Tag: Novel

Posted in Audiobooks, Book Reviews, Novels

REVIEW: Blood Oath (Nathaniel Cade #1) by Christopher Farnsworth

Posted on by elishasbookreview

510pv8rFadL

*No Major Spoilers*

Zach Barrows is an ambitious young White House staffer whose career takes an unexpected turn when he’s partnered with Nathaniel Cade, a secret agent sworn to protect the President. But Cade is no ordinary civil servant. Bound by a special blood oath, he is a vampire. Cade battles nightmares before they can break into the daylight world of the American dream, enemies far stranger-and far more dangerous-than civilians have ever imagined.

My mom read this novel before I did. I thought it would be something like she has been reading, FBI, secret agent, stuff like that. When she finished I asked her what her thoughts were, and she said it was different but good. So I knew then I was in for a good read!

This novel starts off slow, setting the scenes, and explaining how Cade became a vampire and how he started working for the President. I found this to be an interesting addition to the story. I felt like this added more to Cade’s character and made him more relatable.

Nathanial Cade is a man who’s unfortunate circumstances made him into an immortal monster. He was turned into a vampire after Lincoln was assassinated and Andrew Johnston took the role of President.

The author was able to convey both Cade and Zach as full-fledged characters. He could have easily focused all on Cade and made Zach a jerk and whiny brat. However, as the novel progresses you see Zach grow as a character. It was very well written and I enjoyed this novel.

My favorite character besides the two main characters was Sgt. Griff. Even though he was on the verge of retirement from taking care of Cade on top of worsening health issues, he was still able to do his job and serves his country with courage and valor.

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. It had a good mix of action, history, and horror. Cade and Zach were well developed and I felt bad for both characters at certain times. I would highly recommend this novel for lovers of historical fiction, horror, and action. As well as covert government secrets.

Posted in Book Reviews, Graphic Novels, Manga

REVIEW: Onibi: Diary of a Yokai Ghost Hunter by Atelier Sento

Posted on by elishasbookreview
img_4904.jpg

*No Spoilers*

Part fantasy, part travelogue, Diary Of A Yokai Ghost Hunter follows the adventures of two foreign visitors as they tour Japan. When they buy an antique camera along the way, they discover they can capture images of Japan’s invisible spirit world. The forgotten spirits they meet can be kindly, mischievous, and some, downright dangerous.

Everywhere they go from forests to Shinto temples to fishing villages they are met with Yokai, the Japanese word for supernatural monsters, ghosts, and demons. The subject of Yokai is wildly popular right now and is featured prominently in books, websites, and online videos. Google receives thousands of searches on the topic daily.

Readers 10-18 who cherished books like Cool Japan Guide and Diary of a Tokyo Teen will delight in this comic book style adventure. The graphic novel format will appeal to diehard anime and manga fans while stressing the importance this ancient spirit world is to the Japanese culture.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I enjoyed this manga, it has a different art style for sure, but don’t let that detour you away from this graphic novel. The art style looks like it was sketched with colored pencils. It makes the adventure feel realistic.

I enjoyed seeing all of the different areas of rural Japan, and how unique and different each town or village can be. It’s amazing at how a small island can have so many different environments. From mountainous forests to the sulfur flats and fishing areas. This manga covers the gambit.

I never felt like the main characters were in any real danger. The only time I ever felt uneasy is when the locals were being creepy and telling the two main characters about the Yokai that had been spotted in the area.

However, I still enjoyed the manga and all of its whimsical adventure. I would highly recommend this for lovers of legends, folklore, traveling, and manga.

Posted in Audiobooks, Book Reviews, Novels

REVIEW: The Fixer (Lawson Vampire #1) by Jon F. Merz

Posted on by elishasbookreview

cp8s-square-400

*No Major Spoilers*

The members of the Council believe that vampires can coexist with humans. Some vamps disagree. That’s where Lawson comes in. He’s a Fixer. When a Nosferatu gets delusions of grandeur about taking over the world, it’s his job to take them out — with extreme prejudice.

I can’t remember the last time I read a vampire book. It feels like it’s been a while, and I’m excited to be back with the vampire subgenre.

This audiobook caught my attention because the model on the cover looked like a better and younger Tom Cruise. I’m all about secret agents and conspiracies. Action and mystery on every page are how I like my vampire novels.

I like how each author takes their own spin on vampire mythology. Some exaggerate their abilities and powers, some like this author make them more realistic to an extent. They look and act like any other human, but they live longer and wood is their enemy.

I felt like I could relate to the main character, Lawson. He is just a hitman with a job to do. In this novel, Lawson is after an old enemy. A vampire whose family has tainted blood and thus, makes him insane.

My favorite part was when Lawson and his human partner Talia were staking out the nightclubs trying to find their target, and the description of the clubs and what goes on in those places sounds about right, people being drunk and crazy.

Overall, I found this novel to be engaging and exciting. The action and adventure were enough to get my imagination going into high gear. I would highly recommend this novel for anyone who is looking for a good vampire story. Also for lovers of the supernatural and action, this is definitely worth a read.

Posted in Audiobooks, Book Reviews, Novels

REVIEW: The Flying Circus by Susan Crandall

Posted on by elishasbookreview

the-flying-circus-9781442387614_hr

*No Major Spoilers*

Set in the rapidly changing world of 1920s America, this is a story of three people from very different backgrounds: Henry “Schuler” Jefferson, son of German immigrants from Midwestern farm country; Cora Rose Haviland, a young woman of privilege whose family has lost their fortune; and Charles “Gil” Gilchrist, an emotionally damaged WWI veteran pilot. Set adrift by life-altering circumstances, they find themselves bound together by need and torn apart by blind obsessions and conflicting goals. Each one holds a secret that, if exposed, would destroy their friendship. But their journey of adventure and self-discovery has a price—and one of them won’t be able to survive it.

As they crisscross the heartland, exploring the rapidly expanding role of aviation from barnstorming to bootlegging, from a flying circus to the dangerous sport of air racing, the three companions form a makeshift family. It’s a one-of-a-kind family, with members as adventurous as they are vulnerable and as fascinating as they are flawed. But whatever adventure—worldly or private—they find themselves on, they’re guaranteed to be a family you won’t forget.

This book was a major slow-down compared to the other novels I’ve been reading. However, I found this story to be heart-warming and enjoyable to follow throughout. The thought of these planes making all of these crazy stunts is wild and thrilling.

This audiobook’s narrator was monotone and I had to focus to keep up with the story. I would highly advise others to read this novel.

One of my favorite parts of the story was how Henry, Gil, and Cora was performing shows where Gil would do tricks with his plane, and Cora would be doing stunts on her motorcycle with her trusty dog. It felt so natural for them to be together, as a makeshift family. After so much tragedy and heartbreak from WWII, it was nice to see these three misfits come together.

I felt like each of the character’s secrets was relatable and relevant of the times. Of course, I won’t discuss spoilers here, but I did like how they weren’t “huge” or “strange” plot twists. The secrets didn’t paint the characters in any bad light. It’s just to be expected when a makeshift family happens. Sometimes we have to keep something of ourselves out of our friendships.

I love this book, I think the author really took her time and developed this story and the characters to the fullest. I don’t remember any plot holes or inconsistencies. I felt that this story was well-written and very beautifully so. I enjoyed following Henry on his adventure of growing up in a post-war world. The hijinks that happen, and losses they all share.

I would highly recommend this novel for lovers of “coming of age” stories, 1920’s America, airplanes, and stories about misfit families.

Posted in Audiobooks, Book Reviews, Novels

REVIEW: Doctor Who: The Doctor Trap by Simon Messingham

Posted on by elishasbookreview
bbcnewaudio25

*No Major Spoilers*

Sebastiene was human… once. He might look like a nineteenth-century nobleman, but in truth, he is a ruthless hunter. He likes nothing more than luring difficult opposition to a planet, then hunting them down for sport. And now he’s caught them all – from Zargregs to Moogs, and even the odd Eternal. In fact, Sebastiene is after only one more prize. For this trophy, he knows he is going to need help. He’s brought together the finest hunters in the universe to play the most dangerous game for the deadliest quarry of them all. They are hunting for the last of the Time Lords – the Doctor!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

One of my favorite underrated companions of the Tenth Doctor has been Donna Noble. I find her to be relatable and I can relate to her background and the way she grew up. So to see her included into a story outside of the main cannon makes he happy.

I enjoyed this audiobook, it was action-packed and full of the Doctor’s cleverness and quirks. The characters were loveable and enjoyable. Even though this is an audiobook you have to focus on, it still was a fun listen and had a great story behind it.

One of my favorite parts of this story is how Donna tries to find her own way to escape from Sebastiene’s prison. She kept knocking down doors, trying to find a way out of the hotel she was trapped in.

Overall, I would highly recommend this audiobook for lovers of Doctor Who, the Doctor Who novels and Science Fiction.