The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco [Joint Review!]

  3 out of 5 Robots!

The Girl From the Well By Rin Chupeco

Genre: Young Adult Horror

Release: August 5, 2014
Hardcover:  267 Pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
My Copy: Purchased
Reviewer: Shannon & Julia

Book Summary:
A dead girl walks the streets.

She hunts murderers. Child killers, much like the man who threw her body down a well three hundred years ago.

And when a strange boy bearing stranger tattoos moves into the neighborhood so, she discovers, does something else. And soon both will be drawn into the world of eerie doll rituals and dark Shinto exorcisms that will take them from American suburbia to the remote valleys and shrines of Aomori, Japan.

Because the boy has a terrifying secret - one that would just kill to get out.  (Courtesy of Goodreads)

Julia & Shannon: Joint Review!

1. What are your thoughts on The Girl From the Well? 

Shannon:  It was a nice change of pace to read a horror novel for once.  I thought it was a pretty decent horror novel at that.  It very much reminded me of The Ring or The Grudge.  I wouldn't say it scared me, but it certainly was creepy!

Julia: The Girl from the Well is pretty captivating and creepy. I would love to read this during Halloween. If you like a good ghost story, this is for you. You should probably not mind violence though!

2. Is Okiku the appropriate narrator? Would you have preferred anyone else? 

Shannon: I love a non-traditional narrator.  So in that regard I was really happy.  The only problem sometimes is that you lose out on other parts of the story and characters.  And that's a little what happened here.  While I really liked that Okiku was our narrator, I do think we didn't get a chance to get to know the other characters as well.  That made it a little harder to get into the relationships between the other characters. But as a horror story, it was fine.

Julia:  Okiku is a perfect narrator. I am so glad it was her, it is a pleasant surprise and good change of pace. There is a lack of connection to the other characters, but I think that is more of a writing issue than Okiku not letting us in on what's going on. I wish we would've gotten to delve more into Okiku's past.

3. What is your favorite part of The Girl from the Well? 

Shannon: The creepy factor!  I really liked Okiku's revenge and the idea of the victims' ghosts being attached to their killers until Okiku kills the murder and sets them free.  This was the most compelling part of the story to me.

Julia: I loved the violent revenge and having the view point of Okiku. The legend is also fascinating. 

4. Was there anything you could have done without? 

Shannon: I wasn't so into the trip to the shrine near the end of the book.  I dunno.  I just couldn't get into it.

Julia:  Yoko, Tark's mother, is annoying. I wanted to love finding out about her and the shrine, but couldn't get into it. I just felt like it was another story inside the story, that took away from Okiku's plot. I know that sounds ridiculous, especially because they're all intertwined.

5. Is the conclusion satisfying? 

Shannon:  I thought so.  I liked it well enough.  I liked that there was a definite end, but that a little window was open for the future.  

Julia:  I was satisfied by the ending! I didn't expect it... wish it would've come sooner. This would have been better as a short horror story.

6. Rating and recommendation?

Shannon:  I would rate this 3.5.  I liked it pretty well as a horror novel, but I wasn't blown away. I do think anyone who likes creepy ghost horror stories should check this one out.

Julia:  Three stars. I liked it enough to rate it higher, until I felt like it was never going to end. It is entertaining enough and I would recommend it to anyone that's into a ghostly revenge story. Perfect read for a fall weekend!! 

A Cold Legacy by Megan Shepher [Review]

4 out of 5 Robots!

A Cold Legacy by Megan Shepherd
Series: The Madman's Daughter #3
Genre: YA Horror/Historical Fiction
Release: January 27, 2015
Hardcover:  400 Pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
My Copy: Publisher
Reviewer: Shannon

Book Summary:

After killing the men who tried to steal her father’s research, Juliet—along with Montgomery, Lucy, Balthazar, and a deathly ill Edward—has escaped to a remote estate on the Scottish moors. Owned by the enigmatic Elizabeth von Stein, the mansion is full of mysteries and unexplained oddities: dead bodies in the basement, secret passages, and fortune-tellers who seem to know Juliet’s secrets. Though it appears to be a safe haven, Juliet fears new dangers may be present within the manor’s own walls.

Then Juliet uncovers the truth about the manor’s long history of scientific experimentation—and her own intended role in it—forcing her to determine where the line falls between right and wrong, life and death, magic and science, and promises and secrets. And she must decide if she’ll follow her father’s dark footsteps or her mother’s tragic ones, or whether she’ll make her own.

With inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, this breathless conclusion to the Madman’s Daughter trilogy is about the things we’ll sacrifice to save those we love—even our own humanity.

(Courtesy of the Publisher)

Shannon's Thoughts:

A Cold Legacy is the last book in a series of books based on classical horror novels (The Island of Doctor Moreau, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein).  We left off with Juliet and her friends fleeing to Scotland to escape the men looking for her father's research.  Edward is mortally wounded and everyone is desperate to save him.  Juliet et al, find themselves at Balletyne under the protection of Elizabeth von Stein and things are not quite what they seem at first.  But Elizabeth also holds the key to saving Edward's life, but the mortality of it is very much in question.

Here is what I liked:

**I LOVE the horror elements to this series.  While this wasn’t my favorite book in the series, I think that it was right in keeping with that “gothic” feel. 

**I also love the fresh take on some well known class horror novels.  Megan Shepherd does an amazing job of reworking them.  You can easily identify elements from the classics, but get a whole new story out of it too.  This is perhaps the series’ strongest suit. 

**I really like Juliet as a protagonist (although she does some pretty shady things this go around).  She really struggles with her identity and her darker nature, but she is also very loyal and caring.  But she is also willing to live in the grey area.  She struggles most with the idea that she is ok with living in the grey area and feels that she should more concerned about that. 

**I also really liked the ending.  I thought it was a good conclusion to the series and probably better than we could have hoped for given how dicey things were getting.  The ending was super intense!

**I liked the manor and its denizens.  Elizabeth and her wards are especially interesting.  Some of them were incredibly very creepy and you know it is not going to turn out well.

Here is what I didn't like:

**I really liked Lucy in the previous books (although her weakness bothered me a bit), but she pretty much goes off the rails in this book.  I didn’t really like seeing her character dissolve into this crazy, hysterical person.  Especially since she is the only one who was not involved in some kind of unethical human experimentation (or an experiment themselves).  I felt it was a bit of a departure of character for her. 

**The other thing that bothered me was all the secrets Juliet was keeping from her fiancé, Montgomery.  Juliet was so hell bent on saving Edward that she started doing things behind his back, knowing full well that he would not approve.  This probably wouldn’t have bothered me as much if she didn’t try to rationalize that once Edward was better that Montgomery would totally be fine with what she did.  Um, no.  Come on, Juliet.  Montgomery isn’t the biggest fan of Edward.  He isn’t going to be jumping with joy. In fact, Juliet drives me a little crazy in this book.  Her decision making skills really worried me sometimes.  

**Speaking of Edward – everyone goes through phenomenal lengths to save him.  But the whole time I couldn’t help but wonder if they shouldn’t just let him go.  Especially considering that the Beast was still lurking under the surface.  I got a little tired of everyone going crazy trying to save him. 

Overall:
I think this series is a true diamond in the rough and I wish it got more attention.  It is skillfully done and at times disturbing, but always fascinating.  I found this to be the weakest book in the series (although it was still quite good!) and that it went off the rails ever so slightly.  I had a harder time siding with Juliet and really questioned her actions.  I came to despise Lucy, which is too bad because I think her character deserved more than hysteria and fainting spells.  BUT!  I still think this is a series worth reading.  Especially if you are a fan of dark subjects and horror.  (Though, maybe not for the faint of heart).

Other Books in the Series:
1. The Madman's Daughter
2. Her Dark Curiosity
3. A Cold Legacy

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd [Review]

4.5 out of 5 Robots!

A Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd
Series: The Madman's Daughter #2
Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Horror
Release: January 28, 2014
Hardcover:  420 Pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
My Copy: Publisher
Reviewer: Shannon

Book Summary:

To defeat the darkness, she must first embrace it.

Months have passed since Juliet Moreau returned to civilization after escaping her father's island—and the secrets she left behind. Now, back in London once more, she is rebuilding the life she once knew and trying to forget Dr. Moreau’s horrific legacy—though someone, or something, hasn’t forgotten her.

As people close to Juliet fall victim one by one to a murderer who leaves a macabre calling card of three clawlike slashes, Juliet fears one of her father’s creations may have also escaped the island. She is determined to find the killer before Scotland Yard does, though it means awakening sides of herself she had thought long banished, and facing loves from her past she never expected to see again.

As Juliet strives to stop a killer while searching for a serum to cure her own worsening illness, she finds herself once more in the midst of a world of scandal and danger. Her heart torn in two, past bubbling to the surface, life threatened by an obsessive killer—Juliet will be lucky to escape alive.

With inspiration from Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this is a tantalizing mystery about the hidden natures of those we love and how far we’ll go to save them from themselves.

(Courtesy of the Publisher)

Shannon's Thoughts:

Her Dark Curiosity is a strong follow up to the first novel, The Madman's Daughter and doesn't suffer from "Second Book Syndrome", so yay!  This is kind of a sleeper hit series for me.  I love the creepy feeling to them.  

Here is what I liked:
**I love that Shephard is taking on some well known "horror" novels and rewriting them to shape her trilogy.  The first book was based on The Island of Doctor Moreau and this book is based on The Strange Case Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Shephard does a very convincing job of weaving the elements of these books into her stories.

**I also really liked Juliet's self reflection.  As the daughter of a "mad doctor", she wonders if she is also prone to darkness and madness.  I appreciated that Shephard lets her protagonist explore this side of herself.  Juliet is certainly flawed, but it makes you appreciate her even more.

**I loved that Lucy, Juliet's best friend, is brought more into fold.  She is more affected by the horrors that surround you than Juliet, but she is a strong and able character in her own right.  I also really liked the introduction of Elizabeth, who provides Juliet some much need maternal guidance.

**I knew right away who the murder was, but I did not guess the ultimate culprit.  Well done, Shephard.  I did not see that one coming.

**Lastly, I liked how the ambiguity of morality.  The world is rarely as black and white as books make them out to be (especially in YA), but this book explores the line at which people drawn the line at their own morals.  And sometimes it is not an easy call. There are some horrifying situations that could be viewed as necessary or over the line.  It is up to the viewer to decide which side they are on.  

**If you remember for my review of the first book, I was disturbed by the animal violence.  I am happy to report there are no animals deaths in this one. (Minor, but happy spoiler: the dog does not die).

Here is what I didn't like:
**There is very little I disliked, but I wasn't sure how I felt about Juliet's decisions regarding the murderer.  I would have a much harder time separating the man from the beast.

**The love interests don't particularly excited me.  One is just a no-go for me.  The other makes sense, but I don't really like the way he tries to dominate Juliet.  Of course, given the time period, this isn't really out of line.  It just offends my modern sensibilities.

**I was very sad about one particular death.  Poor Juliet.

Overall:
If you are a fan of horror, and especially classical horror, then this series is probably for you!  (If you are sensitive to violence and death, then I would recommend steering away).  I think Shephard does a phenomenal job in retelling and reworking these classic stories.  The last book is a take on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and I am very excited to see how it all wraps up.


Other Books in the Series:
1. The Madman's Daughter
2. Her Dark Curiosity
3. A Cold Legacy

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd [Review]

4 out of 5 Robots!

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd
Series: The Madman's Daughter #1
Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Thriller/Horror
Release: January 29, 2013
Hardcover:  420 Pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
My Copy: Publisher
Reviewer: Shannon

Book Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

(Courtesy of the Publisher)

Shannon's Thoughts:

This is another book that's been sitting on my TBR for far too long...especially considering I now also have the sequels in my possession.  Time to break the spine, if you will.  I haven't read The Island of Doctor Moreau, so I did what any respectable person does and looked it up on Wikipedia.  From what I can tell, Megan Shepherd does a good job of keeping the bulk of the original story and reworking it to fit her story.  And I really liked it - with the exception of one major part and one minor one.  Here is what worked and didn't work for me:

Here is what I liked:
**The writing!  I love it when I read a book and the tone of the book matches the era it is written in.  It really helps set time and place.  And I thought Shepherd did a great job with that.  

**I loved how creepy and disturbing it was (except for the big exception - see below).  There was a lot of tension and a sense of foreboding throughout.  The tension really held too through the story.  I was impressed with that.

**I also really liked Juliet as a protagonist.  She was a strong character, but also vulnerable at the same time.  She kept her own mind, but desperately wanted her father's love and approval.  It clouded her judgment sometimes, but she also had enough presence of mind to see her father for what he truly was.

**I also liked Montgomery and Edward quite a lot.  They were both complicated characters with dubious backgrounds.  But they both wanted to do right by Juliet and I appreciated that Shepherd didn't try to make either one into a perfect savior.


Here is what I didn't like:
**There were only two things that I disliked. One minor and one major.  The minor one was the love triangle.  I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either.  I think the story could have been done just as well with one of the guys just being a friend of Juliet's instead of a love interest.  But again, it didn't really bother me.  It was more like, was it necessary?  And it just seems so...expected.  Cliched.

**Now for the major part:  There are some very disturbing scenes involving animals.  This book is not for the faint at heart where animals are concerned.  Some of it is pretty cruel and creates pretty horrifying imagery.  I'm serious.  If you can't read a book involving animal cruelty, I would steer you away from this book.  The worst of it comes within the first couple chapters.  I'm not sure I'm fully recovered.  I almost DNF'd at that point.  To get through it I had to do the mental equivalent of sticking my fingers in my ears and going "la la la la" to get through it.  But, in defense of the author, I know the animal cruelty plays a large part in the original book and so it was necessary to show just how depraved Dr. Moreau and his work really was.  But again, not for the faint at heart.

Overall, I really liked the book and most of the elements.  It veered more towards horror than I expected and the animal bits were hard to take, but I still think it was an interesting retelling and one worth reading.  


*This review is dedicated to all the rabbits who gave their lives in The Madman's Daughter


Other Books in the Series:
1. The Madman's Daughter
2. Her Dark Curiosity
3. A Cold Legacy

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Graveminder by Melissa Marr [Review]

3 out of 5 Robots!

  

Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Genre: Adult Horror/Paranormal

Release: May 9, 2011

Hardcover: 324 Pages

Publisher: HarperCollins

My Copy: Purchased

Reviewer: Shannon

Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:
Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville. While growing up, Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual at every funeral: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words, "Sleep well, and stay where I put you."

Now Maylene is gone and Bek must return to the hometown—and the man—she abandoned a decade ago, only to discover that Maylene's death was not natural . . . and there was good reason for her odd traditions. In Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected—and beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D. From this dark place the deceased will return if their graves are not properly minded. And only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk. (Courtesy of the Publisher)

 
Shannon's Thoughts:

Initially I was interested to read this book because I’ve been hearing such good things about the author.  I also thought the premise sounded interesting and very very creepy.  But this was a tough one for me.  I just couldn’t get into it!  It takes a loooooonnnngggg time before anything really happens or any explanations are offered.  And the whole back and forth between Rebekkah and Bryon’s relationship (or lack thereof) drove me nuts.  It seemed like more time was spent on that then explaining what was going on in the town.  Also - *SPOILER ALERT* when the dead rise they are basically zombies.  Or at least they eat human flesh.  I just can’t get into the zombie thing.  (Why are they such a thing?!)  And lastly, I was confused by what was happening in the underworld with Mr. D?  Some things happen there and I’m still not sure why?  Maybe Marr was setting up for a sequel?  I don’t know.  Either way, I was sad that wasn’t a great first impression, but I definitely want to give Marr another try.  Carnival of Souls is getting good reviews...maybe I’ll head over there.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan [Review]

3 out of 5 Robots!

  

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Series: Forest of Hands and Teeth, #1

Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror Young Adult
Release: March 10, 2009
Hardcover: 310 Pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
My Copy: Personal Copy
Reviewer: Shannon
Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:
In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

Shannon's Thoughts:

The Forest of Hands and Teeth takes place in the not too distant future.  Mary's mother told her stories of her great great grandmother living by the ocean.  Mary has never seen the ocean, or even outside of her village.  She clings to the idea of this ocean as a place of refuge away from the Unconsecrated.

Mary's village is isolated and small - almost medieval.  It is looked after by the Sisterhood, a society of nuns, and guarded by the Guardians.  All around the village is a chain link fence that keeps the Unconsecrated from entering the village.  While the Unconsecrated are never called "zombies", they are definitely zombies.  They moan, have a desire to eat flesh, and if you are bitten you will turn into one.

When the village is breached Mary flees with a few of her friends and family.  She convinces them to find the ocean with her, leaving behind everything they have know.

I really enjoy how The Forest of Hands and Teeth is written.  It has a grounded, yet dreamy prose.  It is written in present tense in such a way that feels close and intimate.  But this book is not for the faint hearted.  There are some truly disturbing and gruesome scenes.  There is no pretty ending here.  Mary herself is an extremely flawed character.  Readers will either take to that idea or will be turned off by it.  She is utterly consumed by the idea of finding the ocean even when it means losing those she cares about.  Some will see her as extremely selfish.

There is, of course, a complicated love triangle that felt extraneous to me.  The two love interests are never really fleshed out and I found them fairly indistinguishable.  I don't think it added much to the story other than to convolute the plot.

Also, do not expect answers to your questions.  Very little is answered.  Many things are hinted at, but never explored more. It is fairly frustrating because I felt the author introduced all these elements without ever explaining anything! Sometimes I felt the author didn't know what kind of book she wanted it to be. 

But mostly, I only rated this book three stars because I find books like this depressing.  It is one of those books where even if the protagonists "triumphs" at the end, they have lost so much in the process that it feels like they haven't really won after all.



Book in the series in the order they should be read:
1. Forest of Hands and Teeth
2. The Dead-Tossed Waves
3. The Dark and Hallow Places

World War Z by Max Brooks [Review]

3.5 out of 5 Robots!

  

World War Z by Max Brooks

Genre: Science Fiction
Release: September 12, 2006
Hardcover: 342 Pages
Publisher: Crown Books
My Copy: Personal Copy
Reviewer: Shannon
Buy the Book: Amazon

Shannon's Thoughts:

World War Z is a collection of oral history recollections that take place about 10 years after the end of "World War Z", an apocalyptic war against the undead.  A plague, originating in China, kills and then reanimates people into zombies.  The plague spreads quickly and threatens to wipe out humanity until the world learns to fight back.  Now the world is still dealing the ramifications of such a war and the author has interviewed key characters who played significant roles in an order to understand how we got to where we are.

This book is very interesting.  The premise and concept are the strongest aspects of this book.  While the world battled zombies, you get the notation that the fallout could really apply to any major world threat.  It is really fascinating to see how the events unfold through the different narrations.  Some of it hits really close to home and the events seem so realistic (yes, even with the zombies!).

Some of the narrations drag a bit, but some are really mind blowing.  So, why did I only give it 3.5 stars?  While I think this book has an amazing concept and is carried out extremely well, it isn't the type of book I generally enjoy.  Sad to say, it was almost a little too realistic for me and creeped me out a lot!  I wouldn't survive in an apocalyptic situation very well I'm afraid because just reading about it gives me anxiety!

But, I will say, I know that there are a lot of people who will absolutely love this type of book and I wholeheartedly recommend to those people!

Apostle Rising by Richard Godwin [Review]

3.5 out of 5 Robots!

Title: Apostle Rising

Author: Richard Godwin 

Genre: Thriller

Release: March 10, 2011

Paperback: 374 pages
Publisher: Black Jackal
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0956711308
ISBN-13: 978-0956711304

My Copy: Publisher

Reviewer: Mona

Book Summary:

Detective Chief Inspector Frank Castle never caught the Woodlands Killer and it almost destroyed him. Now, years later, mauled by the press and traumatized by nightmares, he is faced with a copycat killer with detailed inside knowledge of the original case. He and his partner Jacki Stone enter a deadly labyrinth, and at its center is the man Castle believes was responsible for the first killings. 

Dark coded ritualistic killings are being carried out on high-profile figures and the body count is rising. Castle employs a brilliant psychologist to help him solve the case, but some psychopaths are cleverer than others. A dark, layered narrative with detailed psychological profiling, Apostle Rising is an extremely powerful noir crime story with a chilling dimension of horror.

Mona's Review:

With an eye for detail, Richard Godwin's Apostle Rising is an intensely riveting, horrifying crime story. Vividly detailed, Godwin ensnares the mind as it entices the reader to look deeper into criminology, the minds of a killer and the people who capture them.

In what at first reminded me of a technical manual on police procedure, this book became an enthralling and gruesome story I just couldn't put down. The characters blend well in this story, as the characters evolved with the plot I found myself relating to them more. This writer tossed me into the story, I feel like I know the characters. 

I found my heart pounding as I continued to read. The visual details bring to life a deep, dark visceral murder mystery that had me on the edge of my seat! I reccommed this book to those of you willing to delve a bit more into a darker, creepy mind, as well as those that love the complex, technical side of murder. Not reccommended for those of a soft stomach!

The Undertakers by Ty Drago [Review]

3.5 out of 5 Robots!

Title: The Undertakers
The Rise of the Corpses
Author: Ty Drago
Genre: YA Horror
Release: April 1, 2011
Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Jabberwocky
ISBN-10: 1402247850
ISBN-13: 978-1402247859
My Copy: Publisher
Reviewer: Rex




Book Blurb: 

On a sunny Wednesday morning in October, a day that would mark the end of one life and the beginning of another, Will found out his grouchy next door neighbor was one of the walking dead. When he turns around expecting to see something familiar, and instead sees something else altogether, it takes a little while for his brain to catch up with his eyes. He calls that the 'Holy Crap Factor.'

Forced to flee his home and family, twelve-year-old Will Ritter falls in with the Undertakers--a rag-tag army of teenage resistance fighters, who've banded together to battle the corpses.

Quick Thoughts:

Ty Drago gives a refreshing take on the zombie epidemic in The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses. I will openly admit that the cover caught my eye on this one. It is obviously geared toward a young male audience, which pleases me because that in itself is refreshing after all of the paranormal romance I've been reading lately. Though, regardless, I have a hard time passing up zombie books.

The Undertakers are a bunch of teenage kids that have to runaway from everything they ever knew to conquer the walking dead. These kids are special, they're the only ones that can see the walking dead for what they truly are. And these zombies aren't your typical zombies. They are not slow and they are not mindless. And most people can only see these creatures as normal, walking humans. The characters (Will, Tom and the other Undertakers) are enthralling and very likeable. But can our cute clique of zombie seers stop the walking corpses from taking over the world?  

This book is an adventure you're going to want to take. I really enjoyed reading it- so much fun. The story and the characters are constantly evolving and made this one quick and easy read. I will definitely be reading more of Ty's work. Highly recommend this for the younger male reader and for all of you out there that do (and don't!) like zombies. Great story!

Book Review: Alice in Zombieland

3 out of 5 Robots!

Title: Alice in Zombieland 
Authors: Lewis Carroll, Nickolas Cook
Genre: Horror
Release: March 1, 2011
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks
ISBN-10: 9781402256219
ISBN-13: 978-1402256219
ASIN: 1402256213
My Copy: Publisher
Reviewer: Rex

Book Blurb:

When little Alice follows the Black Rat down into the open grave, she falls and falls, and soon finds herself in an undead nightmare. Following the Rat, she ventures further into this land of monsters, encountering characters both creepy and madcap along the way. But there's something else troubling poor Alice: her skin is rotting and her hair is falling out. Can Alice escape Zombieland before the Dead Red Queen catches up to her?

Have a seat at the table for the wildest tea party of your life and explore the unforgettable adventure that is Alice in Zombieland.

Quick Thoughts: 

Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorite stories- that being said, I really enjoyed Alice in Zombieland. Wonderland is already an eccentric place, so I felt that turning it into a Zombieland wasn't too far fetched and the new world fit right into the story. This novel was a lot of fun for me, I love the horror twists on old classics.

This book is disturbing and humorous. A really light, quick read. The illustrations are fabulous. It isn't the typical zombie mash-up, either. I have seen some reviewers upset that Cook only altered some words and kept the writing pretty much the same and not making the story his own, but I didn't mind that. I liked it.

I am really excited to recommend Alice in Zombieland to a friend. Zombie fans should really get into this. It is super creepy, just how I like my zombie books.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn & Zombie Jim

2.5 out of 5 Robots!

 

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 

& Zombie Jim

Author: Twain & Czolgosz
Genre: Horror
Release: April 12, 2011
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Gallery
ISBN-10: 1451609787
ISBN-13: 978-1451609783
My Copy: Publisher
Reviewer: Rex

About the Book:  

It's nineteenth century America and a mutant strain of tuberculosis is bringing its victims back from the dead. They come back docile or vicious. The vicious ones are sent back to Hell, but the docile ones are put to work as servants and laborers. With so many zombies on the market, the slave trade is nonexistant. The black man is at liberty, and human bondage is no more.

Young Huckleberry Finn has grown up in a world that shuns the N-word, with its scornful eye set on a new class of shambling, putrid sub-humans: The Baggers. When his abusive father comes back into his life, Huck flees down the river with Bagger Jim, seeking a life of perfect freedom. When the pox mutates once again, causing even the tamest of baggers to become bloodthirsty monsters, Finn is forced to question his relationship with his dearest, deadest friend.

In this revised take on history and classic literature, the modern age is ending before it ever begins. Huckleberry Finn will inherit a world of horror and death, and the mighty Mississippi might be the only way out.

Quickie Review:

I was very excited to read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Zombie Jim after just finishing the zombie mash ups of some of my other favorite classics. This one fell a little short for me, then again, Huck Finn wasn't one of my favorite classics. Regardless, I do love the stubborn boy and ridiculous zombies.

This one definitely isn't a home run. It is totally intriguing for me just because I love when history is changed in historical fiction. That part IS entertaining. I think that anyone who enjoys the zombie mash ups should give this one a try. If you love zombies or are just curious about what happens when slavery is replaced by undead laborers- try it out. I don't regret reading it, but I probably won't be reading it a second time.

Vengeance by J.E. Taylor [Review]

Title: Vengeance

Author: J.E. Taylor

Genre: Suspense, Horror

Release: October 31, 2010

Publisher: Fido Publishing 

Sold by: Amazon Digital
ASIN: B004A8ZUW6

Reviewer: Mona

4 out of 5 Robots!

 

About the Book:

Living large in New York City as a corporate lawyer for the most savvy drug lord on the East Coast, Special Agent Steve Williams carefully plots Charlie Wisnowski's downfall. His plans go to hell when his wife Jennifer survives an attack by a serial killer. With her life in jeopardy and his undercover guise threatening to unravel, he orders Charlie's arrest. But the sting goes woefully wrong and Steve becomes the target of a mafia assassin hired by the biggest crime boss in America.

Escaping from the city, Steve and Jennifer settle back into their quiet life on the banks of Mirror Lake. Their peaceful existence shatters with a crippling loss while Jennifer's visions escalate, forecasting a brutal assault on their family.

My Review:

In Vengeance by J.E. Taylor the suspense is the key ingredient to this amazing story. This  hardcore fast paced murder mystery thriller is packed full of action and intrigue. With an interesting look into the possible life of an undercover agent, we see some of the things that could go wrong, or in some cases right!

Taylor takes us on a whirlwind tour of the excitement and terror as we witness the agony of this couple as the try to live the double life of undercover operatives.

A well written story, with characters you feel for the more you read about them. This Thriller grabs you, runs you through the paces and leaves you wanting to know more. With an ending as this book has it will leave you wondering what will happen next!

For this reader as I finished the book, it left me with a feeling that there is more to this story, that it isn’t over and I personally cannot wait to see if I am right, and to see what happens next for this courageous family!  I recommend this book to all readers!