Category Archives: Suspense

Code Name : Hunter

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At a recent science fiction convention I found a treasure.  The creators of Code Name: Hunter – A Political Spell were promoting their book.  Imagine a world where magic has started to become more real and science less so.  Science had dominated most of the world – except for one small island nation run by a magical dictatorship.  That dictatorship includes a very feudal society with slavery still being an institution.

51HyhFqW2RL._SL160_The main characters are two special agents in an agency that seems loosely based on fictional accounts of MI5.  “Max” Hunter is the lead agent with his partner Ruby.  Though they are not the most refined of agents, they are sent on a diplomatic mission to bring back a much needed mage to help with wild magics that seem to be cropping up.

Astoria, the feudal society, is divided and there is a lot of internal intrigue between different magical factions.  Some wish to bring their state into a more modern frame of mind, while others consider the small changes that have already occurred due to contact with Great Britain to be a threat to the survival of their nation.  A very talented young mage is sent to be both an asset to the British issues with magic and a spy.  Culture shock does ensue on all sides.

This graphic novel is filled with storylines for Ruby as well.  All is not as it seems with her - or why she is being sent to Astoria in the first place.  Of course, everyone starts focusing on Hunter as a key to the story since he is the chief in the duo.  I, for one, am anxious for the next graphic novel to get more answers.  (I’m trying to control my comic pull list!)

Code Name: Hunter – A Political Spell is an excellent graphic novel with fine art and story.  The creative team of Darc and Matt Sowers is one to watch for future entries in the field.

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Mighty Love (Graphic Novel)

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51F2FCKFKVLMighty Love written and drawn by Howard Chaykin is a pleasant superhero crime thriller for adults. The main characters are a cop and a defense attorney with secret lives. Those secret lives involve spandex and fighting crime – each for their own reasons.

One day, after not bumping into one another for a very long time, they trip over each other because their daytime lives intersect at a crime scene. Soon we find them talking to their therapist about each other.

The story surrounding the romance is a standard noir crime story with the femme fatale, evil businessman, and the muscle being used to move the crime forward. Though Mighty Love is not all that original, it is an enjoyable read for an afternoon treat.

The Surrogates (Surrogates (Graphic Novels))

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I thought I was going to read a pale imitation of David Brin’s Kiln People (The Kiln Books) (a great read) when I opened The Surrogates (Surrogates (Graphic Novels)) by Robert Venditti. I was happily disabused of this notion once I picked up the novel. This is a truly dystopian future where mankind has used technology to stagnate. Or, at least, that is what The Prophet and The Dread believe – and what inspires the villain, Steeplejack, to act in a manner to save humanity from itself.

First, yes, this graphic novel owes a great deal to Kiln People (The Kiln Books), but it is not a rip-off of the novel by any means. It is its own story that happens to use many of the same concepts that were originally addressed by Brin. The Surrogates (Surrogates (Graphic Novels)) takes another angle and holds up the darker side that so many of us wish to avoid perceiving. Wouldn’t it be better if we really never had to get out of our pajamas?

51JUza6SiOLThe story follows Greer, a police officer who has ridden out the transition between pre- and post- surrogate life. The police force has long chosen to use surrogates for active duty for the sake of safety, so when Greer’s surrogate is damaged, and, instead of getting a spare from the pool, he decides to risk his real skin on the case, the divide between The Dread (anti-surrogate) and the general populace (surrogate users) becomes focused in the struggles of a single police officer.

This is an enjoyable, but unhappy, read. The Surrogates (Surrogates (Graphic Novels)) is dark and reflects questions we are just beginning to come to terms with as technology changes the way we interact with one another and even experience life. I highly recommend this graphic novel to anyone seeking a tight, well-constructed story exploring technology as a perceived good that is twisted into a way to undermine what it means to be human.

I didn’t originally think this would fit the R.I.P. Challenge, but I really think this graphic novel meets the criteria on the dark fantasy and thriller fronts. As to the movie being advertised? DH got The Surrogates (Surrogates (Graphic Novels)) from the library before the commercials started.

If you want something a little less dark, I will also highly recommend the novel Kiln People (The Kiln Books) by David Brin.

White Witch, Black Curse

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Kim Harrison has delivered a good read in White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows, Book 7). We find Rachel in the midst of trying to remember the events of the night Kisten, her vampire lover, died. Ford is with her trying to coax those memories forth.

In many ways, this is the story of Rachel growing up and coming into her own – despite what that ends up meaning. She finds herself up against a new kind of fugitive – the apex predators of Inderlanders, a Banshee.

51hOKfD7YoLSomehow, the memories of Kisten’s death and chasing down the fugitive Banshee become intertwined in the story through the actions of a newly (to me) introduced ghostly character. Of course, Rachel, being Rachel, finds herself in more and more trouble with less and less support. She has her family, her roommates, and Al, the demon. After all, she has alienated just about everyone in the Inderlander world.

Rachel and Ivy have an uneasy relationship with the FIB – human investigators – that strains as they face finding the Banshee and the complications that brings.

I do wish there had been more of Al and Rachel’s relationship as student and teacher. I also do like how the book ended and see this as a real opportunity for the series to take a more humorous tone without losing its own urban fantasy edge.

There are places where it is obvious that Harrison has decided to change her series’ characters personas and that can cause strain for the reader looking for a familiar read. All in all, White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows, Book 7) is a good summer read.

A Taste of Crimson (Crimson City, Book 2) (Audiobook)

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A Taste of Crimson (Crimson City) written by Marjorie Liu, narrated by Rebecca Rogers is the second book in the Crimson City Series. It follows Michael, the Vendix, the executioner for the Vampires, and Keeli Maddox, the granddaughter of the most powerful werewolf in Crimson City as they try to solve a series of murders. Who is behind these murders? And why can’t Michael and Keeli ignore one another?

This is a fun listen. Image Rebecca Rogers infuses each character with unique characteristics so you always know who is saying what in the story.

Keeli and Michael find themselves dealing with so many secrets in both the werewolf and vampire community that they can’t quite understand what is going on. Too many lies have built up over too much time to finally be revealed to the detriment of some powerful entities. Betrayals so deep that one cannot help but hate those responsible abound in this book.

A forbidden love soon finds life among Keeli and Michael and there is little they can do to stop themselves. Kismet seems to be driving them into one an other’s arms. Is this all about them, or is it about revealing a terrible truth that everyone would rather forget?

Take a listen to this one, but be prepared for some painful revelations that would make anyone’s blood boil.

Heart of Stone (Audiobook)

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Heart of Stone (The Negotiator Trilogy, Book 1) by C.E. Murphy, read by Eve Bianco, while enjoyable lacked the verve of Urban Shaman.Image

Margrit Knight is the main character of the Negotiator Series and a lawyer from a privileged New York minority family. She has decided to work with the underpriviliged. Every night she runs in Central Park as Alban Korund, a gargoyle, watches unseen.

Alban and Margrit meet over the body of a murder victim – and that is where the story takes off. Margrit finds herself delving into a world of Old Races – dragons, djinn, gargoyles, and selkies. Each race makes an appearance and Margrit finds herself making a place for herself in their world.

Eve Bianco is an excellent reader, bringing life to a slew of unusual human and “other” characters. This is definitely worth a listen, but it will not be quite as good as Urban Shaman. I am hoping the next book in the series will be better.

Witchblade : Compendium Edition

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Witchblade : Compendium Edition

You want something that has no redeeming value, other than being fun? Witchblade qualifies. Hunkily clad men help make up for the scantily clad main character, Sara Pezzini. She’s a cop in New York who finds herself in possession of a mystical weapon that can only be wielded by one woman it chooses.

What is this weapon up to? Is it a living thing? Is it basically evil? If you like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you are likely to enjoy this bit of fluffy horror.

Oh, did I forget? This is hardcore horror. It is not appropriate for those who get easily scared because here bad guys aren’t just the supernatural kind. Some of the stories will haunt you as well, with their less than happy endings. If you like horror, this is a good read. Now I have to get my hands on some of the companion characters’ books!

Runaways : Pride & Joy, Teenage Wasteland, The Good Die Young

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Runaways : Pride & Joy

Runaways : Teenage Wasteland

Runaways : The Good Die Young

One of Marvel’s newest comic entrees, the three volume set of Runaways: Pride & Joy, Teenage Wasteland, and The Good Die Young by Brian K. Vaughn introduces The Pride and their progeny. The story follows Gertrude York, Alex Wilder, Nico Minoru, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, and Chase Stein as they discover what their parents are all about.

Each year the children get together as their parents hold a conference in service to a group that remains a mystery throughout the early parts of the series. Part of the adventure entails the children running from their folks as they try to discover what their parents’ nefarious plans are.

I don’t want to give too much away because it is an enthralling read. I read the first three volumes in a single sitting and had to get the next four. I have a policy of limiting my pull list – and this comic book is among three I am getting currently. The other two? Buffy (of course), and Anita Blake’s new series. (It made it to my pull list when I found out Joss Whedon was writing the current run.)

I highly recommend this series.

Deep Storm

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This was a decent, not great, listen. The story starts off on a North Atlantic oil rig – and does manage to convey the isolation of such a site. The majority of the story is set on a joint military / scientific expedition at the bottom of the North Atlantic. The problem with the book is that it is very predictable. I was completely unsurprised by anything that happened.

What worked? It is a great ride. It is perfect to listen to while doing something else. Something that not every book can say! I admit that I actually had to rewind the book to find out what exactly happened. I was distracted from listening to the ending the first time.

The characters are somewhat engaging. I’m not sure if this is science fiction or techno thriller in its genre classification. If you are looking for a light, summer-type listen, this is a good choice.