Five Survive by Holly Jackson is about six friends who decide to take a road trip together for spring break. Red Kenny and five of her friends decided to rent an RV and drive to meet the rest of their classmates for spring break. However, their plans go awry when their RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere. They try to call for help but realize that they have no cell service.
As the hours pass, they start to realize that this was no accident. They are trapped by someone who is outside of the RV and that someone wants one of them dead. With only a few hours until dawn, they will either need to figure out who is the target or find a way to escape.
I read this book after reading the “Good Girls Guide to Murder” trilogy by the author. I was excited to read this book, but I found Red Kenny to be so off-putting and annoying. She kept playing the victim and was very “woe is me”. It made her seem pathetic and annoying. And then, the number of times the author said Red’s mother died on her knees, can be made into a drinking game with most people being black-out drunk before reaching the end. There were a lot of elements that were repetitive and took away from the story. The plot dragged and felt dull at times. Some of the twists were predictable, and I just lost interest because none of the characters were likable. I finished the book and the only thing enjoyable was that it was done.
As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson is the third book and last book of the series. We find Pip has finished her capstone project about the murder of Andie Bell. She even helped put away a few people, but the one person she was desperate (justifiably) to see behind bars was acquitted during their trial. Pip is also still haunted by the way her last investigation ended. She felt that she could have done more to help.
Pip has been receiving a lot more death threats after her viral true crime podcast has skyrocketed in popularity. She has gotten used to ignoring it, but one anonymous person keeps sending one message that has her a bit worried. The person asks, “Who will look for you when you’re the one who disappears”.
The threats start to escalate in terms of frequency and how scary they are becoming. She feels that someone is watching and following her. Pip decides to go to the police to report her suspicions, but no one believes her. She decides to investigate the issue and notices that there are some similarities between her stalker and a local serial killer who was supposedly caught six years ago. Pip wonders if the wrong person might be behind bars.
This novel was the exciting conclusion of the series. I was surprised at how it turned out. The novel took an unexpected twist for me, and I could understand how it got there. In this novel, we can see Pip suffering from PSTD and not sleeping well. However, I was surprised when she missed a few clues, such as when her brother said that some shadowy person was watching the house. I am very surprised that she wasn’t worried especially when she got the death threats. She didn’t even think about his comments. Then Pip wears noise-canceling headphones while someone is actively trying to hurt her. Previously, she had an incident in which she was almost killed, and she realizes that a serial killer might be out to get her, yet she wears headphones while she is by herself to block out any noise while in public. I didn’t think those were wise decisions and I felt like the earlier versions of Pip wouldn’t have made such choices. Granted, she was under a lot of stress and not sleeping well.
I thought there would have been a bit more of a mystery aspect to the book. The serial killer was easy to guess. I liked the creepy aspect of the clues that the serial killer was leaving Pip. I didn’t like that the book spent so many pages talking about Pip taking drugs for her trauma and it moved so slowly. I felt like the final book was a huge disconnect from the other books in the series. I would still be open to reading more books by the author.
Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon is about two friends, Lampo and Gelon, who want to put on a play. After the Peloponnesian War in ancient Sicily, the Syracusans had an abundant number of surviving Athenians left in their city. They kept them as slaves in a rock quarry as prisoners of war and left them to rot.
Lampo and Gelon are two unemployed potters who love listening to poetry and drinking. They head to the quarry to find people who can recite lines from the great playwright Euripides in exchange for some food and drink. Originally, the two headed down to the quarry to pass the time but they decided to put on a full-blown production of Medea.
While most of the Syracusans are no fans of the remaining Athenians, they do enjoy watching plays by them. Lampo and Gelon work to secure funding and props for their production before opening night. They come across a mysterious man who seems to have a big interest in the play.
The novel was an entertaining read. Just a mild warning— It does have a lot of violence, abuse, and coarse language in the book. The book had some funny moments, putting aside human suffering for one's own entertainment. It did make me wonder what people during that period did for entertainment. There were times that the book dragged and felt pointless. The ending did leave more to be desired as a reader. However, I do like that the book had a different and unique premise and I would be open to reading more books from the author but, probably not with this storyline.
Walkin' the Dog by Chris Lynch is about a young boy, Louis, who runs a dog-walking business. Louis has been homeschooled for most of his life. However, in the fall, he will be attending a public high school with other students. He hopes that he can stay under the radar. His entire family knows that he would rather blend into the background than stand out.
Louis started walking his neighbor’s dog as a favor but then he ended up getting tons of new clients. His clients even include a rambunctious girl, Agatha, who is the same age as Louis. She likes telling a few lies mixed in with a few truths. He got tons of new furry companions to walk, which was exactly the opposite of what Louis wanted because it was too much to handle.
I didn’t like this book. I tried reading it, but it was boring and confusing. More specifically, the writing style and slang the author used were confusing. The author hinted that something might have happened to Louis’s mother, but it wasn’t very clear to me nor was I interested in finding out. I stopped reading the novel after a few pages. I figured life is too short to waste on books that have no appeal.
The Tryout: A Graphic Novel by Christina Soontornvat is about a young girl, Christina, who is trying to fit in at her middle school. Christina and her best friend, Megan, are two of the only kids of color in their school. They struggle to find a place to belong and fit in. So, when cheerleading tryouts are announced, they decide to try out together. They hope that if they make the squad, they will be accepted by everyone.
The graphic novel was a quick and cute read. The drawings were bright and colorful. The story was mostly easy to follow but there were a few times that I wasn’t sure what was going on. The book does contain some racist comments and bullying, so some adults might want to be wary when sharing with young readers. This is the first book of the series; I would be open to reading the other book but wouldn’t go out of my way to read it. In the next book in the series, Christina and Megan are again trying out to be cheerleaders in the eighth grade. It seems like it’s more of the same.
The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee is about a young woman, Jo Kuan, trying to make a living in Atlanta. Seventeen-year-old Jo worked with an industrious hatmaker before she was fired for being Asian. Desperate for a way to earn a living, she takes a position as a lady’s maid for an abusive daughter of one of the wealthiest men in the city. By night, she moonlights as an anonymous author of the “Miss Sweetie” newspaper advice column for the genteel Southern lady.
Jo is surprised when her column gains traction but she is also afraid that people would be up in arms if they found out the true author behind the column. She decides to use her column to pass on her ideas about race and gender. While some people appreciate her candor, Jo has made some powerful enemies that will stop at nothing to find out her identity.
While Jo is trying to keep her day job while keeping her identity secret, she discovers a letter that changes her entire life. The letter hints at the identity of her parents whom she has never known. They had abandoned her as a baby. Will Jo risk everything to find out the truth behind her birth?
I picked up this novel because I thought the cover looked interesting. The book started off a bit slow and it took a while before it picked up. I didn’t like the way the author wrote and it took some getting used to. I did like reading the Miss Sweetie parts of the book. I thought they were clever and well done. I thought the book was an okay read and I would be open to reading more books by the author.
Tilt by Emma Pattee is about a woman, Annie, who survives a massive earthquake in Portland, Oregon.
Annie is nine months pregnant. She decides that she has procrastinated long enough about getting a crib. On the spur of the moment, she decides to go to IKEA to get it. As she is shopping, a devastating earthquake hits and leaves the city in ruins. Annie barely made it out of IKEA alive. Unfortunately, she lost her car keys, phone, and money in the rubble. She has no way of reaching her husband who is across town. The entire city is left in chaos and Annie decides there is nothing else she can do but walk.
As Annie makes her way to her husband through the wreckage and destruction of her beloved city, she comes across all different types of human behaviors. She sees strangers helping others, riots at a grocery store, and people who are trying to make sense of everything that has happened. She also befriends a young mother that she met in IKEA; it was an unlikely friendship that Annie comes to appreciate. As Annie walks, she contemplates and reflects on her struggling marriage and career and her anxiety about having a baby with no money. She feels that if she can make it home, she can change her life for the better.
The novel’s story takes place in a day. Surprisingly, I found the book to be an entertaining read. I thought it was going to be a boring read, but I found myself being curious to read more of what becomes of Annie. I was curious to see if she was able to find her husband but also I liked reading about her past life. I liked reading about her desires, dreams, and disappointments. The ending was a bit disappointing, but I would still be up to reading more books by the author.
Sainted Love Vol. 1: A Time to Fight by Steve Orlando is about a gay couple who time travels to fight an evil force that is against their union. Malcolm “Mac” Irina is one of the greatest inventors of his time. Unfortunately, no one has ever heard of him. His partner, John Wolf, is the toughest bare-knuckle boxer in the city. Mac is almost finished with his greatest invention, the Chronocorridor. He wants to travel to a time where he and John can live and love together freely. Before he can complete his invention, a detective named Felt raids Mac’s lab, and the couple dives through the power-up portal to escape capture by Detective Felt. The pair end up in a different timeline but find they are being hunted by an organization that is determined to end gay love. Will Mac and John be able to find a place where they can be themselves?
I didn’t like this graphic novel. I did finish it, but I found that the animation style and story were a bit too graphic for my reading preferences. I didn’t like the artwork and it seemed every few pages, there was an orgy. I found the story and the characters to be one-dimensional and boring. They just seemed to be bickering about random things that didn’t add anything to the storyline. I don’t think I would continue reading the rest of the series.
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden is about a woman, Isabel, who is forced to share her house with her brother’s girlfriend. In 1961 in the rural Dutch province of Overijssel, the war was over. Life has begun to move on and settle into a new pace. Isabel is living alone in her late mother’s country home by herself. She is disciplined and spends her day following the same routine. Everything is kept in its place and there is no disorder.
That all changes when her brother, Louis, requests to have his girlfriend, Eva, to stay with Isabel for the season. Isabel is annoyed by Eva and her looming presence. Isabel considers Eva to be loud and brash and the opposite of her.
Isabel becomes convinced that someone is stealing things from the house. She starts noticing little things are disappearing. First, it was a spoon, then a knife, and a bowl. Isabel tries to voice her suspicions to her family, but everyone thinks she is overreacting. As Isabel and Eva start to spend more time together, Isabel makes a startling discovery that will change everything she has ever known.
The novel was a cozy read. I was able to guess where the novel was heading and the reason behind Eva’s visit early on. It was an entertaining read but, I did find both Isabel and Eva to be annoying some of the time. They both had hidden motives but their attraction to each other came out of nowhere. I thought the book was an okay read but, I would be open to reading more books by the author.
Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron is about a woman, Jana, who goes on vacation unexpectedly with her ex, Anil. Jana Suleiman is known for being perfect, strict, and rule-following. She rarely has fun. She feels that she never quite fits in and rather spends time by herself. The one time Jana let herself go, she ended up with a broken heart and a baby born out of wedlock.
Jana has learned her lesson and has kept her heart (and having fun) under lock and key. She was recently invited to be a bridesmaid for a close friend. The wedding is a destination wedding that takes place in the Serengeti National Park. Jana was looking forward to the break until she realized that practically everyone she knows will be there, including a potential new boss. Surprisingly, her lying ex-boyfriend will also be there.
While Jana doesn’t trust Anil romantically, she knows he is a great dad. She still hasn’t forgiven or trusted him after lying to her. Jana is determined not to let him get to her and prove to him that she is over him. Jana’s friends want her to let loose and have a fun time, so they create a plan of fun out-of-the-box things for Jana to do. While crossing everything off her list, Jana finds herself letting go and enjoying herself. However, while she is having fun, she finds herself getting attracted to Anil again.
The romance novel is a fun and easy read. It did have a few funny moments and some raunchy humor. I did like the novel but at times, found the characters to be annoying. Jana was upset and betrayed by Anil’s lies but instead of talking to him, she would address the issue with someone else. Anil seems to want to have a better relationship with Jana even if it’s platonic, but he could have also communicated better. I did find it weird that Jana was so concerned about how sociable and what she does outside of work, would affect her job. This is the third romance I've read that was written by an Asian novelist where the protagonist is highly encouraged to be more social in their personal time for work. Previously, I never read a book with this storyline and I found it weird to have it so prominent in a novel. Overall, I did enjoy the book and would be open to reading more books by the author.
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle is about a young woman, Rose, who notices these weird demonic creatures following people around. In Neverton, Montana, the people are God-fearing and it’s also home to Camp Damascus. The camp claims to be very successful with gay conversion and is one of the most effective ones in the country. They promise that attendees will be able to live free of their “sinful past”. Rose has no memory of attending Camp Damascus, but she has been seeing weird creatures and flashbacks from the camp. Will she be able to figure out what is causing the creature to follow her?
The novel is marketed as an adult horror novel, but I thought this would have been more appropriate for young adults. The gore and some scenes might be too graphic but, the protagonist acted more like a teenager than an adult at times. The writing felt stilted and awkward at times. And some of the behaviors of some characters were confusing. I thought the camp would have a heavier focus in the novel but, it was mostly the after-effects of attending the camp. The novel was an interesting read, and I would be open to reading more books by the author.
Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen is about two opposite people who fall in love. Rooney Gao believes in signs, especially when it comes to love and art. She is an adamant believer in the Chinese legend that everyone is tied to their true love by the red string of fate. She believes that if two people are meant to be, they will find a way to be together even if their string gets tangled along the way.
The legend has not only influenced her love life but also, her art. She is also known as the anonymous Red String Girl. She creates large-scale art installations using red string. Rooney is sent tumbling into artist’s block when one of her latest installations doesn’t work out as she expected it to. She feels unmoored and begins to question everything. When she least expected it, she crossed paths with the perfect guy.
Jack Liu is the perfect person for Rooney. He is smart, successful, driven, and handsome. After running into him twice on the same day, the pair decided to spend some time together before Jack heads back to California. They spent a wonderful evening together and they just didn’t want to part ways. Rooney finds herself drawn to Jack and believes fate brought them together. However, Jack is skeptical and believes that it was random luck. After their magical evening, they lose contact with each other until they are given one more chance to reconnect. Rooney is desperate to prove to Jack that they belong together. Will she be able to change his mind?
The book was an okay read. I didn’t notice a spark between the characters when we were first introduced to them. Their interactions and jokes seemed a bit weird. However, as the book progressed, I could see a better bond building. I didn’t understand why Jack was so hesitant, at times, to date Rooney when it seemed that they got along so well. I felt like it was his hang-up with his parents that was introduced later but it seemed more like an excuse than a reason, especially since he admits that he likes Rooney and finds himself changing around her. Overall, it was a cute slow-moving rom-com, and I would be open to reading more books by the author.
Swords, sorcery, and mad science square off as the
cult-cinema hero DEATHSTALKER bursts into comics with an all-star lineup of
creators featuring SLASH (Guns N’ Roses) in this action-packed adventure!
The cult-cinema hero Deathstalker bursts into comics from an
all-star lineup of creators including Slash (Guns N’ Roses),
writer-director Steven Kostanski (The Void), Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash) and
Jim Terry (West of Sundown).
Hired to escort a perfect priestess and her to a celebration of purity,
Deathstalker’s journey doesn’t go as planned (damn those good looks and big
sword). Once again, Deathstalker is on the run caught between forces larger
than himself, including the virgin-worshipping cult, a sorcerer hell-bent on
saving the world through mad science, and the pissed-off army of the Abraxeon
kingdom…not to mention his ex-lover, Princess Evie.
Monsters, magic, and mayhem abound!
Can’t a guy just swing his sword anymore?
Slash Presents: DEATHSTALKER: The Damned Blood
Written by Tim Seeley (Vampire: The Masquerade, Money Shot, West of Sundown,
Hack/Slash, Revealer), Steven Kostanski (writer/director of The
Void and Psycho Goreman), and Slash (Guns N’ Roses).
Illustrated by Jim Terry (West of Sundown, Heavy Metal, Come
Home, Indio)
Cover Art by the legendary fantasy artist Boris Vallejo and modern master
Nathan C. Gooden (Barbaric, Brandon Sanderson’s Dark One).
The Deathstalker Kickstarter (for exclusive hardcovers)
was fully funded in less than 12 hours, sported the much-coveted “Projects We
Love” label, was a “Featured Project of the Day!,” and overfunded 150%!
The DEATHSTALKER: The Damned Blood trade paperback
is the prequel to the upcoming movie reboot of DEATHSTALKER (by
director Steven Kostanski) and includes the entire 3-issue miniseries and
the BARBARIC vs. DEATHSTALKER crossover one-shot (written by
Michael Moreci (Barbaric, Wasted Space, Revealer, The Plot, Spree) and
Tim Seeley, illustrated by Nathan C. Gooden)! The super special one-shot
features the cursed barbarian Owen and the warrior- king Deathstalker as the
two most reluctant heroes of all time to square off in a clash of steel. It’s
Axe vs. Sword in this epic crossover!
For fans of:Conan the Barbarian, Barbaric, theDeathstalkermovies, Head
Lopper, Rumble, Spawn, Hellboy, God is Dead, I Hate Fairyland, Red Sonja,
Little Bird, Hack/Slash, Queen of Swords: A Barbaric Tale,and Dark
Knights of Steel.
Slash Presents DEATHSTALKER:
About Slash:
Slash is a founding member and guitarist for legendary Rock N’ Roll Hall
of Fame rock band Guns N’ Roses, as well as the
supergroups Slash’s Snakepit, Velvet Revolver, and Slash
featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. He is considered one of the
greatest guitarists of all time and has stars on the Rock Walk of Fame, as well
as the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Slash is a self-described “film buff” who is a
fan of horror movies. He is a co-founder of Slasher Films, a film production
company specializing in the horror genre.
TIM SEELEY is one of those “slash” people…a writer-slash-artist.
He has drawn a number of different comic book series including G.I JOE,
HALLOWEEN, WILDCATS and ANT-MAN & WASP. His
writing work include NIGHTWING, MONEY SHOT , INJUSTICE v. MASTERS OF
THE UNIVERSE ,the critically acclaimed REVIVAL, and
the NY TIMES bestselling HACK/SLASH. He
resides in Chicago, Illinois with his wife, daughter and 80s action figure
collection.Hometown:
Chicago, IL
JIM
TERRY is a
Native American comic book artist who’s memoir Come Home, Indio was a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize and the
Ignatz, as well as the artist on such titles as THE CROW, HACK/SLASH,
HEAVY METAL and more. He is currently working on WEST OF
SUNDOWN from Vault Comics. He lives in Chicago with his 4 cats.
Steven Kostanski is a writer / director / producer/ creative special FX
wizard /makeup artist who is best known for his work on the horror movies The
Divide (2011), The Void (2016), and Psycho Goreman (2020).
