Release Date: 19/01/12
SYNOPSIS:
The cataclysmic conclusion to Koontz’s brilliant reworking of the classic tale.The war against humanity is raging. As the small town of Rainbow Falls, Montana, comes under siege, scattered survivors come together to weather the onslaught.Victor Frankenstein’s nihilistic plan is to remake the future: a future in which mankind will be annihilated. To accomplish this aim he has created nothing less than the shock troops of the Apocalypse.Now the alliance of the good must make their last, best stand and do battle against overwhelming odds. And Deucalion, Frankenstein's original and flawed attempt at replicating life, must finally confront his evil creator. In a climax that will shatter every expectation, the fate of humanity hangs in the balance…
REVIEW:
OK, you’ve been twiddling your fingers and thumbs, joined Boris and the Cryptkickers with Pans People as well as watching the dates slide by awaiting this, the final title in the Dean Koontz Frankenstein series. So what will you get for your money? Will it be worth the wait and perhaps most importantly will it give the reader the conclusion that they’ve been looking for in this modern take on the classic story?
What Dean presents as usual is well written, the cast continues to impress and perhaps best of all it’s a story that has an almost epic conclusive feel that the readers have been wanting since they first discovered this author’s series a while ago. It has great prose, the usual Koontz flair that will not only keep you occupied but engrossed and when mixed with the authors clever use of misdirection the reader is in for a treat.
Finally throw into the cauldron an epic battle of good versus evil and it’s a story that I really had a hard time putting down making this high voltage title a cracking end to a top series.
Release Date: 30/09/10
BOOK BLURB:
The second graphic novel adventure featuring Dean Koontz's hugely popular character, Odd Thomas. It's almost Halloween in Pico Mundo, and that means it's time for the annual Safe Halloween Party, hosted by Police Chief Porter. All seems perfectly normal -- until Odd catches sight of the ghost of a young girl who seems to be trying to join in the festivities. Odd's next clue that something threatens his peaceful town is the appearance of a swarm of bodachs -- supernatural beings who herald some deadly event. With the help of his girlfriend, Stormy, and some vital information from the ghost of Elvis Presley, will Odd be able to forestall disaster?
REVIEW:
An Odd title with an Odd lead character. Yep, that’s the characters name and whilst most people are aware of the Odd titles by Dean Koontz, a great many haven’t yet come across the graphic novel versions (of which this is the second) which are just as delightful. It’s definitely something quirky; it’s a title that I got a lot of fun from and it’s one that adds to the rich tapestry that Dean has woven within his writing. A seriously good piece of escapism that will please, as well as occupy the reader’s thoughts when away from its pages. Back that up with a Moreish attitude and you know that the previous novels won’t be far off a reread.
BOOK BLURB:
The third volume of the crusades trilogy from bestselling Swedish author Jan Guillou. Arn de Gotha has become one of the most feared warriors of the Knights Templar fighting to liberate Palestine with the Crusaders. At the great battle for Jerusalem, a mammoth and bloody struggle where the Christians were finally defeated, Arn is saved from certain death by Saladin, his longtime enemy and trusted friend. Ravaged by wounds and sickness, Arn is at last granted his wish: to return at last to his homeland, it plagued by endless wars. Arn is determined to find her - the woman for whom he was exiled. He must discover if their love could endure so long a separation, and if it can sustain his new quest: the create a new people, a new society, both Christian and Muslim, both craftsmen and warriors, with Arn at its helm, fighting for peace in a savage land. A fitting conclusion to a great trilogy, a bestseller all over Europe, and now the basis for a major film.
REVIEW:
Whilst Jan is becoming well known around the world for this series I’ve had a had time coming to terms with it. Not that its not got a great outline or plot but personally I’ve felt that he spends way too much time in the characters minds rather than concentrating upon the action and story arc within the novel.
This was the major problem with the first book for me, its been a bugbear into the second and its almost now unbearable in the third. However, if you can ignore this, the title is readable enough with well researched historical references alongside strong aristocratic background for the principle characters. Add to the mix reasonable combat sequences alongside some interesting character interaction and it’s an acceptable conclusion to the series. If you still have problems with it you may well be better waiting for the film.
BOOK BLURB:
The disturbing new thriller from the king of southern gothic. When he was a prosecuting attorney Penn Cage sent hardened killers to death row. But it is as mayor of his hometown - Natchez, Mississippi - that Penn will face his most dangerous threat. Urged by old friends to restore the town to its former glory, Penn has ridden into office on a tide of support for change. But in its quest for new jobs and fresh money, Natchez has turned to casino gambling. Five fantastical steamboats float on the river beside the old slave market like props from Gone With the Wind. But one boat isn't like the others. Rumour has it that the Magnolia Queen has found a way to pull the big players from Las Vegas. And with them comes an unquenchable taste for one thing: blood sport, and the dark vices that go with it. When a childhood friend of Penn's who brings him evidence of these crimes is brutally murdered, the full weight of Penn's failure to protect this city hits home. So begins his quest to find the men responsible. But it's a hunt he begins alone, for the local authorities have been corrupted by the money and power of his hidden enemy. With his family's life at stake, Penn realizes his only allies in his one-man war are those bound to him by blood or honour.
REVIEW:
If there’s one thing that can kill a novel after characterisation its pace. Whilst a great many authors out there seem to think that action, action, action is the way to go, an author who seeks to establish themselves knows that they have to have lulls to allow the reader to not only catch a breather but also to allow them to build up the crescendo for the next adrenaline fuelled sequence. That’s something that Greg Iles has done well in this novel. Not only does he keep it tight but for a novel of over 700 pages its something he does well. Add to this a principle character that you not only come to care about but one whose pain the reader can feel as the tale wends its merry way. It’s a great Thriller novel and one that clearly show’s an established background within the writing field. I’ll definitely seek out other novels by this author.
BOOK BLURB:
Don't confuse Vanora Bennett with Philippa Gregory. Granted, it wouldn't be a stretch to do so: Both are female British writers whose novels focus largely on the lives of English royalty in the 15th and 16th centuries. But not everything about their work runs parallel. While it seems that Gregory has pretty much cornered the market on writing about the Tudors, Bennett tends to write about the people just on the edge of history. Her latest book, Figures in Silk, is a fast read that effortlessly brings to life one of England's most tumultuous periods. Figures in Silk captures the uncertainty of a world in flux, a mood that many of its readers may share as their own world shifts around them. And yet those looking for escape will find this book offers a satisfying respite. Vanora Bennett's medieval England comes alive in ways a reader cab immediately related to, even while being transported away from the modern world. --Christian Science Monitor, March 2009
REVIEW:
When two authors write books close together set in the same time period you’ll always get comparisons between the two. In this case Vanora Bennett Vs Philippa Gregory in their own War of the Roses. As you’ve no doubt already read our review about Philippa’s novel we’ll waste no more time than to dive into our thoughts about Vanora’s novel.
Whilst the time period is interesting and there’s plenty of time to play with and speculate in regard to the fates of the populace from peasant to royal, there are certain things that you come to expect from a novel. For one thing time consistency rather than a bit of a hodge podge darting around with the events that in a strictly linear sense shouldn’t be malleable. Whilst Vanora really did do a lot of research in order to bring the novel to life, it’s the lackadaisical sense of the time period that she really did make some stunningly simple errors with which when you’re used to the best in historical fiction really shouldn’t have happened. Add to this a principle cast member who I just couldn’t get to grips with and didn’t gel with what I already knew from history alongside Philippa’s time period and you get a novel that left me feeling a tad dissatisfied. A great shame as its one of the great time periods of British History. Vanora is a talented author and its only her descriptiveness and attention to the minutae that made this novel worth reading to have the glaring error’s really shouldn’t have happened and with luck the characters within future novels will be more engaging for me as a reader.
BOOK BLURB:
Jurassic Park meets Lost in this electrifying new adventure thriller. When the cast and crew of reality TV show 'SeaLife' land on picturesque, unexplored Henders Island it's a ratings bonanza. But they're blissfully unaware that the decisions they make there will shape the fate of mankind ! if they can only survive. For they quickly discover that the island is seething with danger. Having evolved in total isolation from the rest of the planet for millennia, Henders is home to host of vicious and exotic predators, terrifying creatures who live in a lightning fast blur of kill or be killed. A team of crack scientists is sent in to assess the situation and they are astounded by what they find. It soon becomes clear that if even the smallest bug ever made it off Henders island, life on earth as we know it would change very quickly indeed. The President is faced with the toughest decision of his career: take the risk of letting one of these creatures escape so that further research can be done, or nuke the island to protect the rest of planet Earth? Just when it seems the stakes couldn't get any higher, the scientists make a surprise discovery that changes everything!
REVIEW:
With the death of Crichton there became a huge hole in a specific niche of the market, that of fiction based on real science principles. Research was the key word with Crichton and when this offering landed on my doorstep I was intrigued enough to pick it up and see where it ran to.
Within the book followed a Darwinian evolution theory that utilised an insectoid based life-form over that of the mammals along with how the restricted ecosystem adapted to the challenges presented by island life. Add to the mix science based upon differing species and it really did tick all the boxes for me as a reader. One thing I did wonder about whilst reading this novel however was a slight change to the way it progressed as I’d have liked the evolution of the higher insectoid “primate” to have had a different route such as the utilisation of humankind as each genetic code warred with the other as if the insectoid RNA were a parasite. It had potential to follow that route yet the authors own choice did work on a level to tie the whole tale up with a nice flowing style. Definitely an author to watch and one whose next book will move straight to the top of my reading pile.
Release Date: 19/01/12
