The Department of Magic by Rod Kierkegaard Jr. - Book Review

Title: The Department of Magic

Author: Rod Kierkegaard Jr.

Publisher: Curiosity Quills

Publication Date: 12th December 2011

Pages: 307

Format: E-Book - EPUB

Genre: Fantasy

Source: ARC from NetGalley

It’s hate at first sight.

Jasmine Farah and Rocco di Angelo are competing for the same job in a dusty office in a secret Federal agency run by the mysterious, menacing Jefferson Davis Crawley – “Creepy” Crawley, as he’s known.

When Crawley is murdered in front of them after their first day on the job, Jasmine and Rocco are left to figure out who killed their new boss, and exactly what a job in the so-called Department of Magic entails. And magic, it seems, is nothing like it seems in children’s books; it’s dark and bloody and sexual.

What follows is a nightmare gallop through a world of ghosts, spooks, vampires, demons, and the minions of South American and Voodoo gods hell-bent on destroying the world and subjugating all America in the year 2012.

Only Rock and Jazz, in the company of a ragtag team of urhobos – homeless guardians of the District of Columbia– can prevent it by resurrecting “Goddess America” in a mystical ceremony on the Fourth of July, as the story reaches its bittersweet and unforeseen climax. (Goodreads Synopsis)

I requested this book on NetGalley because the premise looked really exciting and that is definitely the book's strong point: a great story idea, promising action and fun.

But sadly this book just didn't quite deliver for me. The prose was dull, there were POV issues and these two factors were not helped by unbelievable, wooden characters whose personalities changed constantly and gave the reader no sense of who they were and what they stood for. I just couldn't bring myself to care for either of them.

I still gave this book two stars though as the storyline was intriguing and it could be a brilliant story with a little work. I did love the idea of a Department of Magic and the way all the creatures were worked into the story. Plus the little 'intros' to each chapter were often very amusing.

Tempest by Julie Cross - Book Review

Title: Tempest (Tempest # 1)

Author: Julie Cross

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books

Publication Date: January 2012

Pages: 414

Format: Paperback

Genre: YA / Fantasy

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world. (Goodreads Synopsis)


Firstly, a huge thank you to Pan Macmillan for sending me a copy of this book for review.

So, Tempest. I'd been hearing a bit of hype about this book before I got my copy and so I was very interested to see what I would make of it.

I loved the story idea right from the start and I thought it was well conceived and executed. This is a very readable tale, fast paced, with plenty of action and excitement to keep you turning the pages. A couple of times I had to go back and check the date at the start of the chapter to remember what time I was in, but on the whole the jumps back and forth worked and were not too hard to follow. I enjoyed the blend of narrative and diary entries in telling the story.

So, why did it not get five stars? Well, despite enjoying the book, I did notice a few minor issues that just stopped it from hitting the top spot for me. The main issues were a few aspects of the time travel 'rules' not making sense and a lack of believability i.e. that Adam has such advanced knowledge and computer skills at such a young age.

I also would have liked a little more substance from the Jackson-Holly relationship. They both came across as 'nice', but I didn't quite feel the romantic/emotional connection between them that was supposed to be influencing Jackson's actions during the story.

But, despite these couple of minor gripes, I found this book an entertaining and captivating read and it is a story that will appeal to readers who previously enjoyed books such as I am Number Four or the film Jumpers.

I believe this is the first book in a planned trilogy and I will be most interested to see where Cross takes the story and the characters in the next instalment.

Follow Friday # 36

Q: Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?
I'll read most things, but there are two genres I do tend to avoid.

The first is True Crime - it just doesn't appeal - and the second is chick lit. I can't stand romantic, sappy, Mills-and-Boon-style romance or talk of shopping and shoes!

Breaking News: Time Keepers Accepted for Publication

Yesterday I got some great news: Silver Publishing have contracted for my book Time Keepers.

Some of you may remember the four-part mini-series of the same name that I had published (briefly) last year. Well, this is essentially the same story, but improved and extended into a 40,000 word novel with new chapters and a new character.

I signed the contract yesterday and over the weekend I need to complete some pre-edit work before I am assigned an editor.

The book will be released in both e-book and paperback format, but I do not know exact release dates yet, so keep an eye on my blog for those shortly.

I am really thrilled to be publishing a second book with Silver Publishing and I hope you will all enjoy it when it comes out.

Can't wait till then? Don't forget you can still pick up an e-book copy of Day-Walker in the meantime!

Fire Baptized (Habitat # 1) by Kenya Wright - Book Review

Title: Fire Baptized (Habitat # 1)

Author: Kenya Wright

Publisher: Dragonfairy Press

Publication Date: 18th January 2012

Pages: 276

Format: E-Book - EPUB

Genre: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal

Source: Review Copy from Author

Since the 1970s humans have forced supernaturals to live in caged cities. Silver brands embedded in their foreheads identify them by species: a full moon for Vampires, a crescent moon for Shifters, a pair of wings for Fairies, and the list goes on, for each supernatural species has been tagged and categorized by humans.

Lanore Vesta is marked with a silver X, the brand of Mixbreeds, second-class citizens shunned by society. She stays to herself, revealing her ability to create fire only during emergencies. All she wants to do is graduate college and stop having to steal to survive. But when she stumbles upon a murder in progress, she catches the attention of a supernatural killer. Now all she wants is to stop finding dead bodies in her apartment.

Enlisting help from her Were-cheetah ex-boyfriend MeShack and a new mysterious friend named Zulu, she is steered through the habitat’s raunchy nightlife. But their presence sometimes proves to be more burden than help, as they fight for her attention.

While the corpses pile up, and the scent of blood fills the air, Lanore is left wondering: will she find the psycho or die trying? (Goodreads Synopsis)

I was asked by the author to review this book and, since it sounded like a fun read, I accepted.

On the whole I wasn't disappointed as Fire Baptized offers a sassy heroine and plenty of action set in a world of supernatural creatures.

Lanore's character is full of fight and makes a wonderful urban fantasy/paranormal heroine. At times I found her blind independence a little too much, but I admired other aspects of her character that kept me hooked on the story.

The story itself is an interesting concept, reminiscent of works like The Skin Dancer series by Anthony Francis, and I found the world Wright has created intriguing. My only concern was the lack of background information on the creation of the Habitat. If you hadn't read the blurb first, it would take you a while before you realised the supernaturals had been placed in a caged environment by the humans. This is a major plot element and yet it relied on the blurb to get that information across. I would have liked to have seen the reason for this/more background information worked into the text.

The book ends with the threat of war both against the humans and amongst the supernatural groups. This works fine as a hook to lead into a second book, but I did wish there was more of a character-based cliff-hanger as well. As it is, I would be interested in reading the next instalment, but I am not on the edge of my seat to do so.

My final comment would be that this piece has a few flaws, but it still a fine urban fantasy tale and worth checking out.

Taboo (The Unfinished Song # 2) by Tara Maya - Book Review

Title: Taboo (The Unfinished Song # 2)

Author: Tara Maya

Publisher: Misque Press

Publication Date: March 2011 (2010)

Pages: 188

Format: E-Book - EPUB

Genre: Fantasy

Source: Review Copy from Author

A DEVESTATING SETBACK

Enemy tribesmen attacked the Initiates during the ritual Test to find magic users. Dindi's dreams are in shambles. In despair, she decides to step into the forbidden faery ring, and dance herself to death with the fae. Then she discovers another choice that saves her life, but breaks the ultimate taboo.

A DESPERATE OUTREACH

After being unfairly exiled from his own people, Kavio may have found a new home, but only if he can protect it from another attack by the enemy. He gathers a small group to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory in search of the ultimate prize: peace.

But by the harsh laws of their land, one cannot both break taboos and keep the peace. They will have to choose, what, or whom, to betray. (Goodreads Synopsis)


In many ways I found this second book in the series more enjoyable than the first, perhaps because I already had an idea of the characters and the world they lived in. This book also offered some more information on the nature of Chromas and magic, which I think would have been helpful in the first book.

I still found Dindi and Kavio interesting characters and I like the way they are being slowly brought together. This second book also goes more in depth into the reasons for the conflict between different groups and leads us towards what appears to be the start of a new war.

This is a series I am still in two minds about though. Not due to the story itself, because I love both the idea and the main characters, but rather due to the way it is being presented. The plan is for this story to span twelve books and that is a long time for the author to try to hold the attention of her readers. Many may have given up after the first book, feeling confused by the world and the lack of background information. For those who did continue, it is a lot to expect for people to cough up $4-6 per book a further eleven times. I might have liked to see each book twice the length and the series to run to 4-6 books.

That said, some authors have managed to hold an audience for that long - such as Charlaine Harris with the Sookie Stackhouse books. But those, while continuing a main story arch, could also be standalone reads, whereas the books in this series could not.

But, as I wrote in my review of the first book, this is still a fun and interesting read for fans of fae-based fantasy and I'll be interested to see how Maya handles the rest of the series.

Initiate (The Unfinished Song # 1) by Tara Maya - Book Review

Title: Initiate (The Unfinished Song # 1)

Author: Tara Maya

Publisher: Misque Press

Publication Date: March 2011 (2010)

Pages: 161

Format: E-Book - EPUB

Genre: Fantasy

Source: Review Copy from Author

DEADLY INITIATION

A DETERMINED GIRL...

Dindi can't do anything right, maybe because she spends more time dancing with pixies than doing her chores. Her clan hopes to marry her off and settle her down, but she dreams of becoming a Tavaedi, one of the powerful warrior-dancers whose secret magics are revealed only to those who pass a mysterious Test during the Initiation ceremony. The problem? No-one in Dindi's clan has ever passed the Test. Her grandmother died trying. But Dindi has a plan.

AN EXILED WARRIOR...

Kavio is the most powerful warrior-dancer in Faearth, but when he is exiled from the tribehold for a crime he didn't commit, he decides to shed his old life. If roving cannibals and hexers don't kill him first, this is his chance to escape the shadow of his father's wars and his mother's curse. But when he rescues a young Initiate girl, he finds himself drawn into as deadly a plot as any he left behind. He must decide whether to walk away or fight for her... assuming she would even accept the help of an exile. (Goodreads Synopsis)


I was approached by the author to review this book and, since the story sounded interesting, I agreed.

The idea behind the story is really great and I liked the characters of Dindi and Kavio. The fantasy element was nicely woven into the story and the prose was readable, the story nicely paced.

Given that, you may wonder about my three star rating. The truth is that despite a strong idea and likeable characters, there were a few small issues with the piece that prevented me from giving it four stars.

First off, the language. A lot of terms are used in this story for rituals etc. Now, naturally the author knows what they mean, but they leave the reader a little confused. Eventually, as I got into the story, I began to understand more clearly, but at the start it felt like I'd been thrown into a story partway through, with not enough background information. A big spiel at the start would disrupt the rhythm of the book, but maybe the author could have included a glossary to explain some of the terms, so that readers had a point of reference.

Second, this book is fairly short. It doesn't even break 150 pages as there is a chunk of 'additional' material at the end that is not part of the story. I just felt that I wasn't getting all the background information because, in such a short piece, there wasn't enough time to supply it. I know that this is part of an ongoing series and so more information may be forthcoming, but I just would have liked to have had more time to get to know the world and characters before being thrown right in. There are a fair number of characters and it is sometimes hard to get a fixture on who is who in such a short space of time.

This was still a fun read with an entertaining premise though and I would recommend it to fans of fairy/fae fantasy. The author also sent me the second book in the series, so I will be reviewing that one later this week.

ARC-y Goodness - Thanking Pan Macmillan

Well, I got a lovely surprise in the mail today - my first ever print ARC!

What is even more thrilling is that I did not formally request this book. I was liaising with a lovely lady in the publicity department at Pan Macmillan Australia about the chance of requesting some print ARCs from them in the future when Tempest came up. Given that the release date was so close, I didn't think I was in time to request an ARC, but I did comment that I'd heard great things about the book and was keen to read it.

Then suddenly a copy arrives for me in the post.

So a huge thank you to Pan Macmillan - it was a very generous gesture. Now I look forward to getting into the book later this week! Watch out for my review soon....

Spellbound (Legend of the Ice People # 1) by Margit Sandemo - Book Review

Title: Spellbound (Legend of the Ice People # 1)

Author: Margit Sandemo

Publisher: Tagman

Publication Date: 2008 (1982)

Pages: 255

Format: Paperback

Genre: Fantasy

Source: Xmas Gift

Winter 1581: a deadly plague outbreak robs sixteen-year old peasant girl Silje of all her family. Homeless, starving and shepherding two abandoned children, she stumbles out of the corpse-strewn streets of Trondheim on Norway's northern coast.
Heading desperately for the warmth of the mass funeral pyres blazing beyond the city gates, she encounters in the shadowy forest one of the infamous Ice People, a fearsome, strangely captivating 'wolf man'. He offers help - and she feels irresistibly drawn to him. But what is the terrible fascination? And where will it lead? (Book Cover Synopsis)

I think this series is going to become a guilty pleasure for me and I will have to track down the remaining 46 books (assuming all are available in English - I'll need to Google).

Let me start with the bad this time and then move onto the good. Technically, I shouldn't like this book. It is based on a very obvious storyline that does exactly what you'd expect with no sudden, interesting twists. Also, the writing relies a lot on POV switches from paragraph to paragraph. The first time it happened, I wondered if it was a translation issue, but when it kept reappearing, I figured it must have been in the original writing. While it is always clear whose head you are in, it is a distraction and an annoyance.

But despite all that, I found myself drawn into the story of Silje and the Ice People. Sure it is obvious what will happen next, but it is still strangely addictive and I finished the book wanting to know what would happen next to both Silje and Tengel. This is like another Twilight Saga for me: neither is that well written and yet you can't help being pulled into the story. Guilty pleasures indeed.

This series has some sensual scenes and elements, but they are not overtly graphic/erotica, so this book could be read by anyone 16+, I would think. I would recommend it to fantasy readers who just want a good dose of escapism and who aren't too fussed about literary merit.

The Thief by Fuminori Nakamura - Book Review

Title: The Thief

Author: Fuminori Nakamura

Publisher: Soho Crime

Publication Date: 20 March 2012

Pages: 225

Format: E-Book -PDF

Genre: Literary Fiction

Source: ARC from NetGalley

The Thief is a seasoned pickpocket. Anonymous in his tailored suit, he weaves in and out of Tokyo crowds, stealing wallets from strangers so smoothly sometimes he doesn’t even remember the snatch. Most people are just a blur to him, nameless faces from whom he chooses his victims. He has no family, no friends, no connections.... But he does have a past, which finally catches up with him when Ishikawa, his first partner, reappears in his life, and offers him a job he can’t refuse. It’s an easy job: tie up an old rich man, steal the contents of the safe. No one gets hurt. Only the day after the job does he learn that the old man was a prominent politician, and that he was brutally killed after the robbery. And now the Thief is caught in a tangle even he might not be able to escape. (Goodreads Synopsis)


This was a captivating short novel that drew you in right from the first page.

Our anti-hero is a gifted pickpocket, but one whose past is fast catching up with him. I loved following him as he commented on his work, his history and the people around him. His relationship with the young boy was particularly touching.

The prose flowed beautifully, suggesting a very sensitive translation and the story moved at a steady pace, holding my interest throughout. This is a book that is deceptively simple at first glance, but which reveals hidden depths when you consider it more carefully.

This would be a great read for current fans of Japanese literature and those coming to such works for the first time.

Sissi: Die Vampirejaegerin by Claudia Kern - Book Review

Title: Sissi: Die Vampirejaegerin (Sissi: the Vampire Huntress)

Author: Claudia Kern

Publisher: Panini Verlags GmbH

Publication Date: 2011

Pages: 317

Format: Paperback

Genre: Alternate History / Paranormal

Source: Xmas Gift

This book was good fun to read. It took me a while as I read slower in German, but it always brought a smile to my face.

This is another book along the lines of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Sissi of Austria, a famous historical figure, is actually a vampire hunter! And the Kaiser, who she falls in love with and is set to marry, is... a vampire! You can probably guess the rest.

This was a very amusing retelling and I loved the idea behind it. It became particularly good fun when Sissi and Franz-Joseph have to put aside their mistrust and work together to defeat the evil head vampire.

There's not much more I can say without giving away vital plot information, but I can highly recommend this to German speakers looking for a light-hearted read with a paranormal theme.

Follow Friday # 35

Q: What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get your hands on any particular book?
Um, I'm not sure I've ever done anything really crazy. Oh, well, I did want the 10 volume hardback set of the complete works of Robespierre. They were only available from France in a few places and so I paid around 450 GBP to get them! That's certainly the most expensive book purchase I have made, along with a couple of rare ones at around 50 GBP each....

Madame de Pompadour: A Life by Evelyne Lever - Book Review

Title: Madame de Pompadour: A Life

Author: Evelyne Lever

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: 2003 (2000)

Pages: 268

Format: Paperback

Genre: Non-Fiction / Biography

Source: Xmas Gift

"In this biography, French historian Evelyne Lever chronicles the extraordinary life of the most famous and influential mistress of Louis XV: Jeanne-Antoinette de Pompadour. This seductive, astute and resilient woman was destined to be both adored and reviled by the Court and the French public because of her relationship with one of the most powerful men in Europe, yet she was also to wield enormous influence on the culture, politics and military future of France, with an authority that far exceeded any previously exerted by an official mistress." The incredible story of how a bourgeois girl of questionable parentage would rise to the highest ranks of French society, consolidate her position at Court and maintain a twenty-year relationship with Louis XV begins with a fortune-teller's prophecy that one day the young Jeanne-Antoinette would be the mistress of a King. In spite of the difficulties presented by her background, by the age of twenty-four the beautiful Jeanne-Antoinette had indeed become the favorite of the monarch. The implications - both personal and political - of their relationship were far-reaching, and Lever skillfully illustrates how Madame de Pompadour gradually played the role not only of official mistress but also of France's second queen. (Goodreads Review)


Madame de Pompadour has long been one of the historical figures that most interest me so I was looking forward to reading this biography of her life.

Overall, I found it to be an entertaining read. I had known of her many talents and her support of the arts, but I had not realised until reading this book how disliked she was. I'd anticipated she would have had her detractors at court, but I was intrigued to learn how much the public hated her too.

A couple of the later chapters regarding the wars etc were a little dry, but other than that this was a vibrant and well-presented biography that has clearly been well-researched and lovingly put together.

A great read for history fans looking to learn more about Madame de Pompadour or the lives of royal mistresses in general.

Musings of an Author: Originality

I recently had an idea for a new story. The idea came to me quite suddenly and then I slowly began to work through the details in my mind, thinking it was really original and fresh. Another project then took precedence and I was forced to put the new story aside for a few months.

In the meantime, I was reading away quite happily when I came across a book that made me pause. I read from start to finish and really enjoyed it. It was only as I started to write up my review that I realised—it was very close to my story. Not 100% the same of course, but with enough similarities to destroy any thoughts of mine being an entirely new concept.

And that got me thinking: How original can an author really be?

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games # 3) by Suzanne Collins - Book Review

Title: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games # 3)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: 2010

Pages: 455

Format: Paperback

Genre: YA / Dystopia

Source: Xmas Gift

Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding. (Goodreads Synopsis)

So, the Games are now over and what did I think? I must confess I was rather surprised by the ending as it was very different than most YA books. Collins seems to have rejected HEA in favour of a continuing semi-dystopia.

I did feel the final couple of chapters were a little rushed and there were some slow patches again in this book, but overall it was a fitting end to a good series.

It was interesting to see the characters as they changed. Gale becomes quite dark, more so even than Peeta with his hijacking issues. I did have some reservations about Katniss in this book as I felt some aspects of her character went a little over the top. But it all came together in the end.

If you wanted a completely happy ending then you might be disappointed. But otherwise this is a powerful and thought-provoking conclusion to the trilogy.

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games # 2) by Suzanne Collins - Book Review

Title: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games # 2)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: 2009

Pages: 472

Format: Paperback

Genre: YA / Dystopia

Source: Xmas Gift

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster boys for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol. (Goodreads Synopsis)


So, with the ending of the first book things were nicely set for the sequel. Middle books in a trilogy can often be a problem and get overshadowed by the first and third parts. That is somewhat the case here; although, all is not lost.

This book starts a lot slower than its predecessor. It still held my interest, but I was relieved when the action lifted a little in the second half of the story. In the latter chapters, Collins did a good job of building the tension ready for the coming finale.

This book lacks the impact of The Hunger Games, but it does its job maintaining the characters and the storyline and introducing some new faces and themes along the way. It's not as enjoyable as a standalone read, but it does well in its role as a conduit, leading us towards the final battle of Mockingjay.

I am two thirds through Mockingjay already, so expect a review of that in the next couple of days. I look forward to seeing how Collins will end what has been a well-written, intelligent and thought-provoking teen series.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - Book Review

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: 2009 (2008)

Pages: 454

Format: Paperback

Genre: YA / Dystopia

Source: Xmas Gift

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister Primrose, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before — and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love. (Goodreads Synopsis)


This is a series that has received so much hype that I was a little hesitant when I picked up the first book in case it didn't live up to my expectations. But I needn't have worried. This book was awesome.

I really have no bad thing to say about it. The idea and world building were great, the characters were believable and well portrayed, the dialogue was fresh and the pacing was spot on. This is a story that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish and even made me shed a few tears a couple of times.

This is a fantastic dystopia story with memorable characters and plenty of action. If there is still anyone out there who hasn't read it, I can only say: What are you waiting for?

I am already 60 pages into book two, so expect to see reviews of both Catching Fire and Mockingjay in the coming days! I can't wait for the film in March now and hope it can live up to this great book.

Follow Friday # 34

Q: Many readers/bloggers are also big music fans. Tell us about a few of your favorite bands/singers that we should listen to in 2012.

I adore music. In fact, I sing and play flute and piano myself! ;)
My tastes in music do not really run to modern bands though. My biggest love is musical theatre (both English-language shows and those from Europe) and I go and see musicals whenever I can (I've even performed in a few amateur shows).
I also enjoy opera and classical music, 50's and 60's pop, ABBA, big band/swing and some pop/classical crossover.

Anyway, here is a little video from YouTube of a song from one of my favourite musicals: Dracula (Czech Republic). In this scene Dracula damns God for the death of his wife and baby boy. At the end of the song he tries to commit suicide. But, earlier, when he attacked a church and killed those seeking asylum, the priest cursed him. And so, instead of dying, he becomes a vampire.... Enjoy!

The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco - Book Review

Title: The Prague Cemetery

Author: Umberto Eco

Publisher: Harvill Secker

Publication Date: November 2011 (2010)

Pages: 430

Format: Paperback

Genre: Literary Fiction

Source: Xmas Gift

Nineteenth-century Europe—from Turin to Palermo, to Prague, to Paris—abounds with the ghastly and the mysterious—The Jesuits who plot against the Freemasons, Freemasons, Carbonari and Mazzinians who strangle priests with their own intestines, a bow-legged arthritic Garibaldi, the Dreyfus affair, the makings of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, the notorious forgery, that was to inspire Hitler in his creation of concentration camps, machinations by secret services in Piedmont, France, Russia, and Prussia, massacres during the Commune in Paris, where people eat mice, stabbings, befouled haunts for criminals who, among the fumes of absinthe, plan bombings and rebellions in the streets, false beards, false lawyers, false wills, an abbé who dies twice, a hysterical female Satanist, celebrants of black masses—gore enough to satisfy the worst in readers.

Except for one detail. Apart from the protagonist, all of the characters in this novel existed and did what they did. The protagonist also does things that actually happened, except that many of these things were likely done by different people. But who knows—when you are dealing with secret services, double agents, traitorous officials and sinning priests, anything can happen. And does. (Goodreads Synopsis)


I had been really looking forward to reading this book, not least because it is written by Umberto Eco and I have enjoyed some of his previous stories. Sadly though, I came away rather disappointed.

It had all sounded very exciting and interesting: spies, conspiracies and a world of reality-meets-fiction suspense. But I actually just found the book dull and plodding. The character of Simonini never appealed to me and I just couldn't raise any enthusiasm for either the story or the writing style. I was determined to get to the end, but I found myself skimming more and more in an effort to do so.

This is a book that deals with the unification of Italy and the growth of anti-Semitism and yet it was approached in a bland way through a story that was at times bizarre and at times completely unintelligible.

That said, I can certainly appreciate the cleverness of Eco's approach in regards to the style of the piece and I'm sure many of his die-hard fans out there will enjoy it. However, I would certainly not recommend this as a good starting point for anyone new to his work.

At the end of the day, I am giving it two stars as, while it was not my cup of tea, I can appreciate the work that went into it and it was a very ambitious piece.

The Demon Lover (Fariwick Chronicles # 1) by Juliet Dark - Book Review

Title: The Demon Lover (Fairwick Chronicles # 1)

Author: Juliet Dark

Publisher: Random House

Publication Date: December 2011

Pages: 432

Format: E-Book - EPUB

Genre: Paranormal

Source: ARC from NetGalley

Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of writing her bestselling book, The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. After all, Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she finds herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.

But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: He’s not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the incubus, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this demon lover from her heart. (Goodreads Synopsis)


This is a book that took me pleasantly by surprise. I went in expecting a typical adult paranormal romance, but Juliet Dark delivered much more. This book, in addition to sexy supernatural romance, has a great gothic feel, memorable characters and plenty of plot twists, some of which I saw coming, others were a surprise.

I liked Callie as a heroine since she had a definite inner strength and she really grew through her experiences in the book. The supporting cast was fairly large but all came across as individuals no matter how much 'page time' they had. I was actually impressed that Dark didn't let the 'demon lover' take over the plot. While he is an important element, due time was given to other aspects of the story rather than relying solely on the eroticism.

The pacing was nicely done and there were no chapters or sections that dragged. The prose was readable and engaging and kept me turning each page, eager to learn what would happen next. The dialogue was well done and believable, unlike some paranormal romance pieces that get sucked into cliché.

By the end of the book, the stage was nicely set for the story to continue and I am certainly looking forward to the next instalment.