TheShadesofOrange

Historical Japanese Zombie Fiction

Revisado: 03-06-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

3.5 Stars
As someone who loves Asian inspired fantasy and zombie fiction, this certainly seemed right up my alley. I loved the historical feudal Japan setting. The cultural references were easily my favourite aspect of the story. This is not an ownvoices story and I cannot personally determine the historical accuracy, but the details included made me think that this book was well researched. 

The Japanese setting really helped to breathe life into a subgenre of horror (zombies) that is arguably quite exhausted. This one was not particularly gruesome, but I also appreciated that it didn't shy away from the brutalities of life. It followed a lot of the familiar zombie tropes, but the setting made the story feel more unique. 

Despite appearing to have all the elements I love in my fiction, I never became fully immersed in the story. I think that was because I struggled to connect to the characters, which were at the heart of the narrative. The author took time to give them all backstories and personality traits, yet I struggled to differentiate them at times or care for their well-being.

Regardless, this historical zombie story was a fair amount of fun to read. It's technically the start of a series, but this first book wraps up with a fairly tight conclusion (including an epilogue). If you enjoy zombies or Asian fantasy as much as I do, then you'll likely want to try this one for yourself. This is a great "read a like" for people who enjoyed the historical Korean zombie show on Netflix, Kingdom.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author for review. 

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Fantastic Indigenous Horror Stories

Revisado: 01-09-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

This was a fantastic collection of own voices indigenous horror stories written by an Native American author. These stories offered insight into the experience of being an indigenous person in the United States while exploring major themes of identity and family. 

Yet, I want to clear that this collection was definitely a horror collection. These stories were consistently dark with some gruesome and terrifying imagery included throughout the collection. Horror fans will not be disappointed. 

As I say with every collection I read, I enjoyed some of the stories more than others. Here are my thoughts on my favourites:

Soilborne - This story was quite ambiguous with an ending I ended up rereading several times. I ended up really loved this one after reading the author's notes at the end and understanding the full idea behind this one.

Imitate - This was my favourite of the stories. I loved reading from the father's perspective, which felt incredibly honest and relatable as a fellow parent. There were some fantastic scenes involving the son which I thought were wonderfully unsettling. 

Transfigured - Set on Halloween, this was a wonderful queer take on werewolf & wendigo mythology that discussed traditional hunting practices. It was a fresh take on the classic monster story 

I really appreciated the inclusion of the author's notes at the end which provided the inspiration behind each of the stories. Knowing the background made me appreciate each story even more. (I wish all authors were required to provide these!)

I had the opportunity to review the audiobook version which was a very enjoyable experience. Short stories don't always lend themselves well to the audio format, but these ones were easy to follow. Overall, I thought the narrator gave a strong performance. His inflection fit the tone of most of the stories quite well. If possible, I do also recommend checking out the ebook edition in order to see the illustrations included in the collection. 

I would absolutely recommend this collection to any horror readers looking for a diverse set of stories. Shane Hawks is definitely an author to watch. I would recommend his work to anyone who is a fan of Stephen Graham Jones' work.

Disclaimer I received a digital copy of this book from the author for review. 

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Steve Vernon... the Canadian Stephen King

Revisado: 06-08-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Well that was a pretty darn disturbing book. As someone who is always looking for dark horror books, this one delivered. I personally love reading about demons and these ones were really, really evil. 

I am tempted to call Steve Vernon the "Canadian Stephen King". In so many ways, his style felt incredibly reminiscent of the stories from "the King of Horror". Like King's novels, this one was very character focused, capturing the obscurities of small town life and providing backstories of the various characters. 

Of the characters, I found Maddy to be the most compelling perspective. Unfortunately, I was never quite as invested in the other townspeople. I personally would have preferred a shorter, more streamlined narrative, but I (not surprisingly) have the exact same criticism of King's work.

Readers should be aware that this novel is incredibly crude and vulgar. The characters were all quite unlikeable and, often, downright vile. I need to give huge content warnings for domestic abuse and sexual violence including on-page rape. I can handle a lot of offensive subject matter in my horror stories, but I felt that the sexual violence was not sensitively handled in this one. It's so common in horror stories to have horrific moments arise from violence against women (or the threat of violence) and I am just personally tired of seeing that the trope.

Needless to say, this story was intense and pretty darn scary at times. With the dead rising as demonic scarecrows, there were some incredibly creepy scenes throughout this novel. Despite being set around Easter, this book has a lot of spooky, witchy fall vibes which would make it an excellent Halloween read.

I would recommend this novel to fans of classic horror stories in the vein of Stephen King. Just be prepared for rather dark and disturbing tale. 

Disclaimer: I received an audio review copy from the author.

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Another Thrilling Season!

Revisado: 05-24-18

The Wizard Killer is back in full swing with season 3 of this addicting serialized fantasy series. Fans of this series, like myself, will find all the elements that made the first two books so yiggin' amazing. This particular season involves a lot of character and world development, moving the plot forward. Filled with humour, adventure and non-stop action, I inhaled this latest installment.

For new readers, I recommend starting back at beginning and binging through the first two seasons before jumping into this third book. This series can be best described as a a post-apocalyptic fantasy western adventure. As a serial, this full-throttle series from the first page of book one starts and never stops. I highly recommend to fantasy newbies, like myself, or die-hard fantasy readers looking to read another epic story in a smaller package.

Finally, this book will leave you dying for season 4! I can't wait to see where the series will go from here.

I re-read this on audio, which was (once again) and amazing experience. I can't get enough of the narrator who really brings the voice of Wes to life!

I received an advance reader ecopy from the author.

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Explosive 2nd Season of this Addicting Serial

Revisado: 04-18-18

5 Stars for Another Phenomenal Audiobook Experience!

Audio Experience:

This is a "must-listen" for audiobook addicts like myself!

Once again, the narrator gave an amazing performance, bringing this book to life on audio. I want this series to become a movie or a mini-series. In the meantime, the audiobook version is probably closest I will get to that live-action experience. I love this series and I highly recommend checking out the audiobook version.

Season 2 Review:

Dreece is back with an explosive new season of his addictive serialized western fantasy. Season two turns up the heat with another set of high-octane episodes guaranteed to keep readers turning the pages. Prepare to binge-read every episode of this full-throttle adventure!

I am convinced that Dreece is a master of serialized storytelling. These are the kind of books that are best consumed in one or two sittings, making them the perfect binge-reads. I read the entire second season in one sitting, because I simply could not put it down.

Season two contains all the elements that made season one so entertaining. Once again, the episodes are filled with non-stop action and plot twists that are constantly advancing the story forward. Compared to the first season, the writing and plot of season two are tighter and more focused. The descriptions are incredibly vivid and creative, painting a clear picture of this magical wasteland. The narrative has slightly gritty tone, with just enough wit and magic to keep the story accessible to readers of all ages. This serial blends together the best elements of Max Max and Fallout to create an imaginative dystopian fantasy with a decidedly western flair.

Season two includes a helpful recap of season one so you can jump right into the story. However, if you have not yet started the Wizard Killer series, I personally recommend starting back in season one, because the the first book is also brilliant.

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Humorous Space Opera

Revisado: 01-08-18

Would you consider the audio edition of Titan's Wrath to be better than the print version?

I haven't read a physical copy of this book, but I do believe that listening to the audiobook enhanced my reading experience. The narrator did an excellent job pulling me into the story.

What did you like best about this story?

The narration! I pretty much want Justin Thomas James to narrate everything. He does not simply read books, but actually performs them. He speaks with such impressiveness. I was just captivated by his voice.

Have you listened to any of Justin Thomas James’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have! I previously listened to The Wizard Killer by Adam Dreece (which I definitely recommend). He absolutely nailed the voice of the main character in that fantasy series. I think he did an equally great job narrating this audiobook.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The story had such a light-hearted tone that I wouldn't exactly consider it "moving", but there were certainly some incredibly fun and entertaining moments!

Any additional comments?

Even though this is the third book in the Titan Universe, the author provides enough context that you can easily jump into the story here.

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Addicting Serialized Fantasy Adventure

Revisado: 12-06-17

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely! (and I already have!) This is the kind of storytelling experience that can get new listeners hooked on audiobooks.

What did you like best about this story?

This story was just SO addicting. The serialized format reminds me a binge-watching a Netflix tv show, because I just couldn't stop. Every episode ended on a cliff-hanger. It was so entertaining with the right mix of humor and action.

Which scene was your favorite?

How do I chose one? Honestly I love how the first season ended (no spoilers here), because it left me dying to read season two and see what happened next.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"Max Mad Meets the Gunslinger with a Western Flair"

Any additional comments?

Re-reading this story as an audiobook was an amazing experience. The narrator absolutely nailed the voice of the protagonist. He did not simply read the book out loud, but rather put on a passionate, expressive performance. I was completely engaged the entire time I was listening to this book. This is the kind of storytelling that can get new listeners hooked on the audiobook experience. I would highly recommend the audiobook version of this entertaining post-apocalyptic story. I received the audiobook version from the author. I had previously purchased a physical copy of this fantastic serial.

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