Smirking Revenge

• Rated 4 stars

“In the Company of the Courtesan
Written by: Sarah Dunant
Paperback: 385 pages
Publisher: Random House
Language: English
January 2006, $13.99
Genre: Fiction/Historical

My lady, Fiammetta Bianchini, was plucking her eyebrows and biting color into her lips when the unthinkable happened and the Holy Roman Emperor’s army blew a hole in the wall of God’s eternal city, letting in a flood of half-starved, half-crazed troops bent on pillage and punishment.

Thus begins In the Company of the Courtesan, Sarah Dunant’s epic novel of life in Renaissance Italy. Escaping the sack of Rome in 1527, with their stomachs churning on the jewels they have swallowed, the courtesan Fiammetta and her dwarf companion, Bucino, head for Venice, the shimmering city born out of water to become a miracle of east-west trade: rich and rancid, pious and profitable, beautiful and squalid.

With a mix of courage and cunning they infiltrate Venetian society. Together they make the perfect partnership: the sharp-tongued, sharp-witted dwarf, and his vibrant mistress, trained from birth to charm, entertain, and satisfy men who have the money to support her.

Yet as their fortunes rise, this perfect partnership comes under threat, from the searing passion of a lover who wants more than his allotted nights to the attentions of an admiring Turk in search of human novelties for his sultan’s court. But Fiammetta and Bucino’s greatest challenge comes from a young crippled woman, a blind healer who insinuates herself into their lives and hearts with devastating consequences for them all.

A story of desire and deception, sin and religion, loyalty and friendship, In the Company of the Courtesan paints a portrait of one of the world’s greatest cities at its most potent moment in history: It is a picture that remains vivid long after the final page.

+++++++++++++

For a very long time I have not only been fascinated with Venice but with courtesans. There is something undeniably alluring and fascinating about courtesans. The hetaerae of ancient Greece were some of the only educated women of their time and even allowed to take part in the symposia. They were independent and influential women, accomplished in the arts and yes were well skilled in other areas as well, but they were liberated far more than the average woman. But they weren’t common prostitutes nor were they simply mistresses. They were the female courtiers at court, paramour to the royals, the elite and the wealthy, and often had a higher status than wives. She used her intelligence, her wit, her body, and her talents to further her career. And they were usually successful ones.

But love was never part of the deal for the moment a courtesan fell in love with one of her patrons, she was no longer a courtesan. For a die hard romantic like myself that seems such a lonely life, despite the freedom and liberties a courtesan had. While many courtesans lived well after their beauty faded due to their wit and intelligence, others gambled away their money and jewels. As I said courtesans are fascinating so I relish anything I can get.

I had heard about Dunant’s ‘Birth of Venus’ and while I bought that as well it has stayed in my TBR pile, though possibly not for much longer. It was high time I picked it up and I am glad that I did.

The novel begins as Bucino, a dwarf and companion to one of Rome’s greatest courtesans, recounts the sacking of Rome. His mistress and their household do not flee, but use their wits to buy them some time. But eventually it all falls part and they barely escape with their lives and a handful of valuables to the glorious Venice to start again. But Fiammetta is not the beauty she once was (she did not escape Rome before being beaten and her head cruelly shaven leaving scars) and they are unknowns in the courtesan world of Venice. Their only hope comes in the form of the few jewels they escaped with and an intriguing blind woman named La Draga who may or not be a witch.

Bucino weaves a tale that is both breathtaking and heartbreaking. While sex plays a big part in the novel, we never get any in-depth descriptions of Fiammetta’s profession and I like that; while the life of a courtesan is part of the novel, it is not the central theme, but more like the setting. And Venice…oh it is vivid and lovely and is as much a character as Bucino, Fiammetta or La Draga.

Things I loved: One of my favorite films is called Dangerous Beauty which is a fictionalized account of the Venice courtesan and poetess Veronica Franco. Of course in the end Dangerous Beauty is a love story and in its own way I suppose “…Courtesan” is a love story as well. A love for Venice, Buchino’s love for the women in his life, and more.

* I have never read anything by Dunant, but she captivated me with her story. It seemed real and vibrant as if Fiammetta really was Titian’s courtesan in the picture, and not just her own creations. I wish she did exist and I would love to see Fiametta’s story brought to the big screen.

* As I said I love the characters. Buchino is a delight and extremely sympathetic. I liked seeing Venice and Fiammetta from his point of view. He is loyal and witty, a fine character. Fiammetta on the other hand is not as sympathetic, not because of her profession but her vanity though I suppose it is partly due to her beauty that she was so sought after. However, despite her dips into the shallow end of things she endured a lot with the fall of Rome and even in Venice. We see her grow up from the flighty, sometimes you want to smack her, young woman into something so much more by the end. She knows love, she knows loss and you cannot help but love her as she matures.

* One of my favorite characters was La Draga though. She is such an enigmatic woman and her relationship with Buccino was one that made me laugh and cry. Without giving anything away, the last fifth of the book is largely La Draga’s story and I loved every bit of it.

Things I didn't love so much: Nothing really sticks out. I am sure there is something, but I just cannot seem to think of it.

Buy or Borrow: A wonderful, sensual, captivating tale it is worth the read. Buy or at least please pick up from the library and give it a whirl.

Part of: Stand Alone

Also Recommended: The Birth of Venus and Sacred Hearts also by Dunant, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, and The Book of the Courtesans by Susan Griffin.”

Smirking Revenge wrote this review Wednesday, August 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 5 stars

“Magic Strikes
(Kate Daniels Book 3)
Written by: Ilona Andrews
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Ace
Language: English
March 2009, $7.99
Genre: Urban Fantasy

When magic strikes and Atlanta goes to pieces, it’s a job for Kate Daniels…

Drafted to work for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems these days than she knows what to do with. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.

But when Kate’s werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games – an invitation-only, no-hold-barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament- she and Curran, the Beast Lord, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta’s shapeshifting community…

+++++++++++++

This is the third book in the Kate Daniels series, a series where magic and technology come and go in this alterna Atlanta, Georgia. It’s a world where you should probably have a horse standing by when the tech is down and your car becomes a giant paperweight and where a sword comes in handy when guns cease to work. It’s a world where magic is real, vampires aren’t sexy and cuddly, and our heroine’s past may finally be catching up to her. In short, it rocks.

In this outing Kate, mercenary and snarky Knight of the Order of Merciful Aid, finds herself and her hometown still reeling from the backlash from the flare that hit during Magic Burns. Running from one magical emergency to the next keeps you busy, but it can also tire a girl out. Just when she thinks she can finally get a good night’s rest she stumbles onto a crime scene where her former partner Jim, shifter and head of security for the Pack, tells her to mind her own business. When she asks if Curran knows about it, he blows her off even further.

Odd behavior and an odd evening gets even stranger when she has to go and save her werewolf friend Derek from Saiman, whom he was attempting to steal a ticket to the Midnight games, before Saiman can be unpredictable as always and do something Kate will have to kill him for. This leads Kate to the Midnight Games, an illegal tournament where there are no rules and the preternatural community fights and kills for the thrills of the crowd. Maybe she would have left things alone until Derek goes missing and is later found with injuries so extensive that even his shifter abilities may not be able to save him. Now it is personal.

But attending the games and getting revenge poses a problem. Curran, the Beast Master/Pack Leader and Kate’s would be sweetie, forbids any contact with the Games and everyone fears his wrath. Let’s just say it is not a wrath I would like to see anytime soon.

Things I loved: I love Kate and not just because she is snarky. She is a strong woman, but has very relatable doubts and weaknesses. I’ve seen her grow as a character as well. She is opening herself to other people now as scary as that can be sometimes. She protects those she cares about, admits to fear and really doesn’t like being threatened. Yes there may be other kick butt snarktastic heroines out there in the Urban Fantasy verse, but most fall a bit short for me. Some end up being too immature while others seem to have no chinks in the armor and are a bit too unbelievable. It’s a fine line to walk but Andrews does it and does it well. Like Harry Dresden, John Taylor, etc Kate may have an increasing catalogue of wicked skills (especially after this last book, which by the way makes me very very excited to see where this all goes), but she is not invincible. She has weaknesses and they are very real ones.

* The rest of the cast. From loveable Derek (almost wept) to the deliciously grey and enigmatic Saiman (was overjoyed to learn more about him) to Raphael (loved when Kate showed up with him to Julie’s school or his attempts to win Andrea’s heart) and Andrea (I really do heart her)…they are all equally as engaging as Kate or even my delectable Curran. I even liked the new introductions like Dali who is a shapeshifting tiger who is not only legally blind and a vegetarian (yes she eats grass when she shifts. Long story), but extremely funny and I hope she appears again. I love that every character has a role. Every character has development and a delight to read. Even the baddies.

* Speaking of Curran. I loved how things have subtly changed between him and Kate. I am not opposed to romance in my books just as long as it isn’t the chief focus and that the progression of a relationship is realistic. I could go on a rant on how urban fantasy has become to be paranormal romance where romance takes over the plot, but that can be for another time. I like Curran and Kate. They’re verbal banter is as entertaining as the rest of their relationship just as Adam and Mercy are from Patricia Briggs series. More important I like how their relationship has developed. It is not the focal point of the series, but it is there to keep me blissfully happy and I cannot wait to see the sparks continue to fly.

* I love the world that has been created and in this installment we were treated with even more world building. I love that the mythos is open for other cultural interpretations. There are so many possibilities and yet the world that Andrews has created is not confusing. It works.

Things I didn't love so much: There isn’t a whole lot that I can complain about here. The plot is engaging, secrets revealed, earlier plots continued and I laughed, almost cried and sat clamoring for an encore once it was all over. There is a reason why this series is in my top 10 favorite series. The fight scenes are believable, the action a joy to read and envision and the new questions posed making me hungry with anticipation. I cannot wait for the nest installment.

Buy or Borrow: Definitely buy. In fact, if you haven’t read the series, please do…now. While it is not essential to read the first two, it is always better to start at the beginning so you can enjoy the journey so far.

Part of: The Kate Daniels series.
Magic Bites (Book One)
Magic Burns (Book Two)

Also Recommended: The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs”

Smirking Revenge wrote this review Wednesday, August 19, 2009. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Crossing Midnight Volume 2
(Map of Midnight)
Written by: Mike Carey
Illustrated by: Jim Fern & Eric Nguyen
Paperback: 168 pages
Publisher: Vertigo
Language: English
February 2008, $14.99
Genre: Genre: Comic/Graphic Novel

Toshi and Kai Hara, twins separated by a few minutes at birth, are drawn separately to Tokyo - Toshi to learn her new duties as Lord Aratsu's servant, and Kai to search for his missing sister.

To Toshi, the city presents a sinister face: attuned to the invisible kingdoms, she sees ghosts and monsters wherever she goes. But when she insults the biggest monster of all - the Gleaner, one of the five faces of death - her fortunes take a definite turn for the worse.

Brother Kai has a different goal in mind, and with the help of Inspector Yamada it seems that he's finally close to picking up Toshi's trail. But his plans are derailed when he's forcibly adopted by Tokyo's teenaged date girls and stumbles across the activities of a supernatural serial killer. Kai and Toshi are walking the same ground, almost at the same time, but they've never been so far apart.

+++++++++++++

I like Mike Carey a lot. This should be of no surprise to anyone and I continue to enjoy this fantasy/horror comic that is set in Japan. Which is bittersweet since the comic was cancelled and there is one more trade to tie it all up. It is doubly a shame since it is in this volume that I feel like the comic started to hit its stride.

In “Map of Midnight” Toshi struggles as Lord Aratsu’s servant. Her memory is gone and she has only her duties to focus on. It is all she knows, cutting unpleasant memories from dreamers and collecting them. She should be wary of Aratsu’s enemies, but Toshi was always the willful and impudent twin and it is this willfulness that gets her into trouble with a power far greater than she expected.

Meanwhile, while trying to find Toshi, Kai finds a group of “telephone club” girls who are being preyed upon by a vengeful spirit. It is a bittersweet story. Not only does it give Carey a chance to state his own opinion of said clubs and the young women that are part of it (there is even a postscript in which he explains and denounces the clubs), but you feel bad for the spirit involved. While it may not have any part to the overall story arc, I liked it.

Things I loved: I really enjoyed Toshi’s training and the tool that she receives, Uso-Tsuki, which looks like a graceful and elegant little pair of scissors but she is a liar and indeed so much more. More than that Toshi clings to the few vague memories she has of her old life. When she grabs the dog and brings him back, you cannot help but feel for her, but Aratsu is more cunning than we ever thought and easily manipulative.

* I also enjoyed the change of art. While I am not a big hater on Jim Fern like some other readers, I will admit that things take on a softer edge especially when dealing with the world of the Kami and the art balances with the story a bit better.

Things I didn't love so much: There is not one thing that I can pointedly point out. As I said while Kai’s story doesn’t wholly balance with the rest of the volume, I cannot help but like it. Though admittedly others may not enjoy it.

Buy or Borrow: Borrow if you are new to Crossing Midnight, but if you’ve read the first volume it is this volume that really gets the story going.

Part of: Crossing Midnight Series
Cut Here (Volume 1)
Map of Midnight (Volume 2)
The Sword in the Soul (Volume 3)

Also Recommended: Lucifer by Mike Carey, Sandman: The Dream Hunters by Neil Gaiman, Little Sister by Kara Dalkey.”

Smirking Revenge wrote this review Wednesday, August 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Dancing on the Head of a Pin
(Remy Chandler Series Volume 2)
Written by: Thomas E. Sniegoski
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Roc Trade
Language: English
April 2009, $14.99
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Once he was known as the angel Remiel, but generations ago Boston PI Remy Chandler chose to renounce Heaven and live on Earth, where he found a secure place among us ordinary humans. But now, having lost the love of his life, Remy finds himself turning more and more away from his human friends and his everyday existence. He's begun to seek out dangerous jobs - those that involve the supernatural, those that bring him into contact with his past.

Like his latest case: the theft of a cache of ancient weaponry stolen from a collector who deals in antiquities of a dark and dubious nature. The weapons, Remy knows, were forged aeons ago and imbued with unimaginable power. If they fall into the wrong hands, they could be uses to destroy not only Heaven but also Earth.

And to prevent that, Remy Chandler must decide whether he is willing to lose the last of his own humanity.

+++++++++++++

In this second Remy Chandler novel Remy, aka Remiel of the Seraphim, is still reeling over the loss of his human wife. He struggles every day to hold onto his humanity despite the grief that consumes him. Even Marlowe, his dog, does his own job of keeping Remy connected to the human world. So what it as angel to do? Well work of course.

The book begins with Remy and his friend Francis investigating the selling of angelic organs by a group of the Fallen. When they find the angel being held and hear his last words, Remy feels the need to tell his fellow angels, the Nomads, what happened to their brother. The Nomads are a sect of angels who remained impartial when it came to the war in Heaven with the Morningstar. After the war ended they came to earth to contemplate what they should have done and whose side they should have chosen.

This plot takes a bit of a backseat as Remy is soon hired by an older gentleman who has spent his life collecting antique weapons. But these are no ordinary weapons. They are the Pitiless and their strength and power has no equal. Of course that is only scratching the surface of why they were created and who they were created for. Even worse, why has someone stolen them and what are they going to do with them.

Things I loved: This is a great little ride. Not only do I love that Remy stays to his character in his grief for his wife, but his grief is palpable. It’s the little things he misses and how easy it would be to just resume his divine nature and erase that agony. But he made the decision to be human long ago and he isn’t willing to forget all that he has learned and felt during his time on Earth.

I also like Sniegoski’s picture of Heaven and Hell. Hell isn’t what you think. It is not for human souls, but for those who have betrayed God and followed Lucifer. Essentially it is a prison for the Fallen. More than that, he admits that there are other things out there than Heaven and Hell. In the Menagerie series Sniegoski and Golden also address this. Although two of the main characters are God’s creations (Eve…yep that Eve, and Clay, a golem who is created from God’s hands), throughout the series the Menagerie is dealing with something far greater. There are other Gods, other beings that do not recognize or care for the Gods of Earth. And they are coming. Shades of Lovecraft, but good. I see that in the Remy books and it is clear after the events in this book and the previous one that Sniegoski has big things planned and I cannot wait to see them played out.

Another thing I liked was the expansion of Francis. He is a great character as is Remy’s cop friend. Even the Fallen get character development and some of them end up being far more complex than you would have expected. For example Sniegoski has shown us the rebellious, disaffected angels. But now we also see a war torn, post traumatic stress angel who don’t know what to do when the smoke clears. Expanding the universe, explaining certain things that you may have questioned before was great.

Things I didn't love so much: There really isn’t a lot to complain about. Although sometimes Remy’s angel vs human inner monologues can get a bit repetitive, I get them. And once we discover what Francis does in his apartment, understanding why events seem to center around Boston makes sense. Its kind of like Sunnydale and the Hellmouth.

Buy or Borrow: Definitely buy.

Part of: The Remy Chandler Series.
A Kiss Before the Apocalypse (Book One)
Noah’s Orphans (Mean Streets Anthology novella)
Where Angels Fear to Tread (Book Three – Due April 2010)

Also Recommended: The Menagerie Series by Sniegoski and Christopher Golden beginning with The Nimble Man.”

Smirking Revenge wrote this review Wednesday, August 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“Ex Machina Volume 5
(Smoke Smoke)
Written By: Brian K Vaughan
Hardcover: 120 pages
Publisher: Wildstorm
Language: English
March 2007, $12.99
Genre: Comic/Graphic Novel

The acclaimed series that Entertainment Weekly calls "...compelling entertainment..." heats up as Mayor Hundred faces impossible decisions regarding New York City's controversial drug laws, when a string of brazen home invasions and a shocking suicide threaten to derail the debate. Plus, take a revealing trip into the past with Bradbury, super-hero sidekick turned chief of security to one of the most powerful politicians live.

The bestselling and Eisner Award-winning team of writer Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Pride Of Baghdad) and Tony Harris (Starman) continues their epic political thriller in this fifth collection.

+++++++++++++

I like Ex Machina, that much should be obvious of late with the amount of volumes I am going through. *grin* When I read Volume Four I knew that there were going to be repercussions from the events that took place. I was glad I wasn’t wrong though at the same time this wasn’t an extremely strong volume. It had its moments of course. The home invasion storyline ends disappointingly and does nothing to further the series.

However, I really enjoyed the storyline that involved Hundred’s early days as the Machine. He had nabbed this kid for selling pot only to discover that is stabbed and killed in prison while attempting to break up a fight. His grief stricken mother sets herself ablaze on the steps of City Hall, but what is Hundred supposed to do? What is interesting is the stress causes Hundred to black out, gives him a nosebleed and causes a transformer to explode. Now that could be interesting. I also like how candid Hundred was, admitting that he himself had dabbled in pot smoking. He characterizes it as being honest, something politicians rarely are and of course the media loves it.

While not strictly political, I do heart the politics that are thrown into things. I like the duality of Hundred, how his past and present do make things a bit interesting at times. As much as Hundred wants to be the hero without being the superhero, he has tough decisions to make every day. And Vaughan manages to do it in a fairly realistic way. It’s a great series and while this isn’t the best of the volumes, it is a series I honestly think you should give a try.”

Smirking Revenge wrote this review Wednesday, August 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Mean Streets: Anthology
Written By: Jim Butcher, Simon R Green, Kat Richardson, & Thomas E Sniegoski
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Roc Trade
Language: English
January 2009, $14.99
Genre: Fiction/Anthology, Urban Fantasy

They walk the streets no one else can walk, take the jobs no one else will take, and if you've got a problem-and the cash-they can solve it. Of course, if your case involves rabid werewolves, cursed objects, the living dead, malevolent beings from another dimension, or other 'unusual' circumstances, it may cost you a bit extra . . .

Finally, the best paranormal private investigators have been brought together in a single volume boasting all-new novellas by the greatest authors in the genre. And cases don't come any harder than these . . .

New York Times Bestselling Author JIM BUTCHER delivers a story in which Harry Dresden-Chicago's only professional wizard-tries to protect a friend from danger and ends up becoming a target himself.

John Taylor, the best PI in the secret heart of London known as the Nightside, has a rep to uphold-he can find anything. But locating the lost memory of a desperate woman may prove to be his toughest case ever in a in a thrilling noir tale from New York Times Bestselling Author SIMON R. GREEN

National bestselling Author KAT RICHARDSON's Greywalker finds herself in too deep when a 'simple job' in Mexico goes awry on the Day of the Dead, and Harper Blaine is enmeshed in a tangle of dark family secrets and revenge from beyond the grave.

He was known as Noah, an ancient being who lived among us for centuries. Now he is dead, and Boston-based fallen angel-turned-detective Remy Chandler has been hired to find out who-or what-murdered him in a whodunit by National Bestselling Author THOMAS E. SNIEGOSKI

+++++++++++++

While anthologies can be hit or miss a lot of the time, I had a feeling I would enjoy this one because it not only features a Harry Dresden novella, but a John Taylor one as well. Add in a recent fave of Remy Chandler and I am set. Sadly I wasn’t wholly impressed with the first Harper Blaine novel I read, but willing to give Kat Richardson another shot. I thoroughly enjoyed these four lovelies.

The Warrior by Jim Butcher
This Harry Dresden story takes place right after Small Favor. Harry’s best friend and former Knight of the Cross, Michael is still recovering from that last tale’s events. Now that he no longer has the ‘protection’ of Amoracchius Harry thinks that Michael and his family may be in danger. So of course our dashing hero has to do something. Its old school snarky inner monologue Harry with enough quips to make a girl like me extremely happy. While not the best entry point for new Harry fans, it is a great story that any fan should read.

The Difference a Day Makes by Simon R Green
Set in the Nightside, a woman from the mundane side of the world comes to the Nightside not only in search of her missing memories, but in search of her missing husband. Along with Deadboy’s help, John does what he does best…finding things, but the client may not like what is found. The Nightside series is another series I really enjoy. I love the world of the John Taylor and Green continues to come up with creatures, characters and new Nightside hotspots to make my imagination soar. However this wasn’t my favorite. It works well as a novella, short and tidy in the end. Then again, none of the Nightside books are epic in length. For me, there was just something missing. It felt too rushed, too many throw away lines, and yet I love the expansion on the Nightside. And I heart Deadboy to pieces. Decent story though.

The Third Death of the Little Clay Dog by Kat Richardson
In this Harper Blaine tale, Harper heads to Mexico after she is requested specifically in a late woman’s will. A woman Harper has never met. Contracted to place a little dog statue on a grave during Dia de los Muertos Harper’s adventure continues to take on a weird little turn, especially when the little dog statue holds a cute little ghost dog. Mix in a pouting emo kid who has his own kind of magic, a couple of twists and turns and you have an enjoyable read. In fact I liked it enough that I may have to give the Harper Blaine series another go. It was funny, entertaining and I want a little ghost dog of my own.

Noah’s Orphans by Thomas E Sniegoski.
Remy Chandler is forced, once again, to confront those from his past; from a time when he was Remiel the angel and not just Remy the PI. Still mourning a tremendous loss Sariel, leader of the fallen Grigori, asks Remy to investigate the murder of Noah (you know the guy that built the really big ship). But not everything is as it seems, it never really is when Heaven and Hell are involved, and the twists and turns are aplenty. I like Sniegoski. Not only has he done the Menagerie series with Christopher Golden, but I enjoyed the first Remy Chandler novel. It factors in religion without being religious and I love the twists on the biblical mythos. In fact this would have made a great second book, though I did just start reading that one as well. It’s a great little story and I heart Marlowe a lot. Somehow I have decided that is how Sage would talk…if she could.

A great little urban fantasy anthology and one I really recommend. ”

Smirking Revenge wrote this review Wednesday, August 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Escape From Hell
Written By: Hal Duncan
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Monkey brain Books
Language: English
December 2008, $9.99
Genre: Fiction/Urban Fantasy

A hitman, a hooker, a homosexual kid, and a hobo suicide make the ultimate prison break... escape from Hell itself! It’s Escape from New York meets Jacob’s Ladder, by one of fantasy’s rising stars.

Four sinners die and go to Hell, a twisted version of New York City, each to their own torment. The four meet, and decide to make a break, guns blazing. Before they manage to escape, they discover Lucifer himself kept prisoner by the angel Gabriel, and in freeing him find themselves facing an angel’s wrath. But when news of their attempted escape gets out, the souls of the damned are transformed into a rioting mob, and all Hell truly does break loose.

+++++++++++++

Hell as a twisted city, it’s not a new idea. Edward Lee has done it with his City Infernal series which I like and so have other authors. And yet Duncan makes it his own. This is an infernal Manhattan where everyday suffering is televised for all to see and our four characters find themselves in their own personal level of Hell.

The book begins with each of their deaths, then their arrival in Hell, the comforts of such a place, and finally their escape. I found myself liking a couple of the characters and did not believe that some of them truly belonged in Hell, while the hitman was perfectly deserving of his damnation which is a credit to Duncan’s writing and not just my beliefs. You want them to escape and root for them. While yes, he is not always so subtle in his mini commentary/rants (Vox News = Fox News) or Hell being like an immigration line some references are meant to remind you, to make you think such as the similarities to Matthew Shepherd or the homeless becoming the forgotten.

The escape itself doesn’t come until the latter half of the novel and until then it is part action and part gritty satire. To say that it is like Escape from New York except New York is Hell works. Oh and Lucifer completely rocks. He reminds me of Gaiman’s Lucifer reminding our “heroes” that Hell is place where humans condemn themselves to spend eternity. He had nothing to do with it. You think you deserve Hell, bam there you go. As someone who isn’t religious, at least not in the Christian sense I cannot help but partly agree. Even if you don’t regard his Hell as a Christian Hell, but our current life here on Earth, we do make our own Hells and the way out is Hope. Not a mad little message there wrapped up in a great little action adventure romp.

I also enjoyed the w ay it was written especially when we get the second person narration in the latter half of the book so that we are ‘Lucifer’. It’s a quick read but an entertaining one and made me curious enough that I want to check out Duncan’s other novels.”

Smirking Revenge wrote this review Wednesday, August 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Psych: A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Read
Written By: William Rabkin
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Signet
Language: English
January 2009, $6.99
Genre: Fiction/TV Series

Based on the hit usa network TELEVISION series. A tie-in readers will be totally “psyched” about...

Shawn Spencer has convinced everyone he’s psychic. Now, HE HAS TO either clean up— or be found out…

After the PSYCH detective agency gets some top-notch publicity, Shawn’s high-school nemesis, Dallas Steele, hires him to help choose his investments. Naturally, their predictions turn out to be total busts. And the deceptive Dallas is thrilled that he has completely discredited and humiliated Shawn once and for all—until he’s found murdered.

But the police have a suspect—found at the scene with a smoking gun. And she says Shawn took control of her mind and forced her to do it. After all, he is a psychic…


+++++++++++++

I love the show ‘Psych’. It is funny, snarky, and has enough pop culture references to make a girly girl geek like me extremely happy. When it comes to novelizations based on tv shows or films they often are a bit hit or miss for me. It helps that the author has actually written a script for the series. So how did he do? Its not a perfect little story, but it has its moments.

After Shawn saves a wealthy widow in court, thereby making the district attorney look like an utter fool, Coules takes revenge by impounding Gus’s car. When our heroes go to get it back not only do they get shot at by the impound lot attendant, but Gus gets hit by a Mercedes driven by a woman named Tara who says she is Shawn’s psychic slave. Insert a subplot involving a former classmate of Shawn and Gus who hires them to make some investments, Shawn and Gus implicated in murders, and more wacky Psych types of fun. It reads like an imperfect episode complete with little Shawn and Gus flashback and possibly a pineapple somewhere in there though I think it was missing sadly. You also have plenty of snark battles between Shawn and Lassiter, Henry lecturing and the ever present banter from Shawn that is oh so quotable.

There are a few problems. The Dallas Steele subplot doesn’t quite work and I was a bit annoyed with Juliet’s characterization which made her read like a sullen and sulky teenager which is sad because I adore her. District Attorney Coules is also a bit of a one note and fairly two dimensional at best. But there are enough laughs and moments to make me laugh out loud and that doest happen often.

It’s a fun light read that makes me happy until Psych returns this summer. It’s not perfect, but it works and I would recommend it to any Psych fan.”

Smirking Revenge wrote this review Wednesday, August 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Ex Machina: Volume 4
(March to War)
Written By: Brian K Vaughan
Illustrated By: Tony Harris
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Wildstorm
Language: English
December 2006, $12.99
Genre: Comic/Graphic Novel

Mitchell Hundred has faced countless challenges in his time as mayor of New York City, from political scandals to supernatural killers, but nothing could have prepared him for America's coming war in Iraq. As a massive peace protest fills the streets of Manhattan, the mayor must choose between the liberty of his constituents and the safety of his city, but will a tragedy change that equation forever? Plus, in a never-before-told story from the mayor's super-heroic past, the Great Machine's horrific archenemy, a man known as Pherson, is finally revealed...

+++++++++++++

Yep, I am on a comic kick. Maybe it is the art, maybe the storytelling, but its making Smirking a very happy camper. Luckily I have been reading some good ones. This week I continued my Ex Machina kick with the fourth volume. I have mixed feelings about this volume. On one hand it seems a bit shallow compared to the other volumes I have read thus far and subplots seem little more than filler. And yet at the same time I was entertained. I enjoyed Pherson and his ability to talk to animals though with the rest of the trade it doesn’t quite fit. The dialogue continues to be realistic and Harris’s artwork still rocks.

While as annoying cliché as they made Journal’s reasons to defect and be part of the march, I like Journal. It is one thing to have knowledge that your choices will impact the masses, but knowing that it will impact those you know and care about makes it weigh even heavier on your mind. While subplots were a bit watered down and didn’t quite fit I think that the main storyline and the impact of those events will spear in later volumes. Or at least I hope so. Mitchell wants to be the hero, but what happens when things don’t go as planned? How do you balance the rights of protesters while trying to keep them safe from the very thing they are protesting about?

In all it might not be the best of the volumes thus far, but it is still an amazing series. ”

Smirking Revenge wrote this review Wednesday, August 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Hellblazer: Reasons to be Cheerful
Written By: Mike Carey
Illustrated By:
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Vertigo
Language: English
April 2007, $14.99
Genre: Comic/Graphic Novel

John Constantine is a father. By magic, coercion and deceit the she-demon Rosacarnis has borne three children of the Hellblazer’s seed, and now she has unleashed them on the world. But before they can realize their hellish destiny, the children must first of all confront and defeat their mortal father. They can’t just kill John; the necromancy that created them depends on his staying alive. But the unholy trinity hit upon an even sweeter plan––to kill everyone John’s ever cared for until he’s too badly hurt ever to mend; to take away his reasons for living, one by one. After all, shell-shocked and broken from Rosacarnis’s dark magics, John’s in no condition to fight back. But among the lambs chosen fro the slaughter there are two who aren’t keen to go––John’s niece, Gemma, and his sometime girlfriend Angie Spatchcock. And someone else is taking an interest in John’s situation: someone who hides in borrowed flesh and keeps his true name to himself. Its family affair––and blood will flow thicker than water…

+++++++++++++

I dig John Constantine. I also dig Mike Carey. A great combination right? Almost. I love the main story because John’s demonic children go after, not him, but those he loves because lets be honest those few people that John trusts and loves and who trust and love him back is a fairly small number. Constantine does have help though from a demonic presence who is currently hiding within his best friend, Chas’s, body. To say that John doesn’t handle it well is a bit of an understatement. In the 20 years that John Constantine has been around we have seen in some very low places. We’ve also seen that vulnerable side time and time again even though he tries to play the snarky who gives a frak mage with a chip on his shoulder most of the time. While I am not rooting for John to be at rock bottom, I can’t help it if I enjoy the drama a bit because for once I wonder if John can get out of this. Is he completely frakked for once?

Unfortunately I think the trade collected the wrong set of issues. While I like the opening tale about the cursed bracelet, it doesn’t work with the rest of the book. And not having the climax of the story is frustrating as all hell. That’s right you don’t get a full story arc and its conclusion until the next trade. While I am a fan of cliffhangers and understand the publisher’s perspective it is annoying. It was build up, build up and then…stay tuned for next week’s episode. Grrr Argh. Especially when I have to order the next one.

So minus some minor annoyances it was a good trade and one I recommend if you are a Hellblazer or a Mike Carey fan. ”

Smirking Revenge wrote this review Wednesday, August 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )