Neda Disney: "Planting Wolves"

Title: Planting Wolves  [on Amazon | on Goodreads]
Series: None
Author: Neda Disney [Site | Goodreads]
Genres: Contemporary with a Twist
Year: 2019
Age: 18+
Stars: 3.5/5
Pros: Interesting format (six interconnected stories whose links to one another are not immediately apparent, but ultimately form a bigger picture). Accessible but well-crafted writing.
Cons: Unlikeable/flawed characters (though that's pretty much the point). Lack of closure (same).
WARNING! One of the stories contains racism and fat-shaming.
Will appeal to: Those who don't necessarily need all the answers. Those who don't mind reading about people they couldn't be friends with in real life. 

Blurb: A writer in a purgatory bar, an art collecting housewife who time travels, a movie Production Assistant with stigmata, a codependent AA sponsor, a sex addict, a movie star with issues, a two-time liver transplant recipient and an abusive TV costumer who gets what’s coming to her. All connected to one another but completely and utterly alone. (Amazon)

Review: First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Tandem Books and Xpresso Reads for providing an ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.

STRONGER TOGETHER

To be honest, the thing that appealed to me about Planting Wolves in the first place was the magical realism angle...but it turned out to be less prominent than I expected. Some of the far-out things that certain characters experience - and forgive me if I can't elaborate further, because I don't want to spoil the book for you - aren't necessarily ambiguous enough to keep a foot in magical realism, though they are all, indeed, filtered through a surreal lens. I did, however, enjoy both the writing and the clever format: six seemingly separated tales whose main characters pop up (always unexpectedly) in what is, for all purpose, someone else's story. Some times these featurings provide us with insight about a character's past or future; other times they simply bring us a different perspective about the same situation. This creates a lively, engaging reading experience, punctuated by those little (or big) "haha!" moments that, in my case, make all the difference between going over a series of separated short stories and a combination of the same. [...]

Hello, Haul (A.K.A. My Birthday/Christmas Books Have Arrived!)

Hello sweeties!

Just a quick post to let you know that the books from my latest haul arrived today. Or, ten out of twelve of them arrived.

Alas, my vendor wasn't able to locate a copy of Lucid by Jay Bonansinga (which I expected), but they didn't have any luck with Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire either. I mean...that's a 2017 book, for goodness' sake. Where did it go?

(01/25 edit: my vendor contacted me to let me know they were able to obtain a copy of Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day, and that they will send it to me free of any shipping expense if I still want it, since it was left out of my latest order!!! Yay!).

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Do You Read/Listen to More Than One Book at a Time, or Do You Give Every Book Your Undivided Attention?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings, where the blog's owner Heidi discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

Here is what is on deck this week:

DO YOU READ/LISTEN TO MORE THAN ONE BOOK AT A TIME, OR DO YOU GIVE EVERY BOOK YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION?

First off, I apologise for skipping the previous round of TMST - the one titled Tell Me about the City/Town You Live In. I stated I'd participate, but I found myself pressed for time and - frankly - both mentally tired and not in the mood for a long-ish post. That left a gap in my schedule, but hey - new year, new me. I don't mean I'm going to slack at posting - actually, I mean to pour all the energy I can into my blog - but I don't want to over-stress about it either. (Not to mention, I have 6 posts up for January, so I guess I'm doing more than well...). Also, I wasn't sure how much I wanted to reveal about my place, because I wouldn't want anyone from my corner of the woods tracing me via my blog...that would be awkward, since I'm usually very open about certain stuff (like work stuff), and one never knows...Anyhow - let's move on to this week's question (that, incidentally, I submitted 😉). Is this you with your books?

Christopher Pike: "Thirst No.5: The Sacred Veil"

Title: Thirst No.5: The Sacred Veil  [on Amazon | on Goodreads]
Series: Thirst (previously: The Last Vampire) (5th of ?? books)
Author: Christopher Pike [Facebook | Goodreads]
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Year: 2013
Age: 14+ (please note: for years it's been considered YA lit, but the human age of the protagonist would place it in the NA category nowadays, and the series gets more mature - and darker - by the book)
Stars: 4.5/5
Pros: Original take on vampires. Plenty of kickass action. Blends urban fantasy with thriller, history, and more than anything, Eastern spirituality. This particular installment is heavily steeped in history (WWII/the Holocaust).
Cons: If you're not into a mix of supernatural/spiritual/sci-fi, this one might not work for you (though it's done well). The final cliffhanger might not sit well with some. 
WARNING! Gore, violence, torture...and a detailed tour into Auschwitz.
Will appeal to: Those looking for a fresh approach to vampires, in what was probably the very first YA/NA series about them.

Blurb: In her five thousand years as a vampire, Alisa - or Sita, as she was originally called - has experienced the equivalent of fifty lifetimes. Every moment of her immortal life is seared deep into her being. Every person she has loved, every victim she has killed - their faces are forever part of her. Yet, strangely, a handful of memories have been lost to Alisa. As she and her friends embark on a search for the location of a sacred artifact - an ancient veil that may hold the key to mankind's salvation - Alisa soon realizes that her own mind may be her greatest enemy. The memories she is blocking deal with the most horrifying period in mankind's history, a time when she was tortured by a madman responsible for the deaths of millions. But what information did her torture yield? (Goodreads)

[Please note: "Alisa" is the main character's alias when she's undercover for some reason...or when it suits her, but her real name is Sita. I SO wish these blurbs called her by her birth name, though at least this one does mention it...😒]

Review: This series is not perfect. And I won't shun its faults in this review. But for some reason, I can't bear myself to rate it less than 5 stars (except for Thirst No.3, and this one of course, but it came close). It's not author bias - there are a bunch of Pike books I rated 3 stars and even less. But if TLV/Thirst stills works its magic on me almost 20 years after I first read Book 1, and if I'm still peeling its layers after all this time, that should count for something...

MAKING HISTORY

Like Thirst No.4 before, Thirst No.5 takes off exactly where the previous installment in the series stopped - and yes, that one ended with a cliffhanger (or, as I prefer to see it, an extremely open ending). So, this one starts with a bang - Sita destroying the devil's pawn who had been shadowing the group all along, but of course, being left to deal with the larger, evil picture, in the form of an organisation that's threatening the whole world (and in the immediate, the group itself). Unlike its predecessor, though, Thirst No.5 isn't a fast-paced supernatural thriller (despite it starting as such), as much as the combo of a rescue mission and a (still supernatural) alternate history adventure set in the past (Sita's past of course). The gang is going after the mythical Veil of Veronica (and yes, Pike is taking some liberties with the original story) and the woman who was guarding it, a descendant of another woman Sita was friends with during WWII. The veil seems to be crucial to mankind's salvation, but Sita's regaining her memories about the part she played during the Holocaust is crucial as well, because it ties in with the present situation, though the group doesn't know how. If this sounds complicated, it's because it is - this is, hands down, the most complex installment in the Thirst saga so far, but one of the most exciting as well. History was never a favourite subject with me, but what Pike did here had me captivated and even wanting for more. Let's just say that it's not an everyday occurrence to see the oldest vampire on Earth helping the resistance during WWII, meeting historical figures like Patton and Himmler, and witnessing the Holocaust while being held captive at Auschwitz herself. Despite Sita being a 5,000 years old vampire, whose adventures in the past we have already read about on various occasions, this is the first book where she's actually playing a part in a huge historical event, and actually getting the chance to change the future. And despite Sita thinking of herself as a monster, this is probably the book where - what with having to face the worst men-induced tragedy in history - her compassion shines the most. [...]

C.W. Snyder: "The Infernal Machine" (ARC Review)

Title: The Infernal Machine  [on Amazon | on Goodreads]
Series: None
Author: C.W. Snyder [Site | Goodreads]
Genres: Supernatural, Fantasy
Year: 2020
Age: 18+
Stars: 3/5
Pros: Imaginative journey into despair, guilt, and literal Hell.
Cons: The stream of flashbacks, nightmares and visions (often of alternate lives) is disorienting at times.
WARNING! Lots of heavy imagery/gore.
Will appeal to: Fans of steampunk with a strong supernatural flavour.

Blurb: Arthur White lived a simple life tending the dead in a quiet cemetery, until meeting a mysterious stranger known only as Mr. Black. In a few short hours, the stranger turns the groundskeeper’s life upside down, burdening Arthur with an immortal clockwork heart. Over the course of years, Arthur works as Mr. Black’s right hand, doing the things the old warlock cannot dirty his hands with. The death of a mutual friend and the discovery of Lucifer’s cast-off heart catalyze them into action, setting off a global chase to recover the artifact and open the door to death. Along the way, Arthur struggles with evils he’s committed, dreams of loss that plague him, and desperate loneliness that may be cured by the appearance of a mysterious new companion, Ava. But before they can get to know one another, they must confront a cult out to steal the heart for their own ends. (Amazon excerpt)

Review: First off...DISCLAIMER: I received a review ecopy of this book from the author, and I have already reviewed two of his titles in the past. This didn't influence my opinion in any way.

BLENDING MODE

Since I'm a fan of Snyder's afterlife YA/NA/adult crossover series The Balance, I jumped at the chance of reviewing his standalone adult The Infernal Machine - also because the blurb sounded awesome. Unfortunately - and yes, this is awkward, since I requested the book from its very author - I didn't enjoy TIM as much as Snyder's other titles. On the other hand, there's a lot to love in this book - it's inventive, evocative, and it successfully blends a classic steampunk trope (the clockwork heart) with the abysmal and crazy plan of a Nazi cult (resurrecting Hitler and his clique) and a journey through Hell that rivals the Divine Comedy. Snyder puts a spin on the mechanical heart trope, showing (and sometimes telling) us how it influences the way Arthur feels/reacts to things (or most of the times doesn't), and why he accepts his new life - and the ghastly tasks it involves - the way he does, until Ava stirs something in him. The two of them ultimately embark on a quest for another heart (Lucifer's), in order to open a portal to Hell for a rescue mission, apparently complying with their "saviour" Mr. Black's directive, in fact with plans and motives of their own; all while wizardly Nazi cultists try to beat them to the heart, and later, Hell itself tries its best to undo them. Snyder paints a vivid landscape of dark magic and horrors, on which he projects themes of guilt and redemption, despair and - if not hope - love at least. As outrageous as the mix can sound, it works, and (darkly) entertains. [...]

Tooting Your Trumpet #8

Some people toot their own trumpet. I mean to toot yours. On the first Sunday of every month, I'm sharing your posts, your sites, anything interesting I stumble upon during my internet vagrancies. This month on TYT...

• THE WHEELCHAIR TEEN (a blog where Simone recounts her life as a black, disabled teenager)
• ADVOCATING FOR READING LESS (a think piece/discussion on McKenzie's blog The Literary Dragon)
• A HANDFUL OF PULP CLASSICS ARE ENTERING THE PUBLIC DOMAIN IN 2020 (a list on Forbes' site)
• SLASHER MASSACRE (a card game by Penny Dreadful Studios a.k.a. Troy H. Gardner)

Please note: all the graphics featured in these posts are property of the blog/site owners, and are only used in association with their blog/site links.

It's That Time of the Year Again...A.K.A. The Big Annual Book Haul 2019-20

 Hello sweeties!

Today I'm doing that thing I usually do in January...that is, showcasing my big annual book haul.
Some of you might remember that my birthday is close to Christmas - just 11 days before it. So, as per my usual birthday/Christmas tradition, every year I order a bunch of books from this Italian site that sports a wide selection of books in English as well. And I post the list on here for the world to admire (...HEY, LOTS OF 2019 BOOKS IN HERE! I'm only marginally late LOL). Here you'll find a few authors I've enjoyed in the past (Seanan McGuire, Kali Wallace, A.S. King) and a bunch of new-to-me ones. Please note: I used to write my own thoughts about each book, but with such huge hauls, it was too much of a chore, so I opted for their blurbs (abridged when possible) instead. Here goes my list, broken down by genres/Reading Rooms...(P.S.: all the books are YA unless otherwise stated).