Review: Eden

Eden by Tim Lebbon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Took half a book for this one to get going, but once it did it didn't stop!

The story revolves around a 'Virgin Zone' known as Eden. Eden is one of several zones around the world released back to nature in a future where humans feel the need to atone for the mess they've made of the planet. No one is allowed in these zones, but there are adventure racers that take crossing these zones as a challenge. Jenn and her dad, Dylan, are part of such a team and Eden is their next challenge. But no one has ever made it out of Eden alive ...

I love the setup of this, and the notion of this completely wild, abandoned area of death. Things were always going to go awry for the team, but the 'nature fights back' aspect is one I was really looking forward to.

The first half of the book is more of an adventure story - it's about the team entering the zone, the gear they take, the whole notion of the zones and adventure racing, and the looming fact that Jenn's mother, Kat, was last heard from via a text saying she was taking on Eden. There's almost a repetitive focus on Kat, and the relationship between her and Dylan. It was a little tedious for me, and I was really anxious to get to the action instead of dealing with all the personal drama.

That halfway mark, though, sees things take a turn for the worst and suddenly the team are really fighting to survive.

The ecological horror was real and fresh, and I loved the way plants became truly terrifying to me. I was honestly afraid for this team from the time of that first confrontation through to the end because it seemed like literally everything around them was trying to kill them.

There is a lot of talk of relationships and personal connections, where I kind of just wanted more carnage. This is a balanced sort of novel, and there's a logic to it that almost makes it too real. I was expecting a little more horror and fast energy, but this novel takes time to talk about how these people feel as they're dealing with all these horrors.

I also found it a little hard to picture at times, but that's possibly on me and my wonky imagination. This is a wild race across wild, abandoned terrain, and it was hard for me to grasp just how extreme the nature-takeover was.

At the end of the day, though, it was a fast, unique horror featuring a homicidal mother nature figure that kept me thoroughly entertained.

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Review: Bullet Train

Bullet Train by Kōtarō Isaka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holy damn this was so much fun! Highly addictive!

The story sees five assassins on a train, each for their own reasons. Inevitably, they become entangled and chaos ensues.

I enjoyed this so thoroughly from start to finish. The characters are all so unique and interesting, and a few in particular just made things a lot of fun.

They're assassins, right, but there's a lot of light comedy happening to these brutal people. Things continuously go awry - especially for Nanao, the self-proclaimed 'unluckiest assassin in the world' - and it leads to some seriously entertaining consequences.

The action takes place almost entirely on the train, with the characters constantly moving back and forth between cars and seats, accidentally or intentionally mingling with one another. Some of these meetings are tense and loaded, others are light and humouous - and some are both.

Wildly unpredictable, the action is non-stop and takes us through the story at an addictive pace. I just wanted to keep reading to see what happened to this bunch of misfits.

Such an entertaining read and probably a stand out for me this year. I enjoyed it immensely, and highly recommend, particularly to those who enjoy black comedy.

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Review: Dragon Ball, Vol. 1: The Monkey King

Dragon Ball, Vol. 1: The Monkey King by Akira Toriyama
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Okay, how come no one told me this series was so hilarious?

Like, even the pervy stuff is just funny rather than kinky. They really don't make manga like this any more!

I love how quickly everything came together, and how easily everyone was introduced. Battles don't last a billion pages, the action is easy to follow, and Goku's innocence just makes everything so much funnier.

Honestly loved this. I get the hype.

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Review: Mythago Wood

Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A wonderfully unique fantasy novel that probes the boundaries of the imagination.

The mythological aspect of this story hooked me completely, and yet the majority of these myths were so foreign, or spun in such a unique way, that I could never predict what was coming.

The story sees Steven returning to his family estate, where his brother has taken over the work of their father in exploring the mysterious wood that lies on their doorstep. Strange people and creatures have been sighted, and the wood seems to have a life - or several of them - of its own.

I really enjoyed how darkly whimsical this was. There's a unique blend of psychology and mythology that brings this story to life, and it's all set in the creepiest wood I've ever read about. The atmosphere of this novel is heavy with malice, and I enjoyed how there was danger lurking even when Steven was 'safe' at home.

The creatures that live in these pages are magnificent - inspired by myths, but mutated into something threatening and grotesque. There are also what I believe to be novel myths - otherwise myths I've certainly never heard of. I enjoyed reading about these old legends that were completely new to me, and seeing how they transformed into something tangible within the wood.

The obsession with Guin was a bit disappointing (why is it always men obsessing over a woman?) but I guess there had to be a driving motivation somewhere and what motivates more than love? But it still bothered me that, if you strip away all the fantastic, novel ideas of this story, it ends up just being the same old story of a man driven to do extreme things all in the name of love.

Still, there was plenty of other bits and pieces to keep me entertained, and there's enough of a grim vibe that it almost feels necessary to read on.

The dark fantasy of this really won me over, and this fantastical wood where all manner of creatures and myths lurk was such a character itself. I loved journeying through it with these characters and witnessing the various transformations.

An exceptional fantasy story with an element of horror that will stay with you for the duration. A fantastic read and one I highly recommend.

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Review: Wisdom of the Shamans: What the Ancient Masters Can Teach Us about Love and Life

Wisdom of the Shamans: What the Ancient Masters Can Teach Us about Love and Life by Jose Ruiz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such an unexpectedly cathartic read!

I listened to it at work whilst doing odd jobs and I just became so absorbed - to the point that I've started listening again because there is just so much wisdom that I want to absorb.

There are shamanic legends within the pages that help to express the pillars of shamanic teaching, and I loved that aspect. I love myths and legends so this was such a great way for me to start thinking about these lessons. The narrator as well does an excellent job of remaining quite neutral in his tone so you can fully absorb what is being said.

Honestly, I bought this one on a whim and it gave me so much more than I was expecting. I'm actually really keen for the second listen because there's just so much content I want to properly consider.

There are activities, too, so that if you're keen to put things into practice you know where to start.

Fantastic read and highly recommend!

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Review: My Girlfriend is a T-Rex, Vol. 1

My Girlfriend is a T-Rex, Vol. 1 by Sanzo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is superb and amazing and you will have a tough time convincing me otherwise.

Also, is it weird that I relate to a T-Rex girlfriend?

It was a bit hard to get used to the smaller chunks of story as opposed to one continuous story - the subheadings really threw me off and it took me a bit to figure out they were still mostly continuing a story.

The illustrations can be confusing at times but honestly, I didn't care too much about that. I was really just keen to see this t-rex girl try and fit into human society and she does it so hilariously badly. I like her a lot.

The dude (honestly, I don't even remember any names, I read it too fast) seems like he's got a dark past that will come further to light, so that makes me curious. But honestly, I don't really care. I'm really just keen for dino-antics.

Dinosaurs are the best, aren't they? :D

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Review: Nimona

Nimona by N.D. Stevenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yes, okay. I thought I wasn't going to like this but it's actually pretty frickin epic.

The art style didn't draw me in at all but a sassy shape-shifter working as an evil sidekick seemed like my kinda thing so I gave it a go and it really did suck me in!

Nimona has such a wicked attitude and I loved her entire being. On the surface the whole story seems quite childish to begin with, but as the story progresses the characters depths are revealed and we get to see a lot of heart. Nimona is easily the star, but Blackheart does have his own merits.

It was so refreshingly different and I liked that it was very basic and almost nonsensical in plot. It borders on the absurd, so you have to just take everything as it is without really overthinking it. If you want deep world-building, you'll be sadly disappointed.

If, however, you're looking for a girl who frequently rampages as various animals, you should be as delighted with it as I was.

There are actually some surprisingly deep themes here, so it's not childish by any means, but it's equally the kind of story that readers of all ages should enjoy.

I was quite surprised at how easy it was to read, and how fast I breezed through it.

Highly recommend!

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Review: The Women Could Fly

The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ah, my friends! This book is so good for the soul!

Such a moving, thought-provoking novel that drew me into a unique, fascinating world.

The story introduces us to 28-year-old Jo, whose mother disappeared fourteen years ago. Unfortunately, this combined with her black skin makes her a prime suspect for being a witch, leading to discrimination and the constant hounding from her father to ensure she's married (and therefore under the careful watch of a man) before she turns 30 (it's a long story).

That's a very brief, unworthy description and there is a lot more to unpack that drags you deep into this world of injustice. Yet it's never too much; the words are eloquent and precise so there's nothing superfluous - every sentence has meaning.

I really loved how much this got me thinking without trying too hard. The story presents the themes and deals with them realistically, and we're left to make our own assumptions and feel our own feelings. GOD I FELT FEELINGS.

There is a large focus on witchcraft, obviously, but the main focus is freedom. I loved how this novel delved into the meaning of freedom, and explored the limitations of freedom that comes with conditions.

I honestly don't know how to properly convey the affect this story had on me. It was whimsical and fun, sad, honest, diverse, thought-provoking, and uplifting.

This is a witchy tale of feminism and freedom and easily one of the most moving novels I've read this year. Highly recommend.

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Review: Lethal Protector

Lethal Protector by David Michelinie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Slowed down a bit with this one but only because I got distracted by other comics.

I actually really like how this collection shows Venom's transition from one of Spidey's most formidable enemies to a semi-partner. First, they're teaming up to take down psychopath Carnage, but then we get to see Venom calling more shots and doing his own thing.

The old school artwork is losing a bit of novelty for me, but I do really love the way the symbiotes were illustrated. I think part of the reason I love Venom is because of how he's drawn! Plus he's adaptable and constantly wanting to eat people so that's a unique sort of charm to me.

The stories contained are again well chosen, and the Lethal Protector collection at the end really highlights Venom coming into his own. Plus, the team up with Ghost Rider at the start was ridiculous fun.

I'd love to get into all the newer Venom stuff coming out but I feel like I still have so much catching up to do! So it'll probably be the next Epic collection from here for me.

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Review: House of M

House of M by Brian Michael Bendis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I mean ...

It's a very thrilling story. It brings together some of the greatest heroes (seriously, Wolverine is in fkn everything these days, I swear) and brings with it great moral debates and epic action sequences. It's pretty decent.

I have to admit, though - it was really hard for me to make sense of it at times.

There are some really beautiful double page spreads, but unless you smoosh the comic flat it's hard to make out the artwork in its full glory, and it means there is inconsistency to the way the pages are read, which gets more confusing as the story progresses. Do I read across the whole page or one page at a time? Sequentially, it was a bit of a mess.

That said, I did really enjoy the vibrancy of the artwork, even if I had almost no idea what was going on in the action sequences.

I think Wandavision is a big factor as to why this comic is so hot right now, but it didn't quite live up to the hype for me. The story is there and I'll likely continue because I'm really enjoying the twists, but didn't quite suck me in like I wanted it to.

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Review: The Glamourist

The Glamourist by Luanne G. Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This series is just a really fun, easy listen.

I mean, I do speed it up to 1.5/2 because of how many pauses the narrator takes, and how long she takes to say things, but I still really like the character she puts into the performance. I'm just an impatient person.

This is book 2 in the Vine Witch series, and switches the focus to Yvette - the murderess who helped out Elena in the previous book. Now she's running around the city trying to discover her own witchy power, whilst also running from the law.

I really like Yvette. She's a bit of a spitfire and she's fiercely independent so she doesn't really take crap from anyone. Yet she's still humble enough to ask for help every now and then, and more so when the helper is a cat. That's right, folks - the star of this book is actually a cat. An exaggeration, perhaps, but this fun feline will have you feeling warm and fuzzy in no time, and have you rooting more for Yvette simply because he is.

The story has some pretty common tropes, but I still really loved the magic of it all. This one definitely dials up the magic, compared to the first book, and I really enjoyed getting into that. It did flick into a realm I didn't expect, but I still thoroughly enjoyed going there.

The narrator does an excellent job of conveying the different characters without putting on too ridiculous a voice. It makes it very easy to listen to and if you're the kind of person to immerse yourself in the audio (as opposed to me, who is always trying to multi task when I listen) you should find this to be a thoroughly enjoyable romp through a magical story.

Actually pretty keen to round it out with the third book!

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Review: Dark Visions

Dark Visions by Douglas E. Winter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

By Stephen King:

The Reploids - ⭐⭐
The down side to short stories is they often make their mark with a shock ending with no explanations.

This is the story of mistaken identity, but it's clear from the start something is hinky. I found the 'shock reveal' ending was just what I'd assumed reading the whole thing, so it was rather disappointing. The story was too short to really pack a punch, and while the idea it presented was interesting, there just wasn't enough detail on it to give it any real emotional response. A disappointing beginning.

Sneakers - ⭐⭐⭐
This one was better and drew me in more, but it was another ending that fell flat for me. The mystery of the sneakers drew me in for sure and kept me hooked, but ultimately I got less than I expected from the reveal. I was also quite confused about Tell's role towards the end. So getting better, but still a bit underwhelming for King's work.

Dedication - ⭐⭐⭐
Ah. There's that classic King sexual weirdness.

A little black magic happening here, but aside from being disturbingly gross, there wasn't anything too horrific here. Just confusing again in what the point was. I get it - hoodoo magic - but ... why? I think sometimes the bizarreness is just not enough to outweigh the question of why we care. Again, the twist ending just didn't really mean a lot to me. An interesting, curious read, but ultimately disappointing.

By Dan Simmons:

Metastasis - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oooh now this is some creepy horror!

I honestly had no idea what was going on with this story but the descriptions are horrifying. These are some freaky creatures taking centre stage here and I loathed them.

I don't know that I've actually read anything by Dan Simmons before but I like! His words are crafted quite well and this was a brilliantly unique horror story that I felt fit well enough in with reality that it added that extra creep factor.

Again, the ending was a little confusing, but I had an easier time with it than the previous King stories.

Vanni Fucci is Alive and Well and Living in Hell - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

YES! This is the standout so far.

I love the way this story built; you could really sense the momentum building, and feel the atmosphere of the story getting thicker.

I loved the Dante references here and I particularly love how much this story created from it. This story features rich religious jerks getting some karma so I was all in for that.

Loved the descriptions, the set up, the build, and the grand finale. Just a great story all round.

Iverson's Pits - ⭐⭐⭐

Writing, yes; story, no.

This is the story of a boy who accompanies a war veteran to the scene of a horror from his past. It's long and a tedious trek until you get to the point, which when it finally came was a good hit but just a little too late for me.

The writing, on the other hand, was fantastic. Proper creepy stuff going on, with descriptive passages that soak you in the miasma of this story's horror scenes. I really enjoyed that aspect.

So while the story didn't quite grab me and was a little too long, there was a reward in the language used to tell it.

By George R. R. Martin:

The Skin Trade - ⭐⭐⭐

This was more like a novella, so the length frustrated me a bit, but once I sunk into it it was a pretty decent story.

This is a fun werewolf story with murder, carnage, and all kinds of messiness. Which is kind of my happy place when it comes to horror.

However, it does often bother me how much some male authors focus on sex and make their characters naked for no discernable reason, and Martin is one of the worst for this. It tends to draw me out of the story because the lack of logic gets in my head.

Aside from that nitpick and the length of this one, it was actually a pretty decent story. It had some classic werewolf tropes but it also went into some unexpected territory that I really enjoyed. The writing is mostly crass but Martin deals in blunt force shock more than finesse, so the horror comes from the level of gruesome more than any kind of building tension or anticipation.

A memorable story for sure.

Overall thoughts:

I mostly enjoyed this collection, as it was quite an addictive read. Short stories are always easy to get through, but I think that notion is also why I get a bit frustrated with the longer ones.

Dan Simmons was the standout for me here: King's stories felt like they were scraps that he'd thrown to this book so it could have his name as a selling point, and Martin's single story seemed like it would have been better off on its own. But this is my first time reading Simmons and his writing really drew me in. I'll be looking for more of his work in the future.

A bit of a hodgepodge collection but fun and addictive all the same.

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