Posted on May 15th, 2008 by mlo
New Mangaverse: Rings Of Fate Digest by C. B. Cebulski and Tommy Ohtsuka is an interesting take on some reworked Marvel characters.
Honestly, I was a little lost. Since this claimed to be volume one, I took a chance. I seemed to be missing a bunch of back story. If it is labeled volume one, give me some back story.
The reader is dropped into a world where the super powered are being killed off one by one. Spiderman and Mary Jane are ninjas - as is Shadowcat. Iron Man made an appearance. As do the Fantastic Four and the Thing - among others. S.H.I.E.L.D. is in this but none of the threads are all that congruent. There is even a new Captain America by the end of the story.
I did like the artwork - being a manga and anime fan.
If you can get it at the library or on deep clearance it might be a fun read - but I was left with an overwhelming feeling of “Huh?”
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Filed under: Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Genre, Graphic Novels, Superheroes
Posted on May 12th, 2008 by mlo
Fire Study (Study, Book 3)
is the latest in Maria V. Snyder’s series following Yelena through her life and connection with her soul mate, Valek. In the last book, we found that Yelena has the magic of the Soulfinder. This puts her under immediate suspicion by several in Sitia - a place which has suffered under the darkest aspects of this magic.
Yelena’s nemesis, Roze Featherstone, First Magician of the Council of Sitian Magicians considers Yelena to be an Ixian spy due to her love of Valek. The woman seems consumed by this suspicion. Roze remembers too well the lessons of Sitian history and how Moonman’s people became inhabitants of the plains.
We follow Yelena as she learns this history - and releases her fear. Things are not what she believes and the book leads to some startling discoveries.
While not as well-formed as the first two books, I could not stop listening to this book! Gabra Zackman is an excellent narrator - one of my favorites, actually. Read
Poison Study (Study, Book 1)
and
Magic Study
first (or listen) and then this book. It probably would work as a stand-alone novel, but the tapestry of the world Ms. Snyder has woven would be much more
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Filed under: Audiobook, Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Genre, Romance
Posted on May 8th, 2008 by mlo
2-at-a-Time Socks: Revealed Inside. . . The Secret of Knitting Two at Once on One Circular Needle Works for any Sock Pattern! by Melissa Morgan Oakes is one of the best books on knitting two socks at the same time. The only weakness in my mind is that none of the patterns are toe-up!
Truthfully, I’m incapable of doing one sock at a time anymore. I make too many mistakes with any given pattern and it makes it so much easier to have matching socks when you are knitting both at the same time!
I have knitted the Beloved pattern - mostly without the errata (
http://www.storey.com/books/book.php/y/5/p/0/order_no/67691), but they look great anyway! I found Melissa’s
Ravelry group after finishing the leg - and I hate to frog anything. Yes, I am a lazy knitter.
Her instructions are very clear with really clear photographs. There are some corrections in the errata (linked above). This is a great book and belongs in any sock knitters library - from beginner to advanced.
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Filed under: Books, Genre, Knitting, Knitting Books, Non-Fiction, Projects, Socks, Technique
Posted on May 5th, 2008 by mlo
Raintree: Haunted (Silhouette Nocturne)
by Linda Winstead Jones and read by Theo McKell and Stefan Rudnicki is a fun listen but very
formulaic.
The truth is it is a paranormal cop romance. There are no surprises - just a nice listen that you don’t have to turn your brain on to follow.
Ms. Jones is a decent storyteller, but not someone I am going to seek out again.
The narration was competent, but I did find my mind wandering from time to time. I disliked some voice interpretations. The way the narrator switching went made it difficult to know which character’s point of view was being represented at times.
If this book falls in your lap, it is enjoyable, but I wouldn’t seek it out.
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Filed under: Audiobook, Books, Fiction, Genre, Horror Romance, Romance
Posted on May 1st, 2008 by mlo
The Persian Wars
(Audiobook) by Herodotus and read by Charlton Griffin is one of those pleasant surprises that reminds me why I love history. And why I always thought the ancients were kind of mean.
Herodotus is the father of modern history and this book tells us why. He often admits that what he is writing is only what he perceives or has heard - and even enters doubts as to their veracity.
He never doubts, however, the truth of the accounts of some of the most brutal leaders the world has ever provided for itself. Justice was seen as something cruel and vindictive. A noble is asked to kill a royal child and fails his task. He is found out years later only to have his only son fed to him at a great feast.
The Persians, the Greeks, the Egyptians, the Scythians, and a smattering of others are illuminated for the modern reader once again. If you love history, this is a great way to spend some time.
Charlton Griffin breathes new life into the histories presented. Of course, I am a sucker for a BBC accent. (That non-descript British news reader accent? World Service voices are awesome.)
If you love history, you will not be disappointed.
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Filed under: Audiobook, Books, Genre, History, Non-Fiction
Posted on April 28th, 2008 by mlo
Lynsay Sands’
Vampires Are Forever (Argeneau Vampires, Book 
left us wondering what happened to Marguerite.
Vampire, Interrupted (Argeneau Vampires, Book 9)
gives answers that no one expects.
What secrets are going to be uncovered regarding Christian Notte’s heritage? Julius Notte seems to know things that he isn’t telling - and, it seems, he is Marguerite’s life mate - even if she isn’t ready to accept that.
Warning: Do not look at the family tree! It may act as a spoiler for the book - but I didn’t find it much of a spoiler, myself.
Lynsay Sands delivers an excellent romp in the Argeneau’s universe while adding a new European branch via Julius and Christian Notte - the Italian powerhouse immortal family equivalent to the Argenau’s in Canada.
I have to wonder who she is going to tackle next. Is it going to be Tiny or another Argenau? If they don’t want to settle down, they shouldn’t get involved with Marguerite!
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Filed under: Books, Fiction, Genre, Horror Romance, Mystery, Romance
Posted on April 24th, 2008 by mlo
This audiobook was awful. Philip Gardiner and his producers need to stop using vocal music in the background.
There was nothing new.
AVOID!
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Filed under: Audiobook, Books, Genre, History, Non-Fiction, Paranormal
Posted on April 21st, 2008 by mlo
Secrets of the Serpent: In Search of the Sacred Pastwritten and read by Philip Gardner may have been a decent overview of the serpent cults throughout history, but the music interfered with hearing the story.
Personally, I absolutely hate music being played while the narrator is speaking. It interferes with hearing the narration. Any audiobook producer who decides to do this does a major disservice to the listener.
I have three words for those who do this:
Don’t Do It!
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Filed under: Audiobook, Books, Genre, History, Non-Fiction, Paranormal
Posted on April 17th, 2008 by mlo
900 years old
, just escaped from an abusive marriage, and with a tragic past, Gwenna finds herself involved in a murder mystery while trying to cut off ties with her ex. Of course, this can’t be easy when her ex has a new granddaughter reminding her of her own 900 year old loss. And he likes to ring her cell phone every 15 minutes.
The murder investigation brings her into contact with a hottie detective by the name of Nate. Nate and Gwenna can’t seem to keep their hands off of one another.
Both have their tragedies to deal with and find themselves falling into each other’s arms when they should be stopping a crime.
Sucker Bet ( Vegas Vampires, Book 4)
by Erin McCarthy is the newest book in her Vegas Vampire series. I could not put it down despite myself and was glad I had another book on the flight I read it on!
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Filed under: Books, Cotton Candy for the Brain, Fiction, Genre, Horror Romance
Posted on April 14th, 2008 by mlo
Once upon a time I was a
SMOF, I was silly enough to run programming for an unnamed mid-sized science fiction convention. I normally just ran dances, but in a delusional state had decided to run programming. DH was not happy with me. He was right.
How is this relevant to a book review? Svetlana Chmakova captures the essence of what a fan-run convention is like in
Dramacon, Volume 1
. These are not Media Cons! There is a vibe in the book that makes the convention represented feel like the cast of characters who run your average convention.
Christie is very typical of the new con goer who has found “home.” Fans are a special breed and Ms. Chmakova has captured several of the types - including the GOHs (Guests of Honor) and Green Room. (But our green rooms are better in Michigan!)
If you have ever run or attended a convention - or just want to know what they are like - this book captures it pretty well.
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Filed under: Books, Fiction, Genre, Graphic Novels, Romance
