Book Review: The Creeper Man by Dawn Kurtagich

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There's a man in the trees, a man with no eyes, but still he watches, that's the surprise. Stay away from the woods, it couldn't be clearer, but the trees are creeping nearer and nearer...

Beware the creeper man.

This is Kurtagich's second novel, her first being The Dead House (which I have reviewed). With both titles of this book, you get what it's about: The Creeper Man, The Trees Creep In. Trees are spooky, the woods have something in them or do they?

This one also plays with formatting. Having different perspectives being written on different things, and in different ways.  Also creepy poetry which everyone loves. The narrative is done well and it pretty clear who writing from text alone.

There's only four characters that appear in the actual novel, other characters are mentioned or appeared sort of flashbacks (though, those are more fairy tales, than actually placing the reader in the past). We also have a Silent Character in the sister of the protagonist, while we do hear from Nori's POV, the story is definitely Silla's story, so no there will be no Silent Protagonist Review of this book. Maybe in a bonus round. It never made clear why Nori can't physically talk, can sign and write, and I can't decide if the implication is enough or not. Aunt Cath is also there. The thing I don't think I can really discuss the characters or their relationships with each other without spoilers. There's interesting stuff there.

This is set in the future, something about War. Not really sure why, especially when technology is so not in this book that it could be set in before World War II and no difference. Maybe life is a circle. Probably meant to keep the reader off-balance. Also all horror books must at one point takes place in the 80s. It's the current law.

Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars for Rotten Apples. This a creepy book with a cool concept and you will definitely ponder on The Creeper Man.

Book Review: The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon

The Song Rising sounds awkward to me. Maybe This Song Rising.

Following a bloody battle against foes on every side, Paige Mahoney has risen to the dangerous position of Underqueen, ruling over London's criminal population. 

But having turned her back on Jaxon Hall, and with vengeful enemies still at large, the task of stabilising the fractured underworld has never seemed so challenging.

Little does Paige know that her reign may be cut short by the introduction of Senshield, a deadly technology that spells doom for the clairvoyant community and the world as they know it.

This is the third book in The Bone Season series (I have reviewed the previous ones if you're new to the series The Bone Season and The Mime Order), so spoilers for the first two. This is the first of the novels that I've listened to on audiobook. The voice actor,  Alana Kerr Collins does a pretty good job of capturing Paige's voice and does all of the other books so no jarring changes (and hopefully none in the future).

Despite, liking Collins it took me a while to finish this book. It technically took me eight months to read this book exactly according to my Goodreads. 20.9.2017 to the 20.5.2018 for a book that's twelve hours and a bit long. I got to the Chapter 7/25% in by 31st of December and didn't properly go back till May. I just didn't want to. I went after other audiobooks, I wasted time repeatedly going through the oddest and rubbish opinions my local library has (it's rubbish for me, there's like no fantasy or horror of any kind), instead of listening to this book already downloaded to my phone.

Though, with the next novel not coming out till 2020 so not like it a big deal, with a planned six books from the start, I do wish they had been coming out more frequently. I don't think its time, more the last of pacing. The start of the book is political stuff as Paige recovers and takes control of the Mime Order.

In terms of world-building, we get to see more of other Scion control locations and what has gone down in the past. That was interesting and seems to be more where the series is going.

We get new characters that are fine, though once again I couldn't say who for sure was actually introduced in this book. The old characters do a lot of searching. I didn't feel that connection to them this book.

Slight Spoiler, Highlight to see: I was also half convinced that Shannon was going to kill off a main character and did not care. Half-convinced in I thought she just might do it.

I had completely forgotten that Paige is still only meant to be like 19 when all this shit is going down. I guess that's because of the time that takes for the books to be written and I've been slowly ageing and ageing away from Paige. Though, she was already in the future so she was always going to be the youngest of us two.

The ending is quite a cliffhanger, in tune with the other books. I'm kinda disappointed due to what's been set up for the last book, but I also get the choice.

Overall, I give this book 3/5 stars for Gaelic Dungeons. This novel was okay once I actually listened to it. I might just wait until the series is finished before picking more novels. I want to know what happens, but all at once might work better.


I paid for this book with my own damn money thing time. I probably would have request it off NetGalley if I had saw it.

My Favourite Scotitish Murder.

That's me back home from Glasgow. I went Edinburgh last Friday to Saturday, then Glasgow was meant to be Monday to Friday, instead because I'm me, I didn't go till Tuesday. I also didn't go to the cinema like I was meant to. Ended up doing a very ill-advised barbecue with only two people, lot of wasted food which I'm trying my best to stop doing. Sometimes I just don't eat. I'm very unhealthy in my eating patterns. *types while eating Animal biscuits*

My main reason for going to Glasgow for was I need to return books to the library that on the way up, make sure that one sister doesn't burn down the house of the other, and going to see My Favourite Murder. Yay. Murder.

It was great. Morbid laughter. Though, Georgia did pick a real boring murder and didn't go into the more interesting parts like how Hare was the mastermind and was freed. I also felt they had did that one before. Maybe it just with how much Hare & Burke have been re-told. Also they were both Irish so we don't own that one. Just Scottish Medical advancements through dodgy means.

Karen talked about how the Barrowlands Dance Hall now being a market (most famous for selling illegal stuff) and not the fact it's a famous music venue that it's actually noted for. Maybe we should shouted that, instead of just no. Playing at the Barrowlands is kinda big deal. It also has a pretty roof with pink stars on Blue. I did send in the Bible John part as Home Town Murder, a year or so ago. That had has tons of stuff in it. Those series of Murders on their own are one of the most messed up parts and despite the Barrowlands connection, the sister being the last to see her and her probable murder has really stuck with me. The taxi driver was never found. Anyway, Bible John has a comic book by Grant Morrison. Some one should make a list of them. I mean Jack Ripper alone must have a few outside of Penny Dreadfuls.

In terms of actual Scottish Murders that are interesting (Bible John is one, it is also horrifying): Renee and Andrew MacRae Disappearance (no bodies but probably dead with lots of suspects), Angus Sinclair and the World End Murders (serial killer and connected to a bar), There's Peter Manuel (1950s serial killer in the style of the Golden State Killer) as fictionalised in The Long Drop by Denise Mina (I did review this book, not sure if I recommend it, but it does shows 1950s Scotland pretty well to my knowledge), he definitely killed people but one of his cases the Husband/father has some suspicious against so good in terms of story telling and there's Dunblane Massacre, that one Scottish school shooting but with everything going in America right now I can understand not wanting to do that, except shout really angry at the end change bloody gun laws. Also class of dead five year old is bit much. In my head the whole class was killed, but it was 16 pupils which would have been more that my P1 class so maybe that's why.

Scotland is obsessed with crime and has mass of crime writers. Scottish Crime is a genre on it's own you can find in Scotland in general book shops. I wonder what other cases they did in the other UK venues. There some real fucking messed up UK crimes. The Yorkshire Ripper is giant thing to get through, so probably didn't do that.

The Glasgow O2 Academy as a sit down Venue, was not really good. They had these old plastic chairs where you couldn't avoid touching your neighbour. I also wasn't the only person to go there by myself. The Ladies being right next to the stage is still one of the worst choices. The men's is right next to the door out and in. The line to Ladies Toilet was massive before the show started.

I also got there an hour and half before the show was meant to start due to them not giving a starting time. Just when the doors opened. It's live podcast comedy show, it didn't have support acts so not like I could have guessed from other shows.

It was good, we got to see this tour's dresses before they were ceremoniously burned and people booed Paisley who is a butt of so many jokes since they ran for City of Culture. Funfact: Glasgow Airport is actually in Paisley but an Airport has to be connected to a city, which is also how Prestwick Airport is also called Glasgow Prestwick Airport despite being a good half a hour away from Glasgow.

I also a signed giant My Favourite Murder post card that I have no idea where I'm putting, a neat totebag and a VIP lanyard that I wear around the house. Though, I didn't get as merch as I wanted as the card machine wasn't working or something. I luckily had cash so got two t-shirts. They also didn't appear to have Toxic Masculinely shirt which I was hoping to get. I guess I will just have to put out for international shipping. It be worth it. I wish the Stay Sexy shirt, had don't get murdered on the back of it.

I did get Fuck Everyone t-shirt so I am mostly happy I guess. I also spent too much money on stuff this month so I'm not buying another god damn thing but things to live like heating and food. But cheap food. I walked around Glasgow before, shops and stuff. Taco Bell is longer to get to now, with part of Sauchiehall Street being closed due to the fires. So I have fucked myself for the up coming week and I need to do stuff.
On the Brightside, the Glasgow Subway is still creepy as hell.

Book Review: Under my Hat: Tales from the Cauldron, edited by Jonathan Strahan

Who doesn't love witches?

The tingle begins, the green fire rises inside her. She Smiles again, staring at the doorway, and waits...

Enjoy this inventive and quick-witted collection of witch stories by some of our most loved fantasy authors writing today. Young witches, old witches, kind witches, mean witches, witches' dogs, witches' curses. They are all here, in their diversity and richness, lurking amongst the pages of this treasury, just waiting to be set free to allow their magic to fill your imagination.

What's in it: Spider Silk, Eye of Newt, Black Moss, Snake Venom 

A short stories about witches, what could go wrong?

Intro by Jonathan Strahan: Strahan quoted from Wikipedia and does it wrong, as the internet changes you have to have the date. He also refers to Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty as being a witch when she a fairy. They might be few version where she a witch, but in the Disney version she an Evil Fairy. These are basic facts.

Stray Magic by Diana Peterfreund: A special dog appears at the pound. Interesting concept. Almost feels like the start of a novel. 4/5 stars for cheesy names.

Payment Due by Frances Hardinge: This one was interesting too. A teen girl gets revenge on a bailiff. 3/5 stars for Body Swaps.

A Handful of Ashes by Garth Nix: This features a Oxford like witch and wizard university so it has colleges within it. Snobish and evil bullies so fun. Well, thought out world, my brief research it doesn't appear to be an extension of another word. 4/5 stars for Radish Girls.

Little Gods by Holly Black: A baby Wiccan goes to her first covens gathering and big ceremony. Religion and wanting magic. This is was okay, kinda bland next to the previous ones. 3/5 stars for alcohol offerings.

Barrio Girls by Charles de Lint: Barrio girls are obsessed with Twilight/Vampire Diary clone and they come across a Vampire Witch. I liked the writing style of this book and the idea. 4/5 stars for Moonstream Merch.

Felidis by Tanith Lee: A guy wandering about in the woods, ends up lying and living with cat lady. This was old fashion thing, the idea was alright. Kinda sad.  3/5 stars for velvet skin.

Witch Work by Neil Gaiman: This is a poem. A poem about a witch by the sea. It's fine, not got many opinions about poems. 3/5 stars for silk cords.

The Education of a Witch by Ellen Klages: Once again Maleficent is called a witch when she not. She a fairy, mistress of all evil. Also I just don't think its that weird for a kid to like Maleficent. The fairies are the only actual characters in that film. This story has chapters in it and then nothing happens. There's all this build up for nothing. A five year is negated by her parents so she only starts to do bad things by the end 1/5 stars for bad puppets.

The Threefold World by Ellen Kushner: Elias Lönnrot is a real Finnish Historican figure and a witch according to this story. Okay... 3/5 stars for unwanted wares.

The Witch in the Wood by Delia Sherman: This writer is married to the writer before her story, which is kinda cute that they next to each other. So actual story is a girl coming across a deer and falling in love with said deer. The writing style worked for this type of story. 4/5 stars for Bad Deals.

Which Witch by Patricia A McKillip: This involves a musical band of witches with two violin players and murders of Crows. Something random happens. Better short film than short story. 3/5 stars for crow feathers.

 The Carved Forest by Tim Pratt: A fourteen year old girl decides to run away the day before Thanksgiving, so her brother follows her to the local witch house. 3/5 stars for Rootless Trees.

Burning Castles by M Rickert: This is the question of magic, unlike most of the other stories. The style was okay. 3/5 stars for tree earrings.

The Stone Witch by Isobelle Carmody: You're on Air plane and then you're on a quest for an egg. Also addressing making life discussion without realising. 4/5 stars for Hipster Demons.

Andersen's Witch by Jane Yolen: This is about Hans Christian Andersen, who made a deal with an Ice Maiden for three wishes. Karen Marie is referred as both his step and half-sister, and is obviously a sex worker in this story. Brief search says there no evidence of this, nor is it necessary. Yolen also equals marriage as love and that children love Hans Christian Andersen. Not really, they love Disney. Andersen's just seems a bit of dick going off his work. Disney too like that narrative considering in the Little Mermaid Cartoon series, he meets Ariel (pre-legs) and then writes a story in which she has her tongue cut out and has no soul, then dies. This story becomes more problematic with the bio-note that says the Yolen is refer to as the American Hans Christian Andersen so the ending is quite vain. Odd anyway. Basically, the Ice Queen definitely wins now. 1/5 stars for Gentlemen Callers or Stock Legs.
 
B is for Bigfoot by Jim Butcher: This is part of the The Dresden Files series, you don't need to know the series, it works without that knowledge. Though, I did watch the TV series, didn't recognize from that though. He's a wizard who also a PI. 4/5 stars for Ice Buckets.

Great-Grandmother in the Cellar by Peter S Beagle: Women either have bad taste in men or are weird not witches demon things. Those parts of the story ain't great. Kinda interesting otherwise. He wrote the Last Unicorn, book and film. HM... 3/5 stars for Witch Boys.
 
Crow and Caper, Caper and Crow by Margo Lanagan: A grandmother goes to bless their grand daughter. 4/5 stars for walnut-shell ships.

Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars for leaking cauldrons. These were mostly good, some were not about witches or magic users so disappointing. If you like witches, it worth checking out.

Wicked, Eurovision a.k.a. The Queer Agenda

Hello Losers, I went to Edinburgh yesterday to see the musical Wicked (finally). Yes, the original Disney's Frozen. Seriously, why does no one call out Disney for copying Wicked, evil character is now good, pointless love interest and attempt at sisterhood and friendship. I said attempt because Frozen really fails at that angle, with it pointless love interest (I mean Ana is dead because she needs a man) and continuing with the annoying sidekick.

When are we getting the Wicked film, we're had a film musical about Slave owner and undermines the talent/skill of the actual people he exploited, also cheating as sub-plot. IMDb says 20 December 2019, but we know never to trust IMDB. Wiki also says that date, it's from 2016.

It's the first time I've seen Wicked, I've listened to the full soundtrack so roughly know the storyline and Twists. It was good, performance. I could do without the Love Triangle. I get the choice for story telling reasons and agree you needed another character there. I just wish we had media where Friendships carried the story, instead of always relaying on Romantic Love. Use other types of Love.

Didn't get hang around Edinburgh much though due my parents not getting how Tech works. My dad actually called the Apple hotline where the help person told my parents that serial number of the phone was on the back of the phone when it's not. It's on the inside, you need to be able to get into the phone to get that number. He meant that IMB number, so I get annoyed at this guy, it obviously bad training, but I'm trying to do something while my father is annoying me with a stupid phone thing that I've already told him he should try and get a new cable for as all the ones in the house are broken in some way or not cable of transferring data. I'm not shouting at this guy, my tone is annoyed, because I don't like phones and he's straight wrong, I want to hang up. I'm also saying Apple sucks, which my dad shouts at me for, like the phone guy cares what I think of the company he works for. It's not like he has high ranking job. Who calls help call lines anymore? You just google it. My Dad is literally 60 though.

So I didn't get to go Prince Street with its giant shop versions. The Primark is four massive floors.

Of course, I am watching EUROVISION, the gayest night of the year where the whole of Europe (and several other places not actually in Europe) battle through music and video effects that must look weird in person. China isn't officially watching this year due to Tattoos and two guys holding hands a.k.a. it's too gay for them.

Stage invading, didn't hear/understand what he said but it sounded political. I'm sure there will be stories about it. Hella, a security risk. Stage invading happens too much in Eurovision. We came 24th of 26 countries. It sounds better if you include the semi-finals, that we by-pass due to money.

So Israel won, next year is going to be awkward. You don't know how aware people are of what their country's government is doing but Jerusalem is real complicated and I'm not the person to track that. I will say that Eurovision winner does not have to host the contest in their capital city so it being held doesn't mean that Europe agrees that it's their capital. It's also been host in Jerusalem a few times. I do think it going to take some of the fun out of Eurovision, like that time Russia hosted, with all their homophobic policy and invading Ukraine.

UK has some fucked up policy and joined up with America in things they shouldn't have. In terms of song criticize, it was decent. I don't love it, but I'm not angry about the song winning. Eurovision is not meant to be political (it almost always is. We only really had one song this year). I'm going to bed, we're see what happens next year or whatever.

Book Review: Zom-B: Fugitive by Darren Shan

Walking Tour of London, anyone?

WHERE DO YOU TURN WHEN ALL IS LOST?

HOW CAN YOU BUILD A FRESH FUTURE ON THE SANDS OF A TWISTED PATH?

WHAT IF EVERYTHING YOU KNEW WAS A LIE?

B SMITH IS ON THE RUN...

This is the 11th and penultimate book in the series and I have reviewed most of the previous books. Nothing feels like it happening in this book. It's a very slow walk.

There's a lot referencing previous novels, building up sudden emotion for nothing and while adding to the general plot. It's very so what for me. Obviously, I am older than the target audience. 12 year old me was reading crime thrillers and religion allegories with aliens so I don't she think would have been that impressed either. If we go younger it has no novels, only horror films and other masterpieces of film. Also junk. What's my point? Yes, plot stuff.

The thing about B is that her character is so moldable that she doesn't feel like a real person anymore. Her emotions have been came so plot related and she is so easily brain washed. It's happened three times now. Should she be so trustworthy after her father's lies? and I just don't like cult B. In general she is dislikable but they use to be a nugget. Over 11 books, the only developed we've got is she definitely not a racist anymore.

The Holocaust is brought up and it just seems so out of nowhere. It's a flashback and it feels like she should have already been brought up. Very life lesson.

The actual ending, it just play for emotion that it just makes me go what. More and more this series is 12 books because that was the agreed amount more than the story calls for it. I would be very so what, if I didn't have the next book to read. Not sure I would have brought it. Probably library pick up.

Overall, I give this book 2.5 stars for Old files. I hold Zom-B: Goddess in my hands and think this is going to be satisfying. The last two books felt like they were going somewhere. This book feels like a stall at the finish line. I've read a eleven books so of course I will be back with the final books and a  full series review.

The Slow Decay of Me

I am now Twenty-Five years of age, and have no plans to bother to update my bios where my age is listed, because I would have to update other aspects of the bios and I can't be bother to sit and do that.

The StrangeAThon is in full swing. It's going better than last time because I'm not sick and not currently having a fare up (Knock on Wood).

I don't know what I'm doing right now. I'm also not sure if I should make plans with everything is going on. It doesn't seem a good time to start anything. I feel like I should, because I'm getting closer to the grave and who wants to wait for the academic year to restart. The thing I'm thinking of applying to but I'm not sure if its for me. I don't know if I should just go for it. I have little time to apply though.

Basically, I'm at Quarter stage of my life. Crises have gotten boring. I don't know what I'm doing.

I still want to be a writer, an published author, but I'm still not writing. I have a YA book idea that's contemporary which never happens to me. Magic has to steep in somehow. That's just who I am as a person.

Well I'm off to try and do something else while ignoring the lack of poster last week. Being 24 was pretty uneventful anyway.

Book Review: We Are Young by Cat Clarke

This book continued the trend of YA coma books I'm reading.

Three People died

and no one's asking why.

But I need answers.

I have to find out

what really happened 

that night.

Back once again with another Cat Clarke book, this time the actual year of publication. Reviews of most of her books can be found here. I found Cat Clarke by her YA debut and I have followed her since. She an auto-buy author. Basically, I really like her writing and have high expectation of her.

This book does involve a band and the main character really like playing music, but it not really a music book. They only have gig practices and only pop artists are named. I mention because someone else said they thought the vinyls indicated it as a heavy music book. No, they broken vinyls that the thing to play attention to and obviously to match Clarke's other books.

Evan Page is suspicious about her Stepbrother's car accident that involved four people that didn't belong to the same circle. Basically, this is a murder mystery involving drugs and spoilery things. I did miss that Evan's last name was Page so I was real confuse when people would call her that. Did she go through a name change and it was somehow not picked up in certain places during the revisions. Nope, I'm just Dyslexic.

Characters and their relationships with each other play a big part. Different families dynamic are explored within Evan own family  and her interactions with the families of those in the car, as she tries to solve the mystery of why.

Within the Band, there is a triangle of Exs with Evan at the centre. Evan is bi, Sid and Daze are friends and that events of the novel explore her feeling towards them. It's a nice addiction. I like it.

This book deals with a lot, most of it going into spoilers. (I do Trigger warnings in my labels). Clarke manages to handle all these well. The ending is slightly preachy, but also was a coherent and is a satisfying ending. With it being a hard subject, there no real satisfying ending of this book.

Overall, I give this 5/5 stars for Earned Guitars. In terms of mystery, I never guess exactly what was going to go down, which I often do and the writing is good as usual. Cat Clarke continues to breaks hearts. Breakfast Tim will stay with me and I will wonder about his career.

I got this book for Review off of NetGalley and is being published by Quercus Children's Books on 3rd of May 2018.