My Gallery of Worlds

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Covers That Make Me Say...Really??

I'm writing this post because there are sooo many book, magazine, video, and even game covers that truly make me say....Really?? So I've decided to share :D

In complete fairness, I'll also add information, and/or reviews on the current apple of my eye. For although their covers may be an enigma to me, that is not to say that they aren't amazing works. Dhampir...Thief of Lives Apparently, this will be a recurring event...lol

So, I've been reading the Nobel Dead series by Barb & J.C. Hendee. I was just about to start the third book and needed a cover pic to update my currently reading gadget.
As I said in my last review, the characters look so much better in my head then they do on the books themselves. Although I'n not completely averse to Magieres' outfit in book one...lol
Back on topic...as I'm looking for images I see these beautiful pics of what can only be Magiere, Leesil and Chap....yes...the ones I've been envisioning in my head!!! That was my "Really??" moment.
Needless to say I clicked on the link and....low and behold, there they were....the covers that should be on these books!! At least in my opinion ;)
Do you know where they're from?.....The Czech Republic. I'm including US and Czech pics...I'd love to hear your views :D

US Cover Art.

Czech Cover Art

Dhampir

Thief of Lives

Sister of the Dead

And just for fun, here are the German covers as well. I'm not as much of a fan of these...They look scarier then the books actually are.

of Blood and Honey

Written By: Stina Leicht

Publisher: Night Shade Books

Pages 293

Cover Art By: Min Yum

This will be my fifth book in Quest The First.

Quest The First : Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time criteria. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres

I shall start out by saying that I purchased this book for several reasons.

One, the cover. The dog with the red glowing eyes and the shadow of a man...who could resist? Also the blood droplets and bloody hand print on the back...Ok, so I thought it was cool...geek much...lol

Then of course I read the summary on the back. Fallen angels..check

Fey...check Unknown father, got a little mystery there....check Sounds like my kind of book :D

Last but not least was the fact that I had been to the book store many times and always found myself coming back to it. It drew me in...so I took the plunge

The story begins with Liam in his early teens. November 13, 1971. Chapters are always headed with location and date, which I enjoyed. Anyway, as I was saying, the young Liam begins this story with a gun to his head. He had gone to see the riot at Aggro Corner, and was detained by the BAs (British Army). Unwilling to disclose the names of the rioters, Liam finds himself imprisoned in Long Kesh.

Before he is taken however, he looks up to see a mysterious man in a cap the color of dried blood, teeth filed to points and eyes that glowed red, watching and smiling at him.

The story then switches to Kathleen Kelly, Liams mother. She is a whirlwind of confused emotion. Worry for her son, guilt about her past, (and her present for that matter) and fear of what the future holds for Liam. Kathleen has never told Liam about his father and has always kept them apart. She is very...human in her feelings, and as a mother, relatable. (I've known people quite like her)

Father Murray is the family priest. He has always kept close to Liam and known the "truth" about him since he was born. The good Father is a bit of a mystery, and his true motivations are eventually revealed. Sometimes the best of intentions can lead to the most despicable of deeds.

The story continues with Liam in and out of unfortunate, often desperate situations. There are respites, (although few) when he does have some happiness in his life. In the end all of the questions are answers, the mystery's revealed and theres still an opportunity to continue Liams' story.

The way I see it: This was NOT what I expected, although that's not to say it was a bad thing. I expected this story to be more Fey/Fallen Celtic folklore war....and it wasn't. It dealt a lot with factual historical events and the effects they had on peoples lives. I loved Liam, and the fact that there was no big silver lining...no...reprieve for him...is very...Irish (fault me if you must, but we're not an, it's all sunshine and roses kinda people)

The bad, the bad, and the ugly: Harrrrsh much! Liams' story is not for the faint hearted. For me at least, its saving grace is that it doesn't go into too much detail when horrendous events do take place.

Love it or Leave it: Hmmmm, you know I had to think about that. It's certainly not what I expected, and generally not "my" kind of book, but overall I have to give it a love it. I found myself coming back to it again and again, just as I did in the book store. Also, and I quote, "I...am....a sponge", I simply had to research the events and dates, and guess what? I learned a lot.

I love it when that happens!!

Oh, one last note. The songs that were mentioned, (and there were quite a few) soooo brought me back. Yes, I was a mere youngin at the time, but I've always loved music :D

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

On My Wishlist - THE WILD ROAD

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming.

I'm not as diligent as BCC, but I do try to post these as often as I can :D

Karavans #3, THE WILD ROAD

Release Date: August 2012

I've been waiting for this sequel since 2007 and apparently, I'll have to wait some more...lol I'm not the most patient of people, but at least there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I enjoyed the first two books very much, and for those of you who haven' read them I've added a couple of Publishers Weekly reviews I found on Amazon.

From Publishers Weekly - Karavans
The first volume in a new fantasy saga from Roberson (Sword-Dancer) establishes a universe teeming with fascinating humans, demons and demigods, but a multitude of subplots make for a meandering start, with no real action until the final chapters. Fleeing the war-torn land of Sancorra and the bloodthirsty Hecari, who have conquered it, pregnant Audrun, her husband, Davyd, and their four children seek to travel in the last "karavan" of the season. The desperate journey to a new land is made more dangerous by the threat of nearby Alisanos, a place of doom and dark magic that can change locale at will—and for the first time in 40 years Alisanos is on the move. Ilona, a hand-reading diviner, can't see all the danger for Audrun and her family, but knows that tears, blood and grief most likely lie ahead. The karavan's guide, the mysterious Rhuan, has sworn to protect the karavan, but even his abilities may prove inadequate. Nothing is resolved by the end, but the pieces are in place for what promises to be a story of epic proportions.

From Publishers Weekly - Deepwood
At the start of Roberson's complex sequel to Karavans (2006), the mysterious sentient forest, Alisanos, which has moved for the first time in 40 years, surrounds series heroine Audrun, who has given premature birth to a daughter, Sarith. Rhuan, the demigod disguised as a karavan guide who tried to protect Audrun's family, continues to guard mother and child, calling upon his semidivine cousin, Brodhi, for grudging assistance. Other denizens of the deepwood offer aid to Audrun's four older children as Alisanos begins to transform them. In the human world, the karavan settlement has been destroyed by Alisanos's movement. Injured Ilona, the diviner, has lost her gift of reading hands. Jorda the karavan-master, Mikal the tavern-owner and Bethid, a courier, help the few survivors while furthering plans of rebellion against their cruel Hecari conquerors. Readers will be impatient to see what happens in the next volume

Monday, May 30, 2011

Thief of Lives

Written By: Barb & J.C. Hendee

Publisher: Penguin, ROC

Pages 410

This will be my forth book in Quest The First.

This is the second book in the Dhampir series. To read my first review click here :D

Magiere, Leesil, and Chap are happy in their home in Miiska. They're about to reopen the newly rebuilt Sea Lion and it seems that life will finally have some normalcy for the trio.

Since the burning of the main trade wherehouse the town is in dire straits, and its people have little to no money to live on. There are many who resent Magiere and her companions, although most realize the fire was a necessary sacrifice in order to rid their town of Noble Dead.

When a proposal comes to Magiere from the city of Bela that would earn her enough money to rebuild the wherehouse and save Miiska, she can not refuse....or can she? The offer would require Magiere to become the hunter again, and that transformation is something she simply can't come to terms with.

The way I see it: This book is written so that even if you hadn't read Dhampir, you would still understand what's going on. It delves further into Leesil and Magieres' relationship, which forces both of them to battle their individual demons. It also exposes many of the hidden secrets behind Chap, Leesils "Dog" and the infamous Welstiel, the noble who taught Magiere what she truly was in the first story.

The bad, the bad, and the ugly: A little too much background info from the first book IMO. Also in the first half of the book the Magiere/Leesil up/down, back/forth thing got a bit annoying. Lastly, the cover....In my mind, (and that's the one that counts right now...lol) these characters are a Lot better looking :D

Love it or Leave it: All in all...Gotta go with Love it. The initial annoyances worked themselves out. I also immensely enjoyed uncovering Chaps' story, as I find him to be highly entertaining :D

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Things I've Learned NOT to do, from Movies and Books.

This idea came to me as I was reading a post over at Pen and Paper...
"YOUR DINNER IS IN THE DOG" The post was about occurrences that commonly go on in movies and soaps that would't generally happen in everyday life.
The following was actually the beginnings of my response, until I realized that human nature would instinctually force us to look back at our pursuer to see if we were still in danger. It's only this, and other stereotypical movie scenes that compel us to change what has evolutionally been bread into us as a survival instinct.
If I've learned one thing from horror/thriller movies, It's...Don't....Look....Back!!! Every time someone's being chased through the dark, creepy woods by an ax murderer, (generally, a scantily clad young women...lol) they make good progress for a while, and then Boom!!!...they look back. Of course, once they do, they trip over the proverbial tree root and the ax murderer does what ax murderers do...lol

In reality, is anyone really walking through the dark, creepy woods??.....NO! They're Dark... and Creepy, and usually have preceding stories about all the people who have been murdered there before the current unfortunate tripper.

So, if at any point in the future I am being pursued by ax murderers, monsters, ghosts or any other form of baddy...I shall condition myself to keep my sights forward....and wear more clothing :D

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Covers That Make Me Say...Really??

I'm writing this post because there are sooo many book, magazine, video, and even game covers that truly make me say....Really?? So I've decided to share :D

In complete fairness, I'll also add information, and/or reviews on the current apple of my eye. For although their covers may be an enigma to me, that is not to say that they aren't amazing works.

This week...Kiss of Snow
Author: Nalini Singh

Hardcover: 432 pages

Publisher: Berkley Hardcover (May 31, 2011)

Release Date: May 31, 2011

I was searching for new Science Fiction & Fantasy books when I came across this cover. Well, to say the least it made me p...a...u...s...e...lol After I came back to reality I read the summary on a few different sites and, low and behold...It sounds like an interesting story...no for reals, the story sounds good!
I think my "Really?" moment occurred because the cover is a bit soft porny to me. It sounds like an entertaining read, and I'm sure it would hold it's own without such an "eye catching" cover. I'm not big on romance novels, but if you're a fan this could be a whole lot of fun.

If any of you have had "Really??" moments...I'd love to hear them :D

Goodreads Summary

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh's exhilarating world of shapeshifters and psychics is "paranormal romance at its best" (Publishers Weekly). Now comes the story of an alpha wolf named Hawke used to getting exactly what he wants--and of the only woman who dares tangle with him.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Blassreiter

Directed by: Ichiro Itano

Studio: Gonzo, Nitroplus

The series premiere: April 5, 2008 –September 27, 2008

Episodes: 24

This is my second Quest on Screen review.

Rules: Stories are not just limited to the printed page. Many entertaining, moving, profound or simply fun stories are told in the realm of television and film. To participate in this quest simply let us know about the films and/or television shows that you feel fit into the definitions of fantasy, fairy tales, folklore or mythology that you are enjoying during the challenge.

Demoniacs are creatures that were once human. They're able to merge their bodies with just about any technology. Cars, motor cycles...even computers. They use them as a means to purge human kind from the face of the earth, starting with Germany. Oh, did I mention they're an epidemic...yes. They're producing more of their kind through the people they come in contact at an alarming rate. And the worse part is...no one knows how. Their ultimate goal, (aside from wiping out the human race) is to find the ultimate demoniac called the Blassreiter.

That's where the XAT , (Xenogenesis Assault Team) comes in. They're an organisation that attempts to contain the demoniacs and ascertain how they're able to spread so rapidly. Little do they know, they're not the only organization out there who has an interest in the demoniacs.

The way I see it: There are demoniacs that use their power for good....and not so good to say the least. Some, who have come to this power by choice, and some whom it was forced upon. They also have different levels of consciousness, ranging from mindless drone to pathological, (yet delusional) genius.

This series has a Large cast of characters, centering around Joseph, who may, or may not be the hero of this tale. All of the characters' stories are introduced at some point in the series, (both human and demoniac) and...much like life...you gain a greater understanding of their actions in looking past the surface.

The bad, the bad, and the ugly: As I watched the first episode, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this series. It was mainly about a motorcycle race and I didn't feel like it had much depth. In anime however, I've learned that the first one, or even the first several episodes are very much like the cover of a book...it doesn't always do justice to the story inside. So I continued :D

Love it or Leave it: Overall, I'd have to give it a Love it. There were many instances when I wasn't sure who, (for lack of a better term) the "bad guys" were. It really kept me guessing and did it in a way that I wasn't annoyed...lol Also the character stories were integrated almost seamlessly. I enjoyed learning about their past, and the trials and tribulations that created them and were the catalyst for their actions.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The Outstretched Shadow- Obsidian Trilogy, Book One

Written by: Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory

Publisher: Tor

Pages: 711

This will be my third book for Quest The First.

Let me begin by saying that this is my second time around with The Obsidian Trilogy, but I've never reviewed it. I had the itch to read it again and thought it would be perfect for the OUaT Challenge :D

Kellen is the only son of the Arch-Mage of Armethalieh, The Golden City of the Bells. As such he is expected to set the standard in both mage craft and behavior. Kellen however, is sorely lacking in both areas, and continues to be a disappointment and an embarrassment to his father.

Living in a "perfect" Armethaliehn society is a challenge for Kellen, who is stifled by the complete control the mages have over every detail, from music and weather, to the very knowledge each citizen poseses.

While searching the lower market for clues of his city's past, he happens upon a set of books that will forever change the course of his life. Through them, he encounters creatures he believed to only exist in wondertale, and begins an adventure that will effect the fate of all.

The way I see it: This is a book about choices. You get the very strong idea that the future of every race is weighted heavily on each choice that Kellen, and his fellow characters make. You also get insights into his thought process and how he weighs the pros and cons of these decisions. It's a birds eye view of the mind set of a 17 year old who has never been very good at anything and is completely unsure of himself. As the story progresses Kellen finally starts to understand who he's meant to be, and what sacrifices he's willing to make for the good of his world.

The bad, the bad, and the ugly: After reading this for the second time, I still have the same opinion...you have to get through the first few chapters for the excitement to begin. There's no instant gratification, but once it starts, it doesn't end :D

Love it or Leave it: OMG!!! Love it! It is one of my very most favorite series and it's starting out just as good the second time around. I find myself laughing out loud at times, and Kellen is absolutely endearing. Not wanting to give anything away, I didn't delve into detail about the other characters, but I have to tell you... the supporting characters are just as amazing.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

OMW...Ghost Story

"On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming."

This looked like a very enjoyable meme indeed, so I thought I'd give it a go.

I originally spotted it through Serendipity's Blog. So Shout Out!!

Written by: Jim Butcher

Publisher: Roc

Pages: 432

Release Date: July 26, 2011

From JimButcher.com : When we last left the mighty wizard detective Harry Dresden, he wasn’t doing well. In fact, he had been murdered by an unknown assassin.

But being dead doesn’t stop him when his friends are in danger. Except now he has no body, and no magic to help him. And there are also several dark spirits roaming the Chicago shadows who owe Harry some payback of their own.

To save his friends — and his own soul — Harry will have to pull off the ultimate trick without any magic…

I CAN NOT WAIT!!!!

I have read all of the Dresden files and also the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher. Loved them all :D

Harry Dresden is one of my all time favorite characters. He's very...imperfect :D The Dresden Files are what I would describe as "easy reads" But that could just be because I enjoy them so much. Simplistic, funny, action packed, and a wee bit sarcastic...lol Just can't get enough!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

My Cinematic Alphabet

I saw this one over at Polychrome Interest and thought it might be fun :D
So here we go....
I thought I should preface this meme by saying that these are not the greatest movies of all time, with the best acting, special effects and movie scores. (Although some of them are, in my opinion :) These are movies that, If they're on...I'm watching them. They're also movies that, if they're not on...I put them on once in a while. In essence, I never get tired of seeing them :D

A is for Annie: Love the 1982 version with Carol Bernett and Albert Finney.