Reading Challenged

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

March Story 1

Title: March Story 1

Author: Hyung Min Kim & Kyung Il Yang
Publisher: Viz
ISBN: 978-1-4215-3755-9
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Graphic Novels, Horror & Urban Fantasy, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This is a beautifully illustrated yet highly gory horror. Each chapter could stand on its own, but March’s backstory is slowly and expertly doled out through it, so they are much richer together and make for excellent reading. The story and illustrations compliment each other so well that it is amazing it was a collaboration. Not for the faint of heart, but definitely a keeper.

Rating: 5 stars

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Stacking the Shelves: 6/3-6/9

For possible review (here and on Bookloons):

Jersey Angel by Beth Ann Bauman

Sykosa by Justin Ordonez

The Sacrifice Game by Brian D'Amato

Quest, Inc. by Justin Cohen

Soulbound by Heather Brewer

Won:

By His Grace by Kathleen Wiseman

Descended by Blood by Angeline Kace

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Pieces of Eight by Melissa Wright

Molly by Melissa Wright

Swaps on Swap-Bot:

Nightshifted by Cassie Alexander

Lies & Omens by Lyn Benedict

Monday, June 4, 2012

Nightmare Inspector Vol. 1

Title: Nightmare Inspector 1

Author: Shin Mashiba
Publisher: Viz
ISBN: 978-1-4215-1758-2
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Graphic Novels, Horror & Urban Fantasy, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I love shojo horror, and Nightmare Inspector is a pretty good example of the genre. Mashiba keeps everything dark, however, most of the endings are just a tad too glum. It does end with an awesome cliffhanger, though.

Rating: 4 stars

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Q

Title: Q: A (Timeless) Love Story

Author: Evan Mandery
Publisher: Harper
ISBN: 978-1-4027-8592-4
Why Read?: Early Review
Challenges: Time Travel, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Mandery has written a very interesting but uneven novel. Part I does pull the reader in, but most of Part II is very slow (although towards the end of Part II is my favorite chapter where the I-xx's just keep coming). Part III, though, is exactly as it should be, showing where the title comes from.

Rating: 3 stars

Three Seconds

Title: Three Seconds

Author: Anders Roslund & Borge Hellstrom
Publisher: Silver Oak
ISBN: 978-1-4027-8592-4
Why Read?: First Reads
Challenges: Mystery & Suspense, Chunkster, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I could not get in to this and it took me forever to finally finish. The last 100 pages were good and rather fast-paced, but it was just so incredibly slow getting there. Also, I did not like any of the characters, which really distanced me from the story. I have decided that Swedish crime fiction is just not for me.

Rating: 1 stars