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).
As one of Entertainment Weekly’s “10 Best
Comics,” BARBARIC – featuring Owen the Barbarian and his bloodthirsty companion
Axe – begins again … back in blood and badder than ever with BARBARIC
Vol. 4: Born in Blood!
Voted as one of the best comics by Entertainment Weekly, Thrillist, and Screen
Rant, bestselling BARBARIC is back and ready to spill some secrets – along
with a lot of blood – in Barbaric Volume 4: Born in Blood!
A new era of Barbaric begins!
We did it! You know, the thing everyone says they’re doing, even when they’re
lying through their teeth: a genuinely good jumping on point. How, you ask?
Well, it all starts with a compelling new bad guy.
Meet the new big bad: Orrick, the tortured barbarian now turned master
torturer, will take us deep into Owen’s past, revealing secrets that should
have stayed buried…like Axe in a chest cavity slurping up that sweet, delicious
blood. Will the cursed-to-do-good barbarian finally do some actual good?
Probably not! But some much worse guys will almost certainly lose their heads.
Yummy!
For fans of BRZRKR!, The Witcher, Conan the Barbarian, Red Sonja,
Heathen, Rat Queens, Kings of the Wyld, and Dungeons and Dragons!
BARBARIC Volume 4: Born in Blood collects the entire fourth,
completely beserk, 3-issue miniseries!
It’s just … BARBARIC!
From writer Michael Moreci (Wasted Space, The Plot, Spree, and Revealer)
and artist Nathan C. Gooden (Brandon Sanderson's Dark One, The RUSH,
Vampire: The Masquerade)!
‘One of the “10 Best Comics of 2021…” Barbaric took only three issues to
establish itself as a first-rate comic.’ - Entertainment Weekly
‘One of the “Best Comics of 2021…” It's a funny, gory, weird comic with
stunning art in muted colors.’ – Thrillist
‘One of the “Best Comic Books and Graphic Novels of 2021…” the
“excellent…violent, expletive-filled fantasy epic Barbaric never holds back…
It’s bloody spectacular.”’ - Screen Rant
"This book is seriously great. Do not miss out!"- Darick
Robertson (Artist, Co-Creator of The BOYS, Co-Exec Producer)
"A visually stunning, incredibly funny, action-packed bloody tale."
- Comic Book Yeti
About Michael Moreci:
Michael Moreci is a bestselling comics author, screenwriter, and
novelist. His original comic works include The Plot, Curse, Barbaric,
Wasted Space (all for VAULT COMICS), the upcoming Creepy the
Snowman Middle Grade graphic novel – with his two sons – for
WONDERBOUND, Roche Limit, and more. He's also written canonical
stories for Stranger Things, Star Wars, Hack/Slash, and the DC universe.
Additionally, Moreci ‘s first movie, Revealer, premiered in Fall 2021 and he's
in pre-production on a second film.
An award-winning illustrator and sequential artist, Nathan
C. Gooden is Art Director at Vault Comics. Nathan studied animation at
the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, and worked in film production, before
co-founding Vault Comics. Nathan’s previous works include Brandon Sanderson’s
Dark One (Vault), Barbaric (Vault), Zojaqan (Vault), and Killbox (from
American Gothic Press). He lives in Southern California, where he plays a lot
of basketball and hikes constantly with his wife.
