The Children of Old Leech: A Tribute to the Carnivorous Cosmos of Laird Barron

Today's fiction post is on The Children of Old Leech: A Tribute to the Carnivorous Cosmos of Laird Barron by Ross E. Lockhart (Editor) and Justin Steele (Editor). It is 342 pages long and is published by Word Horde. The cover is black with leeches and a broken red circle. The intended reader is someone who has read some of Laird Barron's work. There is some foul language, implied sexuality, and horror violence in this book. The stories are told from different points of view per story. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- There are Things — terrifying Things — whispered of in darkened forests beyond the safe comfort of firelight: The Black Guide, the Broken Ouroboros, the Pageant, Belphegor, Old Leech...
These Things have always been here. They predate you. They will outlast you.
This book pays tribute to those Things.
For We are the Children of Old Leech...and we love you.

Review- This was an interesting series short stories set in the universe of the Old Leech from Laird Barron. From stories about the Old Leech eating people in parts to people seeing him in the flesh and what horrors that brings. The writing styles are very diverse and give the reader many options for setting and characters. If you have read Barron's work, this collection is a nice companion but for the horror fan who has not read Barron, you will get less out of this collection and should go read Barron's work. Enjoyable collection for Laird Barron fans. 

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

Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and A Legacy of Rage

Today's nonfiction post is on Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and A Legacy of Rage by Jeff Guinn. It is 400 pages long and is published by Simon & Schuster. The cover is a picture of the siege of the Mount Carmel. The intended reader is someone who is interested in modern American history. There is some foul language, discussions of rape and sexual abuse of children, and violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- This is the definitive account of the disastrous siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, featuring never-before-seen documents, photographs, and interviews, from former investigative reporter Jeff Guinn, bestselling author of Manson and The Road to Jonestown.
For the first time in thirty years, more than a dozen former ATF agents who participated in the initial February 28, 1993, Waco raid speak on the record about the poor decisions of their commanders that led to this deadly confrontation. The revelations in this book include why the FBI chose to end the siege with the use of CS gas; how both ATF and FBI officials tried and failed to cover up their agencies’ mistakes; where David Koresh plagiarized his infamous prophecies; and direct links between the Branch Davidian tragedy and the modern militia movement in America. Notorious conspiracist Alex Jones is a part of the Waco story. So much is new and stunning.
Guinn puts you alongside the ATF agents as they embarked on the disastrous initial assault, unaware that the Davidians knew they were coming and were armed and prepared to resist. His you-are-there narrative continues to the final assault and its momentous consequences. Drawing on this new information, including several eyewitness accounts, Guinn again does what he did with his bestselling books about Charles Manson and Jim Jones, revealing new details about a story that we thought we knew.

Review- A very in-depth look around what happened at Mount Carmel, before and during, the siege at Waco. Guinn interviews everyone who is willing to talk with him from ATF agents, reporters, people of Waco, and surviving Branch Davidians. The book covers the beginning of the Branch Davidian sect and David Koresh's personal history. The interviews give great insight into what went wrong and how easy it was for everything to get out of any kind of control for both sides. The ATF at large did not know that the Davidians knew they were coming and that the Davidians believed that the ATF were from the devil and the end of world was starting. The book continues into the nearer present with following the agents and survivors. The writing is good, the facts both for and against Koresh and his followers and what they believed and how far they were willing to go to bring around the end of the world. I learned a lot about Waco and the people involved, I would recommend this book. 

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. 

Fire in His Fingertips: A Flirty Fireman Ravishes Me with His Smoldering Gaze Vol. 3

Today's manga post is on Fire in His Fingertips: A Flirty Fireman Ravishes Me with His Smoldering Gaze Vol. 3 by Tanishi Kawano. It is 160 pages long and is published by Ghost Ship. The cover has Souma on it. As it is the third in the series, you need to have read the first two volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes romance manga between adults. There is no mild foul language, sex and sexuality, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the manga- “DON’T RUN AWAY FROM ME, NOT NOW…”
Despite herself, Ryo has finally let Souma in. They’ve confessed their feelings, and now their awkward love is blossoming into something deeper, body and soul. But it’s not easy being a firefighter’s girlfriend! First Souma’s job threatens to interrupt everything, and then who should show up at Ryo’s workplace but her ex-boyfriend, Rei!

Review- Now that Ryo and Souma are now in a official relationship, they are moving along nicely. They are having some minor issues but they discuss things like adults. The next bit of drama will be from Ryo's ex working with her on a project. The characters are growing in this volume, with their communication skills and years of being friends, they know each other well. It will be interesting to see how they handle the ex and the trouble he is going to be bring. The art continues to be excellent with the love scenes adding to the story, helping to build the relationship with Ryo and Souma. I look forward to seeing what is going to happen next. 

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

Harrow County: Omnibus Volume 2

Today's post is on Harrow County: Omnibus Volume 2 by Cullen Bunn et all. It is 408 pages long and published by Dark Horse Books. The cover has Hester Beck with a bloody cow skull in her hands. As it is the second omnibus, you need to have read the first volume to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes historical urban fantasy and horror. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and action violence in this graphic novel. The story follows Emmy. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- While Emmy has been focused on dealing with supernatural threats from the outside world; a much bigger problem has been brewing at home, leading to an epic confrontation that will alter the fate of the entirety of Harrow County!

Review- A great conclusion to a great story. Emmy has so much to do with keeping Harrow County safe from all the spirits in it and she has to learn about who she is really is. Emmy learns more about her family, her real powers, and what powers Kammi had. Bernice is also learning how to protect Harrow County in her own way. But none of that matters when Hester is returned to the world and she is gunning for Emmy. This was an great journey with Emmy and the others in Harrow County. I would read the next thing by Bunn and the artists who work with him. 

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

Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere

Today's post is on Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere by Maria Bamford. It is 287 pages long and is published by Gallery Books. The cover is yellow with Maria on it in a white dress with flowers in her hair and a silly look on her face. The intended reader is someone who likes memoirs. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the audiobook- From “weird, scary, ingenious” (The New York Times) stand-up comedian Maria Bamford, a brutally honest and hilariously frenetic memoir about show business, mental health, and the comfort of rigid belief systems—from Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People, to Suzuki violin training, to Richard Simmons, to 12-step programs.
Maria Bamford is a comedian’s comedian (an outsider among outsiders) and has forever fought to find a place to belong. From struggling with an eating disorder as a child of the 1980s, to navigating a career in the arts (and medical debt and psychiatric institutionalization), she has tried just about every method possible to not only be a part of the world, but to want to be a part of it.
In Bamford’s signature voice, Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult, brings us on a quest to participate in something. With sincerity and transparency, she recounts every anonymous fellowship she has joined (including but not limited to: Debtors Anonymous, Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, and Overeaters Anonymous), every hypomanic episode (from worrying about selling out under capitalism to enforcing union rules on her Netflix TV show set to protect her health), and every easy 1-to-3-step recipe for fudge in between.
Singular and inimitable, Bamford’s memoir explores what it means to keep going, and to be a member of society (or any group she’s invited to) despite not being very good at it. In turn, she hopes to transform isolating experiences into comedy that will make you feel less alone (without turning into a cult following).

Review- A hilarious memoir about a one woman's journey through life, comedy, mental illness, and family. Bamford reads this audiobook and her impersonations of her family and friends are just hysterical. She holds nothing back from her life and her journey with mental illness. Bamford not only has stories about working as a comedian but she includes helpful little recipes from her family about how to handle different problems. Bamford as so many little touches over the course of this book, that make it so very special. I completely recommend this book, I enjoyed it so much. 

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

The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 8

Today's manga post is on The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 8 by Kousuke Oono. It is 168 pages long and is published by Viz Media. As it is the eighth in the long running series, you need to have some other volumes to understand the story. The cover has Tatsu ironing and looking very intense. There is no foul language, no sex, and comedy violence in this manga. The intended reader is someone who likes comedy manga with over the top gags. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the manga- Housework without Honor or Humanity.
The cozy yakuza comedy continues as everyone's favorite househusband finds himself in even more crazy high jinks. Between a donut showdown and a new lady cop on the beat, Tatsu may have finally met his match! It's just another day for the Immortal Dragon. 

Review-Another prefect volume of great comedy. Tatsu gets himself into and out of some great silliness in this one. At the end of the volume there is a special Poli-Cure episode, that is Tatsu's wife's favorite show. It was fun and funny to see Oono take on the magical girl tropes. Tatsu continues to be the best, most oblivious former yakuza ever. From trying to find a home for a hamster and hiding like a gun to trying to out man one of his friends in a steam sauna, there is a little bit of everything in this volume. I love this series so much and I cannot wait to read 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.

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night

Today's post is on Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao. It is 480 pages long and is published by Delacorte Press. The cover is light blue with a long Chinese style dragon on it. The intended reader is someone who likes Asian fantasy. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and action violence in it. The story is told from third person close of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Once, Lan had a different name. Now, she goes by the one the Elantian colonizers gave her when they invaded her kingdom, killed her mother, and outlawed her people's magic. She spends her nights as a songgirl in Haak'gong, a city transformed by the conquerors, and spends her days scavenging for remnants of the past. For anything that might help her understand the strange mark burned into her arm by her mother, in her last act before she died.
No one can see the mysterious mark--an untranslatable Hin character--except Lan. Until the night a boy appears at the teahouse and saves her life.
Zen is a practitioner--one of the fabled magicians of the Last Kingdom, whose abilities were rumored to be drawn from the demons they communed with. Magic believed to be long lost. Magic to be hidden from the Elantians at all costs.
When Zen comes across Lan's unusual qi, he recognizes what she is: a practitioner with a powerful ability hidden in the mark on her arm. He's never seen anything like it--but he knows: if there are answers, they lie deep in the pine forests and misty mountains of the Last Kingdom, with an order of practitioning masters planning to overthrow the Elantian regime.
Both Lan and Zen have secrets buried deep within. Fate has connected them, but their destiny remains unwritten. Both hold the power to liberate their land. And both hold the power to destroy the world.

Review- An interesting fantasy in an Asian inspired world. Lan is a song girl at a local brothel and is trying to discover more about her mother and the scar on her arm. Zan is a disciple of the hidden magic of their people and looking for answers himself. When they meet, off they go on an adventure for truth and to save their homeland and culture. This was a very fun read, especially if you know anything about Chinese mythology or Chinese TV dramas. But if you don't, this is still a great read. The characters are interesting, the setting is good, and the writing style is good. I am curious about where the story is going and how everything is going to end. 

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