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Tuesday, 7 January 2020

The Elemental Masters: The Case of the Spellbound Child by Mercedes Lackey - Book Review

'The fourteenth novel in the magical alternate history Elemental Masters series continues the reimagined adventures of Sherlock Holmes in a richly-detailed alternate 20th-century England.

'While Sherlock is still officially dead, John and Mary Watson and Nan Killian and Sarah Lyon-White are taking up some of his case-load--and some for Lord Alderscroft, the Wizard of London.

'Lord Alderscroft asks them to go to Dartmoor to track down a rumor of evil magic brewing there. Not more than four hours later, a poor cottager, also from Dartmoor, arrives seeking their help. His wife, in a fit of rage over the children spilling and spoiling their only food for dinner that night, sent them out on the moors to forage for something to eat. This is not the first time she has done this, and the children are moor-wise and unlikely to get into difficulties. But this time they did not come back, and in fact, their tracks abruptly stopped "as if them Pharisees took'd 'em." The man begs them to come help.

'They would have said no, but there's the assignment for Alderscroft. Why not kill two birds with one stone? But the deadly bogs are not the only mires on Dartmoor. '

I've not read any of The Elemental Masters series before picking up this book. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, especially as the fourteenth book in a series is probably not the best place for most people to start reading. However, I found the concept of the world that Mercedes Lackey has created to be very interesting, and knew that I wanted to read the book. I'm a bot of a sucker for Sherlock Holmes stories, and one that mixes in the paranormal is always going to tickle my fancy even more.

Luckily for me Lackey has written the book to be incredibly accessible to new readers, something that she didn't have to do. The book begins with a man being killed in London, and discovering that he's now a ghost. Over the course of this little story the reader gets introduced to some of the rules of the universe as this new ghost discovers them. It might only be a taste of things to come within the book, and doesn't cover any of the elemental magics that appear later, but it eases the reader into how The Elemental Masters actually works. By the time more magical elements were introduced I'd already discovered enough about the world that it wasn't a huge shock when characters like John Watson were performing magic.

The characters are also introduced slowly, with each one given a brief explanation as to who they are, and how they fit into this world. I only learnt a small amount of their back stories, such as Nan and Sarah working with Lord Alderscroft, or Sherlock Holmes pretending to be dead and Mary Watson having to masquerade as a man because of a previous adventure that involved Professor Moriarty. I didn't know everything about the series, but I knew enough to be able to enjoy this adventure without being weighed down by a ton of history. It felt like the perfect amount of backstory to introduce new readers without alienating people that have been reading the series from the beginning.

The history of The Elemental Masters aside, and how well the book introduces new readers; this story is actually quite a slow burning mystery. A good portion of the book goes by before the heroes even become aware of the missing children on the moors, and we follow them through a few smaller investigations before they even get involved in the central plot. I can see how this could upset a few people, and possibly feel like the book is slow paced, however, I really liked this approach. It showed that the heroes of the series aren't always involved in big adventures that involve saving the world, and that sometimes their lives can even be quite dull. The fact that one of the cases they investigate turns out to not have anything supernatural about it was, I thought, a great choice. It demonstrated a bigger world outside of the main plot.

The central plot itself was interesting, with the story of the missing children unfolding at a steady pace. At first you think that it's just these two missing children, then you discover that there's more, then you find out that they're being used to supply 'the Dark One' with magic, then you learn more about their captor. The book doesn't give you all of the answers up front, and lets you get your head around what you've already discovered before adding more layers to the mystery.

Whilst this central story is engaging, and at times very creepy, it does feel like it gets resolved a little too quickly. The heroes have travelled to the moors and are slowly investigating potential suspects and eliminating areas where the children could be held, which is all great, but then Sherlock Holmes suddenly turns up and provides them with the location of the missing children. It had been established earlier in the book that he was in the area conducting his own investigation, but it does feel a little like he swoops in at the last moment with the solution when the others are already working on it.

I love that Sherlock has a presence in the story, and gets to be with his friends to wrap up the mystery and catch the villain, but it does feel like he was brought in to wrap up the book a bit quicker. Perhaps if the book was a bit longer, and has more of the main group investigating and getting closer to the villain it would have felt a little more natural. As it is, they could have sat around and waited for Holmes to provide them with the solution and they'd have been fine.

This isn't a huge criticism, however, as I still enjoyed seeing how these characters worked together, and how they went about an investigation without the worlds greatest detective. The end where they all have to work together on a sneaky plan that involves disguises, misdirection, and perfect timing, is thoroughly enjoyable, and feels like a Sherlockian heist in the best way.

The Elemental Masters: The Case of the Spellbound Child is my first foray into this series, but it certainly won't be my last. I enjoyed the book so much that I'm definitely going back to check out the previous entries in the series, as will be reading the new releases as they come. A great combination of Victorian era mystery and magic that shows how well Sherlock Holmes can work with the supernatural.

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Monday, 6 January 2020

Slender Man by Anonymous - Book Review

'One man’s search for the truth about one of the most intriguing urban legends ever—the modern bogeyman, Slender Man—leads him down a dark, dangerous path in this creepy supernatural fantasy reminiscent of Night Film, House of Leaves, and Illuminae, that will make you question where the line between legend and fact begins

'A young man is desperate to find his missing friend . . . desperate enough to resort to the darkest means. But just how much is he willing to pay the Slender Man in order to save her?'

Chances are pretty good that if you've been on social media during the last decade you'll have heard about Slender Man. Beginning life as an online spooky story, the modern day myth has gone on to be the subject of games, movies, and books. Slender Man from Harper Voyager and it's unnamed author, uses the mythology of Slender Man to tell a slow building and chilling story.

Set within the bustling heart of New York City, a place one would not expect a story about Slender Man to be set, the book follows Matt Barker, a teen whose friend, Lauren, suddenly goes missing one night. Plagued by strange nightmares, Matt begins to try and figure out what happened to Lauren, stumbling across something that he never expected.

Slender Man chooses to ignore the standard novel narrative structure, and is instead presented as a collection of journal entries, social media conversations, and transcripts of audio recordings and interviews. This format made the book stand out straight away as something slightly different, and it must have presented a number of challenges for the unknown author.

Despite the limitations placed upon them by this format, the book managed to tell a well crafted narrative, including more details and characterisation than you'd first expect, and managing to be incredibly creepy in places too. It also used this format to make the reader think one thing, whilst doing something else entirely, something that you only realise come the end of the book. I won't say too much about this so as to not spoil any plot points, but the way the book has been structured means that the author is able to play a nice little trick upon the reader, and means that the book will read differently a second time around.

The use of emails and journal entries reminded me of older horror books such as Dracula and Frankenstein, with their narratives being relayed to the reader through personal correspondence. Whilst harking back to these literary classics, it also made me think of modern horror films, particularly found footage films. Slender Man felt like the written version of a found footage movie, where we're guided through the story by the central character and their point of view (camera being swapped out by written documentation). As such, it puts you into their shoes more than a standard novel does, even a first person book, and really makes you feel the disturbing nature of the events Matt is going through.

The book is also quite subtle in how it plays its horror, and the first third of the book doesn't really have anything supernatural going on at all. I thought that perhaps there would be no 'real' Slender Man in the book, but would rather be an exploration of modern internet mythology and how it can affect people; much like documentary film Beware the Slenderman did with the real world stabbing of Payton Leutner. However, this is not the case, and the book chooses to spend time setting up the characters and the story before introducing the horror elements.

Slender Man itself is done well within the book, and it's never 100% clear if the events we're being witness to are completely real or not. It plays into the psychological aspect of the entity, and you begin to question whether or not it might all be delusions inside Matt's head. The book leaves enough real evidenced that it might actual be happening that by the time you're finished reading it you'll have to make up your own mind.

Slender Man was not what I was expecting going into the book, but I was impressed with the story it managed to tell. Not only was it engaging and interesting, with some great creepy moments, but it managed to tell its story in a different way that made it stand out. We don't know who wrote the book, which helps add to it's found footage style feel, but whoever they are, they did a damn good job.

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Thursday, 2 January 2020

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi - Book Review

'Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

'Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good. Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.'

It took me longer than I wanted to finally get around to reading Children of Blood and Bone. I'd seen it on so many lists of great books, and has been drawn in by the wonderful cover since I first saw it, yet always had something come up to prevent me from actually getting around to reading it. When I finally did sit down to read the book I found that I couldn't put it down, and read through it so quickly. Luckily for me the sequel is already out and currently on it's way to me through the post. However, before I get around to reading more about this amazing universe I get to review the book and really delve into why I loved it so much.

The first thing to be noted about the book, and something that I absolutely loved, is the setting. Rather than the somewhat traditional and expected fantasy setting, where the world is rooted in very European myths and cultures, the world that Adeyemi created here is very, very much grounded in West African mythology, and draws upon the Yoruba culture and language. Not only is this such a refreshing change, to actually have something that feels new and original in what can sometimes be a fairly bland genre, but it's wonderful to see a black writer and black culture given a spotlight in which to shine.

Children of Blood and Bone is set in the land of Orïsha, a kingdom ruled by the tyrannical king Saran. A decade ago Saran led a campaign against the maji, those blessed by the gods and granted magical abilities. Stripping magic from the land, Saran had thousands of maji killed, leaving only their children alive, those who never knew the taste of magic. Now the maji, marked by their white hair, are second class citizens and slaves, living under the harsh rule of the non-magical kosidan.

Zélie is a maji who witnessed the brutal murder of her mother when just a child and has been nursing a hatred for the King ever since. Wanting to fight back against the kosidan rule, but knowing that she doesn't have the power to do anything she's a character with a huge amount of pent up anger and aggression; as well as fear. She knows that she could be taken away from her family and forced into slave labour without warning, that the royal guards could rape her, that she could be killed, just because she's a maji. This fear and anger is what drives her throughout the book, and pushes her on her mission to change the world into a better place for the maji.

She's joined on her journey by her older brother Tzain, born without a connection to magic like her, who has made protecting her a big part of his life ever since the loss of their mother; and Amari, the princess of Orïsha and daughter of the man who ordered the murder of Zelie's mother.

Tzain fills in a fairly traditional role of an older guardian figure, more mature and wiser than Zélie in a lot of ways. At first he seems to be more level headed than his sister, and sometimes harsh because of it. However, over the course of the story we learn that there's a lot more to him than this, and his harder exterior is hiding a very emotional, and even damaged, young man. He lived through the murder of his mother, just like Zélie, saw his father beaten and brutalised, had to grow up fast to help and protect his family, and has to live with the fear of losing his sister every day. He's not a maji, he's not a target of the oppressive regime of Orïsha, but he's a victim of the brutality and racism of his world too.

Amari is more complex than initially shown too. Presented as something of a sheltered and spoilt young princess, she sets out to help the maji and bring back magic to honour her friend, who she saw murdered simply for being born different. Whilst not used to the world outside the palace the reader gets to see her grow and mature over the course of the narrative, going from a frightened girl to a warrior queen, one who is prepared to fight for all of the people in her kingdom and challenge the rule of her father.

The amount of care and attention given to these central heroes is great, and the changes that they go through throughout the book are believable and inspiring. One of the most complex stories in the book, however, is Amari's older brother, Inan. Initially presented as something of an antagonist before joining the heroes, he changes his mind about what's right and wrong, about what is the best thing for the kingdom more than once, and his journey is one of the most tragic. He doesn't have the strength of conviction that the others do, and constantly second guesses what's right. Sadly, this means that his story is incredibly sad, as it's his own fears and second guessing that leads him down a painful and destructive path.

The sense of injustice presented in Children of Blood and Bone, of feeling like a second class citizen whose life could be ended at any moment isn't something that Adeyemi included lightly, but one of her main drives for telling this story. She says in the afterword of the book that she was driven to write the book because of the injustices that black people have had to face in America, not just historically, but in recent years too. She cites the murder of innocent black children by police officers, such as Jordan Edwards, Tamir Rice, and Aiyana Stanley-Jones, as important inspiration for the book, and urges the reader to realise that the anger and emotion that they feel for these fictional characters should be felt for the victims of such hate in the real world.

These strong emotions and strong sense of right and wrong help towards the fantastic world building that Adeyemi does, giving not just a rich and interesting world, but one that feels alive. Often Young Adult books have heroes rising up against an oppressive regime because they're swept up in events beyond their control, or because they're told it's the right thing to do; but here it feels like it was always going to happen, that people were waiting for the moment to fight. It feels like a more genuine and real world than many others.

Children of Blood and Bone is a great book for anyone who likes the fantasy genre, or who enjoys YA fiction. However, it's also a story that stands out from others in the genre's. It feels fresh and new, with a mythology that's rich in history and has stunning visuals. It highlights real world injustices and racism in a way that isn't preachy, so that those who might normally be turned off by social commentary will find themselves drawn in. Above all though, it tells an engrossing and engaging story that's full of character development, action packed spectacle, and amazing world building. It's not hard to see why this has been one of the most celebrated and successful Young Adult books in years.

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Wednesday, 1 January 2020

Top 10 Reads of 2019

I've managed to get in quite a few more books in 2019 than I thought I would. I initially set myself a target of 52 books, one for each week of the year; but when I managed than in the first five months I knew I had to boost it, so set my Good Reads challenge to 100. At the time of writing this I'm on 131, and could still potentially finish another book before midnight of New Years Eve. As such, narrowing what I've read down to my ten favourites wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Not all of these books were published in 2019, though most were, but are simply what I read this year and liked the best.

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

I discovered Victoria Schwab late last year when I was offered a copy of her latest book to read. Despite not being the first book in that series I loved it and she quickly became one of my favourite writers and I've been working through her other books where I can. City of Ghosts is one of her books aimed at younger, teen readers, and it's one that I adore the most.

Cassidy Blake is a girl that had a near death experience, and ever since has been able to see ghosts. She even has a best friend, Jacob, who's a ghost. When her parents, a historian and a paranormal investigator, get the green-light to begin filming a new television series that will see the family travelling to some of the most haunted places in the world Cassidy finds herself packed off to Edinburgh, and plunged into a city full of ghosts.

Cassidy and Jacob learn that Cassidy isn't the only person who can see ghosts, and that not all spirits are safe to be around. When Cassidy is targeted by the sinister Red Raven she ends up having to fight for her very life.

City of Ghosts is a great mixture of creepy horror, and real world history. Schwab manages to not only capture the feel of Edinburgh brilliantly, but imparts some great stories about the city and its history of hauntings, all within an exciting and engaging narrative.

The Troop by Nick Cutter

I first picked up The Troop from my local library, drawn in by the excellent blurb on the back that described an isolated scout troop falling victim to a horrific 'bio-engineered nightmare'. What I wasn't expecting, however, was just how disturbing and disgusting a horror it would turn out to be.

When a small group of scouts head out to an isolated island with their scoutmaster for the weekend their trip away is shattered with the arrival of Tom Padgett, a man infected with a deadly parasite that drives him to eat anything he can. Trying desperately to feed the growing parasite inside him, that's eating him from the inside, he consumes anything he can. When Tom attacks the troop he begins to spread an infection that will turn the young teens against each other as they desperately try to survive.

The Troop is a body horror in the purest sense. The infection that spreads amongst the boys is a horrific new type of worm, one that can enter your body through the smallest cut, and can replicate and grow at horrific speed. It turns the infected in withered husks, desperate to feed the monsters inside them before they die.

Nick Cutter has managed to craft a story that's not just a intense and engaging character led narrative, but a horror that freaks you out and stays with you long after you've finished the book. Don't read this when you're feeling hungry either as I made that mistake and it made the whole experience a lot worse.

Other Words For Smoke by Sarah Maria Griffin

Other Words For Smoke is a coming of age story that happens to be set in a house where creatures live in the walls. Mae and Rossa are two teens living through the messy marriage of their parents who get sent to spend the summer with their aunt and her ward. It's in this house that they begin to learn that magic is real, and that there are dark forces lurking within the walls of the house, waiting to prey upon those that live there.

The book not only focuses on otherworldly forces, but on the struggles that teens have to go through. Over the summers that the two teens spend at their aunts house they change as people, trying to find ways to cope with their parents damaged marriage. Mae's story is particularly grabbing as she discovers her first crush for a girl, and has to come to terms with her homosexual feelings.

Other Words For Smoke is an amazingly written book, often times feeling more like poetry than a traditional novel. It's filled with images and emotions that twist together into a story that feels so much deeper than you'd first expect. Despite being set in one house, with just a handful of characters it's a living, breathing world full of mystery. Easily one of the best books of 2019.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Drawing from West African mythology and culture, Children of Blood and Bone is a young adult fantasy adventure story that feels fresh and new, standing out from others in the genre.

Set in the world of Orïsha, where magic was destroyed more than a decade ago, and those with the power to wield it are treated as slaves, a young woman sets out to fight against the evil that rules the kingdom and restore magic to her people.

Children of Blood and Bone was a huge hit when it came out in 2018, and I can easily see why it has won as many awards and received the acclaim that it has. It tells a fairly traditional YA story, of a group of teens rising up against an oppressive regime, yet manages to feel fresh and exciting throughout. It draws from an often ignored and underused style of mythology and culture to create a rich and engaging world and a narrative that has an important message about hate, racism, and oppression.

Gears of War: Ascendance by Jason M. Hough

Video game to book adaptations can sometimes be fairly dull affairs compared to their source material, often failing to capture the fun and excitement of the games. Gears of War: Ascendance not only manages to be engaging and action packed throughout, but adds more depth and character development that suspected as it fills in the gap between Gears of War 4 and Gears of War 5.

Taking place immediately following the end of the fourth game, the story sees the heroes of the series having to convince First Minister Jynn that the threat of the Swarm is real. When JD and Del are sent to investigate an old Locust burial site to gather evidence that Swarm are coming Kait and Marcus travel to Kait's old village to search for survivors, with both missions putting them in grave danger.

Gears of War: Ascendance not only explains how characters that were renegades end up working for the ruling government, but also goes on to lay the seeds for things that will be addressed in the latest game, including Kait's connection to the Swarm. The book also manages to make the bad guys quite scary, something that is often lacking from the high octane nature of the games. Here the heroes fight desperate battles against monstrous foes that feel tense and frightening, despite knowing that they're all going to make it out alive; quite a feat of writing.

Moriarty: The Hound of the D'Urbervilles by Kim Newman

Professor James Moriarty is one of the most iconic villains in literature, the arch enemy of the worlds greatest detective. This book, told from the viewpoint of Moriarty's right hand man, Colonel Sebastian 'Basher' Moran, chronicles several tales of the dastardly villain, and his position as one of the greatest criminal minds ever.

Written as a series of journal entries by Moran, echoing the writing of John Watson, the book charts Moran's ten years with the professor, from their first meeting to the fateful fight at Reichenbach Falls. As such, the book reads like a series of short stories, rather than a large narrative. These stories not only play homage to the world of Sherlock Holmes, but incorporates many works of Victorian fiction.

Moriarty: The Hound of the D'Ubervilles feels true to the world that Arthur Conan Doyle created, working in the background of the stories that he told, making Moriarty a shadow that haunts the periphery. A fantastic book for anyone that's a fan of Sherlock Holmes and literature from the era.

Soon by Lois Murphy

Soon is a horror book that skips the big scary event and chooses to focus on the horror of what comes after. Set in a small Australian town where ghosts stalk the streets after dark, killing anyone who dares step out of their homes, the book follows a group of several people unable to move away, trapped within the deserted town. When one of these survivors receives a warning that if he doesn't get out of the town by the winter solstice he will die, a fight to survive begins.

Lois Murphy tells a very different type of horror story, one that largely ignores the frightening spectres that stalk the streets at night. Most of the book doesn't even feature these spirits, and it takes a third of the book for the reader to find out what's actually outside at night. Despite this, she's crafted a story that's heavily character driven and emotionally charged; and one that is downright terrifying at times.

I don't want to spoil much about the book, but the ending left me stunned, and feeling physically shaken. The narrative drew me in and spat me out on the other side completely affected. Soon is definitely a roller coaster ride that will leave horror fans happy.

I'll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara

I've not read many non-fiction books this year, but of the one's that I have I'll Be Gone In The Dark was not just my favourite, but quickly became one of the best that I've read. The book charts the story of the Golden State Killer, a rapist and murderer who stalked California for over a decade; and the obsession that McNamara developed for the case over the years.

Responsible for more than 50 sexual assaults and 10 brutal killings, the Golden State Killer eluded police investigations and apparently vanished. Thirty years after his crime wave investigative journalist Michelle McNamara became determined to try and figure out his identity and help bring him to justice.

I'll Be Gone In The Dark is an incredibly personal book, one that is as much about Michelle McNamara as it is GSK. As such, the book doesn't fall into the trap of feeling dry or dull as can sometimes happen with true crime books. Instead, it feels more like having someone there with you, talking you through the case, taking you on a journey rather than reciting facts and figures. Sadly, Michelle passed away before completing the book, and the last few chapters were completed from her notes by her friends and colleagues. A deeply personal and engaging story that kept me fascinated throughout, and was made poignant through the loss of an amazing journalist and writer, and knowing that she never got to see the Golden State Killer found and arrested two years after her death.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

When the living dead rise and begin to kill the living at the battle of Gettysburg the American Civil War comes to a shocking end, as the north and south must put aside their differences to fight the creatures that now stalk the nation. nearly twenty years have passed, and a new America has emerged. Thanks to the Native and Negro Reeducation Act former slaves are trained to kill the undead. However, black people are far from free in this new world, and the dead aren't the only thing they have to fear.

Justina Ireland creates a fascinating alternate history in Dread Nation, one that sees the undead end the civil war. In this new America we follow Jane, who has been trained to be become an Attendant, a bodyguard for wealthy white women who are experts in both combat and etiquette. When Jane becomes embroiled in a conspiracy she discovers that some want things back to the way they were before the dead returned, where black people were nothing more than slaves.

Dread Nation isn't just a story about zombies in Restoration Era America, it's also a story about race, slavery, and man's hatred towards man.

Sherlock Holmes & The Christmas Demon by James Lovegrove

Sherlock Holmes and John Watson get called to investigate the apparent haunting at her ancestral castle in Yorkshire. When Eve Allerthorpe becomes haunted by Black Thurrick, an evil entity that comes as Christmas time and torments it's victims, she faces the prospect of losing her inheritance by being found to be of unsound mind. Can Holmes and Watson find an explanation for this mysterious haunting, or is a demon really responsible for these horrible events?

James Lovegrove is an excellent Sherlock Holmes writer, and it's clear throughout this book that he knows that characters so well. Not only is Holmes intelligent and devious throughout, he avoids falling into the trap that some writers have of making him grumpy or unlikable. Instead, Lovegrove has crafted a story that features Holmes and Watson at their best. There's a great central mystery at the heart of the story for them to solve, one that had me guessing throughout, and some wonderful scenes of friendship between the leads that left me smiling wide. One of the best Sherlock Holmes books I've read in a while, and the perfect read for a cold winter day.

Please feel free to let me know what you thought of these book, and what you enjoyed reading in 2019 in the comments below.

Tuesday, 31 December 2019

Marvel Action: Spider-Man #12 – Comic Review

Originally published on Set The Tape

Marvel Action: Spider-Man #12 sees the three spider-heroes fighting alongside Venom one last time as they tangle with the evil Doctor Octopus.

Using the information gathered from the secret lab in the previous issue, Peter, Gwen, and Miles journey to an apparently abandoned building where Doc Ock is supposed to be meeting his mysterious boss, taking Venom along for some added muscle. Unfortunately, Venom proves to be something of a lose cannon, and his breaking into the lab unleashes a horde of murderous robots that swarm the group.

The team are able to beat these ‘Octo-bots’, but when the now costumed Doctor Octopus arrives to fight them with a second wave of robots things become even more dangerous for our heroes. When Venom goes too far, and tries to eat Doctor Octopus, Miles is forced to step in and knock the anti-hero out with his new Venom Blast powers. With Venom under control again, and Doctor Octopus captured, the team are able to find Eddie Brock’s missing phone and laptop, and escape before Doc Ock’s backup arrives.

After their run in with the metal armed villain the heroes are hanging out together on a rooftop when Iron Man arrives, giving the three of them the chance to finally talk to him about what it takes to be a hero; something that they’ve all been working towards since the start of the series.

I have to be honest, the end of this Venom arc feels a little bit lacking compared to some of the other stories, possibly because the team ended up fighting Doctor Octopus once again in a secret lab. In a lot of ways the issue is very similar to the previous one, however, the development with the lead characters manages to stop it feeling like a dull retread.

The three spider-heroes have been trying to find a way to meet Iron-Man since the very first issue, and their places in the Daily Bugle internship have all been a part of this journey. Despite the three of them working together to produce some amazing articles, mostly covering the adventures of their alter-egos, none of them manage to win the competition to interview Tony Stark. Luckily, Stark isn’t just sitting in the background doing nothing, but actively went out of his way to bring the three of them together into a team so that they can help each other.

This conclusion to their journey feels like the perfect end to the the first year of Marvel Action: Spider-Man, as it not only proves that the three of them have gone on to become great heroes in their own rights, but have grown as people as well.

Thankfully, whilst this issue marks the end of both the Venom arc and the first year of the series, the story is far from over, as the heroes once again discover hints of a mysterious ‘Kingpin’ that’s been behind everything that they’ve gone up against so far. Fingers crossed they’ll begin to learn more about this mysterious figure, and possibly even learn more about Miles’ new powers, in the next issue.

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Wednesday, 18 December 2019

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman - Book Review

'Uprooted from the city, Violet Saunders doesn’t have much hope of fitting in at her new school in Four Paths, a town almost buried in the woodlands of rural New York. The fact that she’s descended from one of the town’s founders doesn’t help much, either—her new neighbours treat her with distant respect, and something very like fear. When she meets Justin, May, Isaac, and Harper, all children of founder families, and sees the otherworldly destruction they can wreak, she starts to wonder if the townsfolk are right to be afraid.

When bodies start to appear in the woods, the locals become downright hostile. Can the teenagers solve the mystery of Four Paths, and their own part in it, before another calamity strikes?'

I didn't get the chance to read The Devouring Gray when it first came out, but was instantly drawn to the book when it did. I thought that the cover was very grabbing and atmospheric, with it's surprising mix of vibrant neon pink and moody, almost haunted looking forests. The fact that I also misread the title as 'The Devouring Gay' when I first saw it also grabbed my attention, but that's really just a personal thing that I'm sure no one else would have experienced. Thankfully, the folks at Titan Books offered me a copy to help me get caught up before the release of the second book in the series, The Deck of Omens, comes out in 2020.

The Devouring Gray drops readers into the town of Four Paths much in the same way that lead character Violet is; we're placed in the middle of a town where everyone who lives there knows about the mysterious demon and the prison it occupies, and the fact that several of the town residents have supernatural powers. The book doesn't try to slowly introduce these things to the reader but rather shows us a world where these things are normal for the inhabitants. As such, I was trying to play catch-up at the same time as Violet, trying to learn more about this mysterious town along with her.

This lack of early book explanations, and following Violet as she learnt about her family history and the secrets of Four Paths meant that whilst the book didn't make any big secret about the supernatural existing there was still a lot that was left to uncover, smaller and more personal secrets that the reader got to discover. As such, the story felt a lot more character driven, and focused on the people rather than a big central mystery.

The characters are a fairly interesting and varied group, and none of them are really what they first appear. Violet Saunders is still coming to terms with the death of her, whilst also dealing with having her life turned upside down by having to move to Four Paths. Whilst at first she seems to be incredibly drawn into herself, understandably reluctant to reach out to people because of her grief, there's a brave and powerful young woman hiding beneath.

Isaac Sullivan is presented as cocky, confrontational, and somewhat uncaring. He seems full of himself and knows that he's considered something special by many of the townsfolk because of being part of a founder family. However, over the course of the book we get to see that a lot of this is just surface dressing designed to be armour to protect the incredibly hurt and emotionally damaged young man beneath, one who cares deeply for the people around him.

Justin and May Hawthorne are presented as the most popular people in school, people who command the respect and adoration of those around them. They almost seem like the stereotypical jocks or popular kids in most teen dramas, full of a sense of self entitlement and superiority; but as the narrative unfolds we learn that that's just how others see them, and that they're not only incredibly unsure of who they really are or who they want to be, but are having to battle against the image that the town, and their mother, have made for them.

Finally there's Harper Carlisle, the outcast of the founder children. Having failed in her ritual to unlock her powers she's been cast out by the other founder families, treated as a pariah not worthy of their time or attention. This, coupled with having lost one of her arms, has made Harper into an understandably angry person. She's had to rely on herself, and has channelled the pain that she's been through into a weapon to protect herself. Whilst she comes across as aggressive and uncaring you begin to see that this is all just because of trauma she's been through, and that there's a very vulnerable person beneath it all, though one that you'd never want to cross.

Whilst these teens are the main focus of the story, and their interpersonal dramas and relationships make up a huge part of the story, it never feels like the narrative focuses on this to its detriment. This isn't a teen drama story where the biggest concerns is who's going to go to the homecoming dance with the lead. This is a story about otherworldly forces that are threatening lives, and the book keeps that in mind throughout. All of the teens and their stories are so entwined with the supernatural that it would be impossible to separate them.

Christine Lynn Herman also keeps the ending from feeling cliched or neat by not having the teens come together as friends or a team by the conclusion. There's still drama there, and different personal issues that haven't been resolved. It's not like the first book in a lot of YA series where they learn to put their differences aside and work together and become friends to beat the evil. Instead, it's more like real life, where years of animosity can't just be put aside overnight, and where the emotional damage from previous actions have lasting effects. Because of this I'm more interested in seeing what happens with these character relationships rather than the plot of the demonic forces in the next book, which is a big change for me.

I also loved that Christine Lynn Herman subverts some expectations by not having a romance subplot between Violet and Justin, the lead male and female. Instead, these two are attracted to other people, and thanks to differing circumstances it doesn't even seem obvious that these relationships are guaranteed either. The author has also gone out of her way to include a number of LGBTQ+ characters, with more than one of the teens being bisexual, and even a few of the adults too. Not only is it great that there's more than just one queer character in the book (as many books just have the one token gay), but the revelation that some of the characters were in same sex relationships at some point is treated as if it's nothing out of the usual; which is such a great decision.

The Devouring Gray is a book that I had high hopes for, a book that thanks to the great reviews I'd seen of it, and I'm pleased to say it pretty much met all of them. It's got a cast of characters that are interesting an engaging, that don't become caricatures but have depths. The story has mysteries and secrets that feel natural, and doesn't fall into the trap of trying to fool the reader into thinking that this is a normal town, but presents the unusual up front straight away. The book works brilliantly as the first part of a series, one that draws you in and leaves you happy with the story, yet wanting to read more; whilst also feeling like it would have been a perfectly good stand alone story.

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Friday, 13 December 2019

Transphobic, Islamophobic, Abelist, Antisemitic Tory Candidate Sally-Ann Hart Elected To Parliament

Sally-Ann Hart, the Conservative candidate for Hastings and Rye has been elected to parliament, despite public comments that have been branded as Islamophobic, Abelist, and Transphobic. She received 26,896 votes, beating the Labour candidate, Peter Chowney, who came in second with 22,853.

Ms Hart has faced extensive criticism this month for disgusting views that she has shared publicly. At the start of the month she was called to defend an article she had written in 2017 during a public event, an article in which she claimed that disabled people should be paid less than minimum wage. During the event, which was filmed, she responded that she believes people with learning disabilities should be paid less as she believes 'they don't understand about money'.

She said 'They should be given the opportunity to work because it has to do with the happiness they have about working'. She responded to audience outrage by continuing with this line or argument, 'It's about having a therapeutic exemption and the article was in support of employing people with learning disabilities.'

The very same month, in the build up to the election, she shared a 2017 blog post that claimed Muslim extremists are pushing an agenda to promote LGBTQ+ rights and women's right to chose.

The article, by author and anti-Islam activist Cheri Berens, claimed that the Women's March Movement is a secret front for a hidden 'Muslim agenda'. The article claimed that 'The Muslim Brotherhood' wants women to have abortions in order to weaken non-Muslim populations. It also claimed that it supported the LGBTQ+ community in order to 'weaken' and 'confuse' men.

'They want a young male population that is weakened or with confused female tendancies, whether real or imagined, or transgender.' The article claimed. Sally-Ann Hart, who is now a member of Parliament, branded the article as an 'affecting read', and shared it with the public.

This latest accusation of Islamophobia and Transphobia not only joins her Abelism, but also her investigation for Antisemitism following her sharing a video that claimed billionaire George Soros is controlling the European Union. She has also been found to have liked videos that contain Nazi slogans.

Despite being under investigation for Anti-Semitism she was allowed to continue to stand for election by the Conservative Party, and has now been elected to Parliament.

This is the type of politician that the Tory Party feels best represents their values and views, and that members of the British public have now voted into office. An indication that the Tory Party is a cesspit of hatred, lies, and bigotry.

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Monday, 9 December 2019

The Dark by James Herbert - Book Review

I first read The Dark about fifteen years ago and only got about 100 pages into it, possibly because I was too young for the book. Giving it another go now I found myself drawn into it much more than I was the first time round, and was fascinated with the mystery that Herbert had crafted here.

When paranormal investigator Chris Bishop is hired to investigate a house that a rich family are unable to sell he stumbles across the remains of a mass suicide, with dozens of cult members having murdered each other in horrible, brutal ways. About a year later bizarre incidents begin to happen on the same street, with people attacking and killing each other, dragging Bishop back into a mystery that delves into the very nature of evil itself.

The evil force in the book, the darkness, is a primordial energy that brings out the evil within those it touches. Thanks to the actions of the cult that killed itself their leader has gained control over the darkness from within, fusing his psyche with the evil force. With this new sentience the dark spreads across London, infecting people and causing violence across the capital. Bishop and his allies must try to find a way to not only survive those infected by the dark, but to stop a force that seems almost unstoppable.

The Dark is a book that doesn't pull any punches, and Herbert very quickly lets readers know the kind of thing their in for as his narrative is filled with gruesome and brutal acts of violence. The titular darkness is an otherworldly force that comes out at night, bringing out the darkest desires in those it comes across. Thanks to Herbert spending some time with characters before they fall victim to the dark we get so see how they became affected by it; there's the man who spies on the teenage girl across the street who tries to attack her, the old man who's tormented by youths who decides to kill them, and the nurse who screws her elderly employer to death whilst he's seducing her.

These early acts of horror are shocking, but only hint at the chaos that's to come later in the book, as the dark force sweeps across the city. The capital soon becomes something of a war zone, with people sheltering inside their homes at night with the lights on to ward away the forces outside. Those infected with the dark rise up from the sewers and tunnels beneath the city, desiccated and dying, to kill anyone in their path and sow more terror.

Whilst the central story of Bishop and his allies trying to find a way to stop the dark is exciting and interesting, it's these additions to the narrative, these breaks from the main story that are some of the best parts. Not only do they help to expand the story and show more of how the dark is bringing the city to its knees, they are at times more tense and suspenseful. You expect Bishop to manage to survive the events of the book, so you're not surprised when he survives nearly impossible odds, but when the story follows other characters in these side moments you're never sure if those its following will survive or not.

That's not saying that there's never any risk in the central story, as the main cast get pretty messed up at times. Some of the situations Bishop and the others find themselves in are brilliant action scenes, with them being pursued up tower blocks, in vehicle chases, and laid siege within a glass mansion. Many of these moments play out in exciting ways and feel incredibly cinematic.

The Dark is one of the darker James Herbert books (no pun intended) with some very twisted and disturbing moments, yet also manages to have a grand scope to it that at times feels more like a blockbuster movie. A brilliant horror story that will chill you and excite you in equal measure.

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Monday, 2 December 2019

Eden by Tim Lebbon - Book Review

Climate change is one of the deadliest things humanity has had to face, the changes that we have made to our planet will invariably go on to lead to the extinction of the human race if we don't take action. Eden is set in a world where action has been taken, bold action. Several large areas across the globe have been completely abandoned by humanity, having been handed back to nature in a desperate attempt to repair some of the damage we have done.

These Virgin Zones have become mythical places, shrouded in secrecy. People have tried to get inside in the past, and have lost their lives in the attempts as security forces that defend the do so with deadly force. Despite this, there are still people who try to get inside the zones; including extreme sports fanatics.

Eden follows one of these extreme racing groups, several people who infiltrate Eden, the oldest Virgin Zone, in order to become the first people to travel through the extreme wilderness. However, there are things deep inside Eden that don't want humanity there anymore, that will kill anyone who invades its borders.

Despite being a horror book, Eden spends a good portion of the book establishing its world, and gives a lot of time over to the central cast of characters that the reader follows. Readers are slowly eased into this future world where the planet is fighting back against the damage humanity has caused. The idea of the Virgin Zones are set up as the group travels to Eden, having to avoid security forces and advanced tech in order to get inside the borders. It's clear even without huge amounts of information about the Zones themselves that the feat the group are attempting is by no means an easy one, thanks to the way that Lebbon portrays their journey into Eden. The tension on this journey is palpable; unfortunately for readers, this is one of the least tense parts of the book as things get even worse when the group gets into Eden.

Lebbon manages to make the early parts of the journey, where there's nothing overtly wrong or threatening around the group, feel incredibly tense. Every step further into Eden builds tension as the reader begins to understand that these people aren't just breaking the law, but are entering a world where humans don't belong anymore.

The group gets built up well during these early stages of the book too, with each of them having very different and distinct characters and personalities. They feel unique, with each one bringing their own speciality to the group, as well as their own reasons for being there. There are the older extreme racers who want to tick Eden off their list as 'the big one', the scientist who wants to see what it's like inside, the ambitious youth who wants fame and fortune, and the young woman searching for something deeply personal and important. Despite these differences the group works well together, and Lebbon makes their friendships believable and realistic, and it's easy to see how some of these characters have known each other for years.

The sad part of having such well made characters, however, is that when danger finally reaches the group you don't want anything bad to happen to any of them. Unfortunately, Eden wants to destroy they all. Once the action starts, in a shocking, bloody way, it doesn't stop. The slow, tension building journey into Eden becomes a desperate, non-stop battle for survival. The groups fight to survive becomes the biggest hook of the book, and you'll find it hard to put down once the terror really begins; if you're like me you'll be desperate to see what happens next and if your favourite characters will survive.

Eden reads like a great horror film, a story that knows how to pace itself, how to draw you into the amazing environment and interesting characters before it all goes horribly wrong. Lebbon has had his work made into film before with The Silence, and Eden feels like another story that is ideal for an adaptation, and practically leaps off the page into epic, cinematic visuals as you read it.

Tim Lebbon is a great horror writer, and manages to make all of his stories scary, even those that you wouldn't at first think would be. But what I've found he's the best at is crafting characters that you come to care for a lot, even when you know that not everyone is going to make it out alive. There wasn't a chance that every character was going to survive Eden, but that would have been the only scenario that would have made me the happiest as I loved all of them. Alas, he broke my heart more than once reading this book; but then that's the sign of not just a good writer, but a great writer. If you've never experienced a Tim Lebbon book before Eden is a great place to start, one that will blow you away; and if you have read his work you'll know that you're guaranteed an amazing read.

Eden is published by Titan Books, and scheduled for release April 7th 2020. Pre-order your copy now so that you don't miss out.

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