The world is a fairly orderly place, talking mice, gorgons, Chupacabra… these are things of fairy tales, mythology and supermarket tabloids. Not so in Seanan McGuire’s new novel Discount Armageddon, the first book in her new “InCryptid” series.
supernatural
Dual Review: “Twelve”, “Thirteen Years Later” by Jasper Kent
Before I start reviewing Twelve and Thirteen Years Later I have to go on a rant, a rant about books with serial killers. The success of The Silence of the Lambs has meant a huge number of books featuring serial killers. I find the popularity of serial killer characters unnerving and annoying. Unnerving, because this hero worship of insane killers, is well unnerving.
Cover to Cover #419A: Amelia Beamer
Interview: This week, Mike and Mike chat with Amelia Beamer about her debut novel, The Loving Dead, a story filled with dark humor, about learning to live life in a world where zombieism is a sexually transmitted disease, providing a different twist on examining the relationships we try to have with each other.
Review: “Under the Dome” by Stephen King
If you’re not careful Stephen King’s latest tome may hurt you. Weighing it at close to 1100 pages and almost four pounds, “Under the Dome” is a return to form for one of the best-selling authors of the past thirty years.
Cover to Cover #378A: Douglas Clegg
Interview: This week, Douglas Clegg joins us to chat about his latest book, Isis: A Tale of the Supernatural. The novella, beautifully illustrated by Glenn Chadbourne, tells a haunting tale of young Iris Catherine Villiers (who later becomes Isis Claviger) and her grief-stricken journey into the occult after her beloved brother’s death.
Cover to Cover #369A: Mike Carey
Mike Carey joins the guys this week to talk about Dead Men’s Boots, the latest installment in his Felix Castor series. He talks about how even though the initial three books in the series (since it was pitched as a threesome) were planned out ahead in detail, many threads and elements were introduced to take Felix’s story through six novels so far.
Cover to Cover #350A: Amber Benson
Interview: Mike, Mike and Lorrie talk with Amber Benson about Life After Buffy(tm)… being an author and the differences between working on solo novels and on the collaborations with Christopher Golden.
Amber also talks about how she wanted to venture into the realm of supernatural story-telling, but not following the typical tropes in current urban fantasy trends.
Her newest novel, Death’s Daughter, focuses on Calliope Reaper-Jones, the daughter of Death, who has to step into the role of CEO of Death Inc after her father’s kidnapping.
Cover to Cover #319A: Mike Carey
Interview: This week, Michael, Michael and Summer talk with acclaimed comic book writer Mike Carey about his second novel, Vicious Circle. The follow-up to The Devil You Know continues the saga of exorcist Felix Castor and his struggles with whether or not he can do good with his unique abilities or not, and the consequences of some of his past decisions.
Now we just have to wait until the US publishing schedule catches up with the UK schedule, since the 4th book in this series is coming out in the UK this coming fall.
Cover to Cover #315A: Laurell K. Hamilton
Interview: Michael, Summer, Michael and Lorrie welcome Laurell K. Hamilton to the studio to talk about, Blood Noir, the 16th book in the best-selling Anita Blake series, and her 27th book overall.
This episode is all interview, and covers almost everything, so sit back, listen, and enjoy!
Review: “Bitten” by K. L. Nappier
I am not familiar with Nappier’s previous work, so the Beast mythos was new to me. And I found myself reading on so that I could understand the rules involved in her take on the werewolf legends. Hunters David and Max had managed, within the first chapter, to bring an “incarnation” of the Beast. Usually, one stops once the werewolf is dead. But not in this universe.
Cover to Cover #278A: K. L. Nappier
Interview: Michael, Summer and Michael talk with K. L. Nappier about Bitten, a sequel to Full Wolf Moon. Yes, it’s about werewolves, but the first story is set in California iin 1942, in a Japanese internment camp. Bitten follows several characters through hunting werewolves in the early 1950s, just as the US is moving forward after the end of World War II. It’s a new way of looking at old terrors.
Cover to Cover #271: Mike Carey / Lynda Williams
Interview #1: Michael and Brian talk with internationally acclaimed comic book author Mike Carey about his new novel The Devil You Know. It’s a supernatural thriller, and the first book of a planned six-book series about an exorcist who’s far more detective than priest, and the dangers in the line of work he’s chosen.
Interview #2: Next up, Michael and Michael talk with Canadian science fiction author Lynda Williams about Righteous Anger, the follow up to Courtesan Prince and the shared Okal Rel universe these stories and other works of hers and other writers inhabit.
Review: “The Devil You Know” by Mike Carey
This is a great read. It starts as a slow meandering walk but eventually becomes a frantic run towards the finish line. The twists and turns kept me guessing, I had some of the pieces of the puzzle but there were a lot that didn’t fall into place until the last few chapters. I loved how even the smaller characters had a depth to them.
Review: “Demon Angel” by Meljean Brook
If there was ever a time a fantasy reader wanted to dip their toes into the romance waters, it would be this book by debut author Meljean Brook. Don’t let the cover put you off because behind the clinch embrace is a detailed urban fantasy with a good bit of action.
Cover to Cover #224: K. L. Nappier
This week, Michael and Evo talk with K.L. Nappier to talk about her newest stories, Voyagers and her contribution to the Twisted Tails anthology from Double Dragon Press.
