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dhampyresaWhat did you finish reading
Dying Bites, by DD Barant: I mentionned last week that I picked up this series again because of the friendship between Jace (human FBI profiler) and Charlie (300 pounds golem powered by a T-Rex) and I was not disappointed.
I really enjoy the way the murder plot unfolds in this book and how that's used to reinforce the worldbuilding, but with a valid in-text reason, if that makes sense. I mean, there's a reason the murderer picks the places and victims he does and it's a very good in-text reason, but it's also a good way to show some of the world's underpinnings, including the ones no one would ever have told Jace about if they had had a choice. The climax is really great as is the fight on Easter Island.
Death Blows, by DD Barant: Another thing I love about this series is how off-the-wall it is. Elder Gods! Comic books as objects of great magical power! T-REX POWERED GOLEMS! The murders in this book revolve around comics and one comic in particular. It's a different experience re-reading it now that I know more about comics. Not that it wasn't enjoyable and perfectly understandable before, but now I get to enjoy reading things like "Mutant rockstars" and go "OMG IT'S DAZZLER!" or read "Asgardian thunder god frogs" and think "yup that was a thing that actually happend". (Also, her informant on/in the comic subculture is totally Neil Gaiman: he wears a black leather jacket and sunglasses, his name is Neil and he's an oneiromage.) Ilove how much care and love goes into the depiction of comics. Sure, they're the motivation behind the murders, but it never comes across as comics being evil in and of themselves. There's a fair amount of talking about the power of comics (actual magic power in this world) and that shows up in-text several times (one character actually gets rebooted, haha wat, this is so lol comics, but in the best way possible). The climax at one point features a tense conversation on Batman's origin story (his parents are deaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad).
Also, all the friendships in this book are great SO GREAT, whether it's JAce&Charlie, Jace&Xandra, Jace&Gretchen, Jace&Cassius, Cassius&Gretchen or any of the others.
What are you reading now
Killing Rocks, by DD Barant: I'm not entirely sure where this is going yet, but where I'm at, Las Vegas in under siege, something's up with Charlie and Jace's only ally is a magician form another universe who kidnapped her and stole her face (not literally, I hasten to add, but it could still happen! I hope not, though. I like Azura). Also, it features the line
Hannibal's Odyssey, by William Mahaney: Yes, still.
What are you reading next
the rest of the Bloodhound Files, I think. After that...
There was a sale on books by the DCU Book Soc (also cake) and I kind of went all out, hahaha oops.
LOOK THEY HAD CHEAP BOOKS WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO, NOT BUY THEM? That's just crazy-talk, man.
For the curious, I bought about one of each kind they had (except The Great Gatsby, because I already had it and a book in Irish, because I don't read Irish) and the books are: Anne Frank, Inverting the Pyramid, The Hobbit, Ender's Game, The Book Thief, Fight Club, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Wicked, Fahrenheit 451, The Secret Scripture, The Hich-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Death of Bunny Munro, Hogfather, Strom Front, The Last Frontier, The Princess Bride, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Gone Girl and Stone of Destiny. I don't know what most of these are about, but I bought 19 books (and 6 cupcakes) for 31€, so you know, I kind of don't care. BOOKS!
(And they're doing another sale next week with other books (including Days of the Dead) and of course I will be there and buying more books and how am I ever going to get all these back home? Who cares, BOOKS!)
Dying Bites, by DD Barant: I mentionned last week that I picked up this series again because of the friendship between Jace (human FBI profiler) and Charlie (300 pounds golem powered by a T-Rex) and I was not disappointed.
"Charlie, how do you feel about scuba diving?"Have I told you guys how much I love friendships? I love friendships so so so much, more anything else and these books are so good to me on the platonic us-against-the-world front. I love the banter between Jace and Charlie (aat one point they use it to identify each other). I love how much they care bout each other but don't say it. (Jace is so bad at feelings, you guys, so bad. It's hilarious.) I love that they have fights but they make up, but it's not easy and everyone has to make concessions.
"The same way an anvil does."
"Don't worry," I say. "We'll tie the rope around you again, and feed it out as long as we can."
"And when you get to the end of your rope?"
"That's where I live, Charlie."
"I noticed. I'm not going to drag you under, Jace."
"You won't. I'm going to haul you up."
I really enjoy the way the murder plot unfolds in this book and how that's used to reinforce the worldbuilding, but with a valid in-text reason, if that makes sense. I mean, there's a reason the murderer picks the places and victims he does and it's a very good in-text reason, but it's also a good way to show some of the world's underpinnings, including the ones no one would ever have told Jace about if they had had a choice. The climax is really great as is the fight on Easter Island.
Death Blows, by DD Barant: Another thing I love about this series is how off-the-wall it is. Elder Gods! Comic books as objects of great magical power! T-REX POWERED GOLEMS! The murders in this book revolve around comics and one comic in particular. It's a different experience re-reading it now that I know more about comics. Not that it wasn't enjoyable and perfectly understandable before, but now I get to enjoy reading things like "Mutant rockstars" and go "OMG IT'S DAZZLER!" or read "Asgardian thunder god frogs" and think "yup that was a thing that actually happend". (Also, her informant on/in the comic subculture is totally Neil Gaiman: he wears a black leather jacket and sunglasses, his name is Neil and he's an oneiromage.) Ilove how much care and love goes into the depiction of comics. Sure, they're the motivation behind the murders, but it never comes across as comics being evil in and of themselves. There's a fair amount of talking about the power of comics (actual magic power in this world) and that shows up in-text several times (one character actually gets rebooted, haha wat, this is so lol comics, but in the best way possible). The climax at one point features a tense conversation on Batman's origin story (his parents are deaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad).
Also, all the friendships in this book are great SO GREAT, whether it's JAce&Charlie, Jace&Xandra, Jace&Gretchen, Jace&Cassius, Cassius&Gretchen or any of the others.
What are you reading now
Killing Rocks, by DD Barant: I'm not entirely sure where this is going yet, but where I'm at, Las Vegas in under siege, something's up with Charlie and Jace's only ally is a magician form another universe who kidnapped her and stole her face (not literally, I hasten to add, but it could still happen! I hope not, though. I like Azura). Also, it features the line
Stories want to be told, you know. That's why they created people.I am sensing this will be A Theme in this book. I like it.
Hannibal's Odyssey, by William Mahaney: Yes, still.
What are you reading next
the rest of the Bloodhound Files, I think. After that...
There was a sale on books by the DCU Book Soc (also cake) and I kind of went all out, hahaha oops.
LOOK THEY HAD CHEAP BOOKS WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO, NOT BUY THEM? That's just crazy-talk, man.
For the curious, I bought about one of each kind they had (except The Great Gatsby, because I already had it and a book in Irish, because I don't read Irish) and the books are: Anne Frank, Inverting the Pyramid, The Hobbit, Ender's Game, The Book Thief, Fight Club, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Wicked, Fahrenheit 451, The Secret Scripture, The Hich-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Death of Bunny Munro, Hogfather, Strom Front, The Last Frontier, The Princess Bride, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Gone Girl and Stone of Destiny. I don't know what most of these are about, but I bought 19 books (and 6 cupcakes) for 31€, so you know, I kind of don't care. BOOKS!
(And they're doing another sale next week with other books (including Days of the Dead) and of course I will be there and buying more books and how am I ever going to get all these back home? Who cares, BOOKS!)