Rosy's scrawled book recommendation: Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey

Sandman Slim
Richard Kadrey

Blurb
Supernatural fantasy has a new antihero
Life sucks, and then you die. Or, if you're James Stark, you spend eleven years in Hell as a hitman before finally escaping, only to land back in the hell-on-earth that is Los Angeles.
Now Stark's back, and ready for revenge. And absolution, and maybe even love. But when his first stop saddles him with an abusive talking head, Stark discovers that the road to absolution and revenge is much longer than you'd expect, and both Heaven and Hell have their own ideas for his future.
Resurrection sucks. Saving the world is worse.


Publisher 
HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN
9780061714306

Rosy's scrawlings on Sandman Slim
Richard Kadrey is a new author for me, even though he's written a few books by now. This means that although he's got some history and proof of talent there I still instinctively judge the first work I read as though it were any first work. For me, what matters is more a meeting of minds and a creation of scenes and coherent story telling than anything like typos or writing style. I have to be able to get into the swing of things, as it were. And Richard Kadrey looks to be another author I'll be following because as soon as I finished Sandman Slim I immediately went online and bought the rest of the series now available from the Book Depository UK (an awesome place to buy books). Job done, as far as advertising through your work goes.
James Stark, Stark, Jimmy or Sandman Slim as he comes to be know, is a man bent on personal vengeance that just happens to coincide with saving the world in various ways. When others try to convince him to be more caring of the fate of others he steadfastly only cares about seeing the blood of his enemies and betrayers on his hands. He's rude, crude, frequently beaten down, powerful but unable to act on it, ignorant by choice most of the time and far too worldly in the ways of Hell and Lucifer. He's a character you greatly enjoy reading about as all sanctimonious do-gooding for the sake of others is tossed out the window for some deep-seated personal concern.
Also, I have to say that you'll likely greatly enjoy the depiction of Lucifer. He's a quiet one, a thinker and planner with a huge capacity for violence he has yet to act on. He's also a great fan of movies and collects whatever good movies he can get his hands on.
Like all good urban fantasies there's plenty of darkness, swarms of new and old monsters, a magic system to be used and abused and a city/world under siege from the forces of evil. What makes this story stand out though, is that there's a character in the middle of it all who just doesn't care, a lot of slapstick moments written with a touch of horror and a light hearted approach to the end of the world. Sandman Slim is an urban fantasy that leaves you smiling rather than frowning or puzzling over the nasty things in life. And for that it is well worth a read and I'd also suggest it as a Friday night in read.

I'd recommend this book to: lovers of urban fantasy that includes trips into other dimensions or mythological places, lovers of action and antiheroes as well as lovers of stories inclusive of magic. Otherwise, anyone who is into fantasy.

Rosy's scrawled book recommendation: Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow

Dante Valentine series
Lilith Saintcrow

Individual Books
Working for the Devil
Dead Man Rising
The Devil's Right Hand
Saint City Sinners
To Hell and Back

Blurb

Necromancer. Bounty hunter. Killer.
Dante Valentine has been all three in her life. But in the beginning, she was a Necromancer for hire. And while she was choosy about her jobs, there were just some she couldn't turn down. Like when the Devil showed up at the door and offered her a deal. Her life - in exchange for the capture and elimination of a renegade demon. But how do you kill something that can't die?

Publisher
Orbit

ISBN
978-0316101967

Rosy's scrawlings on the Dante Valentine series
For this recommendation I'm doing something rather odd for a reviewer/recommender or whatever you'd like to call me at this stage. And that is: I'm going to recommend, deeply recommend, you read a series that I will never pick up again even if you hold a gun to my head. The reason for my avoidance of ever reading this series again has absolutely nothing to do with the author's skills and the quality of the books. Not a thing. Instead, the reason for my avoiding it is entirely because the series is too good and forces me to remember things I'd much rather not, thank you very much. This means though, that for me this series is a tad more horrific than it is likely to be to you (unless you have similar memories and emotions floating about - see warning). It also means that the series is exceptional and a must read.
While I'm at the intro bit, I'd like to share a personal grumble I have every time I see this series on the shelves. For some reason, completely incomprehensible to me, this series is often shelved under romance or to be precise, paranormal romance. Why? Who on earth thinks this story is romantic? Read it and tell me I'm wrong. I bet there are very, very few of you who'll see Dante and Japhrimel's relationship as vaguely romantic. It has to be one of the most dysfunctional and horrific relationships I've ever read of and all it leaves me with is a deep feeling of gratitude that such a relationship never happened to me. I honestly don't know whether I could have stood it. Dante definitely can't.
So, to me and probably many of you once you've given it a whirl, this book is horror. The relationship is quite like those of the quarrelling husband and wife going to the isolated cabin in the woods. Nothing works well and the distrust and violence escalates. It screams horror from beginning to end, with only a vague glimpse of possibility at their initial meeting. One that's immediately squashed by circumstances called life and Lucifer. And things, as expected of a horror story, quickly spiral out of control in a rather irrevocable way. Perspectives are changes, life values smashed, trust ruined, blood spilled, suicidal behaviour frequent, control lost, battles around every corner, personalities shattered, minds destroyed and so on and so forth. It is a never-ending flow into darkness for Dante and you see it all from her perspective. What happens to your mind when you're tortured by Lucifer? Well, read and find out what's likely to happen. Can you trust an intelligent and powerful being that isn't human? I'd say it would be pretty difficult at the best of times and these aren't the best. The story is dark and becomes increasingly hollow, which is the exact opposite of a romance where things start out bleak and love blooms so the world becomes colourful.
So I recommend this series to you because this is some powerful horror and well worth reading.
All this leaves me with a quandary. I have been collecting the Jill Kismet series as Lilith Saintcrow's work is outstanding. But I've also avoided picking up any further works of hers and actually reading them as I'm in a once burned, twice shy situation. So, if you're reading this and you're read the Dante Valentine and the Jill Kismet series, can you answer me this? Does Jill have the same sort of fate as Dante and do I have good reason to be wary?

I'd recommend this to: Anyone at the right reading level but those who love horror in particular. I'd also go the extra mile of convincing the romantically wary that this book is incorrectly shelved most of the time, as it is by no means a romance of any sort, and should be shelved as straight, god-awful (meaning great) horror.

I'd warn: people who've lost a lot and have felt that their life was very out of control. This isn't a don't read it warning but rather a be prepared one. I wasn't. It was a tad awful to have the memories of certain times in my life scratched open again.

Rosy's book recommendation: Soulless by Gail Carriger

Soulless

Gail Carriger (Tofa Borregaard)

Blurb

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette. 
Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate. 
With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

Soulless is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

or

First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.
Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire - and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.
With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

Publisher

Orbit

ISBN

9780316056632

Rosy's scrawlings on Soulless

I picked this book up when it first appeared on the shelves as I was struck by the umbrella and the title. Sometimes a picture will just grab my attention and having a lady all decked out, carrying a brolly with the word soulless floating above her just did it for me. And on reading the blurb I found myself further intrigued by Alexia's soulless state and the involvement of Queen Victoria in the plot. Sometimes it is the little things that get you and in this case it was a combination of little things that had me snatching it up and going to the counter straight away, before the hubby could snatch it from my fingers with a well placed argument about expenditure (one that usually lets him buy more DVDs by the way).

As you might be aware, I made a rather good purchase. This series has since gone on to become one of the hallmarks of steampunk and awards and speeches are everywhere to be found. You might think that with all that I should concentrate on the little guy and not bother with a review but the purpose of this is to recommend to you a good read. And this is.

Alexia is a woman with emotions but she's one without a lot of those normally expected by those surrounding her. The twittering judgemental nitwits of high society just can't seem to understand her and even the men are shocked on occasion by her straightforwardness and lack of guile. Alexia is what she is. She also loves a good, if ugly, umbrella as a weapon, one that becomes increasingly deadly as her tale continues. Because of all this I have absolutely no fear in recommending this book and series to men as here is a female character they could truly understand. Besides, the book is quickly becoming a steampunk classic and as such it is a must read for the genre fans. Fail to read it at your own steampunk peril.

On top of a direct female character there's a werewolf prone to gruffness and prancing about naked just because it is too hard to get dressed (male characterisation is very well done here - if you don't believe so then just watch as the hubby gets used to marriage or pay attention to your own habits of a warm day). Lord Maccon is by no means a pretty boy werewolf either and being taken back to a rough and gruff werewolf, even if he is a lord, is a pleasure. To add to this delight is the fact that the main vampire of the series is Lord Akeldama, a brilliantly clothed and flamboyantly gay vampire who collects pretty young men and vampires about him in a house/mansion brightly painted and decorated. Magic and technology go hand in hand too, instead of one being the downfall of the other. In fact, everywhere you look stereotypes and expectations are being broken and as a reader you're sure to love it.

As to the writing style, it is smooth with touches of rhyme and lyricism woven in to give an old world feel. And it is this atmosphere that is most desired in a steampunk novel set within the Victorian era. Without that touch of conservative floweriness, also revealed through tea, beautiful dresses, suit wearing werewolves, good manners and an eye to etiquette, the Victorian era could well be any other when it comes to steampunk. That said, the touch of class isn't overdone, allowing Alexia and Lord Maccon to move about with few restrictions on their behaviour and so few restrictions on their adventures.

I'd recommend this book to: anyone interested in steampunk, anyone who likes their female characters without all the bullsh*t and any man looking to start reading books with a female lead. I'd also recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy stories of any type. I would go further than this if I could but I know those who love literature or biographies only will just stare at me like I'm a loon. So I'll leave it at that for now.

Rosy's scrawled book recommendation: Dark Time by Dakota Banks

Dark Time

Dakota Banks

Blurb

Three hundred years ago, she sold her soul to a demon. Now she wants it back.
For centuries, the woman calling herself Maliha Crayne has lived a second life - as an assassin for the malevolent creature who owns her soul. A haunted killer with the blood of countless victims on her hands, she has finally discovered a way to nullify the demonic pact that chains her: If she saves a life for every one she has taken, she will be free.
But if she fails, her punishments will be unspeakable, unendurable . . . and neverending.

Publisher

Harper Voyager

ISBN

978-0062049988

Rosy's scrawlings on Dark Time

I picked up Dark Time when it first came out mainly because the cover, while portraying a woman wearing leather, didn't portray the main character as "sexy and she knows it" while the blurb on the back had nothing to do with such things. Upfront honesty in a book cover is always appreciated, plus the accurate portrayal of the mood of a book. So for those reasons I picked up this book while it was still the only Dakota Banks book printed.

The first thing I'd like to point out about the story is that it truly shouldn't be read only by women. Yes, the main character is a woman but this isn't a dreamy, waffly romance that will get most men's back up about how high the expectations of them are or how nonsensical the love is. Instead, what you get is a hefty dose of dark, bloody and intriguing along with a pretty original concept of how a person must gain redemption/freedom and just what the costs are. There is no standard sexy demon with black wings or even scaly demon and nor is there a look into the heavenly side of things. What you get instead is a demon that's almost intangible and undefinable, a past filled with human jealousy, greed and rage and a future that looks to be short and rather uncomfortable.

Otherwise, there's a mystery for Maliha to solve, people's lives to save and a clock that's ticking away. There's plenty of weaponry and strategies and one of the most horrible scenes I've read in a while. I won't say what it is but I will say it wasn't horrible due to shock value or gore but rather the level of cruelty and disregard given to one character. Let's just say the scene has since been stuck in my mind. The mood also remains intense throughout and it along with the ticking clock (as it were - if I say too much I'll just be spoiling your fun) compels you to read on.

I'm pretty sure that this book will exceed your expectations for a first publication. The writing style is smooth and the atmosphere created tense and dark. There isn't any section you could point to and say it could have been left out and there's plenty of complexity in the plot and character motivations. The characters, while mostly on the cynical and dark side of things are believable within the bounds of dark fantasy/horror. And there's nary a gushing heroine in sight. All in all, it reads as though it isn't Dakota Banks' first publication.

And I have to add again, the cover for this one is really well done.

I'd recommend this book to: anyone interested in gritty dark fantasy or horror and anyone interested in an intense read. I'd like to also recommend Dark Time those men out there looking to read books with serious female leads that aren't entirely romance driven and can fight with the best of them.

Rosy's scrawled book recommendation: A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin

A Madness of Angels
Kate Griffin

Blurb

When a man is tired of London he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford – Samuel Johnson

In fact, Dr Johnson was only half right. There is in London much more than life – there is power. It ebbs and flows with the rhythms of the city, makes runes from the alignments of ancient streets and hums with the rattle of trains and buses; it waxes and wanes with the patterns of the business day. It is a new kind of magic: urban magic.

Enter a London where magicians ride the Last Train, implore favours of The Beggar King and interpret the insane wisdom of The Bag Lady. Enter a London where beings of power soar with the pigeons and scrabble with the rats, and seek insight in the half-whispered madness of the blue electric angels.

Enter the London of Matthew Swift, where rival sorcerers, hidden in plain sight, do battle for the very soul of the city.

Publisher

Orbit Books

ISBN

9781841497334

Rosy's scrawlings on A Madness of Angels

First off, and this is no give away at all, this book is basically of a man searching for his own killer. Matthew Swift is not a zombie though, he's a sorcerer who's come back to life 2 years after his own death as though nothing had happened. Well, he's a little foggy on the details of course. Not long after his return he finds that while he's been away many of his friends have also died and so his own murder case extends to encompass theirs.

In a word, this book is addictive. And so are the ones that follow, for those interested in reading a series. Thankfully the book is long and chunky, with lots of detail and full bodied descriptions. I'm not sure if it is this that makes it addictive or not, although I did find that such heavy description allowed me to savour the story more, or if it was the action, the strange array of characters and the almost (not quite but almost) noir feel to the London of this book.

London is dark and a forbidding with its monsters and strange beings. There is a grittiness to the scenery and the perspectives of every character. And yet, unlike noir, there is a real sense of life and activity in this version of London. This is brought about by the playfulness of the writer's imagination and the fast pace of the action. Shadows and lighting play a big part in this London city, mentioned as the description of lighting serves to give London a texture, history and character that could rival the real London.

Matthew Swift is also a character understandable and appreciable by both men and women readers. The reason I feel the need to say this is that there is a vast number of male and female characters out there than are just confusing to the opposite sex or intolerable to the same, purely for a lack of understanding or conveying a realistic male of female character. Matthew Swift isn't a perfect buff man with a go get-um attitude that makes him the idol of everyone he encounters bar his enemy. Nor is he written without internal thoughts and feelings that reveal a depth of character beyond his ambitions. Nope, he's someone you could run into on the street, although he does have magic powers and is on a bit of a mission. The point of this is that both men and women should be able to approach this character without issue and enjoy his story.

There is one warning I will give when it comes to this book. Don't read it when you are super busy. It will make you stop everything and lose sleep. And if you happen to buy all the Matthew Swift books then set aside roughly a week to read them at your leisure (this is a guess - it may take more time or it may take less. That's up to you and your schedule).

I'd recommend this book to: lovers of urban fantasy, particularly London based urban fantasy (almost a sub genre of its own). This should appeal to male and female readers alike but especially those who like more substantial fantasy and urban fantasy works.

Rosy's scrawled book recommendation: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Artemis Fowl

Eoin Colfer

There have been many different covers but
this is my favourite one.

Blurb

Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius—and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren't the fairies of bedtime stories—they're dangerous! Full of unexpected twists and turns, Artemis Fowl is a riveting, magical adventure.

Publisher

Disney Press

ISBN

0786817879

Rosy's Scrawlings on Artemis Fowl

Many of you may have heard of this book already due to it being a rather popular children's book. What you might not have been aware of is that it is a bit of a cult favourite for fantasy fans due to the complex and rather original plot and the various technologies available. Plus it is quite funny at times.

While there are a few other evil genii about who sometimes turn good and sometimes don't Artemis is one who is neither evil nor good despite what it says in the blurb. Exploitative and harsh on others, but for a good cause. Have some faith in the boy.

What I liked best about this book was that the real sense of magic needed in children's and teen books was there. And quite strongly so. Also, I loved that it incorporated bits of other languages, made up scripts, odd bits of technological details and a lot of non-human creatures, many not as originally imagined in traditional mythology. There was a real sense of play and that was what hooked me, an adult who reads almost non-stop, to a kids story. Such addiction to a kids book is very rare for me. I never even bothered going near Harry Potter despite being urged to on countless occasions as there wasn't enough extra in there to entice someone who'd read all those story lines. (For Harry Potter uber-fans: I'm not against the series, it just didn't appeal to me as I'd been there and read that in other books when I was young.) So, as you can see, my vote on this book does not come lightly. There are always a few hurdles for me to jump before I obsessively by a children's series and I did end up buying all the Artemis Fowl books, in the shiny covers of course as those were the best by far.

On another note, I also loved that this book and the ones that followed delved into an underground world near the centre of the Earth. This is a classic plot device for having divergent or unassociated civilisations clash, one used in the early establishment of science fiction. At the time most of these books were written as future histories, utopian, dystopian or futuristic fiction as the term science fiction didn't come about until the early 20th Century. But still there were often different people, advanced technologies, calmer societies or ones with flaws that would reveal our own. To have this plot device show up in a children's book made my little heart leap with joy that it was still around and could still influence people.

I'd suggest this book to: Any young child, girl or boy. Any fan of light hearted and easy to read fantasy that's still original and captivating. No matter their age. The great thing about this book is it would be a nice one to read to a young child to get them interested in reading by themselves, as it is pretty fun for an adult and absolutely awesome for a kid. Adults don't have to worry their minds are going to melt into mush from reading below their level of comprehension as there's more than enough to interest them otherwise. Besides, the writing isn't bowing to lesser comprehension skill but rather setting a level to be reached.

Magic words: origins and uses

First off, before I even looked at magic words in themselves I looked at the origins of the words “magic” and “words” purely because you’d need the two, whatever the form they took, to be able to say a word is a magic word at all. So, here is a little on “magic” and “words”.

Magic

Noun: the power of apparently influencing events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.

Adjective: having or apparently having supernatural powers.

Verb: Move, change or create by or as if by magic.

Origin: Late Middle English; from Old French magique, from Latin magicus (adjective), late Latin magica (noun), from Greek magikē (tekhnē) (art of) a magus. Magi were regarded as magicians.

Words

Noun:  A single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and typically shown with a space on either side when written or printed.

Verb: (with object) express (something spoken or written) in particular words.

Adjective: with submodifier worded.

Origin: Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch word and German Wort, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin verbum ‘word’.

Common Magic (adjective) Words (noun):

Abracadabra

OED recognised. Late 17^th century  (as a mystical word engraved and used as a charm to ward off illness): from Latin, first recorded in a 2^nd century poem by Q. Serenus Sammonicus, from a Greek base.

Better known to us as a magic word used by stage magicians that also appears in everything Disney and was spoken by the clown who appeared at your 5^th birthday party. Power resides in the user of this word, not in the word itself, otherwise those clowns wouldn't be there for your 5^th birthday in the first place.

Alakazam

Not recognised as a word.

But it is recognised as a family or proper name.

Because of this, it is possible that to say that when using Alakazam as a magic word you are trying to draw on the powers and attention of a person named Alakazam rather than magic, much like praying but I know of no god named Alakazam.

Sim Sala Bim

Not OED recognised.

Sim Sala Bum was a phrase used by Harry August Jansen. Also, these magic words were used by Hadji on two shows: The Adventures of Jonny Quest and The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest (these could be said to be just one show continued).

Not used very often, this phrase still has some power to it but mostly when written rather than spoken. Spoken, it just sounds silly (I am not saying so by making any comparison to other magic words. There are plenty sillier.).

Open Sesame

Not OED recognised.

Ali Baba spoke these words in the English version of a tale from 1001 Arabian Nights.

The reason most of us know of this magic phrase has less to do with the book and more to do with Disney. When we were kids a whole lot of us ended up seated in the theatre watching the Disney Ali Baba And The Forty Thieves movie. Then those that did see it proceeded to run about like headless chooks screaming “Open Sesame” over everything that could possibly be linked to magic, locks and treasure (imagined or otherwise). It was even often used as a not-so-secret password.

Shazam

OED recognised. An invented word used in the 1940’s by conjurers.

Preferred magic word of Captain Marvel.

2^nd choice of magic word for that 5^th birthday clown. Not as easily recognised by kiddies so some confused faces are likely to result from its usage.

Hocus Pocus

OED recognised. Early 17^th century: from hax pax max Deus adimax, a pseudo-Latin phrase used as a magic formula by conjurors.

I think I like hax pax max Deus adimax better.

You may know hocus pocus from kiddie TV and Disney movies, also cult horror movies and books where the words hocus pocus have little magic to them and are used more to describe what magic is.

Aajaye 

Rarely used or known.

Clowns of Jaye’s magic circus spoke this word so it has some power if spoken in front of the right people.

Alla Peanut Butter Sandwiches

This magical phrase is spoken by The Amazing Mumford on Sesame Street and is a hit with anyone a child when it was first used and any kid currently familiar with it. It will cause uncontrollable giggles in the young.

Cei-u

Johnny Thunder, superhero, used the word Cei-u to summon his magical thunderbolt. Nobody else uses this word and few know how to pronounce it.

Klaatu barada nikto

These magic words need to be spoken correctly and in order.

First spoken in the 1951 movie The Day The Earth Stood Still but they weren’t used as magic words until the awesome movie Army of Darkness.

Any Uni student or horror buff worth their salt will know these lines and use them freely along with lines such as “Alright you Primitive Screwheads, listen up! You see this? This... is my boomstick!” and “Shop smart, shop S-Mart!”.

Meeska, Mooska, Mickey Mouse

This word is often used in the TV show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and has the power to make the clubhouse appear. I’m sure this means a lot to some of you but it means absolutely zip to me so this phrase holds little power as far as I’m concerned.

Presto chango

Magicians used these magic words to suggest a quick change has happened, usually when the smashed watch is ‘reformed’ into a brand spanking new one. If someone says presto chango to you, check your pockets and/or give the beady eye to anything handed to you that’s said to be new or fixed. Don’t trust the use of these magic words to mean something good has happened.

Hey Presto

OED recognised. British in origin.
Hey presto is a phrase often used to announce the successful completion of a magic trick or to suggest that something has been done so easily that it seems like magic.

This phrase needs less of the beady eye but still beware.

Overused but still a favourite.

Wella Walla Washington

Bugs Bunny from the Loony Tunes prefers this magic phrase no matter the instance. You will hear 30-40 year old men using this phrase but not many others.

Please

Origin: Middle English. From Old French plaisir ‘to please’, from Latin placer.

Known to all as the most powerful magic word there is. Things happen simply by saying this word; attitudes change, what is wanted is often attained, sacrifices are made for you and arguments are curbed.

Such power cannot be found in the use of any of the previous magic words.

The favourite magic word of any child wishing a forbidden cookie.