The Walking Dead Vol. 28

Title: The Walking Dead Vol. 28: A Certain Doom

Author: Robert Kirkman; Charlie Adlard; Stefano Guadiano; Cliff Rathburn; Dave Stewart

Publisher: Image 2017

Genre: Comics

Pages: 136

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

In the aftermath of The Whisperer War--ALL IS LOST as Rick and all of Alexandria fight for survival against the largest horde of walkers they’ve ever faced.

Collects THE WALKING DEAD #163-168.

I was wholly not prepared for this volume. I assumed that the residents of Alexandria would deal with the zombie hoard and be done with it. I didn't expect one specific death and it gutted me. The last few pages reminded me of the first few pages of the entire series. No need for words when the images are so detailed.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter

Title: Through the Zombie Glass (White Rabbit Chronicles #2)

Author: Gena Showalter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2013

Genre: YA - Fantasy

Pages: 478

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: A to Z - T; I Love Libraries; Seasonal Series - Read a Book While Eating Chocolate

Zombies stalk the night.
Forget blood and brains. These monsters hunger for human souls.
Sadly, they've got mine…
Alice Bell has lost so much. Family. Friends. A home. She thought she had nothing else to give. She was wrong.
After a new zombie attack, strange things begin to happen to her. Mirrors come to life, and the whispers of the dead assault her ears. But the worst? A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do very wicked things.
She's never needed her team of zombie slayers more, but ultra bad-boy Cole Holland, the leader and her boyfriend, suddenly withdraws from her…from everyone. Now, with her best friend, Kat, at her side, Ali must kill the zombies, uncover Cole's secret and learn to fight the darkness.
But the clock is ticking…and if she fails at a single task, they're all doomed.

This is exactly what I needed to read this weekend: a fun, sometimes horrifying young adult fantasy. I devoured every word, reading this one in only two days. I couldn't get enough of this fast-paced adventure. I was desperate to see what happened to regular Ali and Zombie Ali. I kept yelling (in my head) at Cole to get his shit together. I speculated on the identity of the spy and actually got it right for once. I can't wait to pick up the next volume.

White Rabbit Chronicles:

#1 Alice in Zombieland
#1.5 Cole... Meet Ali
#2 Through the Zombie Glass
#3 The Queen of Zombie Hearts
#4 A Mad Zombie Party
#4.1 Kat in Zombieland

Next up on the TBR pile:

Circe by Madeline Miller

Title: Circe

Author: Madeline Miller

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company 2018

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 394

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Share-a-Tea

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child--not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power--the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

My Book of the Month selection for April and I definitely picked the right book for me. This is a wonderful retelling of the myth of Circe told from her perspective. I'll admit that the book started out a bit slow. Once Circe was exiled to her island, I really dove into the book and loved every word. Miller tells a compelling story with a gorgeous voice. Miller makes her fair share of changes and expansions of Circe's story, but every choice made sense. I really loved the twists and turns. Overall, a great read!

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman

Title: The Dress Lodger

Author: Sheri Holan

Publisher: Grove 2010

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 322

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: TBR Pile; Popsguar - Given as a gift; Seasonal Series - Flower as bookmark

In Sunderland, England, a city quarantined by the cholera epidemic of 1831, Gustine, a defiant fifteen-year-old beauty in an elegant blue dress rented from her pimp-landlord, sells her body to feed her only love: a fragile baby boy. When she meets surgeon Henry Chiver, who has recently been implicated in the Burke and Hare killings, in which beggars were murdered so the corpses could be sold for medical research, Gustine begins working for him by securing cadavers for his ill-equipped anatomy school. It is a gruesome job that will soon threaten the very things she’s working so hard to protect.

One of those books that has been on my shelf for years it feels like. I finally dove in and it's middle of the road. It's not a bad book, but I found myself fairly bored by it. I wasn't super connected to any of the characters. The setting and background story is interesting, but not enough to carry me through the entire book. I was not a fan of the weird third person narration and jumps between stories and characters. The book felt unconnected. Overall a very meh historical fiction novel.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen

Title: The Emerald Circus

Author: Jane Yolen

Publisher: Tachyon 2017

Genre: Fantasy - Short Stories

Pages: 281

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Modern Mrs. Darcy - Favorite Author;A to Z - E; I Love Libraries

A Scottish academic unearths ancient evil in a fishing village. Edgar Allan Poe's young bride is beguiled by a most unusual bird. Dorothy, lifted from Kansas, returns as a gymnastic sophisticate. Emily Dickinson dwells in possibility and sails away in a starship made of light. Alice’s wicked nemesis has jaws and claws but really needs a sense of humor.

In Jane Yolen’s first full collection in more than ten years discover new and uncollected tales of beloved characters, literary legends, and much more. Enter the Emerald Circus and be astonished by the transformations within.

I have loved many of Jane Yolen's books and couldn't wait to pick up this collection of Short Stories. They are perfect for this fan of fairy tale retellings. Once I started reading, I couldn't put this collection down. Every story was on point! Of course, a few of the stories really stood out to me.

"Lost Girls" -- Loved this story of a new visitor to Neverland who shakes up the status quo.
"Tough Alice" -- Alice in Wonderland is one of my all-time favorites and this new visit involving the Jabberwock was lots of fun.
"Blown Away" -- I also have a weakness for Wizard of Oz stories. This one focused on the farmhand's experience of the twister and aftermath. Interesting take.
"Rabbit Hole" -- Here we see Alice's visit to Wonderland as a old woman. Loved it!
"Sister Emily's Lightship" -- Emily Dickinson was such fascinating character in history. I loved this spin on her afflictions.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

Title: The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of American's Shining Women

Author: Kate Moore

Publisher: Sourcebooks 2017

Genre: History

Pages: 496

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - Nonfiction Adventure; Mount TBR

Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the "wonder" substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives...

Our book club selection for April. I've been super excited to read this history and it did not disappoint. I was horrified reading the trials all of these "radium girls" had to suffer through during their (in most cases) very short lives. I knew their stories weren't going to necessarily end well, but holy cow, it was even worse than I imagined. The devious dealings of the various radium companies and lawyers depressed me. However, the strength shown by the women involved was amazing. A very fascinating history of a little know story. I can't wait to discuss at book club.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jennifer Government by Max Barry

Title: Jennifer Government

Author: Max Barry

Publisher: Doubleday 2003

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 321

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: A to Z - J; I Love Libraries

Taxation has been abolished, the government has been privatized, and employees take the surname of the company they work for. It's a brave new corporate world, but you don't want to be caught without a platinum credit card--as lowly Merchandising Officer Hack Nike is about to find out. Trapped into building street cred for a new line of $2500 sneakers by shooting customers, Hack attracts the barcode-tattooed eye of the legendary Jennifer Government. A stressed-out single mom, corporate watchdog, and government agent who has to rustle up funding before she's allowed to fight crime, Jennifer Government is holding a closing down sale--and everything must go.

A recommendation from J to give me something a little lighter to read while making my own through The Radium Girls. This book was depressing in a different way. Barry takes us into an interesting not-too-distant from our own world ruled by corporations. Oh my. I do not want to live in this world. There are no really good people and definitely no good corporations. I didn't root for any of the characters, but I did find the world to be very interesting.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lost Worlds of the San Francisco Bay Area by Sylvia Linsteadt

Title: Lost Worlds of the San Francisco Bay Area

Author: Sylvia Linsteadt

Publisher: Heyday 2017

Genre: Nonfiction - History

Pages: 224

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries

In this coffee table book of luminous essays accompanied by an array of images, award-winning writer Sylvia Linsteadt brings to life the many microcosms that once flourished in the San Francisco Bay Area: from the farthest reach of the Russian Empire at Fort Ross, to acres upon acres of apricot blossoms in what is now known as Silicon Valley, to the Coney Island of the West on the Alameda shoreline, to San Francisco's bohemian Barbary Coast. For every lost world, Linsteadt reconstructs the setting in lyrical prose supported by extensive research into each epoch. Vintage photographs, maps, and paintings combined with neo-Victorian design accentuate the words, immersing us fully in the nuances of each reality, whether mining quicksilver at New Almaden or shopping underneath the rotunda of the palatial Emporium. A book both dazzlingly beautiful and sensitive to the complexities of portraying bygone eras, Lost Worlds of the San Francisco Bay Areacelebrates the ephemeral and, in reminding us of the many moments of humanity threaded through the past, makes our understanding of the present moment that much more rooted.

Another interesting collection of local history essays. I loved that this one covered different material than the Lost San Francisco book. This volume included 25 essays from around the Bay Area. I especially loved the essay about Neptune Beach that used to exist on Alameda. Fascinating subject material! And of course, there were a ton of great photographs included.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Bedwyn Saga #1-3 by Mary Balogh

Title: Slightly Married (Bedwyn Saga #1)

Author: Mary Balogh

Publisher: Dell 2003

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 368

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Finishing the Series

Like all the Bedwyn men, Aidan has a reputation for cool arrogance. But this proud nobleman also possesses a loyal, passionate heart—and it is this fierce loyalty that has brought Colonel Lord Aidan to Ringwood Manor to honor a dying soldier's request. Having promised to comfort and protect the man's sister, Aidan never expected to find a headstrong, fiercely independent woman who wants no part of his protection…nor did he expect the feelings this beguiling creature would ignite in his guarded heart. And when a relative threatens to turn Eve out of her home, Aidan gallantly makes her an offer she can't refuse: marry him…if only to save her home. And now, as all of London breathlessly awaits the transformation of the new Lady Aidan Bedwyn, the strangest thing happens: With one touch, one searing embrace, Aidan and Eve's “business arrangement” is about to be transformed…into something slightly surprising.

This one was a treat. Really loved the story of Aidan and Eve.

Title: Slightly Wicked (Bedwyn Saga #2)

Author: Mary Balogh

Publisher: Dell 2003

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 368

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Finishing the Series

With his laughing eyes and wild, rakish good looks, Lord Rannulf Bedwyn is a hard man to resist. To Judith Law, a woman in need of rescue when her stagecoach overturns, Rannulf is simply her savior, a heroic stranger she will reward with one night of reckless passion before she must become a companion to her wealthy aunt. Imagine Judith's shock when the same stranger turns out to be among England's most eligible bachelors…and when he arrives at Harewood Grange to woo her cousin. Certainly, they had made no vows, no promises, but Rannulf never did forget his uninhibited lover…nor did she forget that one delicious night. And as scandal sets the household abuzz, Rannulf proposes a solution…but when Judith refuses to have him—in love or wedlock—Rannulf has only one choice: to wage a campaign of pure pleasure to capture the heart of the woman who has already won his.

Hmmm... I enjoyed reading this one, but it was a bit much with their "relationship."

Title: Slightly Scandalous (Bedwyn Saga #3)

Author: Mary Balogh

Publisher: Dell 2003

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 400

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Finishing the Series

Growing up with four unruly brothers has made Freyja Bedwyn far bolder than most society ladies. From feisty manner to long, tumbling hair, Lady Freyja is pure fire, a woman who seeks both adventure and freedom.

Adventure soon finds her on a visit to Bath, when a handsome stranger bursts into Freyja's room and entreats her to hide him. His name is Joshua Moore, Marquess of Hallmere, a man with a hell-raising reputation of his own who is quickly intrigued by the independent beauty. So intrigued, in fact, that he makes her a surprising request: to pose as his fiancée and help thwart his family's matchmaking schemes. For two people determined to be free, it's the perfect plan…until passion blindsides them both. For as Joshua sets out to achieve his complete seduction of Freyja, a woman who has sworn off love is in danger of losing the one thing she never expected to give again: her heart…

Even after reading this decent romance, I've decided that I really don't like Freyja at all.

Bedwyn Saga

#0.1 One Night for Love
#0.2 A Summer to Remember
#1 Slightly Married
#2 Slightly Wicked
#3 Slightly Scandalous
#4 Slightly Tempted
#5 Slightly Sinful
#6 Slightly Dangerous

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lost San Francisco by Dennis Evanosky and Eric J. Kos

Title: Lost San Francisco

Author: Dennis Evanosky and Eric J. Kos

Publisher: Pavilion 2011

Genre: Nonfiction - History

Pages: 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries

Aspects of lost San Francisco that are examined here include the Victorian Alcatraz, Cliff House Hotel before it burned down, the early Embarcadero, the devastation of the 1906 earthquake, horse-drawn streetcars, the grandeur of the Sutro Baths both outside and in, the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition buildings, the changes made to combat a possible Japanese invasion during World War II, and some of the key hippie stores on Haight-Ashbury before the area became more upscale.

I randomly saw this book for sale at a local museum's gift shop. Thankfully our library had it. I am always up for learning about local history and right now the local means San Francisco and the Bay Area. I loved reading about all those lost buildings and places from San Francisco's past. Lots of informational tidbits here and there. The essays were great, but the pictures were amazing. I love poring over old photographs and this volume did not disappoint. Great pictoral history of the Bay Area.

Next up on the TBR pile:

River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey

Title: River of Teeth (River of Teeth #1)

Author: Sarah Gailey

Publisher: Tor 2017

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 178

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Seasonal Series - Under 300 pages

In the early 20th Century, the United States government concocted a plan to import hippopotamuses into the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. This is true.

Other true things about hippos: they are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two.

This was a terrible plan.

Contained within this volume is an 1890s America that might have been: a bayou overrun by feral hippos and mercenary hippo wranglers from around the globe. It is the story of Winslow Houndstooth and his crew. It is the story of their fortunes. It is the story of his revenge.

This is one of the books that has been getting random buzz around the book blogs. Randomly I saw it on our library's New Books shelf and snapped it up. I ripped through this slim novella with the speed rivaling those feral hippos. I love the combination of alternate history and western-style dime novel. So much fun! Unfortunately this volume ends on quite a cliffhanger. Guess I'll just have to find the second volume.

River of Teeth

#1 River of Teeth
#2 Taste of Marrow
#3 ???

Next up on the TBR pile:

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Title: Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles #1)

Author: Gena Showalter

Publisher: Harlequin 2012

Genre: YA - Fantasy

Pages: 404

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - YA Retellings; I Love Libraries; Seasonal Series - Character Growth

She won't rest until she's sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever. Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next she would have laughed. But that's all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone. Her father was right. The monsters are real. To avenge her family Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own and if Ali isn't careful those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies.

This series has been sitting on my virtual TBR shelf for years now. I'm always a sucker for Alice in Wonderland adjacent books and movies. Most of them are super dumb, but I watch or read anyway. Thankfully this one was delightful. I sped through this volume in just over a day. I couldn't put it down. I loved the references here and there to Alice. I loved the zombies (gotta love the zombies). I loved the various side characters that added a bit of flavor to the story (Kat is hands-down my favorite). And I very much loved Ali and Cole. My one little issue is the over done trope of characters withholding important information "for their own good." Seriously there would be a lot less conflict and heartache in books if people were just upfront with information and their thoughts. But I know, being honest doesn't make for good conflicts in books. Oh well. Still really loved this one and can't wait to grab the next volume from the library.

White Rabbit Chronicles:

#1 Alice in Zombieland
#1.5 Cole... Meet Ali
#2 Through the Zombie Glass
#3 The Queen of Zombie Hearts
#4 A Mad Zombie Party
#4.1 Kat in Zombieland

Next up on the TBR pile:

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

Title: NOS4A2

Author: Joe Hill

Publisher: William Morrow 2013

Genre: Horror

Pages: 720

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsguar - Meant to get to in 2017; Seasonal Series - Read while listening to the rain

Victoria McQueen has a secret gift for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions. On her Raleigh Tuff Burner bike, she makes her way to a rickety covered bridge that, within moments, takes her wherever she needs to go, whether it’s across Massachusetts or across the country.

Charles Talent Manx has a way with children. He likes to take them for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the NOS4A2 vanity plate. With his old car, he can slip right out of the everyday world, and onto the hidden roads that transport them to an astonishing – and terrifying – playground of amusements he calls “Christmasland.”

Then, one day, Vic goes looking for trouble—and finds Manx. That was a lifetime ago. Now Vic, the only kid to ever escape Manx’s unmitigated evil, is all grown up and desperate to forget. But Charlie Manx never stopped thinking about Victoria McQueen. He’s on the road again and he’s picked up a new passenger: Vic’s own son.

Holy hell was that a creepy book... Definitely a winner. I finally picked this one up and started to read it after the book sitting on my Kindle app for at least a year. Don't know why I waited so long. Hill has taken a ton of pointers from his father (Stephen King), but has made the horror genre his own. I was sucked into this very creepy story right from the beginning. I eagerly ripped through the pages (actually clicked through as I read it on my iPad) desperate to find out what happened to Vic and Wayne, horribly anticipating the appearance of Christmasland, and hoping for some kind of explanation for all the weird events. I loved the cast of characters (especially Maggie) and the various settings of the book. The descriptions were just enough for my mind to create a vivid landscape.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King

Title: The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower #2)

Author: Stephen King

Publisher: Plume 1989

Genre: Horror

Pages: 406

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar - About Mental Health; Seasonal Series - Read a book while sitting outside

Beginning just less than seven hours after The Gunslinger ends, in the second installment to the thrilling Dark Tower Series, Roland encounters three mysterious doorways on a deserted beach along the Western Sea. Each one enters into a different person’s life in New York—here, he joins forces with the defiant young Eddie Dean, and with the beautiful, brilliant, and brave Odetta Holmes, to save the Dark Tower.

Picked up the second volume in The Dark Tower series. And seriously, this is one weird book. We travel with Roland into three different time periods in our own world meeting three travelers along the way. I was totally on board with Eddie. Very straight forward story. But then later we meet Odetta and things get even weirder. This is only a story of Stephen King fans. Thankfully I like his weird storytelling. Very interested in where this crazy adventure is going...

The Dark Tower:

#0.5 The Little Sisters of Eluria
#1 The Gunslinger
#2 The Drawing of the Three
#3 The Waste Lands
#4 Wizard and Glass
#4.5 The Wind Through the Keyhole
#5 Wolves of the Calla
#6 Song of Susannah
#7 The Dark Tower

Next up on the TBR pile:

Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman

Title: Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America's Favorite Guilty Pleasure

Author: Amy Kaufman

Publisher: Dutton 2018

Genre: Nonfiction - Media

Pages: 310

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - Nonfiction Adventure; Seasonal Series - Lemonade; I Love Libraries

Bachelor Nation is the first behind-the-scenes, unauthorized look into the reality television phenomenon. Los Angeles Times journalist Amy Kaufman is a proud member of Bachelor Nation and has a long history with the franchise--ABC even banned her from attending show events after her coverage of the program got a little too real for its liking. She has interviewed dozens of producers, contestants, and celebrity fans to give readers never-before-told details of the show's inner workings: what it's like to be trapped in the mansion "bubble"; dark, juicy tales of producer manipulation; and revelations about the alcohol-fueled debauchery that occurs long before the fantasy suite.

I heard Amy Kaufman do an interview on Here to Make Friends (a Bachelor podcast). I was intrigued by the premise of the book even more than the books written by former contestants. I dove into this one headfirst and didn't stop reading until the end. In speaking to a ton of people formerly involved in the show, she gained a very interesting perspective. I was at times horrified and intrigued. A very interesting take on the show.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures by Aaron Mahnke

Title: Monstrous Creatures (The World of Lore #1)

Author: Aaron Mahnke

Publisher: Del Rey 2017

Genre: Horror

Pages: 299

Rating: 3/5 stars*****

Reading Challenges: Share-a-Tea; A to Z - M; I Love Libraries

In this beautifully illustrated volume, the host of the hit podcast Lore serves as a guide on a fascinating journey through the history of these terrifying creatures, exploring not only the legends but what they tell us about ourselves. Aaron Mahnke invites us to the desolate Pine Barrens of New Jersey, where the notorious winged, red-eyed Jersey Devil dwells. He delves into harrowing accounts of cannibalism—some officially documented, others the stuff of speculation . . . perhaps. He visits the dimly lit rooms where séances take place, the European villages where gremlins make mischief, even Key West, Florida, home of a haunted doll named Robert.

In a world of “emotional vampires” and “zombie malls,” the monsters of folklore have become both a part of our language and a part of our collective psyche. Whether these beasts and bogeymen are real or just a reflection of our primal fears, we know, on some level, that not every mystery has been explained and that the unknown still holds the power to strike fear deep in our hearts and souls. As Aaron Mahnke reminds us, sometimes the truth is even scarier than the lore.

So I am conflicted on this collection. I'm giving it 3 stars, but for most people, I would give it 5 stars. I thought I would be reading more and/or extended stories from the Lore podcast, but by and large, it was just the podcast episodes written out. Given that I have listened to almost all of the episodes of Lore, I was just revisiting the same stories. For those that do not listen to the podcast this is a very fun collection of scary maybe true/maybe not stories. I really did enjoy that aspect. And the illustrations are really great.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon

Title: The Great Halifax Explosion

Author: John U. Bacon

Publisher: William Morrow 2017

Genre: Nonfiction - History

Pages: 432

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - Nonfiction Adventure; Popsugar - Set at Sea; I Love Libraries

After steaming out of New York City on December 1, 1917, laden with a staggering three thousand tons of TNT and other explosives, the munitions ship Mont-Blanc fought its way up the Atlantic coast, through waters prowled by enemy U-boats. As it approached the lively port city of Halifax, Mont-Blanc's deadly cargo erupted with the force of 2.9 kilotons of TNT—the most powerful explosion ever visited on a human population, save for HIroshima and Nagasaki. Mont-Blanc was vaporized in one fifteenth of a second; a shockwave leveled the surrounding city. Next came a thirty-five-foot tsunami. Most astounding of all, however, were the incredible tales of survival and heroism that soon emerged from the rubble.

This is the unforgettable story told in John U. Bacon's The Great Halifax Explosion: a ticktock account of fateful decisions that led to doom, the human faces of the blast's 11,000 casualties, and the equally moving individual stories of those who lived and selflessly threw themselves into urgent rescue work that saved thousands.

After hearing about this disaster on an episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class, I heard about a book detailing the event. Randomly the library had it on the new releases shelf last week and I knew that I had to read it. The book is very well researched in detailing the events leading up to the explosion and the aftermath. I was horrified to read about the tragedy that befell the citizens of Halifax. And yet, it was a fascinating read. I was thoroughly engrossed in the book for the entirety. Definitely a great read for fans of history.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Revival Volume 8

Title: Revival Volume 8: Stay Just a Little Bit Longer

Author: Tim Seeley, Mike Norton, Jenny Frison

Publisher: Image 2017

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

This is it, the final chapter in the critically acclaimed crime/horror rural noir, REVIVAL! Police Officer Dana Cypress has solved the mystery of the murder of her sister, but now she must decide whether too seek justice or help the perpetrator save the town of Wausau from eating itself alive.

Such a great ending to this very weird story. I was hooked on the series in Volume 1, and barreled through to the end. Definitely a weird storyline. But such great characters. I was fully into this series.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Penny Dreadful Volume 1

Title: Penny Dreadful Volume 1

Author: Chris King, Jesus Hervas

Publisher: Titan 2017

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 112

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Continues the story directly after the shocking events of Penny Dreadful's season three TV finale!

A bit of a disappointment I must say. I was excited to see that they created a comic continuing the storyline that we thought ended at the conclusion of Season 3. Unfortunately, the storyline wasn't that great And more importantly, the artwork was very messy and confusing. I was having a hell of a time trying to figure out what the panels were trying to portray. Darn. I had high hopes for this one.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Dead Bolt by Juliet Blackwell

Title: Dead Bolt (Haunted Home Renovation #2)

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Publisher: Obsidian 2011

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 314

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Seasonal Series - Pink on cover

Turner Construction's latest restoration project is a historic Queen Anne Victorian in San Francisco. This time general contractor Mel Turner has to work around the owners who insist on sticking around- along with some ghosts that insist in their own way that the work stops...

The ghosts aren't the only ones standing in the way of the renovations. A crotchety neighbor, Emile Blunt, secretly wants this house, and could be behind some of the disturbances. But when Emile is found dead, it's Mel who appears guilty. Now she must restore the building-and her reputation-before it's too late.

Second book in this series and I am still loving it! Mel is a great character and this book continues to explore her awesomeness. I loved this story I evolving a beautiful old house, some eccentric characters, and a collection of ghosts. Too fun! And even I didn't quite catch the killer on this one. Oh yeah, and we get some traction on the Mel and Graham front. Love it.

Haunted Home Renovation

#1 If Walls Could Talk
#2 Dead Bolt
#3 Murder on the House
#4 Home for the Haunting
#5 Keeper of the Castle
#5.5 A Haunting is Brewing
#6 Give Up the Ghost
#7 A Ghostly Light

Next up on the TBR pile: