, the next town over from Kellen’s small town, she’s spent her entire adult life living elsewhere – mostly in New York. But she’s home now, temporarily (that’s the plan) as she’s broken up with her male partner (I’m still vaguely confused as to whether or not they were actually ever married). Kellen, on the other hand, appears (it’s not 100% clear), to have lived her entire life in that small town next to Stevie’s small home town.
I’m being vague on purpose. For, you see, the small town Stevie Sealy comes from is named . . . Sealy. And the small town Kellen McLin comes from? The town is named McLin. And as the book description notes, the McLin and Sealy families have been feuding for a long time like the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s. Though, since I do not actually know of any Hatfield’s getting involved with McCoy’s, I’ll go with Capulet and Montague (you know, Juliet and Romeo from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet). Since this specific story here involves two people from rival families falling for each other. Though, luckily for my own sanity, and as already noted, the two who fell for each other in this book are in their 30s, not early teens.
And that’s basically the story – two people from rival families fall for each other, then have to deal with the fact that they are from rival families. There’s more, but that’s the core. Lots of great humor, lots of interesting action, good solid side characters (including probably one of the better gay couples I’ve seen in lesbian fiction), some interesting to me sexy-times, and . . . stuff.
There’s more I could say – like how the McLin’s are the opposites of the Sealy’s in certain matters (they hold similar positions in their towns, and both have much money, but one is very concerned about appearances – ‘keeping up appearances’ (Sealy), while the other keeps a very tight hold on their money to the point they’d prefer wearing used underwear (or none at all) to buying new underwear (McLin’s). And how Stevie’s parents are complete and utter dickwads; and Kellen’s father figure (though uncle who raised her after mother died and father ran away) is an utter vile human turd; or how Kellen has a twin – Kyle, who is one half of the gay coupling I mentioned above; or . . . stuff. But I’ll let people read for themselves.
For my own information-purposes, though, I include: Kellen McLin is currently mayor of McLin, though would prefer not to be. Would prefer to be running her business (she’s a tree surgeon – an arborist). And Stevie Sealy works from home writing tech manuals (mostly for electronic things, though occasionally for other things).
I really loved the chemistry on display between Kellen and Stevie.
Every time I read a Robin Alexander book, I feel like I need to go back through all of my top tier ratings shelves and rerank everything. Granted, there are a few Alexander books I’ve rated very poorly, but most seem to push the upper limits. As this one did.
Rating: 5+ (something around 5.35)
March 4 2018
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Saturday, March 3, 2018
Up on the Roof by A.L. Brooks
Up on the Roof by A.L. BrooksMy rating: 3.68 out of 5 stars
*I received this book from Ylva Publishing for an honest review*
I know I’m something of an early outlier, at least based on early ratings for the book, but I haven’t read anything yet to see how and why I’m an outlier. For, you see, despite things that probably would be off-putting to me in any other situation, I rather enjoyed both this book’s story, and the two main characters in it.
The negatives: I like cats, tis just who I am, and react vaguely badly when I see/hear/read someone being bad to cats. Lena doesn’t like cats. Yet have two of them living in her apartment. Therefore I must despise her, right? Well, oddly, I had no real trouble with Lena’s reactions to the cats – they weren’t hers, but her ex-girlfriends; she does take care of them, and give them pets (about 90 to 95% less than a cat-lover would do – pet-wise), but she’s also quite allergic to them, and needs to pump her body full of drugs to be around them. So, yeah, I can live with this type of situation – human cat situation. Plus, there were tears in her eyes when a specific moment occurred regarding the cats that I cannot mention without being spoiler-y. I think. Would it be spoiler-y? hmms. So – cats. What other ‘negatives’ do I have? Well, Lena’s quite of-putting, easy to anger, hard to forgive (Lena finds it hard to forgive, I mean), remembers the wrongs done to her, and just plain mean. Probably not anyone I want anything to do with (on the other hand, I might have just described myself, but let’s pretend I didn’t say that).
She’s socially awkward, but for different reasons than other similar characters I’ve run across. Here it’s a combination of her upbringing – bad relations with her parents, and culture, and bad horrible break-up with her ex-girlfriend that led her to be the stand-offish loner that she is. As is mentioned at some point, her personality changed when the ‘tough times’ hit her one after another. So, yes, she is different than others like her I’ve come across, in that others like her always were like that (though there’s evidence that Lena’s worse now, but still was off-putting before ‘the troubles’ began (see: stories about her childhood). This is a negative since it’s not easy to read a person like this . . . in theory. Though I mostly enjoyed her interactions with others. Especially when her feistiness caused her to call out Megan’s family for their actions. Standing up for Megan. But, let’s not get too spoiler-y, eh?
The positives: well, let’s see. I liked both Megan and Lena. Megan being the other main character (and point of view) who has a much different experience with life than Lena. Both from a family point of view (her family were quite okay with Megan being lesbian; Lena’s cut her out of their life, mostly), and from a cultural point of view (difference between being of Indian decent and not of Indian decent, though Megan has the ‘burden’, not actually seen in this book, that comes from being of Irish decent living in London (is it a burden? Is it not? Do people care one way or another? I really have no clue)). On the other hand, Megan also has had some rough times lately, see her most recent relationship. And, well, just that really. Oh, and she’s clumsy and her family call her names she dislikes but they refuse to stop calling her. But otherwise . . . . something something.
Where was I? Where was I going? Bah. No idea. I started off going down the wrong path anyway, after seeing the current overall rating and reacting. Mmphs.
My head hurts and it’s almost 1 am.
This book is set and takes place mostly in London. A few moments are spent in a nearby city (living in the USA, everything is ‘nearby’ in England) where Lena’s sister Madhu lives (and where Lena is from and where her parents also live). The time? The present.
The story? Lena lives in an apartment complex in London. The kind with, apparently, just three apartments in it. One of the apartments has been empty for a while, but the book opens with someone moving into that other apartment. Whereupon Lena and the other main character, Megan, ‘meet badly’. When Megan accidentally puts a massive scratch into Lena’s apartment door while attempting to move furniture into her new apartment. Recall how I mentioned that Lena is easy to ‘set off’ and has trouble with forgiveness? Yeah, so, here ‘meet badly’ really has meaning.
Megan, though, is a nice albeit clumsy woman, and Lena doesn’t think, 24/7, mean thoughts about her. Especially after Megan keep making overtures of friendship after Lena’s often mean words (like inviting Lena to parties). Then a storm damages Lena’s apartment and Lena now needs a place to live. Whereupon . . . I stop recounting the story or I go too far, eh?
As I said, I actually liked the two main characters. The parents of Lena’s were intended to be disliked. I didn’t specifically like Megan’s parents (father: laughing at and name-calling daughter; mother: some mean things said, albeit said with love; plus the things father did), though I think I was supposed to do so. Jen, Megan’s friend, had a presence in the story, but I didn’t really like her much either. Madhu, Lena’s one good relative, was a good side character; as was the other apartment dweller in the building – Dorothy (who everyone tiptoed around for . . . unexplained reasons – she’s pushy, argumentative, and plays loud religious music if you annoy her, but . . . two can play that game . . and stuff, so…). Hmms. Slow burn romance. There was graphic sex. Hmms. What else to note, what else to note. Hmms. High possibility I’m the outlier in liking the book, and that’s a danger to anyone coming along after me, but they probably will see the book’s overall rating so come to their own ideas pre-reading.
Rating: 3.68
ETA: (not really edited to add, but just remembered something I normally mention for whatever reason - this is the first book I've read by this author).
March 2 2018
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