Tag: Dark (Page 4 of 7)

BOOK REVIEW – Deadpool: Secret Invasion (Deadpool Vol. II #1) by Daniel Way & Paco Medina

June 9, 2016 /
BOOK REVIEW – Deadpool: Secret Invasion (Deadpool Vol. II #1) by Daniel Way & Paco MedinaDeadpool : Secret Invasion (Deadpool Vol. II #1)
by Daniel Way, Paco Medina
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

The Merc with a Mouth is back, even deadlier and more deranged than before! The planet has been invaded by Skrulls, everything's gone topsy-turvy... but, in Deadpool's world, that just means it's Monday! Crazy times call for crazy men, but c'mon, this guy's insane! Like it or not, Deadpool may be the only person on the planet who can save us... but who's to say he wants to?

I’m going to tell you a story (aren’t you lucky) : there was a time in my life when I was an arrogant bastard genuinely thought that I had a great sense of humor.

I knooooow. Girl gotta see the truth now.

But let’s stay focused, alright? So. That time, long long ago. God, such a good time. I could make fun of these silly, ridiculous French movies whose “jokes” (we’re gonna need the quotations marks at this point) either appalled me or … WELL, I won’t talk about those I still don’t understand (shout out to French readers here : Asterix new movies like really guys, really, in which world are they necessary really). I could also laugh at every TSTL moment in horror movies (I miss those, actually).

I really liked the HAHAHAHAHAHA NOPE bubble I built to myself. Sometimes I even shared it with fellow great-sense-of-humor people (alright, my boyfriend).

I am sorry to have to inform you that this time is forever over, because I read Deadpool: Secret Invasion, and I LOVED it. I have no shame.

I laughed like a maniac at this –

They wiiiiiiiiill *giggles*

and also that –

(don’t ask, I don’t knoooooow)

and yeah, I might have laughed at that too –

I loved Deadpool: Secret Invasion, when really, the whole thing is relatively plotless (excuse me : episodly driven), repetitive and gratuitously violent. Yet I want more, and if not for the fact that every woman must have a 100D (not that there’s something wrong with big breasts or sexy outfits per se, OF COURSE, I just felt like women were objectified this way, and I don’t like it, sue me) it would be a full five because trust me, when June comes, I’m so freaking tired that nothing works.

The moral being : My sense of humor sucks.

BF : Or perhaps you should sleep more than 4 hours a night.

OKAY. OR THAT.

I still don’t like Taxi, Mickael Young, Cyril Hanouna, Christian Clavier, etc etc…. (French will KNOW).

*shudders*

I may not have changed that much after all.

BOOK REVIEW – The Long Way Down (Daniel Faust #1) by Craig Schaefer

May 22, 2016 /
BOOK REVIEW – The Long Way Down (Daniel Faust #1) by Craig SchaeferThe Long Way Down (Daniel Faust #1)
by Craig Schaefer
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Nobody knows the seedy underbelly of Las Vegas like Daniel Faust, a sorcerer for hire and ex-gangster who uses black magic and bullets to solve his clients' problems. When an old man comes seeking vengeance for his murdered granddaughter, what looks like a simple job quickly spirals out of control.

Soon Daniel stands in the crossfire between a murderous porn director; a corrupt cop with a quick trigger finger; and his own former employer, a racket boss who isn't entirely human. Then there's Caitlin: brilliant, beautiful, and the lethal right hand of a demon prince.

A man named Faust should know what happens when you rub shoulders with demons. Still Daniel can't resist being drawn to Caitlin's flame as they race to unlock the secret of the Etruscan Box, a relic that people all over town are dying -- and killing -- to get their hands on. As the bodies drop and the double-crosses pile up, Daniel will need every shred of his wits, courage and sheer ruthlessness just to survive.

Daniel Faust knew he was standing with one foot over the brink of hell. He's about to find out just how far he can fall.

What you should know is this : I don’t like Urban Fantasy, which is baffling, given that I love Fantasy and cities – there’s just something in them that never really appeal to me, a feeling of something lacking even though I hardly can pinpoint why that is.

The Long Way Down is perhaps one of my best discoveries in that genre, so although it will probably never be a favorite of mine, I cannot hide how pleasantly surprised it made me. Well done, and here’s why.

➊ The world building is vivid and horrific, spreading very noir vibes. Did I say that I loved thrillers? Because I do. These are dark times guys, and I should issue a trigger warning against violence, abuse and murder (including towards kids at some point). Abusive. Disgusting. Maddening. Welcome to Daniel’s world. Granted, he has a pretty healthy way to look at it, and doesn’t condone it by any means, but it was still hard to take on sometimes. Some graphic scenes of violence made me want to throw up, and I don’t think I’m easily disturbed. You’ve been warned.

➋ The Long Way Down pictures a morally ambiguous – but likeable all the same – hero. I loved this sorcerer, alright? If he doesn’t shy away from harsh decisions and actions sometimes, he stays in the good side of things as far as I’m concerned (I never disliked a hero ready to beat the fuck out of sociopaths, SUE ME). As for Caitlin, CAITLIN! The girl’s a DEMON. A not-so-nice one at it – how awesome is that?! Despite my slight disbelief at the way their relationship evolved *cough* THIS IS TOO FAST! I DON’T BUY IT!! *cough* I still immensely enjoyed their banter and… hmm… differences? I also very much laughed at the stunts Caitlin pulled because… Reversal of genders, people. Seeing Daniel dumbfounded because she ordered his food for him – and understandably upset about it – was in my opinion a great way of denouncing stereotypical controlling behavior, even implicitly.

➌ For ONCE the plot kept me interested, which is so rare in everything UF. Indeed I genuinely wanted to know where the story would go and in the end, I’m pretty satisfied by the way Craig Schaefer wrapped its mystery. Note that I (almost) never read any UF, therefore I am not able to notice the similarities between this book and the other ones in that genre. Perhaps it’s cliché. Perhaps it’s been better done before. The thing is, I don’t freaking know, and honestly? I don’t care.

➍ Finally the perfect balance between grim and humor. Forget all the books where we don’t know if we should laugh or be horrified – but think sparks of humor lightening the mood a little. I say yes to that.

Daniel, Daniel, what did you do to me?

The Rose Society (The Young Elites #2) by Marie Lu

April 15, 2016 /
The Rose Society (The Young Elites #2) by Marie LuThe Rose Society (The Young Elites #2)
by Marie Lu
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends. Then they betrayed her, and she destroyed them all.

Adelina Amouteru’s heart has suffered at the hands of both family and friends, turning her down the bitter path of revenge. Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she flees Kenettra with her sister to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army of allies. Her goal: to strike down the Inquisition Axis, the white-cloaked soldiers who nearly killed her.

But Adelina is no heroine. Her powers, fed only by fear and hate, have started to grow beyond her control. She does not trust her newfound Elite friends. Teren Santoro, leader of the Inquisition, wants her dead. And her former friends, Raffaele and the Dagger Society, want to stop her thirst for vengeance. Adelina struggles to cling to the good within her. But how can someone be good when her very existence depends on darkness?

Bestselling author Marie Lu delivers another heart-pounding adventure in this exhilarating sequel to The Young Elites.

What indeed.

 I AM SPEECHLESS. If there’s something I didn’t expect, it was to meet a female-lead who could equal Jorg of Ancrath‘s dark ambition.

Saying that I didn’t have great expectations before starting The Rose Society would be an understatement. Indeed I was part of the (very) few who weren’t convinced by The Young Elites, mostly because I felt that what I read wasn’t what I’ve been sold : I found the first installment boring, tame, in a word : disappointing. That’s why I’m glad to tell you that none of my complaints are still relevant.

➊ The pacing improved grandly : This sequel is an exciting journey whose pacing never wavers, letting you on the edge of your seat all the way. Although Marie Lu chose to write her story in several POV (which can be a no-no for me, if not handled well), there was NEVER a moment when I wasn’t hooked and eager to know what would happen next. No more useless and boring parts : the story was highly compelling through and through.

➋ What a formidable tale of ambition and revenge. Gah. Jorg would be so proud. While the first book only set the (needed, I realize) foundations of Adelina’s story, I didn’t care for the romance there (I know, I know, I’m such in a minority on this, but Enzo is flat in my opinion) View Spoiler » and her relationship with Enzo didn’t make much sense to me. Great news! The plot finally focuses on her ascension and no matter how painful some steps were (I sure don’t condone all her actions), the events taking place brought so many raw feelings that I can’t find in me to complain. Granted, the world-building is still a little sketchy, and there were inconsistencies in some parts, but Marie Lu managed to make them believable. (Please don’t make Magiano suffer too much, though) (I have a soft spot for LOVE this little thief)

➌ Truth is, what can be annoying is also great : this is my second book by Marie Lu, and I can safely say that I don’t get her – I can’t wrap my head around the direction she takes her stories, and it used to make me lose patience in The Young Elites, especially during the boring middle. But. Here it definitely played in her favor, because I could never predict what would happen (I still can’t). Also, the twists were brilliant. Of course I loved that (I’m worried, though) (I did read Emperor of Thorns, you know).

➊ Adelina is a true villain in training : When my boyfriend asked me why I was so happy with Adelina and her Elites (why yes – clapping might have been involved at some point), I told him, “because they’re no good”. He raised his eyebrows (a little worried, I think), not sure of what to make of my answer (I swear, I’m a nice woman – most of the time). Really, though? I genuinely think that my fascination for unusual and darker characters lies in the large number of books I read. See, had I read 10 books in my whole life, hell, had I read 10 YA Fantasy series in my whole life, even, I would probably not seek this kind of characters out (or maybe – I’ll guess we’ll never know *smiles slowly*). But there’s only so many farmer boys soon-to-be heroes I can take, and in this ocean of one-dimensional super-villains whose goals are often vague as fuck, I thrive on meeting multi-layered and dark characters who twist the tropey rules and make their owns.

After The Young Elites, I didn’t think that Adelina had it in her to become the free female-lead I wanted her to be. I was wrong.

*cackles with glee*

Yes she threatens my boundaries and her decisions make my skin crawl sometimes, but I get her, I really do. I’m not sure what that says about me, though.

➋ Give me some sarcastic and unapologetic male-lead, pretty please : I loved Magiano (I can’t be the only one who roots for him, RIGHT?). Where Enzo’s passion seemed too similar to Adelina’s for me to really care, Magiano adds something different to the story, and if I’m not sure I understand all his reactions yet, he is endearing, mischievous, and he makes me laugh.

[creepy interlude]

Let it be known that his smile brightened my day and that I would defend him like a wolf.

Do. Not. Touch. Magiano. OKAY?

[/creepy interlude]

➌ Every one of these characters – Sergio, Teren, Violetta, Maeve, Raphaele – are fleshed-out, complex, and interesting to follow. None of them is wasted or one-dimensional.

► I closed The Rose Society out of breath, worried as hell and intensely satisfied by the daring direction Marie Lu took. What a great surprise really.

BOOK REVIEW – Glitterland (Glitterland, #1) by Alexis Hall

April 14, 2016 /
BOOK REVIEW – Glitterland (Glitterland, #1) by Alexis HallGlitterland (Glitterland #1)
by Alexis Hall
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Once the golden boy of the English literary scene, now a clinically depressed writer of pulp crime fiction, Ash Winters has given up on love, hope, happiness, and—most of all—himself. He lives his life between the cycles of his illness, haunted by the ghosts of other people’s expectations.

Then a chance encounter at a stag party throws him into the arms of Essex boy Darian Taylor, an aspiring model who lives in a world of hair gel, fake tans, and fashion shows. By his own admission, Darian isn’t the crispest lettuce in the fridge, but he cooks a mean cottage pie and makes Ash laugh, reminding him of what it’s like to step beyond the boundaries of anxiety.

But Ash has been living in his own shadow for so long that he can’t see past the glitter to the light. Can a man who doesn’t trust himself ever trust in happiness? And how can a man who doesn’t believe in happiness ever fight for his own?

WARNING : This is a very personal review. Please don’t bother if you can’t stand those. Thank you.

I’ve been in Niall’s place. It’s not pretty. The kind of ugly that would make hate yourself if you weren’t that goddamn pissed. I’ve read so many beautiful and heartbreaking reviews of Glitterland that I started writing something along the lines of, no matter how hard I’ve been trying to find the words, they escape me.

Liar. I’m a freaking LIAR.

The words are there, they’re cutting through me, such ugly, ugly things. I’ve read my fair share of books about depression, whether they were idiotic romanticizing of it or heartbreaking journeys, but there’s something so important that nobody ever tells you. Nobody tells you how fucking angry you’d be if you had to witness someone you care about slowly burying himself. No. You read about how to be supportive, how to help, and everything sounds so fucking easy.

You don’t read about how worthless it makes you feel when your love is not enough.

You don’t read about the rage you can’t avoid when other people show understanding and you realize that you can’t, you can’t, you can’t anymore.

You’re a loveless, selfish shell.

You’re so ashamed because really, why can’t you do more, stand more, bear more puddles of blood, plaster on a smile and say that everything’s gonna be okay?

Are you so stripped of hope that you cannot see past this very moment, this 3am phone call that you know – you know – you have to answer no matter what?

Oh, yes. Yes you are. You’re just a fucking human being whose guilt is eating at every pore of itself, whose words are meaningless and worthless. Nobody wants to hear you, and you don’t want to hear you, because you don’t have a problem you don’t have a problem you don’t have a problem. That fucking guilt, though. Can’t you be any more selfish? You don’t own the right to cry, just to be strong.

Even now, years after, knowing she’s okay, writing this makes me want to curl up in a corner and shedding angry tears. Even now, I’m still afraid that my words will be misunderstood, a comforting, understanding smile ready to erase them. I’m still afraid of being judged.

But it took me years to realize that I was just human and that I didn’t deserve to be yelled at for that. It took me years to realize that she didn’t blame me for it and that no, I didn’t blame her, of course, but was just so fucking tired and scared. She knows I love her, and always will.

Fear will do that to you.

I refuse to hide behind my fears anymore.

If I cannot, and will never really understand what depression is, not because of a lack of empathy, but because witnessing it doesn’t mean understanding it, even if you want to, rare are the times when I read a book that captures the core of it and manages to make me approach understanding.

Glitterland is one of these books. That heartbreaking, beautiful book.

I will cherish it forever.

BOOK REVIEW – Alice (Alice #1) by Christina Henry

February 20, 2016 /
BOOK REVIEW – Alice (Alice #1) by Christina HenryAlice (Alice #1)
by Christina Henry
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

A mind-bending new novel inspired by the twisted and wondrous works of Lewis Carroll...

In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo the screams of the poor souls inside.

In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood…

Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.

Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful.

And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.

Bring it, Alice! I’m not scared. Oh, how I should have.

TRIGGER WARNING : Graphic rape (a lot) and violence

►By no means is Alice a flawless book, and I’m not gonna lie, the first chapters, if they hooked me, confused me as hell in the same time. Who are these people? What do they want? What are their relationships like? Where the fuck are they? What’s this world, where human traffic, rape and violence are common practices, where the awful way women are treated makes me want to scream?

To be honest, I always thought that Alice in Wonderland was weird as fuck and developed in an undercurrent of crazy violence, and here? Well. Christina Henry sure pictured the characters we know in the most terrifying light. I love this kind of retellings with passion, and despite the horror, I couldn’t help but be mesmerized at all the magical and strange creatures we meet.

► Moreover, as long as it took for me to simply understand what was going on, it didn’t influence my interest, not at any moment. From the first page I was intrigued, horrified, drowned into this sick journey of theirs. It started with my breath thinning, then gasping and struggling for air.

I was there with Alice, who coudn’t annoy me even if she kept following Hatcher around, because after what she lived through, it made sense and she was lucid about her need and their somewhat unhealthy relationship. Perhaps this world forces her to be taken care of by a man, but nobody owns her, and she makes sure that everyone knows it. Fierce, fierce Alice – she’s in no need of saving, after all. Trust me on this. And then, there’s Hatcher. Hatcher whose madness took violent turns sometimes and whose mind we could never really trust, but Hatcher who was ready to do anything to protect her. Starting Alice, I didn’t expect his character, and he surprised me in the best way possible.

This said, I won’t say that their relationship didn’t surprise or make me uncomfortable at times, because it did. What is it that they have? Love? Friendship? Whatever it is, its evolution is beautiful.

► Really, though? Their quest for revenge and blood captivated me and I rooted for them to kill these fuckers something fierce. Whoops.

This said, I didn’t enjoy some parts of it (I’m not lying when I say that this book is really rape-y), and wanted for some men to go over the stereotyping lust (because really), that’s why I can’t bring myself to give it the full 5. If I never got the impression that rape was used as a plot device – but rather as a way to show how monstruous and excruciating this world is, and NEVER condoned in any way – I don’t like the fact that (almost) all men are bad.

Thanks god for View Spoiler », really.

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