Vanishing Games by Roger Hobbs | Jack White 2

Author: Roger Hobbs
Title: Vanishing Games
Series: Jack White 2
Genre: Thriller, Crime
Pages: 304
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

Am I wrong or have I read the first Jack White book last year in December too? All I remember is that I loved it a lot. So when I saw second book among my audiobook recommended, I had to snag it. It’s almost as good as the first one, read it whole while making Holiday presents for people.

About: If you need Jack White, you’ll get to jump a lot of safety hoops and obstacles. For he can afford you not finding him. Because, if you couldn’t find him, you likely weren’t worth his time anyway. For Jack White is a Ghostman. He doesn’t exist, in a sense, for he can be anyone, anywhere, and then someone else the next minute. In this game his due to boredom, so the least you could do is have him an interesting job to offer…

What Jack definitely didn’t expect was to get a message from his mentor. The woman who once taught him this art of vanishing. She claims she’s in danger, and if she says so, it’s likely plenty serious. This time it all happens somewhere deep in Asia, where one of her crew members tripped over every local gang, it seems, and then disappeared together with the rest of the crew. The gangs smell blood and money, though, and they feel no scruples over tossing an outsider or two down the pier in trash bags. They’re able too, for the whole damn country belongs to them.

Mine: This is one of those rare books where very details is amazing and wanted. There’s plenty of books in my shelf where I could barely get through the details, mentally asking the author for how long can they be telling me all this unnecessary stuff. But not here, here everything was amazing. I learned a lot about counterfeit money, and payment of a crew member, a robber. And how that payment can shift depending on your experience, skill, and sometimes – role. Jack didn’t disappoint me either, he’s still just as interesting, even if at times I had my doubts.

I might be biased, for I always liked crime books told from point of view of criminals who lived to tell the tale. If you got books like that, recommend me some, I always hunt for new ones, for there aren’t many. This one gets 5 out of 5, for I loved it.

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“White Trash Zombie Unchained” by Diana Rowland | White Trash Zombie 6

Author: Diana Rowland
Title: White Trash Zombie Unchained
Series: White Trash Zombie 6
Genre: Zombies, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 354
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

Ah, and so here I am, done with the very last book in the White Trash Zombie series. They were alright, had its good moments, and those very good moments, along with mediocre, bad, and way too common ones. So here’s the last of it.

About: Just another crime scene, it seemed. Up until the corpse got right up and attacked her, all while being mangled and half-eaten by the crocodiles. Angel has seen this before, so she quickly took care of the immediate problem. But what about the crocodiles? They, in the meantime, are successfully spreading an epidemic of shambling zombies, brainless, movie-kind of creatures, and Angel seems to be the source of it all. But there’s just no time for self-pity when people are literally killing each other for brains from mere mosquito bites. It got out of hand, and it reached a level where Angel’s tribe has no choice but to join their forces with their worst enemy, evil corp, Saberton. For better or worse remains to be seen…

Mine: What I truly enjoyed here was sense people had. They: hey, you’re in danger, we have safe spot, come over, or we send someone to pick you up. People: gotcha, will be right there, and will ask all the questions I am absolutely having in safety. This fantastic adult logic is so rare I was starting to think it didn’t exist outside KJC books. Other than that, there’s plenty of action for two books in this one, so other than Angel’s and other characters too, pointing fingers to themselves in explanation that they did what they did, because they’re this particular label – it was a good book. Still it’s extremely bothersome when author feels the need for their character to break a window and tell you “I did this because I’m a redneck, this is how we do it“. Can I maybe just gather that from the story, please? No? Okay.

All in all, I can give both the series and the book 4 out of 5. If you’re tired of werewolves and vampires, but still like those stories we have by the shovel now, this is one for you. While they’re not my favorite, I don’t feel like I wasted time, so that’s definitely a something.

“The Uncommon Reader” by Alan Bennett

Author: Alan Bennett
Title: The Uncommon Reader
Series: –
Genre: Fiction, Humor
Pages: 120
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

I asked for a recommendation, and got this. A very light, humorous read that I can recommend to anyone who is currently having a reader’s block. It’s cozy, easy, and short.

About: On one of her walks with her corgis, queen felt obliged to take a book out of a mobile library. She didn’t really want to, but it didn’t feel right not to get one. And after she did, it was a shame to return it unread, so she did. The next time she again felt uneasy, but luckily there was this ginger boy from the kitchens, likely there due to his complexion, who gladly helped her choose. And so it all began.

Her advisers are doing their best to misdirect her luggage full of books. They sneak away with the books she stashed away, and excuse themselves later as fearing for her safety, assuming it was some kind of a threat, a bomb maybe. They all think that reading is infringing upon her duties, to a point, that was also the last straw, where they send out the boy who helped her to get an education. Far away. Queen has to gather her survival wits, it seems, and make a decision.

Mine: You know what’s the most interesting thing in this book? The queen is trying to read as much as she can, in a great hurry, for she is old, she started late, and she feels she needs to catch up. To those unwritten measures we readers have. It really kicks the reader’s block in the shins, I tell you. And the book itself is written so smoothly, with such marvelous humorous situations, that you really do feel like taking up a book afterwards, or in between chapters (of which there are none, just like, maybe a page that ends with a full sentence).

It’s a very light read. A day’s worth for when there’s time, maybe two when there’s none. I’ll give it a 4 out of 5, due to slow start that started rolling with no breaks later on. Now, tell me, my dear reader, what are your reading standards?

Bookish: Book ends that look like alleys of Japan

| MONDE | makes gorgeous book ends that look like life-like alleys of Japan. Equipped with beautiful little light they would surely make any shelf look gorgeous and magical.

Diversity | Dance with the Devil by Megan Derr

Author: Megan Derr
Title: Dance With the Devil
Series: Dance With the Devil 1
Genre: LGBT Literature, Paranormal
Pages.: 204
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

One of those books I picked up because I didn’t want to read or continue anything. A few times like that I found my favorite books. This is not the case, even though the book was pretty good. It’s the romance part that really messed it up, otherwise this would’ve been a paranormal detective, a supernatural private-eye, think about it, how amazing is that?

About: Chris is a paranormal detective, for paranormal people, for paranormal events. He’s half ghost, thanks to his powerful witch mother who back in the day managed to source enough energy to make his father a body for three whole days. This really helps in his line of work, where most secrets are either kept behind locked doors, or are whispered in private companies. And there’s indeed plenty of work! There’s a ghost in a goblin’s home; someone wants Chris to find a grimoire that belongs to Storm Demon; the said Storm Demon is a hoarder of grimoires, and is not likely to ever part with any; an enslaved imp is defying his gentle nature to survive; a demon of lust is trying to take over a werewolf pack that has no current leader; and so on, and on…

Mine: The book is made out of different cases, but they all interconnect into one story via several time-lines. There’s this marvelous atmosphere of a detective office, a private-eye for supernaturals, with imaginary sulfur and brimstone instead of cigar smoke and whiskey. Almost a half-ghost Sherlock. But that romance part really messes things up. Even if it was a good romance, which is not thanks to “no means convince me” mentality majority seem to have here, the worse thing for plot was them waving the Biggest Baddest demon ring that made everyone confess. Are you a detective or an enforcer of some kind?

I think I’ll read another one, just to see what’s better, if anything. But right now I don’t feel a very great need to continue with the series, so we’ll see. Currently, due to it definitely being not a bad story, I can give it a 4 out of 5.

 

“Misery” by Stephen King

Author: Stephen King
Title: Misery
Series: –
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Pages: 370
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

Sometimes someone I like and admire will speak about a book that inspired them. Then I must read that book. This time it was “Misery” by Stephen King, and it made me rethink everything I ever thought about the author. This was a scary, suspenseful read.

About: Paul Sheldon is an author. He just privately celebrated the fact that he finally killed off Misery, and can be done with those awful books. There’s even a new manuscript for a whole different story in his bag, as he makes his way out, out of a dreamy, painful state, with someone’s disgusting, putrid breath trying to resuscitate him.

Paul has been in a car accident where his legs got shattered. But Annie was there to save him, he’s very lucky. Annie is a trained nurse, so he’s in good hands. And on top of that, she is his biggest fan. She’s the biggest fan of Misery. She absolutely knows he didn’t really mean to kill her off. And with his legs broken like that, all he really has is time, so he might as well work, since being an author doesn’t require legs all that much. He might as well write a new novel of Misery. Just for Annie. For his biggest fan. After all, he indeed is very lucky she found him…

Mine: How terrifying is helplessness when you’re surrounded by unpredictable, insane monsters in human skins. And how much worse these monsters can be than any of those one ever saw in gothic novels. You can never trust a character in this story. The moment you’ll think the plan is flawless, the moment you think this will work… Will be the moment you’ll be tricked, and learn just how much worse it can get.

A good book indeed. Do not read this if humans as is worry, scare you. There’s nothing supernatural here, only insanity, unpredictable human behavior, pure cruelty. 5 out of 5 from me, and maybe I’ll even take another King’s book, we’ll see.

NonFiction: Tsundoku

I’m always amused by this word:
Tsundoku
Collecting / buying books and never getting around to reading them

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Abibliophobia
Fear of running out of reading material.

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Bibliobibuli
Someone who reads too much
(those don’t exist, I think)

White Trash Zombie Gone Wild by Diana Rowland | White Trash Zombie 5

Author: Diana Rowland
Title: White Trash Zombie Gone Wild
Series: White Trash Zombie 5
Genre: Zombies, Paranormal
Pages: 325
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

Not gonna lie, I’m a bit in a reading slum. Even such an easy and simple book as was the fifth book in White Trash Zombie was a tad tough. But at least it was fun, for the main plot line was pretty good.

About: Angel’s life is trying to fall apart just as she got it all together. After becoming a zombie she got a chance to ween off all the drugs she been doing due to them not working on her kind. But now there’s new pharma, just for zombies, and oh boy does it work nice. As long as she’s willing to stoop so low as to steal it from her sick Zombie Baby, the man she turned into zombie and who has been suffering side effects ever since, thus needing the treatment. On top of that, the zombie serial killer has returned, with extra footprints, no less, that lead straight to her ex, who she never thought to be this stupid, or this cold-blooded as to be a killer. And then the zombie movie showing real life footage of real live zombies doing their thing, killing, eating brains, with people Angel recognizes. All that added together threaten her and her kind into having to take drastic measures: Exodus

Mine: There’s something missing to make Angel’s personality pop, and I can’t figure what it is. She’s nice and all, but she could be real nice, you know? To add to that, I kinda hate how her redneckishness is only there via her pointing a finger and literally saying “I did this, because I’m a redneck / white trash“. Her father is becoming a father of the year too, but I’m a hopeful person, so I won’t be mad at that, and believe that it is possible. But my favorite part was Nick the Prick story line. Now that’s one curious sight to behold. Though it all gets spoiled if you think how many story lines were dropped for the sake of this one, and how everyone from the previous book just got their lives and moved on, or decided they hate Angel, and moved on.

It was okay. Above average as books like this go, but a bit far from being good just yet. I can still gladly give it a 4 out of 5, and will also gladly read the final book. It’s a good simple read, really.

Bookish | Some Damned Help

And this is just one of the reasons why I so love Lucien Vaudrey, Lord Crane.
I made the necklace there, you can see if it’s still available here: BLACKWOOD

|IG|

Diversity | Bloodline by Jordan L. Hawk | Whyborne & Griffin 5

Author: Jordan L. Hawk
Title: Bloodline
Series: Whyborne & Griffin 5
Genre: Paranormal, LGBT
Pages: 244
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

I don’t even remember when was the last time I’ve read a book from Whyborne & Griffin series by Jordan L. Hawk, but I do recall I wanted to do so sooner. After all, while not my favorite books, they are easy to read, and fun enough to get to and through. But here I am.

About: Widdershins, yet again, is under threat. And once again it is coming from the sea. Whyborne’s sister apparently knows something about it, so, while reluctant, for she never was all that kind to him, he agrees to come and meet her in a more secretive place. She likely hoped her adversary wouldn’t find her there, but as Whyborne and Griffin got to the place, all they found was her brutally murdered body. And Whyborne family drama doesn’t even end there. Distant family drops in, Whyborne’s cousins and such, all sorcerers came prepared to purge the city of which the very streets were built by a necromancer. They meet Whyborne with open arms. But warm feelings soon start fading once they figure out the threat is being called upon Widdershins by Whyborne family blood.

Mine: This was one of those rare books where side stories and dramas were more interesting than the main plot line. Main plot line achieved reminding me how much I used to love all the ocean creatures, meremen and mermaids, sea hags and whatnots. And how proportionally I dislike all of them now. But at least there’s Griffin and Christine, with their sense of humor – everything goes.

It was a good, fun, easy read, with great little story threads, and interesting thoughts there and here. I can give it a strong 4 out of 5, and I guess I don’t have to say it anymore, but just in case, yes, I do intend to continue reading the series. I always do.