“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.

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“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?

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.

 

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.

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.

Vortena by Neven Iliev

Author: Neven Iliev
Title: Vortena
Series: Everybody Loves Large Chests 3
Genre: Fantasy, Adult
Pages: 444
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

Dunno what happens in November and why everyone needs translations done, but it happens, and I am very tired with way too much on my plate. So, wasn’t feeling like any serious book. Resulting in the happy little find: apparently Everybody Loves Large Chests already got the third book out called “Vortena” by Neven Iliev. And there was a lot of good in this book. But one big fat bad too.

About: Boxxy is on a quest to level up and find more shinies and tasties. It would be preferable to do so via Unholy Wealth ritual, but if leveling up is what it takes, he’ll do it. To help along the way he blackmails a lich into becoming part of the team. One that he killed himself in the past. Twice. But, being just a brainless box, he didn’t see how that could possibly create an issue with loyalty, and, destroying newly found dungeon left and right, went on the quest. After all, the dilema wasn’t the Nasty new team member. It was the fact that upon leveling up Boxxy will cease being this perfect shape of a chest. He’ll evolve into a brand new creature.

Mine: There were a lot of great and funny moments, not the smallest being Boxxy’s agoraphobia, or his quick dubbing of lich as “nasty” due to her horrible flavor. But one thing bothered me from the second it occurred: I will absolutely never understand why rape is necessary for character development when everything else points to it being unnecessary. Including the common sense. So after the character finally got abused to a point where she started considering suicide, the rest of the book just stopped being as amusing. The only excuse that left me reading was the fact that she was given great power, and as sincere an apology as one could give under the circumstances, including the improvement in behavior towards her.

It’s an alright book. Was pretty funny at points, and I still love this concept of a mob being the hero. Our little gnome story was upsetting tho, and absolutely unnecessary. 4 out of 5 is the very best I can do, merely because I hope in the next book she takes some form of closure-vengeance.

NonFiction | “Discipline Equals Freedom” by Jocko Willink

Author: Jocko Willink
Title: Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual
Series: –
Genre: Nonfiction, Self Help
Pages: 189
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

Don’t know about you, but I always need an extra kick as December creeps in. November is just such a meh month. So I picked up the shortest book by my favorite motivator, Jocko Willink, and learned me some things.

About: The book goes through three points of your health. The mind, motivation, mentality, and that little evil voice that tries to sabotage you, by telling you you’ve done enough, rest now. The food, what you eat, how that affects your body. And, of course, the physique, discipline of working out. Author is straight forward, there will be no coddling, but he’s not going to be mean to you either. He’ll teach you exactly how to catch yourself sabotaging your own work and, hopefully, you’ll apply it. Because you might not be able to do all the workouts he so extensively described here. But in his own words, you surely can do something. So do something. Do anything. Do.

Mine: I like how Jocko Willink found that golden middle between patting your shoulder, and outright kicking your butt. He’ll tell you you can do it. He’ll tell you you will do it. And he’ll also tell you, that if you think that you can’t, you’re lying to yourself, so do more. On purpose, out of principle, do more, beat that little voice, because you can, and you will. And I love it. There was a little too much of work-out routine descriptions, and since I don’t know all the English terms for them, I skimmed over most. But I did love how he explained the usage of such physical activity. Mind you, though, I live with manic depression. This book reads very different while depressed, and while not. So if you didn’t like it at some point in life, give it another shot. Good luck, and hang in there.

It was a healthy read, and indeed has got me going with motivation and want to do more. We’ll see if I can stop sabotaging myself. This one gets a 4 out of 5 from me, but I admit, I am curious about what other ones might be like.

Dracul by Dacre Stoker

Author: Dacre Stoker
Title: Dracul
Series: –
Genre: Gothic, Historical
Pages: 512
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

I’m a little overwhelmed. “Dracul” by Dacre Stoker definitely made me re-think all the books about vampire Dracula that I’ve ever read. And it got me real interested in Bram Stoker himself, so I hope to find books on the man, not just articles online that I’ve read extensively for hours after finishing this.

About: The book, at least at the start of it, is a loosely biographical on Bram Stoker. He was a very sickly child, bedridden. At age seven he almost died of fever, saved in a wicked dream by their mysterious nanna Ellen Crone. After he woke up, strong, and even able to get up, all healed and cured, everyone denied any help from Ellen, and claimed he was cured by his uncle and his leeches. Only his sister Matilda believed him. To add to the mystery, nanny herself packed up and disappeared without a word or anyone noticing, leaving kids on a wild investigation full of nightmares and more questions than answers, up until they had to abandon the cold trail. Nanna Ellen was gone for good. But only a few decades later Matilda spotted her in the streets of France, not aged a day, and the nightmares began again.

Mine: The whole search for Ellen Crone reminded me of Kostova’s “Historian“, and annoyed me to no end. There’s a lot of clue following, and a lot of nonsense too, like memories where you can look upon something from a different angle. What’s next, you open a locked door and know what’s behind it, all in a hypnotic memory? Dracul was a very childish and childishly stubborn idiot too, clever in his ways, but making no sense in his actions. There’s a lot of the “you’ll learn to love me” action that bothered me to no end too. And then the whole book was redeemed by author’s final word, which again makes me wonder: is the joke that had to be explained to be funny – really funny?

I will give this book a 4 out of 5, merely because it made me think and research things on my own. Anything that can evoke action or emotion in you in a book – is a well made thing. But honestly, make sure you love gothic classics, and that you don’t mind Kostova’s “Historian“, before picking this one up.

How the White Trash Zombie got her Groove Back by Diana Rowland | White Trash Zombie 4

Author: Diana Rowland
Title: How the White Trash Zombie got her Groove Back
Series: White Trash Zombie
Genre: Horror, Paranormal
Pages: 328
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

I’m having a love-hate relationship with White Trash Zombie series. On one hand, Angel is pretty damn nice character, and the plot at times gets real good. On the other hand, there’s just no click, no hook, I could quit any time and not think twice. And this is fourth book!

About: Saberton corp, the one that tried to make zoldiers, by turning zombies using synthetic brains, just doesn’t know when to quit. But seeing how they figured they lack the brain power (I regret nothing), they kidnapped a scientist from Angel’s zombie tribe. The same one who was trying to help Philip, her zombie baby, the one she had to turn, the one Saberton fed fake brains upon creation. And since his treatment wasn’t concluded upon kidnapping, they’re in a lot of trouble. Gathering up the zombie gang they all make their way to New York, with Philip having ever more intense episodes, and both of their rot not going away. On top of that, their friends got secrets and troubles to solve in New York too, not to mention some scores that need settling with Saberton…  so off to New YooooOOooorrrk! (if you’ve not heard the tune, I’m very disappointed)

Mine: I like Angel, yes. She’s smart in her own way, and is trying her best to improve against all odds. To a point where one too many decisions Marcus makes for both of them, without consulting her, leaves him single. She adjust on the spot, and I like that kind of thinking. And if that’s not enough praise, this petite zombie babe smacked a… a mean lady in the teeth and didn’t even spill her beer! Mind you, mean lady had it coming, and was ready to inflict far more pain and damage than Angel did. I like the new Philip too, he seems interesting, and his episodes are hilarious. I know they probably shouldn’t be, but they are, and it was very funny, and I laughed a lot.

I like it just enough to continue. Plot is fairly fresh, and I do like Angel, but I do hope that ending wasn’t a mad omen. For now, 4 out of 5. Like like like.

Mavericks by Craig Alanson | Expeditionary Force 6

Author: Craig Alanson
Title: Mavericks
Series: Expeditionary Force 6
Genre: Sci-Fi, Military Sci-Fi
Pages: 275
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

I’ve waited, and I’ve waited, and then I got it, and so I’ve read it all in one sitting. Sixth book in the Expeditionary Force by Craig Alanson, the “Mavericks” was maybe not exactly to my liking, since it followed the other humans in space, but it was still a very fine read.

About: Most of the book follows the other surviving humans who now call themselves Mavericks. The ones that didn’t get to escape with Joe Bishop and become part of Merry Band of Pirates. In fact, they don’t even know such one exists. All they know is that them and Hamsters too have figured that the enemy of my enemy might just be my friend. So humans joined their military forces, for that might just be the only thing most of these folk know how to do, and are driven to do too. Not all of them, of course. It’s not like any of them expected anymore to get a lift home, especially since the wormhole by Earth, that has caused Earth so much troubles, has turned dormant. And those who did have hopes soon had them crushed anyway, once the team learned that the enemy has decided to break rules and create a bio-weapon with humans, the ones who call themselves Keepers of Faith, still serving the evil motherf-ckers, being the main carriers and possibly the main targets back on Earth.

Mine: While I really do prefer Joe and Skippy having a banter or two, this book made perfect sense. This side of the story had to be told, and so it is better to see it unfold now, in action, rather than hear about it later, in a monologue. Plus, the writing is really high-quality, and the jokes, the jokes are damn fine, even if they did get more spaced apart.

Yep, this was fun. Not as fun as the previous book, but really, really fun. So I give this one a 4 out of 5, and wait for the next one just as eagerly.