Hi there! I’m Kay: an opinionated book blogger enamoured with the world of novels. Reader of Speculative Fiction (the posh word for Sci-Fi/Fantasy) and Young Adult novels. Believer in the many uses of the towel, the science of deduction and other fandom in-jokes.
This blog has been closed since early 2016. To the publishers and writers: thanks for all the support over the years. To my readers and fellow bloggers: keep in touch!
Recent Reviews
Monday Reading (Feb. 2nd, 2015)
In this weekly event hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books where we discuss what we’ve been reading this week (and, occasionally, what we haven’t).
Currently Reading:
Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder – Yup, I’m still reading this. It is good, but not the most engaging of books. I love the chapters featuring Valek, but the book is a lot of effort for me to pick up.
Recent Listens:
The Devil’s Heart by Carmen Carter – Really not a favourite, despite a narration by a great Star Trek actor. Not terrible but rather… boring!
Deal Me In! update
I’m taking part in the Deal Me In challenge this year, reading a story a week during 2015 as chosen by a deck of cards. See my full list of stories to be read here.
Last week, I dealt 2 of clubs for Automatic by Rachel Caine – I was surprised by my enjoyment of this tale, given my current not-so-great feelings about the Morganville books. This morning I dealt a 4 of diamonds for Prisons by Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason. Considering I didn’t enjoy the last Federations story that much, I am a bit nervous about this one…
11 February releases to add to your basket
Some fantastic books are coming out this month, and I felt the overwhelming need to share. Enjoy the gorgeous cover art and let me know which you’ll be getting!
The Novels
My pick: All Fall Down by Ally Carter
-
- All Fall Down by Ally Carter
-
- The Sin Eater’s Daughter by Melinda Salisbury
-
- Shadow Study by Maria V Snyder
-
- Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
-
- When My Heart Was Wicked by Tricia Stirling
-
- Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton
Graphic Novels
My pick: The Fade Out by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
-
- Deadly Class, Vol. 2: Kids of the Black Hole
-
- Black Widow, Vol. 2: The Tightly Tangled Web
-
- Trees, Vol. 1
-
- The Fade Out, Vol. 1
-
- Low, Vol. 1: The Delirium of Hope
Comic Book Post! (2) Bodies, Hawkguy and (more) Ms. Marvel
I’m back with another Comic Book Post! As I said in my last edition, I’ve been reading a LOT of comic books and I’ve absolutely adored most of them. Here are a few that I have particularly enjoyed lately – all of them great for new readers.
Bodies
Collected edition (out in June 2015 – goodreads) or subscribe on the Vertigo website
Even comic book fanatics may not have heard of this title – which is a real shame. It is a murder mystery set in London… in 4 different centuries. Same body, same city, but spread across time. To make things even better, 4 different artists pen the different time periods. Each gives their era a different feel and style, while writer Si Spencer ties it all together.
Bodies also is a great book if you are looking for POC characters or LGBT characters. My two favourite detectives are DS Shahara Hasan – a English-Muslim Police officer who won’t let slurs stand in her way – and Edmond Hillinghead – a closeted Victorian gentleman inspector doing his best not to be sent off to prison with Oscar Wilde.
Bodies just released issue 7 of 8 – so it should soon be out as a collected edition. Of course, I’d recommend picking up all the back issues on the Vertigo app or from your local comic book store – but I am rather biased. 🙂
Hawkeye Hawkguy
Vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon (goodreads) – Vol. 2: Little Hits (goodreads) – Vol. 3: L.A. Woman (goodreads) – Vol. 4: Rio Bravo (out in March 2015 – goodreads)
You know how Hawkeye just seems like a regular guy who somehow ended up with superspies as buddies? Well, that’s what this book is all about. Matt Fraction explores the secret life of Hawkguy, his bad-ass protegé and his dog (who, fantastically, gets his own issue from his POV).
Just like Bodies, this series is wrapping up. The final issue will be out in March and comic book fans everywhere will be left bereft – wondering what the hell they did with their lives before this book of pizza, coffee and shoot-em-ups came along.
Ms. Marvel (again)
Vol. 1: No Normal (goodreads) – Vol. 2: Generation Why (out in March 2015 – goodreads)
I recommended Ms. Marvel in my last Comic Book Post! and just… OMG it is getting even BETTER. While the first 6 issues focussed on her learning her powers, the later issues have started tying in her character with the larger Marvel universe. That can be a bit dangerous – especially as Ms. Marvel is read by a lot of new-to-comics readers – but it has been SO well handled. SO friggin adorable I want to thrust it into hands of passing strangers. Highly recommended.
Hope these recommendations helped. They are all great starting places for new readers, so go out and read some comic books!
(My first) Wordery Book Haul
I put in my first (of many) orders on Wordery this month, and they arrived this week. Here they are a-la Stacking the Shelves/Mailbox Monday!
- Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells – I should have bought this when it came out last year! But hey, better late than never. I adored the first 4 books in Wells’ Sabina Kane series, and hope she delivers the same awesome humour in this book.
- Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre – Remember how I said Aguirre was an auto-buy? Well, voila. That being said, this book sounds great even without her name attached. Fierce, dangerous and fun.
- Alpha and Omega: Cry Wolf – Volume 1 – My very first graphic novel was a Patricia Briggs adaptation and I have come a loooong way since then (in terms of being a GN reader!). Hope the adaptation holds up to a more “trained” eye.
Wordery – an independent UK-based site that offers free international shipping and is a great alternative to Amazon. This was my first time shopping with them, and I was very happy with everything. The books were sent out individually – so no waiting for them to be packaged together – and 2/3 came in cardboard packaging. I much prefer that, as it is easier to recycle and better for the planet. Wordery currently has 10% off everything online, so head on over while that is going on!
For the record: this is NOT a sponsored post. I bought these books myself and was never contacted by wordery to feature them. I just wanted to spread the word about an Amazon alternative, what with BookDepository having sold its soul 🙁
Waiting On Wednesday: Public Enemies by Ann Aguirre
“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.
Public Enemies by Ann Aguirre
Goodreads – Paranormal YA – August 4th 2015 by Feiwel & Friends
In Book 2 of the Immortal Game trilogy, Edie must learn the rules of the game . . . and then play better than anyone else.
Through a Faustian bargain, Edie Kramer has been pulled into the dangerous world of the Immortal Game, where belief makes your nightmares real. Hungry for sport, fears-made-flesh are always raising the stakes. To them, human lives are less than nothing, just pieces on a board.
Because of her boyfriend Kian’s sacrifice, she’s operating under the mysterious Harbinger’s aegis, but his patronage could prove as fatal as the opposition. Raw from deepest loss, she’s terrified over the deal Kian made for her. Though her very public enemies keep sending foot soldiers–mercenary monsters committed to her destruction–she’s not the one playing under a doom clock. Kian has six months…unless Edie can save him. And this is a game she can’t bear to lose.
OK, it is WAY too soon to be featuring Ann Aguirre on my WoW again but… JFC THIS COVER! I just spotted it today and HAD to feature it! Even if Aguirre weren’t already one of my auto-buy authors, this book would be on my list. What can I say, I am a sucker for a great cover!