Review: A Vampire in Whitechapel

A Vampire in Whitechapel

Scarlet Blackwell

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: February 2011

Publisher: Untreed Reads

Pages: 9 (eBook)

Author Site: http://scarletblackwell.com/default.aspx

My Rating: 3.5/5

Source: Received for review from publisher

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

A bloodsucker discovers he's not the only monster stalking the streets of Victorian London, when his nightly search for sustenance brings him face-to-face with the city's most notorious butcher - Jack the Ripper. A short story from our Spectres horror line.

Review:

My only prior knowledge to Jack the Ripper is from the movie From Hell with Johnny Depp and Heather Graham. I enjoyed the movie but didn’t really do any additional research on Jack the Ripper. But from the events portrayed in the movie I got a distinct sense of how horrible and graphic the killings were. A Vampire in Whitechapel features Abel, a vampire currently roaming the streets of London. He may be a vampire but he doesn’t kill unnecessarily. One night he comes across the gruesome scene of a murder victim. There’s a killer loose and murdering women in the most despicable way.

Abel finds himself questioning his own morals and actions in the face of such monstrous actions. While he is somewhat compassionate for the people of London he doesn’t know if he should interfere with the serial killer or not. He may be somewhat of a monster himself but he certainly frowns upon what Jack the Ripper is doing. In a chilling face-to-face confrontation with Jack, Abel looks into the eyes of a killer and sees what evil really looks like.

A Vampire in Whitechapel is one of the reasons I don’t enjoy short stories. However, this story was especially short, coming in at 9 pages. It wasn’t a bad story at all. I enjoyed Abel and his internal conflicts. I enjoyed the dirty and dark atmosphere that Scarlet was able to capture in her words. I just wanted more… Abel is a really great character and the entire story could have been fleshed out into a full blown novel in my opinion. Other than my personal problem with short stories,  A Vampire in Whitechapel was a quick (very quick) read that was enjoyable and engaging. I think any fan of Victorian London and Jack the Ripper will like it.

P.S. (cover talk)

It’s not dramatic or sharply done but I think it goes with the story pretty well. It has a bone-chilling type quality although the quality of work isn’t that ideal.

Waiting on Wednesday [80] - Witch Song

from goodreads.com:

The world is changing.

For thousands of years, witch song has controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons. But not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by the dark Witch, Espen.

As the last echoes of witch song fade, Espen grows stronger as winter and summer come within the space of a day. Now she’s coming for the one she missed—a shy, untrained girl of fifteen named Brusenna.

Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find Espen. Fight her. Defeat her.

Or there won’t be anything left to save.

Reason: Not many witch books under my reading belt yet and this one sounds pretty good.

Cover Discussion: Stunning...from the colors to the fine details, I love it!

Expected Release Date: September 1st

Teaser Tuesday [64] - The Mountains Bow Down

Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:




-Grab your current read
-Let the book fall open to a random page.
-Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12
-You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given.
-Please avoid spoilers!

 

I pulled the covers up tight and listened to the ship sliding through the Inside Passage. The ocean brushed against the side, whooshing and splashing, and once again I thought of Judy Carpenter.

I wondered if she was completely dead when she was hung there, or if her last moments were spent listening to this cold brush of sound, the silver splash of ocean as it escorted her to an end of days. (91)

**Find out more about Teaser Tuesday at http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/. Join in the fun!**

Review: Tyger Tyger

Tyger Tyger

Kersten Hamilton

Series or Stand Alone: Goblin Wars series, book one

Release Date: November 2010

Publisher: Clarion Books

Pages: 322 (Hardcover)

Author Site: http://home.comcast.net/~kerstenhamilton/

My Rating: 4.25/5

Source: NetGalley

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Teagan Wylltson' best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.

Review:

Teagan has a plan set out for her future that is pretty straight forward. No boys or relationship issues until she gets her scholarship – or better yet until after she graduates. No boys = no worries. She has an excellent job working with animals that she loves and she’s entirely focused! Her best friend Abby is a little worried though. She’s been having some pretty crazy and scary dreams featuring Tea and some terrifying creatures. But Abby isn’t always the sanest person around so Tea isn’t too worried about Abby’s goblins.

But when Finn Mac Cumhaill shows up, Tea’s life gets totally turned around. Not only is there sparks and sizzles flying between her and Finn but he starts talking about goblins too. So even though he’s really good-looking and is electric to be around, Finn has to be nuts! But Tea’s mind starts to change as an entire new world is introduced to her and her family that will take her on a frightening and shocking ride.

I thought Tyger Tyger was a pretty amazing read. It was full of Irish myths and creatures (i.e. goblins, sprites, Sidhe) that I haven’t really read much about yet. I loved how unique the story was and the characters really stood out. I really liked Aiden. He’s young and very different from “normal” younger brother type characters. He grows and matures a lot throughout the book and yet still keeps a strong hold of his innocent side. Teagan is very independent and fierce when she needs to be. Yet she has a vulnerable side that finally cracks towards the end of the story that really helped me connect with her.

I had a few issues with Abby though… Although she’s a very funny and quirky character I felt she was very under-developed. I admit she was only semi-important to the plot of the story but her personality was lacking a bit and her dreams about Teagan were barely mentioned. I honestly felt a little lost and confused at parts. Sometimes the story jumped from one moment to the next without suitable transitions and I had to take a moment to re-orient myself. The lost moments weren’t very frequent or drastic but they were enough to annoy me, especially at the beginning. The copy I read was from Netgalley so I don’t know if the confusing issues were due to an advanced reader copy thing.

Those few minor issues aside, I really liked what Tyger Tyger did. Hamilton is a great story-teller and I am truly looking forward to reading the next installment in The Goblin Wars series. I look forward to seeing what’s in store for the characters and reading more about the wonderful and scary world of Mag Mell. Tyger Tyger had a lot of action, unique and original characters, great world-building and an excellent ending that had me wanting more!

P.S. (cover talk)

I think it goes with the story very nicely. It’s dark and creepy but still has an alluring quality.

Friday Finds [52]

I usually add a lot of books on my TBR list throughout the week. This is just a small glimpse into the ones that were added on recently. Maybe you'll find something you like =)

Please let me know your thoughts on a book you've read from the list. Or tell me about a good book you've found this week.

My Finds This Week:

29 :: Adena Halpern

Heartless :: Jaimey Grant

A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend :: Emily Horner

Happy Snak :: Nicole Kimberling

Entwined :: Heather Dixon

Shades of Milk and Honey :: Mary Robinette Kowal

Past  Midnight :: Mara Purnhagen

Omnitopia Dawn :: Diane Duane

A Suitable Boy :: Vikram Seth

Nightshade :: Michelle Rowen

Steel :: Carrie Vaughn

The Demon Trapper's Daughter :: Jana Oliver

Indivisible Winners

Congrats to

Mumina

&

Ammy Belle from  The Book Fort

You have until the end of Sunday, March 27th to respond to my email or I'll have to choose another winner. Thank you so much to everyone who entered!

Waiting on Wednesday [79] - Flashback

from goodreads.com:

The United States is near total collapse. But 87% of the population doesn't care: they're addicted to flashback, a drug that allows its users to re-experience the best moments of their lives. After ex-detective Nick Bottom's wife died in a car accident, he went under the flash to be with her; he's lost his job, his teenage son, and his livelihood as a result.

Nick may be a lost soul but he's still a good cop, so he is hired to investigate the murder of a top governmental advisor's son. This flashback-addict becomes the one man who may be able to change the course of an entire nation turning away from the future to live in the past.

A provocative novel set in a future that seems scarily possible, FLASHBACK proves why Dan Simmons is one of our most exciting and versatile writers.

Reason: I haven't read a novel by Dan Simmons yet but I've heard he's a really great writer. Flashback sounds really good, plain and simple. I want it and I shall have it!

Cover Discussion: It's vibrant and scary. I think it sets the mood of the novel nicely. It definitely makes me want to get it or at least pick it up to see what it's about.

Expected Release Date: July 1st

Teaser Tuesday [63] - The Queen's Rival

Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:



-Grab your current read
-Let the book fall open to a random page.
-Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12
-You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given.
-Please avoid spoilers!

 

It was like watching something slip down an infinite hill, gaining more momentum as it rolled away, and having no power at all to stop it. Yes, watching her with the king felt exactly like that, Gil thought sadly. (176)

**Find out more about Teaser Tuesday at http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/. Join in the fun!**

Review: Dreadfully Ever After

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After

Steve Hockensmith

Series or Stand Alone: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies trilogy, book three

Release Date: March 2011

Publisher: Quirk Classics

Pages: 320

Author Site: http://www.stevehockensmith.com/

My Rating: 3.75/5

Source: Received for review from publisher

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and its prequel, Dawn of the Dreadfuls, were both New York Times best sellers, with a combined 1.3 million copies in print. Now the PPZ trilogy comes to a thrilling conclusion with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After.

The story opens with our newly married protagonists, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, defending their village from an army of flesh-eating “unmentionables.” But the honeymoon has barely begun when poor Mr. Darcy is nipped by a rampaging dreadful. Elizabeth knows the proper course of action is to promptly behead her husband (and then burn the corpse, just to be safe). But when she learns of a miracle antidote under development in London, she realizes there may be one last chance to save her true love—and for everyone to live happily ever after.

Review:

Dreadfully Ever After picks up four years after Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam get married. But their happily-ever-after gets cut short when Darcy gets bit by a dreadful. Although Elizabeth should be thinking of beheading and ultimately burning her true love, she finds out about a antidote that’s currently being worked on in London. Under the guidance of her nemesis, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Elizabeth heads to London under a false identity to save her husband’s life. The rest of the Bennett family gets dragged along for the ride as they set out find the cure.

What I liked most about the book was that Kitty and Mary got a lot of “air-time”. I still haven’t read the original Pride and Prejudice so I don’t know how true the PPZ trilogy has stayed to their original personalities but I’ve come to really like the two sisters. Kitty is somewhat silly and childlike but she certainly develops some brains and a backbone this time around. Mary is very independent and somewhat stubborn. I loved the fact that they got a certain kind of “happily-ever-after” for themselves that I won’t ruin for anybody.

Elizabeth was definitely a background character this time around. I missed her warrior-like spirit. I missed her fierce personality. Of course, it’s not proper for a married woman to be fighting off dreadfuls or carrying weapons of any kind. Darcy on the other-hand showed some attributes that made me see him in a different light. Although I started liking him at the end of PPZ I found him vulnerable and a lot more personable after being bitten. It’s crazy what a zombie-bite will do to you! Speaking of crazy…Darcy’s cousin Anne has a surprise or two up her sleeve for everybody, including her overbearing, psycho mother. Anne’s “coming out of her shell” is definitely enough for one to read the book. It makes the ending all that more exciting!

So overall, Dreadfully Ever After was a pretty satisfying conclusion to a crazy, zombie-filled romp through a classic novel. There were some slow times I had to trudge through but the ending certainly made up for it in my opinion. And although I enjoyed Hockensmith’s prequel a lot more than the conclusion, it’s still a great read for PPZ lovers! And to be honest I really love Quirk and the crazy things they come up with. I’m looking forward to future projects they’ll be dishing out for us.

P.S. (cover talk)

Not a big fan. The cover makes sense but I’m just not really digging it.

Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Winner

Congrats to

Melissa S. from My Chaotic Ramblings

(claimed =D)

You have until the end of Wenesday, March 23rd to respond to my email or I'll have to choose another winner. Thank you so much to everyone who entered!

Daily Dose [6]

Hosted by : Good Golly Miss Holly

**check it out!**

source

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Book Arrivals

Won/Miscellaneous:

• Damaged :: Pamela Callow (Kate Lange series, book one)(June 2010 - Mira)
  *from Paperbackswap
• Skipping a Beat :: Sarah Pekkanen(February 2011 - Washington Square Press)
  *won from Bermudaonion's Weblog
• A Witch and Angel Tale :: Ramona Wray(February 2011 - CreateSpace)
  *won from What's Your Story?

For Review:

• The Queen's Rival :: Diane Haeger (In the Court of Henry VII series, book three)(March 2011 - New America Library)
• The Mountains Bow Down :: Sibella Giorello (Raleigh Harmon Mystery series, book four)(March 2011 - Thomas Nelson)

Giveaway: Madame Tussaud

Want to win my Uncorrected Proof of Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran?

 Simply fill out this form!

Giveaway ends April 1st.

US Entrants Only.

Good Luck!

Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop!

I have three ARC's up for grabs for one lucky winner. I recently read and reviewed all of them and was surprised at how much I really enjoyed them!

To enter simply fill out this form!

Giveaway ends March 20th.

US Entrants Only.

Good Luck!!

After you're done here be sure to hop to one of the many giveaways below!

Waiting on Wednesday [78] - The Girl in the Steel Corset

from goodreads.com:

She thought there was something wrong with her. She was right.
Finley Jayne has known for quite some time that she isn’t ‘normal,’ but when she beats up the son of her employer and is forced to flee, she stumbles into a world where there are bigger freaks than her. They take her in, treat her like family and demand her trust. How can Finley trust them when she can’t trust herself? And why is she drawn to the powerful Griffin as well as the dangerous Jack? She has to get herself under control before she gets into trouble she can’t get out of.

Griffin King is one of the most powerful men in Britain but he couldn’t save his best friend from almost dying. He is determined to save Finley and help her become the person he knows she can be, but there’s evil afoot in London. Machines have attacked humans under the orders of a nefarious criminal called The Machinist. He has sworn to protect his country against such a threat, but he’s never faced any foe like this. However, when he discovers The Machinist’s connection to his past, Griffin vows to end the villain once and for all — but he’ll need the help of all his friends, including the beautiful Finley Jayne – the girl in the steel corset.

Reason: I haven't read any steampunk-ish books yet. So I'm looking forward to that unique part of the story. I also like the love-triangle suggestion. Weird thing that the other love-interest, Jack, got no air-time in the synopsis...I'm definitely intrigued.

Cover Discussion: What a dress! I love that you can see the "steel corset" as well. I like the touch of the props with the jewelry as well. Nice cover!

Expected Release Date: May 24th