Red Zone: An Earthquake Story by Silvia Vecchini - Book Review

 

'An Italian town deals with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake

'Matteo, Guilia, and Federico have ordinary lives: they spend time with friends, help out their families, go to school, and deal with the many mood swings that come with growing up. Then, in a single night, everything changes. The ground shakes. An earthquake devastates their town and their security. But after everything is gone, life must go on. Anger and fear affect everyone in the community, but each of them must find a way to begin again. In the aftermath, the roots for stronger friendships can be laid amid the rubble. This graphic novel provides a look at how natural disaster can strike and forever change a community.'

Inspired by the events of the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that hit central Italy in August of 2016, Red Zone tells the story of a small Italian town and it's residents following a similar natural disaster. However, rather than focusing on the disaster itself, the book is set within the aftermath, and is seen through the eyes of the children of the town rather than the adults.

The book begins with the town being hit with an earthquake, dropping the readers straight into events. Soon after we're introduced to our core cast of characters, Matteo, Giulia, and Frederico. All of them have either lost their homes in the disaster, or find their homes inside the dangerous red one; meaning that they're unable to return. 

A makeshift school is set up inside a tent, whilst those who can't leave the area have to move into a small tend village or caravans whilst the community tries to rebuild the town. Unfortunately, there's a lot of damage, not much money, and winter is fast approaching. As the weeks pass and things get colder the children find things harder as they see little to hope for, especially Frederico, who hasn't been the same since he lost his dog during the quake. However, the children learn to come together and form strong bonds of friendship to help them through.

Whilst there's a lot to like in the book, especially the relationships that form between the characters, I often felt like the book was lacking somewhat in depth, and we only get a cursory understanding of each of them. I hoped to have been able to get to know them better, to understand more of what the earthquake did to them and how it changed their outlook, but the book is sadly too short for this. It's a shame as I'd have happily have read a book that was twice as long if it meant that  got a better understanding of the characters.

That being said, there are moments that work surprisingly well despite not knowing the children all that well; with one particular scene being quite moving. There a times where we get insights into the way that the aftermath of the earthquake has affected their personalities and left them deeply troubled. There are moments when we get hints of the post traumatic stress they're having to live with, and these are by far the best moments of the book.

The artwork works really well for the story too, and it's a very crisp and clean looking book, with a lot of care and attention given over to the details; especially in the ruins of the town following the earthquake. The scenes where the winter snow comes are particularly good, and these panels in particular are some of the best in the book.

Overall I really enjoyed Red Zone, but was hoping for a lot more from it. However, if you're looking for a nice quick read, or a book that's going to be found enjoyable for younger readers it's definitely one worth giving a look.

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The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis - Book Review

 

'In the quiet streets of Prague all manner of otherworldly creatures lurk in the shadows. Unbeknownst to its citizens, their only hope against the tide of predators are the dauntless lamplighters - a secret elite of monster hunters whose light staves off the darkness each night. Domek Myska leads a life teeming with fraught encounters with the worst kind of evil: pijavice, bloodthirsty and soulless vampiric creatures. Despite this, Domek find solace in his moments spent in the company of his friend, the clever and beautiful Lady Ora Fischerová-- a widow with secrets of her own.

'When Domek finds himself stalked by the spirit of the White Lady - a ghost who haunts the baroque halls of Prague castle - he stumbles across the sentient essence of a will-o'-the-wisp, a mischievous spirit known to lead lost travellers to their death, but who, once captured, are bound to serve the desires of their owners.

'After discovering a conspiracy amongst the pijavice that could see them unleash terror on the daylight world, Domek finds himself in a race against those who aim to twist alchemical science for their own dangerous gain.'

The Lights of Prague takes readers to the beautiful city of Prague during the 1800's, where we discover that not only are vampires and other creatures of the night are real, but that there is a secret group who patrol the streets of the city keeping its people safe; the lamplighters.

Domek is a lamplighter, a man who has made it his duty to protect the citizens of Prague from the monsters they don't even know live amongst them. He, and the other lamplighters, walk the streets of the city at night, tending the gas lights, but also hunting any of the pijavice (vampires) that try to feed. It's during one of these nightly shifts that Domek kills a pijavice and discovers something strange in the belongings it leaves behind; a small ceramic jar with an inscription on on the surface.

The jar burns the markings into Domeks hand, and he finds himself in control of the entity within the jar, a powerful Will-o-the-wisp. This entity is now bound to Domek, putting its powers at his control. But Domek is not only afraid of the duplicitous nature of this demonic entity, but what would happen if he tried to set it free. With no choice but to keep the creature bound to him he tries to discover why the pijavice would have had it.

At the same time we're introduced to Lady Ora Fischerova, a young widow living in Prague. Ora, despite her outward appearance, is actually centuries old pijavice, and lives a life of peace amongst the people of Prague. However, when she's approached by some of the city officials to help look into the worrying rumours that a cure for the pijavice might exist she finds herself drawn back into a world she left behind years ago.

Both Domek and Ora are forced into a scheme that could not only put an end to Prague, but aso find themselves on a course to discover the secrets each are hiding as their relationship draws the closer together.

One of the things that immediately jumps out about The Lights of Prague is how different is feels from other vampire books, whilst still being very true to the themes and stories that have surrounded the creatures for decades. Perhaps it's the slight variation of having pijavice vampires, ones whose mythology is subtly different from what people normally think of when they hear vampires, but Nicole Jarvis manages to make the vampires in this book feel so unique.

The main plot of the book, the investigation into the vampires and their supposed cure, is something that has been done before, yes, but the method they use, the politics behind it, and how our two protagonists go about discovering it make it feel like a brand new idea. The book has a level or originality that is often missing from vampire fiction, and it makes the book an absolute delight to read.

But it's not just the way Jarvis writes her vampires that makes the book such a joy; its two central characters are a big part of what makes this such a good book too. Domek could have easily been a macho alpha-male type character, he has the physical build for it and the job fighting monsters, but he has surprising depth and gentleness to him that make him so much more than just a vampire hunter. He turns out to be a kind man, one who checks in on his mother, who works with his uncle for free just to help him out, one who's moved to wonder and tears at watching opera for the first time. There's a level of earnestness and almost childlike innocence to him that makes him so easy to love and care for.

In a contrast to him there's Ora, a woman who to look at her you'd expect a demure and physically weak widow, yet has not just an incredible physical strength but an outgoing character too. She's a woman who rejects some of the trappings of the time, who goes to talks and debates with men because she's passionate on subjects and learning. She's not afraid to make friends with people outside of her social strata, and she's been around and done so much that she's incredibly open minded. I loved that on the outside you'd expect one thing from these characters, but you get something completely different from them; and two characters that compliment each other so well too.

The love story between Ora and Domek isn't the focus of the book, so people who don't just want a romance don't have to worry that it will overtake things, and the relationship between the two of them works its way through the story in a believable way. It becomes a part of the story, one that shapes some of their choices and the plot yes, but never becomes the focus of it. Instead, it's the fight against the pijavice that is front and centre the most important part of the book.

With that in mind, I have to talk about who might be the best character in the novel, Kaja, the Will-o-the-wisp. When first introduced to this sentient ball of fire we're presented with a very clear picture of it, that it's a creature that cannot be trusted, that only exists to show mischief and pain. But over the course of the boo Domek, and the reader, get to know Kaja and discover that he's so much more than this. His story becomes one of the most affecting parts of the book, and some of the most moving moments come from him. If you'd had told me going into this that I'd come to care for a fiery ball of energy I wouldn't have believed you, but by the end I not only adored him, but wanted him to be safe and happy. Nicole Jarvis got me emotionally invested in a ball of fire, that's definitely some damn good writing.

The Lights of Prague is a book that attracted me for the setting, I was interested in seeing Prague during the 1800's, but it very quickly became a book that got me hooked on the mythology and the mystery, before ending up a book where I cared for the characters and wanted to see them all get a happy ending. I wasn't expecting the journey this book would take me on, and I'm kind of sad that it's over. But for the short time it existed I loved every moment of it.

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Super Sentai Himitsu Sentai Gorenger: The Classic Manga Collection - Book Review

 

'Shotaro Ishinomori's classic manga that helped inspire decades of Super Sentai adventures, and later gave rise to the Power Rangers, in English for the first time ever!

'An evil secret society called the Black Cross Army threatens world peace, and only an elite task force known as the Earth Guard League (EAGLE) can stop them. After the Black Cross Army destroys EAGLE’s headquarters across Japan, five young recruits survive. Hiding in a secret underground base, they are given enhanced battlesuits that empower them with superhuman abilities, transforming the youths into an unstoppable squad to combat evil.

'Tied to the first Japanese Super Sentai tokusatsu TV series ever made, this genre-defining work laid the groundwork for decades of such adventures, including the wildly popular Power Rangers franchise in North America. Read Shotaro Ishinomori’s original manga adaptation of Himitsu Sentai Gorenger in this beautiful hardcover collection.'

Like many people in the west my introduction to the world of Super Sentai was through the Power Rangers series, the American franchise that took footage from the various Super Sentai shows and edited into new footage to create their own show. As the quality of the American footage was pretty poor for the most part in those early seasons it was the brightly coloured heroes, the bold monsters, and the action that won me over and made me a lifelong fan.

Over the years I discovered more about the franchise and learnt about Super Sentai, and have since gone on to become a fan of that too, watching through several of the series that became Power Rangers shows thanks to their recent DVD releases. However, trying to watch older Sentai can prove to be difficult at times, so when I saw that there was going to be a release of the manga collection of Gorenger I was very excited to see what this first ever series of Super Sentai would have in store.

The book, rather than being a regular adaptation, or even stories that fit between the episodes, contains two completely different versions. Shotaro Ishinomori, the writer and artist on the book, created both series to run concurrently with the show as it aired, but aimed at two different audiences. The book has stories that were originally in the Weekly Shonen Sunday, and these follow the same story-line of the show, albeit with some slight differences. There is also monthly serial comics that were published in Shogaku Gonensei magazine. Whilst these two different types of stories do have slightly different tones, with the first ones having a more mature feel and a focus on the spy action whilst the latter ones feel more high adventure, they come together to make a pretty cohesive whole. As someone who has never seen Gorenger I feel like the book, with its different styles of story, give a pretty good insight into the different types of episodes, from the throwaway monster of the week to the more character driven ones that affect the plot more.

The first story in the collection tells the origins of the Gorengers, and introduces readers to Tsuyoshi, a young martial artist whose father is secretly part of the global military organisation EAGLE (Earth Guard League). EAGLE fights against the sinister Black Cross Army, a terrorist spy group who use stolen information to dominate the world. Tsuyoshi is asked to test out a specialised suit by his father, a suit that's able to enhance his natural abilities and make him into an even better fighter. It's revealed that this suit is one of five, and that those who wear it will become the Gorengers, a special team to fight the Black Cross Army.

At first Tsuyoshi is against becoming a part of this team, but when the Black Cross Army attacks his family home and kills his father he decides to join EAGLE and fight against the villains as Akarenger, the leader of the Gorengers.

The second story jumps forward in time somewhat, and we rejoin Tsuyoshi after he's become a part of the team. It's here that we meet the other members of the Gorengers, and get a bit of a sense of the different types of people they are. This story sees the team going into combat with the Black Cross Army when they go in investigate a sighting of them in the remote ghost town of Sangai Village. This turns out to be a trap, and the team have to fight against the Black Cross Army forces, as well as Warrior Mask; the second of the five original Black Cross Masked Monsters. This story not only sees the Gorengers having to fight against overwhelming odds, but has a deeply personal cost when Akira, the blue Gorenger, has to confront his best friend who betrayed them to the Black Cross Army, something that has a tragic conclusion.

After this story the book takes on a bit of a lighter tone and we get to see the Gorengers deal with a number of enemy threats, including a giant sea monster robot attacking the city, remote controlled flying pirate ships that kidnap a kid, a villain that uses mirrors to trap and trick the Gorengers, and a slightly different retelling of the first episode of Gorenger, that expands upon the one at the start of the book.

Overall the book has a lot of silly fun in it, as you'd expect from a Super Sentai manga. It leans into the ridiculous parts of the show and does all out in doing over the top and funny things with both the heroes and villains. That being said, the stories in the first half of the book aren't afraid to include some dark moments too, and these come along and really shock you out of the silliness the rest of the book has, making them all the more affecting.

One of the things that I really enjoyed about the book was that it game you a brief introduction to things too, where readers not only get to know about how the book came into being, but who Shotaro Ishinomori was. I had no idea that he was so prolific a comics creator; to the point where he holds the Guinness World Record for most comics published by one author. It made me curious to learn more about him and his work, and that's something I'm grateful for.

I hope that this isn't the last of these collections that we see, and that Seven Seas publishing will find some other Super Sentai Manga to bring to the west. I adored being able to learn about these old shows, to see these stories presented fresh and new, and the fact that it comes in a gorgeous hardcover volume just makes it even better. Even if you're not a huge Power Rangers or Super Sentai fan, this is a book worth checking out just for something different; and if you are a fan it'll look gorgeous on your shelf.

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We Toot: A Feminist Fable About Farting by Ashley Wheelock - Blog Tour

 

'A hilarious picture book for children of all ages. When a stinky toot is loosed at a slumber party, six girls learn an important lesson in body positivity and self-acceptance. We Toot lets little girls know it's okay to let one rip.'

Let's be honest, we all fart. I think as adults most of us know this and accept it; yet there's still a lot of stigma around passing wind, especially for anyone who's not male. I remember growing up being told that girls 'don't do that', and that whilst boys are given free reign to fart to their hearts content and to laugh at countless jokes and cartoons about farting it was wrong for girls to do so. It was held up as this thing that only men are allowed to do, and something that women should feel shameful about. Well, I think we all know that's a load of rubbish. Everyone farts. Yes, even the Queen.

We Toot: A Feminist Fable About Farting tires to set right this view that girls can't pass wind, and centres on several friends who gather together for a slumber party. As the girls settle in to have their fun a loud noise is heard and a weird smell fills the room. After a round of denials the girl responsible for the smell comes forward and unashamedly declares that it was her fart.

This of course goes down the way you'd expect, with the other girls telling her that it's not 'proper', and that girls don't do such things. The girl refuses to be shamed about her bodily functions, and eventually another girl comes forward to admit that she too occasionally lets one out. Eventually all of the girls come to admit that they fart, and come to accept it as a perfectly normal and natural part of the human body, no matter what gender you might be.

Like I said before, this is something that is rarely spoken about, and whenever it is it usually consists of girls being told they can't do such things, or to be deeply ashamed if they do, so to see a group of young girls not only admitting that they pass wind, but accepting it as perfectly natural is a breath of foul air. The fact that this comes in the form of a wonderfully drawn picture book with pleasing and easy to read rhymes just makes it even better for young readers.

I don't think that the world is going to be able to normalise farting overnight, and the list of things that people are told they can and can't do based on outdated and frankly ludicrous gender norms and conservative values is long; but, books like this, that normalise the stuff that we've been told is wrong over and over is definitely a good step. Our generation might have had to grow up being told lies like 'girls don't fart' but at least we can try and do better for the next one.

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The Legacy of Old Gran Parks by Isobel Blackthorn - Blog Tour

 

'Set in Cann River in Australia’s rugged southern wilderness, The Legacy of Old Gran Parks is a tale of a remote town haunted by a legacy, a legacy with ominous consequences.

'It’s a warm evening in the autumn of 1983 when Miriam Forster rolls into town in her broken down car. Frankie the deer hunter, is up in the forested hinterland with her gun. Old Pearl the fisherwoman sits on her front deck down by the lagoon with her whisky and her dog. And Emily, the English backpacker, scrubs out the pie-encrusted kitchen at the roadhouse.

'All is not well. There’s a hoon doing donuts at the crossroads and screaming down the fire trails in the woods; a suspicious-looking city-slicker with two small children, squatting in Fred’s shack down by the lake; a beanie-headed gaunt guy convalescing at the lighthouse; and an acne festooned creature in the hotel room next to Miriam, thrashing about in the night.

'Gran Parks is stirring. Who will survive? Who will get away? Who will stay?'

The Legacy of Old Gran Parks starts with a truly shocking event, the titular Old Gran Parks herself attacking and brutally killing her abusive husband after years of domestic violence. It's a shocking start to the book, and one that prepares the reader for some equally shocking things to come; even if they have to wait a while to get them.

The book follows four women over the course of one week. There's Miriam, a middle-aged local council woman who's making a journey across country following a huge fire that destroyed her home, and much of the neighbourhood she once lived in. With all that she has left piled up in her car she's distressed when she develops a mechanical fault, and she has to stop at a roadhouse cafe and garage in Cann River. Being told that it will take most of the week for the parts needed to fix her car to arrive she's left with no choice but to book herself into the town's hotel. It's here that she discovers the only other guest at the hotel, an odd and dangerous looking man with a suitcase full of drugs staying in the room next to hers.

We also meet Pearl, an older woman who lives near the river on the outskirts of town with her dog as her only companion. Used to her quiet life and her routine she's shocked to discover a man and his two young daughters staying in the house opposite her. Convinced that the man shouldn't be there, Pearl soon learns that not only does the home owner know nothing of this man, but that he broke into the house. Now she's sure that he's up to no good, and fears for the safety of the two girls she suspects must have been kidnapped. 

Frankie is another resident of Cann River, though even more removed from the town that Pearl. Living deep in the woods in an old shack Frankie gets by hunting for local wildlife with her rifle and her traps, selling the meat to local businesses and making clothing from the furs of what she kills. Her peaceful existence in the outback is disrupted when a man appears around her shack, driving his old battered pick-up dangerously around the place. When she learns that the man matches the description of a wanted rapist and murderer Frankie makes up a plan to trap the man and exact some justice.

Finally, there's Emily, a British backpacker who made the choice to take a stop in her journey across Australia at Cann River, taking on a job working at the roadhouse cafe. Unfortunately, the woman who runs the cafe is a harsh and often nasty woman. With Emily being worked at all hours, being paid barely enough to get by, and forced to live under harsh rules she's become something of a slave. However, things look like they might be changing for her when she meets a man who's moved into one of the small cottages near the lighthouse by the coast; a man who she feels drawn to.

The plot of The Legacy of Old Gran Parks follows these four women as their lives are changed over the course of the week, with events that will stick with them all for a long time. At first the four stories feel largely unconnected, even if Miriam and Emily cross paths briefly at the roadhouse cafe. But, over the course of the book these four women become drawn together, and help each other as event spiral out of control into dangerous circumstances. 

One of the things that I really liked about the book was that at first there wasn't a huge amount to like about some of these characters. With so many stories centring their protagonists as good and honourable people, as the 'heroes' it was a pleasant surprise to get to know some characters who I honestly didn't like too much. I'm not saying there was anything wrong with the characters, simply that if I met her in real life I know I'd not really like Miriam that much because she's uptight and judgemental. Isobel Blackthorn made all of the characters like this, flawed people who never felt perfect, who were more like everyday people than idealised constructs made purely for a story.

At times the story feels like an incredibly dark satire, with some moments that feel a little too ridiculous to be real, but you kind of buy everything that goes on in the book as the characters sell you on things. Their honesty and their determination make even the most ridiculous moments feel real, and seeing the four of them come together to assist each other makes for some satisfying moments, even if you're not completely on board with what they're doing. The women in this book are far from perfect, and some of them do some horrific things with little to no remorse, yet you find yourself being on their side and enjoying the journey.

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I picked up The Legacy of Old Gran Parks, but by the end I'd discovered a book that had fascinated me, with very flawed and real characters, and a town and a history that were truly fascinating. This might not be a story where the lines between good and bad are very clear most of the time, but it's one of the more compelling and honest books I've read in a while.

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Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #4 – Comic Review

 

Originally published on Set The Tape

After a slower, more character focused issue last month things begin to get a little more exciting in the latest entry in Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures as the Jedi and the Nihil clash in battle.

Having been separated by the conflict that’s brewing in the Outer Rim, childhood friends Krix Kamerat and Zeen Mrala find themselves on opposing sides. Krix has been taken in by the Nihil, a band of predatory nihilists who have made it their mission to sow chaos and suffering cross the galaxy, whilst Zeen, who has kept her latent Force powers a secret from her friend, has been rescued by the Jedi. With the two sides finally coming into conflict again, it seems like the two kids will be forced to make some important choices.   

On the junk moon of Quantxi, Marchion Ro, the leader of the Nihil, has ordered Krix to send a message to Zeen in order to lure her and the Jedi into a trap. Meanwhile, the Jedi masters have engaged a Nihil fleet in combat above the planet Ord Mantell. We get to see some of the Jedi star-ships of this era for the first time in Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures, such as the Jedi Vectors, and it’s really cool to see these unique looking ships in action, as well as the piloting skills of the older Jedi.

The action isn’t just relegated to space battles though, as Krix is put into a position where he has to chase down an escaping prisoner, ordered to shoot them if necessary. These scenes make for some tense moments, and not just because this escapee could interfere with the Nihil’s plans, but because it’s forcing Krix into a position where he’s walking further down a dark path. Last issue he betrayed the trust of someone, and it led to their death, but now he’s being told to directly take a life. It’s an incredibly dark and morally weighty moment in a series more aimed at younger readers, and I loved it.

The events of the book are definitely moving the pieces into place for what’s sure to be an emotional and dramatic confrontation next issue as Zeen and Krix come closer and closer to reuniting, and their loyalties to each other will be put to the test. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this series when it first began, but it’s definitely pushing the boundaries of ‘children’s’ entertainment and telling some stories with very adult themes and powerful consequences, and because of this it’s beginning to remind me of The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels more than it does the regular Star Wars Adventures series.

The artwork, provided by Harvey Tolibao and Rebecca Nalty, is superb, and the level of attention given over to the small details is really good, and they make the junk moon in particular feel very alive and lived in, with some awesomely composed panels. The space battle is also a stand out moment, particularly with the gorgeous double page splash of the two sides clashing. They even throw in a small interlude page where we get to see some of the cool lightsaber designs for the High Republic characters, where they show some of the inner workings of these iconic weapons.

Overall the quality of the series has only been improving, but this issue is undoubtedly the best so far. It packs in action, story development, and some genuinely engaging character moments, and it’s all just build-up to what’s coming next. Even though this is a series designed for the younger reader, every Star Wars fan should be giving it a read.

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Plainer Jane #2 – Comic Review

 

Originally published on Set The Tape

The second issue of Kickstarter-funded comic Plainer Jane has now been released, and readers are able to get to know Jane a lot better as we witness her getting to make her first human kill.

The first issue in the series was pretty good, but we weren’t given a huge chance to see what Jane was going to be capable of. Yes, we saw her take on her first job, killing a dog, but she wasn’t exactly great at it. Well, it seems like Jane is very much aware of how poorly she did, and is setting out to make sure that she actually gets better at her chosen line of work.

The first half of the issue we get to see Jane interacting with her friends and her family, and learn that she’s floundering somewhat. She doesn’t like her life the way it is, and the ordinary day to day parts of life bore her. Her friends are trying to encourage her into pursuing nursing after school, whilst her father is trying to get her to go into engineering, but Jane herself has no idea what direction to set for herself outside of killing. This leads to her becoming more and more insular, and we begin to see cracks form, especially with her relationship with her parents. Fortunately, after a few weeks of waiting, she gets hired to kill a man having an affair with someone’s wife. This sets Jane out on a path to take her first human life.

It’s good to get to see how Jane goes about doing things, seeing her taking her time, learning her target’s routine, following people, and planning for how she would eventually perform the deed. It allows the reader to see a little bit of how her mind works, how she likes to plan and measure things, how the research is as much a satisfying part of her chosen field of work as the killing is.

As with the first issue the art, provided by Wayne Lowden, is good, and the trouble I had with following who Jane was in the first issue doesn’t seem to be a problem this time around. As with the first issue, the book is presented in black and white with the red of blood and Jane’s inner thoughts presented in red, making the moments where the colour is used stand out on the page. It’s a pretty good technique, and is definitely better than being fully black and white. However, the stand-out artwork is definitely the cover by Ralf Singh, which is just gorgeous.

Plainer Jane is definitely getting more interesting as the series progresses, and I like that Jane’s work as a hired killer is starting to brush up against her regular life; it’s a storyline I’m definitely interested in seeing more of in future issues. I’d also be interested in the book further exploring some of Jane’s personality that’s only slightly touched upon in this issue, such as the possibility that Jane might be asexual. Whatever David Wilburn has in store for future issues, I’m sure that it’s going to be entertaining.

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The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec - Blog Tour

 

'When a banished witch falls in love with the legendary trickster Loki, she risks the wrath of the gods in this moving, subversive debut novel that reimagines Norse mythology.

'Angrboda's story begins where most witches' tales end: with a burning. A punishment from Odin for refusing to provide him with knowledge of the future, the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless, and she flees into the farthest reaches of a remote forest. There she is found by a man who reveals himself to be Loki, and her initial distrust of him transforms into a deep and abiding love.

'Their union produces three unusual children, each with a secret destiny, who Angrboda is keen to raise at the edge of the world, safely hidden from Odin's all-seeing eye. But as Angrboda slowly recovers her prophetic powers, she learns that her blissful life—and possibly all of existence—is in danger.

'With help from the fierce huntress Skadi, with whom she shares a growing bond, Angrboda must choose whether she’ll accept the fate that she's foreseen for her beloved family…or rise to remake their future. From the most ancient of tales this novel forges a story of love, loss, and hope for the modern age.'

Considering how well known the trickster god Loki is (even before the popularity of the Marvel Comics version of the character), as well as his three unusual children, it's pretty astonishing that the woman who births the goddess of death, the giant wolf Fenrir, and the world serpent Jormungand is relegated to a single mention in the Poetic Edda. With such an important figure left largely unexplored it's territory ripe for storytelling, and Genevieve Gornichec not only tells a story worthy of the Norse gods, but one that ends up being a truly astonishing debut novel.

The book begins at the death of the witch Gullveig, who is impaled on spears, has her heart removed, and is burnt to death. Well, burnt to death three times, as the woman refuses to stay dead. Having managed to flee the halls of Odin, the god who ordered her multiple executions, she has travelled across the nine worlds to the Ironwoods, a barren and lonely place. It's whilst she's here, burnt, alone, that she's approached by a man carrying a heart, the heart that was ripped from her by the gods. This man, Loki, returns her heart to her, and the two of them strike up an unlikely friendship.

Over the years Gullveig, now calling herself Angrboda, settles in a small cave deep within the Ironwoods. It's here that she heals and begins to forge a new life for herself, even making friends with Skadi, a huntress who sometimes ventures into the desolate forest. With the help of Skadi, and the occasional visit of Loki, Angrboda finds happiness in her new home. Her cave becomes a real home, she begins to grow plants and raise goats, and even uses her skills to brew potions and healing salves that Skadi trades for her in the surrounding towns and villages.

Despite being happy with her life things change when she and Loki grow close, and the two of them choose to marry. Despite having to spend much of his time in Asgard, the kingdom of the gods, he and Angrboda seem happy, and soon expect their first child. Unfortunately, when something goes wrong during the pregnancy Angrboda uses her powers to save her child, with some unfortunate results. Not only is her daughter, Hel, born with dead legs that require constant healing, but Angrboda feels a dark presence creeping into her mind. Despite this, she and Loki continue with their life, and their family grows even more with their two sons; though these are even stranger than their daughter. Despite their son Fenrir being born a wolf, and Jormungand a snake, they're happy.

This all change when Odin, the presence that has been haunting her, learns that Angrboda is alive, and seeks her out for her powers to see the future. When she sees a vision of the end of everything, of the death of the gods and the destruction of the nine worlds her entire life, and her family, are put at risk.

The story of The Witch's Heart is, much like the mythology it takes its inspiration from, pretty epic. I don't like to use that word lightly, but this is a book that definitely deserves it. The story takes place over countless years, hundreds or even thousands. The characters are more than human, they live for lifetimes longer than we could, and command powers and abilities that are astonishing to say the least; and the story deals with destruction and rebirth on a galactic scale.

Despite all of this, despite the sheer vastness of the story and the mythology at play here the book is such a personal story it's astonishing Gornichec was able to pull it off. It's one thing to write a story about the origins of Ragnarok, about the deaths of hugely powerful gods and giant monsters, but to centre it all through the life and experience of one woman, one incredibly human and empathetic woman is nothing if not sublime and wonderful.

Angrboda is, despite being a thousands of years old un-killable witch, a woman who simply want to live her life with her family in peace. The entire book is told through her perspective, her experiences, and we get to see these huge, wondrous things through a woman I feel we can all identify with. Despite all the power at her command she simply wants to be left alone, to not be a pawn in the game of gods, and to experience peace with her family. The best parts of the books are the quite moments where we get to experience this, whether it's her and Loki falling in love, the love she gives to her three children, and the ways her relationship with Skadi changes and evolves. It's an odd thing to say, but a book that deals with gods, monsters, giants, and other beings from mythology is one of the most human stories I've ever read. Everything Angrboda chooses to do comes from her emotions, from her loves and desires.

She's not the only person in the book to receive this kind of treatment, though, as several figures from Norse mythology make appearances throughout the narrative and get given some incredible characterisation. Whilst I loved the way Gornichec wrote Loki and Hel in this book my favours were probably Skadi and Fenrir. Skadi, the god of bow-hunting, winter, and skiing, is a figure that I'd not come across before this book, and as such didn't really have any expectations of what she'd be like or how her story would play out. Her friendship with Angrboda is a huge highlight, and getting to see how it goes from strength to strength over the years, and how the major developments in the plot alter the courses of their lives and interactions together is truly wonderful. Fenrir is fairly different, as he's a figure I was more familiar with than many others who appear in the book, though this was fairly limited to him being a giant wolf and the role he'd play in Ragnarok. Where most stories that feature him either have him as an antagonistic figure, or simply a wild beast, Gornichec breathes so much life into him, and makes his childhood and his development one of the things I became most invested in. He was transformed from a vicious, almost evil character in my mind into a tragic figure, a child who cares deeply for his family but is put into horrible situations by the gods of Asgard.

The Witch's Heart is a story that deals with huge things, that takes myths and legends that have survived for centuries, and turns it into a personal and human driven tale of love, loss, and the desperate lengths that people are willing to go to to protect their families. 

If you know about the myths that this book is based upon you'll like it because it breathes more life and character into them than I've seen done elsewhere; and if you know nothing about Norse mythology you'll be able to pick this book up and get lost in the drama and the amazing, wonderful characters.

Like I said earlier in this review, this is a debut novel, and it's an absolutely stunning one. There are authors who have been writing for decades who don't bring as much depth and realness to their character or stories as Genevieve Gornichec does here; and it's an even bigger achievement when you remember that these aren't even her own characters. She's taken figures that have existed for generations and made them feel new, wholly original, and oh so real. That takes an astonishing level of talent. I don't know what she's planning on writing next, but if it's even half as good as this book it's going to be amazing. This is definitely a writer you need to keep an eye on.

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Cowboys – Film Review

 

Originally published on Set The Tape

Cowboys, written and directed by Anna Kerrigan, is the latest in a long line of father and son stories, but one with a very different take that makes it an incredibly moving and important movie.

The film follows Troy (Steve Zahn), a man who’s separated from his wife and fresh out of jail, who one night takes his son Joe (Sasha Knight) from his home and sets out on a journey through the wilderness of Montana, heading for the Canadian border. When his wife, Sally (Jillian Bell) wakes the next morning to find Joe missing she calls the police for help. But this is when we get our first hint that there’s more going on here than a simple kidnapping, because even though Troy is heading for Canada with his son, Sally reports that her daughter is missing.

Cowboys is not a story about kidnapping, it’s not a film about a couple going through separation and turning their child into a weapon to use to hurt each other; it’s a film about a young trans boy and the lengths his struggling father will go to to stand by him.

The film skips between the present and the past, slowly revealing the story of Joe and his parents as he and his father head closer to their goal in the present. Over the course of the film we discover that Joe was a very sad and distant child, a kid who hated having to wear dresses and do girl things. Joe idolised his father, and wanted to grow up to be like him, and to be a cowboy.

One of the most touching moments of the film is a scene where the terrified young Joe comes out to his father alone in their truck, him trying desperately to make his dad understand what he’s going through, and begging him not to tell a mother he knows won’t understand. We see that Troy’s acceptance and support of his son brings him and his wife into conflict, as she refuses to see her child as anything but the perfect little girl she always wanted.

These flashbacks not only provide the present with a lot more context, but felt like the heart of the film for me. The story of the father and son journeying to Canada was interesting, of course, but it was seeing how this family got to this point that really interested me; and the part of the story that I think is the most important.

This film had its premiere last year at Outfest, an LGBTQ+ film festival, and when people saw it it not only got great reviews, but it was being called timely by those watching it. And it really is. Trans rights and liberation is one of the most important and talked about things right now. Trans people have gone from being almost completely ignored to being the focus of political debates and media articles on almost a daily basis. Our rights and freedoms are constantly being ‘discussed’ and ‘debated’, and we’re being denigrated in ways that will be familiar to anyone who saw how gay people were treated thirty years ago.

Films like Cowboys are important right now, because they not only humanise trans people, but show those who might never have taken the time to think about what it’s really like for us; that just finding acceptance from those who are supposed to love us unconditionally is a battle. The same day I watched this film I saw that a ten-year-old trans girl, Kai Shappley, who went in front of Texas lawmakers last week begging them not to take away her rights, has been receiving death threats. A child is getting death threats for wanting to live. A child who’s no different from the boy portrayed in this film. A kid who just wants to be accepted for who they are. That is not the kind of world we should be living in.

I’m sure that most people who watch Cowboys will be those who are seeking it out, people who know the issues it focuses on and are already trans allies; but it could also be seen by people who have never thought about these things before, or who have held negative views towards trans people. So if Cowboys is able to show even one person that trans people, especially trans children, deserve your acceptance and support it’ll go from an excellent film about family and love to something that could help make the world a better place. Films like this are helping to normalise trans people, our struggles, and our pain in the face of prejudice, and Cowboys is a damn fine example of it done brilliantly.

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The Darkness – Film Review

 

Originally published on Set The Tape

The Darkness tells the story of Lisa (Amelia Eve) and her boyfriend David (Cyril Blake) who travel to a small village in the Irish countryside after David inherits a small cottage from his grandmother, despite his grandmother having not passed away.

Straight away things feel slightly off with this new horror film, and I don’t mean in the spooky sense. This young couple have travelled to their new property to do… something. The film never quite makes it clear why they’ve come. There’s mention that they’ve inherited the home, but with David’s grandmother still being alive it’s not clear why they’ve come to the house. They’re not there to settle an estate or go through anything, and it appears that they’re simply checking out the place before gran finally shuffles off and they get to own it.    

Whilst this isn’t too bad a justification it starts to fall apart even more when the two of them talk about the work they’re planning to do whilst they’re there. It’s not clear what David does for a living, but he’s constantly fielding phone calls and working on his laptop, which is impossible to do at the house because of the lack of signal – until it’s convenient for the plot that he can do it at the house.

At the same time Lisa is there to write her next book. A book which has been decided will be a romantic comedy by her publishers, a genre she doesn’t want to write, and she has no idea what the plot is going to be or who any of the characters are. And this is not how publishing works at all. It’s kind of a little painful to watch really.

Instead of getting the peace they have been hoping for at the house, ‘spooky’ things start happening around the building. Lisa sees people out the corner of her eye, they find an old grave in the back garden, and Lisa uncovers an old journal in the attic that talks about fairies and murder; something that she takes as the starting point for her new book. Unfortunately, none of these moments actually feel scary, or even mildly creepy.

This is in part down to the fact that the film feels very flat and boring in its cinematography, and none of the scary scenes have any kind of flair to them, and there’s nothing that visually separates these moments from the rest of the film. Instead, the film relies on the soundtrack to tell the audience when it should be scared, with the fairly dull stock music being replaced by loud screechy violins whenever there’s something not right happening. Sadly, these violent musical moments never fit the scene, come across as annoying, and reek of imitation of much better horror films.

The script is also similarly lacking, with much of the dialogue feeling flat, unoriginal, and uninspired. The things that the characters say feel incredibly scripted, and unnatural in a lot of scenes. Characters should talk to each other in ways that real people do. No one feels like a real person here, and it’s not helped by what feels like stilted and sometimes quite wooden performances, especially from Cyril Blake, who has to say the word ‘babe’ a dozen times in every scene he’s in with Lisa. I heard the word babe more times in this film than the actual film Babe and it was so distracting.

Some of these scenes are made worse by the way that dialogue is played on the audio track too. In scenes where characters are talking outside, where you’d have expected some ADR if the recordings were bad, the sound is terrible. Instead of recording clear dialogue and placing it in the scene, the audio seems to have simply been boosted, but unevenly. There’s one particular scene where this stands out the most, where one character is barely audible and the other is not just incredibly loud, but all we hear when they’re not talking is them breathing. I don’t want to sound cruel, but it at times feels like the audio you get from first time podcasters rather than experienced filmmakers.

Some of the issues in the film could have been overlooked, but all together they build upon each other and make each single factor feel more and more extreme, to the point where the film feels like a no budget student film. I know that this is the first feature length film directed by Tharun Mohan, and it’s not an easy thing to do, but it was uninteresting, distracting, and un-entertaining throughout. Even if you’re a hardcore horror fan who wants to see every new release I’d say you should probably skip this one.

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