The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes

14 Aug 2014 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, General Tags: , , , ,

Published: 29 July, 2014
Goodreads badgePublisher: REUTS Publications, LLC
Pages: 192
Format: ebook
Genre: New Adult/Paranormal
★   ★   ★   ★  – 4 Stars

Some people are born boring. Some live boring. Some even die boring. Fred managed to do all three, and when he woke up as a vampire, he did so as a boring one. Timid, socially awkward, and plagued by self-esteem issues, Fred has never been the adventurous sort.

One fateful night – different from the night he died, which was more inconvenient than fateful – Fred reconnects with an old friend at his high school reunion. This rekindled relationship sets off a chain of events thrusting him right into the chaos that is the parahuman world, a world with chipper zombies, truck driver wereponies, maniacal necromancers, ancient dragons, and now one undead accountant trying his best to “survive.” Because even after it’s over, life can still be a downright bloody mess.

Note: I was provided a copy of this book for review

The stories in The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant are not as uninteresting and uneventful as the title makes them out to be. We are introduced to Fred, a simple accountant who was bitten by an unknown vampire a year ago, and since then has adjusted to his new life and carried on as if nothing has happened. This simple and straightforward life is soon disrupted after his high school reunion as he meets up with old friends, makes new friends, and discovers that the world is a lot more adventurous than he may have thought.

I like Fred, I like that he has taken the practical approach to his circumstances, he starts up his own accounting business from home to avoid going out during the day, and he has struck a deal at the hospital to get access to blood. Other than that he carries on his life almost as if nothing has happened. Hayes uses good explanations and examples to sum up Fred’s new routine and how he can carry on his life. It makes sense and works, adding a great touch of reality into the paranormal tone of the book.

Fred has got the skills of a vampire, but what he lacks is the confidence. You notice as each story goes on, Fred becomes more comfortable and in touch with his abilities. This possibly has something to do with the fact that he has gains a parahuman group of friends around him, and unlike in that first year, he can explore his abilities, use them, and even has more cause for using them than he had before. As he becomes more in touch with what he can actually do you see he is not as weak as he sees himself to be, there is a power within him. His timid nature makes him a great character, he is kind and thoughtful, and not at all like he believes vampires are supposed to be. But it is also wonderful to see when he uses his abilities, his strength and speed, that he can be quite formidable, and after being introduced to Fred as a shy and seemingly weak guy, you understand how his type is considered one of the more powerful creatures in the parahuman world.

The format is in the style of Fred’s memoirs, a guide to future readers who find themselves in his predicament and unsure of what they are supposed to do, confused by media misconceptions and stereotypes. His journeys are divided up into individual stories, each one about an adventure Fred has, who he meets, and how it changes his life. These are joined together to create an overall story about Fred and his seemingly uninteresting life.

While these stories are all connected and follow on from one another, Hayes still recaps as he goes. Initially there was a lot of retelling and repeating of previous events in each new story, despite the fact you can read each tale consecutively. You know what has already happened and do not need such a detailed reminder with each new tale. There was even a line that says “I hope you know by now” implying we are supposed to know the information that has been provided before it. Reminding readers is fine, but a less noticeable way is needed, one that blends into the story more successfully. Hayes did get the hang of it in later stories and when there were recaps they were shorter and felt more natural within the narrative.

Another thing I noticed was the continual reminder about the fact Fred is essentially dead. Simple phrases like “he was out of breath” are interrupted to add in that “even though he had no breath” for example, while humorous the first few times, soon lost its humour and on occasion jarred the story a little bit. I understand using them as a joke, especially since many are from Fred’s thoughts as he makes a joke to himself, but there was a lot and after awhile it grew tiresome. These references, like the recapping, are toned down in later stories though.

These were my only real issues with the story, and even then they are small. Hayes has taken an interesting approach to the vampire and parahuman story with Fred, showing that being turned does not automatically make you into a monster, nor does it suddenly make your life any more interesting than it was before. I liked that Hayes normalised this, and used Fred as a voice to help us explore the process and the outcome of becoming a vampire.

The tales of Fred are unexpected and light hearted, and actually a really fun read. There are great characters and each story is new and different, while still being connected to the events and outcomes of the previous story. Hayes has created a world that balances the real and the paranormal well, and with each story takes us deeper into the hidden world of the paranormal and the life of Fred and his new parahuman friends. It is a great book with characters you come to love and I for one hope there will be more utterly uninteresting and unadventurous tales of Fred, the vampire accountant.

Purchase Fred, the Vampire Accountant at the following locations

Amazon

 

The Toothless Tooth Fairy by Shanelle Hicks

01 Aug 2014 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, General Tags: , , ,

Published: 11th April 2014
Goodreads badgePublisher: Mirror Publishing
Pages: 28
Format: ebook
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
★   ★   ★   ★  – 4 Stars

Bella had it all. The hair, the dress, and the smile. One day, her most important asset was missing…her tooth! Will Bella find the perfect tooth in time for the contest? Will Zelda, the meanest of the fairies, destroy Bella’s chances of winning the crown? Take a journey onto Cloud Nine as Bella searches for a new tooth only to discover the tooth…I mean truth…behind her true beauty.

Note: I was provided a copy of this book to review

The Toothless Tooth Fairy tells the story of Bella, a tooth fairy who becomes the victim of another fairy’s jealousy and must try and replace her missing tooth for fear of losing the imminent smile contest. The lengths that Bella goes to in order to recover her perfect smile are amusing, the humour only added to by Anca Delia Budeanu’s illustrations.

Budeanu’s illustrations are wonderful, they are creative and clever, and bring great colour to the page making you feel like you too are on Cloud Nine. The colours are soft but still manage to stand out on the page, and the uniqueness in each tooth fairy is great as well. The accompanying text is clear and easy to read on the page, displayed as if in its own cloud which only adds to the feeling of being on Cloud Nine amongst the tooth fairies. Displaying the text in this way leaves the illustration to fill the rest of the page, but in doing so it doesn’t take away from the words. The language used is clear and simple, but still filled with a lot of meaning, a little bit of magic, and a friendly tone. Hicks’ story is interesting because there isn’t just one message to take away from it, and while there is a crime of sorts, no one is made to feel like a victim, nor an enemy.

Hicks is clear from the start about what makes Bella beautiful is not just her perfect teeth or her nice hair, but also her kindness. And while Bella becomes self conscious and doubts her own beauty when she loses her tooth, Hicks never makes physical beauty the most important aspect, even the tooth fairy contest isn’t a beauty pageant, it is for who has the nicest smile. This shows that even with Zelda’s jealousy, there isn’t an attack on who is more beautiful than anyone else, nowhere does Hicks say physical beauty is more important than being a good person. This is a wonderful message to give to children who read this, and one that a few adults wouldn’t hurt to remember every now and again.

The Toothless Tooth Fairy is a great book that leaves you with a smile on your face as you finish. There is a wonderful message in Bella’s story that explores feelings of jealousy as well as insecurity, but also promotes the ideas of inner beauty, kindness, and being a friend.

Necessary Evil and the Greater Good by Adam Ingle

31 Jul 2014 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, General Tags: , , ,

Published: 19th June 2014
Goodreads badgePublisher: The Dead Regime
Pages: 280
Format: ebook
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
★   ★   ★   ★  – 4 Stars

Note: I was provided a copy of this book for review

For best friends Mestoph and Leviticus the end of the world can’t come fast enough. Mestoph is a demon and troublemaker for Hell Industries, while Leviticus is an angel and cubicle jockey for Heaven, Inc. They might be unlikely friends, but they have something in common – they both hate their jobs. 

Unfortunately for them The End is nowhere in sight. The two take matters into their own hands when they come up with a scheme to get themselves kicked out of the Afterlife without spending an eternity in Purgatory. Their misadventure will take them from the tiny town of Truth or Consequences, NM to the highlands of Iceland as they cross paths and pantheons with Neo-Vikings, Greek and Norse Gods, and a Scottish terrier named Sir Reginald Pollywog Newcastle III.

Religions and gods collide in this wonderful story filled with secrets, intrigue, and a surprising amount of reality. Ingle’s self published novel offers a side to angels, demons, religion and the afterlife that was not only completely unexpected, but also one that is clever and funny as well.

What seems like a simple plan between an angel and demon soon becomes a mass endeavour as plans go awry and there are morals and issues to contend with. You see the strength of characters in what they have to endure and through it all you get a great enjoyment and even a few laughs as the absurdities makes you forget the fact a serious matter is at hand and a lot is at stake. There are some wonderful surprises to discover as you read, not just the big ones, but the little ones as well. The unexpected nature of a character, the cameos and people who turn up, and even the language and dialogue can hold surprises.

One thing I did enjoy was the friendship between Leviticus and Mestoph. Their common goal and their long lasting friendship was a wonderful part of the story; not only in how they worked together, but in their conversations. What I loved was how Ingle has a way of making conversations between characters seem not only natural, but strangely realistic in unrealistic circumstances. Despite the nature of the story, the whole thing actually never felt unbelievable, there is a great realism in the story, something I was not expecting, but really came to enjoy.

Ingle has written a clever, funny, engaging, and fast paced novel that makes you laugh and makes you curious about the characters and the story but you cannot ignore the fact that there is a clear tampering with established notions of various religions. Some I feel coming across more positively than others in a few cases. There is a strong sense of irreverence throughout this book, something you can’t ignore. However being someone who is not religious I was surprised but not offended, but I know many other people have a strong belief or respect for the religion shown in this book and I can easily see how Ingle’s representation of key religious figures may not sit well with others.

While there is no slander per se, the representations of figures such as God and St Peter, as well as some of the events in this book are quite different than how they are typically portrayed. As I say, I really enjoyed it, I enjoyed that these figures were completely different than what I was expecting from them, even knowing the tone of the book they still surprised me. I loved that Ingle took such a chance in portraying them as he did, it only added to the story in my opinion.

In having the ancient and current religions collide there is a chance to understand more about the myths pertaining to each belief as well. As a lover of Greek mythology I was really impressed Ingle made a point to highlight the fact Hades is not the Greek equivalent of Satan. I also loved the explanation given about how each religion became and receded from being the dominate belief system. In that respect Ingle has developed a believable and understandable world and in doing so makes the events realistic in their own way.

Away from that there is a fast paced novel involving NeoVikings, and a Scottish Terrier called Sir Reginald Pollywog Newcastle III, or Sir Regi, and the two humans, Marcus and Stephanie, who must work together and trust what their angel and demon companions tell them. I really enjoyed each character, they were unique, and interacted with one another in a realistic manner, I did think though that Marcus and Stephanie did not get as much in-depth development as the others. They played their roles well, but I never felt there was a lot beneath their exteriors; even minor characters seemed to be more complicated on occasion. Stephanie is a strong character though who comes into her own and shows us a bit more of her personality, but given how well I felt Mestoph, Leviticus, even Sir Regi were portrayed, there seemed to be something missing with those two.

I enjoyed this book because it was funny, it had interesting characters, and there was an engaging and intriguing approach taken to the ideas of The End, religions old and new, and the light-hearted approach overall to what is naturally a sensitive subject. A new interpretation on what is clearly a current religion, as well as those from the past is always interesting if done well. Seeing how people interpret the stories and figures from not just the Bible but Greek and Norse mythology can make for an interesting story, something Ingle has done well. The frank nature of the characters and the storyline is one that makes the world of angels and demons interesting, modern, and enjoyable, and one that is not always so pious, holy, or innocent.

Down the Other Street by Jennifer Cie

17 Jul 2014 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, General, Short Stories Tags: , , ,

Published: 29th July 2014
Goodreads badgePublisher: Self Published
Pages: 135
Format: ebook
Genre: Short stories
★   ★   ★   ★  – 4 Stars

DownOnTheOtherStreetLong winded, unemployed, and timid, on the first date Brendan Bloom is already in love. Comfortably arched over his body, Ryan contemplates murder. Cold, necklace gleaming against the pale tint of her collarbone, the passenger could have mercy. Not a little black book, but a faded love letter out from under the sheets. Some romances ignite on sight, others flare at the base of waterless tubs soaked in agitation. Rooted in the South, this collection of short stories delivers five electric confessions of love, sexuality, and identity across time.

Note: I was provided a copy of this book by the author to review.

Down on the Other Street is a collection of short stories that are about love, relationships, sexuality, and discovering who you are. Focusing on the South and across many different time periods, these stories invite you into the intimate lives and emotions of various people, making you realise that people can be a lot more complicated than they appear.

The stories Cie has created are touching, emotional, and unique. They are stories of the passion of love and sexual experience, and the yearning and exhilaration you can experience as a result. The characters are detailed, emotional, in-depth, and trying to discover themselves. They do this through the relationships they have with other people and in each of their stories we see the struggles, social issues, and freedoms that these relationships have on them.

Despite the fact that there are many connecting themes between these stories, no two are truly alike; some of them are so different that it isn’t just the time period that separates them. Two of my favourite stories from the collection are Intellectuals Are Fools and The Blue Bullet, both being excellent stories that capture not only a powerful relationship, but also stories of interest, unanswered questions and filled with the unexpected.

What needs to be mentioned is that while there is a strong focus on love and sexuality, it is in no way explicit, vulgar, or even in there unnecessarily. As someone who has a slight aversion towards explicit sex scenes and over the top romance I found that how Cie has controlled and developed not just the relationships, but also the intimacy and sexual nature, was really well done. There was meaning and emotion brought out through the detail and done so tastefully to the characters and who they are as people without requiring anything to be over the top or disrespectful.

Down on the Other Street will not only open your eyes to the complexities that human emotions are capable of, but also demonstrate that the journey towards discovering your own identity can take many different paths and no two will ever be exactly the same. Cie’s stories follow these many different paths and provide each character with a voice, one that draws in the reader to the emotion and complexities of the surrounding world as well as the character within it and they do so with style and compassion.

The Other Tree by D.K. Mok

11 Jul 2014 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, General Tags: , , ,

Today I have a review for The Other Tree by D. K. Mok as part of her blog tour thanks to Spence City!

Published: 28th January 2014
Goodreads badgePublisher: Spence City
Pages: 400
Format: ebook via Edelweiss
Genre: Fantasy
★   ★   ★   ★  – 4 Stars

It’s been four years since Chris Arlin graduated with a degree that most people think she made up, and she’s still no closer to scraping up funding for her research into rare plants. Instead, she’s stacking shelves at the campus library, until a suspiciously well-dressed man offers her a lucrative position on a scientific expedition.

For Chris, the problem isn’t the fact that they’re searching for the Biblical Tree of Life. Nor is it the fact that most of the individuals on the expedition seem to be fashionably lethal mercenaries. The problem is that the mission is being backed by SinaCorp, the corporation responsible for a similar, failed expedition on which her mother died eleven years ago. However, when Chris’s father is unexpectedly diagnosed with inoperable cancer, Chris sees only one solution.

Vowing to find the Tree of Life before SinaCorp’s mercenaries, Chris recruits Luke, an antisocial campus priest undergoing a crisis of faith. Together, they embark on a desperate race to find Eden. However, as the hunt intensifies, Chris discovers growing evidence of her mother’s strange behaviour before her death, and she begins to realise that SinaCorp isn’t the only one with secrets they want to stay buried.

The Other Tree is a story that is clever, secretive, and mysterious. It is about two regular people trying to do something extraordinary, driven by determination and personal motives, all the while having a dangerous enemy biting at their heels who is also after the same prize: the Tree of Life. Both parties are after the Tree for very different reasons and we watch as Chris and Luke race against SinaCorp to decipher ancient texts and solve riddles to find the location of the other mystical tree from the Garden of Eden.

One of my weaknesses in reading is being given questions early on that don’t get answered; it will pretty much guarantee I will keep reading just to find out the answer, and find out why I wasn’t told the answer at the time. Mok implements this technique from the start. Asking questions at the beginning of a story that go unanswered for a little bit gets you interested and it keeps you reading because even if nothing has actually happened yet plot wise, you still are left with a question that is dangling in front of you. You want to know why this character thought that the perfect stranger standing in a courtyard was peculiar even if you know nothing else.

Admittedly even with these questions the story started off slowly but it was not without some interest. It picks up in the middle and as the story progressed it gradually became more engaging, as all good adventure stories should. This has been catagorised as a fantasy but surprisingly I kept thinking of it not just as an adventure style story, but one that actually seemed quite realistic. I know that sounds strange considering it is a story about the hunt for the Tree of Life and the Garden of Eden, but so much of this novel made me happy because it played out like reality would. Chris and Luke are not professionals, they aren’t even part of an organisation, they are a botanist and a priest trying to beat a massive corporation, a corporation who have access to the latest technologies, unlimited funding, and specially trained mercenaries, and Mok doesn’t forget that. It’s slowness in part makes it realistic, being untrained and slightly unskilled, the way Chris and Luke tackle the adventure is believable, as another character mentions, they keep stopping regularly for food, they also sleep in motels, have to drive long distances and catch commercial flights to other countries. There is no fast solution, and how they gain their information differs from SinaCorp because it cannot just be bought or analysed with equipment. However, being unskilled doesn’t make them unprepared and a lot of their own unique skills come in handy during their search.

Another great part of the story is the relationship between Chris and Luke. Their friendship is enjoyable and as a result makes the story enjoyable to read. The realism in their relationship becomes more profound as the book continues and the banter, dialogue and support between them are what make it special; it’s natural and reflects how people behave with one another. This realism is also shown with other character relationships. While Chris often jokes to herself about making grand declarations liked heroes do against their foe, she knows it doesn’t happen in reality and while you are making sweeping statements they will most likely turn and shoot you without a second thought. People get hurt, money buys power, and there isn’t always justice.

This doesn’t mean there is no fun in this book. There is a lot of great humour, jokes between friends, great banter between characters and a great mix of sarcasm and fear that makes for an interesting read. Throughout this story Mok balances the seriousness, humour, religion, mystery, and adventure elements perfectly meaning each aspect is evident at the appropriate time and nothing is too overbearing. Mok also includes some great profound statements, not just by characters but also in the narrative, each time never feeling out of place or unwelcome, and offering that serious nature amongst what could be mistaken as a jovial quest in parts.

I am not a religious person, I don’t know much about it and what I do know comes from multiple and various pop culture references and general exposure that occurs from daily life. Having said that, I liked the approach Mok takes with this story and how religion is dealt with. And while it does centre on these religious elements, The Other Tree is more action based story involving religion rather than solely an in-depth religious analysis in itself. What religious aspects that are present are presented in a way that is respectful yet basic, while also being realistic, well placed, and properly used. This presentation is helped a lot by the characters, something that not only brought out the story and the themes really well, but got you to know who these characters were.

Both Chris and Luke are people with something in their past and through their ordeal we slowly see this come to light and see them face what they have been hiding from and who they are a people. But while they are a lot of the main focus, all of Mok’s characters are highly unique, and in their own way they are quite observant and profound, and many have secrets of their own. As you read, and as you see what each character does and what they think, you are able to gain a great sense of who they are as people, sometimes even a simple observation from a third party gives you invaluable insight into who they are and what drives them.

With no spoilers I will say I liked the way Mok ends the book. While I had a few theories running on how it would pan out I think how it was concluded leaves you satisfied. Mok has rounded off this mass adventure and ordeal with respect not just to the characters, but to the reader; it is done without rushing, without being unrealistic for the reality it has created, and it also stays true to the characters and what we’ve come to expect from them. Overall The Other Tree is an adventurous and enjoyable story that gives you the unexpected, the unique, and the unusual all in an interesting story about faith, humanity, and botany.

 

About the Author

DK Mok lives in Sydney, Australia, and writes fantasy and science fiction novels and short stories. DK’s urban fantasy novel, The Other Tree, was released in 2014 by Spence City, and her short story ‘Morning Star‘ was shortlisted for an Aurealis Awards. DK’s new epic fantasy novel, Hunt for Valamon, is scheduled for release in January 2015 by Spence City.

DK grew up in libraries, immersed in lost cities and fantastic worlds, populated by quirky bandits and giant squid. She graduated from UNSW with a degree in Psychology, pursuing her interest in both social justice and scientist humour.

She’s fond of cephalopods, androids, global politics, rugged horizons, science and technology podcasts, and she wishes someone would build a labyrinthine library garden so she could hang out there. Her favourite fossil deposit is the Burgess Shale.

All Your Bits and Pieces Needs
Website
Facebook
Twitter

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries