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Showing posts with label Simon R. Green. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Simon R. Green. Show all posts
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Sunday Snippets #119
Author: Simon R. Green
Secret Histories #6
Publisher: Roc
Released: June 5, 2012
REVIEW HERE
"Things just get better all the time," said Molly. "So, what now?"
"We need answers," I said. "We need hard information as to exactly what went down here and who was behind it. Someone out there will know. Someone always knows. But where do we go to ask? Time was, we'd have just dropped into the Wulfshead Club, that celebrated supernatural water hole, paid for a round for the house, and they'd have been lining up to tell us everything we needed to know. But I'm pretty sure I'm persona non grata there, after the ... recent unpleasantness."
"You mean when you completely lost control, beat up everyone who got in your way and half killed your old friend the Indigo Spirit?" said Molly. "Oh, hell, yes, Eddie. They're still talking about that, and not in a good way. You are banned from the Wulfshead for life, Eddie Drood and possibly even longer than that."
"But that's just Eddie Drood," I said, craftily. "I could still sneak in as Shaman Bond, couldn't I?"
"I wouldn't," said Molly. "I really wouldn't. Take it from me: That boat has sailed. Far too many people in that place now know Eddie and Shaman are the same man. No one's actually given you up yet, but you can bet good money there'd be a race to drop you right in it if you were to push your luck. Give them time to calm down, and they might let you back in as Shaman. But right now the very least they'd do is set the hellhounds on you and blow your secret identity right out of the water."
"But they will calm down?" I said. "Eventually?"
"Who can say?"
I looked at her thoughtfully. "You could always..."
"No, I couldn't," said Molly. "I'm banned, as well, just for knowing you."
"Ah," I said. "Sorry about that."
"Don't be! I'm not. Never cared much for the Wulfshead, anyway. Bit too elevated for my tastes. And it's gone so upmarket these days... so up itself it's practically staring out its own nostrils. And the bar prices suck big-time."
I smiled. Molly can be very loyal in her own way.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Review: Live and Let Drood by Simon R. Green
Live and Let Drood
Author: Simon R. Green
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Publisher: Roc
Secret Histories Novel #6
ISBN: #978-0451464521
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Hardcover (368 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
|
The name is Bond, Shaman Bond. Better known as Drood, Eddie Drood Yes, I’m one of those Droods—the family who’ve been keeping the forces of evil contained in the shadows for as long as humans have walked the earth.
Recently, I suffered a slight case of death, but thanks to Molly, my best girl (who happens to be a powerful witch), I got over that right quick. Unfortunately, my family wasn’t so lucky. In my absence, Drood Hall was destroyed and all my relatives were killed. Which left me as the Last of the Droods.
I didn’t much like being The Last Drood, I can tell you—and then I realized that things weren’t as they seemed. Someone had activated a dimensional engine, sending my Drood Hall off to an alternate Earth, replacing it with a burnt-out doppelganger. My family is still alive out there. Somewhere.
And nothing’s going to stop me from finding them…
What G & U are talking about:
|
Live and Let Drood is the sixth novel in the delightful Secret Histories series. Mr. Green continues to write a witty and exciting adventure with Eddie and Molly in the forefront. Eddie Drood and Molly Metcalf have returned from a much-needed vacation to discover that everyone at Drood Hall is either missing or dead. They must discover who is responsible for this horrific deed without letting the world know that it has happened. The Drood family has, for time immemorial stood between humanity and that which goes bump in the night. The disappearance of the Drood family would allow these various forces to run rampant. Unfortunately, the powerful people best positioned to assist Molly and Eddie in their quest must be avoided since they are the same people who would rush to fill the vacuum of power created by Drood family’s disappearance.
One of the best aspects of these Secret History Novels is the interaction between the characters. Although this one starts out a little slow (since his family – a fabulous gathering of the “peanut gallery” are missing/dead), once Molly and Eddie are on the hunt, it picks up. The adventure and mystery is gripping and incredibly entertaining.
As Eddie and Molly seek to find his family and the person responsible for their absence, they must tackle the question of when the means used are no longer justified by the ends. As two very powerful people trying to do good, they are forced to examine their actions and question whether the end result is justified by the sometimes questionable methods they use. This transforms these novels into something bigger and better than a simple action/adventure.
Maybe part of the delight of Live and Let Drood is the wonderful blending of the 007 Bond series and the paranormal world. We love the British humor and banter. The tongue-in-cheek dialogue is funny and enjoyable. We can almost hear the accents in our minds as Molly and Eddie banter back and forth. Mr. Green is a wizard at writing characters that come to life.
As always, everything (sort of) is wrapped up in the end. Well, except for the exciting new adventure that awaits Eddie and Molly in the next Secret Histories Novel, Casino Infernale.
Their Rating:
|
Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Labels:
4 stars,
G-U Review,
ROC,
Secret Histories Series,
Simon R. Green,
urban fantasy
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Sunday, October 16, 2011
Sunday Snippet #80
Ghost of a Smile
by: Simon R. Green
ACE
August 30, 2011 “Took one look at what?” said Happy.
“I don’t know,” said Melody. “But I’m pretty sure whatever these things were, they’re still here.”
She shut down the computer and stood up abruptly, glaring about her. The others huddled together unconsciously, checking out every possible hiding place with a hard look, and still they couldn’t see anything. The atmosphere had moved beyond tense to actually oppressive. They all felt like they were being watched, studied, by cold, unseen eyes. Happy sniffed the air.
“Is it only me, or can you smell something?”
“Yes,” said JC. “A ripe, spoiled sort of smell. Meat that’s gone off. Blood, too. Other things of that nature, none of them good.”
“It’s getting stronger,” said Happy. “It’s leaving a really nasty taste in the back of my mouth.”
“Hush,” said Melody. “I can hear something . . .”
They all stood very still, straining their ears against the quiet, and slowly they began to hear soft, approaching sounds. Dragging sounds, of something heavy hauling itself along the floor, through sheer will-power. Wet, slapping sounds, slipping and sliding, coming from a dozen different directions at once.
“Oh no,” said Happy. “I know it’s going to be some horrible human shape of patched-together organs, probably all red and blobby with no proper exterior, so you can see things moving inside, with dozens of eyes bobbing about at the top. Dripping blood and bile and leaving a smoking trail of acid behind it . . .”
He stopped as he realized they were all looking at him.
“You’ve been watching those Japanese manga movies again, haven’t you?” said JC.
Happy wrapped his dignity around him, and stared back. “Legend of the Overfiend is a classic! Though it does practically define the phrase guilty pleasure.”
“Take a few of your little chemical helpers, and get yourself together,” said JC. “You’re no use to me if you can’t keep your head in game.”
“I am trying to cope without them,” said Happy. “Ever since my piss started turning funny colours. Better living through chemistry is all very well, but in practice it doesn’t half take it out on your liver.”
“And because you can’t get it up when you’re trashed,” said Melody.
“Why do you keep putting mental images into my head that I know I’m going to have to scour out with wire wool?” said JC.
“Heh-heh,” said Melody.
Kim drifted in beside her. “Maybe we should make time for some girlie talk, later,” she said. “It’s not easy having a love life when you’re dead.”
They all looked round sharply. The heavy, dragging sounds were definitely closer. Wet, slippery sounds accompanied them, sounds that grated on the nerves and upset the stomach. All of them heading straight for the group, with definite purpose.
“I suppose a big transplant Frankenstein thing isn’t entirely out of the question,” said Melody. “But the noises don’t seem right for that.”
“Definitely organic,” said Kim. “And kind of squishy.”
“They were only developing organs,” JC said firmly. “Not building actual people.”
“Who knows what happened after the new energies changed things?” said Melody.
“Hell with this,” JC said briskly. “I’m not built for standing around and waiting.”
He strode down the long, open floor, towards the sounds. It took him a while to realize that none of the others were following him. Not even Kim. JC stopped and looked back.
“Oh come on! This is definitely time for Go team go!”
“Not even for a substantial raise and a stretch limo all my own,” said Happy. “I know my limitations. And they very definitely include squishy things.”
“Right,” said Melody. “I have a really bad feeling about this. I say we skip this floor and go straight up to face the New People. I could cope with New People. Strange, invisible, squishy things is something else entirely.”
“What is the matter with you people?” said JC. “Big Black Dogges with mouthfuls of huge jaggedy teeth didn’t even slow you down!”
“Don’t like strange squelchy things,” Kim said firmly. “Especially ones I can’t see.”
“Right,” said Happy.
“Damn right,” said Melody.
JC looked round suddenly. Something was moving about very near him. He spun round and round, glaring in every direction, and then, finally, he looked down. And said, “Oh shit.”
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Review: Ghost of a Smile
Ghost of a SmileAuthor: Simon R. Green
Release Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Ace
Ghost Finders #2
ISBN: #978-0441020751
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (279 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book: |
The Ghost Finders answer a distress call from the private research centre of one of the biggest drug companies in the world, where a team of police enforcement agents have vanished. They have no idea what they’re facing-except a deadline that threatens to remove the entire building from existence if they fail to get to the bottom of the mystery.
What G & U are talking about: |
Gikany and Una were first introduced to Simon R. Green through his book For Heaven’s Eyes Only in his Secret History’s series (review HERE). So when the opportunity came to review Ghost of a Smile in his latest Ghost Finders series, we jumped for it. We were hoping for another story that would have wonderful banter, engaging plot and fascinating world. We got more than we hoped for!
Since this is only the second book in the series, Gikany and Una went ahead and read the first book, Ghost of a Chance. There is quite a bit of world-building and set up in the first book so we recommend that you grab it and read it first. We will say we found the Ghost of a Smile much stronger, but we did enjoy the first novel.
The story begins with our fearless (well, except for Happy) ghost finders of the famous Carnaki Institute up to their usual antics. As their beginning mission ends, they are, again, thrust into a serious situation they must deal with (even though there are better teams the “higher” ups would rather send in, they are stuck with JC, Melody and Happy). Mr. Green’s characters are absolutely charismatic and fun. The banter is wonderful and the plot flows well.
“Come on, Happy,” JC said cheerfully. “Where’s your sense of adventure?
“I had it surgically removed,” Happy said coldly. “It was endangering my life.”
“It’s true,” said Melody. “He did. I’ve got it in a jar at home, on the mantelpiece.”
This was just an incredibly fun and engaging story. The plot moves well, the writing is splendidly woven with humor and character development all while keeping the mystery moving and plot thickening up until the end. There just are not that many books that can gross you out while laughing, but Mr. Green seems to be a genius at it.
Even though we are left with a fairly large cliffhanger, the story in many ways is resolved satisfactorily. It is the large questions remaining that will keep Gikany and Una on pins and needles until the next book comes out. We encourage you to pick up Ghost of a Smile and enjoy.
Their Rating: |
Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Books in the Series:
Ghost of a Chance (A Ghost Finders #1)
Ghost of a Smile (A Ghost Finders #2)
Friday, June 10, 2011
Review: For Heaven's Eyes Only
For Heaven’s Eyes Only Author: Simon R. Green
Release Date: 7 June 2011
Publisher: Roc Hardcover
Secret History’s Series #5
ISBN: #978-0451463951
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Hardcover (384 pages), e-book
We received a copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.
From the author’s website:
The fifth and possible penultimate book in the Secret History’s series.
After the murder of the Drood Matriarch, the family finds itself vulnerable to evil. This time, it’s a Satanic Conspiracy that could throw humanity directly into the clutches of the Biggest of the Bads.
What Gikany & Una are talking about:
We must preface our review by saying that we have not read the series. Gikany and Una have jumped into book five, For Heaven’s Eyes Only without trying to read the previous novels. (See, we are working on our OCD) We can’t wait to read the previous novels in the Secret History’s Series.
From the start of For Heaven’s Eyes Only, you have the sense that the author loves a good cliffhanger. Just based on the beginning of this book, the last book must have been a doozie. This is the first book we’ve ever read where the main character starts off dead. Oh, yes, dead…not a ghost, not some out of body experience, no, he was dead, just like the parrot in Monty Python (for those that don’t get the joke, check this Youtube link for Monty Python Parrot sketch). Gikany has to admit, even though it didn’t really have any bearing on this novel’s plot (however, it may prove to be important in later novels) it is a dramatic way to start a book. Una, at first glance, noticed the allusion to the James Bond series (you must check out the book titles on the author’s site for this series – see html link above) and hoped it would be a witty and lighthearted book.
Una and Gikany were not disappointed. We found For Heaven’s Eyes Only to be a very enjoyable read, even for jumping into the middle of the series. The banter is very witty and the book flows very well. We both found it to be (when Una could sit down without a sick child screaming) engrossing and a quick read. We now have to go out and purchase the rest of the books in this series because we just NEED to know what happened previously so we are prepared for the next book in the Secret History’s Series. We get the feeling that the plot lines in this novel were introduced earlier in the series and therefore to get the most of the series, it should be read from the beginning. However, if you are new to it, we see no problem with picking up this series with For Heaven’s Eyes Only. We both feel that if we had read the series from the start, it may have been a 5 star book for us. As it is, we have rated it a 4.5, which for us OCD girls is VERY extraordinary. Yes folks, it’s that good.
Their Rating:
4.5 stars: Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
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