Recent Reads - Someone You Can Build A Nest In

Someone You Can Build A Nest In by John Wiswell - I heard this book recommended in a podcast and it looked intriguing when I read the summary. I opted to listen to the audiobook and overall I enjoyed it. Now, how do I describe it? The cover gives young adult horror fantasy vibes, and that's certainly a start. It's not gory or graphic but certainly uncomfortable in a body horror kind of way, and there are elements that are not going to sit well with every audience.

Let me do a bit of story summary to start. The protagonist is a shapeshifting monster named Shesheshen whose hibernation is interrupted by hunters come to murder her. She manages to pull herself together - literally using discarded bones and chains and a bear trap to form a skeleton! - and fight back, but she's chased away from the ruined manor where she lives and is injured when she falls from a cliff. A human woman named Homily finds Shesheshen, and mistaking her for a fellow human, insists on nursing her back to health. Shesheshen continues in her human form disguise, using Homily's help to escape the hunters, but soon finds that she genuinely likes Homily. Homily is kind and caring, and as they grow closer Shesheshen decides Homily would make an excellent nest in which to lay her eggs. But the young would consume their host, and Shesheshen realizes that's not how humans do things.

Before Shesheshen can explain to Homily what she really is, she finds out that Homily's family - and in particular, her mother - is single-mindedly hunting the monster that put a curse on the family, and Homily is trying to help kill that monster too. Now Shesheshen is in a real predicament - she's wound up in a romantic relationship with a member of the family intent on murdering her. Shesheshen has to outwit Homily's mother, figure out why they believe they are cursed, and at some point tell Homily the truth, but the danger to them both is increasing the more time they spend with Homily's family. Plus Shesheshen really needs to lay those eggs soon.

This is a very inventive premise, with both the story telling and world-building done really well. The humor is dry and ironic, and Shesheshen's voice as the viewpoint character is both naive and ruthless. She is a surprisingly sympathetic and relatable character that happens to be a monster. Yes, she has disgusting gustatory habits, and a grossly weird ability to suck objects and animal body parts of all kinds into her naturally shapeless self and construct chains and sticks and bones into an imitation of a human shape (that's the body horror element). Seeing how humans behave from the perspective of a monster is both humorous and interesting.

I didn't care for Homily as a character. It's revealed that she has been a victim of abuse at the hands of her family, which makes her sympathetic, but I felt she was weak and insipid. Surely her tendency to accept blame, overcompensate, and attempt to earn affection was a response to how she had been "othered" and victimized, but I felt it was overdone. In general, that was what I didn't care for in this book - the effort to normalize and lionize queer and trans identities and throw in what felt like pop psychology felt heavy-handed. Although it's a fantasy setting so could be whatever the author wanted, it was all very medieval feeling except for the modern-day pop psychology. The romantic relationship between Shesheshen and Homily is a strange one because it's kind of a same-sex, but also sort of asexual, and on top of that, Shesheshen isn't human . . . so it's weird, but don't worry that it's graphic. There's one kiss, which I'm sure was intended to be very romantic, but I thought it was just incredibly awkward and wierd. 

As far as the plot and storytelling, I felt the denouement and wrap-up after the "final battle" was too long and drawn out, and didn't give any information about anyone or anything other than Shesheshen and Homily. It felt like the characters were transferred into a domestic fiction novel showing them as housemates and parents and romantic partners and to me it didn't really fit with the rest of the story. It could have been just an epilogue instead of several more chapters, in my opinion. An actual epilogue, which would be ironic, since there was a character named Epilogue! 

I'm not sorry I listened to it, because it was very entertaining, but I don't think my life has been enriched by it either. Important to note, because I do have a tag "hours I will never get back" that I give to books that I considered an actual waste of my time, and I'm NOT giving this one that designation. Entertaining, diverting, humorous, quirky, good story telling . . . just not edifying or enlightening.

From the publisher:

Shesheshen is a shapeshifter, who happily resides as an amorophous lump at the bottom of a ruined manor. When her rest is interrupted by hunters intent on murdering her, she constructs a body using a metal chain for a backbone, borrowed bones for limbs, and a bear trap as an extra mouth. However, the hunters chase Shesheshen out of her home and off a cliff. Badly hurt, she's found a nursed back to health by Homily, a warmhearted human, who has mistaken Shesheshen as a fellow human. Homily is kind and nurturing and would make an excellent coparent: an ideal place to lay Shesheshen's eggs so their young could devour Homily from the inside out. But as they grow close, she realizes humans don't think about love that way.

Shesheshen hates keeping her identity secret from Homily, but just as she's about to confess, Homily reveals why she's in the area: she's hunting a shapeshifting monster that supposedly cursed her family. Shesheshen didn't curse anyone, but to give herself and Homily a chance at happiness, she has to figure out why Homily's twisted family thinks she did. As the hunt for the monster becomes increasingly deadly, Shesheshen must unearth the truth quickly, or soon both of their lives will be at risk. And the bigger challenge remains: surviving her toxic in-laws long enough to learn to build a life with, rather than in, the love of her life.

This is a standalone novel  (#33) for The 52 Book Club's 2025 Reading Challenge.

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2025

Since I listened to most of this in October, I counted it for Pick Your Treat in the October Mini-Challenge.

This post will be linked at the current BookWorms Monthly link-up hosted by At Home A Lot

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Recent Reads - Man of Shadow & Mist

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Man of Shadow and Mist by Michelle Griep - Rosa Edwards enjoys working with her father in his subscription library and is dedicated to bringing books and education to the poorer folks in Whitby, in hopes of overcoming superstition. A chance meeting with Sir James Morgan, newly returned to Whitby, introduces her to the subject of the town's superstitious gossip though. He and his mother suffer from a disease that is stealing her sanity and life, and he is trying to find a cure or treatment. Unfortunately, his unusual behavior and circumstances are misinterpreted by the locals and he is rumored to be a vampire. Despite the friendship growing between James and Rosa, and his unfailingly gentlemanly and kind treatment of her, the danger to both of them grows as rumors spread―perhaps helped along by an enemy―and the fears of the uneducated townsfolk turn them to unreasonable hatred and threats of violence. 

Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, makes a couple of brief cameo appearances in the story, and the hereditary disease, Romanian ancestry, and gloomy estate of the Morgans all contribute to the Gothic atmosphere. There's also a 'Beauty and the Beast' feel to the characters and story. Rosa loves books and learning, and is practical, reasonable, and generous by nature. She doesn't put stock in the tales of vampires and monsters and is sure there is an explanation for the strange deaths of area livestock that doesn't involve something supernatural. Her persistence and kindness earn the respect and friendship of the reclusive and brooding Sir James, who surprises himself by being attracted to her and wanting to trust her. Because of his malady and his fears for his mother, James avoids contact with others, shutting himself off in his estate as much as possible. His trust has been betrayed before and he has seen how quickly the suspicions of others can turn vicious and hateful, so he keeps to himself. He enjoys conversation with Rosa, but he knows it would be unfair to tell her just how deeply he cares for her, thinking it would put her in danger.

The characters are compelling as they battle their hidden fears and desires, and I loved the balance between haunting suspense and developing romance. The characters' faith is challenged as well as their beliefs in human nature and the meaning of trust and community. The dangers of prejudice and becoming swept up in mob behavior, and the temptations of acting in self-preservation or fear are driving forces in the conflicts. 

I was engrossed with the story from the first page, and surely hope there will be more in this Of Monsters and Men series!

From the publisher:

"The world seems full of good men―even if there are monsters in it."

—Bram Stoker, Dracula

England, 1890

Vampires are alive and well in North Yorkshire, leastwise in the minds of the uneducated. Librarian Rosa Edwards intends to drive a stake through the heart of such superstitions. But gossip flies when the mysterious Sir James Morgan returns to his shadowy manor. The townsfolk say he is cursed.

James hates everything about England. The weather. The rumours. The scorn. Yet he must stay. His mother is dying of a disease for which he's desperately trying to find a cure—an illness that will eventually take his own life.

When Rosa sets out to prove the dark gossip about James is wrong, she discovers more questions than answers. How can she accept what she can't explain—especially the strong allure of the enigmatic man? James must battle a town steeped in fear as well as the unsettling attraction he feels for the no-nonsense librarian.

Can love prevail in a town filled with fear and doubt?

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

By the same author: The Bride of Blackfriars Lane, Lost In Darkness, The House at the End of the Moor, The Noble Guardian, Ladies of Intrigue, The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper's Daughter, The Captive Heart

This is a book that satisfies a craving for the Summer Reading Challenge.

This is a book featuring mythology (#34) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

©2008-2023 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

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Recent Reads - Frankenstein

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Frankenstein by Mary Shelley -  The opening chapters of this classic are a series of letters from Captain Robert Walton to his sister. Walton is on a ship headed - as he hopes - to the North Pole, because his ambition is to explore that area and to learn more about its magnetic properties. He sets the scene and then tells her about an unusual passenger he has taken on. While attempting to sail through the ice-blocked sea, he takes on a man that has been traveling by dog sled. This is the introduction to the sickly and almost frozen Victor Frankenstein. As the two men get to know each other and Victor starts recovering his strength, he tells his story and Walton records it.

Walton's account then transitions to the first person as he records the memoir Victor shares. Victor tells of his growing up years and his family, and his eventual arrival at university to study science. He has been fascinated with invention and biology, and his ambition is focused on the emerging knowledge of electricity and whether it is possible to use electricity to reanimate a corpse. Victor secretly toils at collecting and sewing together body parts and then comes the fateful day when he activates the charge, and the oversize human-like body he has put together does in fact come to life. But instead of feeling triumph and caring for the creature as he had planned, he is instead horrified and repulsed. In fact he spends two years denying the reality of what he had begun and pretending the monster does not exist.

Exist the monster does, however, and Victor finds it out when his younger brother is murdered, and he realizes that the monster was the killer. Things go from bad to worse as the monster takes more lives, until finally Victor confronts his creation high on a mountain. There the monster pleads his case, and tells Victor his story. Upon awakening to life and finding no help from his creator, the monster flees and is met with horror and violence whenever he is seen by humans. He finally takes refuge in a little lean-to where he spends several months observing the family that live in the cottage. In this way he is educated, and he learns about human relationships. However, when he tries to befriend the cottagers, the reaction is once again disgust and violence, so the monster destroys the cottage and vows to find his creator and take revenge.

The monster demands that Victor make a wife for him, and at first Victor agrees, but after moving to a remote island for this task he fears that even more evil could result and destroys the female before she is animated. The monster retaliates by taking more lives of Victor's family, and finally Victor determines that he must hunt down the monster and destroy it himself. It is on this chase that he is found by Captain Walton, and after the entire story has been told, it also ends aboard the ship.

I read this novel and studied it along with students in my high school literature co-op class, and we had some lively discussions about Victor's actions, strengths, and weaknesses; and about whether he had any responsibility to the monster he created.

Our discussion and study was guided by the textbook Illuminating Literature: Characters in Crisis from Writing with Sharon Watson.

This is re-read for the Modern Mrs. Darcy 2020 Reading Challenge.

 ©2008-2020 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

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Recent Reads - The War of the Worlds

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War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells - I vaguely remembered reading this pioneer work of science fiction when I was in high school, but it was so long ago that this was really like a first-time read. We studied this book in the Lit class I'm teaching at a homeschool co-op.

The unnamed narrator of this classic opens by setting the backdrop, explaining his acquaintance with scientists and their observation of the planet Mars. Several anomalies observed on Mars are unexplained, until meteorites that land in the English countryside turn out to be cylinders containing extra-terrestrial visitors from Mars. The local gawking and fascination soon gives way to panic when the Martians begin using a heat-ray to wipe out entire towns and terrorize the area in their strange walking metal transports.

The narrator manages to get his wife to relative safety, then returns to their hometown to find it destroyed. On his flight out of danger, he is thrown together with an hysterical curate and trapped in a partially demolished house right next to a new Martian landing place. From their dangerous vantage point, they are able to observe the Martians somewhat more closely, and eventually the narrator escapes, still determined to find his wife. 

He arrives in London to find it mostly in ruins and with very few inhabitants, but soon learns that the Martians are not invincible after all.

The girls in my class and I agreed that although the early parts of the book were slow going, we felt it was a worthwhile read and found that it definitely got more interesting as we went. 

©2008-2019 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

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Recent Reads - The Picture of Dorian Gray

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The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - It seems to me this classic isn't very well known, but it's really very interesting. Many people are familiar with the general theme or storyline of most classic novels, even if they haven't read the book, but I've found that not many folks know Dorian Gray's name - none of the students in my high school writing classes this year or last had even heard of it. And to be honest, I knew very little about it until I first watched the movie The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen many years ago!

The story opens with a conversation between artist Basil Hallward and his friend Lord Henry Wotten. A young man who is sitting for a portrait by Hallward has become somewhat of a favorite of his, being particularly handsome, and Hallward looks upon this Dorian Gray as a kind of muse. When Dorian arrives, Lord Henry regales him with his own irreverent and eccentric opinions, beginning to exert his influence. Soon Lord Henry has taken him under his wing, and it is quickly seen that this is probably not a good thing for Dorian's reputation or moral character.

Subtly encouraged by Lord Henry, Dorian decides to live only for his own pleasure, and this leads him to a prideful and selfish mistreatment of a young actress he thought he loved. When he arrives home after this fateful evening, he discovers the portrait of himself has changed slightly and indicates something of his cruelty, although his own appearance remains youthful and innocent. He remembers that in a moment of passion, he had wished that he would always retain his youth and beauty and that the portrait would bear the marks of age, and to his horror he realizes that this strange prayer seems to have been answered. Dorian also finds that it is too late to make amends with the young woman, and again influenced by Lord Henry, continues to live selfishly, seeing that the portrait - now hidden away so that only he can see it - shows all the sins and immorality he engages in while his face is unchanged.

His behavior continues for years, as he lives a sort of double life, engaging in debauchery of all kinds but seeming quite ageless. Then Basil Hallward pays him a visit and confronts him about the rumours of his horrid behavior, and Dorian finally shows Hallward the painting and how it has changed. When Hallward pleads with Dorian to mend his ways, Dorian is enraged and murders the painter. He then must cover up his crime, and manages to do so for several months, but eventually conscience and the increasing risk of detection work upon Dorian's mind until he tries to destroy the painting. The picture of Dorian Gray has by this time become a hideous, aged, and ugly thing; but as the ageless and beautiful Dorian slashes it with the murder weapon, the effect is reversed. When the servants break down the door they find the original painting slashed, and an ugly old man dead.

The novel is haunting and dark in many places, and raises the question of whether our physical appearance hides or reveals our character. Can the ugliness of a wicked soul be seen on a face? Although Dorian is his own worst enemy, what is Lord Henry's responsibility? Lord Henry sees himself as conducting an experiment of influence, and he sits back and watches as the philosophies he teaches to this young protege destroy lives, and thinks it amusing. For me, that is the unsatisfying aspect of the story - that Lord Henry has ruined Dorian Gray and countless other lives for his amusement, and he seems to get away with it.

This book is a Classic for the Full House Reading Challenge 2018 hosted by The Book Date.

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Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition! October 6, 2017

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Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition!

Welcome to another Book Blogger Hop question. Visit Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer to see the responses from other book bloggers.

Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein are both considered classics. Have you ever read either of them? 

I have read - and enjoyed - both of them! I've read Dracula several times, and it's actually among my favorite novels. I've only read Frankenstein once, and I found it a bit more disturbing, but still a very good read. Now that I've been reminded, I think I will want to read Dracula again very soon!

This is the book review I wrote after my first reading of Dracula as an adult: Recent Reads: Bram Stoker's Dracula

Dracula by Bram Stoker



 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

  

©2008-2017 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads - Odd Thomas - #collaboreads

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Odd Thomas: An Odd Thomas Novel by Dean Koontz - This novel - and this author! - is not in my preferred genre of reading material, but the #collaboreads challenge for December was to read something that is a friend's favorite, and Dean Koontz happens to be one of my husband's favorite authors. Where better to get a book recommendation than from my spouse!

I started with Odd Thomas: You Are Destined to Be Together Forever because I already had it on my Kindle (I had acquired it for hubby to read some time ago!) and I initially thought it was a novella. Turns out it is only a short story, so I definitely felt like I needed to read more in order for it to 'count' in the #collaboreads challenge. And I did find it interesting. This story was published just before the conclusion to the Odd Thomas series, but it takes place prior to the first novel, so for me it served the purpose of introducing the characters and giving me a taste of what I'd be in for. In it, Odd (for that is his given name, not an adjective to describe him!) and his girlfriend Stormy, are met by the ghost of a recently murdered man that only Odd can see, which leads them to a cabin where two women need their help. Odd is able to figure out how the man was killed and set things right. The other event in the story, and the inspiration for the title, is that when Odd and Stormy finally make it to the fair (their destination before being met by the ghost), they receive the fortune teller's card assuring them that they are destined to be together forever.

Now back to Odd Thomas: An Odd Thomas Novel - This introduces the character Odd Thomas and the story is told from his perspective. He is a young man from a deeply dysfunctional family who has the ability to see ghosts. He interacts with dead people almost as a matter of routine, and views his ability as both a gift and at times a curse. He explains that when a spirit lingers, it is because they are not ready to move on to the next world, and sometimes it is because there is some injustice surrounding their passing. Odd's sixth sense often allows him to understand the spirits well enough that he is compelled to help resolve the issue and protect those still living. Very few people know of his paranormal ability - Stormy and the Chief of Police being two of the most important.

In the opening chapters, Odd has several strange encounters that serve to set the stage, and he particularly notices a new character in town that he refers to as Fungus Man, and that his sixth sense indicates is very bad news. Even more disturbing, Odd sees an unusual number of bodachs, which he describes as sort of spiritual beings that revel in some kind of energy surrounding death and evil. Of course, no one else can see what he does, but Odd has an increasing conviction that the presence of the bodachs and the other strange happenings indicate that something incredibly evil and disastrous will happen soon, something that will result in the death of huge numbers of people. Odd pursues the leads from his sixth sense mostly on his own, compelled to do whatever he can to find out what is planned and to stop it if at all possible.

There are many twists and turns in the story, and many weird and wonderful characters, along with a rather surprising ending. Overall, although this was a bit of a departure from the genre I usually read, I did enjoy it and wouldn't be opposed to continuing in the series.

Riveting. {What part of the book could you NOT get enough of?} I really enjoyed all of the 'good guy' characters, and the wry humor throughout. As narrator, Odd Thomas is often self-deprecating, and the descriptions of people and events seen through his eyes are quirky and unusual. I liked the relationships he had with the people he loved - those few people that knew of his ability. 

Elements. {How did you relate to/care for the characters?} Odd is a very likable character who cares very deeply for his few trusted friends, and he is sensitive and compassionate when he deals with the troubled folks around him. For example, his landlady needs Odd's assurance each morning that she is still visible. She fears that one day she will inexplicably turn invisible. Many people would see her as mentally unbalanced, but Odd understands that it's how she has dealt with the sudden unexpected deaths of her close family and he takes seriously his role in calming her worries first thing every morning, and does so with great kindness. Odd's other close friends - particularly Stormy, Chief Porter, and Little Ozzie - are also very likable and sympathetic characters.

Associate. {What other books are like this one? Does it remind you of a TV show or movie with its themes and characters? Did it serendipitously line up with things going on in your life or in the news right now?} I guess there are probably all kinds of shows and movies with related themes, but none in particular came to mind. However, I often thought about the many large-scale terrorist attacks in recent months and years as I was reading about Odd's growing fear that Fungus Man had a huge killing spree in mind, and as Odd moved closer to the horrific event and his determination to avert the disaster even as he realized that time was running out. That association was rather disturbing to me on occasion, but made me appreciate what must be a similar sense among our law enforcement and intelligence personnel sometimes - having pieces of information that indicate terrorist plots but will they be able to put those pieces together in time to thwart the planned attack or have enough evidence to convict a terrorist or criminal and keep them from harming anyone else. 

Design. {You know you judged this book by the cover. What did you think of it? How did it relate to the contents of the novel?} I was much more drawn to the cover art for the short story, as it gave more clues to story elements. The cover of the novel is less interesting to me, although the enigmatic expression and focus on the eye in the depiction of Odd are hard to turn away from. I always think it's strange when an author's name is so much larger on the cover than the title of the book. To me, that's backwards.

Stars. {How many out of five do you give this book? Would you recommend this book to a friend?} I could give this four and a half stars. It is an incredibly well-crafted story from a respected and gifted author, and I'd have to say it's a mark of a great story when it keeps me turning pages and enjoying it even though it's not in my wheelhouse, so to speak. For readers who like stories with paranormal elements, this is obviously an excellent choice; but for readers who prefer a more gentle story without the elements of evil, I wouldn't recommend this.

This review is linked at Rachel A. Dawson for #collaboreads (December's theme was A FRIEND'S FAVORITE)

The topic for December is "A FRIEND'S FAVORITE" and we hope you'll ask a friend for a must-read recommendation, get your hands on a copy, read it throughout December, and link up with your review on December 28!

©2008-2016 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads - The Phantom of the Opera #Collaboreads October 2015

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The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux - Even those who have never attended the Broadway show or seen an entire movie version have a general idea of how the story goes. I had never read the book, so I thought the latter part of October - and the October #collaboreads challenge - would be a good time to get it done. The novel is written as if a collection of eyewitness accounts and research by a crime historian. In fact, author Leroux was a French journalist and author of crime fiction before writing The Phantom of the Opera; and was even involved in an investigation and coverage of an opera house in Paris that later became a ballet house. The basement of that opera house had a cell that once held prisoners in the Paris Commune during the Franco-Prussian War.

The story features a young Swedish singer, Christine Daae. When her musician father died, he had promised her a protective Angel of Music to guide her, and from that time she lived in the Paris Opera House. Eventually she began hearing a voice which taught her to sing beautifully, and which she assumed to be the promised Angel. Later her childhood friend Raoul sees her on the opera stage, and they renew their friendship. The voice, which belongs to the deformed, murderous 'ghost' (Erik) of the opera house, grows extremely jealous. Erik's anger and violence escalates, until Christine disappears, and her fiance Raoul must partner with a mysterious Persian from Erik's past in an attempt to save her and the entire opera from the disaster planned by the 'opera ghost'.

Riveting. {What part of the book could you NOT get enough of?}  I loved some of the dry humor, especially near the beginning. I would have liked to know more about the Persian. He seemed like a character deserving of his own novel.

Elements. {How did you relate to/care for the characters?} It actually surprised me how much I liked and cared about Christine and Raoul. Although under the threatening influence of Erik, Christine showed strength and courage. Once Raoul was convinced that Christine was not playing him false, he was admirably single-minded in his determination to protect her. And the Persian - he was fascinating, and I would have liked to know more about him and his background.

Associate. {What other books are like this one? Does it remind you of a TV show or movie with its themes and characters? Did it serendipitously line up with things going on in your life or in the news right now?} Of course I pictured the characters, especially Erik, as they were portrayed on stage and in film, in particular the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical.

Design. {You know you judged this book by the cover. What did you think of it? How did it relate to the contents of the novel?} I happened to read the generic cover version for Kindle, but again, I was usually picturing the cover based on the musical. This one. And I love this cover, although the mask shown in this cover tends to make Erik look more like a tragic hero character deserving of sympathy; whereas in my opinion the novel portrayed him as a much darker and a very evil character.

Stars. {How many out of five do you give this book? Would you recommend this book to a friend?} I'd give it four out of five stars. It's a classic example of Gothic horror, with fantastical suspense.

This review is linked at Rachel A. Dawson for #collaboreads (October's theme was Thriller or Horror published before 2010.)

©2008-2015 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Book Blogger Hop - Halloween Edition - October 2, 2015

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It's one of those weeks where I've actually remembered the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. And I'm glad I did, because for the month of October, the theme is so fun - Halloween Edition!

Here is this week's question:

You're volunteering to read a book to a group of young children at a library. What scary themed book for kids would you read to them?

No question about it - I would read The Monster at the End of This Book. It's scary but it's not, and kids love it. I remember reading this over and over to my little sister, and as a mom I read it countless times to my own kids. And I do a pretty good Grover voice, by the way.

©2008-2015 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads - The Legend of the Firefish

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The Legend of the Firefish by George Bryan Polivka - I first read the Trophy Chase Trilogy several years ago, and I enjoyed it just as much this time around - probably the third time I've read it. The story has elements of fantasy and adventure, and the characters include pirates, swordsmen, and a warrior with a thirst for revenge.

Packer Throme wants to help the people of his fishing village, and thinks he can do that by partnering with the notorious pirate Scat Wilkins in hunting the legendary firefish. Packer's father had passed along his theories about the firefish feeding grounds, and it's this information that Packer hopes to broker with Wilkins in order to more successfully hunt the dangerous fish. He stows away on Wilkins' ship, unleashing a series of events that put him and the crew in danger; and puts the life of his fiancee Panna Seline at risk as well.

Panna has a vivid dream in which Packer is in danger, so she tries to follow him, stumbling directly into the path of Talon, the Drammune warrior who has determined to take her revenge against Packer by killing Panna. She deceives Panna into an uneasy partnership, and the two of them head for the capital city.

Neither Packer nor Panna know for sure that the other is still alive, but they each set out on a mission to protect the other, knowing only that the dangers they face are real and deadly.

©2008-2015 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {Beauty and the Beast}

Beauty and the Beast (Faerie Tale Collection) by Jenni James - Beauty and the Beast is a fairy tale that I particularly like because of its message of judging people based on character rather than appearance. And I admit, the Disney version remains my favorite of their princess movies. I also really enjoyed this telling of the classic tale, in which the handsome but arrogant Prince Alexander is cursed to be transformed into a beastly wolf at night. He has one year in which to have a lady love him in his werewolf form or he will become a beast forever. The 'beauty' is Cecelia, and as we meet her she is looking forward to receiving a proposal of marriage from a nobleman who has been courting her. Unfortunately, this man has no intention of marrying her because she has no title, and instead tells her of his upcoming wedding to someone else. Everyone in the village has been expecting Cecelia's engagement to him, so she becomes the object of ridicule and spends more or her time alone in the woods. On the night that she goes there to cry over her embarrassment and betrayal, Alexander (as the wolf) happens upon her and tries to comfort her. Of course she first reacts with fear, but to his surprise she seems to accept his offer of friendship, and he begins to hope that she will be able to break the spell. During the daytimes, Alexander visits her as the prince, and tries to make amends for his previous boorish behavior towards her, and expresses his interest in courting her. Cecelia does not quite trust him, but is inexplicably drawn to him as well; and must sort out her conflicting feelings about him and her relationship with the wolf.

I actually enjoyed this story more than the first in this collection that I read, because the characters were more well-rounded and both of the principles had to undergo change and growth in order to advance the story. I thought it was an interesting twist to have the curse affect the prince only at night, because even while he was winning Cecelia's affections as himself, he also had to consider that it was his beast form that she had to love in order to break the spell. He was, in effect, competing against himself for her affection which set up some interesting conflict.

By the same author: Sleeping Beauty

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {Libriomancer}

Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines - Credit my library's feature shelf for another step out of my usual reading confines.  I saw this one and couldn't help being intrigued.  Hines is an experienced fantasy writer, and this is Book One in a new series from him - Magic Ex Libris. In it, we are introduced to Isaac Vainio, a librarian in Michigan, who is also secretly cataloguing books with magical potential.  He is not only a librarian, but a member of a secret organization of Porters founded centuries ago by Johannes Gutenberg to protect the world from supernatural threats.  Isaac is a type of magician known as a libriomancer - he can reach into books and create objects from the stories - but he has been ordered not to use this skill except in an emergency.  When a trio of vampires attacks him in the library because they believe he has been killing their kind, he has only his magic and the help of a dryad named Lena Greenwood to help him.  Oh - and his pet fire-spider named Smudge.  Isaac and Lena work to find out who or what is killing vampires and magicians, and soon realize that they are up against an unknown killer with incredible power, and that they cannot even count on the Porters to help.  To make matters even worse, Gutenberg himself has disappeared.  Isaac continues to search for the Gutenberg, and the killer, and the connection between the two, and he will need all his libriomancer skills and the guts to experiment with magic and take some crazy risks if he is to succeed.

I think this book would appeal to book-lovers who appreciate imaginative fantasy fiction.  The story is full of literary and historic references and involves magic, mythology, science fiction, vampires, and more.  There are mild profanities in many places, and some readers may be offended by references to immoral relationships, but there is nothing graphic that would be offensive, in my opinion.

Recent Reads {Mr Darcy, Vampyre}{Pride and Prejudice and Zombies}

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange - after reading (and loving!) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies I couldn't resist checking out some other tangents to the Jane Austen classic.  This one was a quick, light read; and just like the zombie version, it's surprising how well the characters and storyline lend themselves to these "monstrous" adaptations! 



Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith - I decided to just include this one here too, since it's the same general idea - take a classic piece of literature and adapt it as a cheap horror thriller.  LOL  We chose this as our book club pick several months ago and all enjoyed it immensely.  We followed up the reading by watching one of the movie versions of Pride and Prejudice (the one with Colin Firth, we all agreed it was our favorite of the movie adaptations) and imagined the zombie appearances where they showed up in the book.  Great fun!

My apologies to the Jane Austen "purists" who are properly horrified at these treatments of her work, but I thoroughly enjoyed both of these, and am planning to read similar works such as Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters...  :-)