Review: Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

Hardcover, 201 pages

Published: July 12th, 2011 by Delacorte

Source: Library

Someone's been a very bad zombie.
Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steriods are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate! She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town  . . . and stay hormonally human.

This is one of those reviews that is ridiculously hard to write.  I liked this book well enough, but I don't really have any strong emotions about it at all.  I liked Kate, she was funny and had a great inner voice.  Sometimes she took things just a bit too well, but that's just how this story is, ridiculous things happen but it doesn't seem to phase people too much.  I liked the other characters, especially her brother Jonah, but I don't feel like we really got to know them very well at all.  There's not much fleshing out of characters, but it's a short book and I wouldn't say it's really a negative.  It just kept me from feeling any strong emotions for any of them.

I felt the romance was a bit lack luster, I didn't really have time to feel a connection between them.  But it seemed okay.  I didn't hate it or anything.

The story was sometimes funny, and sometimes ridiculous and that's how it's suppose to be.  I just felt like I should feel more, you know?   It was a fun book but the whole time I just felt okay about it.

I feel I should mention that I read it while suffering from a horrible headache.  That may have impacted my enjoyability of it a bit.  It was a decent read anyway and I can't say there's anything specific I didn't like.  But this is just a book that was okay for me and therefore there's nothing to rant about and there's nothing to rave about.  Therefore the blah review.  I apologize for that...

Book Review: Dead Mann Walking by Stefan Petrucha

Dead Mann Walking by Stefan Petrucha

Mass Market Paperback, 352 pgs.

Published Oct 4th, 2011 by Roc

Reading Level: Adult

Source: Publisher

Purchase:

Amazon | IndieBound | The Book Depository

 The good news: Hessius Mann was cleared of murdering his wife. The bad news: He had already been executed. As a newly undead private investigator, he tackles his first major case, a mysterious disappearance that quickly becomes linked to several dismembered zombies. The launch of a promising new sci-fi series. A mass market and NOOK Book original.

 This book was a total surprise for me.  I was a bit hesitant to pick it up but I figured I'd at least give it a try. I'm not a big zombie fan, some zombie books are okay and I've read a few that I ended up loving, but I'm still a bit wary of them.  Luckily I'm open minded enough to at least try things because I would have missed out on a great story if I hadn't bothered!  I ended up liking this one a lot!

This book doesn't have the typical zombies.  No, they are people who were brought back by the government, usually because they were wrongly convicted and executed.  Some were brought back by family members as well.  And these zombies aren't really the typical zombies.  They are at all different functioning levels.  Some are able to hold jobs, others just barely hang on to a shred of sanity and others are completely feral and are more of the 'typical' zombies.  They are usually 'put down' immediately though and aren't allowed to roam freely.  

Now Hessius Mann is higher functioning zombie who use to be a cop.  Now he works as a private investigator.  Unfortunately remembering things is difficult and he has a nice liveblood (living human) assistant who is able to help with pretty much all his needs as well as kind of taking care of him when he needs it.  She patches him up when he's injured, she helps him remember things (though his recording device does most of that) and she helps him stay sane.  Because it's easy to lose it when you're a zombie and then you go feral and well, then you're killed for good.  

I really liked Hessius and felt like he was portrayed realistically (you know, considering he's a freaking zombie!) due to his condition.  He has a good heart and he works hard to be a good person, er, zombie.  He also says some funny things and is incredibly brave.

While the story has one main plot arc, which was absolutely fantastic, it has mini arcs within it which kept me on my toes as there was constant action.  There wasn't really any downtime!  It was just one thing after another and it made the book a fast read.  

There was lots of creepy and plenty of UGH moments.  As a matter of fact, I advise you to not read while eating, or directly before bed.  But either I'm not as creeped out in my old age or I'm just getting use to things because I was okay with it all.  I mean, it was definitely more then I would think I would like, but the story overall was just so great I kind of had to take the creepiness and ugh along with it.  And it all worked great.

I definitely recommend this to adults who enjoy zombies, urban fantasy, horror and mysteries.  This is definitely one that would fit the 'guy book' category as there's no romance and lots of action and gross stuff.  

Find the author:

Website | Twitter

Disclosure: I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was not paid or influenced in any way and all opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Dearly Departed by Lia Habel

ARC, 480 pgs (published in Hardcover)

Published Oct 18th, 2011 by Del Rey

Reading Level: Young Adult

Source: Amazon Vine

Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie? 

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune, and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses. 

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, steampunk meets romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

Holy bonkers!  This book is INSANE!  I totally, completely, utterly loved it.  It's different from anything I've ever read.  It was full of awesome characters that were witty, fun and kick ass.  It was a story line from someones dream (not really, but like that).  You know those dreams where you wake up and you think "WHOA!  That was crazy!" cause it's just a crazy mix of things.  You'd think most of those dreams couldn't really be pulled off in a novel.  I mean really, dystopia, steampunk, history (well, Victorian age style and mannerisms), technology (not just of the steam kind), zombies (good and bad) and romance mixed together is kind of crazy.  And when I started the book it was almost hard to comprehend.  It took a little bit for me to grow use to it and be able to imagine it all.  But even when it was over my head and difficult for me to comprehend I was loving it.

While reading this book I kept taking breaks to tweet, to post pictures of the gorgeous cover, to rave on facebook and just share my LOVE for this absolutely stunning book.  I actually went to some book signings after reading this book and I kept recommending it to everyone even though it wasn't out yet.  I just couldn't stop talking about it!  Seriously, it's a crazy and wild ride but one of the funnest I've had in awhile!

I mentioned that the characters were witty, fun and kick ass.  Well, I have to say that there wasn't really anything I didn't like about the characters.  The author did an absolutely fantastic job with character development.  They really jumped off the page in all their awesomeness.  The good guys were so much fun, the scary guys were very scary (and some of the scary guys WERE good guys) and the bad guys, oh yes, they were good and FREAKIE!  Seriously, a bit of freakiness, I mean, scariness.  Or spooky'ness?  I don't know.  But some things were completely creepy and I think I might have squeaked once or twice when people were surprised by or chased by bad zombies.  Yeah, not a downright horror book, but creepy enough I did NOT read at bed time.  Sorry, bad zombies scare me *whimper*.

The romance, oh the romance.  So zombies aren't really sexy, are they?  Well, think again.  No, they might not be so sexy in appearance, but if they have their wits about them and their personalities intact, oh yes- they can certainly be sexy!  It's just in their wittiness, in their bravery, in their kickass'ness that they are this way.  Because trust me, I fell head over heels for one particular zombie and I don't care how dead and dried up he may be, I'll cuddle with him any ol' day....  Anyway, the sexual tension was really great because honestly, a dead guy with a living girl, well- not really the best match, ya know?  So we feel the attraction and all that goodness that builds up to well, a rather warm heat!

Okay, so I could rave all day about the awesome that is this book but there are actually a few things I didn't love.  One thing is that we get first person from multiple people.  I like seeing the different perspectives, and seeing some sides that we wouldn't really get to see otherwise was pretty awesome but, and yes, there's  a but here, I found it confusing at times.  When we would get Brams perspective and then get Nora's perspective in the next chapter but they were together in both, well, that was a bit confusing.  Yes, it would say the name of who narrating at the beginning of the chapter, but I was involved in the story!  I couldn't always remember.  A few times I had to stop reading and breathe for a moment and just remind myself of the narrator.  It was a little bit annoying, but it wasn't really a huge deal at all.  And maybe it wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't first person.  This might be a book that would have been better in third person.  I don't know, but it would clear up that confusion that I felt.

Now I thought there was more that had bothered me but now that I'm writing my review I just can't remember!  I guess they weren't that big of issues then ;)

I loved this book and I'll recommend it to everyone just because it's so crazy and different.  I think we all crave different these days and this fits the bill!  Also the characters were just so fantastic.  Some of the best characters I've ever read, that's for sure!  So make sure you pick this book up!  You'll be sure to have a wild ride!

Find the author:

Website

Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book free of charge for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Book Review: Zombies Don't Cry by Rusty Fischer

Title: Zombies Don't Cry
Author: Rusty Fischer
Details: ARC 371 pgs. (published in paperback)
Published: May 1st, 2011 by Medallion
isbn: 1605423823 (ISBN13: 9781605423821)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Publisher 
 

In the sleepy small town of Barracuda Bay, Maddy Swift leads the life of a fairly typical teenager, but while attending a party one night, Maddy is struck by lightning and awakens to realize she has been reanimated and turned into a zombie. While becoming acquainted with her new "lifestyle," Maddy stumbles upon two unexpected undead chaperones, fellow students Dane and Chloe, who begin to teach her the ways of zombie life, including defending the populace from Zerkers—the bad zombies. Together, on prom night, the three teens must ultimately defend Barracuda Bay High from an all-out zombie Armageddon.

This ended up a fabulous read.  The characters were great, the writing was awesome and the story line was intriguing.  I wasn't exactly sure what to expect.  I'm not a huge zombie fan, but it's mostly just because of the ideas of zombies.  I haven't read many zombie books and I've actually enjoyed all that I have.  So far.

I thought this was going to be a sort of ridiculous funny.  And it was.  But it got pretty serious, far more serious then I ever expected.  It all worked together, but it wasn't what I would guess would work so I kept being surprised. 

I liked the main character, Maddy, and I liked all the side characters as well.  I never knew where things were going with them and they all kept you on your toes.  You didn't always know who was good, and sometimes they changed so I was constantly guessing.  Were they really bad?  Or were they still good?  It was surprising some of the places the author took the characters.

The romance never really had a chance to get off the ground.  Maddy was busy learning about being a zombie and all the rules that go with it.  While also trying to keep herself  'alive', or at least not dead dead or a bad zombie (yes, there are good zombies and bad zombies).  I look forward to seeing where the romance goes in the next one (that hasn't been wrote yet but he's now thinking on writing one).  It definitely left off like there's more to come, though it wasn't a cliffhanger. 

I really liked the tone that Rusty set with this book.  It really felt different and was very well done.  I really felt like the voices seemed authentic, and for an adult male writing the story~ well, he did an AMAZING job writing a teenage girl!  I really never would have guessed.

I'm anxious to read more from Rusty Fischer and see where he takes things with Maddy in the next book.  I really think everyone will surprised how this book goes.  From the ridiculous (in a good way) funny to very serious.  The twists and turns thrown in the path that you may not see coming.  Anyway, give it a try!

You can find the author:

Website |Twitter

Purchase:

Zombies Don't Cry on Indiebound

Zombies Don't Cry on Amazon

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own, I was not paid or influenced in any way. 

Guest Post with Rusty Fischer and #Giveaway of Zombies Don't Cry (International)

Today I have Rusty Fischer on with a guest post and giveaway of Zombies Don't Cry.  I really enjoyed this book and you should check out my review here.    Rusty has a fantastic writing style that this guest post gives you a little hint to.  Make sure you read to the bottom where you'll find the giveaway!

Vampires Versus Zombies: Can’t We All Just Get Along?

A Guest Post by Rusty Fischer, author of Zombies Don’t Cry

My author copies of Zombies Don’t Cry came to my house last week; three dozen big, black, 300-page beauties I just can’t seem to keep my hands on. It’s funny to watch the faces of my family, friends and even my neighbors as they flip through the book I’ve been working on for, oh, the last two years!

They see “zombies” on the front cover and kind of wink at each other knowingly and pat my head and say things like, “Who knows? They could be the next big thing!”

Or, “You crazy rascal, you! What will you think of next?”

Then they inevitably ask, “What is next, by the way?”

I quickly mention my upcoming YA novel, Vamplayers, and their eyes light up. “Now THAT sounds awesome!” they say, suddenly in a world much more familiar and safe than… zombies.

I’m not going so far as to say there are zombie people and vampire people, but there kind of are zombie people and vampire people, if you know what I mean!

To me, they’re kind of twin sides of the same coin. The zombies I write about are functional, emotional, physical, real people; they don’t shuffle around or mumble or yank brains out of random strangers.

They have rules and laws and morals; they go to school and have to dress to cover up their unhealthy pallor and avoid touching people with their cold, dead skin and aren’t supposed to date each other and that gets all complicated.

Grave dirt is their garlic; copper is their silver; electricity is their stake through the heart. So to me, there are a lot of similarities between zombies and vampires. But zombies just… feel… different, you know?

They have a different energy than vampires. (I can’t believe I’m actually writing this!) But they do; vampires are hot, zombies are cool. And I don’t just mean that in a “pretty boy,” Team Edward way, but in a personality way.

My vampires move more quickly than my zombies, they’re more fluid and nuanced and fast. My zombies are stiff but functional, slow but methodical, blunt but powerful. It’s a little like the rabbit versus the hare; Jason Bourne versus the Terminator. In short, each genre has its own pros and cons; and also its own personality and playfulness.

I enjoy writing about zombies because there’s so little mythology; it’s kind of a “blank slate” where you can still pretty much write your own ticket because most folks are still focusing on the zombie as bad guy and not taking great pains to make him – or, in my case, her – a main character.

Vampires are fun for the opposite reason: there’s so MUCH mythology, you kind of have to play by at least some of the rules or folks really freak out. The “fun” part comes in getting original and imaginative and even playful inside those particular creative guardrails.

I dunno, I guess my point is this: why hate on either genre? There’s so much going on in both, from a relative YA zombie explosion where everything is new and fresh and original to a kind of resurgence of the vampire genre where readers either flock to the old and familiar or embrace the quirky, fun or realistic side.

I love writing, and reading, both zombies and vampires. It’s like alternating cardio with resistance training; one day you do weights to build your muscles, the other you hit the track to work your heart and lungs.

I’m not quite as purposeful about what I’m writing today versus tomorrow. I get in a zombie phase where I’ll really just be enjoying that world for a few books or so, then I’ll step away and it’s like the zombie tank is empty and as much as I try I just can’t walk through another fictional graveyard or find another fresh brain recipe.

So I’ll take a week or so off and start writing about fangs and capes and stakes and blood again; it’s all good. I’m the same way in my reading; you probably are, too.

The good news is it’s all YA; the better news is, well, it’s getting better all the time. Every week I’m seeing new releases by new authors that literally knock my block off! So if you’re a zombie person, lighten up and let the vampire in.

And if you’re a vampire person, well, haven’t you been king of the mountain long enough?!?!

Yours in YA,

Rusty

About the author: Rusty Fischer is the author of Zombies Don’t Cry: A Living Dead Love Story, due out from Medallion Press in April 2011. Visit his blog, www.zombiesdontblog.blogspot.com, for news, reviews, cover leaks, writing and publishing advice, book excerpts and more! And look for his next book, Vamplayers, due out from Medallion next year!

The Giveaway:

Rusty is giving away two copies of Zombies Don't Cry.  One is the paperback version, and one is the e-book version.  The paperback is open to US addresses only.  The e-book version is open to international folks only.  

You must be 13 years of age or older.

You must enter by 5/5/2011

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling us what your favorite is.  Do you prefer zombies over vampires?  Maybe the other way around? Or maybe you haven't read a zombie book yet (this is a great place to start!)?  Let us know!

You must also tell us if your US or International.  

And be sure to leave an email to contact you with!

The Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell Review and Giveaway! *ended*

Details: Paperback, 240 pgs
Published: August 3rd, 2010 by Holt Paperbacks
isbn: 0805092439 (ISBN13: 9780805092431)
Reading Level: Adult
Received from: Holt 


Description: 


Zombies have infested a fallen America. A young girl named Temple is on the run. Haunted by her past and pursued by a killer, Temple is surrounded by death and danger, hoping to be set free.

For twenty-five years, civilization has survived in meager enclaves, guarded against a plague of the dead. Temple wanders this blighted landscape, keeping to herself and keeping her demons inside her heart. She can't remember a time before the zombies, but she does remember an old man who took her in and the younger brother she cared for until the tragedy that set her on a personal journey toward redemption. Moving back and forth between the insulated remnants of society and the brutal frontier beyond, Temple must decide where ultimately to make a home and find the salvation she seeks. 

My Thoughts:

I'm not a huge zombie fan but most of my zombie experiences have been with books like Anita Blake.  I haven't read many other's.  This one I accepted for review mainly because of the reviews I read.  Most said that the zombie's weren't really scary and that the book was wrote beautifully.    


I found that the zombie's weren't scary, but there was still plenty of gore and even some other parts that were scary, though nothing too extreme.   I wouldn't want to read it before bed, but I'm quite sensitive to these things and have a tendency to have vivid dreams.  


I thought it was a well wrote book but the one thing I didn't like was that the conversations never were in form.  Like "Maury, you need to go to sleep."  It was just part of it like: Maury you need to go to sleep.  And although it was never confusing I just found it a little annoying to me.  Overall it wasn't really a big deal, I just wasn't used to it.  


I found the book easy to get into and not once did a get bored with it and not want to continue reading.  I actually cruised through the book quite quickly and was surprised how much I liked it.    
When I got the book I wondered if it was young adult because the age of the main character.  She was only 15.  But as I read it became clear that this is NOT a young adult book.  


It was horrifying seeing our world in those catastrophic circumstances.    Knowing what the people were going through was hard to fathom.  But  Temple handled everything around her so well and her natural curiosity kept things interesting.   


The one downside to this book that I really wasn't happy with was the end.  I really really wish I could have changed it.  But I'm going to go with the overall feel of the book and still give it the 4/5 moons.

Alden Bell is the pen name for Joshua Gaylord and you can find him on his website. 


Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review.  I was not compensated or paid.  The opinions expressed are solely my own.

You want to win my copy (only read once, by me!)?  Leave a comment stating you want to win and leave an email or twitter handle for me to contact you.
GIVEAWAY ENDED

RULES:

Must be 17 or older.

US only (sorry!)

Open until Sept 30th 2010

One entry per person.