HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: Empire 7: The Emperor's Knives - Anthony Riches

Release Date:13/02/14
Publisher: Hodder

SYNOPSIS:

The seventh novel in Anthony Riches' acclaimed Empire sequence brings Marcus Aquila back to Rome, hunting the men who destroyed his family. But the revenge he craves may cost him and those around him dearly. The young centurion's urge to exact his own brutal justice upon the shadowy cabal of assassins who butchered his family means that he must face them on their own ground, risking his own death at their hands. A senator, a gang boss, a praetorian officer and, deadliest of all, champion gladiator Mortiferum - the Death Bringer - lie in wait. The knives are unsheathed, and ready for blood ...


REVIEW:

The latest outing for Centurion Marius “Two Knives” Corvus who in his quest for vengeance has travelled to Rome. As with Anthony’s other books the tale is full of high octane action, has some magnificent twists and when added to a comraderie that gives the reader a bond with not only the principle player but the unit around him all round generates a book that is not only hard to put down but nigh impossible.

Back this up with some great dialogue, some cracking turns of phrase and of course an authorly style that really works well always moves Anthony to the top of my reading pile. Finally I’d like to add that if you’re a fantasy reader and love David Gemmell’s work, then try Anthony Riches Historical Fiction, it not only has notes of David throughout but also in the latest title has something that you’ll more than appreciate. Great stuff.

FANTASY REVIEW: A Different Kingdom - Paul Kearney

Release Date: 13/02/14
Publisher:  Solaris

SYNOPSIS:

A different kingdom of wolves, woods and stranger, darker, creatures lies in wait for Michael Fay in the woods at the bottom of his family's farm. Michael Fay is a normal boy, living with his grandparents on their family farm in rural Ireland. In the woods there are wolves; and other things, dangerous things. He doesn t tell his family, not even his Aunt Rose, his closest friend. And then, as Michael wanders through the trees, he finds himself in the Other Place. There are strange people, and monsters, and a girl called Cat. When the wolves follow him from the Other Place to his family s doorstep, Michael must choose between locking the doors and looking away or following Cat on an adventure that may take an entire lifetime in the Other Place. This is Paul Kearney s masterpiece.


REVIEW:

As a fan of Fantasy, Paul Kearney has always been a name that I’ve come to trust. I love his writing style, the way he brings the action to life along with the character interaction on a personal level. As such this means for me, that I get a great combo of solid character building alongside cracking sequences that bring the full rush of adrenaline as, within your imagination, you’re there fighting with the heroes of the tale.

Whilst this book is a little different (with it being set in our own world for part of it), it still plays to Paul’s strengths throughout gently easing the reader into a fantasy world that will stay with them long after the final page is turned. Add to this cracking prose, some top notch sequences and of course dialogue that works well all round gives me a book that was a pure joy to spend time with. Great stuff.

CRIME THRILLER REVIEW: The Darkening Hour - Penny Hancock

Release Date: 30/01/14
Publisher:  Simon and Schuster

SYNOPSIS:

Meet Theodora And Mona Two women, from completely different walks of life, forced by circumstances to live together under one roof. Both women are at their wits' end, scared of losing the one thing that's most precious to them. So when tensions boil over, who will go to the most extreme lengths to survive? Will it be Theodora, finally breaking under the pressure? Or Mona, desperate to find a way out? In a tale of modern day slavery and paranoia, two women tell their sides of the story. Who do you trust?


REVIEW:

A book that was not only my usual type of reading but completely outside my comfort zone and whilst this is an unusual type of read for me, it was one I was more than happy I took the time to read as Penny brings a darkly uncomfortable time when the gaps between rich and poor were at their largest with the downtrodden struggling to make ends meet.

It’s a book that relys heavily on the characterisation and the believability of them and whilst it isn’t a huge cast, its intimacy is one that works so much better for this type of story. Add to this some rather stark reality checks for the reader as well as the characters learning to live with their latest life choices and all round it was a title that really hit home hard.

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: Pandorax 1: Fortune's Pawn - Rachel Bach

Release Date: 06/02/14
Publisher:  Orbit

SYNOPSIS:

Fans of Firefly and Elizabeth Moon will lap up this action-packed military science fiction series. Welcome to the start of a thrilling new space adventure, starring female mercenary Deviana Morris ...Deviana Morris isn't your average mercenary. She has plans. Big ones. And a ton of ambition. One of those is going to get her killed one day - but not just yet. Not when she just got a job on a tiny trade ship with a nasty reputation for surprises. The Glorious Fool isn't misnamed: it likes to get into trouble. And with a reputation for bad luck that makes one year as security detail on this ship equal to five years everywhere else - Devi knows she's found the perfect way to get the jump on the next part of her Plan. But the Fool doesn't give up its secrets without a fight, and one year might be more than even Devi can handle.


REVIEW:

The first book in a cracking science fiction adventure and one that worked wonderfully for me as a mismatched crew struggle against impossible odds in a battle that only the select few know about. It has some cracking combat, some top notch prose and with an added love angle works delightfully well for me on so many levels.

Add to this a female lead character that feels like a futuristic knight (with modern weaponry) all round had me wanting more and whilst I’m not sure what will occur in the future, its definitely an epic in the making. Magic.

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Falcata Times answers some Elder Scrolls Online Queries - Bethesda

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,
Lady Eleanor and I have been doing some digging and research into the Elder Scrolls Online and thanks to our friends at Bethesda we hopefully will be able to answer a large number of the questions that we’ve had from our readers.

Firstly we know a lot of people have been concerned about the Alliance problem, which breaks down as the following:

Aldermeri Dominion:
Altmer: The High Elves, or Altmer, arrived in Tamriel thousands of years ago from Old Aldmeris. They see themselves as the ruling race of Tamriel. They are a highly cultured people, known for their breathtaking architecture and massive libraries of histories and creative works. They tend to be isolationists, largely remaining on Summerset Isle, and only emerging when they perceive a great threat to their homeland. They are powerful mages and warriors, and the de facto leaders of the Aldmeri Dominion.

Bosmer: The Wood Elves, or Bosmer, are mischievous, curious and nimble. Because their homeland of Valenwood is often attacked by the Colovian Imperials, Wood Elves are experts at the art of defense. They are also gifted archers, perhaps the best in all of Tamriel.

Khajilt: The population of the proud feline Khajiit has dwindled in recent years following a devastating outbreak of Knahaten Flu. They owe a great debt to Ayrenn, Queen of the High Elves, for her help in restoring order from the chaos that followed the plague. They have a wry wit and a hedonistic outlook, but they are fearsome on the field of battle. They are the strong arm of the Aldmeri Dominion.

Daggerfall Covenant:
Breton: Now dominant race of the Daggerfall Covenant, they were once ruled by High Elven overlords. A reminder of those days is the Mer blood that still runs through their veins. This makes Bretons gifted mages, surpassing the ability of any other race of Men. Described as talented and resourceful, sometimes arrogant, Bretons are known as skilled craftsmen, shrewd merchants and inventive mages. They value prosperity over glory

Redguard: Living deep within and around the Alik'r desert, Redguards are renowned warriors, both athletic and prodigiously talented. They value honor and dignity above all else; their sacred purpose is to preserve their ancient traditions and prove their strength and prowess, surviving in the harsh environment. Mages are highly distrusted in their society. The capital of the Redguards was the great city of Sentinel.

Orcs: Orcs are fearless warriors, who follow a code of honor, forged in centuries of endless warfare. The quality of Orcish blacksmithry is known throughout Tamriel.[OOG 1]

During the Second Era, when their homeland, Orsinium, was finally given provincial status, they had to prove themselves to be more than mere beasts. And the Orcs did so by devoting themselves to the freshly forged alliance.

Ebonheart Pact:
Nords: The leading race of The Ebonheart Pact. They were known as the great conquerors. Nords once broke the power of the Ayleids, nearly drove the Altmer out of High Rock and ruled much of Morrowind before the arrival of the Dunmer. They believe themselves to be the destined rulers of Tamriel. Nords are amongst the fiercest warriors on the continent, facing their enemies with unmatched ferocity and courage.

Dunmer: Known for their application of diplomacy, subterfuge and strategic ability. The Dunmer have had a long history of defending against provincial invasions. This had made them a very paranoid collective, and their culture learned to embrace this mind-set. The Dunmer are led by the living gods of the Tribunal.

Argonians: Famous for employing guerrilla warfare, Argonians had suffered years of slavery at the hands of the Dunmer. This experience made them skilled in defending their borders from much larger forces. Argonians served as the scouts and skirmishers of the Pact


Now as you can see being part of a faction is a matter of course for this title. Yet lets be honest here, we all have our favourites that we want to play and of course when you play online you want to be with your friends, yet what can you do if you want to be a Khajilt (as in my case) and your friend, for me, Lady Eleanor, wants to play a Nord? Well if we were to just sign up, we’d be separated over the battlefields on the PVP, so what do you do. Well if you pre-order the game on your machine of choice, you get the wonderful Explorer Pack as a bonus.

This does the following for you:
PLAY ANY RACE IN ANY ALLIANCE: So yeah, I can join up with Lady Eleanor’s Ebonheart Pact or she can join me in the Aldermeri Dominion or we could both sign up for the Daggerfall Convenant if we had other friends we wanted to play with or agreed with their policies. So that’s a win win and definitely worth pre-ordering for as far as we’re concerned.

SCUTTLER VANITY PET:  We just love this item, after all, who wouldn't want one of these little guys following them round.  LOL

BONUS TREASURE MAPS


Secondly another concern for many of our readers is that they don’t want all the items in the Imperial Pack such as the Molag Bal statue or even the physical book or Map but they do want the digital extra’s that are:

PLAY AS AN IMPERIAL: Play as an Imperial and play in any Alliance. Gain unique bonuses, crafting styles, gear and more!

IMPERIAL WHITE HORSE: Summon this exclusive Imperial mount and journey through Tamriel with increased speed.

RINGS OF MARA: Complete the Ritual of Mara with a friend and receive anexperience bonus when you play together.

And finally the fun of a Vanity Mudcrab Pet, which in my mind says never go hungry again.  LOL


So what do you do? Well rather than pay out the Retail Imperial Pack, you buy the Digital Imperial Pack. A saving of £20. Coming in at £69.99. Whilst this is only available on the PC/Mac Versions at the moment, they are planning the same for the PS4 and Xbox One but currently retailers aren’t listing them in the UK.


OK, so hopefully this has helped but we do urge readers to remember that this is an MMO. They do have a Monthly Running Cost of £8.99 and whilst the first month is free with the game purchase, subsequent months will incur the charge so please remember that if you’re purchasing it as a gift that you’ll have to make sure that they’re aware of it.

Anyway, hope this helps and if you have any more Elder Scrolls Online queries please feel free to ask and we’ll do our best to answer,


Gareth and Lady Eleanor

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Jagex Transformers Unvierse Beta Testing Open - Jagex

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,

Our friends at Jagex Game Studio have thrown down the gauntlet and have told us to choose a side for their Massive Online Tactical Action game (MOTA) Transformers Universe.  Asking us to not only be either an Autobot or Decepticon but to also let our readers know that the game is up for Beta Testing (which you can sign up for it here.)

In addition to this they’ve released a trailer to whet your appetites:

For more information visit their website and remember Transformers Universe launches in June.

Let the Oil and Energon flow,

Gareth and Lady Eleanor

THRILLER REVIEW: The Templar Prophecy - Mario Reading

Release Date: 06/02/14
Publisher:  Corvus

SYNOPSIS:

The definitive collection of folk music - one of the great English popular art forms. One of the great English popular art forms, the folk song can be painful, satirical, erotic, dramatic, rueful or funny. This magical new collection brings together all the classic folk songs as well as many lesser-known discoveries, complete with music and annotations on their original sources and meaning. Published in cooperation with the English Folk Dance and Song Society, it is a worthy successor to Ralph Vaughan Williams and A. L. Lloyd's original Penguin Book of English Folk Songs.


REVIEW:

As a reader of Thrillers, I do love to grab a title that brings some ancient wonders/mysteries to the fore and blends it with a cracking story that not only keeps you glued to the final page but generates a wonderful sense of awe within the reader.

This title by Mario hits all the spots for a reader, you have cracking characters, good high octane pace and when added with villains that not only give the principle player a run for their money but also leaves you wondering how the author is going to combat the twists that are thrown in the way. Great stuff.

ARTS AND CRAFTS REVIEW: The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs - Steve Roud and Julia Bishop

Release Date: 06/02/14
Publisher:  Penguin

SYNOPSIS:

The definitive collection of folk music - one of the great English popular art forms. One of the great English popular art forms, the folk song can be painful, satirical, erotic, dramatic, rueful or funny. This magical new collection brings together all the classic folk songs as well as many lesser-known discoveries, complete with music and annotations on their original sources and meaning. Published in cooperation with the English Folk Dance and Song Society, it is a worthy successor to Ralph Vaughan Williams and A. L. Lloyd's original Penguin Book of English Folk Songs.


REVIEW:

I love a book that’s a little different and whilst Joanne is well known for her YA Fiction, her first adult Fantasy is one that not only hit the right notes for me but also gave me a mischievous as well as fascinating character with Loki. Add to this some cracking mixing of ancient myth with cracking modern storytelling alongside wonderful prose and pace all round left me a more than happy reader.

Definitely a book that I’d recommend to young readers looking to move adult titles and when blended with a wonderful sense of awe all round makes this a book that deserves to do well. Great stuff.

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Limited Reviews Due to Budget Constraints - Falcata Times.

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,

Lady Eleanor and I have had an executive meeting in regard to our game feed for all you readers and have decided to only bring game news to you for titles that we can review.  As many are aware, promotional copies are limited and as such due to high demand, we cannot guarantee to obtain a copy. 

Due to this, and our own limited budgets, we can only afford a certain number of titles a year and are selecting titles that only fit to our own tastes.

So far this means that we’re looking at the following for this year to date:

Titanfall - 14th March

The Elder Scrolls Online - June 14

Destiny - 9th Sept

Watch_Dogs - Q2

Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor

Fable Legends

Dragon Age 3: Inquisition - Q3

We are also interested in:

Thief

Halo 5

Wolfenstein: The New Order

The Evil Within

Lego: The Hobbit - Q2

The Witcher 3

However until we see additional footage that sells the title to us, its on a back burner.

If you are a publisher and would like us to give our readers new or features in regard to your game, please be aware that whilst we do act on faith we would need you to guarantee that we’d be on the list for the relevant title.

Thank You,

Gareth and Lady Eleanor.

ALTERNATE HISTORICAL URBAN FICTION: The Scourge and The Scourge: Nostrum - Roberto Calas

Release Date: 21/03/13
Publisher:  47 North

SYNOPSIS:

A mysterious plague descends upon 14th century England, ravaging the country and trapping the souls of the afflicted in eternal madness. The feudal hierarchy–and even the church itself– slowly crumbles as the dead rise to feed and the living seek whatever shelter they can. The bishops of England call for calm and obedience, but one man isn’t listening.
Sir Edward of Bodiam has been separated from the woman he loves and nothing on heaven or earth can stop him from seeking her out.


REVIEW:

To be honest this was a book that took me a little while to get into and whilst I wasn’t overly enthusiastic about it, I loved the authors concept of the zombies within being a plague brought on by the faithless. The time period felt right and the reader had the chance to get to know the principle characters fairly well so much so that each battle left the reader wondering if their favourites would survive.

It’s a solid enough start and whilst not a four star book, was definitely one that got me to sit up and left me wondering what would happen to the characters in the future. And for me, that had me grasping for the second outing.

Release Date: 30/09/13
Publisher:  47 North

SYNOPSIS:

The journey north ended with The Scourge.The journey for a cure has just begun…

Sir Edward Dallingridge survived his journey through the anarchy that is now England, leaving in his wake the bodies of mad lords, foul invaders, friends, and the risen dead. There was nothing on earth that could keep him from the woman he loves.The Scourge: Nostrum is the follow-up to The Scourge, continuing the harrowing quest of Sir Edward in a world that knows no God, no laws, and no hope.


REVIEW:

OK, so the first was a so so book for me, however the fact that it left me demanding to know what happened to the characters so much so that I just had to get this title, which whilst released originally as a serial, works very well as a compendium with each part of the tale adding to a greater whole.

The prose is sharp, the characters relationship strengthening through their trials and when added to a wonderful sense of pace all round made this a book that I really couldn’t put down. All round a triumph of a second outing and definitely one that goes to show that an author who learns is one to be reckoned with. Great stuff.

CUISINE REVIEW: Curry Easy - Madhur Jaffrey

Release Date: 16/09/10
Publisher:  Ebury Press

SYNOPSIS:

In this delicious collection of recipes, Madhur Jaffrey shows us that Indian food need not be complicated or involve hours in the kitchen. Take a few well chosen spices and readily available ingredients, and in a few easy steps you can make a delicious prawn curry from Goa; succulent chicken baked in an almond and onion sauce; hearty Sri Lankan beef with coconut milk; a creamy potato and pea curry; tasty swiss chard stir fried with ginger and garlic; and a spicy dip with beans (canned of course), cumin, chillies and lime. With over 175 clear, accessible and simple recipes, this mouthwatering cookbook is as beautifully written as her bestselling Ultimate Curry Bible, and is fully illustrated throughout with gorgeous colour photography. Whether you are cooking curry for the first time or have plenty of culinary experience and are looking for quick and easy recipe ideas, Madhur Jaffrey brings you all the tastes of India with the minimum of work.


REVIEW:

Whilst a takeout on a Friday or Saturday night always feels like a great idea, the worrying thing for many people is the saturated fats and extra calories that whilst tasting nice, doesn’t do your waistline any favours. For many Brits, a Curry is the take away of choice and for me, I love the idea of being able to make my own knowing the exact quantities of the ingredients which when blended with quality key products create something that not only taste’s great but in some cases ready in minutes, hitting that spot quite easy.

Within this book by Madhur is a whole host of recipes for every taste and budget, easily explained, with wonderful step by step guide to creating your own Indian feast that can not only be created for a takeout style mean but also for something a little special for friends and family visiting. Add to this great colour photos that bring the recipes to life and all round my mouth was salivating at the combos.

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Elder Scrolls Online releases a Special Edition and a new Cinematic Trailer - Bethesda

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,
Our friends at Bethesda let us know about a couple of things to do with the forthcoming Elder Scrolls Online.

Firstly the announcement of a new cinematic trailer:

 

And secondly about the forthcoming limited edition title:
"We’re pleased to announce The Elder Scrolls Online Imperial Edition -- a premium collector’s edition for the highly-anticipated The Elder Scrolls Online. This edition will be made available in digital and limited physical formats and are now available for pre-order through participating retailers and pre-purchase from the newly launched, official online store - store.elderscrollsonline.com.

 The Elder Scrolls Online Physical Imperial Edition includes:

• Molag Bal Statue. A 30.5 cm statue featuring Molag Bal, Daedric Prince of domination and enslavement.
• The Improved Emperor’s Guide to Tamriel. A 224-page illustrated guide annotated by the Imperial scholar, Flaccus Terentius.
• Physical Map of Tamriel. A 53.3 cm x 66 cm printed map detailing Alliance-controlled zones and the ultimate conquest: Cyrodiil.  
• Steelbook™ Packaging. A limited edition steel case decorated in the color of the Imperials.
• Exclusive Collection of Digital Content.
  • Play as an Imperial: Become an Imperial and play in any Alliance. Gain unique bonuses, crafting styles, gear, and more.
  • White Imperial Horse: Summon this Imperial mount and journey through Tamriel with speed.
  • Mudcrab Vanity Pet: Explore Tamriel with a mudcrab pet scuttling along by your side.
  • Rings of Mara: Complete the Ritual of Mara with a friend and receive an experience bonus when you play together.

The Physical Imperial Edition is extremely limited in quantity and available for pre-order through participating retailers for £89.99.

The Elder Scrolls Online Digital Imperial Edition includes the base game and all digital content outlined for the Physical Imperial Edition above and retails for £69.99.

All those who pre-order or pre-purchase either the Imperial Edition or the Standard Edition in physical or digital formats will also receive The Explorer’s Pack bonus at launch, which includes: Scuttler vanity pet, four bonus treasure maps, and the ability to play as any of thenine races in any Alliance.

Early Access bonuses will also be offered to those pre-ordering or pre-purchasing a PC/Mac version. A five (5) day early access bonus will be offered to those who pre-purchase the Digital Imperial Edition or the Digital Standard Edition through The Elder Scrolls Online Store. Additional early access programs are also available through participating retailers."

Currently there is no news on a limited edition for either of the next gen consoles.


Elder Scrolls Online is released:
PC: 04/04/14  
Mac: 04/04/14  
Xbox One: June 2014  
PS4: June 2014  

We'll see you on the field on honour,  



Gareth and Lady Eleanor

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: The Sentinels of New Orleans 1-3: Royal Street, River Road, Elysian Fields - Suzanne Johnson

Release Date: 27/09/12
Publisher:  Headline

SYNOPSIS:

As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco spends more of her time mixing potions and retrieving pixies than she does sniffing out supernatural bad guys that slip over from the preternatural beyond. It is DJ's eccentric boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, who is tasked with protecting the city. But when Hurricane Katrina hammers the city's fragile levees, it unleashes more than just flood waters. As the winds howl and Lake Pontchartrain surges, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld start to crumble away ...Now the dead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering soldiers sent to help the city recover. To make it worse, Gerald St. Simon has gone missing, the wizards' Elders have assigned a grenade-toting asshat as DJ's new partner, and the pirate Jean Lafitte - who has an impressive libido for a 200-year-old - wants her to walk his plank. If she is going to survive, DJ will have to learn that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies can be found in unlikely places ...and that duty mixed with love creates one bitter gumbo.


REVIEW:

To be honest I was pretty sold on this title by the book blurb and I was lucky enough to be able to get the first three to read back to back. Add to this the fact that I’d considered using a certain pirate within as a principle player in one of my own projects and I was more than interested to see what would occur within.

What unfurls, for me is a book that sadly starts off very slow. The introduction to the characters feels not only a little forced but also awkward without it feeling like its natural progression to the story overall. And yet, as you make your way through, the authors idea’s clearly come through as the mysterious plot wends its way into the readers imagination. It is a story that takes some getting used to and I hope that after an awkward beginning that the series will go from strength to strength.

Release Date: 22/11/12
Publisher:  Headline

SYNOPSIS:

The hurricane may have passed, but in New Orleans the storm rages on. With the borders between the city and the Otherworld destroyed, new and dangerous species have swarmed into the waterways. There is talk of war between rival clans in the darkest depths of Louisiana's swamps and it falls to wizard sentinel Drusilla Jaco and her partner, Alex Warin, to keep the peace. When wizards start dying and it become apparent that the waters of the mighty Mississippi itself have been poisoned, DJ will have to really focus if she is to find out who - or what - is responsible. And with an undead suitor, the amorous pirate Jean Lafitte, on her back, that isn't going to be easy...It's anything but smooth sailing on the bayou as the Sentinels of New Orleans series continues.


REVIEW:

OK after a worrying start with the first book, I was a little apprehensive at starting the second s after all, in any series its usually the second that’s the make or break, so preparing with a selection of reading supplies (comfy blanket, extra pillows and of course snackages) I picked up the title and turned the first page in apprehension.

For me, this book is far stronger than the original, the characters grow in not only strength but emotionally and when added to a whole new set of problems that only Louisiana can host (and it was wonderfully inventive) all round generated a story that had me turning the pages until I finished the title in the early hours of the morning (I say early hours, its dependent as to what time you call sun-up. LOL)

All round a book that I really enjoyed and one that left me demanding the third when I’d captured up on some sleep.

Release Date: 15/08/13
Publisher:  Headline

SYNOPSIS:

New Orleans is under attack from a copycat who is mimicking the crimes of a serial killer who terrorized the streets almost a century earlier. Drusilla Jaco could happily live without the advances of the 200-year-old undead pirate Jean Lafitte, but through him DJ learns the terrible truth: this is no copycat - someone has resurrected the original Axeman of New Orleans. And to make matters worse, the attacks aren't random at all. He's after her. So there's an undead serial killer on her back. A loup-garou who's going loco. The Elders are insisting on magic lessons from the world's most annoying wizard. And former partner - and sometime Neanderthal - Alex Warin has just turned up on DJ's to-do list. DJ is about to discover that life in Louisiana has more twists and turns than the mighty Mississippi.


REVIEW:

Having recently been glued to American Horror Story: Coven, I was interested to see what an author would do with the Axeman tale from New Orleans. What occurred within was a tale that was gory, had some solid twists and when added to our principle heroes more than hooked you from the get go.

Add to the mix some wonderful turns of phrase, a great overall arc alongside great prose and pace and for me it’s a series that keeps capturing my imagination. Magical.