ARC Review: Club Monstrosity by Jesse Petersen

Title: Club Monstrosity
Series: Monstrosity, Book 1
Author: Jesse Petersen
Publisher: Pocket Star
Length: 233 Pages
Publication Date: April 29, 2013
Available Format: Kindle Edition, eBook
Source: NetGalley
My Rating: ★★★★☆ 
Get it @: Amazon | Goodreads

Book Description:

Natalie’s one of Frankenstein’s creations and works in a New York City morgue. So of course she needs therapy. She and her friends—er, fellow monsters—have formed the world’s most exclusive, most dysfunctional support group. What could go wrong?

Undetected in the modern world and under pressure to stay that way, Natalie Grey, Dracula, Bob the Blob, and others (including the fetching wolfman Alec) meet regularly to talk about the pressures of being infamous in the Big Apple. Topics include how long it’s been since their last sighting, how their “story” creates stereotypes they can’t fulfill, and—gasp—sometimes even their feelings. But when their pervy Invisible Man, Ellis, is killed in a manner reminiscent of the H.G. Wells novel, it’s clear someone’s discovered their existence and is down for some monster busting.

Led by Natalie—and definitely not helped by Hyde’s bloodthirsty tendencies—the members of Monstofelldosis Anonymous band together for security and a little sleuthing. And maybe—maybe—if they don’t end up dead, they’ll end up friends somewhere along the way.

When I requested this book at NetGalley, I did it solely because of its blurb. Who could turn down the chance to see our favorite classical monsters adjust to modern day times? That they feel that they need to have a support group in order to be able to deal with all the changes that come with centuries of human evolution was just the icing on the cake. Based on that premise I was expecting to have a grand time while reading the story; and I’m so glad to say that the novel delivers.

Although the story is mostly mystery and horror, none of the deaths that occur throughout the narration are described as they are happening. No, these occur behind the scenes and we later find out about their gruesomeness alongside the characters. In a story about monsters that is quite a refreshing approach, so my hat tips to Ms. Petersen.

ARC Review: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Eternity Cure
Series: Blood of Eden, Book 2
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Length: 446 Pages
Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Available Format: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle Edition, eBook
Source: NetGalley
My Rating: ★★★★★
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Book Description:

She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever-and possibly end human and vampire existence.

There's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago-and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time.

Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make.

The Eternal Cure picks up a few months after the events of The Immortal Rules. Allie has been hunting Sarren, following the pull she feels toward her sire, Kanin. She’s getting close, she can feel it; her objective is to free Kanin from the evil hands of “crazy Psycho Vampire” as she calls Sarren. Unfortunately for her, things do not go quite as she envisions them.

Blog Tour: Wisteria by Bisi Leyton

Hey Everyone! How have you all been?

Did you read yesterday’s review? Where you intrigued to know more? Well then, I have a treat for you today, Bisi Leyton –author of Wisteria (the first novel in her YA PNR Series– has joined forces with Innovative Online Book Tours and us Bloggers to bring you a taste of the story. And today is your chance to read Wisteria’s Prologue and the complete first chapter.

But before we get to the reading I bet you are wondering who Bisy Leyton is? Well…

Bisi Leyton was born in East London in 1978. She grew up in London, Nigeria and the States, listening to the stories life and love from aunts, cousins and big sisters.

She lives in London, but has worked around Europe including France, Germany, Ireland, Belgium and the Czech Republic. She has a fondness for reading graphic novels.

You can find her @:

• Facebook, 
• Twitter (@bisileyton), 
• Goodreads, 
• Current Blog, and/or 
• Old Blog

Now, unto what you want to read ^.^ Enjoy…

Review: Wisteria by Bisi Leyton

Title: Wisteria
Series: Wisteria, Book 1
Author: Bisi Leyton
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: Aprox. 275 Pages, 484 KB
Publication Date: August 15, 2012
Available Formats: Kindle Edition, eBook
Source: IO Book Tours
My Rating: ★★★★☆
Get it @: Amazon | Smashwords | Goodreads

Book Description:

Sixteen year old Wisteria Kuti has two options—track the infected around the Isle of Smythe or leave the only known safe haven and face a world infested with flesh eating biters. But even with well-armed trackers, things go wrong and Wisteria ends up alone facing certain death, until she is rescued by the mysterious Bach. Uninfected, Bach is able to survive among the hordes of living dead.

Eighteen year old Bach, from a race known as The Family, has no interest in human affairs. He was sent here to complete his Great Walk and return home as a man—as a Sen Son. The Family regard humans as Dirt People, but Bach is drawn to this Terran girl, whom he has never seen before, but somehow knows.

Hunted by flesh eaters, cannibals, and the mysterious blood thirsty group called Red Phoenix, Wisteria and Bach make their way back to the Isle of Smythe, a community built on secrets and lies.

This book is classified as Young Adult Paranormal Romance, and although it fits the bill, the story itself pulls from a wider set of norms. In fact, the novel has many elements of the horror and the sci-fi genre. To begin with, the story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a scientifically created virus has turned most of humanity into flesh –and brain– eating zombies. Sprinkle the mix with a healthy dose of mostly older sexy teenage aliens and inter-dimensional traveling and you have the recipe for great entertainment.

Movie Review: Resident Evil: Retribution

Movie: Resident Evil: Retribution (also: Resident Evil 5)
Genres: Horror, Action, Thriller, Sci-Fi
Runtime: about 96 minutes
Format: 2D and 3D
Rated: R
Studio: Constantin Film
Country: USA
Language: English
Official Website: http://www.residentevil-movie.com/site/

Director: Paul W. S. Anderson
Producers: Paul W. S. Anderson, Jeremy Bolt, Don Carmody, Samuel Hadida, Robert Kulzer
Writer: Paul W. S. Anderson
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Kevin Durand, Sienna Guillory, Shawn Roberts, Aryana Engineer, Colin Salmon, Johann Urb, Boris Kodjoe, Li Bingbing.

Release Date: September 14, 2012
Find it: At your local Cinema
Scores:

Metacritic: 39/100 (critics); 5.6/10 (users)
Rotten Tomatoes: 27% (critics); 56% (users)

My Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Hey everybody, let's play "name that quote," shall we? Can you name which character said this particular line and which of the Resident Evil movies is it from?

"You are all going to die down here!"

Well, if you said "The Red Queen, Resident Evil 1," you are CORRECT!! Congratulations! You are either a fan of the movie franchise or well acquainted with your pop culture.

If your answer was "The Red Queen, Resident Evil: Retribution (or RE: 5)," you are most certainly CORRECT as well. Congratulations! You have officially been tortured at the movie theater.

Interview with John Raab from Suspense Magazine

I want to ask you all, how many of you love a good Mystery and Suspense story? I’m not sure if it’s just curiosity or what exactly, but sometimes I love to read (or watch) a good story that scares me or that keeps me at the edge of my seat. If I get the opportunity to read it for free, well, even better. That is exactly what Green Lake it’s building up to be, a great and thrilling read. Green Lake it’s a special, ongoing project by the creators of Suspense Magazine; a website dedicated to, like the name suggests, suspense, mystery, horror and thriller fiction. And today we welcome the magazine’s own CEO and Publisher, Mr. John Raab.

Me: First of all welcome to Journey with Words and thank you for stopping by today.

John: Thank you for having me here, I’m delighted to stop by.

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.

John: I’m the CEO / Publisher of Suspense Magazine. Not only am I a fan of books, but also sports and music. I’m married with four children and live in Los Angeles, CA. Other than that, I’m a pretty boring person on the outside, but my brain won’t stop working and always think of new ways to scare people.

Q: For those who haven’t heard from Suspense Magazine yet, what can you tell us about it? How long have it been running?

John: Suspense Magazine is a monthly magazine that is dedicated at bringing the inside information on the suspense / mystery / thriller / horror genre. We started the magazine almost five years ago and have been fortunate to not only still be around, but grow to 17 countries. We are an all-electronic magazine, giving us the ability to spread out to the entire globe and cover the genre from many angles. The publishing world today is so crazy, keeping up with it is a difficult task in itself.

Q: There are so many great articles on the magazine, how do you narrow down and choose what goes and what stays for each issue?

ARC Review: Dark Light by Carl Hose

Title: Dark Light
Series: Standalone
Editor: Carl Hose
Publisher: MARLvision Publishing
Length: 518 Pages
Publication Date: June 15, 2012
Reviewed Format: ARC Edition: Kindle Edition, PDF
Source: Supplied by the editor through IO Book Tours
My Rating: ★★★★★
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

Book Description:

Dark Light is the light that shines through when some of the finest writers in horror use the power of their words for something good. That’s the case with this anthology—42 writers coming together to help support the Ronald McDonald House Charities and all the good the organization does for families every day of the year.

Make no mistake, though. These are horror writers and the stories they’ve written are not pretty. Traditional and non-traditional horror, dark humor, ghosts, serial killers, alternate universes, magic, zombies, and other creatures of the night hide between these pages. Shadows move and dead fingers stroke unsuspecting flesh, razor sharp knives shimmer in the moonlight, and unknown things hide in closets and under the bed. The stories here are as varied as the writers themselves. If you’re a fan of horror, you will not be let down.

Despite the horrific nature of these tales, however, their very existence in Dark Light stands as proof there will always be a light at the end of every tunnel.

Turn the lights down low and enjoy the show.

This book is an amazing anthology, 44 short stories by 42 extremely talented authors. Some of the stories are scary; others are downright creepy, while some leave a note of sadness at the end. Have you ever been reading a scene in a book and felt a chill go down your spine? I did while reading this book. It’s as gruesome as the genre gets, with a strange, albeit twisted, undertone of hope. It highlights human nature in the good, the bad and the extreme throughout many different scenarios. If you are a horror fan, this will be a great addition to your collection. If you want to taste the genre, this book will give you the perfect opportunity to test it out while also getting some serious quality reading. Best part is, if you buy this book you will be giving back to charity.

You read that right. I received this book for review as part of its Blog Tour thanks to Innovative Online Book Tours. Proceeds from the sales will go to The Ronald McDonald House Foundation.

The Roaster: (Title / Author)

Underworld: Awakening

Movie: Underworld: Awakening
Genre(s): Action, Fantasy, Horror
Runtime: 88 minutes
Format: 2D and 3D
Rating: R
Studio: Screen Gems
Country: USA
Language: English (with Spanish subtitles)
Official Website: http://www.entertheunderworld.com/

Director(s): Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein
Producer(s): David Kern, Gary Lucchesi, James McQuaide, Tom Rosenberg, Skip Williamson, Henry Winterstern, Len Wiseman, Richard S. Wright
Writer(s): Len Wiseman, John Hlavin, J. Michael Straczynski, Allison Burnett, Kevin Grevioux, Danny McBride
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, India Eisley, Theo James, Kris Holden-Ried

Release Date: January 20, 2012 (USA); January 26, 2012 (PR)
Find it: In a theater near you
Scores:

• Metacritic: 39/100 (critics); 7.2/10 (users)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 31% (critics); 75% (users)
• My rating: ★★★☆☆

Underworld: Awakening opened in theaters here in Puerto Rico this past Thursday. I have been a loyal fan to the franchise since the very first Underworld made its debut, so naturally by Friday I was, with ticket in hand and boyfriend in tow (not that he minded ~.^), walking into the cinema to enjoy the next chapter of this epic story. We managed to find some decent seats in the top level of the fully packed cinema. 45 minutes of movie trailers and same commercials that I can watch home and the movie began. Approximately an hour and a half later the credits began to roll and I was left with a feeling of “that’s it?!” Let me explain…

–  –  –  –  –  DISCLAIMER: SOME SPOILERS AFTER THIS LINE  –  –  –  –  –  –

Review: Teddy Bears and Tea Parties (Spoilers Free)

Title: Teddy Bears and Tea Parties
Series: Standalone Story, so far…
Author: S. Boyd Taylor
Illustrator: Jorge Rodas
Publisher: S. Boyd Taylor; Premium Illustrated Version edition
Publication Date: August 12, 2011
Reviewed Format: Kindle Edition
My Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5) (sorry, this code does not allow for half stars)

If you like your reviews spoiler free continue reading this post. If you don't mind a few spoilers, there is another version, a bit extended.

Ever wonder how things would have been if your favorite childhood toys all of a sudden came to life? Wouldn’t that had been the best time of your life, to finally have the toys interact back? What if they did but they were not as innocent and good as you thought them? What if instead of playing they’ll try to eat you alive? That is the premise of Teddy Bears and Tea Parties, a world where children most adapt or die and adults seem to be nowhere to be found.

I’m not even sure how to begin reviewing this one. Teddy Bears and Tea Parties is a short (about 13 pages long) that tells the story of young child, known throughout as “Little Girl”, who’s in a mission to find her kidnapped sister, Angie, who was taken by Him.

In Little Girl’s world magic has, somehow, come back and has given life to EVERYTHING, from the toys to even the houses; and everything is hungry and must be fed. There is a line in the book that pretty much summarizes its concept: “The world is alive since the magic came back, and children are small and make a good snack. And everything tricks and everything cheats and everything, everything, everything eats.” Much like this one there are a few other phrases that give a sense of creepiness and uneasiness, which I assume is what the author was going after.

Review: Teddy Bears and Tea Parties (Some Spoilers)

Title: Teddy Bears and Tea Parties
Series: Standalone Story, so far…
Author(s): S. Boyd Taylor

Illustrator: Jorge Rodas
Publisher: Publisher House if available
Publication Date: August 12, 2011
Reviewed Format: Kindle Edition
My Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5) (sorry, this code does not allow for half stars)

If you would prefer to read the review Spoiler Free, please follow this link.

Ever wonder how things would have been if your favorite childhood toys all of a sudden came to life? Wouldn’t that had been the best time of your life, to finally have the toys interact back? What if they did but they weren't as innocent and good as you thought them? What if, instead of playing, they’ll try to eat you alive? That is the premise of Teddy Bears and Tea Parties, a world where children most adapt or die and adults seem to be nowhere to be found.

I’m not even sure how to begin reviewing this one. Teddy Bears and Tea Parties is a short (about 13 pages long) that tells the story of young child, known throughout as “Little Girl”, who’s killing bears (yes, your read correctly, bears) left and right in order to find her kidnapped sister. The short opens with “Little Girl” wiping a blood stain from the kitchen window; afterwards she proceeds with her mission searching for her sister, Angie, who was taken by Him, also known as Himn; the evil character and main antagonist in the story.

In Little Girl’s world magic has, somehow, come back and has given life to EVERYTHING, from the toys to even the houses; and everything is hungry and must be fed. There is a line in the book that pretty much summarizes its concept: “The world is alive since the magic came back, and children are small and make a good snack. And everything tricks and everything cheats and everything, everything, everything eats.” Much like this one there are a few other phrases that give a sense of creepiness and uneasiness, which I assume is what the author was going after.

The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead by Max Brooks

Title: The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead
Series: Stand Alone Work
Author(s): Max Brooks
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Publication Date: September 23, 2011
Reviewed Format: e-Pub Edition
My Rating:  ★★★☆☆

Ok, I first heard about this book while watching Deadliest Warrior’s season finale in Spike. For those who don’t know the series takes two extremely famous (deadly) warriors and matches them up through computer based statistics; example: Alexander the Great vs Attila the Hun. For their latest season finale they decided to takes things to the paranormal level and match up Zombies vs Vampires.

Now, I got interested in the book so I research a bit about it and most of the reviews seem favorable so I went and got it. I wasn’t sure what to expect out of this book but humor wasn’t it and it is certainly extremely funny.

As the book begins you get a rundown of what are zombies, how they are created and how long they’ve been around. From there it moves into a more or less detailed description of which weapons and combat techniques are “proven” to work best on zombies. It shows the reader the various ways to survive a zombie attack ranging from fending oneself against 5 or 6 zombies, all the way to full blown apocalypse. It even gives advice on post-apocalyptic survival. From this point on the book details – in chronological order – numerous attacks through history and their outcomes. As a bonus, the reader gets an Appendix which examples how to keep an outbreak journal so that a zombie attack can be identified.

In all, the book is a funny way to kill some time. I’ll recommend it to anyone who likes zombies or dystopian themed books.