A Hard Day's Knight: By Simon R. Green

A HARD DAY'S KNIGHT

SUMMARY

ohn Taylor is a P.I. with a special talent for finding lost things in the dark and secret center of London known as the Nightside. He's also the reluctant owner of a very special-and dangerous-weapon. Excalibur, the legendary sword. To find out why he was chosen to wield it, John must consult the Last Defenders of Camelot, a group of knights who dwell in a place that some find more frightening than the Nightside.

London Proper. It's been years since John's been back-and there are good reasons for that.

REVIEW

Fans of Simon R. Green may have been a little disappointed with his Ghost of Chance novel this year, but don’t lose faith just yet because Green’s latest in the Nightside series, A Hard Day’s Knight, is fantastic!

I had been losing a little interest in the Nightside series lately, I felt like since the Lilith wars, John Taylor hadn’t had any big surprises or quests to deal with. Yes, he did defeat demons and gods, but he seemed to indestructible to beat. Of course when you introduce King Arthur into the picture then everything gets a whole new look. But besides introducing the gallant King Arthur, A Hard Day’s Knight also introduces some very surprising and interesting twists to the series. I can’t say what they are but it will definitely effect that rest of the series in a significant way.

Of course besides these new characters and twists in the overall story, I felt A Hard Day’s Knight was a better story overall compared to some of the most recent books in the series. Fans of the series will get back to what they initially loved about the series, tricks, magic, violence, and a sarcastic wit. We finally get to see Taylor back in the real world and have to face down some thugs without his magical gift. Suzie gets to play a bigger part in this story than she has in the last few books, and I found the overall wit and tone of the book much more to my liking.

Of course if goes without saying (but of course I will say it) that readers who haven’t read the series should start from the beginning of the series, but overall I very much enjoyed A Hard Day’s Knight, and I can’t wait for the next book in this revitalized series.

RATING

9 out of 10

INFO

Publisher: Ace Hardcover

Publisher: January 4, 2011

Price: $25.95

Managing Death: By Trent Jamieson

MANAGING DEATH

SUMMARY

It's not easy being Death. For starters, people keep dying. And then, they keep getting up again.

Steven de Selby got promoted. This makes the increasing number of stirrers (and the disturbing rumors of a zombie god rising sometime soon) his problem. That time management seminar he keeps meaning to take would also remind him that he's got a Death Moot to plan, a Christmas party to organize, and an end-of-the-world thing to avert.

Steven must start managing Death, before Death starts managing him, or this time the Apocalypse will be more than Regional.

REVIEW

I thought the first book in Jamison’s Death series, was ok but had the potential to be so much better. His second book in the series, Managing Death, proved me right.

I was impressed with the way that Jamison continued the series. I felt the first book in the series, Death Most Definite, was really more of a snapshot of an action packed sequence that happens rolls into Managing Death, instead of a complete novel. That said, yes I do feel it’s important to read Death Most Definite before Managing Death but luckily it’s neither a bad book nor expensive.

Managing Death begins three months after the events in Death Most Definite, and things still are not back to where they’re supposed to be. Steven is still unsure what to do in his new job as Regional Manager (or Death of Australia), unwilling to take on the true aspects of the job, and while they’ve recruited more pomps into the company, there still aren’t enough to put an end to the ever increasing number of stirrers (reanimated bodies) coming into existence. Of course with the Death Moot just around the corner those problems mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg of chaos that’s about to ensue. To top it all off there’s someone out there who’s trying to put an end to the death system, and with Steven’s lack of seniority, he’s just been marked as the perfect first target.

Readers who either liked or were hesitant on just writing off Death Most Definite should definitely give Managing Death a shot. Like Death Most Definite, Managing Death is filled with both action and an interesting spin on the myths on death. Of course, readers are also introduced to a number of other interesting aspects of the job, as well as to the other Regional Managers. But most importantly Jamison does a fantastic job creating an exciting ending filled with twists and turns that will lead to new a fun new fantasy series.

That said, Managing Death is not the best book in the world, some of the characters are a little whiny, the action could have been better described, and some of the supporting characters were a little weak. But it is a very good book that has improved from the first book in the series, and shows even more promise for the next installment in the series. Not only that but the premise isn’t something that’s been done a thousand times, and with the lack of originality that’s been flying about, this book promises to bring an unusual and entertaining read for readers of all ages.

RATING

8 out of 10

INFO

Publisher: Orbit

Published: January 3, 2011

Price: $7.99

Why you should store your farts in a jar and other oddball or gross maladies, afflictions, remedies, and cures: By David Haviland

Why you should store your farts in a jar and other oddball or gross maladies, afflictions, remedies, and cures

SUMMARY

The national bestseller Why You Shouldn't Eat Your Boogers & Other Useless or Gross Information About Your Body uncovered everything one might want to know (and a few things one might not) about the human body. The follow-up bestseller Why Fish Fart & Other Useless or Gross Information About the Worldcontained an artful selection of odd and/or unsavory facts about the world. Why Dogs Eat Poop scoured the animal kingdom for gross and or off-color facts about animals. In this delightfully disgusting new book in the series, David Haviland plumbs the world of medicine to uncover the answers to such vitally important questions as:

*What exactly is urine therapy?

*Is it safe to fly with breast implants?

*How did a nine-and-a-half-inch spatula find its way into a surgery patient's body?

REVIEW

Have you every wondered what exactly is urine therapy?

Is it safe to fly with breast implants?

How did a nine-and-a-half-inch spatula find its way into a surgery patient's body?

Why do some boxers drink their own pee?

What is cyclic vomiting syndrome and how can one avoid it?

Why you should store your farts in a jar and other oddball or gross maladies, afflictions, remedies, and cures by David Haviland is not only one of the longest titles I have seen in awhile, it is also a great book to pick up and peruse at odd times. This is the type of book that you want to read while waiting in the carpool line, or waiting in the reception area of a doctor’s office, or in the bathroom.

The title presents the book like a carnival sideshow, but the book is actually a series of interesting short history lessons about medicine and disease that are put together in a digestible question answer format. I loved reading those factoids that will be of use someday in a trivial pursuit game. Small stories about why we keep vials of small pox, what is the difference between a moron and an imbecile, and was Julius Caesar delivered by cesarean section are presented in conversational easy to read tidbits. This is the type of book that you want to read to a friend as he drives you on a two-hour road trip, full of knowledge and answering questions you always wondered about but never thought to look up. Questions such as: does urine take the pain out of a jellyfish sting? For these and other answers turn to Haviland’s book, which will entertain you and educate you and your friends.

INFO

Publisher: J P Tarcher

Published: December 30, 2010

Price: $12.95

The Spirit Eater: By Rachel Aaron

THE SPIRIT EATER

SUMMARY

With the pressure on after his success in Gaol, Eli Monpress, professional thief and degenerate, decides it's time to lie low for a bit. Taking up residence in a tiny seaside village, Eli and his companions seize the chance for some fun and relaxation.

Nico, however, is finding it a bit hard. Plagued by a demon's voice in her head and feeling powerless, she only sees herself as a burden. Everyone's holiday comes to an untimely close, though, when Pele arrives to beg Eli's help for finding her missing father.

But there are larger plans afoot than even Eli can see, and the real danger, and the solution, may lie with one of his own and her forgotten past.

If only Nico could remember whose side she's on.

REVIEW

I’ve been watching White Collar lately and I have to say Eli Monpress is exactly like Neal Caffrey from the show. He is charismatic, driven, and the best thief in the world. And these are just a few of the reasons why the Legend of Eli Monpress series is now one of my favorite series out there.

The Spirit Eater opens with Nico’s past as the Daughter of the Demon Mountain a few years before, and then quickly turns to the present with Nico focused on fighting back against the demon inside of her as it’s suddenly grown more powerful in the last few months.

Of course like The Spirit Rebellion, The Spirit Eater seems to focus on pieces of the characters pasts as it revolves around the present. In this case it happens to revolve around Nico’s past. Readers learn more about demons in this book and Eli’s mysterious powers, but most interesting is that readers will get a taste of the greater mystery of the book, the overarching plot point that will become the motivation for books to come.

All in all, like the rest of the Legend of Eli Monpress series The Spirit Eater is not a book to be missed. The characters are fun and well written, the plot is exciting and full of surprises and action, and the mystery only gets deeper and darker as readers are sucked into the deeper questions surrounding the series. While some of the issues such as some of the new characters introduced seem a little less developed, the older more reliable characters more than make up for the flaws. All in all a great book and I personally can’t wait for the next book, The Spirit War, to come out.

RATING

9 out of 10

INFO

Publisher: Orbit

Published: December 1, 2010

Price: $7.99

Sapphique: By Catherine Fisher

SAPPHIQUE

SUMMARY

The only one who escaped . . . And the one who could destroy them all.

Incarceron, the living prison, has lost one of its inmates to the outside world: Finn’s escaped, only to find that Outside is not at all what he expected. Used to the technologically advanced, if violently harsh, conditions of the prison, Finn is now forced to obey the rules of Protocol, which require all people to live without technology. To Finn, Outside is just a prison of another kind, especially when Claudia, the daughter of the prison’s warden, declares Finn the lost heir to the throne. When another claimant emerges, both Finn’s and Claudia’s very lives hang on Finn convincing the Court of something that even he doesn’t fully believe.

Meanwhile, Finn’s oathbrother Keiro and his friend Attia are still trapped inside Incarceron. They are searching for a magical glove, which legend says Sapphique used to escape. To find it, they must battle the prison itself, because Incarceron wants the glove too.

REVIEW

When I first read Incarceron I was shaking with anticipation for its sequel Sapphique. Now after reading it I’m happy to admit Sapphique is a good end to an excellent series.

Unlike most books published as of late Incareron and Sappique do not comprise two of the three pieces of a trilogy. Instead these two books comprise the entire series. And personally I found that a little refreshing. Yes, authors are better able to strut their plots and better develop their characters in a trilogy, but Fisher does a great job developing the characters in this two book series that I don’t think a third book would have improved it to any great degree.

Fans of The Maze Runner will instantly like Sapphique and Incarceron as like Dahsner’s New York Time’s bestselling series the setting acts as an interesting and significant character to the series, setting it apart from the rest of current YA trends of dystopian futures, vampires, zombies, and angels. Not only that but Incaceron, the prison, not only acts as a character, but evolves like a character. This is an interesting development that really moves the story forward and sets Fisher’s duology apart from the rest of current YA books.

That said, I was disappointed in some of the characters in this book, such as Keiro. Fisher really built Keiro up in Incarceron and I felt like there wasn’t any evolution of his character nor was there any real reason for the level of importance attributed to him. Not only that but I was a tad disappointed with the way Sapphique ended. I felt like while it wasn’t an abrupt ending, it did seem to end just a little to cleanly, and felt like a lot of the excitement and tension that had been built up was just lost.

That said I really liked both Incarceron and Sappique. They were well written, full of action, and had interesting and unique plot lines. Not only that but they didn’t drag on a lot of unimportant plot points in extra books. All in all this was a good series and I can’t wait to read some of Fisher’s other works as well.

RATING

8 out of 10

INFO

Publisher: Dial

Published: December 28, 2010

Price: $17.99

Blank Confession: By Pete Hautman

BLANK CONFESSION

SUMMARY

Shayne Blank is the new kid in town--but that doesn't stop him from getting into a lot of trouble very quickly. The other kids don't understand him. He's not afraid of anything. He seems too smart. And his background doesn't add up. But when he walks into the police department to confess to a murder, it quickly becomes apparent that nothing is as it seems. There's more to Shayne--and his story--than meets the eye. As the details begin to fill in, the only thing that becomes clear is that nothing about Shayne's story is clear at all.

REVIEW

I’ve been looking forward to this book since I read about it a few months ago. Blank Confession looked exciting, suspenseful, and well written (I’m assuming the last thing from Hautman’s previous books and level of writing in general.)

I wasn’t wrong.

Blank Confession tells a sensational story detailing the trials and troubles of drug use in schools today. But Hautman doesn’t just leave the story as a simple drugs are bad and look at what they do, instead he interlays it with a suspenseful murder mystery, a courageous yet dishonest hero, and a telling of the story from the end, allowing the reader to sit and wonder what just went on. But while the story is fantastic and the craftsmanship superb, the most impressive aspect were the characters.

In a short period of time (and words) Hautman slices to the core of each of his characters. They are interesting, unique, and humanistic, but most importantly they are well written. Mikey has obvious issues being short, but the real crux of his character flaw deals with his family issues with his father. Shayne is the complex and heroic protagonist who has unresolved issues that are not mentioned until the end of the book. And even the officer who Shayne confesses to has unresolved issues that Hautman ties into the story.

But what I found interesting about these characters is that Hautman seamlessly connects all these characters in a very realistic manner. He doesn’t have Mikey suddenly get a backbone, he doesn’t have Mikey’s sister suddenly get over big bad boys, and he doesn’t have Shayne suddenly change his personality. Instead they all remain just as they are but perhaps alter 15% over the course of the book. A very realistic change.

All in all Blank Confession is an intricate, well written book. The characters are well developed, the plot interesting, and the style masterful. While the book is short it’s defiantly worth the read, and weather readers choose to get it from the library to save money or buy it for Christmas, Blank Confession is a good read.

RAITNG

8.5 out of 10

INFO

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Published: November 16, 2010

Price: $16.99

The Spirit Rebellion: By Rachel Aaron

THE SPIRIT REBELLION

SUMMARY

Eli Monpress is brilliant. He's incorrigible. And he's a thief.

He's also still at large, which drives Miranda Lyonette crazy. While she's been kicked out of the Spirit Court, Eli's had plenty of time to plan his next adventure. But now the tables have turned, because Miranda has a new job -- and an opportunity to capture a certain thief.

Things are about to get exciting for Eli. He's picked a winner for his newest heist. His target: the Duke of Gaol's famous "thief-proof" citadel. Eli knows Gaol is a trap, but what's life without challenges? Except the Duke is one of the wealthiest men in the world, a wizard who rules his duchy with an iron fist, and an obsessive perfectionist with only one hobby: Eli.

It seems that everyone is hunting for Eli Monpress.

REVIEW

It’s often hard to keep the same level of action and mystery in the second book of a series. This has to do with the author having to create a new situation to capture the reader’s attention while at the same time stringing the reader along in the central mystery to the series arc without giving away to much. It’s hard and it’s complicated, but if you can get it just right it can put the series just in the right spot to really take off.

In The Spirit Rebellion, Rachel Aaron does a terrific job of introducing readers to an exciting new situation that brings back all your favorite characters. Miranda gets put into a pickle when political action starts playing against her and she soon finds herself tossed out of the organization she’s given her life to protect. Nico is forced to confront the realities of her situation as a demonseed. Josef must face his connection with the Heart of War. And Eli walks into a blatant trap he may not be able to get out of this time.

Like The Spirit Thief, Aaron does a great job maintaining both fun dialog and complex characters, but what I found most interesting about The Spirit Rebellion was the back story and cliffhanger like ending that Aaron introduces in this sensational sequel. Readers really get to see a new side to Eli, as we get a glimpse into his past, but most intriguing is the relationship with Benehime, who plays a fascinating yet small character in this book. It’s obvious to readers she is going to play a much bigger role in books to come, but it’s very exciting to watch her story and relationship with Eli unfold.

Of course, while I wont say what the cliffhanger like ending entails, I will say that it sets up an engaging plot for the next book in the series, The Spirit Eater, that I’m pretty sure I wont be able to put down.

All in all The Spirit Rebellion is a great book. The characters are witty and robust, the plot is intricate and just starting to bloom, and the book as a whole contains action, suspense, and magic in just the right proportions to allow the book to move at an exhilarating pace. Making The Spirit Rebellion a fantastic second book in the Legend of Eli Monpress series.

RATING

9.5 out of 10

INFO

Publisher: Orbit

Published: November 1, 2010

Price: $7.99