Sunday, January 31, 2016

Thorfinn and the Gruesome Games

Thorfinn and the Gruesome Games
author: David MacPhail
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/31
date added: 2016/01/31
shelves: children-s
review:
'Thorfinn and the Gruesome Games' by David MacPhail is a pretty fun young reader with a lesson about being yourself when everyone around you is trying to make you conform.

Young Thorfinn is the nicest Viking in his village. He might be the nicest Viking ever, which his father, Harald the Skull-splitter, has a problem with. He wants his son to be fierce, especially since the village is heading to the gruesome games. Harald finds a tutor for Thorfinn to learn fierceness from, but it just doesn't take. Harald has other problems since his rival chieftain will be there and a couple of his best competitors are mysteriously out of the contest. Can Harald get his beloved shield back? Will Thorfinn learn to be a fierce Viking and lose his niceness?

The book is a cute story filled with funny illustrations. I liked the humor and I think young readers would giggle out loud. The comparisons might be made to another young reader Viking series, but this one stands on its own, and can you have too many Viking books?

I received a review copy of this ebook from Myrick Marketing & Media LLC, Floris Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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The Fly: Outbreak

The Fly: Outbreak
author: Brandon Seifert
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.08
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2016/01/31
date added: 2016/01/31
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Fly: Outbreak' by Brandon Seifert with art by Menton3 looks really cool, but left me feeling a bit detached from the characters.

I'm supposing the story starts after the second Fly movie from the 1980s. Martin Brindle has been returned to human form and he wants to find a cure for Bartok, who was turned into a fly at the end of The Fly II. Martin has got a pretty detached marriage, and doesn't seem to even connect much to the people in the lab around him. That somewhat changes when there is an outbreak (if it's part of the title, is it a spoiler). He ends up in quarantine and things go from bad to worse. Can he find the cure before things get out of hand?

The artwork is dark and pretty cool, but I just didn't care much for the characters. Especially the main character. There are some horror moments, but they just felt a bit detached. So, when it was all said and done, I found that I'd have a hard time recommending it unless someone was a die hard fan of the movies from the 1980s.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, IDW Publishing, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Saturday, January 30, 2016

Detective Gordon: The First Case

Detective Gordon: The First Case
author: Ulf Nilsson
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at: 2016/01/30
date added: 2016/01/30
shelves: children-s
review:
Scandinavian crime fiction has never been more charming than it is 'Detective Gordon: The First Case' by Ulf Nilsson. This early reader book left me with a huge smile on my face.

In an icy woods, there is a thief afoot. Someone is stealing nuts from Squirrel, and his only hope is to enlist the help of Detective Gordon, a frog with a penchant for cakes and the sound of paper being stamped with a 'ka-chunk.' The case is difficult and with a lot of standing in the cold, Detective Gordon finds that he needs help. He finds it in young mouse, Buffy. They have a series of adventures that lead to them trying to solve the crime. There are plenty of laughs along the way.

It reminded me a bit of Arnold Lobel's 'Frog and Toad are Friends' in tone and sweetness. The illustrations are plentiful and cute and the whole thing is so gentle and charming that I am so very glad I asked to review it. I highly recommend this for young readers, but it would make a fine read aloud book as well.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Myrick Marketing & Media, LLC., Gecko Press, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this wonderful ebook.


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Secret Teachings Of A Comic Book Master: The Art Of Alfredo Alcala

Secret Teachings Of A Comic Book Master: The Art Of Alfredo Alcala
author: Heidi MacDonald
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2016/01/30
date added: 2016/01/30
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Secret Teachings of a Comic Book Master: The Art of Alfredo Alcala' is like sitting over coffee with an amazing artist and having him tell you all his secrets.

The introductions alone should make you take notice. There are intros by Gil Kane and Roy Thomas, who are comics legends, and they express their deep respect of Alfredo. There is a more personal introduction by Phil Yeh that talks about travelling with Alfredo. The bulk of the book is called, The Art of Observation, and Alfredo's tips to young artists are to draw everything and pay attention to everything around you. The book finishes with a kind of artist's commentary to an unpublished Voltar story.

Throughout the book are examples of Alfredo's work here in the States and from his early years in the Philippines. He was an influential artist on Conan the Barbarian and his own book Voltar. His style is bold and action-oriented. His figures have muscular anatomy and are finely detailed. I really appreciated learning more about this artist and getting to understand how much work he puts into every panel.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker

Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker
author: Tom DeLonge
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/30
date added: 2016/01/30
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Poet Anderson' by Tom DeLonge and Ben Kull is based on a short film. It's a pretty dark story, but I liked it and the art is pretty stunning.

Young Jonas Anderson finds he can traverse the dream world with his older brother, Alan. They meet a young woman who lives there, named Ayo, but they also meet the evil ruler of this dreamland. His name is Rem. He likes to take over unsuspecting dreamers and cross over into our world. He sees something in Jonas and renames him Poet Anderson. He's afraid Poet Anderson will become a Dream Walker, someone who protects others in the dream world, so he wants to control him. Poet will lose quite a bit along the way.

This graphic novel is the prequel to a short cartoon. The artwork by Djet is very much in the style of that short, which means it is pretty amazing. I think it's an interesting, albeit pretty dark, read. It's a bit more style than substance, but it's got good style.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Magnetic Press, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Friday, January 29, 2016

Timbi's Dream

Timbi's Dream
author: Max Nowaz
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.00
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2016/01/29
date added: 2016/01/29
shelves: children-s
review:
'Timbi's Dream' by Max Nowaz is a children's book told in rhyme, or it's supposed to be, but I found the rhyming to be pretty stilting and not very rhythmic.

Timbi is a young boy who has strange dreams of flying through the sky. They seem to be brought on by applying some medicinal cream to his ears. He tries it with his brothers and they join him too. There are other surprises too, but I won't spoil them.

There are pictures, which I found a bit crude in design. The rhyming scheme stumbles a bit. I did like the story and what happens, but the bit with the cream is just strange and keeps being a plot point. I would hope something like this wouldn't lead a young child to try to take grownup medicine.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Matador and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Radiance

Radiance
author: Catherynne M. Valente
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2016/01/29
shelves:
review:
'Radiance'by Catherynne M. Valente called to me with it's decopunk stylizing of old Hollywood and Golden Era SF stories. It won me over with the kind of literary brilliance that I've come to expect from this author. I'm still processing it, and still in complete awe.

It's about a father and daughter, both filmmakers, in an alternate Hollywood, with studio lots on the moon. It's about love and loss and about the lies we tell ourselves when we only know or only can see partial truth. It's nostalgic and splashy. It's cunning and biting. It's romantic and horrific. I'm gushing, aren't I?

It's chapters take place out of order. Each one a type of film journalism. There are red carpet gossip reports, and journals. Memoirs and screenplays. The ending may not be as settled as some may like, but I found the whole thing shimmering and elegant, like a star-filled party under a star-filled sky.


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Under the Empyrean Sky (The Heartland Trilogy, #1)

Under the Empyrean Sky (The Heartland Trilogy, #1)
author: Chuck Wendig
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/29
date added: 2016/01/29
shelves: young-adult
review:
'Under the Empyrean Sky' by Chuck Wendig is the first book the Heartland Trilogy. With a plethora of dystopian YA novels, I think this one stands out for the setting and some interesting characters.

In a future (?) the Heartland is ruled by the Empyrean. There are vast fields of corn because it is the only crop allowed to grow and it is everywhere. There are also other methods of control like government-chosen spouses and a kind of lottery to separate out people. Cael McAvoy lives in this world with a gang of friends. They spend their days sailing a rickety land boat through the corn. One day they find something highly unusual. While they try to keep it secret, it isn't long before it gets them in the kind of trouble that is way over their heads.

It's the setup for a trilogy and there are some trailing threads leading to the next book. I liked the characters because they seemed like relatively normal kids. I love the idea of the world and the dust and corn silk seemed to clog the air. I imagine the color palette to be sepia toned. I liked it and look forward to the next book.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Skyscape and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Classical Ornament

Classical Ornament
author: C. Thierry
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2016/01/27
date added: 2016/01/27
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Classical Ornament' by C. Thierry is a reprint of a collection first published in Germany in the 1860s. There are 71 royalty free plates of line drawings of ornamentation.

There are floral designs and animal designs. The designs are from ancient Greece and Rome. The designs are reproduced as line drawings in black and white. At around $12, it's a cheap source for royalty free art.

I liked it because it gave me a chance to study these sort of designs a bit closer. I admire the detail that went into this art.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Rend the Dark (Rend the Dark #1)

Rend the Dark (Rend the Dark #1)
author: Mark Gelineau
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/27
date added: 2016/01/27
shelves:
review:
'Rend the Dark' by Mark Gelineau and Joe King is a good beginning to an interesting story. You can read this 78 page novella and call it good or you can continue on.

In a prologue we meet a young boy named Ferran having a vision of his future, which will be fighting monsters. And how he will be linked to his future partner, Elinor. Then we skip to a village best by something strange. Ferran and Elinor have been summoned and they meet a young man named Riffolk and his friend Hil, and Warden Aker. They've been called because something evil has shown up, and it shows up in people, turning them into a sort of zombie. It's a sign of something bigger as Ferran and Elinor travel to a village which is on the verge of an outbreak.

I liked the setting and worldbuilding a lot. I found out later that this is part of a series of linked novellas. I'm reading one called 'Reaper of Stone' now which is about Elinor. I like what these authors are doing and I look forward to reading more.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Gelineau and King, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Sunday, January 24, 2016

The Prince

The Prince
author: Morim Kang
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.89
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/24
date added: 2016/01/24
shelves: non-fiction, graphic-novels
review:
'The Prince' by Niccolo Machiavelli with illustrations by Morim Kang takes the classic work and makes it a kind of annotated version. I've tried to read this classic before, but with this version, I finally finished it.

It's a classic about ruling and politics. There is a lot of reference to history and that is where Morim Kang comes in. After each chapter there is a graphic novel summary of the events that Machiavelli talks about. The art isn't the best, but it works and even adds a little humor in, such as every time someone ends up getting assassinated. This book covers a broad range of history, so there are Greeks and Romans and lots of Italians running through the pages. Alexander the Great, the Medicis and the Caesars are among the many people but there are other royalty and popes. They all show the machinations that rulers make behind the scenes.

The art style is simple, but it gives the work a sort of medieval two dimensional look which fits with the book. I appreciated the chance to finally read this and to have additional material that helped the book make more sense to me.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Diamond Book Distributors, NETCOMICS, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Weaponized

Weaponized
author: Nicholas Mennuti
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2016/01/24
date added: 2016/01/24
shelves:
review:
'Weaponized' by Nicholas Munnuti is a quick read and will make you distrustful of strangers offering things that seem too good to be true.

Kyle West is a computer genius on the run in Cambodia. He's on the run from unauthorized surveillance charges, and now he's stuck in a foreign country and hiding. One night, a stranger, who looks a bit like him, offers him a chance to get home. They can switch passports and Kyle can find a way to get home, but there is a lot more to this kind stranger, Julian Robinson, than Kyle knows, and he's just stepped into a whole bunch of trouble. Can Kyle make things right and ever get back home again?

It's got a few nice twists and turns along the way, and it feels like there are plot threads that could lead to a sequel of sorts, which might be nice. The plotting and descriptions are fairly standard for this sort of genre, but it moves along quickly enough to make it a recommend for fans of action thrillers.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Mulholland Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Saturday, January 23, 2016

Material, Vol. 1

Material, Vol. 1
author: Ales Kot
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2016/01/23
date added: 2016/01/23
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Material, Vol. 1' by Ales Kot is a comic that attempts to address some of the current wrongs in the world in a comic book form, which is admirable. I just found it a bit incoherent and preachy.

Four separate stories work their way through the book. A man comes home from Guantanamo Bay after surviving torture. He is trying to readjust to life with his wife. An actress takes a role in a movie, after barely working at all the previous year. A young black man is in a riot and ends up getting booked into a detention center. An older intellectual is facing aging and meets an interesting artificial intelligence. None of the stories, as far as I can tell, intertwined as of yet, but maybe that's for future issues.

There are footnotes on most pages, or the names of black victims of police violence, or songs or books to read. Overall, I get the message, but I think it could have been told differently or better. I felt talked down to. I do believe comics can be a medium for change, and I was interested in this one, but I felt a bit let down.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Image Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Sons of the Devil, Volume 1

Sons of the Devil, Volume 1
author: Brian Buccellato
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/23
date added: 2016/01/23
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Sons of the Devil, Volume 1' by Brian Buccellato with art by Toni Infante proves that the eyes have it, but maybe what they have is something you shouldn't want.

Travis has spent his troubled youth bouncing around the foster care system not knowing who his real parents are. When a friend finds a link to his past, then is removed from Travis' life, things get strange. We see a story that jumps between the present and past. In the past, Travis' mom was in a cult in California run by a guy who had a weird pact with the devil. He and all of his kids have a trait of two different colored eyes. Could this be who Travis is looking for? And who is the creepy guy running an anger management class in the open, and acting like a serial killer in private. Travis finds himself in over his head, and it may be too much for his girlfriend to take.

The story doesn't get too far along before the five issues in this volume are over, but that's okay. The story and art work well together. There are a couple short backup stories that give some illumination to a couple characters. This is quite the thrill ride, and I like it. Travis is far from perfect and has a really short fuse. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out along with whatver schemes are going on with his real father.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Doodle Jump

Doodle Jump
author: Mario Udzenija
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.67
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2016/01/23
date added: 2016/01/23
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Doodle Jump' is a graphic novel based on a video game. I've not played the game but the comic based on it isn't too bad.

The comic opens with Doodler in a strange winter world being chased by killer penguins. He finds a new friend named Stripanza Von Spackle, or Triple for short. Triple is the kind of overconfident friend who will either get you out of or into danger. Doodle is good at jumping, but not so good at walking. The two find themselves on a quest to figure out where all the little black holes are coming from. Along the way they meet more enemies and a few people who want to help them out. The enemies outnumber the friends, but Doodle and Triple find out they are all they need.

The art is a bit crude, but very much in keeping with the game art I've seen online. The story feels a bit like a video game with different levels and quests. I like the interaction between Doodle and Triple and feel like this book is completely appropriate for fans of the game and younger readers. I actually enjoyed reading it.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Dynamite Entertainment, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Danger Club, Vol. 1: Death

Danger Club, Vol. 1: Death
author: Landry Q. Walker
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2016/01/23
date added: 2016/01/23
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
I read 'Danger Club, Vol. 1: Death' by Landry Q. Walker after reading the second volume. I liked the second volume more than this one.

The heroes have all gone somewhere, and only the young sidekicks are left behind. I was confused by this in the second volume and it's not explained here either. The things I liked in the second volume begin to form here, but the story just didn't really hook me. It seems to want to be hyperviolent, and it doesn't seem to know what to do with it yet. That works better in the second volume where the violence is done with more shock.

I gave the second volume four stars because the story gets a bit deeper. This time around, I have to give it less because the story comes across as cliche. Maybe I've read too many deconstructions of superhero stories, or maybe I've just read better ones.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Thursday, January 21, 2016

The Bleiberg Project: A Consortium Thriller

The Bleiberg Project: A Consortium Thriller
author: David S. Khara
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/21
date added: 2016/01/21
shelves:
review:
'The Bleiberg Project' by David S. Khara (with translation by Simon John) is a pretty good ride, but I had to give it quite a few pages before I decided that. It's part of a series, but this book is a good standalone adventure.

The story takes place in the present but reaches all the way back to 1942. In the modern time, Jay is a stockbroker and playboy who lives to drown himself in women and alcohol every night. That is, until he gets the call that his estranged father has been killed. Clues around his father's death lead to Jay being on the run with a pretty CIA bodyguard and being chased by a Mossad agent. They find themselves in Europe with a mystery that goes back to World War 2. Who was Jay's father and why did he leave the family? Who is Bleiberg and what was he doing for the Nazis?

I liked it, but initially the Jay character really annoyed me. I really didn't like him. The other characters were fine. The translation is good and the story really moves along. I look forward to reading further books in the series.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Le French Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Selected Poems

Selected Poems
author: Thomas Hardy
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.94
book published: 1928
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/21
date added: 2016/01/21
shelves:
review:
I was pleased to be able to read 'Selected Poems' by Thomas Hardy (edited by Robert Mezey). I was aware that he had written poems but I don't think I'd had the chance to read any.

Hardy wrote more than 900 poems, which seem like a pretty overwhelming place to start, so this is a good selection since there are sixty-nine presented here from a variety of time over his career from 1898 to 1917. These are solid poems and probably not the sort of collection that should be read straight through. There are themes of war and love and loss. Lots of loss. Hardy has at least one poem in this collection written after his wife died. There are themes that recur, but that doesn't make the collection feel tedious or repetitious. The curation is good, and there are footnotes scattered along the way to help illuminate passages or historical data.

I was glad to get a chance to read this collection and I emjoyed the poems presented.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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Monday, January 18, 2016

Romulus Buckle & the City of the Founders (Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin, #1)

Romulus Buckle & the City of the Founders (Chronicles of the Pneumatic Zeppelin, #1)
author: Richard Ellis Preston Jr.
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/18
date added: 2016/01/18
shelves:
review:
'Romulus Buckle & the City of the Founders' by Richard Ellis Preston jr. is a pretty decent start to a series. Plus it's got the kind of swashbuckling swagger that seems to be lacking in much of the Steampunk genre, in my view.

Captain Romulus Buckle is captain of the airship the Pneumatic Zeppelin. The book launches you right into a rescue mission, so the action is afoot while you are meeting the other characters. What I loved most about this book is that a lot of these type of books have a great cover with a zeppelin on them, then that is barely part of the book. In this one, we get the steampunk equivalent of a Napoleonic naval story, but with "forgewalkers," "steampipers," and something to do with the planet Mars.

It feels a bit YA when it's all said and done, so it wasn't quite as satisfying as I'd hoped, but I do like the strange world that's been created, and the interesting characters that inhabit it. Count me in for the next installment.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Amazon Publishing, 47 North, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Miss Moon: Wise Words from a Dog Governess

Miss Moon: Wise Words from a Dog Governess
author: Janet Hill
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2016/01/18
date added: 2016/01/18
shelves: children-s
review:
'Miss Moon: Wise Words from a Dog Governess' by Janet Hill is guide for life with the kind of pictures I want in a calendar or framed on my wall.

Miss Wilhelmina Moon is a dog governess who has found a job on a small island. She is watching over 67 dogs along with her monkey, Mitford, and her bulldog, Petunia. Sixty seven dogs can be unruly, but with some rules for life, Miss Moon soon has them whipped into shape. The twenty lessons in the book include "Be true to your adventurous spirit" and "Never stop learning" among others. Each lesson is accompanied by a gorgeous painting of Miss Moon and her charges huddled together reading a book, or travelling in a hot air balloon.

I loved the paintings in this book. The life lessons are also good reminders for little readers. The whole book feels lush and rich and a bit hushed in tone, but I think it would be great fun to read with little ones as they explore the details of the pages.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Random House of Canada Limited, Tundra Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this fine ebook.


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Thursday, January 14, 2016

Over-Scheduled Andrew

Over-Scheduled Andrew
author: Ashley Spires
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2016/01/14
date added: 2016/01/14
shelves: children-s
review:
'Over-Scheduled Andrew' by Ashley Spires is a fable for our busy times, but it gets high marks for it's adorable illustrations and very non-preachy message.

Andrew loves putting on plays and playing with his friend Edie. When his drama teacher suggests he join the debate club, it starts a snowball rolling. Eventually Andrew is in clubs for tennis, chess, karate, dance, Spanish and others. Slowly, his time with Edie gets taken away, but Edie is the very best kind of friend. She just waits.

A story like this could be preachy in it's message, but it's kept light and pretty funny. The illustrations are just precious and kept me smiling. This is a wonderful picture book and I hope it does really well.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Random House of Canada Limited, Tundra Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this adorable ebook.


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Sunday, January 10, 2016

Ghostbusters: Get Real

Ghostbusters: Get Real
author: Erik Burnham
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2016/01/10
date added: 2016/01/10
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Ghostbusters: Get Real'by Erik Burnham and art by Dan Schoening gets the IDW Ghostbuster team and the "Real Ghostbusters" together in a dimension spanning story.

The set up for this issue happened with the Ghostbusters/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover which showed that alternate dimensions can exist (at least for this series). It all goes wrong when the elder god Proteus wants to get revenge on the team, and they find themselves face to face with....themselves, but from another dimension. Proteus is bent on their destruction, so he creates a three headed dog ghost that will track down the correct team of Ghostbusters. Fortunately, there is still equipment that got built in the encounter with the Turtles that can be used to set everything right.

I found it a bit confusing just because I thought the IDW Ghostbusters WERE the real ghostbusters. That is probably explained prior to where I came in. But I did enjoy the interplay between the alternate worlds teams and also the cameos by even stranger versions of the team. I think I liked the Turtles crossover a bit more, but this was fun too.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from IDW and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Poorly Drawn Lines: Good Ideas and Amazing Stories

Poorly Drawn Lines: Good Ideas and Amazing Stories
author: Reza Farazmand
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2016/01/10
date added: 2016/01/10
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Poorly Drawn Lines' by Reza Farazmand is a collection of comic strips, many of which have been onine. The collection looks kid friendly but the punchlines can take dark and sometimes vulgar twists, so a caution to parents looking at this one.

The collection is broken up into sections titled 'The Natural World,' 'A Better Tomorrow,' and 'Unexplained Events' among others. There are multi-panel strips where sometimes the punchline spans a page, and there are short written vignettes that talk about things like organic cucumbers and birds wearing pants, etc. There are ducks that think about murder, bears in space, robots who are jerks, and many other things.

The humor is ironic and has things like children being sent out to kill or cats flipping people off. I liked some of it more than others. I liked the comic strips more than the short stories. Those just got old after a while. I liked the art style too. The book is a super quick read, so I don't know if it's worth a purchase at full price. That will depend on if you find this to be funnier than I did.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Penguin Group Blue Rider Press, Plume, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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The Mutts Winter Diaries

The Mutts Winter Diaries
author: Patrick McDonnell
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2016/01/10
date added: 2016/01/10
shelves: children-s, graphic-novels
review:
'The Mutts Winter Diaries' by Patrick McDonnell is a series of Mutts strips about how cold it is this time of year. The humor is still great and will keep you warm.

Strips in this collection focus on snow, and the chance of snow, and having to go out for walks in the snow. There are also lots of strips about hibernating, either with actual bears or just staying home in bed. All the usual cast is featured like Earl the dog and Mooch the cat. The squirrels are still accurately chucking acorns at people and animals and poor Guard Dog is just cold, but he does end up with a few cast off dog sweaters. The volume concludes with tips on what animals go through in Winter and how to help them.

I liked this collection, but not as much as previous collections. I kept running into pages with just the logo of the comic in them. It was different art, but not a strip or anything, which was strange because I already knew what I was reading. It's a perfect collection for young readers, though.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Andrew McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Saturday, January 9, 2016

The Empty, Vol. 1

The Empty, Vol. 1
author: Jimmie Robinson
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/09
date added: 2016/01/09
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Empty Volume 1' by Jimmie Robinson had me a little skeptical at first, but won me over and I ended up liking the ideas of the story.

Tanoor is a hunter in her tribe of long-armed hunters. She lives in the empty, a land being poisoned by giant roots that kill anything that gets too near them. Her people are struggling to find healthy food and water. A stranger, Lila of the long-necked people, shows up injured and at first, no one can communicate with her. But Lila has the power to heal and communicate. Before long Lila and Tanoor set out to see if they can fix the danger that is hurting their world. Along the way, they meet enemies and seek to create communication between species so they can save the world they live on. Suspicion and long-held enmity are hard to overcome. Or are they?

It's an interesting story, but I had to give it quite a few pages. There were odd and unbelievable things happening, but they were part of the story, and they made sense as things went along (Lila's immediate ability to assimilate a language was one of them). I liked the story, and the way the characters have to interact to solve things. I enjoyed it because it became more a story about solving problems instead of just applying violence.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Image Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Tortured Life

Tortured Life
author: Dan Watters
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.29
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/09
date added: 2016/01/09
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Tortured Life' by Neil Gibson, Dan Watters and Caspar Wijngaard is a story with some interesting twists and turns. I'm trying to figure out how to write this without too many spoilers. Mild spoilers ahead, but nothing you can't get from reading the publisher's blurb.

We meet Richard as he is about to commit suicide. He's had a bad year with his job and his girlfriend, but that's not the worst of it. He's begun seeing how people die, in all it's gruesomeness. Some are old, but some are disfigured by the violence of accidents or crimes. It's driving him slowly insane. As he is about to complete his own death, he meets a strange young woman named Alice. She needs his help, but they suddenly find themselves on the run from someone called the Bloodyman, a gruesome nightmare that seems to enjoy violent death. Richard finds wrapped further and further into this and discovers strange things that may have to do with his own past.

It's a good horror story with lots of gruesomeness in it. I liked where the story went, but I wanted more of certain characters, and less of others. Also, in my digital copy, whenever Bloodyman has dialogue, it's red print on a black background, so I was difficult to read, but that's minor complaint for a decent story.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, TPub, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Friday, January 8, 2016

Descender, Vol. 1: Tin Stars

Descender, Vol. 1: Tin Stars
author: Jeff Lemire
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2016/01/08
date added: 2016/01/08
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Descender, Vol. 1: Tin Stars' by Jeff Lemire with gorgeous art by Dustin Nguyen has a lot going on, but it's deftly handled and feels very coherent.

Giant Robots appear in the sky over a bunch of inhabited planets and attempt to eradicate organic beings. The organic beings don't particularly like this and start a war against the robots in their lives. Years later a young robot boy named Tim-21 wakes up on a remote mining planet with his robot dog Bandit. He's trying to find the family that he's been assigned to, but before he can figure that out, he is the target of scavengers who find worth in his salvage. It's possible that he holds more, but will he be destroyed before anyone can find out?

Like I said, there is a lot going on here and a lot gets set up, but it's handled pretty well. There are certainly things the reader doesn't find out in this first volume, but they feel like complete ideas and not just scattered things that may or may not connect. The art by Dustin Nguyen is just amazing. it's got a sort of watercolor quality that I really admired. It's a good start, and I'd be happy to keep reading more in this series.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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The Scarlet Plague (Dover Doomsday Classics)

The Scarlet Plague (Dover Doomsday Classics)
author: Jack London
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/08
date added: 2016/01/08
shelves: classics
review:
'The Scarlet Plague' by Jack London is a book I was unfamiliar with until Dover brought it out in there Dover Doomsday Classics Series. I found it a really fun read.

Originally written in 1912, the book takes place 60 years after the great plague has wiped out humanity in the distant year of 2013. An old man, called Granser, tells his unruly (and mostly unlearned) grandsons the story of what happened. Apparently Granser was a college professor, but he can't communicate ideas like math or longer vocabulary words with his grandsons because they simply can't or won't comprehend them. We learn that sometimes when the plague comes, the people who take power are the ones we consider to be the least among us, as we see in the cruel and barbaric Chauffeur.

It was fun to see the vision of our present from 100 years ago. The setting is the bay area, where cities are now very far apart, and the remains of civilization are all around, or buried in the shallow sands of the beach. I've read Jack London, but I've never heard of this short novella. I think it holds up pretty well considering when it was written and I recommend it to any fan of dystopian fiction.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Thursday, January 7, 2016

Exodus (Extinction Point, #2)

Exodus (Extinction Point, #2)
author: Paul Antony Jones
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2016/01/07
date added: 2016/01/07
shelves:
review:
'Exodus (Extinction Point 2)' by Paul Antony Jones is the second book in the series, and just like the first one, it does end on a bit of a cliffhanger.

Emily Baxter has survived the thing that has basically killed most of life on the planet in an extinction level type of event. She has escaped New York and she has a plan. This time around, she finds out she's not entirely alone. Along with her dog, Thor, she runs across some survivors. She wonders how any of them have survived, but they continue on Emily's journey north to a remote science station in Alaska. What will they find along the way, and will even Alaska be safe?

I enjoyed the first book more, and I got a bit annoyed in this one with descriptions of Emily discovering how to drive. We know she doesn't know how. We don't need descriptions of her confusion about what a brake pedal looks like. I also think I liked Emily alone more in the first book than with her fellow travellers, with the exception of Thor. Still, I do plan on reading the next volumes in the series.

I received a copy of this ebook from Amazon Publishing, 47North, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Ashes

Ashes
author: Mario Candelaria
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.79
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2016/01/06
date added: 2016/01/07
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Ashes' by Mario Candelaria with art by Karl Slominski got me interested with a cool cover and a story about firefighters, but the mediocre story and confusing art were a bit of a letdown.

Matt Terwillegar is a firefighter and the son of a firefighter. He's a bit larger than life and pretty fearless on the job, until he has a pretty serious accident on the job. When his family and old firehouse support him, he makes a fast recovery, but has trouble getting his old job back. He slips into depression and bitterness, but maybe has a chance to turn things around.

The story is okay, but kind of predictable. The art is black and white and kind of muddled. The characters have a sort of garish look to them, and I kept getting some of the men confused because they looked the same. I like that this is a Kickstarter project and that it benefits firefighter charities. It's for a good cause, but it's too bad it's not a good story.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Z2 Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Before Enigma (A Kindle Single)

Before Enigma (A Kindle Single)
author: David Boyle
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.67
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/06
date added: 2016/01/06
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Before Enigma' by David Boyle tells the story of British codebreaking that led to Enigma and Bletchley Park. It's a short read, but still highly fascinating.

Room 40 during World War I was the precursor to the codebreakers of Bletchley Park and the larger than life personality of the group was Admiral Sir Reginald 'Blinker' Hall. He assembled an odd assortment of academics who could assist in breaking the codes coming out of Germany. The problem was that there was a disconnect between the front lines and knowledge of this secret group. This played havoc at Jutland where knowledge was known but not to the right people at the right time. Lessons learned during the first conflict would be remembered.

The problem is that a lot of the historical records of Room 40 have been purged, so what we are left with is a lot of secondhand stories, some of which might or might not be fully true. This makes it tough to recommend as a straight historical record, but I can highly recommend it as similar to the type of evening you might have at a pub listening to old soldiers relate stories. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Endeavour Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Tuesday, January 5, 2016

G. I. Joe: A Real American Hero - Vol 12

G. I. Joe: A Real American Hero - Vol 12
author: Larry Hama
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2016/01/05
date added: 2016/01/05
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'G. I. Joe: A Real American Hero - Vol 12' by Larry Hama is not the kind of tale for a casual reader of the series like me. It is full of the kind of crazy events I didn't think I'd see in a G. I. Joe book.

It's volume 12, so the story is well under way before you get to this volume. The Cobra Emperor, Serpentor, has been revived, and the Cobras have a giant robot that they plan to use to crush the Joes with. At first, I thought I was reading some sort of Transformers crossover. The Joes have a counter giant creature to fight it with, but it may turn out to be controlled by Cobra also. Before it all gets resolved, tragedy hits the team in a way that I didn't see coming and don't plan to spoil here (although the spoilers do abound even in the product description).

I liked it, but it felt like a big build up for kind of nothing. These two giant creatures square off, then it's pretty much over. Then the somber stuff starts and takes the book in a totally different direction. I felt played with a bit with this story, but, like I said, I'm only a casual reader, so maybe in the larger story arc, this makes more sense.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, IDW Publishing, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Monday, January 4, 2016

The Story Without an End

The Story Without an End
author: Sarah Austin
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2016/01/04
date added: 2016/01/04
shelves: children-s, classics
review:
'The Story Without an End' is German tale from the Victorian era translated here by Sarah Austin. It includes 15 of the original full color plate illustrations by Eleanor Vere Boyle, also known for her illustrations of the works of Hans Christian Andersen.

This is a classic story of a young child discovering the wonder of the natural world around them. For the most part, it is a very peaceful and idyllic tale that lulls you into dreams of warm Spring days ly‌ing beneath trees. There is some darkness that crops up, but it goes away in time for there to be nothing more than the flicker of a dark thought. I'm not sure why this story has no end, except that it does just sort of blissfully fade out.

The full color illustrations are beautiful and serve the story well. Each shows a long-haired child interacting thoughtfully with flowers and fauna in a peaceful setting. It's quite old and archaic in language, so I'm not sure it would engage children today. The story is probably a bit too sugary to find an adult audience, but I enjoyed the story and the illustrations as a peaceful way to spend a short amount of time reading.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Pawn Shop

Pawn Shop
author: Joey Esposito
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/04
date added: 2016/01/04
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Pawn Shop' by Joey Esposito with art by Sean Von Gorman tells an intertwining story revolving around, you guessed it, a pawn shop. Actually, it's more the items one buys and sells in this particular shop.

An old man has lost his wife of 30 years and moved away from the city, but he keeps being drawn back to the old neighborhoods and places he went with his wife, while he looks for something long thought lost. A lonely hospice nurse tries to find the courage to express his feelings to the sister of his patient. A young punk makes a series of bad choices. A woman who works on the train wants to make more of her life after hearing of the death of a beloved relative.

There are 4 distinct narratives with intertwining characters. There are also items that get bought and sold in the pawn shop that feature in the story. The stories are mostly poignant and moving. I liked how the stories focused on how random encounters can be a bit magical. I liked the mix of characters and the stories, and I'm glad I gave this a shot.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Z2 Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.



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Sunday, January 3, 2016

London Falling (Shadow Police, #1)

London Falling (Shadow Police, #1)
author: Paul Cornell
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2016/01/03
date added: 2016/01/03
shelves:
review:
'London Falling' by Paul Cornell is part police procedural and part supernatural thriller and it's all pretty good.

When DI James Quill completes the drug bust of his career, his suspect, Rob Toshack, dies in custody. Assembling a team including a couple undercover cops and an intelligence analyst, he starts looking into the murder. What he finds leads him into a shadowy London where he learns that Toshack made a deal with darker powers that gave him his luck, until it ran out and the price of his life was paid. Using their skills, they track down something that may not want to be tracked, and may not even be able to get tracked. Along the way they gain a kind of "sight" that lets them see the hidden parts of the city and they run into a truly evil villain known as the Smiling Man.

I liked the combination of procedural with urban fantasy. It comes across a lot more serious than other series of its type. The characters could have been a little more rounded out for me. Also, he adds in a historical element to what's happening, but they aren't explained well enough so they just seem to be in the way of the main story being told. So, high marks for style, but the execution left me feeling a bit mediocre about the book.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Saturday, January 2, 2016

The Last Days of American Crime

The Last Days of American Crime
author: Rick Remender
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.46
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/02
date added: 2016/01/02
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Last Days of American Crime' by Rick Remender tells of a future where the US decides to eliminate crime, but the story is pure, old-fashioned crime noir all the way.

Graham Bricke is a down and out criminal with a good enough reason to make a last score. He's got an inside scoop and a plan on a heist that will make the folks clever enough to pull it off wealthy. He just needs to find people he can trust with the skills he needs. The problem is that the younger couple he finds may have plans of their own, including stabbing Graham in the back and taking it all for themselves. Adding to the tension is the fact that the new anti-crime signal has been leaked that it's going live, so Graham and company need to act fast.

Graham is a likeable enough anti-hero who finds himself getting beat up or shot on a regular basis. Kevin Cash is a twisted psychopath in designer clothing, but I liked his character too. The only character that felt a little flat is the femme fatale, Shinee Dupree, which is interesting considering how much time they spent drawing her and putting her on all the covers. The story is crime fiction at its best, and the art by Alex Maleev is definitely the right tone and color for the book. A decent all around read.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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Friday, January 1, 2016

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Villains Micro-Series Volume 1

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Villains Micro-Series Volume 1
author: Brian Lynch
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2014/02/27
date added: 2016/01/01
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Villain Microseries Volume 1, collects 4 issues that tell the back story to some of the turtle's foes. An issue each is devoted to Krang, Baxter Stockman, Old Hob and Alopex. Three of the stories are tenuously linked, the fourth one is not.

We learn about Krang's conquest and the history of the body he uses. We learn how Baxter Stockman works for Krang, and wants to overthrow him. We learn how Old Hob went to Baxter for help and ended up being used by him. They all hate the turtles, but they all hate each other as well. The fourth story is about mutant fox, Alopex and his dealings with Shredder.

They are all standalone, with very little crossover, so it's not a cohesive story, but it is interesting to learn about some of these villains. I'm not sure I knew much back story about a couple of them. Recommended for turtle fans, and I like the direction that IDW has taken with the newer turtle universe.

I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this graphic novel.


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