Release Date: 17/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Lila Black faces her greatest challange yet as she takes herself, her dead lover and the AI in her head into death's realm. The Quantum Gravity series, set in a world where our reality mixes with other dimensions that are the homes to Faeries, elementals and demons, is unique in modern SF - a series that is willing to incorporate legend, myth and magic while maintaining a rigorous approach to scientific and pyschological reality. And in Lila Black Justina Robson has created an enduringly strong yet quirkily human and flawed heroine.
REVIEW:
I originally fell in love with the characters within Justina's writing when I read the first title in the Quantum Gravity Series, Keeping it Real. Yet as the novels have progressed the characters have gotten more powerful and so it feels that now there’s almost nothing that can stop them. It’s a great shame as the vulnerability explored within the earlier titles feels that it’s been almost overridden in the later which has caused the series to lose a lot of its lustre for me. I’m not saying that the writing isn’t good, it is, the pace is decent, the overall arc interesting but without the characters having human emotional weaknesses then it really doesn’t give me much to grab hold of to keep me going.
All in, it was an interesting read but not one that makes me want to keep going and I’m starting to wonder if Lila and the gang have really had the day and should be allowed to pass into the night for someone new and refreshing to step forward.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
THE REDEMPTION opens in the world's most oppressive and isolated totalitarian state: Albania in the 1970s. A prisoner suspected of being an enemy agent is held by state security. An unsettling presence, he maintains an eerie silence though subjected to unimaginable torture. He escapes - and on the way to freedom, completes a mysterious mission. The prisoner is Dimiter, the American 'agent from hell'. The scene shifts to Jerusalem, focusing on Hadassah Hospital and a cast of unusual characters. All become enmeshed in a series of baffling, inexplicable deaths, until events explode in a surprising climax. Told with unrelenting pace, THE REDEMPTION's compelling, page-turning narrative is haunted by the search for faith and the truths of the human condition.
REVIEW:
Whilst I love books, I hate it when the book has a different title to the one to which it was originally published, this can confuse readers and if can confuse gift buyers as it wouldn’t appear on their list. Here, rereleased by Piatkus, is the book that was originally released by Tor entitled Dimiter, so if you’ve already read that please stop here. If not, it may surprise you to find out that the author of perhaps one of the most chilling horrors of all time has delved into the spy thriller genre.
As usual with Blatty, the characters are strong and believable, the prose striking as well as psychological and with an overall arc that blends mystery and magic with author slight of hand leaves this in no doubt as a thriller to haunt the reader. Add to the mix realistic human traits, some great dialogue and the ability to mystify as well as thrill and you know that it’s going to be a book that’s hard to put down. Great stuff.
Release Date: 10/07/10
SYNOPSIS:
New sci-fi vampire thriller by D. Scott Meek: In the near future, a new world order society mercilessly eradicates the last victims of the blood virus. Vampyres, constantly in fear of discovery and persecution, live and walk among humans as ordinary people with an extraordinary reality and a haunting past. A deal to save the last vampyres is struck, but intrigue, deception and betrayal ensure that while the sun will rise tomorrow, no one knows who will live to see it.
REVIEW:
Occasionally I come across a title from a small publisher that not only attracts my attention but really screams for it. Such is the case with this book by D Scott Meek as 24 charges headlong into Daybreakers to create this amalgam of Science Fiction and Urban Fantasy.
The characters within are fascinating and when packed with a descent cast alongside a story of cataclysmic proportions, you know that the plot is going to be something big.
Finally add a descent author voice, some reasonable prose alongside some cracking twists and it’s a book of definite interest.
Release Date: 14/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
As Becca struggles to contend with her overbearing father, two fierce rivals compete to win her heart. But Becca isn't the only high-school student having a hard time with boys; her friends are all desperate to find a date for the prom, and as the big night draws near, the rampant tension draws out the animals in everyone.
REVIEW:
With Vampires being all the rage, it was only a matter of time before a parody would hit the movie screens. What you get with this title is a film that checks into the Twilight saga whilst also adding a couple of pieces from other popular vampire series that felt like it was a bit flat as the snappy one liners really lacked bite alongside cast members who did their damnedest with an inferior script that should have been shoved in the grave long ago.
It did have the odd moment of possibilities however when you take a pop at a genre make sure you go the whole hog, and stake as many vampire franchises as possible rather than just the odd one. All in pretty shoddy and to be honest there were plenty of other parody titles that really should get your attention before embarking onto this title which sadly lived up to its name.
Release Date: 28/01/11
SYNOPSIS:
Readers learn step-by-step to create bodies, heads, limbs, wings and details, including flowing clothing and background elements. Beautiful final projects will inspire readers to push the limits of their imaginations. Step-by-step processes are the focus of the book from simple poses and views to more complex scenes. Sidebars feature tips, frequently asked questions, solutions to common mistakes, information about angels and more.
REVIEW:
Whilst I love the art titles released by Impact some of them feel like a little bit of a miss rather than a hit. Unfortunately that’s the case with this book which contains information previously released in a number of others from how to set up your work space to having the right materials and also techniques to make the most of the coloured pencil and Ink media. Whilst this isn’t a bad thing if you don’t own any other titles, when people collect a series and the same information just keeps getting repeated it can be a little disconcerting and a little disparaging for the end user. Personally I’d suggest one book that deals with the various mediums, the setting up of the workspace and various techniques for reference so that each individual title can concentrate on imparting the valuable lessons within jumping straight to the nitty-gritty.
I’m not saying that this book isn’t any good but against a number of others in the series it feels a little flat especially when the artwork doesn’t feel as rich or as luxurious as the ones that have gone before. Angels are supposed to be shining examples of the best traits and yet they feel ordinary and two dimensional especially when compared to some of the other titles art like:
Tim Flemming’s Draw and Paint Fantasy Women
Or
Finlay Cowan’s Drawing and Painting Fantasy Figures.
All in the book does contain valuable lessons, the artist is respected and the overall concepts are imparted well enough to help get the end user to a new level of expertise but for me, I just didn’t feel that this title did enough or taught me much other than lessons that I’d absorbed from a number of other Impact titles which was a great shame. If you own a number of them, this might not be the best one for you, if you don’t then this could be a good starting way to get a bit more from your talent.
Release Date: 02/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
The name 'Samurai' is synonymous with the ultimate warrior. With their elaborate armour, fierce swordsmanship and code of honour, the samurai have become iconic figures whose influence can still be felt today. From Kurosawa's epic Seven Samurai to the figure of Darth Vader in Star Wars , to Manga comics and video games, the figure of the fighting samurai still inspires us today. In John Man's new book, we discover the truth behind the legend. From his birth in the shadow of the great volcano Sakurajima, to his glorious death by ritual suicide and disembowelment, Saigo Takamori was the ultimate Samurai leader. His fall brought about the end of hundreds of years of Samurai tradition and in many ways marks the birth of modern Japan. Saigo was a man trapped by paradox: a faithful servant to the emperor, and yet a leader of rebel troops; a mighty Samurai warrior, and also a master of Chinese poetry. His life, and ultimately his death, offer a window into the hundreds of years of culture and tradition that defined the samurai.
REVIEW:
John Man is a factual author with a gift. He can take any subject matter, explore it thoroughly and present his research to the reader in such a way that they have very good recall in regard to the information even months later. You would not believe how many quiz questions John has helped me answer.
Here, in his latest book, is the chance to get to know and understand the warriors of Japan, the Samurai whose ideals, beliefs and honour system have been idealised by the books chief subject, Saigo Takamori. Beautifully detailed, this book is perhaps one of the most definitive titles by a western author and when backed by John’s literal voice to add life to the story you know it’s a book that will fascinate readers for a long time to come. Definitely a book that I’d recommend especially to authors who seek to get inside the mind of perhaps one of the most renowned warriors of all time.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
WHAT ELSE IS THERE WHEN LIFE HAS NO POINT? In a Britain on the edge of collapse, the lost teens have formed Cutter Circles, a terrible cult based on mutual suicide. For ex- Special Forces soldier Josh Cumberland, this is just the start of another descent into the very heart of darkness. Savage satire and incredible near-future thrills from the author of Edge.
REVIEW:
An unusual release under a pseudonym from Science Fiction author John Meaney. As you’d come to expect from this author the tale is carefully built with a level of believability that few can match. Add to this a great sense of style, a unique point of view as well as wonderful set of prose backed up with characters that the reader can hook into and you know that it’s a setting that will steer many a reader into a tale that they can love. When you also realise that this is a second novel in a series and its available to all readers, then you know that the author really has done something special.
We've done some tracking at Falcata Times and managed to locate the headquarters for the Supernatural Capital Tour who were only too pleased to let us know about thier speciality.
So here for your viewing pleasure is the current information according to thier beautifully designed brochure...
Supernatural Capital Tours is a recognised leader in London City sightseeing. Our hop-on, hop-off bus tours are operated on a fleet of new double-decker buses designed with top-deck-only seating to provide you with the best possible views of London’s magical attractions, supernatural neighbourhoods and places of paranormal interest. Supernatural Capital Tours provides the best paranormal attractions, including vampire theatrical shows, magical markets, and Charmed river cruises. SCT is an expert in Magical Tourism. Please preview some of the tours we provide below. SCT All Around Town Tour ~ Adults and ChildrenTour Includes: Hop on Hop off double-decker tickets valid for 48 hours from the time you purchase your Enchanted Boarding Ticket. Due to the inclusion of vampire premises on the tour, and in line with current Vampiric Licensing Legislation*, tours start one hour after Dawn and conclude two hours before Sunset.The SCT All Around Town Tour includes the following magical sightseeing stops: Trafalgar Square: Watch mischievous pixies as they attempt to animate the huge bronze lions (designed by Sir Edwin Landseer), that have guarded the base of Nelson’s Column since 1867. Warning: We advise all passengers to keep all mobile phones and children’s toys away from the pixies. Animated items cannot be un-animated by SCT employees, and SCT are not responsible for any damage to tour passengers’ belongings.Covent Garden: Shop at the world famous Witches’ Market, for customised spells, potions, crystals and magic. (Tour ticket entitles holder to 10% discount on all purchases at participating stalls.)Leicester Square: Visit the Blue Heart vampire club, the home of London’s Historic Calendar Vampires with its eclectic vampire-themed gift shop, and the opulent Fangs for the Memory ballroom which revamps the glamour of the early 20th Century with its daily afternoon tea dances. Green Park: Enjoy a picnic, or stroll amidst the peaceful verdant landscape, while keeping a sharp eye out for the park’s resident dryads as they step in, or out of their trees. Please note: This amazing sight cannot be guaranteed.The Coffin Club: Sucker Town’s newest vampire establishment is the only place where visitors can view vampires in their ‘Dead as the Day is Long’ state. The vampires enjoy their daytime rest in diamond etched glass coffins especially imported from Russia. Please note: A minimum of six vampires on display daily. For private parties please contact the Coffin Club’s day manager: Gareth Wilson. (Tour ticket entitles holder to 15% discount on DVDs in the Casket Gift shop)* Vampiric Licensing Legislation states children under 16 are not permitted to visit vampire premises between Sunset – 2 hours, and Dawn + 1 hour for their own protection.***SCT Sanguine Night Tour ~ Adults onlyEscorted bus Tour (not Hop-on Hop-off). All tours will be escorted by a minimum of three Beater goblins, and one Monitor goblin in accordance with current Vampiric Licensing Legislation, to ensure the well-being and continued free will of all tour passengers.Tir na n’Og (aka the Bloody Shamrock): One of the oldest Irish bars in London, and believed to be frequented by vampires for the last 250 years. Enjoy the craic, and listen to the bars ‘live’ band. Visits to the Upper Balcony for a private drink with the club’s vampires are limited and strictly by prior invitation only. (Tour ticket includes a complimentary pint of the ‘black stuff’ or a Jameson’s whiskey during your visit.)Blue Heart: Enjoy a namesake Blue Heart cocktail (non-alcoholic) in the Blue Artery Bar. Party the night away in the Starlight Lounge nightclub, or waltz around the dancefloor to the famous Gordon Rackman Orchestra in the Fangs for the Memory ballroom. There is an option for Getting Fanged by the Calendar Vamp of your choice. (Pre-booking required. Price not included in tour ticket. Waiver form must be signed and witnessed.)The Leech and Lettuce: Soak up the ambience and rub shoulders with the local vampires in this typical Sucker Town blood pub. Experience the thrill of Getting Fanged during your visit. Semi-secluded alcoves are provided for guest’s use, and are licensed for wrists or necks only. There are also more private rooms underground.Please note: the vampire bite experience at the Leech and Lettuce is included in the tour price. Should you decide to take up this option at any point during the tour, your guide will ask you to sign our standard ‘Get Fanged’ waiver, which will be witnessed by the tour’s Monitor goblin. SCT will not be held responsible for any passengers’ safety if they refuse to sign the waiver.This Feature has been sponsored by Spellcrackers.com. For more information please visit their website here where you can keep up to date with the latest information as well as the next instalment of the series which will be reviewed on Falcata Times next week. For your chance to win a copy of The Bitter Seed of Magic think of a name for the "Live" Band at the Bloody Shamrock and leave a comment with your suggestion as well as contact information or mail me at the usual address. This competition is open internatioanlly.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
The death of an unknown American in Stockholm, though tragic, should be an open-and-shut case, a simple suicide. But when Superintendent Lars Martin Johansson begins to delve beneath the layers of corruption, incompetence and violence currently strangling the Stockholm police department, he uncovers a complex web of treachery, politics and espionage. Johansson quickly realises that there is nothing routine about this little death as it quickly catapults him from mere domestic drama straight to the rotten heart of Sweden's government.
REVIEW:
One of the bright sides to getting European Crime Fiction is that they can tap into events that a lot of the English speaking world know very little about, even when its within living memory. What Leif has achieved in this novel is a fictionalised offering that looks at the assassination of Prime Minister Olof Palme back in 1986. It’s definitely got a huge number of points to give it some real clout and when backed with believable explanation’s as well as characters that you can associate with, makes this perhaps one of this year’s hottest Crime novels from Doubleday.
Finally mix that in with a solid understanding of the criminal mind backed up with a great sense of pace and this title is one that will thrill, chill and fascinate many a reader for years to come.
Release Date: 03/02/11
BOOK BLURB:
Across the Old World, the powers of Chaos seek to bring corruption and death, poisoning the minds of men and filling them with hatred and fury. Only the bravest dare stand against them - two Empire soldiers, marching into the cold wastes of Kislev to face the barbaric Northern hordes, where one will lose his soul to the Ruinous Powers. The high elf Gilead Lothain, who seeks to strike at the servants of the Dark Gods in a quest for vengeance that can never end. The ranks of the noble White Wolves, who stand to defend the majestic city of Middenheim until the last man, never backing down in the face of their enemies. Thunder and Steel is an epic collection of Dan Abnett's Warhammer fantasy, including the novels Riders of the Dead, Gilead's Blood and Hammers of Ulric, plus short stories and the full graphic novel of The Warhammer.
REVIEW:
Omnibus’ are all the rage and what could be finer from the Black Library than to bring together the finest Warhammer Fantasy standalone titles from Dan Abnett, writer and expert extraordinaire.
Within this title you get, Gilead’s Blood, Hammers of Ulric, Riders of the Dead, Swords of the Empire, Shyi-zar alongside Dan’s graphic novel story, The Warhammer. It’s a seriously big title, backed up with typical Abnett prose alongside bloody, gruelling battles tied up with misery, hardship and victory which makes this a real treat for fans of the Warhammer world. My only complaint is that I felt that the graphic novel part should have been darker in places in order to give the reader the full experience, instead it felt more like a washed out representation which was the only real let down of this piece.
All in, this is a real touch of magic to help kick off the new year and when backed up with a surprising price, makes this a real bargain.
Release Date: 03/02/11
BOOK BLURB:
An epic, richly inventive, historically sweeping, magical romance. When historian Diana Bishop opens an alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, it's an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordered life. Though Diana is a witch of impeccable lineage, the violent death of her parents while she was still a child convinced her that human fear is more potent than any witchcraft. Now Diana has unwittingly exposed herself to a world she's kept at bay for years; one of powerful witches, creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires. Sensing the significance of Diana's discovery, the creatures gather in Oxford, among them the enigmatic Matthew Clairmont, a vampire genticist. Diana is inexplicably drawn to Matthew and, in a shadowy world of half-truths and old enmities, ties herself to him without fully understanding the ancient line they are crossing. As they begin to unlock the secrets of the manuscript and their feelings for each other deepen, so the fragile balance of peace unravels...
REVIEW:
Debut novels always have their own magic as the reader has no expectations and thus can be either delighted, horrified or even shocked at either the skill of the author or the fact that they even managed to get the tale published alongside the deep routed fear as to whether it’s worth the punt on an unknown.
What unfurls within Deborah’s fictional debut is a tale of intrigue, of mystery and perhaps most of all, love. Add to this some magical creatures, a good helping of cracking dialogue finished with a whole heap of story arc that’s huge enough to leave many wondering which of the many thread’s that the author will pick up for the next title in the series.
It’s refreshing, it’s taking Urban Fantasy in a whole new direction with supernaturals becoming something new as a whole host of characters descends into the readers imagination. This is going to be a hard to beat debut this year, even though it’s only begun. But perhaps what will really get to the reader is the sheer talent within and with this being Deborah’s first release it’s easy to see what caused the bidding war as well as leaving the reader with sheer wonderment as to not only the authors scope but talent. If the second title continues on this track she will soon become a name to set standards by with the only advice we can give being: Get in early, beat any hype and be there from the first as Harness will be a name chanted up and down the UF isles.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Barrick Eddon, prince of Southmarch, is no longer entirely human. He has vowed to safeguard the legacy of the dark Qar race, and must now decide where his loyalties lie. His twin sister Briony has a difficult choice of her own. Her father, King Olin, is held captive by the Autarch, a mad god-king who plans to use Olin's blood to gain unlimited power. And the castle of Southmarch still remains in the possession of Hendon Tolly, Briony's murderous relative. As time runs out, will Briony decide to save her father's kingdom ...or her father? As the foretold Great Defeat draws near, history is stripped of its costume of lies. Poets and players, mortals and fairies, warriors and gods, all will have their roles to play as the fate of the known world hangs in the balance.
REVIEW:
Released within this title is the concluding part to Tad’s Shadowmarch chronicles that keeps the reader glued as twist after twist is thrown at them, so much so that they’ll soon forget what has come before and be just as surprised as more carefully hidden plot aspects are revealed.
Beautifully written, this conclusion has some great prose and when backed with characters that have continued to grow emotionally as well as physically you know that Tad really has grown over the years as an author. Overall it’s definitely a book that we loved as twist after twist thrilled, horrified and surprised so much so that time simply disappeared as the pages flew by. A real gem and one that we absolutely loved making 2011 a solidly great year to start.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
The clock is ticking for Sabina Kane. With her sister taken by mysterious captors, the Dark Races on the brink of war and a sinister order manipulating everyone behind the scenes, she's really got her work cut out. Using information provided by an unlikely ally, Sabina and her trusty sidekicks - the sexy mage Adam Lazarus and Giguhl, the Mischief demon - head to New Orleans to begin the hunt for her sister. Once there, they must contend with belligerent werewolves, magic-wielding vampires and, perhaps most frightening of all, humans. But before Sabina can save those she cares about, she's got to save herself from the ghosts of her former life. Because the past is haunting her. Literally.
REVIEW:
Having loved Jaye’s debut I was a little upset when the second novel didn’t quite hit the same peaks as the original especially when the author left the reader on a real cliff hanger of an ending. All is forgiven with this, the third adventure for Sabina Kane and along with the rest of Team Awesome. It’s beautifully written, the characters magical and above all else the emotional aspects and healings really make this a title to appreciate.
Add to this a great sense of pace, some seriously wicked dialogue and a demon that we can all love and it’s a title that will make many an urban fantasy reader whimper with pleasure. Finally add to this a certain humourous wound being repeated and at some point I think a certain Mischief demon will be bending over and using his back end for impressions which will not only make the reader laugh but hopefully continue to keep the reader chuckling during the darker moments. Seriously good fun for all.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Averland burns. An army of cultists rises in the corrupted city of Averheim. The Theogonist Volkmar marches towards the city in a race to snuff out the rebellion before it grows too widespread to defeat. Schwarzhelm races to return to the site of his recent battles, as does the spy Pieter Verstohlen, evading assassins while trying to discover the truth of the conspiracy that drew him away. But none of these holds the key. Out in the wilderness is Kurt Helborg, Grand Marshal of the Reiksguard. Only he has the indomitable strength of will to hold together the province in its hour of need. Only he can rally the terrified citizens of Averland to resist the infernal powers that beset them
REVIEW:
The second title in the Kurt Helborg series and just as complex as the original which demonstrates that the Black Library not only does great combat and bloody battlefields but also delves into the psychological long game that the Chaotic Powers are want to play in. Its definitely a great read and one that we had a lot of reading pleasure trying to figure out what was going to happen as the characters are played off against each other.
Overall a magic offering and one that we loved to the last page. Now all we need is the third part and we’ll be ready to roll. Chris really is setting the standard for the psychological games in the Fantasy world and one that really means he’ll have to be watched.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Brooke Reynolds died in a car crash. Tragic accident, the police say. But her father Don Hoffman knows otherwise. And he wants Joe Hunter to find the men responsible. Joe is not convinced -- until he is attacked by two troublemakers, and Don's other daughter is also threatened. Looks like more than coincidence. And sure enough, the entire family is soon under siege with only Joe to protect them. The ensuing blood bath is the beginning of a trail of death that leads right to the heart of a racist conspiracy. White supremacists want to hold the government to ransom; and they have got hold of a dirty bomb to add weight to their case. Joe is on countdown: can he stop the plotters before they reduce the free world to ashes?
REVIEW:
Our second adventure with Matt Hilton and just as different to keep the reader not just interested but glued. What really struck me, and the major thing that I love about this author, is the darkness of the principle characters which when teamed with the dark world in which he walks really makes you stand up and pay attention.
This title is beautifully written with cracking prose and pace makes this title one that could be one of our thriller choices or the year. If you’re going to try a new author in this genre this year, you really do have to try Hilton, with this, the fifth title out there, you know that you’re going to get a lot of reading time and pleasure and with a publisher guarantee that you’ll like this as much as Lee Child then it’s definitely a title that’s worth a punt.
Release Date: 19/08/10
SYNOPSIS:
Joe Hunter's devil is Luke Rickard, a killer who has stolen his identity and committed a vicious double murder. His motive? Revenge. His method? A blade. His mission? Kill anyone Hunter holds dear. It is a deadly duel of wits that takes Hunter from the streets of Miami to the squalid barrios of Colombia to the jungle hideaway of a drug baron. And brings him face to face with his past. Revenge is a dish best served cold and Joe needs a cool head if Rickard is not to cut and run. CUT AND RUN - the fourth high-octane adventure for Joe Hunter, the man whose mission is to rid the world of bad guys.
REVIEW:
OK, you love Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series, but it feels like such a long wait between books, so what are you going to do?
Well, worry no longer, we’ve just discovered Matt Hilton’s Joe Hunter series. Whilst we’ve dived in on Book 4, we didn’t start with the first title, we didn’t feel alienated, the character, which whilst darker than Reacher felt real and an anti- hero that many readers will really be able to get behind.
Add to this, an author who plays for keeps with a villain with matching skills and the game of cat and mouse that unravels within which when backed with great pace and delicious dialogue leaves the reader in no doubt that this series will be a thriller to enjoy by the seat of your pants.
Release Date: 24/01/11
SYNOPSIS:
When Max (Nick Stahl), who is recovering from a traumatic accident, takes a job as a nighttime security guard, he begins to see visions of a young mysterious woman in the store's mirror in Mirrors 2, the follow-up to 2008's Mirrors.
REVIEW:
If you were a fan of the original starring Kiefer Sutherland then this one might come as a bit of a shock as the only real similarity with this film is that it featured the use of mirrors by an entity and our principle hero is a Night-watchman. What you could say it had more in common with plot wise was films like Stir of Echoes and Phone and whilst taking the best elements of both, the screen writing really didn’t live up to what it could have been.
The plot outline was weak and some of the reasoning for vengeance against the few felt very grainy to say the least and whilst some form of retribution was demanded I would have felt some disfiguring would have been the extent as to what was required rather than full on murder torture.
Add to this that the cast performed fairly badly (possibly due to yet again poor script writing) and you were left feeling that no one really ever did anything but go through the motions leaving the Special Effects crew to pick up the shortfall with a decidedly small budget with some poorly shot angles that revealed some of the tricks.
All in this film felt sadly like a cash in on the more famous predecessor and as such proves the rule that usually sequels are inferior to the original. If you haven’t seen the original then do so and wait for this one to hit the £5 budget section.
With the release of Mirror’s 2, we thought that it would be rather cool to bring up some unusual superstitions and of course deaths. Thanks to our Lucy (one of our marketing friends) we have this information on tap so to kick things off before we go and kick the bucket (proverbially speaking of course) we thought that we’d start with some unusual superstitions:
Whilst death can be entertaining, as mentioned above, we also feel that some of the supernatural superstitions from around the world can be a little strange, as such some of the more unusual ones are presented here for you:
“A loaf of bread should never be turned upside down after a slice has been cut from it”.
We might be missing something assuming this, but surely unless you bake a perfectly cuboid shaped loaf you can’t turn a loaf of bread upside down?! Or maybe this means we shouldn’t turn the bread onto the bottom of the side that was cut? Needless to say this is all very confusing and there seems to be no particular outcome to turning bread upside down apart from the fact your toast might be a bit mouldy? – you figure it out!
“A Bird in the house is a sign of death”.
What for the bird or the person in the house? This idea sounds like it’s been manifested off the back of the 1963 Hitchcock film “Birds” and assumes that we all have some irrational fear the bird might peck out our eyes or something.
“It’s bad luck to leave a house through a different door than the one used to come into it.”
Aren’t you a little screwed if you don’t have a back door? Or live in a flat? They really didn’t think about the practicalities of this one did they?
“If you see a mongoose, drop everything that you are doing and follow the same path that it is taking as it will bring you good luck.”
In that case let’s a) hope you aren’t a funeral usher & b) hope you can run as fast as the Mongoose!
“If you lie down immediately after eating, you will become a cow.”
You won’t be surprised this is a superstition of Chinese origin and I guess there is some sort of metaphorical sense in this, you don’t do anything and you eat too much, you become a fat lazy cow, can’t see us lying down chewing the cud though.
Whilst this sort of information is interesting, we know what our readers enjoy and of course we’re only too pleased to present some of these deaths that are truly worthy of the Darwin Awards:
1. Death by toilet brush: Whoever told you the bathroom wasn’t a dangerous place is a big, fat liar. In 2005 Cindy Corton was left with a strange injury after a drunkard fall in a friend’s bathroom and it wasn’t until two years later that hospital staff found out what happened. Apparently when slipping over Cindy fell on a toilet brush handle which then embedded itself in her buttock. After convincing doctors something had gone wrong Cindy underwent a routine procedure to remove the handle but as it had been there for two years had to endure two more operations to try and remove it. After much riskier surgery in 2007 Mrs. Corton sadly died from a massive blood clot.
2. Death by Lava Lamp: Why or how this came to light in the first place we aren’t sure but Phillip Quinn, a 24 year old from Kent, Washington was killed in an attempt to heat a lava lamp bulb on his stove. The 24 year old, observing from just a few feet away was killed instantaneously by a shard of glass from the bulb which exploded when the heat built up pressure in the lamp.
3. Living in tropical countries has its perks but having wildlife at your door isn’t necessarily as magnificent as you might think, according to his servants, Surinder Singh Bajwa the Deputy Major of Delhi, India was warding off several Rhesus Macaque Monkeys at his home when he fell from a first floor balcony suffering severe head injuries. Surinder later died from his injuries.
4. Possibly one of the most bizarre deaths we’ve come across, Ronald McClagish died after being trapped inside a cupboard for a week. Attempting to free himself from the cupboard which trapped him, McClagish accidentally wrenched a water pipe from the wall, and the water gushing from the pipe eventually caused his death from bronchitis. His body was not discovered until two weeks later.
5. Last but not least Finnish actress Sirkka Sari died when she fell down a chimney. The actress was at a party celebrating the completion of her 3rd movie. Dancing into the night, Sirkka mistook a chimney for a balcony and fell down the chimney into a boiler dying instantly.
For more weird deaths visit:
The Darwin Awards
Or watch the TV Show:
1000 Ways to Die
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Meet Sarah and David. Sarah and David are like any other couple. They met, they fell in love, but now they're on the verge of divorce. On a routine trip to the marriage counsellor, they notice a few odd things -- the lack of cars on the road, the missing security guard, and the fact that their counsellor, Dr Kelly, is ripping out her previous client's throat. Meet the zombies.Now, Sarah and David are fighting for survival in the middle of the zombie apocalypse. But just because there are zombies, it doesn't mean your other problems go away. And if the zombies don't eat their brains, they might just kill each other.
REVIEW:
I love books that split from the norm (if there is such a thing) and this title is one that fans of Zombies and Urban Fantasy will just love. It’s a tale of love conquering all and how a good old zombie murder spree can save your marriage (not that we’re encouraging anyone to create the pathogen in order to start the plague themselves. LOL) Beautifully written, this title will have you laughing, admitting your faults and above all else allows you to live (through the characters) a life to which you’d only dreamed (or possibly nightmared) about. After all lets face it who hasn’t thought about rampaging through a mall ala Romero.
All in a great book and one that whilst short will keep the reader highly entertained from start to finish. Back that up with a couple that you can associate in one way or another which when backed with great prose and wonderful dialogue makes this an opener for a series that will soon attract many fans. Great stuff.
This is a public service announcement for all you bloodbags out there. You don't get zombies, okay? It gets really old, really fast seeing all the dumb myths you guys have about us. I mean, every zombie movie or video game shows us as stupid, shambling, really gross, and in these awful torn and filthy clothes. That might be okay for made-up stories, but it has nothing to do with the real-life zombies who live in Boston.You're not even supposed to call us “zombies.” The proper term is “previously deceased human,” or PDH for short. Personally, I don't mind the word zombie. I think it sounds, you know, kinda edgy. What's important is that you understand what real zombies are like. So I'm here to debunk the four biggest myths about zombies. I'll start with the myth, and then I'll show why it's a load of crap.1. MYTH: Zombies are mindless killing machines. You know what I mean. In the movies or whatever, the zombies just stagger around going, “Unnh, unnh. Braaaains.” And all they're interested in is killing and eating humans. Boooring. First of all, not only can I talk just like any norm, I'm writing my memoirs. How many horror-movie zombies even know how to use a laptop, huh? Second, I've got way better things to do than hunt down humans. I mean, if I had a choice between getting my nails done and killing some norm, I'd be at the nail salon. No contest.2. MYTH: Zombies have an insatiable appetite for brains. Please. If you tried to serve me brains, raw or cooked, I'd barf. I mean, wouldn't you? What makes the norms think that dying and coming back to life causes people to crave gray matter as a snack? That's just stupid. Zombies do have pretty big appetites, but we can eat whatever we want. The best part is I can eat anything and not gain an ounce. Hello, junk food! (Okay, there is that blood lust thing—zombies do get this craving for living flesh when they catch a whiff of human blood. But when that happens, they'll chow down on any body part. It doesn't have to be brains.)3. MYTH: Fire destroys zombies. Uh, no. I like the way Vicky (who's this really awesome shapeshifting demonslayer who used to let me be her apprentice) puts it in Hellforged: “A zombie could fall off a building, walk through a raging fire, be riddled with bullets, chug a gallon of drain cleaner, and then go out for pizza.” (Mmm, pizza.) Just get it into your heads, people: We're hard to kill. And we're really strong, too. So don't you think learning to live with us sounds like a good idea?4. MYTH: Zombies have no fashion sense. This one makes me sooooooooo mad. Norms just assume that once you've climbed out of the grave you lose all interest in your appearance. I mean, like, why would they even think that? Yes, reanimation makes us look different. Our skin is kinda spongy, with this gray-green color, and the parts of our eyes that used to be white are blood-red. But we can work with that. And I still love all the same kinds of cute clothes I did before the plague. Sure, you'll find some zombies who don't care about what they're wearing, but can you honestly say that every norm you know is some kind of fashionista? Didn't think so.I'm sure there are tons of other myths about zombies, but those are the four that bug me the most. The next time you're blasting zombies in a video game or cheering for some clueless norm to slaughter zombies in a movie, just remember that zombies are people, too.* * *To catch up with Tina keep an eye out for Deadtown by Nancy Holzner and the new release in the series: Hellforged which will be reviewed shortly.To get those juices sluising here's the synopsis:They call it Deadtown: the city’s quarantined section for its inhuman and undead residents. Most humans stay far from its borders — but Victory Vaughn, Boston’s only professional demon slayer, isn’t exactly human…After Vicky banished her demon nemesis to the fiery depths of Hell, she thought life would return to normal. But considering she has a werewolf lawyer boyfriend, a zombie apprentice who’s angling to become a pop star, and an eccentric vampire roommate, what is normal, anyway?Then the supposedly banished Hellion starts to trespass in Vicky’s dreams—just as several of Deadtown’s zombies are viciously attacked and become really dead. When Vicky realizes she’s the only connection between the victims, she suspects that the demon is somehow working through her dreams to become Deadtown’s living nightmare.What she doesn’t know is that her old enemy brings with it a force more terrifying—and deadly—than anything she’s battled before.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
'At first glance it could have been anything - a stone, a knotted root - until you looked more closely. Thrusting out of the wet earth, its bones visible through rags of flesh, was a decomposing hand...' It was eight years ago that they found the body buried on the moor. They were certain that this was one of psychotic rapist and multiple murderer Jerome Monk's teenage victims. Which left just two more bodies to find. But the ill-conceived search ended badly. And with Monk safely behind bars, the momentum faltered. For forensics expert David Hunter, and those others who were part of the recovery team, life moved on. And the dead were left undisturbed. Now, though, a nightmare scenario unfurls. Monk has escaped and seems to be targeting anyone involved in that original ill-fated operation. Lured back to the moors by a desperate call for help, Hunter begins to realise that neither the events unfolding now - nor those of eight years ago - are quite what they seem. And as the maniac's violent trail edges ever closer, the past is suddenly anything but dead and buried...
REVIEW:
I’ve been watching Simon Beckett since the release of his first book “The Chemistry of Death” and I have to say that as an author of anthropological pathology crime novels, he’s never steered me wrong yet.
The books are well written with twists and turns throughout and as such the reader definitely gets a crime novel to savour.
His principle character, David Hunter, is rounded with human flaws as well as positive traits which allow us to find things in common with him. Back that with a whole host of supporting cast members that are also fully defined and you know that the author’s population is just as good as the lead character making it a title that you just can’t put down. Finally add a well thought out plot which is also cunning and you know that Simon’s definitely an author to watch.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Her magic may be the only thing that can save a prince - and the Seven Kingdoms!
In a distant corner of the Seven Kingdoms, an ancient curse festers and grows, consuming everything in its path. Only one man can break it: Harkeld and Osgaard, a prince with mage's blood in his veins. But Prince Harkeld has a bounty on his head - and assassins at his heels. Innis is a gifted shapeshifter. Now she must do the forbidden: become a man. She must stand at Prince Harkeld's side as his armsman, protecting and deceiving him. But the deserts of Masse are more dangerous than the assassins hunting the prince. The curse has woken deadly creatures, and the magic Prince Harkeld loathes may be the only thing standing between him and death.
REVIEW:
Whilst there has been some authors that have made you sit up and take notice of the genre over the year’s they’ve sadly fallen foul of the trap where they can rely on their name to sell the title rather than keeping up with modern trends or readers tastes. Here is this title a new author Emily Gee, has brought this, her second novel (and first in a brand new series) to the fore and given the readers the type of tale that used to be associated with a descent Robin Hobb release.
What occurs within is a tale of redemption, of learning as well as discovering that some prejudices are created and completely unfounded. Its also a tale of love, of ambition and of course adventure as a quest is set for a few which carries a high price for a pyrrhic victory. Beautifully written, the characters within are evocative, have great personalities and when backed with a good sense of pace make this a title that will stay with the readers long after the final page is turned as you wonder what Emily will return with for the characters next outing which makes this a great release from Solaris.
Release Date: 26/10/10
SYNOPSIS:
Man and monster are in his blood. . .
His name is Jeremiah Fall. A soldier of fortune, he has been fighting his own war for 150 years--ever since the beast in him was born.
Desperate to restore his lost humanity, Fall crosses the sands of Egypt, discovers a lost city off the coast of France, and finally arrives at the birthplace of all mankind. Shunning daylight and feeding only when he must, he battles the monster who transformed him forever. He can share his deepest secret with no one . . . not even the beautiful woman he starts to love, the only human who grasps the mysteries of an ebony stone as old as creation itself.
Across the world, across time, Fall seeks the stone's secret. But has he found a cure for himself or unleashed a final curse on all mankind?
REVIEW:
All in, I revel in the unusual and that’s certainly what you get in this book by Stefan Petrucha as contained within is a story of love, of pursued redemption and above all else kick ass plot as vampiric Jeremiah Fall charges headlong into the night to find a cure for his condition. It’s definitely a title that will appeal to a niche market and whilst it won’t please everyone, the elements within have been quite inventive with a touch of the hat to Howard with the tales principle character who feels like a vampiric Solomon Kane.
Add to this some descent prose, an author with a good understanding of pace and also one who believes in a character driven story and it’s something that hits the spot for me as a reader. The only real downside is the supporting cast who feel more there to help direct the hero and more shadows that fully formed as they appear and disappear at the drop of the hat. That said, if you want a story that will take you the world over and one with an interesting lead hero then this could very well be the book for you.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Faced with an ork invasion of Piscina IV, the 3rd Company of the Dark Angels believes the threat to be minimal. As enemy numbers continue to increase, their commander, Captain Belial, insists that his Company are strong enough to resist. But Scout-Sergeant Naaman knows just how dangerous this foe can be, and when a renewed greenskin offensive takes the Dark Angels by surprise, the orks swarm towards Kadillus Harbour. Little do the Dark Angels know of the technological power available to the xenos, and the true scale of the threat they face. Belial, Naaman and their fellow Astartes fight a desperate siege at Kadillus, knowing that they must hold out until Imperial reinforcements arrive or the planet will be lost.
REVIEW:
Whilst I usually love pretty much anything that the Black Library releases where mankind struggles against the many enemies both external and internal, this title by Gav Thorpe felt a little flat against a lot of the other releases.
It is well written and there’s a lot of bloody combat which is backed with some serious warfare against the greenskin xenos but against a lot of the other titles within the Space Marine Battle sequences it felt a little bit samey without breaking any new ground. Likewise the title failed to benefit from various pace breaks which kept the excitement level set a full auto without allowing the readers chance to reload. A great shame all in as this series has been something special but unfortunately this title may well only appeal to Marine Commanders if not some of the Ladz Mobz.
Release Date: 17/02/11
