Graphic Novel Review: Fables 14: Witches and Mouse Guard Fall 1152

I fell in love with FABLES over a year ago. The first ten were amazing, but then... I felt they went downhill. Once the first big arc was completed, I didn't enjoy the story as much. So after a few that I felt was sub-par, and then a crossover with JACK OF FABLES, I was thrilled with WITCHES. Volume 14 had such a better storyline than the past few. It felt more like the old FABLES. This series is one of my favorite things to read. I can't express how amazing they are. However, this series includes sex, nudity, violence, and gore... definitely not for anyone under 17.

Synopsis:


While the meek and mild flying monkey Bufkin is trapped in Fabletown's collapsed business office with the evil witch Baba Yaga, Frau Totenkinder and the witches at the Farm upstate prepare to deal with Mister Dark down in what's left of Fabletown.

Despite how adorable the artwork in MOUSE GUARD FALL 1152 is, the story is not cute. They have their capes, and their swords and other various weapons. And it is the mouse guards job to protect the mouse villages. A war has just passed, and they are finally safe. Until they find out one of their own is trying to start a war. The mouse guard gets wave that some of their fellow mice are plotting. Their medieval world can't handle a war within the mouse community, and the two elite members of the Mouse Guard, along with one newbie, vows to stop this impending war.

I have to say that I picked up the book purely based on the illustrations. It was cute, and I enjoyed it very much. That being said, the story moved way too fast. It seemed to jump over big sections of the plot, and at first, I was confused, wondering where the missing pages were. I do want to read volume two, but I hope the story slows down just a bit.

Synopsis: 

In the world of Mouse Guard, mice struggle to live safely and prosper amongst harsh conditions and a host of predators. Thus the Mouse Guard was formed: more than just soldiers that fight off intruders, they are guides for common mice looking to journey without confrontation from one hidden village to another. The Guard patrol borders, find safeways and paths through dangerous territories and treacherous terrain, watch weather patterns, and keep the mouse territories free of predatory infestation. They do so with fearless dedication so that they might not just exist, but truly live. Saxon, Kenzie and Lieam, three such Guardsmice, are dispatched to find a missing merchant mouse that never arrived at his destination. Their search for the missing mouse reveals much more than they expect, as they stumble across a traitor in the Guard's own ranks.

500 Follower Giveaway!

Giveaway closed. Winner announced soon.


Edit: I've reached 600, which means the prize has moved to two books. Whether that means two people get one book or one person gets two books... we'll see. 


I can't believe I've reached 500 followers! So you know what this means... I'm going to giveaway a book... and hopefully some fun swag!


I am planning on going to a big book signing with five amazing authors: Kirsten Miller author of THE ETERNAL ONES, Brenna Yovanoff, author of THE REPLACEMENT, Andrea Cremer author of NIGHTSHADE, Ally Condie author of MATCHED, and Beth Revis author of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.


I want to get a book for one lucky winner. Winners choice! And more than that, I'll have the book signed and personalized for you. Note: The signing is 6 hours away. I can't promise that I'll make it what with it being the season for snow, but I'm going to do my best.

Contest Closed.


To enter:
1. You must follow this blog.
2. You must be 13 or older.
3. You must fill out this form.


Giveaway is international!


Signing is on February 25, so the contest will end on February 18th at midnight, to allow me to contact the winner and get information before the signing.


To sweeten the deal, if I reach 600 followers, I'll add a second book. If I reach 700... you get the idea. So be sure to tell your friends.

New Year's Reading Resolution Giveaway Winners

The winner of WITCH CHILD and SORCERESS by Celia Ress is Tiffany A from Louisiana. Congrats! I will get them in the mail by Saturday!

Book Review: Angelic and Counterfeit Magic

ANGELIC by Kelley Armstrong released a year ago. It was released through Subterranean Press and limited to 2000 copies. Considering 3000 were pre-ordered, if you got one, you were lucky. I pre-ordered mine nine months in advance. There was no way I was going to miss it. As of a few days ago, Kelley announced that ANGELIC was now available for the Kindle and a few other eBook devices. So if you missed it last year, now's your chance to read it.

I love Eve's character. She's tough and smart and she'll kick your ass if you look at her the wrong way. And what made this story even better, my favorite woman of the otherworld had a short role.

Synopsis:

As a half-demon master of the dark arts, Eve Levine isn’t what anyone would call angelic. That’s exactly why the Fates chose her for the job. She’s their secret weapon against the forces of evil. However after five years, Eve is tired of being the designated rebel of the angel corps, expected to break the rules, then penalized for it. When the leaderless djinn stage an uprising, Eve sees the perfect chance to get herself fired. As she plunges deeper into the demon world, though, she realizes she’s in danger of losing a lot more than her job.

***

COUNTERFEIT MAGIC is the second novella that Kelley Armstrong has done in conjunction with Subterranean Press. It's twice as long as ANGELIC and more copies were made. There are some left, but only through Subterranean Press' website. So if you want a hard copy, order it ASAP. Otherwise, you can order it for your Kindle or other eBook device.

I read this one last night, and I couldn't put it down. I love Paige and Savannah, but I love Lucas even more. The inclusion of all three of these wonderful characters made this book un-put-down-able. One thing I love about Kelley's writing is the fact that her books are unpredictable. You never know what's going to happen next. And just when you think you've figured it out, you're wrong. She takes supernaturals, of all races, and puts them in situations that we can relate to, despite the fact that we can't raise the dead or turn into a wolf, and there is always a mystery involved. All of these elements makes for an entertaining read. 

Synopsis: 

Return to the world of Kelley Armstrong's best-selling novels Dime Store Magic and Industrial Magic for a long original novella.

The first rule of a supernatural fight club? Don't kill your opponent.

When the fighters come with lethal spells, werewolf strength and half-demon powers, that can be a lot tougher than it sounds. It's hard to attract talent if they know they might not leave the ring alive. So when fighters at a California club start dying -- it's bad for business.

Witch detectives Paige Winterbourne and Savannah Levine take the case. Going undercover in the power-heavy arena of the fight club is a welcome change of pace for Paige, relegated to the role of The Wife as her husband struggles to find his place in his family's Cabal--the corporate Mafia of the supernatural world.

As Paige is drawn deeper into new and dangerous corners of her world, she quickly discovers the greatest threat isn't the killer in her sights. It's something much, much closer to home. And this is one fight she can't afford to lose.

New Year's Reading Resolution Giveaway

Contest Closed

As part of the New Year's Reading Resolution Giveaway (hosted by Reading Angel, Pure Imagination, and Candace's Book Blog), I am giving away two books that I love: WITCH CHILD and SORCERESS by Celia Rees. When I first became absolutely addicted to reading, as an adult, I stuck with adult urban fantasy for the most part. Although, I had read the available Harry Potter books. But then I discovered these two books, which led to picking up more YA and eventually reading YA almost exclusively.


They have recently been republished with new covers, however, the copies I have are the covers shown below.

WITCH CHILD synopsis:


Welcome to the world of young Mary Newbury, a world where simply being different can cost a person her life. Hidden until now in the pages of her diary, Mary’s startling story begins in 1659, the year herbeloved grandmother is hanged in the public square as a witch. Mary narrowly escapes a similar fate, only to face intolerance and new danger among the Puritans in the New World. How long can she hide her true identity? Will she ever find a place where her healing powers will not be feared?


SORCERESS synopsis:


It came to Agnes unbidden: a vision of Mary Newbury, a young woman driven from her Puritan settlement, accused of being a witch. It is an image of a life about to change radically, as Mary defies all accepted norms — embracing independence, love, and loyalty to a Native American community that accepts her as one of their own. The two women’s lives are separated by almost four hundred years, but they are linked by more than blood. For, like Mary, Agnes has special powers — powers that Mary seeks to ensure that the rest of her story is told.


To enter:
1. You must follow this blog.
2. You must live in the US or Canada.
3. You must be 13 or older.
4. You must fill out this form.


This contest ends on January 9 at 11:59 PM. Winner will be announced the following day. Be sure to check out the other blogs in this contest!

January 2011 Reads

I've been getting a lot of requests recently to read and review books, which is very exciting to me. And I'm trying to reach my 100 books in a year goal, which I've successfully completed the past two years. So I'm trying to plan my reads out a bit to fit in books I've been asked to review.

I'm still trying to finish ASH by Malinda Lo. I've been reading it for a while now. Which is sad, because it's really an amazing book. I just need to make time for reading. And I'm really looking forward to HUNTRESS coming this Spring.

I also need to finish House of Night book 7, BURNED by PC and Kristin Cast. I seem to finish each book, just as the next one comes out.

One of the first books I'll be reading in January is by my favorite author. COUNTERFEIT MAGIC is the second novella Kelley Armstrong has done with Subterranean Press. This one features Paige. They may run out at any time, as it's limited, so order yours now.

The fourth book to one of my favorite series recently hit shelves. MY SOUL TO STEAL by Rachel Vincent looks to be fantastic. I love her use of lore with the bean sidhe. If you haven't read them, check out MY SOUL TO TAKE first.

A book that I was asked to review is called LOGIC OF DEMONS: THE QUEST FOR NADINE'S SOUL by H A Goodman. It's gotten good reviews, so I'm excited.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS AND WHAT ALICE FOUND THERE is a classic tale I hope to read this month. I read the first of Lewis Carroll's Alice stories last month.

Another book I've been asked to review is SOLID by Shelley Workinger. This looks to be an interesting read. It's paranormal YA, but seems very different from anything I've read. Hopefully, I can figure out how to download this to my new iPad.

THE IRON DAUGHTER by Julie Kagawa is on my list of books to read in January. I started it before a signing with Julie, but didn't get very far. I miss my Puck.

THE POISON EATERS by Holly Black has been on my shelf since it's release. It is literally the only thing of hers that I have not read. So I want to get that done this month. I miss her writing and needs something to tide me over until RED GLOVE.

The last book I hope to get to is NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer. I feel like it's a crime that I haven't read this since I got an ARC months before it came out.

And for my book club, I need to read HALO by Alexandra Adorenetto. I got this one for Christmas!

I also hope to pick xxxHOLiC back up. I read the first five manga, and have the next nine on my shelf. I need to reread and then keep going. So if I get all of those books read, I'll be 10% of the way to my goal, and that's not counting the manga. Wish me luck!