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whatyoutolkienabout's reviews
892 reviews
Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
5.0
I have to say I loved this. Equal measures of comedy and horror. Romance that isn't the main driving force and best of all Tim and the Canary are okay!
Bleed More, Bodymore by Ian Kirkpatrick
5.0
Bleed More, Bodymore by Ian Kirkpatrick
As always I want to thank Netgalley and Steak House Books for giving me an E-arc of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review. I also want to say I will try and keep my review free of spoilers baring perhaps some character names. Originally the cover and genre of this book drew me in and I am so glad it did.
Our protagonist Joey is a mechanic. After receiving a call from her best friend one night asking for his car to be picked up from the infamous body dumping grounds of Baltimore; Leakin Park things start to turn weird. When she arrives, there’s nothing more than a stalled-out car and a couple of ravens (another point in my book for loving this!) so she leaves with only the car, hoping her friend found his own way out. Back at the body shop it doesn’t take long to find there’s something in a trunk, a rotting corpse. The cops, as usual, believe it’s case closed. Joey’s friend did the deed, ran and tried to implicate her and the body shop, the fact no one has seen him since just confirms this. Joey knows different. She will fine her friend and prove her innocence. Even with opposition from Jagger and the police.
But this is a fairytale-esque horror so things are never that easy. Something isn’t right in Baltimore. It’s not just the feeling of someone watching from the abandoned buildings or increasing sightings of ravens, it isn’t even the several deaths. In fact as we learn early on death is common place in Bodymore. It’s something much worse is below Baltimore. A ghost town, a reaper, regret. Suddenly, everything about Bodymore makes more sense and also no sense at all.
The writing style and narration is gripping and fast-paced. It’s also realistic. Joey speaks her mind and handles the situations she finds herself in rather well. The story is fast-paced and keeps you hooked. The descriptions are beautiful, vivid and sometimes visceral. The characters were all generally likable, I particularly liked Val as a supporting character. I would highly recommend this to any fans of fairy tale – esque stories, horror and imaginative settings. It’s definitely not one to be missed.
Bleed More, Bodymore will be out from 31st October and will be a perfect read for the spooky season!
As always I want to thank Netgalley and Steak House Books for giving me an E-arc of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review. I also want to say I will try and keep my review free of spoilers baring perhaps some character names. Originally the cover and genre of this book drew me in and I am so glad it did.
Our protagonist Joey is a mechanic. After receiving a call from her best friend one night asking for his car to be picked up from the infamous body dumping grounds of Baltimore; Leakin Park things start to turn weird. When she arrives, there’s nothing more than a stalled-out car and a couple of ravens (another point in my book for loving this!) so she leaves with only the car, hoping her friend found his own way out. Back at the body shop it doesn’t take long to find there’s something in a trunk, a rotting corpse. The cops, as usual, believe it’s case closed. Joey’s friend did the deed, ran and tried to implicate her and the body shop, the fact no one has seen him since just confirms this. Joey knows different. She will fine her friend and prove her innocence. Even with opposition from Jagger and the police.
But this is a fairytale-esque horror so things are never that easy. Something isn’t right in Baltimore. It’s not just the feeling of someone watching from the abandoned buildings or increasing sightings of ravens, it isn’t even the several deaths. In fact as we learn early on death is common place in Bodymore. It’s something much worse is below Baltimore. A ghost town, a reaper, regret. Suddenly, everything about Bodymore makes more sense and also no sense at all.
The writing style and narration is gripping and fast-paced. It’s also realistic. Joey speaks her mind and handles the situations she finds herself in rather well. The story is fast-paced and keeps you hooked. The descriptions are beautiful, vivid and sometimes visceral. The characters were all generally likable, I particularly liked Val as a supporting character. I would highly recommend this to any fans of fairy tale – esque stories, horror and imaginative settings. It’s definitely not one to be missed.
Bleed More, Bodymore will be out from 31st October and will be a perfect read for the spooky season!
My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones
5.0
Review: My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones
Firstly I want to say I actually finished the book a short while ago and I am still thinking about it which is always a good sign. Stephen Graham Jones is well and truly one of my favourite authors. His writing style and story telling and top notch, fun, engaging and give a sense of realism. I found him via Only the Good Indians and after finishing that novel I knew I had to read the rest – I was not disappointed but this is about My Heart Is A Chainsaw so let’s get on.
am older than Jade but could see parts of my teenage self in her. I would think a lot of people could see snippets of themselves in her as well which makes it easy to get invested in her and the story. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. At the very core the story focuses on Jade who is one class away from graduating high-school. Only that is the one class is keeps failing, local history. Our protagonist is dragged down by her past, her family and being an outsider but she has a plan. A epic essay series on the unifying theory of slasher films! As you can I guess I already knew this was going to be good. Slowly Jade begins to see a pattern in the recent events in her rural lake town that could only point to one thing, if you have a plethora of horror cinema knowledge, like Jade and the final straw? The arrival of the archetypal Final Girl, Letha Mondragon.
We follow Jade as she prepares of the inevitable slasher killer to arise, further signaled by tourists going missing, and tensions growing between locals and the new celebrity newcomers starting to build their mansions on the other side of Indian Lake, the town lake. While preparing and continuing her epic essay series Jade delves into the town’s history, and most importantly the tragic deaths that occurred at the nearby camp years’ ago, and finding out about the missing tourists no one is sure really existed to start with and the murders that start happening.
The small and peaceful town in true fashion hurtles full pace towards catastrophe, that Jade is sure will come to ahead on the 4th July, in one epic showdown between rich and poor, luxury yachts compete with canoes and inflatables, past and present, townsfolk and celebrities and above all a slasher and the Final Girl.
The pace and tension created within the novel is brilliant, true to Jones style who is a true master of his genre and craft. By using mixed styles of narrative and the essays Jade is compiling we get a greater insight into the town history and Jade’s mind. Peppered with references with classic and cult slashers alike the references are sure to make you smile, if you love horror which you obviously do to be reading this! Another reason to love Jade is she is self-aware. At some points in the narrative we are made aware that Jade knows this is typical bad horror movie etiquette but in the heat of the moment she has no other choice. While it is a work of fiction asides like this help build a sense of realism that it could, in fact, happen.
Again I want to keep this spoiler free but the ending was incredibly powerful. It’s the one part that sticks out so vividly to me. I’ve already recommended this to all my horror loving friends and will continue to do so.
The book will be released on 7th September. I want to thank Titan Books and Netgalley for providing me with an e-Arc of the title in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Firstly I want to say I actually finished the book a short while ago and I am still thinking about it which is always a good sign. Stephen Graham Jones is well and truly one of my favourite authors. His writing style and story telling and top notch, fun, engaging and give a sense of realism. I found him via Only the Good Indians and after finishing that novel I knew I had to read the rest – I was not disappointed but this is about My Heart Is A Chainsaw so let’s get on.
am older than Jade but could see parts of my teenage self in her. I would think a lot of people could see snippets of themselves in her as well which makes it easy to get invested in her and the story. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. At the very core the story focuses on Jade who is one class away from graduating high-school. Only that is the one class is keeps failing, local history. Our protagonist is dragged down by her past, her family and being an outsider but she has a plan. A epic essay series on the unifying theory of slasher films! As you can I guess I already knew this was going to be good. Slowly Jade begins to see a pattern in the recent events in her rural lake town that could only point to one thing, if you have a plethora of horror cinema knowledge, like Jade and the final straw? The arrival of the archetypal Final Girl, Letha Mondragon.
We follow Jade as she prepares of the inevitable slasher killer to arise, further signaled by tourists going missing, and tensions growing between locals and the new celebrity newcomers starting to build their mansions on the other side of Indian Lake, the town lake. While preparing and continuing her epic essay series Jade delves into the town’s history, and most importantly the tragic deaths that occurred at the nearby camp years’ ago, and finding out about the missing tourists no one is sure really existed to start with and the murders that start happening.
The small and peaceful town in true fashion hurtles full pace towards catastrophe, that Jade is sure will come to ahead on the 4th July, in one epic showdown between rich and poor, luxury yachts compete with canoes and inflatables, past and present, townsfolk and celebrities and above all a slasher and the Final Girl.
The pace and tension created within the novel is brilliant, true to Jones style who is a true master of his genre and craft. By using mixed styles of narrative and the essays Jade is compiling we get a greater insight into the town history and Jade’s mind. Peppered with references with classic and cult slashers alike the references are sure to make you smile, if you love horror which you obviously do to be reading this! Another reason to love Jade is she is self-aware. At some points in the narrative we are made aware that Jade knows this is typical bad horror movie etiquette but in the heat of the moment she has no other choice. While it is a work of fiction asides like this help build a sense of realism that it could, in fact, happen.
Again I want to keep this spoiler free but the ending was incredibly powerful. It’s the one part that sticks out so vividly to me. I’ve already recommended this to all my horror loving friends and will continue to do so.
The book will be released on 7th September. I want to thank Titan Books and Netgalley for providing me with an e-Arc of the title in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins
4.0
I'll start with the good. The storytelling, description and general building of vulnerability and well executed. The makings of a great psychological horror thriller are here but I did feel a tad let down by the end more in the sense of having read other books in the genre it was somewhat predictable.
I did enjoy the book though and it was a fun read. I am not sure if I would be quick to reread but it was good. I was delayed in my review with a family emergency but I did find I could easily remember the events and story so it did have that. I would be interested to read more by the author
I did enjoy the book though and it was a fun read. I am not sure if I would be quick to reread but it was good. I was delayed in my review with a family emergency but I did find I could easily remember the events and story so it did have that. I would be interested to read more by the author
Outlaw: Relentless: A Marvel Heroines Novel by Tristan Palmgren
5.0
Once again I need to thank Aconyte and Netgalley for sending me the e-Arc of this title in exchange for a fair review. As always because this title is not out yet my review will avoid any spoilers and focus on the general aspects of the book.
Tristan Palmgren is fantastic. Their characterization is amazing! If you don’t end up loving Outlaw by the first few pages, I don’t know what is wrong with you! (In fairness you might not like her character, but you will definitely have to admit Palmgren aces it!)
The other thing I instantly liked was the links to previous titles in the Marvel Heroines and Marvel Xavier’s Institute and other general Marvel and Marvel Untold titles. Palmgren manages to tap into this growing selection but in such a way that you don’t have to have read the titles and get the references (but you really should!). I found myself smiling while reading through, remembering the previous titles and linking it all together. It makes for a fantastic grounding and really immerses you within the wider universe these events are taking part.
The writing style and storytelling is fantastic. It keeps you guessing and engaged without making you feel lost or unsure, again tying to the above point of references to other titles or comic book events that may not have been turned into prose yet. Not once did I feel lost or uninterested and while I had some real life interruptions I ended up completing this in two sittings (admittedly I didn’t intend to but one chapter lead to another) and I am contemplating re-reading it soon!
The story has some really brilliant moments, amazing and well written action and some serious matter too. It’s an action-packed ride in which you can’t help but support our heroine and hope for the best. I already have a few favorite quotes from my first read through but I won’t post them just yet. As I already mentioned I will definitely be re-reading and will likely get a physical copy as well (to add to my growing Aconyte Bookshelf) and will definitely be recommending to anyone who will listen!
The e-book will be available from September 7th 2021 with Paperbacks following on the 28th September for the US and 11th November for the UK!
Aconyte Books are the novel division of Asmodee Entertainment. Asmodee Entertainment is based in an amazing building in Nottingham, England. The Star Brewery opened in 1852, producing beer for Shipstones until 1991.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
Tristan Palmgren is fantastic. Their characterization is amazing! If you don’t end up loving Outlaw by the first few pages, I don’t know what is wrong with you! (In fairness you might not like her character, but you will definitely have to admit Palmgren aces it!)
The other thing I instantly liked was the links to previous titles in the Marvel Heroines and Marvel Xavier’s Institute and other general Marvel and Marvel Untold titles. Palmgren manages to tap into this growing selection but in such a way that you don’t have to have read the titles and get the references (but you really should!). I found myself smiling while reading through, remembering the previous titles and linking it all together. It makes for a fantastic grounding and really immerses you within the wider universe these events are taking part.
The writing style and storytelling is fantastic. It keeps you guessing and engaged without making you feel lost or unsure, again tying to the above point of references to other titles or comic book events that may not have been turned into prose yet. Not once did I feel lost or uninterested and while I had some real life interruptions I ended up completing this in two sittings (admittedly I didn’t intend to but one chapter lead to another) and I am contemplating re-reading it soon!
The story has some really brilliant moments, amazing and well written action and some serious matter too. It’s an action-packed ride in which you can’t help but support our heroine and hope for the best. I already have a few favorite quotes from my first read through but I won’t post them just yet. As I already mentioned I will definitely be re-reading and will likely get a physical copy as well (to add to my growing Aconyte Bookshelf) and will definitely be recommending to anyone who will listen!
The e-book will be available from September 7th 2021 with Paperbacks following on the 28th September for the US and 11th November for the UK!
Aconyte Books are the novel division of Asmodee Entertainment. Asmodee Entertainment is based in an amazing building in Nottingham, England. The Star Brewery opened in 1852, producing beer for Shipstones until 1991.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
For more information visit marvel.com. © 2020 MARVEL
In the Shadow of Deimos by Jane Killick
5.0
Review: Terraforming Mars: In the Shadow of Deimos by Jane Killick
I was kindly given an ARC of this novel by Netgalley & Aconyte Books in exchange for a fair review.
Having played Terraforming Mars a couple of times with a few good friends I was instantly interested in the concept of taking the premises and turning it into a book. I won’t lie, Aconyte seem to be consistently publishing fantastic works by fantastic authors that scratch that geeky and nerdy itch in myself (and I am sure numerous others). In short I hope this would be good and I was not disappointed!
I can’t remember the last time a read a good sci-fi book based on a planet rather than spaceship or space station. The descriptions of a relatively barren setting (it is being terraformed after all) really do bring home the bleakness and potential for isolation. Tie this with a gripping plot of corporate corruption (which lets face probably would happen) and you have the makings of a fantastic book!
Killick has the perfect balance of natural danger and threat with the growing threat of who can you trust. The characters are likable and interesting. You find yourself invested in them and their wellbeing. I was shocked, happily so, that my two favourites didn’t die. I also found I wasn’t able to predict or guess the twists and turns of the plot.
All in all this is fantastic tale for anyone who is looking for a fix of Terraforming Mars without the time to play the game or a good sci-fi story about survival not only of a new and harsh environment but the corruption of those in power.
The e-book is out now with physical copies due to be released in the US on September 21, 2021 and the UK on October 28, 2021
I was kindly given an ARC of this novel by Netgalley & Aconyte Books in exchange for a fair review.
Having played Terraforming Mars a couple of times with a few good friends I was instantly interested in the concept of taking the premises and turning it into a book. I won’t lie, Aconyte seem to be consistently publishing fantastic works by fantastic authors that scratch that geeky and nerdy itch in myself (and I am sure numerous others). In short I hope this would be good and I was not disappointed!
I can’t remember the last time a read a good sci-fi book based on a planet rather than spaceship or space station. The descriptions of a relatively barren setting (it is being terraformed after all) really do bring home the bleakness and potential for isolation. Tie this with a gripping plot of corporate corruption (which lets face probably would happen) and you have the makings of a fantastic book!
Killick has the perfect balance of natural danger and threat with the growing threat of who can you trust. The characters are likable and interesting. You find yourself invested in them and their wellbeing. I was shocked, happily so, that my two favourites didn’t die. I also found I wasn’t able to predict or guess the twists and turns of the plot.
All in all this is fantastic tale for anyone who is looking for a fix of Terraforming Mars without the time to play the game or a good sci-fi story about survival not only of a new and harsh environment but the corruption of those in power.
The e-book is out now with physical copies due to be released in the US on September 21, 2021 and the UK on October 28, 2021