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
Summer Shorts – Ode to Edvard Munch by Caitlin R. Kiernan
Summer Shorts is a weekly feature on Dead Book Darling, reviewing great short stories every Saturday through July-August 2010.
Ode to Edvard Munch by Caitlin R. Kiernan
Caitlin’s Website / Goodreads / Librarything
Rating: 5 stars
Featured in: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance
Thoughts: Ode to Edvard Munch is an elegant, literary story. It may be only 10 pages long, but it felt epic. Breathtaking, heartbreaking and all sorts of things I can barely describe. Beautiful. Terrifying. Horrific.
Kiernan is one the most artistic writers I have ever read. She reminded me of one of my favourite authors, literary fiction writer Javier Marias – and that is certainly not a compliment a dole out lightly. I’ve re-read this story a few times since I first picked it up, and each time I notice something new to swoon over.
All I can do is give you a sample of her style. I spent most of this story drawing hearts around passages – here’s one of my favourites:
“This was the hall of my mother,” she says. And now I see the corpses, heaped high between the smoky braziers. They are nude, or they are half-dressed, or they’ve been torn apart so completely or are now so badly decomposed that it is difficult to tell whether they’re clothed or not. Some are men and others are women and not a few children. I can smell them even through the incense, and I might cover my nose and mouth. I might begin to gag. I might take a step back towards the stairs leading up to the long corridor and the bloodless desert night beyond. And she blinks at me like a hungry, watchful owl.
“I cannot expect you to understand,” she says.
I cannot explain or describe the plot of this story – if I tried I would only belittle its content. I can tell you that it is narrated by a male pianist and features a female vampire who sits on benches in central park. We never learn their names, and we certainly never see their relationship progress to anything I would call a “romance” – but with Kiernan, there’s no need. They will remained etched in your memory because of it.
Bottom line? Quite possibly the most beautiful piece of UF I have ever read. Caitlin R. Kiernan has just jumped to the top of my MUST WORSHIP list.
On My Wishlist (Aug. 7th, 2010)
Review: Ill Wind by Rachel Caine
Ill Wind by Rachel CaineSeries: Weather Warden #1
Published by Allison & Busby
Pages: 337
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased myself
Add to Goodreads
Rating:
Also in this series: Heat Stroke
Joanne Baldwin is a Weather Warden. Usually, all it takes is a wave of her hand to tame the most violent weather. But now, she's trying to outrun another kind of storm: accusations of corruption and murder. So, she's resorting to the very human tactic of running for her life...
Her only hope is Lewis, the most powerful warden known. Unfortunately, he's stolen not one but three bottles of Djinn-making him the most wanted man on earth. Still, she's racing hard to find him-before the bad weather closes in fast.
Thoughts: I am a hardcore, unapologetic Rachel Caine fan. Her Morganville series? Pretty much the most addictive YA series ever written. In short, Rachel Caine = Awesome.
Ill Wind proved to me that Caine’s awesomeness does indeed translate over into adult fiction. It has plenty of action, fast cars, biblical storms and some brilliantly 3D characters. Although not as addictive as her Morganville series, I have high hopes for the rest of the Weather Warden books.
Jo is feisty as hell and has no less than three guys after her heart. She drives a mustang and can start a hurricane – she’s on the lam, but she ain’t no sheep.
One of the things I love about Rachel Caine is her ability to write smart characters who still make plenty of mistakes. Jo is smart – she has to be. Because, unlike other superpowers, being a weather warden is not just about having the talent – you have to learn how to use it. And what does that mean? Well, it means an awful lot of atmospheric physics! *swoons*
Despite Jo’s obvious book smarts, she is still fallible. She makes mistakes and misjudges people – she’s only human! Unlike a lot of authors, who have the token genius who never makes a mistake, Caine writes realistic smart people. Just because a character has an IQ of 150 doesn’t mean they have to be boringly predictable – Caine lets her smarties get into trouble.
And go to the beach.
Bottom line? Ill Wind has it all: action, mystery, romance and rain. Pick it up if you are looking for some UF without all the traditional baddies.
Waiting on Wednesday – Clarity by Kim Harrington
“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.
Clarity by Kim Harrington
Goodreads – YA – March 2011 by Scholastic Point
Clarity “Clare” Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch an object and the visions come to her. It’s a gift.And a curse.
When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare’s ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case — but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare’s brother — who has supernatural gifts of his own — becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?
I really can’t quite pinpoint why I am attracted to this book. I think it might be the rather tragic feeling I am getting from it – what with “depths of fear, revenge and lust” on the menu and the rather intense cover. Honestly, that stare and the “She can see your secrets” tagline has me so creeped out I’m in love (and wow, does that sound weird).
August 2010 Releases: Books I can’t wait to read!
God, I can’t believe it is August already! I seem to say that every month, but hey – I am always legitimately surprised by the date! Anyhow, the arrival of August has means some books we’ve all been longing for a soon to be released. Luckily, the books I have been longing for this month aren’t coming out towards the end of August. Why is this good? Because I still have catching up to do from July! My copy of Jealousy by Lili St. Crow only got here today and Linger is still in the post… *grumbles* Anyhow, even though I need the time – y’all can sit around waiting with bated breath.
So, here are a few YA Paranormal novels I am looking forward to. As usual, check out Tez Says for a list of August Releases, Fiendishly Bookish for a list of PNR/UF releases and LE for a general list of paranormal releases.
