December 2014 – Page 2 – Looking For a Good Book

December 10, 2014

KILL SHAKESPEARE VOLUME 4: THE MASK OF NIGHT – graphic novel

What is happening to the Kill Shakespeare series? I feel as though there is nothing to review here with this issue. Hamlet, Juliet, Othello, and Shakespeare are on a ship, Captained by a masked Cessario whose first mate is Viola. Cessario and Viola and crew appear to be pirates, but pirates who are afraid of Continue reading

GRAPHIC NOVEL, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Graphic Novels, Reviews

December 9, 2014

THE BURNING GIRL – Lisa Unger

Number two in the “Whispers” short stories series by Lisa Unger, “The Burning Girl” is a highly charged follow-up the first story, “The Whispers.” Now, ten years after the events in the first story, Eloise has moved on from the devastating loss of her husband and one of her daughters, and she has learned to Continue reading

Dark Fantasy/Horror, MYSTERY, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Horror/Dark Fantasy, Mystery, Reviews, Short Stories

December 8, 2014

FROSTBITE HOTEL – Karin Adams

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a good book aimed at that older elementary school reader. Karin Adams delivers with a winter-themed Frostbite Hotel. In this story, Kirby Katz dreams of being as successful as business entrepreneur William T. Williamson. Kirby faithfully follows Williamson’s advice from his “how-to” book. Kirby decides to start on his path to Continue reading

CHILDREN’S, Uncategorized, YA

Book Reviews, Books, Children’s Books, Reviews, Young Adult

December 5, 2014

THE YEAR’S BEST FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION 2014 – Rich Horton, ed

I’ve come to realize just how vital is the role of editor in a ‘best of’ series such as this. Not too long I reviewed The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume 8 (2014). What is the difference between that collection and this one? The stories, as selected by the editor. You Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Short Stories

December 4, 2014

DENSLOW’S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS – Clement Clarke Moore & W.W. Denslow

THROWBACK THURSDAY: REVIEWING A REISSUE There’s something I find wonderfully appealing about Victorian Era children’s book art (though, yes, technically speaking, this would be in the Edwardian period as it was published in 1902 … but Denslow was certainly famous for his work during the Victorian period). There’s a great deal of whimsical fantasy, the Continue reading

CHILDREN’S, Uncategorized, YA

Art, Book Reviews, Books, Children’s Books, Holiday, Picture books, Reviews, Young Adult

December 3, 2014

JIM BUTCHER’S DRESDEN FILES: WAR CRY – graphic novel

First…kudos to Dynamite Publishing for understanding that ‘novel’ is part of ‘graphic novel’ and that the story within the covers, even though it represents a number of single issues of a comic book, is a complete story arc. That wasn’t too hard to do now, was it? In this book, wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden is enlisted Continue reading

GRAPHIC NOVEL, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Graphic Novels, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

December 2, 2014

ALL THAT GLITTERS – Michael Murphy

Not too long ago I reviewed the first book in the Jake & Laura Mystery series, The Yankee Club, and gave it a rare full five stars rating. All That Glitters is author Michael Murphy’s follow-up, with the story picking up right on the heels of The Yankee Club‘s ending. In this venture, Jake & Continue reading

MYSTERY, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Mystery, Reviews

December 1, 2014

ODDKINS – Dean R. Koontz

Initially I was going to refer to this as a dark version of Toy Story. But Toy Story is actually pretty dark. Instead, I would call this Toy Story with an edge. Isaac Bodkins is an old toy maker who specializes in toys for special children who face extremely difficult lives and need an extra Continue reading

CHILDREN’S, Uncategorized, YA

Book Reviews, Books, Children’s Books, SF/Fantasy, Young Adult