Review: Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book by Terry Jones

Review by Jax

Book Blurb: This perennial bestseller never loses its charm. It really happened-a hoax perpetrated by two girls who claimed to have photographed actual "fairies"; among the people caught up in the popular hysteria were Arthur Conan Doyle (who fell for it) and Harry Houdini (who did not). This remarkable parody, written by a former member of the Monty Python troupe, takes a riotously witty, visually extraordinary, and wildly original look at what went on. In every respect, this "handwritten diary" captures the look of the age-though the fairies, it is true, do sometimes have a more malevolent aspect than one might expect...
A fresh-and funny-take on the true story that inspired two movies.

My Thoughts:  I was gifted this book YEARS ago, and it became an instant favorite. It's written by Terry Jones of Monty Python and Brian Froud, who's art inspired the movies Labyrinth and Dark Crystal.  

It is the facsimile of Lady Angelica Cottington's Journal - complete not with pretty flower pressings, but of fairies. It tells us the triumphs of a young girl who can now prove her stuffy Nanna how wrong she was. But is smart enough not to do so.

Fairies, being the mischievous and delightfully naughty creatures they are, tease and torment the dear girl throughout her life. (Speaking of naughty, there is even a section of pressings "sealed for the protection of the innocent." Don't worry, the seal slides off easily enough.) Nowhere is sacred. There's a reason she began bringing her pressed fairy book to church!

This book is whimsical, and morbid. It is dark and silly. To me, it has what makes fairy tales, true fairy tales, compelling and fun. Tricks, treats, rhymes and riddles - it's all there. 

Publisher: Sterling

Release Date: September 2, 2004

This book is owned by the reviewer.  

Welcome New Reviewer!

     Please welcome Jax, from Tangled Yarns. She will be filling in for me while I am computerless. I have known Jax for several years, she's a good friend of mine. Despite being a very busy lady, she has agreed to post some reviews here while I shop for a new laptop and sort out my internet connection issues.

     Jax is a a student, a mother, a wife, a knitter, a blogger, a reader, a writer, a woman of many talents. She will post one to two times a week, mostly reviews but she may also post some book news or other book topics too.

     Thank you Jax for helping me out, and I hope you all will enjoy reading her posts. :)

Bea

Winners! And an update

1. WOW! The response to the Spooktacular giveaway was amazing. There were over 130 people entered and many people had more than one entry. I hope you all had fun discovering new blogs (including this one!) and that you will keep coming back and reading.

The winners for the giveaway are yllektra and Courtney. I've sent them an email and am waiting on their replies.

It was very interesting to see what scared people. Some fears were very tangible ie spiders, aliens, etc while others were less tangible but no less terrifying ie losing a loved one. One did make me laugh but then, I'm easily amused. :P The one that made me laugh said they were afraid of axes. Now that's not really all that funny, except....I mod on two author discussion boards and my mod weapon is an axe. So, if that person were on my board, all I'd have to do is threaten them with my axe to them to behave. :D Yes, I'm a little weird.

Anyway, thanks for entering and I hope to see you again. :)

On that note, here's an update on my computer situation. I'm on a computer at the town library right now. In a little while, I'm taking my laptop to a store to be looked at. Depending on the estimate, I'll get it fixed. The store I'm taking it to usually keeps computers for about a week. What is really frustrating for me, is that not only do I lack internet access without my laptop, but all of my ebooks  are unavailable too. Currently, all of my books to be reviewed are ebooks so I'm way behind now. I have been reading some paper-and-ink books that I bought for my own use and I may be able to write and post reviews for a couple of those in the meantime.

So, thanks for your patience. I should see you soon. - Bea

Review: Tarnished Knight by Shiloh Walker

Book Blurb: The mind forgets, but the body remembers. Everything.

Grimm’s Circle, Book 4

One look at Jack Wallace and Perci knows he’s going to be trouble. Even surrounded by soul stealers, he’s a one-man wrecking crew. What does he need Grimm training for? He’s already hell on earth, a warrior bent on destruction. And something…more.

He’s too strong and fast to be a mere mortal. Even covered in blood, he makes her forget she’s only here to do a job and get out. It’s twisted. Sick. She hasn’t felt this alive in three centuries.

Born with a natural talent for killing unnatural things, Jack has always known things he shouldn’t. The fact that Perci is one of them glows all over her. Giving him an unholy urge to see just how far he can push her before don’t touch me melts into touch me there.

When they come together, it isn’t careful or cautious. It’s heaven and hell, exposing all their raw and wounded places to healing heat, resurrecting memories of a destined love from the distant past. But the evil that destroyed them once before has tracked them here, threatening their second and last chance at forever. Demanding a sacrifice no one—Grimm or human—should ever be asked to make…

Warning: Dark, sexy, a little bit scary—this fairy tale is only for grownups and is best saved for bedtime.


***Warning: Mild Spoilers Below***


My Thoughts:  Ok, first a confession. Prior to reading this book, I had read only one book by Ms. Walker. Actually, I tried to read a book, Through the Veil, but I couldn't even finish it. A friend had recommended it so I got it from my library and once I started it, had zero interest in it. Then some acquaintances at Goodreads suggested the Grimm series and when I looked it up, it sounded right up my alley. Then, last week, when I was logged into Twitter, Ms Walker tweeted that she was looking for some people to review Tarnished Knight, provided that they could read it and get the review up before it's release tomorrow, the 26th. (Yes, I know, I squeaked in under the wire). I eagerly responded and to my surprise I was one of the reviewers that she picked. I was surprised because my blog is so new, so small, and not at all well known. Still, I was very happy.

      I'm still happy. I really enjoyed this book. Walker has taken Grimm's fairy tales, updated them, and given them her own spin. I've always loved fairy tales, and I'm a sucker for a well-done update. Many readers don't realize or have forgotten that the original fairy tales were not in the least "child friendly" as we in this century would define it. They were bloody, gory, sometimes erotic tales that were usually meant as cautionary tales. Ms Walker has kept that spirit.

     The Grimm are supernatural beings,who fight demons and who, some of them anyway, were humans in  a prior life. Walker takes a fairy tale, tweaks it, and brings those characters into her world, making them Grimm. For this book she has used Rapunzel, or more accurately, an older lesser known version, called Persinette. I wasn't familiar with it but it has commonalities with some versions of Rapunzel that I've read.

     Perci, AKA Persinette survived her fairy tale, as did her husband, and they became Grimm. They did not, however, get an HEA. Enter Jack, who is not  Grimm but who has some of their abilities and is aware of their existence. Perci is emotionally broken and her pain feels very real. She is smart, sexy, and strong in some ways while weak in others. Jack is also not emotionally whole. Together, sparks fly but they connect emotionally as well as sexually. The story is sexy and fast paced, the characters well-written and believable. I hadn't read the preceding stories which was not a problem; Ms Walker does a very nice job of keeping it a stand alone story while smoothly working in series details and background without doing the dreaded info dump.

I enjoyed this story very much and will be adding the others to my TBR pile.

Publisher: Samhain


Release Date: 10/26/2010


This book was received as a PDF from the author.

Bea

MIA for a while

Unfortunately, my laptop has developed problems and I am unable to use it. My computer access, as well as internet access, is utterly dependent on my local library. They have almost a dozen computers with internet access available to the public. However, they are not, of course, open 24 hours, 7 days week, and the computers have a one-hour time limit. So, barring one post that I had previously written and have set to publish this coming Monday, the 25th, and a review that I hope I can get written and posted this weekend by stalking the library computers, there will be no new posts until I get my laptop fixed. I don't know when that will be.

I am having some withdrawal anxiety; I have become amazing connected, and dependent on, my computer and the internet. Thank goodness I have some net access via my cell, or I'd be utterly insane by now. (No comments from the peanut gallery :P)

My apologies to you all and I will try to be back soon. The one advantage? I'm getting more reading done. :)

Bea

Review: Harvest Moon by Krista D Ball

Book Blurb: 

Cursed, abused, and desperate to know her future, Dancing Cat sneaks a glimpse inside her tribe’s Sacred Bundle, a powerful source of spirit magic. Instead of the future, she sees her most powerful ancestor, Small Tree and incurs her wrath. Small Tree strips Dancing Cat of everything —her home, her identity, even her gender – and drops her in the middle of enemy lands.

Injured, and in a strange, new body, she is befriended by Bearclaw who is on a spirit quest. He offers her assistance and asks for nothing in return; a kindness Dancing Cat had forgotten existed. She struggles to weave a path around the obstacles of friendship, identity, and longing in order to survive her eventual return home to face even further punishment. 

 And she does it while wearing someone else's skin.

My Thoughts: 

I was pulled into this story right from the beginning. I really enjoyed it and hope that Ball writes more stories with these characters.

It's told in first person narrative and moves right along. The setting appears to be an American Indian, sometime after the appearance of the Europeans. The setting is part of the story, almost another character.

Dancing Cat, through circumstances not of her doing, is living on the edges of  her tribe, barely tolerated even by her own family. She has been given a new name, "Cursed One", and is allowed barely enough food to survive. She is frustrated, lonely, starving for both food and human kindness, and considering a desperate course of action. Uncertain what she should do, she "borrows" her tribe's sacred bundle, seeking answers. 

What she gets is something she could never have imagined. There's a small hint for the readers, but I only caught on a re-read. The story takes twists and turns, but also takes it's time before arriving at at a sweet ending. I actually found myself tearing up. Writing short-form is hard to do well, and Ball has nailed it. The balance of detail and character development is just right. She reveals details slowly, she doesn't rush, and there's no info dump, yet the story isn't padded; it's as long as it needs to be. 

Harvest Moon is a delightful blend of history, romance, and fantasy. I didn't put it down until it was done, and I really want to see more of Dancing Cat and Bearclaw. 

Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing

Format: ebook

The PDF was received from the author for review.

Review: Tracking the Tempest by Nicole Peeler

Book Blurb: Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and Ryu - Jane's bloodsucking boyfriend - can't let a major holiday go by without getting all gratuitous. An overwhelming dose of boyfriend interference and a last-minute ticket to Boston later, and Jane's life is thrown off course. Ryu's well-intentioned plans create mayhem, and Jane winds up embroiled in an investigation involving a spree of gruesome killings. All the evidence points towards another Halfling, much to Jane's surprise.

My Thoughts: OMG, I loved this book. It was awesome. Do not, however, read this book if you are having trouble breathing. I was recovering from an asthma flare while reading it and laughed so hard that I could barely breathe. But there's more to the story than humor. Peeler mixes humor, romance, bawdiness, action, mystery, and mythology into the perfect confection. I enjoyed the first book, but Peeler took it up several notches with this story.

     This one takes place several months after the first book, right around Valentine's Day. Jane has been training, learning how to use her magic and developing defensive skills. Ryu surprises Jane with a trip to his home in Boston for the holiday. The trip is an eye-opener in many ways. Jane and Ryu learn more about each other, for better and for worse. We still get to peek into Jane's mind and see her often hilarious, breathtaking (in my case), thoughts. Jane is snarky, hilarious, observant, and willing to fight for what matters to her. On a side note, I follow Ms. Peeler on Twitter, and Jane comes by her bawdiness, her snark, and her humor quite naturally.

     The trip however is not all fun and games. Ryu's job as an investigator interrupts their time together. A halfling is on the loose and committing gruesome murders. As they learn more about him, Jane finds herself torn. Even as she's appalled by the murders, the more she learns about him, the more sympathetic she is to him. Their investigation is complicated by the presence of an investigative team sent by a rival at the fae court. During the course of the book, Jane comes to understand that this new life of hers has it's downside and that magic is not a cure-all for everything or a guarantee that her life will be better.

I like that we see Jane changing and growing. In only two books, there's been more character development than some authors manage in an entire series. I like Jane, she feels like she could be a neighbor or co-worker. Ryu is more exotic, and also arrogant and condescending. While that was apparent in the first book, we really get to see it up close and personal in this book, and so does Jane.

We see many of the people from the first book, including Anyan, who is still yummy, and Caleb, of the ginormous penis. We also meet the members of Ryu's investigative team. One of the things that I like about the Jane True series is Peeler's use of mythological characters. We have not only the standby races of elves but less commonly used races such as selkies, gnomes, satyrs, and ifrits. She does a nice job of taking mythology, tweaking it to her purposes, and putting it into a contemorary story and setting.

I loved this book and I am looking forward to the next one, "Tempest's Legacy", due out in January 2011.

Publisher: Orbit Books

Release date: June 16th, 2010

This book was borrowed from my local library.

Review: Always the Baker Never the Bride

                                 
     Book Blurb: They say you can't have your cake and eat it too. But who would want a cake they couldn't eat?

Just ask Emma Rae Travis about that. She's a baker of confections who is diabetic and can't enjoy them. When Emma meets Jackson Drake, the escapee from Corporate America who is starting a wedding destination hotel to fulfill a dream that belonged to someone else, this twosome and their crazy family ties bring new meaning to the term "family circus." The Atlanta social scene will never be the same!

     My Thoughts: I had never heard of Ms. Bricker before nor of the publisher, Abingdon Press, but when I read the story synopsis it sounded interesting. It's a straight up contemporary romance. There's no mystery or suspense, nothing paranormal or mythological, not even any sex. That seems to be an increasingly rare story in the romance genre these days. What I didn't realize is that Abingdon Press is a Christian Publisher, which certainly explains why it's a "regular" romance, hold the sex. I have no problem with the lack of sex; I enjoy stories both with and without, as long as they are well done. I wasn't entirely comfortable with the amount of religion in the story.

     To be fair, the amount of the story talking about God, Jesus, salvation, etc was maybe 5-10 pages in a 300 page book and it fits in with the story. But, maybe because I was not prepared for it, I felt very uncomfortable with it. That aside, the story is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon or evening,

     The characters were all very likable, and felt real, for the most part. Bricker did have trouble at times fleshing out some of the secondary characters, particularly the ones who she tried to pass off as being difficult.. Jackon's sisters are supposed to be overbearing and  terrifying, we are told this repeatedly, but we don't really see it except for small glimpses. The same is true of Emma's parents: separated for 15+ years, supposedly fireworks go off when they are in a room together, and chaos will reign. We never see that nor do we see why Emma is so uncomfortable with them. I could never buy into their supposed marital problems or allegedly overwhelming personalities.

     The other disappointment for me was the Southern setting. I don't know if Bricker has lived in the South or if she spent any time in Atlanta researching the city, but the story could really be set pretty much anywhere. There's very little in the way of Southern flavor or details specific to Atlanta. One detail that she does get right is Atlanta's love of the phrase "peachtree". I spent 3 days in Atlanta on a business trip several years ago and I swear, every other street name had "peachtree" in it and so did numerous businesses, eateries, etc. My colleagues and I joked about for weeks afterward. Sadly, one thing that she gets very wrong is the accent. Most of the time, she ignores it and doesn't try for it (a good choice really since it's very hard to accurately write a regional accent or dialect) but once in a while she remembers that the story is  set in the South and throws in a word that's is supposed to be a Southernism, We know this because they are always italicized. I lived 6 years in Virginia and have relatives scattered throughout the South; it would have been better if she ignored the accent or, instead of writing it, described it. For instance, instead of writing bruthah, she could have written it normally and added a description along the lines of "Norma drew out her words, softening and lengthening her syllables."

     Bricker takes her time developing the relationship and the romanced between Emma and Jackson and their doubts and hesitations ring true. It's not all roses and moonbeams but neither is it one trial after another. Bricker manages to avoid many of the genre cliches which makes for a very pleasant read.  I liked that Emma had a backbone even while she had her doubts and worries, and that Jackson was not a dominant, "alpha" male but just your garden variety male, juggling love, life, work and family. There's no big crises, a few minor ones, including an aunt of Emma's who has developed Alzheimer's. The scenes with Aunt Sophie are mostly humorous, with an undertone of sadness, and add depth to Emma's character.

In all, it's a pleasant, light romance.


Publisher: Abingdon Press
Release Date: September 1st, 2010


This story was provided as an e-arc from NetGalley.