Peter and Max (Fables Novel) By: Bill Willingham Illustrator: Steve Leialoha

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Peter and Max (Fables Novel) By: Bill Willingham Illustrator: Steve Leialoha

Plot:

This story stars Peter Piper and his incorrigible brother Max in a tale about jealousy, betrayal and revenge. Set in two distinct time periods, prepare to travel back to medieval times and learn the tragic back-story of the Piper family, a medieval-era family of traveling minstrels. Then, jump into the present to follow a tale of espionage as Peter Piper slowly hunts down his evil brother for a heinous crime, pitting Peter’s talents as a master thief against Max’s dark magical powers. Based on the long-running and award-winning comic book series FABLES, PETER AND MAX is its own tale. Readers don’t have to be familiar with the comics to fully enjoy and understand this book.

Review:

I’ve read several of the Fables graphic novels and I’ve had this book on my to read list for years, it’s crazy that it took me this long to read.

I found it fun to read this universe in novel form and I think it worked very well, however I don’t know if someone who’s never read the comics would appreciate it as much. There were several references to things that you wouldn’t fully understand if you hadn’t read the comics. I think someone who had never read them could understand what was going on, but I don’t think they’d fully appreciate it all.

It’s been a while since I’ve read the comics and I honestly don’t remember Peter and Bo, but after reading this I wouldn’t be adverse to finding out more. Peter was a master thief and Bo was an assassin, is that something you’d ever think Peter Piper and Little Bo Peep were capable of? That’s exactly what Fables is like though.

Some people call it an adult Once Upon a Time, but I don’t think that’s a good comparison. The writing in Fables is creative and entertaining and there are all kinds of twists. As much as I enjoy watching Once Upon a Time they just started another season with everyone losing their memories. Fables has taken the concept adult fairy tales and created an interesting and complicated world.

Anyways, back to the book. I did enjoy reading a novel in this world, but I thought there was a ton of build up with a couple paragraphs of payoff. It wasn’t enough for me. I understand why they couldn’t do a more detailed epilogue, but the ending was lacking and left me feeling unsatisfied, never a good feeling.

I would certainly read more novels written in this world and one day I will own all the graphic novels, but I’m a bit disappointed with Peter and Max and I bumped it down half a star.

3.5/5

Side note: Illustrations were great

The Hot Zone (Rainshadow #3) By: Jayne Castle

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The Hot Zone (Rainshadow #3) By: Jayne Castle

Plot:

The world of Harmony has its wonders, one of them being Rainshadow Island. Just beneath its surface, a maze of catacombs hides a dangerous secret…… Halloween—with its tricks and treats—is a dust bunny’s dream come true. Just ask Lyle, Sedona Snow’s faithful sidekick. But for Sedona, it’s a nightmare. Though her new job managing a small hotel and tavern on Rainshadow is helping her move on from her tragic past, a bizarre disaster down in the catacombs has brought a pack of rowdy ghost hunters to her inn. And now, Sedona’s ex has arrived on the island, claiming he wants to get back together, just as a newcomer appears to have a strong interest in her. Cyrus Jones is the new Guild boss in town. He has his own agenda when it comes to Sedona, but even the best-laid plans are no match for the passion that springs up on Rainshadow….
Review:

Reading the series out of order had no negative impact so if that ends up happening with you, don’t worry.

I really don’t know what it is about a scorned family member, but I really love those plots. It’s like, oh you thought it was okay to disown this person for something they had no control over? Well screw you they’re amazing and you missed out on so much because of it! Hahahahahahaha

Anyway, loved that bit of the story, I also enjoyed getting to see another Jones on Harmony. I really like when authors take families and write about them for multiple generations. Jude Deveraux and Nora Roberts do that a lot and I love it.

Sedona was a nice strong woman with a powerful talent and Cyrus was a strong, but not overbearing man, with an equally strong talent. They were made for each other and were a great partnership. I also liked the fact that Sedona worked for the guild and wasn’t in a non-combatant/girly role. She wasn’t a secretary or shopkeeper or scientists. She, at one point, welded a flame thrower. Awesome.

Love the series, can’t wait for more, write faster.

5/5

Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) By: Marissa Meyer

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Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) By: Marissa Meyer

Plot:

In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who’s only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

Review:

Cinder just can’t catch a break. Well, the people around her can’t catch a break, Cinder is doing alright by the end.

Cress was a great addition to the team, she brought a lot of needed skills, and although I knew she was going to wind up being the daughter of someone special it took me a minute to catch on to who it actually was. She also brought a very romantic point of view that wasn’t already in the series.

Scarlet and Wolf have still got a lot of issues as do Cinder and the Emperor. The world is going crazy, the Queen is still super evil, and I’m not sure if we’ll be able to resolve everything with the next book.

Speaking of next book, oh my god why did I have to catch up? Now I’m waiting and waiting for the next to come out. I’m also like number 93 on the wait list. Sad. I should probably buy them all. That’s what I should do.

5/5

Siren’s Call (Rainshadow #4) By: Jayne Castle

Sirens Call

Siren’s Call (Rainshadow #4) By: Jayne Castle

Plot:

In the mysterious world of Harmony, there are places filled with unexplored marvels. But Rainshadow Island isn’t about to give up its secrets…

In the alien catacombs of Rainshadow, there are creatures whose compelling songs lure the unwary to their death. That’s why Rafe Coppersmith, hired to clear out the catacombs for exploration, needs a music talent. He’s knows the perfect one, but she probably doesn’t want anything do with him… Ella Morgan had once fallen hard and fast for Rafe, but then he disappeared for months…and he’s not about to tell her why. Ella, too, has secrets that only her dust bunny knows. She’s not just a music talent, she’s a Siren: a paranormal singer capable of singing men to sleep—or to their deaths. But once on Rainshadow, Rafe and Ella will learn that surrendering to passion doesn’t come without risks—and fighting fire with fire only adds to the flame…

Review:

I somehow missed the book before this but one of the great things about a Jayne Castle book is that you can read them out of order. Each book rarely has a huge impact on the overall world and if it does she’s pretty vague about the people involved so you don’t have to worry about spoilers for the most part.

I loved how this book started out and it was pretty much nonstop from the beginning. Lots of kidnapping attempts and chances for Ella to use her siren power. I did think Rafe could have been a bit more romantic but he was very blunt and romance didn’t have much of a play.

I love the Harmony world and the dust bunnies. I do hope that one day we learn more about what happened to the aliens. I look forward to reading more books in this universe.

4/5

Shards of Hope (Psy-Changeling Series #14) By: Nalini Singh

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Shards of Hope (Psy-Changeling Series #14) By: Nalini Singh

Plot:

Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they must escape. But when the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape far from civilization. Their only hope for survival is to make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn’t welcome outsiders.

And they must survive. A shadowy enemy has put a target on the back of the Arrow squad, an enemy that cannot be permitted to succeed in its deadly campaign. Aden will cross any line to keep his people safe for this new future, where even an assassin might have hope of a life beyond blood and death and pain. Zaira has no such hope. She knows she’s too damaged to return from the abyss. Her driving goal is to protect Aden, protect the only person who has ever come back for her no matter what.

This time, even Aden’s passionate determination may not be enough—because the emotionless chill of Silence existed for a reason. For the violent, and the insane, and the irreparably broken…like Zaira.

Review:

The world just keeps getting more and more complex. The cast of characters is expansive and the romance is not the main focus anymore. Well, relationships are still a major part of the books, but it’s not just about romance, the relationships have gotten as complex as the world just about. Everyone is so damaged and powerful.

Zaira and Aden were a great power couple. We’ve seen them in a few books at this point but it was nice to get a deeper look. Both are fairly damaged, though, Zaira is the most. Aden’s parents suck but not like hers. They complimented each other very well and I enjoyed watching Zaira realize she couldn’t run from him.

The world, holy cow, the amount of detail and politics and just everything that Singh has put into it at this point is mind boggling. I have to actually stop myself from trying to figure out how to fix societal issues going on in the world because it’s a freaking fictional universe and Singh clearly needs no one’s help. It’s staggering and amazing and I’ve seen only a few series this complex outside of epic fantasy. Never am I bored or skimming, though. It’s interesting and intriguing and makes you think of the real world.

I think with the last book I was wondering where she was going to go from there. She’d done so much that with Shield of Winter she could have stopped and things would have been fine, now I really just want to know more. Will they be able to break down barriers and work together? Of course they will, but people will always try and stop it.

5/5

Side note: I’d love to have a human love interest in the next one, see their perspective. At this point I can’t really remember, but I’m not even sure that’s been done yet.