Affliction by Laurell K. Hamilton

However unsatisfied I am with this series, I think I will always keep coming back for more out of sheer curiosity. The Anita Blake early days were great. You knew what she was all about: fighting supernatural bad guys, using a lot of guns, and sometimes using a little bit of supernatural powers to save the day. Then came the sex and the ardeur, and that was fine, until it simplybecame too much. The most recent books feel like it's all about Anita's polyamorous relationships, no matter what bad guys seem to be hunting down innocents.

At least Affliction does have some decent fight scenes and police work. There isn't even a sex scene until a good couple hundred pages. However, there's a lot of talk about Anita's sex life and her numerous (20+!) sweeties. The repetition and the explanations are getting old and frankly you can almost guess who she'll sleep with next and how the book will end.

One aspect of the book that's new is that we travel to Micah's hometown. As one of Anita's main sweeties, I think it was about time that we learnt more about the wereleopard king. I enjoyed meeting Micah's family, and getting more information about his back story. He's always been a little bit of a mystery, even thought he's been in Anita's life for quite some time. It's sad that we only get to meet his family now, under bad circumstances, as his father lays dying in a hospital bed. And because they aren't exactly sure what supernatural force is killing him, Anita feels it's her duty to investigate and find out exactly what is making bite victims like Micah's father, rot from the inside out.

For me, this series has always been a guilty pleasure and I'm not ready to give up on it yet. Most characters are pretty great and I love reading about them. Despite the book being 500+ pages, it feels like not very much happened. A lot of it is filler, descriptions of all the pretty men in Anita's life, about who works out the most in the gym and whom can outfight or outgun whom. There's also a lot of law enforcement posturing and Anita refuting her "reputation" for being a bad ass executioner and a polyamorous lover. I'm going to cut this review short because ultimately, whether you read this book or not, nothing much in the Anita-verse will have changed. Read at your own risk!

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Posted by Tynga at 02:43

 Anita Blake Vampire Hunter, Berkley, Laurell K. Hamilton, Magic, Paranormal Romance, Penguin, Purchased, Review, shapeshifters, vampires, Zombies  4 People left their mark

The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper

When I picked up this book and started reading a few pages, I started to wonder, "Do I really want to read another steampunk?" The answer was yes but for some reason, I had a hard time getting into this one. Since I thought Steven Harper had created a wonderful world in his first attempt at steampunk in THE DOOMSDAY VAULT, I think my expectations were too high and THE IMPOSSIBLE CUBE kind of fell short. I was expecting more romance, more gadgets and more crazy ideas. Instead I got a decent story of the aftermath of the first book.

It's kind of by chance that I read this book right in the middle of an ebola outbreak since this steampunk world deals with a plague. It really makes you wonder about what would happen if a virus started spreading worldwide and the ramifications it would have on the population. In Steven Harper's steampunk fictional series, a plague is ravaging the whole world and causing most patients to become zombies. A selected few become clockworkers, geniuses with machines, inventions and the comprehension of time and space. (Obviously this is fiction and one should never try to catch a virus in hopes of becoming a genius.) A cure for the zombies has been found but unfortunately clockworkers are still infected and will inevitably die after going insane if nothing is done about it.

Since leaving England to find a cure for Clockworkers, Alice, Gavin and their crew are trying to make their way to China because of rumors they heard. In China, they call clockworkers The Dragon Men and apparently they have come up with a cure but are keeping it a secret. Alice is already a carrier of the zombie plague cure but unfortunately it doesn't cure the clockworkers. Which is sad, because Gavin is  a clockworker and she more or less turned her back on her baroness title to be with him.

So get this. In this book, they never make it to China. Only after departing London do they realize how far China is and how long it would take for them to get there in their airship. Instead, they make their way east by hiding within a circus because they are still being pursued by English authorities. A clockwork circus sounds great in theory but besides travelling with it and Gavin and Alice getting a weird card reading, it doesn't amount to much. In my opinion, the story is just about travelling east, Alice curing as many people as she can throughout Europe and dealing with crazy clockworkers in Kiev. Ok, that last part might be a major issue, especially to enforce the necessity for Gavin to find a cure to his condition.

To say the least, the story wasn't what I expected. THE IMPOSSIBLE CUBE was sort of an interlude, a continuation to the first book but not really getting anywhere besides a little bit further east. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book, and I hope they make it to China this time. Another disappointment is the fact that I was expecting a little bit more romance between Alice and Gavin. Book one concentrated a lot on the developing romance between the two characters, and I expected to see more but maybe Steven Harper is saving that for the next book. Personally, I won't stop reading this series because of these minor setbacks because I truly think there's something special about this steampunk/clockwork world.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:02

 Clockwork, Library, Penguin, Review, ROC, steampunk, Steven Harper, The Clockwork Empire, Zombie, Zombies  Leave your mark

Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry

I read Rot & Ruin nearly two years ago and I absolutely loved it, the only problem is that I'm terrible with reading series due to the constant influx of ARCs and shiny books that publishers are churning out. It took a while, but I've finally reunited with Benny Imura and his friends and I truly plan on bingeing the rest of this series by the end of the year. Dust & Decay is a far superior novel than it's predecessor and this time around, the pacing is much quicker. Though I lacked any recollection of what happened in book one, Dust & Decay was absolutely addicting and it was so easy to transition back into this series.

 

Though I love the plot and gory zombie scenes, my favorite aspect of the Rot & Ruin series is the characters. Jonathan Maberry has breathed life into all of the characters in this book and they all have extremely deep personalities that feel genuine. One of my favorite relationships in this series is the brotherly bond between Benny and his older brother, Tom. Benny and Tom have a special connection that is unrivaled by anything I've read recently and I'd love to see more books focus on the unique bond that siblings share. Tom and Benny don't always get along, but Tom still has a urgent, fatherly need to protect Benny from the world and himself. Tom loves Benny more than he will show and watching those two's snarky conversations was a delight.

 

There aren't nearly enough books with diverse characters and it's always special to read in which a person of color is a main character. I love how the Imuras' heritage is Asian, this is such a simple fact but the weight of it is so important given how little representation non-Caucasian characters have in YA literature. Maberry never makes it a big deal that Benny and Tom are Asian, which made the diversity of it feel even more special. It shouldn't feel abnormal when a character isn't White,  the author should make it subtle and feel normal because diversity is what the world needs in literature.

Dust & Decay is yet another great novel from Jonathan Maberry and I'm extremely eager to read the following installments in the Rot & Ruin series. D&D ended on a cliffhanger, so I definitely need to get my hands on the next book as soon as possible! The only good thing about waiting so long to continue this series is that I don't have to suffer a long wait between installments and that I can read them back to back. I absolutely love this series and Dust & Decay is a zombie novel with heart that will leave readers anxious for more!

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 horror, Jonathan Maberry, Library, Paranormal, Review, Rot amp; Ruin, series, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon and Schuster, young adult, Zombies  1 Person left their mark

Married With Zombies by Jesse Petersen

I’ve been binge watching The Walking Dead lately so that made me revisit my favorite zombie novels, MARRIED WITH ZOMBIES. Since it’s nothing like the famous AMC TV show, I would say the only thing they have in common is zombies. However, this is the book that started my fascination with zombies. Before, I was a little disgusted/afraid of them but now, I simply see them as unfortunate beings that can sometimes bring comedy in books like MARRIED WITH ZOMBIES.

I guess you can say the book begins like any contemporary book where a couple is having marital issues. Sarah and David have been seeing a couple’s therapist about their problems and they were actually on their way to therapy when they first discovered the apocalypse was upon them. The whole scenario is actually quite funny and ironic because what was making their marriage fail was their ordinary life, while what eventually makes them a stronger unit is the end of the world. And the most ironic thing is that what really begins their reconciliation is actually killing their marriage counselor turned zombie.

I would say Jesse Petersen’s comedy is really original. I’ve never encountered another book that’s quite like it. The humor and the zombie-ness is balanced perfectly and she is able to pull off the comedy really well, in what could have been a disastrous attempt to make light of a difficult genre to write. I really admire her ability to make you laugh and keep things light, while still making her hero and heroine fight off hordes of zombies. And she’s not afraid of gruesome details. And what’s even better is the fact that the humour is actually the kind of humour that makes you laugh out loud and make you stop reading because you have the absorb the greatness of the hilarity. It’s not just haha filler-type comedy.

Sarah and David’s quest to find safety makes them depend on one another. Their hope, not only to survive this thing, but their hope for their relationship makes this somewhat a romantic story. It does have those chick-lit moments but for those of you who stay clear of those, they are few and far between. It’s still nice to read about their relationship and how it evolves throughout the novel.

If you’re remotely interested in zombies, you definitely have to read this book. If you’re curious about zombies, you definitely have to read this book. If you’re crazy about zombies, you definitely  have to read this book. If you think zombies aren’t your thing, you have to at least try it, please! It will most probably change your opinion about zombies. This is without a doubt, my favorite zombie book and series. You can’t get any better than this!

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Posted by Tynga at 03:12

 Apocalypse, Hachette, Jesse Petersen, Living With the Dead, Orbit, Purchased, Review, Zombie, Zombies  2 People left their mark

Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

Moria and Ashyn are twin sisters with a most crucial role. They are respectively the keeper and the seeker on the Forest of the Dead and their role is to keep the population safe from the angry spirits roaming its depth. Each year, on a specific night, the seeker walks into the forest with a small group to seek the bodies of the exiles (criminals and such) and give them a proper burial to bring them peace. This year, Ashyn will go into the forest alone, without her mentor, and nothing could've prepared her - nor Moria- for what awaits them in the shadows.

What an amazing read! I'm a fan of Kelley Armstrong (I'm currently reading her Woman of the Otherworld series and have read both her YA trilogies, Darkest Powers & Darkness Rising), and this book is honestly completely different from anything else I've read from her. The tone is actually very dark despite some humor here and there, and I have to confess the novel gave me the creeps. I even had trouble falling asleep one night after reading a particular scene at around 20% of the book. This novel is honestly bordering on horror, especially at the beginning, but the scary factor was brought down a bit once both girls set out on their respective quests.

I truly enjoyed the very unique lore Armstrong brought to the table. In the girls' kingdom, there are three pairs of twin sisters holding the role of keeper & seeker: One at the palace, one at the forest of the dead, and one is roaming around. Their role is of the utmost importance in this world where spirits hold great powers and those honored girls are chosen in a rather gruesome way. Each of them also have a bonded pet and I thought it was a really nice touch, especially considering their important to the plot. This world is also filled with magic and mythical creatures the likes you've never heard of and it was amazing, and sometimes scary, to discover them.

An aspect I particularly liked is how different Moria and Ashyn are despite their being twins. Moria is a big-mouthed arrogant fighter with a passion for story-telling and a weak spot for children. Her vision of boy-girl interaction is also very technical, especially compared to Ashyn's who as a very romantic spirit. The latter is also soft spoken and of a much more intellectual type, let's say she much preferred healing classes to combat ones. Both of them are amazing in their own way and their opposite personalities are balancing each other perfectly.

The girls were split after a tragic event and spend most of their journey apart, each paired with a boy. Gavril, Moria's partner, is a brooding secretive and sexy soldier with an attitude to rival Moria's. I actually really liked him and after their journey, he is the biggest mystery I can't wait to discover in the following novel. Ronan, Ashyn's companion, is an exile who survived the winter in the forest of the dead and he also is very secretive. He appears and disappears as pleases him, but he is always there when Ash needs him. I had a soft spot for him and I want to see more from him as well.

In this novel, the characters are facing one long journey filled with mysteries and dangers and while the novel was a real page-turner, I feel like it's an introduction for what's to come. The chess pieces have been set in place and I honestly can't wait to see the big battle unfold. I was really dumbstruck by the cliffhanger conclusion and I just feel there is a lot more to discover than the bits Armstrong gave us. I don't know when book 2 will release, but I hope I'll get an early copy because the wait might just kill me.

 

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Posted by Tynga at 01:51

 Age of Legends, Edelweiss, Harper Collins, horror, Kelley Armstrong, Magic, Paranormal, Review, young adult, Zombies  10 People left their mark

Novella November: Sing for the Dead by PJ Schnyder

For a bit of context, check out my review of BITE ME, the first novella in the series. As I mentioned in that post, the best part of the London Undead series is definitely the worldbuilding. Schnyder gives us a great but short introduction to a very scary London, where zombies roam the streets of the quarantined city and werewolves patrol to keep the residents too poor or stubborn to leave safe. I had so many questions about where these zombies come from, why they're getting smarter, why they stay in London. We didn't get many answers in BITE ME but we get a pile of them in SING FOR THE DEAD because Sorcha, the female lead, has been dispatched to London by the Light Court to investigate the zombies and their potential threat to the Fae. Kayden finds her in a park, and things quickly move to a head from there.

What we learn -- which I won't explain here -- is very interesting stuff indeed. It was a development I wasn't expecting and it results in some great action scenes and a much wider world to explore in future stories. It's hard to discuss it without giving things away so I'll just say that it's a very satisfying ending and you'll definitely be intrigued by the zombies' origins and the reasons for why they are getting smarter. ;)

I also really liked the relationship that builds between Sorcha and Kayden in SING FOR THE DEAD. He's much more accepting of their bond than she is, mostly because Sorcha has a mountain of baggage. It's not unexpected, given her upbringing and background, but it's a significant impediment in their burgeoning relationship. But what fun would a paranormal romance story be without some bumps along the way?

The end of SING FOR THE DEAD definitely implies that there are more stories to go and I'm curious to see if Schnyder has a new pairing for us, or if we'll see more of Sorcha and Kayden. I like them a lot more than Maisie and Seth (from BITE ME) so I've got my fingers crossed! I hope you'll give this series a try.

 Read an excerpt

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Adult, Carina Press, Harlequin, London Undead, Netgalley, Novella November, Paranormal Romance, PJ Schnyder, Review, Zombies  1 Person left their mark

Terminated by Rachel Caine

Rachel Caine never ceases to entertain me and this third book of her Revivialist series is no exception. It begins exactly where the previous book ended, with non-stop action and intrigue. Bryn and her gang friends are on the run, avoiding death and bullets from the Fontain Group, the group responsible for backing most of the funding for the creation of Returné, the drug that allows its users to more or less live forever.

Right from the beginning of this series, I simply fell for Rachel Caine's take on zombies. I mean these aren't your typical flesh eating zombies. Ok, so some are known to crave raw meat, but not to the point of becoming mindless feeding drones. They are free thinking beings with the ability of regenerating their bodies with the help of nanites, the real genius behind the drug Returné. The people "infected" with the nanites could be classified as dead because without them, they wouldn't be alive. Rachel Caine redefines what it means to be a zombie in this book, explaining it with science and technology. I'm a big science geek so this series holds a lot of appeal because of all these little scintific details. I love it because the author actual takes the time to explain how the zombie came to be, and it's not left to some mysterious virus or what not.

What really holds this story together is the quirky and original characters. Bryn is a strong female lead and despite her raw meat eating tendencies, she's definitely someone I would like to have around. Her quick thinking abilities make her a good partner to be on the run with, and her humour and sarcasm would simply make the adventure a fun one. Patrick, her sometimes lover is not present a lot in the first part of the book so when they come across each other once again, I was really happy because their complicated relationship is the type of relationship you love to read about. Especially when one of the people hunting them down happens to be Patrick's crazy ex-wife. Other major forces behind hunting down Bryn and her group of allies are an unknown bunch of financial backers. Not much is known about these mysterious antagonists. I think that's what makes it so frustrating, not knowing who Bryn is fighting except a group called the Fontain Group.

TERMINATED is a great way to finish a trilogy with a bang. Actually, I'm assuming it's the last book of the series, but if it's not, I would be really glad to read more about Bryn and company. You definitely don't want to miss this book of intruigue, action and will to survive. You'll never see zombies the same way again!

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Penguin, Purchased, Rachel Caine, Review, Revivalist, ROC Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Zombies  1 Person left their mark

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

For a zombie novel, this was actually strangely refreshing! Since the Walking Dead has premiered, I've had my face buried in zombie novels. Warm Bodies was my first zombie novel that had an ending that satisfied me. I understand that it's the end of the world and there are zombies running about and we're probably not going to get a happily ever after - but that's really not what I'm looking for either. I just want an ending! So many zombie novels I've read have taken what feels like a short cut by just sort of ... ending abruptly. And then calling it just a quirk of the genre.

Warm Bodies finally turns that around. You get an ending. Not a happily ever after, but it's an ending. Definitely a book I'd love to read the sequel for!

Warm Bodies is told from the viewpoint of a zombie - making this a fascinating read as "R" struggles to remember just who he is and what made him this way and if there could be anything left in the world that might matter more to him than ripping through human flesh. This is not a book for the squeamish - it's pretty detailed and descriptive. Definitely gave me some very vivid mental images!

I generally approached zombie 'romance' with a slightly hesitant fear. There are the obvious problems of being dead, and all the strange smells and maladies that must come along with that. It's difficult to really get invested in a story revolving around them. And yet, Warm Bodies somehow still made this romance sweet, without making me feel squeamish.

The premise that maybe there are more to zombies than we can see on the outside was especially interesting to read. Sure, they're all moaning and funky smells on the outside, but does that unequivocally prove that there's nothing else going on inside? What if they are simply trapped by their own disease?

Overall, I tore through this book. I haven't read a book this fast in months - because I just had to know what would happen next. As we all know, there's also a movie adaptation that came out this year, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the movie! I didn't really see how such a unique style narrative would translate well onto film, but I thought it did a great job and was true to the novel as much as it could be.

Read an excerpt

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Atria, Atria Books, Isaac Marion, Purchased, Review, Warm Bodies, Zombie, Zombies  2 People left their mark

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

Warning: Spoilers ahead if you have not read the first two books in this series.

The Dark and Hollow Places lived up to every single expectation that I could have placed upon it. This series has officially gone down in my own personal hall of fame. Aside from having the most fascinating and haunting titles of any books I've read in a very long time, every single book in this series has been completely unique, and yet set within a familiar world that has become downright terrifying.

In The Dark and Hollow Places, Annah and Abigail (who we know as Gabry) are reunited. For so long, Annah has carried the guilt of what happened the day in the Forest that she and Elias left Abigail behind. Separated as young children, Annah is now mangled and damaged, and struggles with the return of her sister who seems to have had an idyllic childhood compared to her own. I loved getting to read this story from Annah's point of view. All the same characters are present from The Dead-Tossed Waves, and unlike the jump of 20+ years between the first and second book in the series, The Dark and Hollow Places picks up almost immediately after the end of the second book.

The relationships between characters in The Dark and Hollow Places were what made it so intense. Along with all the flesh-eating zombies, of course. We still get to hear lots from Gabry and Elias, but the real star of the show was Annah and Catcher. Annah has so many insecurities borne from Elias' abandonment, her own shame at failing Gabry as a child, and the scars that a tragic accident has left her with. Catcher struggles with his own identity, living as something in between the dead and the living, and he's not sure if Annah could be infected by him. He's also not willing to take the chance.

Throw in a post-apocalyptic world that is just crawling with zombies, a police force that amounts to nothing more than sadistic bullies, and a very real fear that they may be one of the last surviving communities - and The Dark and Hollow Places will keep you turning page after page until you find out what will happen.

I wish this series wasn't over - but alas, if it must end sometime, I suppose that this was a great way to go out. Trust me, you'll never see it coming.

Read an Excerpt

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Carrie Ryan, Delacorte, Purchased, Review, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, young adult, Zombie, Zombies  3 People left their mark

Pretty When She Destroys by Rhiannon Frater

Book Stats:

Reading level: Adult
eBook: n/a
Genre: Urban Fantasy 
Publisher: Self published
Release date: August 27, 2013

Series: Pretty When She Dies #3

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Source: ebook from author for book tour

Purchase: Not yet available

Amaliya Vezorak always believed she was destined to live a failed life in obscurity until she was brutally murdered by an ancient vampire named The Summoner and reborn as a powerful vampire necromancer. Now it is up to her to save the world…

To be honest, I did not expect the conclusion of this trilogy to go where it went. In a way, that’s why Rhiannon Frater is so brilliant. She has the ability to write great stories and surprise you at every turn. I was definitely expecting a final battle between the main character Amaliya and her arch nemesis, The Summoner and that was delivered, but everything about it was unexpected, and definitely entertaining.

Personally, I think when it comes to writing, Rhiannon Frater’s strong point is creating great character. Amaliya and Cian, from the very beginning, had good strong chemistry, and I loved seeing it evolve throughout the trilogy. Theirs was definitely not your typical romance, but it’s the type of love that could and did stand against the true test of time: the end of the world. Their relationship, however, isn’t without its faults but the connectedness between the character is what anyone would dream to have in any relationship. Their ability to feel each other’s emotions and read some of each other’s thoughts also helped them bond and really forge and strong duo. Personally, being able to read my boyfriend’s thoughts and feelings would creep the hell out of me, but for Amaliya and Cian, it simply allowed their bond to be that much stronger. Cian and Amaliya were by far my favorite characters but the rest of the cast were also very notable.

Cian’s cabal is definitely the most eclectic Scooby gang since Buffy the Vampire Slayer. You wouldn’t expect this odd bunch to be able to save the world but that’s what makes it that much more fun. Cassandra, Cian’s dhampir daughter and her girlfriend Aimee, the white witch, make an unlikely couple but really works in this urban fantasy. What’s more, the homosexual relationship wasn’t placed there to prove a point, but because it was probably second nature for the author to write about this type of relationship. The rest of the Scooby gang included a ghost whisperer, a pseudo bookworm leader, a shapeshifter and a brother-sister techno geek team. (Please note that I call them the Scooby gang but they never do call themselves that.) When you look at it this way, it really has many similarities to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, including saving the world from total evil domination. However, the biggest difference is that the main character is actually a vampire herself, but one with a conscience, obviously.

Overall, the novel was a great one but the pace of the story was a bit slow at times, and a little too fast in others. The flow could have been a little better but despite this small inconvenience, it was a great urban fantasy novel. The antagonist was as crazy as you might expect, and if it weren’t for the Summoner, I don’t think Amaliya would be the vampire she is without him. With an antagonist like the Summoner, that author was definitely not afraid to kill innocents bystanders. Truthfully, I expected more members of the Scooby gang to be killed off and while it would have been sad, I think more deaths on the good guys’ side would have been more realistic. Speaking of realistic, while I’m a big fan of happily-ever-after endings, I think the end of this book was a little too happily-ever-after. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the ending, I just thought it would have been a little different.

PRETTY WHEN SHE DESTROYS is a great conclusion to this epic trilogy and I highly recommend the whole trilogy to vampire and Buffy fans alike. Rhiannon’s dry humor and sarcasm shines throughout the book with Amaliya’s character. I’ve come to expect great things from Rhiannon and whether you read her self-published books or her big publisher books, you’ll never be disappointed. Her individual writing style is obvious in everything she writes and with this trilogy over, I’m anxious to see what she comes up with next.

Don’t forget to check out my post from last week for the PRETTY WHEN SHE DESTROYS blog tour, and your chance to win awesome prizes! You don’t want to miss out on this series!

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Posted by Unknown at 07:15

 ghost, Review, Rhiannon Frater, Shapeshifter, Vampire, Witch, Zombies  Leave your mark

Pretty When She Destroys by Rhiannon Frater

To be honest, I did not expect the conclusion of this trilogy to go where it went. In a way, that’s why Rhiannon Frater is so brilliant. She has the ability to write great stories and surprise you at every turn. I was definitely expecting a final battle between the main character Amaliya and her arch nemesis, The Summoner and that was delivered, but everything about it was unexpected, and definitely entertaining.

Personally, I think when it comes to writing, Rhiannon Frater’s strong point is creating great character. Amaliya and Cian, from the very beginning, had good strong chemistry, and I loved seeing it evolve throughout the trilogy. Theirs was definitely not your typical romance, but it’s the type of love that could and did stand against the true test of time: the end of the world. Their relationship, however, isn’t without its faults but the connectedness between the character is what anyone would dream to have in any relationship. Their ability to feel each other’s emotions and read some of each other’s thoughts also helped them bond and really forge and strong duo. Personally, being able to read my boyfriend’s thoughts and feelings would creep the hell out of me, but for Amaliya and Cian, it simply allowed their bond to be that much stronger. Cian and Amaliya were by far my favorite characters but the rest of the cast were also very notable.

Cian’s cabal is definitely the most eclectic Scooby gang since Buffy the Vampire Slayer. You wouldn’t expect this odd bunch to be able to save the world but that’s what makes it that much more fun. Cassandra, Cian’s dhampir daughter and her girlfriend Aimee, the white witch, make an unlikely couple but really works in this urban fantasy. What’s more, the homosexual relationship wasn’t placed there to prove a point, but because it was probably second nature for the author to write about this type of relationship. The rest of the Scooby gang included a ghost whisperer, a pseudo bookworm leader, a shapeshifter and a brother-sister techno geek team. (Please note that I call them the Scooby gang but they never do call themselves that.) When you look at it this way, it really has many similarities to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, including saving the world from total evil domination. However, the biggest difference is that the main character is actually a vampire herself, but one with a conscience, obviously.

Overall, the novel was a great one but the pace of the story was a bit slow at times, and a little too fast in others. The flow could have been a little better but despite this small inconvenience, it was a great urban fantasy novel. The antagonist was as crazy as you might expect, and if it weren’t for the Summoner, I don’t think Amaliya would be the vampire she is without him. With an antagonist like the Summoner, that author was definitely not afraid to kill innocents bystanders. Truthfully, I expected more members of the Scooby gang to be killed off and while it would have been sad, I think more deaths on the good guys’ side would have been more realistic. Speaking of realistic, while I’m a big fan of happily-ever-after endings, I think the end of this book was a little too happily-ever-after. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the ending, I just thought it would have been a little different.

PRETTY WHEN SHE DESTROYS is a great conclusion to this epic trilogy and I highly recommend the whole trilogy to vampire and Buffy fans alike. Rhiannon’s dry humor and sarcasm shines throughout the book with Amaliya’s character. I’ve come to expect great things from Rhiannon and whether you read her self-published books or her big publisher books, you’ll never be disappointed. Her individual writing style is obvious in everything she writes and with this trilogy over, I’m anxious to see what she comes up with next.

Don’t forget to check out my post from last week for the PRETTY WHEN SHE DESTROYS blog tour, and your chance to win awesome prizes! You don’t want to miss out on this series!

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Posted by Tynga at 03:15

 Author, ghost, Pretty When She Dies, Review, Rhiannon Frater, Self Published, Shapeshifter, Urban Fantasy, Vampire, Witch, Zombies  Leave your mark

Pretty When She Destroys by Rhiannon Frater Blog Tour + Giveaway

Today, we are lucky enough to have Rhiannon Frater as a guest again, to promote her upcoming vampire novel, PRETTY WHEN SHE DESTROYS. This is the third book of her PRETTY WHEN SHE DIES series and I’ve been waiting impatiently for it. It’s being released on August 27, 2013 so make sure to mark you calendars! For the time being, check out Rhiannon’s amazing guest post down below, as well as the giveaways for your chance to win amazing prizes!

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Being Hybrid Author

By Rhiannon Frater

It’s amazing how much self-publishing has altered the publishing world in just a few years. I remember when I originally wrote As The World Dies in 2005 as an online serial the idea of self-publishing was a very foreign concept. I didn’t even think about the fact that by posting my story online I was in essence self-publishing. Honestly, I didn’t even think of my online serial as anything other than a distraction, a bit of fun. I had my eye on being published by one of the big six publishers.

Of course, I did end up self-publishing As The World Dies as a trilogy (it was too massive to be one book) in 2008. With my husband’s help and encouragement, I took my writing career firmly in hand and took a risk. I had a story, a fanbase, and the new media tools to try something radical. Brisk sales, awards, a movie option and a three book deal with genre giant Tor were the end result.

Many people assumed that once I signed on the dotted line with Tor, I would no longer self-publish. I had educated myself on the ends and out of the publishing world and realized that if I wanted to write full-time, I was going to need to continue to self-publish. Even though Tor’s deal with a huge life changer finically and it enabled me to leave my day job, I was going to have to find a way to garner additional income to keep writing full-time. The Tor advance would only reach so far and royalty checks come in sporadically.

Therefore, I became a Hybrid Author.

There are two common labels for writers:

Indie Author – Someone who publishes ALL their work themselves.

Legacy or Traditional Author – Someone who is published by a publishing house.

Since I do both of these types of publishing, I’m a Hybrid Author.

And we are a growing breed.

As the big publishers scour the Indie Author ranks for the next big thing, more and more writers are going to be bridging the two worlds. It is inevitable. It’s only wise to take advantage of the best of both worlds.

So why don’t I choose one over the other? At this time I feel both forms of publishing benefit me greatly. I thought I’d share how the two differ in my experience. (Note: other Hybrid Authors may have a different one)

• Submissions
  • Traditional: My editor decides which book idea fits Tor and is most likely to sell. She has the inside scoop on the publishing world, so I benefit from this insight.
  • Indie: If I want to write a book, I can. Of course, I could pour my heart and soul into a book that doesn’t sell one single copy. Yet, I still have the opportunity to publish my work and test new waters.
• Editing
  • Traditional: My editor at Tor is awesome. She has definitely helped me become a better writer and storyteller. She took a book that I wrote for fun online and worked with me until it was worthy of the bookshelves. She encouraged me to be fearless in my revision. I learned so much from her. She always tells me that I have to be happy with the editing changes, but if she disagrees she’ll let me know.
  • Indie: My Indie editor is awesome. Seriously. She kicks me in the teeth when I need it and points out issues in the story. I love it when a review points out her excellent editing skills.
• Cover
  • Traditional: Though Tor has been kind enough to allow me to give feedback, in the end, the marketing department makes the final decision. I have been able to have things changed on the covers of the As The World Dies trilogy because my editor agreed with the suggestions.
  • Indie: Whatever I want to go on the cover, goes on the cover. It’s as easy as that. But at the same time, I am confined by my budgetary constraints.
• Distribution
  • Traditional: Because I’m with a big publisher, my books are in most bookstores. That being said, Tor only has the English rights for North America, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. I have no control over when Tor will publish the books in ebook or paperback in those countries. I have had a lot of complaints because As The World Dies is not available in Kindle in the UK and AUS markets, but I don’t have any control over that.
  • Indie: I can distribute my books in English wherever I choose utilizing the self-publishers. Until I was with Tor, my self-published titles were not in most bookstores, though they are popping up more and more. Thanks to Createspace’s expanded distribution, bookstores can buy my indie titles and stock the shelves. Yet, I know that being published by Tor made it more likely.
• Marketing
  • Traditional: Tor sent out advance review copies of The First Days, which put me on the radar of a lot of review blogs. Yet, I’m one of their smaller authors, so I don’t get the big money budgets with print ads, etc. I also don’t have book tours paid for by the publisher, or go to conventions on the publisher dime. (People always think this is the case).
  • Indie: I can pay for ads if I can afford them. The name recognition that Tor helped me establish with book bloggers has made it a lot more likely that bigger reviewers will sign on to blog tours. I can attend any event I chose as long as I can afford it and I can book my own book tour.
• Advances & Royalties
  • Traditional: Tor gave me an advance for As The World Dies and Dead Spots. When the sales of those books pay back their advance, I will then receive royalties. Advances are usually cut up into chunks, so you don’t get it all at one time. Usually you get those portions at contract signing, the final revision, and publication. That’s how it works for me at Tor. Sales reports let me know how the books are doing, but it’s not very up to date information. I have yet to get a royalty check, but I anticipated I wouldn’t for a few years.
  • Indie: Of course, I don’t get an advance. After usually a 60 to 90 day initial delay, I get monthly payments from nearly all my self-publishing companies. At the end of each month, I get paid for sales in a previous month. All of this adds up to be more than my paycheck from my old full-time job at this time, but I am by no means rich. If sales fall one month, it means austerity measures sometime down the line. So far I’ve been able to stay a full-time writer since 2011, but should my indie sales fall significantly, I won’t be able to continue. The money I get from traditional publishing comes in spread out chunks with no assurances of it arriving when I need it.

As you can see, the two forms of publishing actually work hand in hand. I know my self-published titles encourage sales of my Tor books and vice versa. At this time I really enjoy being a Hybrid Author and plan to continue to be one.

-----------------

Thank you Rhiannon for the amazing guest post and your insight on the publishing world. As always, it’s been a pleasure having you here on the blog.

More about PRETTY WHEN SHE DESTROYS:

Amaliya Vezorak always believed she was destined to live a failed life in obscurity until she was brutally murdered by an ancient vampire named The Summoner and reborn as a powerful vampire necromancer. Now it is up to her to save the world…

 

 

 

 

 

Other books in the Pretty When She Dies Series:

-----------------

Giveaway #1

Rhiannon is offering a tour wide grand prize giveaway of all 3 books of the series plus the vampire jewelry in the picture below. Open to US/Canada only.

To enter the giveaway, obey the rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway #2

Rhiannon is also offering all 3 books of the series in ebook format to one reader of Tynga’s Reviews. Open internationally.

To enter the giveaway, obey the rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

-----------------

About the author

Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of the As the World Dies trilogy (The First Days, Fighting to Survive, Siege,) and the author of three other books: the vampire novels Pretty When She Dies and The Tale of the Vampire Bride and the young-adult zombie novel The Living Dead Boy and the Zombie Hunters. Inspired to independently produce her work from the urging of her fans, she published The First Days in late 2008 and quickly gathered a cult following. She won the Dead Letter Award back-to-back for both The First Days and Fighting to Survive, the former of which the Harrisburg Book Examiner called ‘one of the best zombie books of the decade.’ Rhiannon is currently represented by Hannah Gordon of the Foundry + Literary Media agency. You may contact her by sending an email to rhiannonfrater@gmail.com.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Read More

Posted by Unknown at 06:30

 giveaway, Guest Post, New Adult, Rhiannon Frater, Vampire, Zombies  7 People left their mark

Pretty When She Destroys by Rhiannon Frater Blog Tour + Giveaway

 

 

Today, we are lucky enough to have Rhiannon Frater as a guest again, to promote her upcoming vampire novel, PRETTY WHEN SHE DESTROYS. This is the third book of her PRETTY WHEN SHE DIES series and I’ve been waiting impatiently for it. It’s being released on August 27, 2013 so make sure to mark you calendars! For the time being, check out Rhiannon’s amazing guest post down below, as well as the giveaways for your chance to win amazing prizes!

-----------------

Being Hybrid Author

By Rhiannon Frater

It’s amazing how much self-publishing has altered the publishing world in just a few years. I remember when I originally wrote As The World Dies in 2005 as an online serial the idea of self-publishing was a very foreign concept. I didn’t even think about the fact that by posting my story online I was in essence self-publishing. Honestly, I didn’t even think of my online serial as anything other than a distraction, a bit of fun. I had my eye on being published by one of the big six publishers.

Of course, I did end up self-publishing As The World Dies as a trilogy (it was too massive to be one book) in 2008. With my husband’s help and encouragement, I took my writing career firmly in hand and took a risk. I had a story, a fanbase, and the new media tools to try something radical. Brisk sales, awards, a movie option and a three book deal with genre giant Tor were the end result.

Many people assumed that once I signed on the dotted line with Tor, I would no longer self-publish. I had educated myself on the ends and out of the publishing world and realized that if I wanted to write full-time, I was going to need to continue to self-publish. Even though Tor’s deal with a huge life changer finically and it enabled me to leave my day job, I was going to have to find a way to garner additional income to keep writing full-time. The Tor advance would only reach so far and royalty checks come in sporadically.

Therefore, I became a Hybrid Author.

There are two common labels for writers:

Indie Author – Someone who publishes ALL their work themselves.

Legacy or Traditional Author – Someone who is published by a publishing house.

Since I do both of these types of publishing, I’m a Hybrid Author.

And we are a growing breed.

As the big publishers scour the Indie Author ranks for the next big thing, more and more writers are going to be bridging the two worlds. It is inevitable. It’s only wise to take advantage of the best of both worlds.

So why don’t I choose one over the other? At this time I feel both forms of publishing benefit me greatly. I thought I’d share how the two differ in my experience. (Note: other Hybrid Authors may have a different one)

• 
  
  Submissions
  
  
  
  
  • 
    
    Traditional: My editor decides which book idea fits Tor and is most likely to sell. She has the inside scoop on the publishing world, so I benefit from this insight.
  
  
  • 
    
    Indie: If I want to write a book, I can. Of course, I could pour my heart and soul into a book that doesn’t sell one single copy. Yet, I still have the opportunity to publish my work and test new waters.
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  Editing
  
  
  
  
  • 
    
    Traditional: My editor at Tor is awesome. She has definitely helped me become a better writer and storyteller. She took a book that I wrote for fun online and worked with me until it was worthy of the bookshelves. She encouraged me to be fearless in my revision. I learned so much from her. She always tells me that I have to be happy with the editing changes, but if she disagrees she’ll let me know.
  
  
  • 
    
    Indie: My Indie editor is awesome. Seriously. She kicks me in the teeth when I need it and points out issues in the story. I love it when a review points out her excellent editing skills.
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  Cover
  
  
  
  
  • 
    
    Traditional: Though Tor has been kind enough to allow me to give feedback, in the end, the marketing department makes the final decision. I have been able to have things changed on the covers of the As The World Dies trilogy because my editor agreed with the suggestions.
  
  
  • 
    
    Indie: Whatever I want to go on the cover, goes on the cover. It’s as easy as that. But at the same time, I am confined by my budgetary constraints.
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  Distribution
  
  
  
  
  • 
    
    Traditional: Because I’m with a big publisher, my books are in most bookstores. That being said, Tor only has the English rights for North America, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. I have no control over when Tor will publish the books in ebook or paperback in those countries. I have had a lot of complaints because As The World Dies is not available in Kindle in the UK and AUS markets, but I don’t have any control over that.
  
  
  • 
    
    Indie: I can distribute my books in English wherever I choose utilizing the self-publishers. Until I was with Tor, my self-published titles were not in most bookstores, though they are popping up more and more. Thanks to Createspace’s expanded distribution, bookstores can buy my indie titles and stock the shelves. Yet, I know that being published by Tor made it more likely.
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  Marketing
  
  
  
  
  • 
    
    Traditional: Tor sent out advance review copies of The First Days, which put me on the radar of a lot of review blogs. Yet, I’m one of their smaller authors, so I don’t get the big money budgets with print ads, etc. I also don’t have book tours paid for by the publisher, or go to conventions on the publisher dime. (People always think this is the case).
  
  
  • 
    
    Indie: I can pay for ads if I can afford them. The name recognition that Tor helped me establish with book bloggers has made it a lot more likely that bigger reviewers will sign on to blog tours. I can attend any event I chose as long as I can afford it and I can book my own book tour.
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  Advances & Royalties
  
  
  
  
  • 
    
    Traditional: Tor gave me an advance for As The World Dies and Dead Spots. When the sales of those books pay back their advance, I will then receive royalties. Advances are usually cut up into chunks, so you don’t get it all at one time. Usually you get those portions at contract signing, the final revision, and publication. That’s how it works for me at Tor. Sales reports let me know how the books are doing, but it’s not very up to date information. I have yet to get a royalty check, but I anticipated I wouldn’t for a few years.
  
  
  • 
    
    Indie: Of course, I don’t get an advance. After usually a 60 to 90 day initial delay, I get monthly payments from nearly all my self-publishing companies. At the end of each month, I get paid for sales in a previous month. All of this adds up to be more than my paycheck from my old full-time job at this time, but I am by no means rich. If sales fall one month, it means austerity measures sometime down the line. So far I’ve been able to stay a full-time writer since 2011, but should my indie sales fall significantly, I won’t be able to continue. The money I get from traditional publishing comes in spread out chunks with no assurances of it arriving when I need it.
  
  
  
  

As you can see, the two forms of publishing actually work hand in hand. I know my self-published titles encourage sales of my Tor books and vice versa. At this time I really enjoy being a Hybrid Author and plan to continue to be one.

-----------------

Thank you Rhiannon for the amazing guest post and your insight on the publishing world. As always, it’s been a pleasure having you here on the blog.

More about PRETTY WHEN SHE DESTROYS:

Amaliya Vezorak always believed she was destined to live a failed life in obscurity until she was brutally murdered by an ancient vampire named The Summoner and reborn as a powerful vampire necromancer. Now it is up to her to save the world…

 

 

 

Other books in the Pretty When She Dies Series:

-----------------

Giveaway #1

Rhiannon is offering a tour wide grand prize giveaway of all 3 books of the series plus the vampire jewelry in the picture below. Open to US/Canada only.

To enter the giveaway, obey the rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway #2

Rhiannon is also offering all 3 books of the series in ebook format to one reader of Tynga’s Reviews. Open internationally.

To enter the giveaway, obey the rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

-----------------

About the author

Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of the As the World Dies trilogy (The First Days, Fighting to Survive, Siege,) and the author of three other books: the vampire novels Pretty When She Dies and The Tale of the Vampire Bride and the young-adult zombie novel The Living Dead Boy and the Zombie Hunters. Inspired to independently produce her work from the urging of her fans, she published The First Days in late 2008 and quickly gathered a cult following. She won the Dead Letter Award back-to-back for both The First Days and Fighting to Survive, the former of which the Harrisburg Book Examiner called ‘one of the best zombie books of the decade.’ Rhiannon is currently represented by Hannah Gordon of the Foundry + Literary Media agency. You may contact her by sending an email to rhiannonfrater@gmail.com.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 02:30

 giveaway, Guest Post, New adult, Rhiannon Frater, Vampire, Zombies  8 People left their mark

A Darkness Strange and Lovely by Susan Dennard Blog Tour + giveaway!

Susan Dennard is a valued friend and an amazing author. I was beyond excited to find out that I would be able to participate in this blog tour on behalf of Tynga's Reviews. Thank you so much for the opportunity!

--------------------------

A Darkness Strange and Lovely by Susan Dennard

Book stats:
Reading Level: Young Adult
ARC: 406 pages
Genre: Steampunk, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 23, 2013

Series: Something Strange and Deadly #2

Source: From Publisher for Blog Tour

Reviewed by: Lili

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Following an all-out battle with the walking Dead, the Spirit Hunters have fled Philadelphia, leaving Eleanor alone to cope with the devastating aftermath. But there’s more trouble ahead—the evil necromancer Marcus has returned, and his diabolical advances have Eleanor escaping to Paris to seek the help of Joseph, Jie, and the infuriatingly handsome Daniel once again. When she arrives, however, she finds a whole new darkness lurking in this City of Light. As harrowing events unfold, Eleanor is forced to make a deadly decision that will mean life or death for everyone.

And to think that I thought book one was amazing. Book two was absolutely marvelous! Set in beautiful Paris, Dennard found ways to make this novel dark and compelling and impossible to put down! Now, let me go get on my knees and grovel for book three.

What continuously impresses me is Dennard's writing style. She puts such great emphasis on detail that I felt as if I was actually transported to Paris. I've never been to Paris, but I can certainly say I am dying to go. She was also able to drill the importance of etiquette during this time period into the readers, as made evident by Daniel's struggle with speaking using words that were never before in his vocabulary. It was rather entertaining, watching him catch his words because he reverts back to his usual self around Eleanor since they always bring out the best in each other. Both the writing and the historical aspect of this novel were spot on.

And then there's Eleanor. I really enjoyed how she grew. Doubly stubborn and ten times more assertive, she's even more sassy and witty, though committed and loyal. I loved her downright rebellious nature that began with her refusal to wear corsets ever again. But see, she's battling a darkness inside her, one that's both strange and entirely lovely and it's turning her world upside down. This internal battle between right and wrong, what she wants and what other wants, expectation versus reality was rather enticing and I enjoyed it immensely.

The other characters were amazing as always and now wear some battle wounds. And, somehow in some unbelievable way, Daniel became even more perfect, but what I really enjoyed was the emergence of a new character: Oliver. He was odd and intriguing and I very much enjoyed watching his friendship with Eleanor progress. They certainly do have a unique bond, but his ulterior motives were rather annoying at times. Then again, they kept me on my toes and kept me focused. If a character is equal parts annoying and completely riveting, you know you're doing something right!

But, I do have one tiny complaint, and that's the fact that I figured out the nefarious demon that is raising Les Morts in the City of Light rather quickly. And, in truth, Eleanor figured it out rather quickly too, she just didn't realize it. There were so many plot twists, but this one was glaringly obvious to me and I so wish it was not because that is what made this book just short of absolute perfection in my eyes. I mean, this book has ten times more amazing zombie scenes, more blood, more rituals and sacrifices and magic. It has more plot twists and unseen problems. It is way darker because of the addition of demons to the tale, but the biggest twist of all was the only one that I could predict. A bummer in that sense.

Absolutely dark and delicious, I could not put this one down. Dennard possesses the talent to captivate us so much so that a 400+ page book seems to fly by. I am eagerly awaiting the final book in the trilogy that has the promises of some potential romance, new discoveries, and a final showdown that may beat all other final showdowns.

Susan Dennard, you own my newly emerged zombie-loving heart.

Read an Excerpt

---------------------------------

There is a tour-wide giveaway. There will be 10 winners total and the prizes are…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Posted by Lili at 06:30

 Demon, Fantasy, giveaway, Harper Collins, Review, steampunk, Susan Dennard, young adult, Zombies  18 People left their mark

A Darkness Strange and Lovely by Susan Dennard Blog Tour

And to think that I thought book one was amazing. Book two was absolutely marvelous! Set in beautiful Paris, Dennard found ways to make this novel dark and compelling and impossible to put down! Now, let me go get on my knees and grovel for book three.

What continuously impresses me is Dennard's writing style. She puts such great emphasis on detail that I felt as if I was actually transported to Paris. I've never been to Paris, but I can certainly say I am dying to go. She was also able to drill the importance of etiquette during this time period into the readers, as made evident by Daniel's struggle with speaking using words that were never before in his vocabulary. It was rather entertaining, watching him catch his words because he reverts back to his usual self around Eleanor since they always bring out the best in each other. Both the writing and the historical aspect of this novel were spot on.

And then there's Eleanor. I really enjoyed how she grew. Doubly stubborn and ten times more assertive, she's even more sassy and witty, though committed and loyal. I loved her downright rebellious nature that began with her refusal to wear corsets ever again. But see, she's battling a darkness inside her, one that's both strange and entirely lovely and it's turning her world upside down. This internal battle between right and wrong, what she wants and what other wants, expectation versus reality was rather enticing and I enjoyed it immensely.

The other characters were amazing as always and now wear some battle wounds. And, somehow in some unbelievable way, Daniel became even more perfect, but what I really enjoyed was the emergence of a new character: Oliver. He was odd and intriguing and I very much enjoyed watching his friendship with Eleanor progress. They certainly do have a unique bond, but his ulterior motives were rather annoying at times. Then again, they kept me on my toes and kept me focused. If a character is equal parts annoying and completely riveting, you know you're doing something right!

But, I do have one tiny complaint, and that's the fact that I figured out the nefarious demon that is raising Les Morts in the City of Light rather quickly. And, in truth, Eleanor figured it out rather quickly too, she just didn't realize it. There were so many plot twists, but this one was glaringly obvious to me and I so wish it was not because that is what made this book just short of absolute perfection in my eyes. I mean, this book has ten times more amazing zombie scenes, more blood, more rituals and sacrifices and magic. It has more plot twists and unseen problems. It is way darker because of the addition of demons to the tale, but the biggest twist of all was the only one that I could predict. A bummer in that sense.

Absolutely dark and delicious, I could not put this one down. Dennard possesses the talent to captivate us so much so that a 400+ page book seems to fly by. I am eagerly awaiting the final book in the trilogy that has the promises of some potential romance, new discoveries, and a final showdown that may beat all other final showdowns.

Susan Dennard, you own my newly emerged zombie-loving heart.

Read an Excerpt

 

Read More

Posted by Tynga at 02:30

 Book Tour, Demon, Fantasy, giveaway, Harper Collins, HarperTeen, Historical, Pocket, Publisher, Random House, Review, Something Strange and Deadly, steampunk, Susan Dennard, young adult, Zombie, Zombies  20 People left their mark

Dead Living Blog Tour: Interview with Glenn Bullion + Giveaway

We have Glenn Bullion as a guest today on the blog to promote his zombie book, DEAD LIVING. Check out my interview with Glenn down below, where we talk about zombies, his book, and then more zombies. Also, there is a tour wide giveaway going on so don’t miss out on your chance to a copy of DEAD LIVING!

-----------------

If you had to create a kit to survive in a world like the one you created in Dead Living, what would you include?

In Dead Living, the zombies have already taken over.  So, if you're not bunkered down somewhere, the kit would need to be as light and simple as possible.  A bladed weapon of some sort, with a pistol as a last resort.  Water is a must, as much as you can reasonably carry.  Lighters and matches are no good, so a magnifying glass would be a good carry, for starting fires when able.  Society is over as we know it, so if you're on your own, scavenging is the name of the game.

How would you introduce us to your main character, Aaron?

The mysterious introduction would work best with Aaron.  I love the visual of seeing him blend harmlessly with a huge pack of zombies, all of them moving around him while he moves freely.  That would be a scary sight, if you happened to be a bad guy (or anyone, for that matter).

Who was your favorite character to write about in Dead Living?

One of my favorite pairings of all my novels were Aaron and Samantha, and I loved to write about those two characters.  But I'll take this chance to talk about another character, the glue that holds the survivors of Lexington High School together.  Richardson.

A lot of zombie stories has that bad guy, the typical leader of the biker gang, the guy manipulating the town for his own purposes, whose true goal is to look out for himself.  Richardson isn't that man.  He is a good man, who only wants to take care of the people fate lumped him together with.  He is older, and remembers quite well what the old world was like, a sort of historian for the younger people.  Everyone looks up to him, and for good reason.

Zombies, or the walking dead, seem to be more and more popular in fiction these days. What differentiates your novel from the others in the genre?

It's hard to write a different zombie story.  A lot of ideas have been used by other writers J  I'd like to think this one is different because of the characters.  I tried to breathe real life into everyone.  These characters were not just written to be eaten by zombies.  I'm hoping as the reader follows Aaron on his journey, that they truly hope for good things, unlike the teens we watch Jason and Freddy chase  J

The setting I also think is interesting.  This isn't those first few weeks, but far in the future.  Society has fallen; the walking dead have taken over.  How would things be different?  What kind of camps would people form?  Zombies are naturally frightening to us, but what if you were a child, and grew up with them?  What good things would people do?  What evil things?

Dead Living is a fun story that goes on a little adventure that I think will spark the imagination.

What do you want your readers to learn or assimilate from Dead Living?

A lot of zombie stories focus on how bad humanity would turn out to be if the zombies came.  George Romero certainly tackles this issue often.  Dead Living has its villains as well, but there are plenty of positives.  Even with zombies all around, there's always hope.  You have to hold on to that.

What do you think is more likely: the walking dead created by a virus or by supernatural forces?

You have to go with the virus.  I think that's part of what makes zombies so scary and fascinating, is that they're much more feasible to happen than say a vampire or werewolf.  Something that makes a human turn into a wolf is hard to swallow.  But some kind of virus or government experiment that could make dead bodies move and jump around?  I don't think that's entirely out of the picture.

What is your favorite zombie movie?

There are a ton of good ones out there.  Even the zom-coms are solid, Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland.  But I have to go with the original trilogy, Night, Dawn, and Day.  Those movies are hard to beat.  I also liked Land of the Dead, although I think sometimes I may be the only one.

Do you prefer to write on a computer or with pen and paper? Do you have any weird/crazy writing habits?

Computer writing only for me.  I'm not sure I'd be a writer if it weren't for the computer.  I don't really have any weird habits, I don't think.  I like to listen to music, sometimes, but it depends on how focused I am.  Sometimes music is a distraction, and has to go off.

What are you reading right now?

I'm actually not reading anything right now.  I'm working on my latest book (Demon's Doorway is nearly ready to be released, as of this writing, and typing the words on Witch's Kurse).  I try not to mix reading and writing too much.  It's not good to have that distraction, when I'm having some bad writing time, to say “Man, I wish I was reading that book”.  I try to get my reading done in between novels.

What will I read next?  I'll probably try to find a Richard Laymon novel I haven't read yet, or read one of his old ones.

-----------------

Thank you Glenn for answering my questions. It was great to have you here on the blog!

More about Dead Living:

It didn’t take long for the world to die. And it didn’t take long, either, for the dead to rise.

Born on the day everything ended, a world filled with the walking dead is the only one that Aaron knows. Kept in seclusion, his family teaches  him the basics. How to read and write. How to survive.

Then Aaron makes a shocking discovery. The undead, who desire nothing but flesh, ignore him. It’s as if he’s invisible to them.

The survivors of the old suburb of Lexington call a high school their home. They live day to day, without any of the luxuries mankind used to enjoy. Samantha is a product of the new world. Alone, cold, looking out only for herself. She and the other residents of Lexington feel their hope dwindling. They need change. They need someone who can face the corpses. They need someone who can live in a city of the dead.

They need Aaron.

My Thoughts

Read and excerpt

Purchase: Amazon

Glenn is offering a tour wide giveaway of 3 copies of DEAD LIVING [winner's choice of Print (US/Can) or eBook (INTL)]

To enter the giveaway, obey the rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

-----------------

About Glenn Bullion

I live in Maryland with my wonderful wife and four cats. I love gaming, computer technology, movies, and of course, reading and writing. I love science fiction and especially horror and the paranormal. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, zombies, anything supernatural, all beautiful subjects.

I’ve been writing since I was twelve years old. There’s just something about creating a story that I like. I always try come up with something that hasn’t been done, or is unique in some way. It could be someone with demonic powers, or something much more simple, such as a person that zombies ignore. It’s fun to create a character, give him or her a personality and background, and watch them evolve through a story.

I’ve tried other subjects, but always drift back to horror and paranormal. There’s a reason why we keep going back to horror movies and books, why they’ve made fifty Friday the 13th movies. People like to be scared, but more than that, I think paranormal and horror stir the imagination like nothing else. We’re all just a little nervous to open that closet door at midnight, or look under the bed.

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Posted by Unknown at 07:05

 giveaway, Interview, Zombies  1 Person left their mark

Dead Living by Glenn Bullion

Book Stats:

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 240 pages
Genre: Zombies/Horror
Publisher: Permuted Press
Release date: January 12, 2013

Series: none

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Source: Tour organizer

Purchase: Amazon

It didn’t take long for the world to die. And it didn’t take long, either, for the dead to rise.

Born on the day everything ended, a world filled with the walking dead is the only one that Aaron knows. Kept in seclusion, his family teaches him the basics. How to read and write. How to survive.

Then Aaron makes a shocking discovery. The undead, who desire nothing but flesh, ignore him. It’s as if he’s invisible to them.

The survivors of the old suburb of Lexington call a high school their home. They live day to day, without any of the luxuries mankind used to enjoy. Samantha is a product of the new world. Alone, cold, looking out only for herself. She and the other residents of Lexington feel their hope dwindling. They need change. They need someone who can face the corpses. They need someone who can live in a city of the dead.

They need Aaron.

I’ve been hooked on anything zombie lately. Simultaneously, I’ve been reading this zombie book, watching  a TV series on DVD about zombies (The Walking Dead) and playing a zombie video game (The Last of Us). All three are excellent and DEAD LIVING is no exception. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading it, especially since it’s such a short book. I was worried that there wouldn’t be enough character development or enough action, but since the author’s storytelling is right to the point, none of that was compromised.

While most of the story is held 23 years after the zombie apocalypse, I really like the fact the author still wrote about what happened before that, without being dragged through flashbacks. The book opens with the events that unfold the first day of the zombie apocalypse, which is also the day the main character, Aaron, is born. Then, were transported about 14 years into the future where Aaron loses his family and is left to fend for himself. And finally, the read story progresses as we follow 23 year old Aaron, who finally begins to trust humans again.

Ever since learning he has a special link with the dead, Aaron hasn’t been around humans all that much. Since the zombies don’t seem to want to eat him, he’s not afraid to live is a city inundated by them. Truthfully, it was humans that killed his family, and he feels like the real monsters might not be the zombies, but quite possibly the humans. Human survival can be a great and powerful thing, but for some people, surviving means letting go of morals and human decency. So when Aaron meets Sam (Sam to Aaron, Samantha to everyone else), he’s reluctant to follow her to her home base, but eventually decides to check out Lexington High School. Slowly, Aaron begins to trust other humans again and he quickly becomes an important member of the Lexington community. Everyone starts to look up to him, and Sam develops strong feeling for her new friend, despite her own reluctance to trust other people.

DEAD LIVING isn’t just a book about the walking dead, but a book on human survival. It’s realistic enough in the description of how people live, and the indecency of some human beings adds more conflict to the story. The book reveals a lot about the horrors of the human race like rape, slavery and human sacrifice. It almost makes you wonder who the real monsters are: the thinking, breathing humans or the mindless living dead.

For me, this was an excellent quick read, and exactly what I was in the mood for. Glenn Bullion succeeded in writing a memorable and readable book. He didn’t reinvent the zombie wheel but his original add-ons make this book stand out. His unique main character Aaron and Sam make you want to keep reading, and personally, a book is a success especially if you have characters that make you come back for more. While the secondary characters aren’t quite as developed as some, the fact that Glenn Bullion has Aaron and Sam seems to be enough. Bullion expertly captures the horror (and goodness) of the human spirit without being too gruesome in LIVING DEAD. It leaves you satisfied as a stand-alone book, yet truthfully I wouldn’t mind reading more about Aaron.

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Posted by Unknown at 07:00

 Glenn Bullion, Review, Zombies  1 Person left their mark