Friday, November 1, 2024

Book Spotlight - DEATHSTALKER: THE DAMNED BLOOD by Slash, Tim Seeley, Steven Kostanski, & Jim Terry


About The Book:

Title: DEATHSTALKER: THE DAMNED BLOOD

Authors: Slash, Tim Seeley, Steven Kostanski, & Jim Terry (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: October 8, 2024

Publisher: Headshell (Vault Comics)

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 208

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/DEATHSTALKER-THE-DAMNED-BLOOD 

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 SundownHeavy Metal, Come Home, Indio)

Cover Art by the legendary fantasy artist Boris Vallejo and modern master Nathan C. Gooden (BarbaricBrandon 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.

https://linktr.ee/slash

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

 


About Tim Seeley:

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

 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

About Jim Terry:

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.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 




About Steven Kostanski:

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). 

Instagram

 

 




Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive finished copies of DEATHSTALKER: THE DAMNED BLOOD, US Only.

Ends November 5th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/7/2024

The Momma Spot

Excerpt

10/8/2024

Edith's Little Free Library

IG Post/TikTok Post

10/9/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt/IG Post

10/10/2024

Daily Waffle

Excerpt

10/11/2024

Fire and Ice Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

10/12/2024

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two: 

10/13/2024

Sudeshna Loves Reading

Excerpt

10/14/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Post

10/15/2024

Lifestyle of Me

Review

10/16/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

10/17/2024

Comic Book Yeti

Excerpt

10/18/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

10/19/2024

Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Review/IG Post

Week Three: 

10/20/2024

@sparks_books

IG Review

10/21/2024

TX Girl Reads

Review/IG Post

10/22/2024

The Real World According to Sam

Review/IG Post

10/23/2024

@enjoyingbooksagain

IG Review

10/24/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Review/TikTok Post

10/25/2024

@thebookishfoxwitch

IG Review

10/26/2024

@alexandriavwilliams_

IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Four:

10/27/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

10/28/2024

ilovebooksandstuffblog

Review/IG Post

10/29/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

10/30/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

10/31/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

11/1/2024

Two Points of Interest

Review


Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Book Spotlight - BARBARIC Vol. 4: BORN IN BLOOD by Michael Moreci & Nathan C. Gooden + Giveaway

 

About The Book:

Title: BARBARIC Vol. 4: BORN IN BLOOD

Authors: Michael Moreci & Nathan C. Gooden (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: October 8, 2024

Publisher: Vault Comics

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 176

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/BARBARIC-Vol-4-BORN-IN-BLOOD

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)!


Own a whole lot of Owen, Axe, and the BARBARIC universe with:
Barbaric Vol. 1: Murderable Offenses 
Barbaric Vol. 2: Axe to Grind 
Barbaric Vol. 3: Hell to Pay 
Queen of Swords: A Barbaric Tale 
Barbaric Vol. 4: Born in Blood 

PRAISE FOR BARBARIC

"Deadpool meets Game of Thrones." - Deadline

‘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.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 



About Nathan Gooden:

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. 

Instagram

 

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive finished copies of BARBARIC Vol. 4: BORN IN BLOOD, US Only.

Ends November 5th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/7/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt/IG Post

10/8/2024

Daily Waffle

Excerpt

10/9/2024

The Momma Spot

Excerpt

10/10/2024

Edith's Little Free Library

IG Post/TikTok Post

10/11/2024

Sudeshna Loves Reading

Excerpt

10/12/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Post

Week Two:

10/13/2024

Fire and Ice Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

10/14/2024

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

10/16/2024

Lifestyle of Me

Review

10/17/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

10/18/2024

Comic Book Yeti

Excerpt

10/19/2024

@sparks_books

IG Review

Week Three:

10/20/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

10/21/2024

The Real World According to Sam

Review/IG Post

10/22/2024

TX Girl Reads

Review/IG Post

10/23/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Review/TikTok Post

10/24/2024

@enjoyingbooksagain

IG Review

10/25/2024

Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Review/IG Post

10/26/2024

@thebookishfoxwitch

IG Review

Week Four:

10/27/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

10/28/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review.LFL Drop Pic/TikTok POst

10/29/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

10/30/2024

Two Points of Interest

Review

10/31/2024

Rajiv's reviews

Review/IG Post

11/1/2024

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Review/TikTok Post


Sunday, October 27, 2024

Book Review - Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson

 



Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson is about a teenager, Pip, investigating the disappearance of one of her friends, Jaime Reynolds. After the first season of her viral podcast, Pip decided to stop playing detective with police cases. The last case she investigated, the murder of Andie Bell, has left lasting trauma on her.

When one of her friends’ brother, Jaime, goes missing, the Reynolds family is desperate for answers. They ask Pip for help but Pip tells them she is done with investigations. She directs them to the police, but when the police don’t take Jaime’s disappearance seriously, Pip has no choice but to help the family and her friend. Jamie was last sighted the night the town hosted a memorial for the deaths of Andie Bell and Sal Singh. Will Pip be able to find Jaime before it’s too late?

This is the second book in the series. The book can be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading it in order. Some scenes happened in the first book that plays an important role in the second book. The book does move slowly like the previous book. However, this time I found Pip to be a bit annoying at times. I believe it’s because there were so many emotions at play, especially with the trials of the character's from the previous book.. I am trying to be patient with her but, it is trying at times.

The book does have a few twists and turns that kept me guessing. I do like that the author tied in previous scenes from the first book in the series. There were new characters introduced and also some of the supporting characters from the previous book have a smaller supporting role in this novel. Cara and Ravi had a more active role in the first book, however were more like a passing thought here. While this book isn’t marketed as a romance novel, I have a hard time believing Ravi and Pip are in a relationship. They seem to be more like friends or close friends than dating. Overall, I did enjoy the book and I would be open to reading more books in the series.

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Book Review - A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

 

 

 A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is about a senior high school student, Pip, who decides to investigate a closed murder case. Everyone who lives in Fairview is familiar with the case of Andie Bell. She was a popular and pretty high school student. She was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself over the grief.  Five years later, the tragedy still haunts her small town, and everyone can’t stop talking about it.

Pip feels that there is more to what happened that day. She knew Sal as a kid, and he was always kind to her. She feels that the police have pinned the crime on the wrong person, and she is determined to find out the truth behind the murder. She decides to investigate the murder as her capstone project for school. As she dwells deeper into the case, she discovers dark secrets that someone is desperate to keep hidden. Will Pip be able to find out the truth behind the Andie Bell murder?

The novel is geared towards young adults and could seem juvenile to some readers. I thought it was a good read and it had multiple twists. I found the plot to be interesting and kept me entertained until the end of the book.  The book did have a lot of fillers and I felt that the book did drag at times.  I am looking forward to the other books in the series.