book review | The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings by Lily Morton | Black and Blue 1

Author: Lily Morton
Title: The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings
Series: Black and Blue 1
Genre: Paranormal, LGBT Romance
Pages: 301
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

“The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings” by Lily Morton, not even a full chapter in, became my slow read. It wasn’t bad, no. It was just full of angry, murderous ghosts!

About the Book: Levi Black inherited a beautiful house in York. Abandoned due to scary reputation it stood there waiting to sooth the man after a painful break-up. Levi’s joy to have a home like that stands firm when contractors run scared, and guests flee before dark. Even the clear footsteps, all enveloping darkness, and strange chuckling heard from it are barely getting through at him. But once locked doors start swinging open, things slam into walls, and it becomes evident the house owner, the dead one, yes, wants him out – dead or alive – Levi looks around for some help. Lucky for him, the blue haired man leading Ghost Tours past his house might just have an answer or two.

My Opinion: At times the plot seemed a bit dragged, and the cliche events for character development, such as “let’s argue because we misunderstood one another” and “a wild ex appears, uses charm” didn’t help either. But then, the story is filled with thriller-like detective, scary ghosts, characters running for their lives, barricading themselves in rooms, and otherwise having scary kind of fun.

In general, I think it’s worth it to forgive the current hiccups due to this being the first book. I can give it a 4 out of 5, and will read the next.

book review | “Grave Importance” by Vivian Shaw | Dr. Greta Helsing 3

Author: Vivian Shaw
Title: Grave Importance
Series: Dr Greta Helsing 3
Genre: Urban Fantasy; Vampires
Pages: 397
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

“Grave Importance” by Vivian Shaw concludes the wonderful Dr Greta Helsing trilogy. I’m going to miss them all very dearly.

About the Book: Down in hell, Greta’s good friend demon Fass is trying to detangle the mess his predecessor left. Somewhere in all this data there’s an answer as of why is the veil of reality thinning so rapidly, and where it originates from. Lucky for him, their common friend Lord Ruthven catches a nasty curse during his travel with the newly found beloved boyfriend, and only the hell’s very own dr Faust can help; where in return Ruthven can help Fass. Greta, in the meantime, is having her own troubles upstairs on Earth. Entrusted to take care of the mummy resort, she’s overloaded with work and stress. Mummies seem to be having a strange attack of random faintness. All well and good if the mummy is sitting or laying down. But what about those in motion? One such she had to fix for strenuous hours, and swore to herself she’ll reach the bottom of this…

My Opinion: Characters are just absolutely wonderful and lovable, and thus will be very greatly missed now that the great tale of infernal adventures have ended. The story itself is good too, very fitting lazy reading, taking it on a slower pace than it is told, which again makes me sad, for I don’t have another book like this I could take my time with.

A masterful piece. Strong 5 out of 5 and then some.

book review | Fat Vampire by Johnny B. Truant | Vampire lit.

Author: Johnny B. Truant
Title: Fat Vampire
Series: Fat Vampire 1
Genre: Vampires; Humor
Pages: 196
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

Ah, there it is, the “Fat Vampire” that I did want to read, first in the Fat Vampire series by Johnny B. Truant. Though it ends so well it could very well be a stand alone too. I appreciate the non-cliffhanger endings.

About the Book: Reginald never really thought of whether he’d like to be a vampire or not. His days were spent busy trying to survive adult bullies at his job. And they say it gets better after high-school! But even with all that in mind, once given a choice to die or become a vampire, Reginald didn’t hesitate, and made a choice he found himself enjoying greatly: as a vampire he was faster, stronger, and didn’t start dripping sweat by merely moving about. Yet his maker still watched him with a degree of pity for some reason…

Humans who wish to become vampires train martial arts, work out, eat right, just to be their best self, have that muscle memory, all that. And by having to go through a test formed by a vampire council Reginald will soon discover what it’s like being fat in this world of darkness.

My Opinion: Characters felt a little too dull, more like better versions of groupies ready to propel Reginald through the plot. And the jokes were a tad on the dull side. But the plot was clever, well condensed, and had a good pace to it. All in all making it a nice, different afternoon read.

I’m definitely giving this book a very solid 4 out of 5, and I do believe I’ll take me the next book in the series too.

book review | The Last Necromancer by C.J. Archer | Steampunk lit.

Author: C.J. Archer
Title: The Last Necromancer
Series: The Ministry of Curiosities 1
Genre: Historical Fiction; Steampunk
Pages: 268
Rate: 3/5 | Goodreads

I’ve been on a quest to find me some books on warlocks and necromancers, and I’ve succeeded to gather a little trove of them. Starting with “The Last Necromancer” by C.J. Archer, the first in The Ministry of Curiosities series. And while it had its issues, it was pretty decent.

About the Book: Charlie lived on the street, joining gangs and moving on when need arose, ever since her father put her out of his house for raising her dead mother. He then decided she’s a devil’s daughter, and she learned to hide her gift. Up until she got in trouble and had to revive a dead man to defend her. Now two men in league with supernatural are fighting over Charlie, for it seems she’s the last of her kind. But Charlie isn’t sure whom she can trust in this, if anyone at all.

My Opinion: There were these not very important, but real annoying plot nuances that bothered me to the core. Charlie sometimes made decisions without having anything real to base them on. Like the time she decided she’ll be hunted relentlessly by a man she saw once, from afar. Then there’s a lot of repeating, it’s like you’re getting re-briefed on the topic you just had been briefed on in the previous paragraph. But other than that, flaws and all, I liked how down to earth Charlie was, her simplicity. She’s scared, she wants to hurl, and her powers are relatively useless seeing how dead people don’t just lay about to defend her. It made for a plot that was just interesting enough to oversee the flaws.

I give this book a solid 3 out of 5 and will definitely read the next one. Simple, but hey, it’s the first book.

book review | Queen Takes Checkmate by Joely Sue Burkhart | Their Vampire Queen 5

Author: Joely Sue Burkhart
Title: Queen Takes Checkmate
Series: Their Vampire Queen 5
Genre: Polyamorous Romance; Vampires
Pages: 350
Rate: 3-5 | Goodreads

Hmm. It seems to me that often first three books in the series are the best ones. “Queen Takes Checkmate” by Joely Sue Burkhart not being an exception, what with the great culmination towards the battle with the god of light, Ra, and the flop that it felt to be.

About the Book: Shara absolutely cannot live in fear of Ra, the God of Light. Not fear for herself, not fear for others. And so he must die, for a Queen of Darkness cannot pray and receive peace from a God of Light. But how does one kill an immortal god whose very presence causes you physical pain?

My Opinion: The plot relied too much on sex, thus greatly weakening the actual action, sequence of events, battles, fights. Ra was not a misunderstood hero, a villain in someone’s story, no he was a mere old fashioned pig who underestimated women, because they’re that: women. And personalities of characters are falling short too, very rapidly to that. Maybe there’s finally too many of all those Bloods (“knights“).

I still hope it picks up with the next book. This one sadly only gets a 3 out of 5 from me.

book review | Fat Vampire: A Never Coming of Age Story by Adam Rex | humor lit.

Author: Adam Rex
Title: Fat Vampire: A Never Coming of Age Story
Series: –
Genre: Vampire Literature; Humor
Pages: 324
Rate: 2/5 | Goodreads

There are two books called “Fat Vampire” out there. Adam Rex wasn’t the one I wanted to read. Well, I paid for my mistake, so you don’t have to.

About the Book: Someone has turned a whole bunch of teenagers into vampires. Their new vampire tutors, here to teach them to be predators who don’t put the family to shame, are trying to find out who, but no one can really remember much. Except that boys mostly agree it was a hot foreigner woman. And while these elder vampires chase the wild goose, newly made vampire teens are to deal with being, well, vampire teenagers, drama in school and all that wonderful stuff. Some soon start having doubts about this whole coolness deal of being a vampire tho. Like Dug, who didn’t even grow more than peach fuzz on his face, and was overweight when he turned. And you’re now saying he has to remain this for an eternity?? Is there really no way out?

My Opinion: Plot was greatly lacking. Like a bunch of random teenage sit-com episodes barely strung together by mysterious turn of the teens that the not-turned side saw as mysterious change in those previously uncool people. Author seems it’s funny that teenagers are all dumb and don’t understand anything, but gracefully adds that adults are also dumb and don’t understand anything. Neither sets of jokes were funny, and the mocking of stereotypes made me roll my eyes, so I just hope both of them are still facing forwards. And as for characters? They’re all so painfully two-dimensional, that side-characters might not even existed.

It’s a no from me. A 2 out of 5.

book review | Dracula: The Modern Prometheus by Rafael Chandler | Dracula lit.

Author: Rafael Chandler
Title: Dracula: The Modern Prometheus
Series: –
Genre: Dracula; Retelling
Pages: 266
Rate: 3/5 | Goodreads

“Dracula: The Modern Prometheus” by Rafael Chandler is definitely the strangest retelling of Marry Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” that I have ever read. It’s both good and bad at the same time.

About the Book: Mina Harker had no clue what nightmare her life will become when she ventured out into Transylvanian mountains, to visit her firm’s client, Countess Dracula in her secluded castle. An older, eccentric, scientist greeted her into her home that soon became Mina’s prison. But true dread for her life miss Harker only felt upon finding Dracula’s laboratory where she seemingly tried to raise the dead. Driven by fear Mina not so much escaped as was released, but nightmare didn’t end there. For countess was growing short on scientific material in her homeland, and discovered she could find more in that of Mina’s…

My Opinion: After two gender swaps, one role swap, and a whole load of very dull retelling of too well known tales, we got some good shiny pearls. Dracula’s Monster Eve beautifully evolved before our very eyes, bickering with Dracula like one would: from stages of a child versus motherly figure who wasn’t very motherly, then from a stage of a rebellious teenager. Key difference were the actual fights, for Dracula, as often noted, was indeed a fierce warrior, and stood her ground where mortals fell, killing those virtuous vampire hunters left and right. The whole fight against Dracula, betrayals, crossings and double-crossings were written very well too.

So the biggest flaw in this whole book was the need to base such thick portion of it on a tale we all already heard. If author found a way to do so without stepping into old footprints, the book would’ve been a masterpiece. Which leads me to a conclusion that author has much more to show us, and it might be worth keeping an eye out. This book gets a 3 out of 5, yet I still would consider it one of the better ones out there.

book review | Queen Takes Rook by Joely Sue Burkhart | Their Vampire Queen 4

Author: Joely Sue Burkhart
Title: Queen Takes Rook
Series: Their Vampire Queen 4
Genre: Paranormal Romance; Vampire
Pages: 244
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

Finally I got to put my paws on fourth book in Their Vampire Queen series by Joely Sue Burkhart, called “Queen Takes Rook“. Sadly this one’s much slower than the other ones, but the lore is getting better and better.

About the Book: House Skye is infamous with the power and cruelty. And their Queen expects to take Shara Isador, the last of her House, to swear to House Skye and be her sib (sibling, sister). Shara, not caring one bit for the cruelty towards herself or anyone else, especially not her Bloods (knights) sees no other option but to fight, and if push comes to shove – destroy House Skye. But to do so she needs a strategy wrought from iron, for some of her Bloods have Skye blood in them, and thus can be used against Shara and themselves too. And yet, that’s by far not all House Skye has in store for her…

My Opinion: The lore here is truly great. I’d happily read a whole book on how god of light, Ra, is the bad guy here. Be it because he is a bad guy, or because he’s the bad guy for vampires. As the saying goes, we’re all villains in someone’s story. Then there’s whole shifting vampires thing. Some turn to beasts, animals. But others turn to mythological creatures, from unicorns to leviathan dragons. The only true but big complaint I have is the slowness of the plot. There were too many unrelated steps before we finally got to see some vampiric scheming and ass kicking in leviathan proportion.

A good, short, steamy vampire read. 4 out of 5 from me.

book review | Fear the Light by William Massa | Fear 1 | Dracula lit.

Author: William Massa
Title: Fear the Light
Series: Fear 1
Genre: Dracula, Vampires
Pages: 210
Rate: 2/5 | Goodreads

Other than those few historical classics I got recommended way back when, my attempt to read one Dracula book a month became this game of hit or miss. For instance, I truly did miss greatly with Fear the Light by William Massa.

About the Book: Someone is slaying clan vampires, starting with their master, their Creator, the oldest and most powerful vampire alive, formerly, Dracula. Now his clan cowers trapped in their master’s manor in the middle of the day. It was supposed to be a peaceful paying of respects to their late Father in Darkness and someone’s ascension to power, the clan leader position. Instead an invisible force is picking them off one by one. And everyone got a motive.

My Opinion: A poor imitation of Agatha Christi mysteries, where a group of people gets trapped somewhere, and someone’s killing them all. Shallow characters whose tragic stories did help, but otherwise didn’t make them any more interesting or missed. And that godawful trope one often sees in Dracula books, but usually he’s the one getting that stick of: the best of the best can’t beat you, but here comes a rando with a butter knife and you’re done. The End.

Mmno. 2 out of 5.

book review | The Mark by Lee Mountford | horror lit.

Author: Lee Mountford
Title: The Mark
Series: –
Genre: Horror Literature; Thriller
Pages: 290
Rate: 2/5 | Goodreads

It’s hard to find good horror genre books. The Mark by Lee Mountford isn’t one of them either.

About the Book: One night a stranger breaks into Kirsty’s home, drugs her, and brands her back with strange occult symbols. Ever since she had no peace. At first she thought of the visions of nightmarish creatures as delusions or PTSD symptoms. But when her friend is attacked by the same demons, she knows she only has one option now: find the man who did this, and make him take it away.

My Opinion: This is some poor writing. Weird, unnatural feeling dialogues. Very precise, predictable sequence of actions and events. Everyone around Kirsty seem to be delusional and incompetent by some degree. For instance, the detective on the case waves the main lead off as irrelevant. While Kirsty somehow finds the man by his eyes that she saw once, many years ago. Her moral compass was firm, but lacked any logic behind it. It was there to make you feel for this woman who otherwise was bland, and lacked personality. The best thing in this whole book was the demon, because it turned out to be something akin to djinn Bartimaeus: seemingly the big bad, but is it, really?

Pass, 2 out of 5 from me.