Hades Speaks!: A Guide to the Underworld by the Greek God of the Dead

author: Vicky Alvear Shecter

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.26

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/02

date added: 2014/10/02

shelves: children-s

review:

'Hades Speaks!: A Guide to the Underworld by the Greek God of the Dead' gives you a personal tour of Hades' realm by the god himself. It's also got some great illustrations.



Hades gives you a personal tour of his realm along with stories of the famous characters who he's run across. He has a serious dislike for his little brother Zeus and his nephew Herakles. Areas like Elysium, Tartaros, the Asphodel Fields and the river Styx are all covered.



I liked the attitude that Hades comes across with. I think this would be perfect for younger readers who want to read more about Greek mythology after reading some of the Percy Jackson series. The illustrations by J. E. Larson were wonderfully gothic and creepy. The book finishes with an index and a guide to the Greek gods. Also included is a sneak peak of the next book, 'Anubis Speaks.' Perfect for 9-12 year old readers.



I was given a review copy of this ebook by Boyds Mills Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/1r5oaD7

Game (Jasper Dent #2)

author: Barry Lyga

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.16

book published: 2013

rating: 3

read at: 2014/10/01

date added: 2014/10/01

shelves: young-adult

review:

'Game' by Barry Lyga is the second book in the Jasper Dent series. It is not a standalone book and leaves things in a pretty big cliffhanger.



Jasper Dent, son of famous serial killer Billy Dent, is just trying to live a normal life. After helping the local cops stop a serial killer in his his hometown, he finds a New York detective on his doorstep asking for help. He doesn't want to help them because he just wants to get back to being a teenager, but this would be a short book if that were the case. Before long, he finds himself helping to try to find a killer named the Hatdog killer because of the clues left behind.



The cast of characters are back from the first book, but maybe not enough for me. Especially missing is Jasper's surrogate father figure, G. William, the gentle Sheriff of Lobo's Nod. He's here, just not enough. Secrets from Jasper's past figure in, but nothing gets explained this time around.



And then, as the action builds, it just ends. I'm okay with cliffhangers but this kind of felt like half of a book. I enjoyed it, but pretty much everything is left wide open. I felt a bit cheated.



It's pretty gruesome, especially for something purporting to be YA, so readers beware that it's pretty graphic in places. I have book 3 to read, and maybe the best advice is to read this one and book 3 back to back. I liked it, but not quite as much as the first one.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.







via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/1oCqwtr

Rogue Trooper

author: Brian Ruckley

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.67

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/10/01

date added: 2014/10/01

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Rogue Trooper:Last Man Standing' is based on an older 2000AD character. He's actually a pretty cool character and I'd like to read more about him.



Stuck on a lifeless planet with a talking gun, helmet and backpack, he is a relentless and unstoppable soldier. When he rescues a soldier on the battlefield, he chooses to save him. When troops are deployed to destroy him, he has to make other choices. The talking equipment provides some comic relief which is needed since Rogue is so stoic.



Art by Alberto Ponticelli is pretty great. I love Rogue's blue skin and the starkness of the planet. Sometimes the dialogue was a bit hard to read from the talking equipment, but that could have been because it was a review copy. I liked this standalone story.



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.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/ZtKdOf

Skylanders: The Kaos Trap

author: Ron Marz

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.25

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/09/29

date added: 2014/09/29

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Skylanders: The Kaos Trap' is a spin-off comic based on the popular toys and video game. It's definitely aimed at a younger demographic than me, and I think it largely succeeds.



Being unfamiliar with the Skylanders, I was still able to jump in fairly quickly and determine that the Skylanders are the good guys and Kaos is their nemesis. He's out to stop them in any way possible. There are three issues in the graphic novel. The first story leads into the second one, but it's a bit of a rough transition. The second and third present a bigger story arc. Kaos is pretending to be one of the young Skylanders, so he can get into their Skylanders Academy and cause problems. Flynn is flying all the young students off to school, but gets his memory wiped when he runs into Kaos disguised as Weeruptor, Flynn walks off the plane and has to be rescued. Will Flynn be okay? Will Kaos' plan work?



Certainly, it's a commercial for toy and game products, but it's still mildly fun. If I knew the game at all, I could tell you if they get it right. I can tell you it's written by Ron Marz who has done work on Green Lantern and the Batman/Aliens series. Art by Mike Bowden and David Baldeon seems to be in keeping with the look of the product. If I were 8 or 9, I'd probably think this was pretty cool.



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





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/1vsyLgt

The Auteur: Book One - Presidents Day

author: Rick Spears

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.44

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2014/09/28

date added: 2014/09/28

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'The Auteur' is an over the top satire of Hollywood. It's rude, gory and offensive, and while some of it is pretty close to it's mark, I think it still misses it.



Nathan T. Rex is a typical Hollywood huckster. He's a studio producer with a career that is tanking. His new brilliant idea is a horror film called President's Day. Seeking more realism, he helps get a serial killer released from death row to act as a gore consultant on the film. When that plan goes awry, he's left changing the film again while it's being made. Along the way, there are frightening drug trips prescribed by his 'doctor,' a turban wearing fake, who prescribes dangerous combinations of drugs. He's also pursuing the love of his life, or at least the current love of his life.



I liked some of the humor, but felt like it was so over the top that I couldn't tell if I was supposed to like Nathan or be utterly repulsed by him. Art by James Callahan has that can't-look-away-from-the-car-wreck feel to it with gruesome murders and other things that are hard to unsee. It's definitely the right art for the story. I just didn't particularly care for how over the top it was. Your mileage may vary.



I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors, Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/10bIE7C

The Mercenary Sea Volume 1

author: Kel Symons

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.83

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/09/28

date added: 2014/09/28

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'The Mercenary Sea Volume 1' is the kind of pulp adventure tale that reeks of old movies, Jonny Quest, Indiana Jones and even Allan Quartermain. The stylized art makes in cinematic and seems like it could be a grown up cartoon series.



Captain Jack Harper and his ragtag crew run a modified U-Boat in the South Pacific in the 1930s. They pick up jobs along the way to survive and even befriend a group of cannibals who look forward to Jack bringing movies like 'Duck Soup' and popcorn for them to watch. Jack is also in search of a mythical treasure. When the crew falls on hard times, they take on a job involving British spies embedded in the growing conflict with Japan. Things take a tricky turn when Jack's old enemies surface and want to eliminate him.



The crew is interesting and capable. They make do with what they've got, which isn't much. I loved a bartering scene early in the book when the crew is in port. The details of the book feel spot on, and I really enjoyed it. Kel Symons writes a great story and Mathew Reynolds art has a cinematic quality that makes the movie spool in your mind like an old serial. I really enjoyed this and look forward to more adventures with Captain Jack and crew.



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 allowing me to review this adventurous graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/1ntZaL4

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Volume 1

author: Greg Pak

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.20

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2014/09/27

date added: 2014/09/27

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Volume 1' is a grand reboot with Native Americans, dinosaurs and knights all squaring off against each other. It was definitely in the fine style of other Turok stories I've read.



Young Turok is shunned by his tribe, which is fine by him since they murdered his parents. Not only that, but some of the tribe want to kill him too, but he's been preparing for this. Before they can carry out their plans, they are surprised by a group of English knights and the strange beasts they have unleashed from their boat. Turok finds himself the reluctant protector of his people.



The story is followed by a script breakdown of the first issue and a pretty extensive cover gallery.



I like this new Turok. He's not afraid to be brutal, which, when you're dealing with dinosaurs and gold-crazed invaders is probably a good thing. The story feels very modern while not losing the essence of the character. I applaud Greg Pak for his writing on that. Art by Mirko Colak is great. It was a fun story and I look forward to more adventures of Turok.



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





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/106EJZY