Bad Cree

Today's post is on Bad Cree by Jessica Johns. It is 259 pages long and is published by Doubleday. The cover is white on top and red with trees reaching up into the sky on bottom. The intended reader is someone who likes slow burn horror and heavy topic plots. There is some foul language, no sex, and mild horror violence in this novel. The story is told from first person close of the main character, Mackenzie. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- In this gripping debut tinged with supernatural horror, a young Cree woman's dreams lead her on a perilous journey of self-discovery that ultimately forces her to confront the toll of a legacy of violence on her family, her community and the land they call home.
When Mackenzie wakes up with a severed crow's head in her hands, she panics. Only moments earlier she had been fending off masses of birds in a snow-covered forest. In bed, when she blinks, the head disappears.
Night after night, Mackenzie's dreams return her to a memory from before her sister Sabrina's untimely death: a weekend at the family's lakefront campsite, long obscured by a fog of guilt. But when the waking world starts closing in, too--a murder of crows stalks her every move around the city, she wakes up from a dream of drowning throwing up water, and gets threatening text messages from someone claiming to be Sabrina--Mackenzie knows this is more than she can handle alone.
Traveling north to her rural hometown in Alberta, she finds her family still steeped in the same grief that she ran away to Vancouver to escape. They welcome her back, but their shaky reunion only seems to intensify her dreams--and make them more dangerous.
What really happened that night at the lake, and what did it have to do with Sabrina's death? Only a bad Cree would put their family at risk, but what if whatever has been calling Mackenzie home was already inside?

Review- While this novel is a horror novel, the horror is very slow build. The main plot is really about Mackenzie dealing with her grief and guilt. When her sister suddenly dying, Mackenzie couldn't handle it and she  shut off everything from home. But now the past is coming for her and if she will not deal with it, the past will take all her family to. This was a really good read, interesting characters, and the horror is very slow building so when it hit the page, it is very strong. There is some body horror with the monster at the end but  it added to the over all dread and intensity. The family  dynamics are interesting and feel real, they add so much to the character development Mackenzie. This was a great debut novel and I look forward to reading what Johns writes next. 

I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this novel from my local library.

Queen's Quality, vol 4

Today's post is in Queen's Quality, vol 4 by Kyousuke Motomi. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Fumi on it in a crown with the queen of hearts card in her hand. As it is both the fourth volume in a series and the second series following these characters, you need to have read the previous volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes urban fantasy, shojo manga, and magical girls. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of Fumi and Kyutaro. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Bug handler Ataru offers Kyutaro a deal- he'll reveal everything about Fumi's past if Kyutaro will do what he asks in exchange. Although Kyutaro knows this must be a trap, he goes to see Ataru... what devastating effect will Ataru's evil plan have on Kyutaro and Fumi?

Review- This is just the start and Kyutaro is never fooled by Ataru. In fact the plan is try and clean out his heart, so that Ataru can be saved from his madness. Ataru is being controlled by the real bad guys and he does not even know Fumi, he is making Fumi take another's place in his mind. But that is also part of the bad guys plans, they want Fumi and Kyutaro to try and cleanse Ataru and that is where the volume ends. This world is very interesting and I enjoy how Motomi is revealing it to the reader. She does not overwhelm the reader will all the details and magic at once but gives the information bit by bit, so that the reader learns as Fumi does. I look forward to the next volume. 

I give this volume a Four out of Five stats. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer

Today's fiction post is on Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer by Casey Gilly and Joe Jaro (Illustrator). It is 112 pages long and is published by BOOM! Studios. The cover has Buffy with her back to the reader in a ravaged landscape. The intended reader is someone who likes Buffy the Vampire Slayer and dystopian settings. There is mild foul language, no sex, and action violence in this graphic novel. The story is told from third person close, following Buffy mostly. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- It’s the final Slayer tale in this apocalyptic Buffy The Vampire Slayer adventure like you’ve never seen before!
On an alternate earth ravaged by climate change, vampires daywalk unimpeded under a polluted sky. But even amidst the dystopian harmony between the vampire regime and their human cattle, a hardened, 50-year-old Buffy Summers stumbles across hope in the form of a little girl that believes she is the last Slayer. A rebellion is brewing—a new Scooby gang for Buffy, led by a secret leader. Can this familiar face, along with Buffy and the rebellion, turn the tide by bringing back the sun through science… and possibly even magic?
The Multiverse explodes as writer Casey Gilly (Star Wars, My Little Pony) and artist Joe Jaro (Firefly) along with colorist Joana LaFuente (Fence) and letterer Ed Dukeshire (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) bring you a dystopian tale of Buffy Summers as you’ve never seen her before! Collects Buffy The Last Vampire Slayer #1-4.

Review- This is a great, fast-paced story starring Buffy in a new dystopian way. Vampires and other creatures of the night can now walk in the daytime because something made the sun less powerful. In addition in an act of terrorism, all other Slayers were killed, leaving Buffy the last one. She is in hiding because she is a danger the 'peace' with the creatures of the night. But fate loves Buffy and is not going to let her die quietly. I had a really good time with this graphic novel, it had everything I wanted. From good action scenes to Buffy and Spike together again and unique world to explore. The ending is good and quite final but I would like to see more and see what trouble Buffy, Spike, and the new Scoobies can get into. I would recommend this graphic novel. 

I give this graphic novel a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this graphic novel from my local library.

An Admirable Point: A Brief History of the Exclamation Mark!

Today's nonfiction post is on An Admirable Point: A Brief History of the Exclamation Mark! by Florence Hazrat. It is 176 pages long and is published by David R. Godine, Publisher. The cover is bright yellow with a purple exclamation mark in the center and the title on either side. The intended reader is someone who is interested in the history of punctuation. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- The history of the both loved and hated punctuation mark—from Beowulf to spam emails, ee cummings to neuroscience.
Few punctuation marks elicit quite as much love or hate as the exclamation mark. It's bubbly and exuberant, an emotional amplifier whose flamboyantly dramatic gesture lets the reader here be feelings! Scott Fitzgerald famously stated exclamation marks are like laughing at your own joke; Terry Pratchett had a character say that multiple !!! are a 'sure sign of a diseased mind'. So what's the deal with ! ?
An Admirable Point recuperates the exclamation mark from its much maligned place at the bottom of the punctuation hierarchy. It explores how ! came about in the first place some six hundred years ago, and uncovers the many ways in which ! has left its mark on art, literature, (pop) culture, and just about any sphere of human activity.
Whether you think it's over-used, or enthusiastically sprinkle your writing with it, ! is inescapable.

Review- This is a very fun book about the history of the exclamation mark. The mark has many names from The screamer to the Bang, has the mark jumps out at the reader from the page. The Bang is not as old as most punctuation but it has a more tumultuous history. From being called as unneeded and unwanted to being seen as a rude mark, the Bang has quite a history. The writing is very good with lots of humor about the subject and how passionate people have gotten about a mark on paper, not even the words, just the mark itself. The research is solid with good notes at the back. Hazrat clearly has great love for punctuation and the Bang in particular. I hope that she writes another book because I really enjoyed this one. 

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

The Remarried Empress, Vol. 3

Today's manga post is on The Remarried Empress, Vol. 3 by Alphatart. It is 288 pages long and is published by Ize Press. The cover has Navier, Prince Heinrey, the Emperor, and the Grand Duke on it. As it is the third volume in the series, you need to have read the first two volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who like their love stories to have politics and some magic in it. There is mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the manga- "I wonder what it would feel like if there was someone who couldn't think straight because of me."
Secrets and schemes are swirling around the palace... and when people are playing with fire, someone's bound to get burned. Navier is doing her best to manager the flames, but when a magic potion leave Grand Duke Kaufman spellbound, Sovieshu's misconceptions about her love life spiral out of control! Meanwhile, Rasha is all but fanning the inferno- though if Duckess Tuania's admirer has his way, the mistress will soon face the consequences of her malicious ploys. And Heinrey's blazing passion for Navier may have to be put the back burner when news of his brother's ill health reaches the Eastern Empire. Will the empress and prince be pulled apart before they can be pushed together...?

Review- Navier continues to try and save both her face and her marriage but when Rashta is confirmed to pregnant, everything in the palace shifts. As Navier has never been pregnant, Sovieshu's is very excited about his first child, even if the child couldn't inherit the throne. But that adds more stress to the relationships in play. Navier is doing her best but will so many working against her in the background, she has no chance.  Heinrey is pulled away as his older brother is dying but all he can think about is Navier. I like that the author is giving Rashta's perspective on why she is acting like she is. It does not excuse her poor behavior but it gives some insight into her. But I am getting sick with Sovieshu being a jerk to Navier and, unlike Rashta, we have no idea why he is behaving as he is. I look forward to getting to the where the series starts because I am over Sovieshu and his bad behavior. 

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Clown in a Cornfield

Today's fiction post is on Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare. It is 346 pages long and is published by Harper Teen. The cover is red with a clown face design in a cornfield and building in the distance behind. The intended reader is someone who likes teen slasher horror novels. There is mild foul language, no sex, and lots of violence in this novel. The story is told from third person close moving from character to character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Quinn Maybrook just wants to make it until graduation. She might not make it to morning.
Quinn and her father moved to tiny, boring Kettle Springs to find a fresh start. But ever since the Baypen Corn Syrup Factory shut down, Kettle Springs has cracked in half. On one side are the adults, who are desperate to make Kettle Springs great again, and on the other are the kids, who want to have fun, make prank videos, and get out of Kettle Springs as quick as they can.
Kettle Springs is caught in a battle between old and new, tradition and progress. It’s a fight that looks like it will destroy the town. Until Frendo, the Baypen mascot, a creepy clown in a pork-pie hat, goes homicidal and decides that the only way for Kettle Springs to grow back is to cull the rotten crop of kids who live there now.

Review- This is a very fun, quick read for spooky season. From the prologue all the way to the end, this novel is a very fun ride. Quinn and her father are new in town and they are still grieving the loss of their mother/wife.  They get thrown into the deep end of town craziness right away and it never stops. Quinn is a good main character, she is smart but knows when she is over her head. The side characters are interesting and the motives behind the killing is very teen horror movie but it's in a good, fun way. Cesare knows what he is writing and has fun with it. I would like to read more from him. If you like teen slasher movies or books, then you should give this novel a try. 

I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this novel from my local library.

Nakam: The Holocaust Survivors Who Sought Full-Scale Revenge

Today's nonfiction post is on Nakam: The Holocaust Survivors Who Sought Full-Scale Revenge by Dina Porat. It is 400 pages long and is published by Stanford University Press. The cover has the title in red and pipes all around. The intended reader is someone who is interested in forgotten post World War II history. There is mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. 

From the dust jacket- Nakam (Hebrew for "Vengeance") tells the story of "The Avengers" (Nokmim), a group of young Holocaust survivors led by poet and resistance fighter Abba Kovner, who undertook a mission of revenge against Germany following the crimes of the Holocaust. Motivated by both the atrocities they had endured and the realization that murderous antisemitic attacks on survivors continued long after the Nazi surrender, these fifty young men and women sought retaliation at a level commensurate with the devastation caused by the Holocaust, making clear to the world that Jewish blood would no longer be shed with impunity. If successful, they would have poisoned city water supplies and loaves of bread distributed to German POWs, with the aim of killing six million Germans.
While the Avengers' story began to come to light in the 1980s, details of the relations between the group and Zionist leadership and the motivations of its members have remained unknown. Drawing on rich archival sources and in-depth interviews with the Avengers in their later years, historian Dina Porat examines the formation of the group and the clash between the formative humanistic values held by its members and their unrealized plans for violent retaliation.

Review- The book is based on first hand interviews and documents from the Nakam themselves. Porat spent years interviewing, reading, and researching the 'Avengers' and their mission and it shows. Porat does a wonderful job bringing this forgotten history into the light. She helps the reader understand the feelings of the Nakam and the world that they have survived and the new world that they felt lost in. We follow the Nakam from the founding of their order to the end of their lives and the peace that they finally found in living. I will warn that this is a more academic text, so at times it is very slow, but the people the story is about is very compelling. I would recommend this book if you are interested in World War II history. 

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library. 

Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 4

Today's manga post is on Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 4 by Gyeoeul Gwon and SUOL (Artist). It is 272 pages long and is published by Ize Press. The cover has Penelope and Callisto on it heading into a forest. As it is the fourth volume in the series, you need to have read the first three volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes mysteries and determined female leads. There is mild foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this volume. The story is told from third person close mostly following Penelope. There Be Spoilers Ahead. 

From the back of the book- "When I'm with you, there's truly never a dull moment."
The Hunt is on! Penelope heads off to the small-game area in hopes of finding a present for Eckles... only to run into a hostile bear! Armed with desperation and a crossbow, Penelope holds it off, until Callisto unexpectedly comes to her rescue. Despite his heroism, Penelope wants nothing but to get away from the seemingly obsessed, definitely dangerous crown prince. Fate has other plans, though- someone has sent assassins after Callisto, and Penelope is not caught in the cross fire, tasked by the game system to protect him. Still, this might just be a chance to raise his affection... if they can make it out with their lives, that is!

Review- So much happens in this volume, from Penelope learning about Callisto's life to learning more about the ancient wizards and the cult of the Laila. By the end of the volume she has much to consider and she still has to save her own life. But Penelope is not the one who learns in this volume, Callisto learns about her and it changes his opinion of her. He is beginning to see that Penelope is so much more than the rumors about her. The plot of this series is so strong and interesting plus add in how great the characters are, this series just has it all. If you are looking for romance, this story is not it.  There is a love story but this is a survival story with romance in the background. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next volume. 

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money. 

Lois Lane: Enemy of the People

Today's post is on Lois Lane: Enemy of the People by Greg Rucka. It is 304 pages long and is published by DC Comics. The cover has Lois Lane on it doing a Superman pose. The intended reader is someone who likes comics, Lois Lane, and mysteries. There is some mild foul language, no sexuality, and mild violence in this comic. The story is told from third person close moving as needed for the story. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Lois Lane has uncovered the story of the century... if she can prove it!
Out of Metropolis and on the road- and carrying a secret that could change the DC Universe forever- journalist Lois Lane embarks on a harrowing journey to uncover a global conspiracy. She's chasing a plot that reaches the highest levels of international power brokers and world leaders. And she's doing it without the Man of Steel's aid.
With their relationship currently dominating the tabloids, Superman isn't the best backup for her while she's trying to lie low. Instead, she's joined by Renee Montoya, a.k.a. the Questions. As the duo digs deeper, the threats around them grow. Someone obviously wants Lois Lane dead, but is she a target because of what she already knows or because of what she's close to finding out?

Review- A very fun and interesting comic that knows how to use Lois. Lois is a reporter and she is best when she is on the trail of a big story that no one wants her to discover. Lois is trying to uncover what is behind a string of people who cannot remember who they are. Add in some political drama of the government behaving badly and Lois has a hit out on her. Of course, she doesn't let that stop her, no instead Lois uses that to find the answers to her story. It is not all Lois all the time, her relationship with Renee Montoya adds depth to the story with them working to together and fighting for answers. Lois and Clark have some moments too but they are just to help the reader understand and place their relationship. A great run and I would love more comics following Lois doing her thing. 

I give this comic a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this comic from my local library.

Skip Beat!, vol 29

Today's post is on Skip Beat!, vol 29 by  Yoshiki Nakamura. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. As it is the twenty-ninth in the long running series, you need to have read the first twenty-eight volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo manga, humorous over-the-top plots, and good characters. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this series. The story is told from third person close of Kyoko and at times Ren. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- On the wat to the Dark Moon wrap party Kyoko bumps into her cast mate Kijima. He's never paid her any attention before, but he heard that people called her beautiful in her Natsu role. Kijima can't contain his curiosity and buys Kyoko a total makeover for the party. But is his interest innocent, or does he have wicked plans in store?!

Review- Kyoko gets to see some of Ren's jealously over her and of course she does not know what to think and just glosses over it. The meat of the volume is Ren and Kyoko playing the Heel siblings again and Ren causing from trouble as Cain Heel. He is playing his role well and is annoying another castmate. Kyoko is much more comfortable in her role now and I look forward to seeing what trouble they cook up as the Heel's. 

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.