Book Review - Resonant: The Complete Series by David DB Andry + Giveaway

 

 

Resonant: The Complete Series by David DB Andry is a post-apocalyptic horror graphic novel about fighting dark urges. It has been a decade since the first Wave hit. The Wave causes humans to succumb to their darkest impulses and they can’t control themselves. Paxton is a single father of three kids. He worries about leaving them alone in their secluded home in the forest but knows he needs to get medicine for his youngest son. When the routine trip takes a turn for the worse, Paxton and his children are separated and will have to find a way back to each other.

The graphic novel was a quick read. It was a bit predictable and felt like other post-apocalyptic graphic novels, but it was worth the read. I liked the dark and moody drawing style that kept me interested in seeing what happened to Paxton and his family. I enjoyed that the book discussed the different types of families and things we would do to protect them. I would have loved to learn more about these Waves and how they started! The book has a lot of action and world-building but doesn’t go into too much detail about how it all came about and what happens to Paxton and his family in the end after his realization about the Wave. I would be open to reading more books by the author.

*Disclaimer - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion*

 

About The Book:

Title: RESONANT: THE COMPLETE SERIES

Authors: David “DB” Andry, Ale Aragon (Illustrator), & Skylar Patridge (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: April 2, 2024

Publisher: Vault Comics

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 264

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/RESONANT-THE-COMPLETE-SERIES 

In a terrifying dystopian world,true horror arises and chaos rules when humankind's moral defenses fall and our worst impulses run wild. RESONANT is a post-apocalyptic horror story where Cormac McCarthy's THE ROAD meets THE ODYSSEY, by way of THE WALKING DEAD - for fans and readers of Bird Box, Y: The Last Man, A Quiet Place, Road Warrior, and The Walking Dead.

NOW IN SERIES DEVELOPMENT FOR BET+ with Gerard McMurray as executive producer, director, and writer
Adapted for television by CBS Studios, Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions, and Gerard McMurray

RESONANT: The Complete Series FOREWORD BY GERARD McMURRAY!

OUR WORST IMPULSES UNLEASHED.
A decade has passed since the first Waves hit, unleashing humanity’s darkest impulses and plunging the world into chaos. Paxton, a single father of three, must venture from the secluded haven they’ve built to restock the medicine his chronically-ill youngest son needs to survive. When the somewhat routine trip goes awry, Paxton and his children—now separated—will battle everything in their path to reunite.

Can you resist the Call of the Void?

Collects the entire ten-issue series in a deluxe trade paperback omnibus with a foreword by Gerard McMurray (Director - The First Purge, Director, Executive Producer, and Writer - Burning Sands)

For fans of The Walking Dead, The Road, Bird Box, A Quiet Place, Y:The Last Man, and Road Warrior.

"What stands out in RESONANT is how the real horror comes not from the waves, but the other people...The scary moments are amplified by the great character development."
- Horror DNA

Top 25 Best Comics of 2021 -- Comics Bookcase

“…an odyssey even more terrifying than Bird Box.” -- The Beat

“…a firestorm of raw emotion, anxiety, and fear that any horror buff is going to appreciate.” – AIPT

“Pick this one up if you like apocalyptic stories and comics that speak to something dark and creepy in all the worst ways, even in the light.” – Black Nerd Problems

 

 

About David "DB" Andry:

David "DB" Andry is a physical therapist and comic book writer from Sacramento, CA. His works include RESONANT and END AFTER END from Vault Comics and the self-published graphic novel, THE WILD UNCERTAIN. Follow him on Twitter @dbandry for updates and excessive amount of chicken pictures

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

About Ale Aragon:

Alejandro is the co-creator of DEATH ORB, a sci-fi cyberpunk story, written by RYAN FERRIER and originally published by DARK HORSE in 2018. The same title is going to be translated to Spanish and published through MULTIVERSAL EDICIONES in Argentina along 2021.

Alejandro has been working around the industry over almost a decade, with credits at DARK HORSE COMICS (Death Orb, Eve: True Stories), BOOM! STUDIOS (28 Days Later, Robocop, The Expanse), IDW (Sons of Chaos), VAULT COMICS (Resonant), IMAGE COMICS (Overlook) and lots of other cool projects.

He lives in Rosario, Argentina.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

About Skylar Patridge:

Skylar Patridge: Comic artist, illustrator, and sometimes writer. Currently working on RESONANT from Vault Comics. Has done work for Image, Dark Horse (REVERSAL), Vault, Black Mask & Scout (VOLUME) as well as a variety illustrations and pinups for comics, anthologies & books.

Home location: New Mexico

Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive finished copies of RESONANT: THE COMPLETE SERIES, US Only.

Ends April 23rd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/25/2024	Comic Book Yeti	Interview/IG Post
3/26/2024	jlreadstoperpetuity	IG Post
3/27/2024	@darkfantasyreviews	Excerpt
3/28/2024	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post
3/29/2024	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt
3/30/2024	The Momma Spot	Excerpt

Week Two:

3/31/2024	Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Review/IG Post
4/1/2024	GryffindorBookishnerd	IG Review
4/2/2024	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
4/3/2024	The Book Critic	Review/IG Post
4/4/2024	Callisto’s calling	IG Review
4/5/2024	Karma Zee Readz	Review/IG Post
4/6/2024	@evergirl200	IG Review

Week Three:

4/7/2024	@sparks_books	IG Review
4/8/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
4/9/2024	@stargirls.magical.tale	IG Review
4/10/2024	nerdophiles	Review
4/11/2024	Lifestyle of Me	Review
4/12/2024	Books and Zebras	IG Review
4/13/2024	@enthuse_reader	IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Four:

4/14/2024	Two Points of Interest	Review/IG Post
4/15/2024	@shangread_la	IG Review
4/16/2024	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
4/17/2024	@dana.loves.books	IG Review/TikTok Post
4/18/2024	FUONLYKNEW	Review
4/19/2024	Sadie's Spotlight	Excerpt/IG Post

April 2024 Empties!

 

I am finally back with an empty post! I have been taking a break on posting but hopefully I can get some time and start posting more consistently.  I think I have been making a bit of progress with some of my stuff but that would be lying to you! I am definitely buying more than I am using.

I bought the Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum to help with the dark spots from acne and also from blackhead extractions. Unfortunately, this serum did almost nothing. It made my skin tacky and tight instead. I didn't notice a difference when using.

I love Welly bravery badges (their branded bandaids). So, I was excited to learn that they were making lotions and vitamins too! I tried their daily hydration cream and was disappointed. Like the Mad Hippie, this just sat on my skin and left it tacky. I usually put lotion on before bed and this just made all the sheets and clothes stick to me.

I have been trying to paint my nails more often and some days, it works well. Other days, I am just so tired on how long it takes to remove the polishes off. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Pronto non acetone nail polish remover. It removed most of the polishes so easily without much effort on my part. I was surprised that it didn't have a drop of acetone in it!

Lastly, I tried the new Keys Soulcare Harmony Mask and I liked it. I could have done with the natural herbal scent but I notice a difference when using it. My skin looked more radiant and smoother. I am open to trying the other products from her line!

Have you tried anything new this month that you loved?

Book Review - Quintessence by Jess Redman

 

 

 Quintessence by Jess Redman is about a young girl who tries to find herself in a new town.  Three months ago, twelve year old Alma moved to Four Points with her family. A week after the move, she had her first panic attack and they continued to happen. She told her parents that they’d stopped just to avoid them being worried. However, she knows the panic attacks won’t stop because she feels homesick and has no friends at her new school. With every passing day, she feels less and less like herself.

While visiting her parents at work, she decides to visit the town’s junk shop. The shop always looks empty and abandoned. While exploring the store’s contents, she comes across a telescope. She was so excited by her discovery and took home the telescope.

Later that night, Alma uses the telescope to view the stars. She notices a star that looks like a child falling from the sky and into a crater in her backyard. Alma knows what it feels like to be lost, afraid, and missing her home. She is determined to help find and save the star. However, Alma is at a loss on how to help the star. She decides that she would need to open up to her classmates in the Astronomy Club for help. Will Alma and her friends be able to help the star?

I was on the fence for this children’s book. I normally like reading children’s books as the majority of them are well written and very entertaining. I found this book to be a bit boring and predictable, and at times, long winded. I would have liked a bit more humor and character development. I felt like other than Alma, most of the other characters fell flat.

While I did like reading about Alma blossoming out of her shell and finding herself, I did worry for her and her friends. A lot of the tasks they were assigned to do took place at night and involved dangerous situations, i.e. like climbing a mountain in the dark or descending deep into a cave in the dark or accepting a ride from a stranger. I felt like while I understood it was a part of the story, the characters had to lie to their parents to go out at night and partake in these situations. I was a bit torn on this portion of the book because I wouldn’t want a book to encourage a child to put themselves in a dangerous situation and then lie about it. I  did like the bits about the science and magical adventures but I could have done without all the danger these kids were putting themselves into.

 

Book Spotlight - Greatest Hits: Herald Classics by Harlan Ellison + Giveaway

 

 

About The Book:

Title: GREATEST HITS

Author: Harlan Ellison, J. Michael Straczynski (Editor),Neil Gaiman (Foreword), Cassandra Khaw (Introduction)

Pub. Date: March 26, 2024

Publisher: Union Square & Co.

Formats: Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 482

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/GREATEST-HITS

 

A collection of award-winning short stories by Harlan Ellison, an eight-time Hugo Award winner, five-time Bram Stoker Award winner, and four-time Nebula Award winner.

As one of the great writers of speculative fiction of the twentieth century, Harlan Ellison shaped the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres.  This inventive and provocative collection of his best-known and most-acclaimed stories is a perfect treasury for old Ellison fans as well as readers discovering this zany, polyphonic writer for the first time. 

Featuring these stories and many more: 

• “‘Repent, Harlequin,’ Said the Ticktockman” — Hugo Award winner
• “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream” — Bram Stoker Award winner
• “Mefisto in Onyx” — Bram Stoker Award winner
• “Jeffty Is Five” — British Fantasy Award winner
• “Shatterday” — Twilight Zone episode
• “The Whimper of Whipped Dogs” — Edgar Allan Poe Award winner
• “Paladin of the Lost Hour” — Hugo Award winner, Twilight Zone episode

 
A must-read for sci-fi book lovers and fans of Ray Bradbury, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Isaac Asimov, this career-spanning compilation of classic short stories is also perfect for readers who enjoyed Dangerous Visions, A Boy and His Dog, or other Harlan Ellison books.

 

About Harlan Ellison:

Harlan Ellison (1934–2018) is a legend of the SFF, horror, and speculative fiction genres. His published works include more than 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, comic book scripts, teleplays, essays, and a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media. Ellison won numerous awards, including multiple Hugos, Nebulas, and Edgars. Many of Ellison’s short stories have been adapted into a variety of formats, including television episodes of The Twilight Zone and Star Trek. 

 

About J. Michael Straczynski:

J. Michael Straczynski is an American writer and television producer who works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. He is a playwright, a former journalist, and author of The Complete Book of Scriptwriting. He was the creator and showrunner for the science fiction TV series Babylon 5 and, from 2001 to 2007, the writer for the long-running Marvel comic book series The Amazing Spider-Man.

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of GREATEST HITS, US Only.

Ends April 9th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/25/2024	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post
3/25/2024	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt
3/26/2024	The Momma Spot	Excerpt
3/26/2024	Comic Book Yeti	Excerpt/IG Post
3/27/2024	jlreadstoperpetuity	IG Post
3/27/2024	@darkfantasyreviews	Excerpt
3/28/2024	Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer	Review/IG Post
3/28/2024	@dana.loves.books	IG Review/TikTok Post
3/29/2024	@shangread_la	IG Review
3/29/2024	Lifestyle of Me	Review

 Week Two:

4/1/2024	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
4/1/2024	nerdophiles	Review
4/2/2024	@stargirls.magical.tale	IG Review
4/2/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
4/3/2024	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post
4/3/2024	@sparks_books	IG Review
4/4/2024	spoonie.reads	IG Review
4/4/2024	@enthuse_reader	IG Review/TikTok Post
4/5/2024	Books and Zebras	IG Review
4/5/2024	Two Points of Interest	Review/IG Post

Book Review - The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher

 

 

 

 

The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher is about Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy’s time in London. In 1938, Kick and her family moved to London when her father was named ambassador. She enjoys spending time in high society social circles and attending balls and parties with highly influential people. Kick loves being on her own and free from her family’s expectations of her.

Kick’s mother, Rose, is strict and overbearing. She expects Kick to follow all of her rules and to always be mindful of her image. Her older brothers, Jack and Joe, are always up to something and are still their father’s confidantes. Kick has always felt left out that her older brothers could do whatever they wanted and yet still be in their father’s good graces. Her older sister, Rosemary, displayed erratic behavior that many people in polite society frowned upon. As her behaviors are considered strange, Rosemary tends to be excluded from events by her family to avoid people passing judgment on her.  As Kick begins exploring all that London has to offer, she finally feels free to pursue things that matter to her, including a certain future Duke.

Kick and Billy Hartington, the future Duke of Devonshire run in the same social circles and spend a lot of time together. The pair find themselves drawn to each other and they fall for each other. However, their love is prohibited as Kick’s family is Catholic and Billy’s family is Protestant. As they navigate their budding relationship, war breaks out and the entire world is thrown into chaos. The Kennedys are forced to return to the States, causing Kick to try and find her way back into Billy’s arms. When she finds work that allows her to return to London, she must decide if she will choose Billy or her family.

I thought the book was an okay read. I started losing interest though towards the halfway point. It felt very boring to me because the book only talked about parties that Kick or someone else from her social circle was attending. I was struggling to find a plot during portions of the book. 

The novel included a lot of famous people and characters that weren’t fleshed out much. A few of them I had to look up to learn their backstory but after a while that became tedious. It would have been nice to have a glossary that gave a snippet or footnote of each person’s background, or some story building by the author.  The ending was a bit abrupt and the author did include more details about Kick’s life that happened a few years after the book concluded. I felt like that part of Kick’s life was more exciting than the parts we got to read about in the novel.

 

Book Spotlight - Walkin' the Dog by Chris Lynch

About The Book:

Title: WALKIN’ THE DOG

Author: Chris Lynch

Pub. Date: March 12, 2024

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 240

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/WALKIN-THE-DOG

“Lynch is back and better, smarter, and funnier than ever.” —Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award Winner

A boy learns how to be a friend from man’s best friend in this funny and moving middle grade novel about humans being able to change and dogs changing us from acclaimed author Chris Lynch.

In a family of strong personalities with very strong points of view, Louis is what his mother lovingly calls “the inactivist,” someone who’d rather kick back than stand out. He only hopes he can stay under the radar when he starts high school in the fall, his first experience with public school after years of homeschooling.

But when a favor for a neighbor and his stinky canine companion unexpectedly turns into a bustling dog-walking business, Louis finds himself meeting an unprecedented number of new friends—both human and canine. Agatha, a quippy and cagey girl his age always seems to be telling two truths and a lie. Cyrus, a few years his senior, promises he’s going to show Louis how to be a better person, whether Louis wants him to or not. And then there are the dogs: misbehaving border terriers, the four (possible stolen) sausage dogs, the rest of Louis’s charges, and a mysterious white beast who appears at a certain spot at the edge of the woods.

Dogs and human alike all seem to have something they want to teach Louis, including his menacing older brother who keeps turning up everywhere. But is Louis ready to learn the lesson he needs most: how to stop being a lone wolf and be part of a pack?

 

About Chris Lynch:

Chris Lynch (he/him/his) is the award–winning author of several highly acclaimed young adult novels, including Printz Honor Book Freewill, Iceman, Gypsy Davey, and Shadow Boxer—all ALA Best Books for Young Adults—as well as Killing Time in Crystal City, Little Blue Lies, Pieces, Kill Switch, Angry Young Man, and Inexcusable, which was a National Book Award finalist and the recipient of six starred reviews. Chris is the author of middle grade novel Walkin’ the Dog. He holds an MA from the writing program at Emerson College. He teaches in the creative writing MFA program at Lesley University. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.

Meet Chris! 

Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 7:00pm ET

Porter Square Books (Cambridge, MA)

In conversation with Sara Farizan

 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 7:00pm ET

Broadside Bookshop (Northampton, MA)

In conversation with Michael Mercurio

 

Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 6:00pm ET

Books of Wonder (New York, NY)

In conversation with Caela Carter, Cathy Carr, and E.L. Shen

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of WALKIN’ THE DOG, US Only.

Ends March 12th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/26/2024	YA Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
2/26/2024	Little Red Reads	Excerpt/IG Post
2/27/2024	@pineshorelittlefreelibrary	IG Post
2/27/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
2/28/2024	Books With a Chance	Review/IG Post
2/28/2024	@darkfantasyreviews	IG Post
2/29/2024	Kountry Girl Bookaholic	Excerpt/IG Post
2/29/2024	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt/IG Post
3/1/2024	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post
3/1/2024	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

3/4/2024	@dharashahauthor	IG Post/TikTok Post
3/4/2024	Avainbookland	IG Review
3/5/2024	@pagesforpaige	IG Review
3/5/2024	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post
3/6/2024	@paws.read.repeat	Review/IG Post
3/6/2024	FUONLYKNEW	Review
3/7/2024	@evergirl200	IG Review
3/7/2024	Callisto’s calling	IG Review
3/8/2024	Two Points of Interest	Review
3/8/2024	The Momma Spot	Review

Book Review - The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber

The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber is about a young girl, Weatherby, who wants to learn more about her father. Weatherby loves sailing and spending her time on the water. When she and her neighbor win the local sailing regatta, she is ecstatic. Especially when the head of the prestigious Boston School approaches her with a scholarship to attend. Weatherby is beyond happy to attend because it's the same school her dad attended. She hopes that she can learn more about her dad and his world because she never got to meet him before. However, Weatherby has a secret that she knows will ruin everything if it gets out. She is desperate to keep it hidden from everyone.

Jack and his family come from a long line of wealth and privilege. His entire family has made their own distinctive mark at the Boston School. Jack is struggling to make his own impression at the school since he feels that he is mediocre at everything he does.  He desperately wants to prove to his distinguished father that he has value to the family. Like Weatherby, Jack also has a secret that he knows will ruin everything if revealed.

Both Jack and Weatherby are excited for the annual school trip to the school’s private island. However, when the money for the trip is missing, Jack and Weatherby are heartbroken. The pair gets tapped to an exclusive private secret society to help solve the mystery of the missing money. If they solve the mystery, they get to join and if they don’t, they risk making enemies of many rich and influential people. 

The young adult novel was a quick and entertaining read. I liked reading about how Weatherby and Jack put aside their differences and other peoples’ expectations of themselves to be better people. I was surprised that there wasn’t more drama between the different characters. The book had a few twists and turns but most were predictable. The book focused a lot on sailing and I do wish the mystery part started sooner. I would be open to reading the next book in the series.  

Book Review - Ruinsong by Julia Ember

Ruinsong by Julia Ember is about a young woman, Cadence, who must decide if she dares to stand up against her ruthless queen, Elene. Cadence was a small child training to be a principal singer for the palace. Her singing is imbued with magic and can be controlled and used depending on the song Cadence sings.

Cadence was chosen by the queen to be a mage for the palace. As Cadence is one of the most powerful mages in the castle, she is made to do the queen’s bidding, whether or not she wants to.  The queen’s latest request was for Cadence to host a concert to torture the country’s nobility. 

While Cadence doesn’t enjoy using her powers to hurt people, Cadence just accepts that this is her fate. That is, until she is reunited with her childhood friend, Remi. Remi is a noblewoman and has a deep hatred for the current queen. Remi and her family have ties to an underground rebellion. Cadence must decide if she will finally stand up for herself against the queen or continue doing Elene’s bidding.

The novel was a quick and straightforward read. It didn’t have any unexpected twists or turns. I was surprised that this was considered a “Phantom of the Opera” retelling as I would have never assumed that from just reading the book. The idea that magic can be conjured by singing was cool to me and I wish magic took a bigger role in the book. I also wish there was an epic magic showdown in the book at least once, or that the concept was explained in more detail. I was interested in learning more about their world. It seemed pretty basic and not much details about it were given other than magic is done by singing. I thought the ending seemed a bit rushed and felt disjointed. I did enjoy the novel and would be open to reading more books by the author.