City of Stairs

author: Robert Jackson Bennett
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2015/06/29
date added: 2015/06/29
shelves: sword-and-laser
review:
'City of Stairs' is the third Robert Jackson Bennett book I've read. This book is certainly different from the first two, but themes of the vast, scary unknown inhabit all three. He's definitely an author I enjoy reading.

When a murder happens in the city of Bulikov, a young "diplomat" and her "secretary" find themselves in the middle of something bigger than they initially thought. Shara Divani and strong silent Sigrud are in a city that Shara's city conquered, so there is enough bad blood to go around. Also, the city is home to six deities that are believed to be dead, but it seems that there may be folks who are trying to stir things up that should probably not be stirred up. Mix in an old flame of Shara's, a conniving aunt, a hidden city, and a warehouse full of strange miraculous items and you have some disparate ingredients that all fit together somehow.

Shara is cloak to Sigrud's dagger. She is all diplomacy and brains, he is all deadly killing machine. This is a pretty good pair of characters and I particularly liked that a man and a woman in a story can be partners without the need to always romantically involve them. They have a complex relationship that seems to go back years, but a complete respect for each other. The twists weren't so twisty to me, but they are nice surprises. All in all a very satisfying read, and another great book by Robert Jackson Bennett.

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


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Wyrd Sisters (Discworld, #6; Witches #2)

author: Terry Pratchett
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.08
book published: 1988
rating: 5
read at: 2015/06/29
date added: 2015/06/29
shelves: sword-and-laser
review:
'Wyrd Sisters' was a reread for me when the Sword and Laser book club on Goodreads picked it a couple months ago. I'm glad I took the time to reread it. It was just as funny as I remember it, and the satire was just as sharp.

You will get more out of this by understanding some Shakespeare (strong hints of Macbeth here), and some inkling of how theater troupes work. The three witches won't be stereotyped, but they tend to not bother with that, and even Death himself puts in a timely appearance.

You could do worse than to start your reading of the Discworld series here.


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Manga Classics: Great Expectations

author: Stacy King
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2015/06/29
date added: 2015/06/29
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
Manga Classics continues to put out great content with their adaptation of Great Expectations. This is a great adaptation with great art.

Young Pip helps an escaped prisoner near his home, and the act has the kind of repercussions he can't imagine. He lives with his sister and her blacksmith husband Joe. He his days visiting creepy Miss Haversham's house to play with the beautiful but distant Estella. When he gets older, he finds himself with an anonymous benefactor out to make him a gentleman. Pip finds himself on a new course in life, and he finds he has no time for those he's left behind. He's convinced his benefactor must be the strange Miss Haversham, and that she must be grooming him for Estella, but could he be wrong?

It's a pretty faithful adaptation of the story. I loved the art by Nokman Poon, especially the scenes of Miss Haversham's moldering house. The details of her rotting wedding dress and the cobwebbed feast are memorable indeed. The characters are all drawn unique enough to keep track of them, and it's a pretty big cast this time around. Crystal Chan's Japanese translation is translated back by Stacy King. The ending is a kind of compromise between the two known endings of the story, and that is discussed in an afterword. There is also some information about the artist and his character sketches. I can't say enough about how great this series really is.

I received a review copy of this manga from UDON Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this great manga.


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The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone

author: Shane McCarthy
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/06/29
date added: 2015/06/29
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone' features a pretty good story by Shane McCarthy and some great art by Guido Guidi. The book has a pretty epic storyline and some decent humor throughout to keep things light.

Drift is back. He's kind of played both sides, but was most recently with the Autobots. This time around he's on a mission of some sort until Ratchet shows up to try to corral him. When a couple prisoners that Drift collects spill a Decepticon plot, he and Ratchet set out to investigate. They find a couple Decepticons out to rule the world. They don't like each other, and they don't like Drift. Can Drift stop their plan without getting himself and Ratchet killed? Will Ratchet kill Drift first?

It plays out kind of like a cosmic buddy cop story and I liked it. Ratchet plays the straight man, kind of like the by the book partner, and Drift is out in space chasing down bad guys and doing his own thing, kind of like the out of control partner. There are some funny banterings between them as Ratchet can't believe the situations he's gotten himself in to.

I've read a few Transformers graphic novels. I was never the biggest fan. I've liked some books more than others. This falls into the like it more than others category. I like the characters. I really liked the art and detail of this book. The coloring pops off the page.

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


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Stray Bullets Volume 2 Hc Somewhere Out West

author: David Lapham
name: Wayne
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2015/06/25
date added: 2015/06/25
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Stray Bullets Volume 1: Somewhere Out West' collects issues 8-14 of the comic book series by David Lapham. It's another over the top tale of violence and low lifes and I liked it.

The town of Seaside has a boardwalk, but no waterfront. They live in the hopes of a big California earthquake that will bring them the beach and make their property valuable. It's a town in the middle of nowhere populated by nobodys. This makes it the perfect town for Orson, Beth and Nina to hide from the mob in. They've got a suitcase full of drugs, or they did until Nina started helping herself. They have a nosy neighbor kid who is spying through the holes in their floor. They try to hide out and not go stir crazy. Can they stay below the radar, especially with Nina freaking out?

Seaside also has a big talking loser named Nick. He talks a good game, but he's not as lucky with the ladies as he lets on. He might get a chance at something if Beth and Nina have anything to say. He might be the distraction they need, but what goes up does come down, or does it?

It's all black and white art, and I like Lapham's style. The book is a series of stories that intertwine and weave around each other. Amy Racecar, the psychopath from the first volume, makes an appearance. The situations and violence are quirky and filled with dark humor. The characters are strange and the stuff of garishly bad dreams. I enjoyed the heck out of the first volume and this one too.

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 very good graphic novel.


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Batman: Arkham Knight Vol. 1

author: Peter J. Tomasi
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/06/21
date added: 2015/06/21
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Batman: Arkam Knight Vol. 1' is a prequel to the game of the same name. It's a non-stop action ride as Batman and Bruce Wayne find themselves in a city in turmoil.

Arkham City was part of North Gotham and was the new incarnation of Arkham Asylum. As this story opens, that area has been shut down. The Joker is apparently dead, but even in death, he has some dangerous surprises planned. A badly injured Batman needs time to heal, as does the city of Gotham. Alfred convinces Bruce Wayne that the city needs him and not the Dark Knight. A shadowy vigilante hunts down criminals, but is also after the Batman. Harley Quinn and The Penguin sense an opportunity in the power vacuum and make their plays, but are they working together or separately. Poor Lucius Fox has a time of it in this book with various criminals hunting him and hurting him. Batman gets to say "Ich bin Fledermausmann!" while he's trying to save Lucius on a trip to Germany for a new batmobile.

It all whizzes by at a brisk pace, but it feels controlled and nothing feels too lost. There are threads left hanging, but I assume those are picked up in the game. Who is the shadowy vigilante? Will Robin learn the skills he needs to fight beside Batman? Will Bruce Wayne step up and be the leader that Gotham needs? What is the Scarecrow up to? These and others are asked, but not necessarily answered.

The art by Viktor Bogdanovic is good, but it's really Peter J. Tomasi's writing that is the focus and the star here. I really enjoyed reading this, and if there is a volume 2, I'm in.

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


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Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland

author: Eric Shanower
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2015/06/18
date added: 2015/06/18
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland' is an attempt to update the Winsor McKay classic comic strip. I think Eric Shanower and Gabriel Rodriguez have done a fine job with what could have been pretty dated material.

King Morpheus' daughter is bored and demands a new playmate. When they find a young boy with the middle name of Nemo, she's reminded of a previous boy named Nemo. Only this Nemo is a bit resistant to join her. First off, he keeps having accidents and waking up on his way to the kingdom of Slumberland. Then he's a bit reluctant to have a playdate with a girl. Finally, he gets sidetracked by troublemaker Flip Flap and winds up being chased through a strange tower that seems like something out of an M. C. Escher painting. Will the princess find a new friend or will Nemo keep waking up and never meet her?

The first amazing thing about this series is the gorgeous art by Gabriel Rodriguez. The detail is just incredible. Eric Shanower's script is fun, but it might still be a bit dated for today's kids. It's a nice nostalgic romp for those who remember the decent animated film based on Little Nemo or are familiar with the McKay strip. If the cover draws you in, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

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


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