Book Review: Anne Rice – 'Taltos'

ANNE RICE
'Taltos'
ALFRED A. KNOPF

It is a strange thing when you reach the end of the book. Even more stranger when that is also the end of the series. To be done with Taltos, by Anne Rice, the third and supposed final instalment of the Lives of the Mayfair Witches series, was bittersweet in more than one sense.

Despite the fact that this is the last book, it has a major difference when compared with the past two, mostly in terms of genre. This time, Rice doesn’t present a lot of horror content, but more of a reflexive, philosophical narration that deals with the race of the Taltos. That was an initial shock I had to overcome, since I expected this to be a heavier, more gruesome reading than The Witching Hour and Lasher.

However, when I got used to the main idea, the Taltos’ history, I started to enjoy this book even more. Rice filled it with countless details that, despite made it a reading hard to follow, enriched it.

At this point, I knew I wouldn’t get an explosive battle between the witches and some hidden enemy, yet I still feel it would have been a good addition given the “conspiracy” or sort of that is presented.

Each of the characters felt the same as in the previous books, I couldn’t see a real development on them, maybe only on Mona Mayfair, who acquires a more protagonistic role on this novel, but Rowan, Michael, and the rest of the cast feel just the way they did before, which is a shame.

It is also said that you have to respect the author’s end for the story, but this time Anne Rice take a safe bet for it. It was like she was in a hurry to finish it, fixed whatever was going on with each characters, solved the problems in more time than I expected and took the emergency exit in order to be done with Taltos.

Her followers will tell me that this is not the last time I will see the Mayfair witches, as their universe merges with The Vampire Chronicles’, and I even started with this series before getting to meet Lestat since several blogs said that Interview with the Vampire would tell me what will happen with the witches, but I do find them disappointing when I think about the last chapters of this novel.

I would lie if I said I won’t give Lestat a chance, in order to recover the joy these women gave me, or so I hope, but that won’t be now, maybe not even this year. It will take six books before the stories entangle, and I’m not particularly interested in waiting this much in this moment.

Despite that ending scene ruined the story, I’m sure many will like to dwell on it for a while. I certainly find it pleasurable to have a refuge of daily life in such an interesting universe. There were some unanswered questions that also bothered me, and yet Rice managed to entertain  me for a long while. It is just a matter of time before I return to her. In the meantime, I’ll get some fresh air and a more light, softer reading.

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Book Review: Joyce Magnin - 'Snowman'

MARK ANDREW POE, JOYCE MAGNIN, AND REBECCA P. MINOR

'Snowman'

RABBIT PUBLISHERS

Alas, Sleepy Hollow, Headless Horseman, what have they done to you this time? Just when I have begun to fall in love with those two elements and decide to give a chance to a graphic novel aimed for children with a twist, it turns out to be an almost total disaster. Created by Mark Andrew Poe,‎ adapted by Joyce Magnin and with art by‎ Rebecca P. Minor, Snowman is hard to like or even tolerate.

I have no problems with the story, to be honest. It is simple, direct, easy to follow for kids and catches the attention on the reader. It’s an interesting twist to the Headless Horseman that I really enjoyed. In fact, with a little polishing, it could be the kind of content we need to show kids nowadays, even more if we want darker, gothic plots in family friendly TV shows and movies.

The characters were very basic, not that lain as I could see they had some human parts in them, but a little empty nonetheless, and the situations were interesting to see while developing. Maybe some adults could enjoy it as well, maybe those who are parents, as I see some curious scenes that could lead to different discussions and teachings for children.

However, my main issue with 'Snowman' is with its graphics, a vital part of comics and graphic novels. The cover is nice, I love it, it caught my attention right away, but the pages I found inside were a totally different thing that I didn’t like at all, starting with the palettes; the very first pages used one and the rest of them used another one.

I’ve read a lot of comic, some with good proportions, others with twisted characters that have nothing to do with human form, but most of them looked pretty good in their respective stories, in their respective universes. That’s not the case for 'Snowman', whose characters I felt were cut from another place and pasted in the panels, whose bodies had something weird in them.

I wouldn’t have any problem if this was an independent project from someone who had just started building a name as an illustrator, but coming from what seems to be a solid series with what I assumed was a solid fan-base, that’s not what I expected; yet, we all know that independents have done and keep doing great work.

It’s a shame that a story with potential has this kind of art, I really expected way much more. I may be picky and know nothing about the standards the industry works with, but there must be something wrong if such art was ever approved. Prepare all your will to finish this book if you start reading it.

I can only hope that it doesn’t happen again.

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Book Review: Jim Balent – 'Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose #107'

JIM BALENT
'Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose #107'
BROADSWORD COMICS

There are times in life when the best thing ever reaches a strange place which you don’t really know how to classify if not as a “comfort zone”. I’ve been a fan of Jim Balent’s 'Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose' since I first discovered this comic, but Winter-themed issues have been playing with the same pot and character for a while; since 2014, to be specific.

Before anyone says anything about me complaining, I love the characters, I love the magic in each issue, I love the overall story so far and I wouldn’t stop reading this comic for anything, but the overused topic of the Krampus has become somewhat tiresome after so many issues, making it predictable that he is most likely to appear in November when the Winter has come.

Just for the record, the Krampus is the total opposite of Santa Claus. He doesn’t come to give, but to take. He either punishes the bad children for their bad behaviour or takes them to a place no one knows and no one escapes from. If listening to that story doesn’t make you be a good kid, I don’t know what will.

As for Tarot and her enchanting world, the Krampus has been challenged by Tarot and her family many times in past with no result. There’s no difference in Issue #107, with the sole change that there is some character development for both Tarot and Jon and gorgeous art you don’t get tired of looking at.

I fell in love with this issue because of the colours, the shadows, the editing and the drawing, but the story itself is pretty simple, not as complex and interesting as in past proposals. A couple of monsters, magic here and there and a nice touch of violence that should be better developed in the future to make sense.

The whole issue can be read with no problem, it is fast, it is quick, fluent and entertaining, remaining loyal to the core of a dark fantasy, sexual series just like Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose is, but it also fails in terms of originality or actual interesting content, not considering the scene-twist and the dialogues.

We are about to see the next chapter in Jim Balent’s creation, which looks promising so far. It would be interesting to see what happens after such a hard time for the characters in this issue, and I’m sure both Balent and Holly (colouring and lettering) will have a great redemption for Issue #107, just like that have always done.

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Book Review: Anne Rice – 'Lasher'

ANNE RICE 

'Lasher' 

ALFRED A. KNOPF 

Once upon a time, there was a woman who blew my brains out.

Readers expect that a book series gets better with each book they read, that the universe reinvents itself buts keeps the magic that made them fall in love in the first place, making it a new trip in an bigger travel through the story. And it happened in 'Lasher', by Anne Rice, the second instalment in Lives of the Mayfair Witches.

One may think that horror books could only be gruesome, creepy and send shivers down the spine. Rice proves to do much more than that by creating a dark, seductive world where souls never truly die and where passion never truly burns out, and mixes it all with the classic elements we want to find a good horror novel.

Each of the characters presented in 'Lasher' has a voice on its own, a different personality and add their unique enchant to the overall plot, which, I have to say it, I’m not sure if I love it or hate it. There were so many emotions at the same time, all of them so intensive that the whole reading process becomes organic, very natural.

To see many of the different loose threads the first book left being tied up and having a meaning and purpose in this one is perhaps the best thing about it, but the promise of new discoveries in the third one could be even better. Risky thing to do, but if two books have already been this good, I’ll keep my own doubts under control before saying anything else.

However, it bothered me more than once the large amount of pages and endlessly long scenes that cross this book that focus on insignificant details, challenging the reader to keep on the pages. It took me out of the story and made it hard for me to keep an eye on it, but the plot’s complexity made it worth it.

The lack of actual horror, besides the general decadent, dark idea that filled even the most insignificant of scenes, started to become and issue until a certain chapter, where all religion, all faith and all belief was corrupted. Short, quick, but intense, not counting with the later murdering of certain character I couldn’t stand any longer. Rice knows how to make the reader feel what she wants them to.

I’ll lie if I said I’m not scared and afraid of what could happen next, but also eager to see what happens next in such an interesting world Rice has created.

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Book Review: Kevin Haskins – 'Bauhaus – Undead – The Visual History and Legacy of Bauhaus'

KEVIN HASKINS
'Bauhaus – Undead – The Visual History and Legacy of Bauhaus' 

CLEOPATRA RECORDS

Bauhaus were undeniably one of the pioneering forces behind what would come to be known as Gothic Rock. Their unique take on the post-punk sound in inspiration from dada and German Expressionism made for an incendiary and theatrical stage show that elevated them to mythical status. A status that has remained intact, so much so that when the band reunited for the first time in the late 1990s their audience had substantially grown, and continues to based on the strength of the albums and singles made in their initial five-year span.

Founding member and drummer of the band Kevin Haskins not only (alongside bassist and brother David) provided the rhythmic backbone of the band, but has also become it's self-appointed curator, collecting everything from those early years through to the band's last run together. The result of which is this substantial visual document that includes everything from early “Local Band Makes Good” articles from their local newspaper, handmade flyers by the band, backstage passes, photographs from his personal collection, ticket stubs, band artwork, letters, set lists, contracts, band sketches, tour itineraries (that include band member doodles), fan club material, pins, hand written lyrics, invoices, master tapes, all the way down to the original Wasp synthesizer used on their recordings and live shows.

The coffee table book is a fitting format for anything related to the band, who were just as much an aesthetic movement as they were a band. Haskins has worked with the design team of Jeff Anderson of Artist In Residence and Donny Phillips and Kaylee Carrington of KIHL Studio to create a high-quality tome worthy of their art school origins that houses a visual journey from the band's 1978 inception to their final reformation for 2005's Coachella festival alongside Nine Inch Nails.

The collection is reproduced beautifully with documents scanned perfectly and 3D objects such as badges photographed with great care and attention to detail. This portion of the production of the book must have been a monumental undertaking and required some serious and very careful hours. And that's before the book is even assembled.

As a visually orientated book the narrative is mainly provided by the collection itself with brief notes and anecdotes recorded in places to expand on pivotal moments in the band's history such as their first music video for 'Telegram Sam', recording live sessions for legendary radio DJ John Peel, playing at the legendary Haçienda club in Manchester, and of course their triumphant swansong at the Coachella Festival.

This a must for any fan of Bauhaus. The ultimate collector's item full of rarities and behind the scenes insights into the band. Even the book itself is a work of art in it's own right. A legacy piece that is part visual biography and part art book, truly befitting a band such as Bauhaus. This will not be a piece that has much appeal beyond the hardcore fans of the band. But for those fans this is an elegant and essential book that has been put together with care and attention.

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Book Review: Terry Burrows with Daniel Miller – 'Mute: A Visual Document (From 1978 – Tomorrow)'

TERRY BURROWS with DANIEL MILLER
'Mute: A Visual Document (From 1978 – Tomorrow)'
THAMES & HUDSON

Mute records is quite simply one of the most important labels in music ever. Having been at the forefront of the electronic music innovation of the late 70s, they were instrumental at propelling it into the mainstream in the 1980s, continuing to diversify it in the 90s and in the new millennium have also found themselves as curators of some the most important catalogues in the genre.

We've had phenomenal live festivals such as 2011's Short Circuit. There has also been impressive collections including 'Mute Audio Documents', and numerous references in books and documentaries. But for the first time we have the story in an official capacity in the form of 'Mute: A Visual Document (From 1978 – Tomorrow)'.

This book written by label founder Daniel Miller (also of The Normal and Silicon Teens) along with respected author (and experimental electronic musician in his own right) Terry Burrows charts the rise of the label as a small vanity project, to a world wide phenomenon. Accompanied by a designer's wet dream of visuals including concepts and test pieces from some of the most iconic artwork in the label's vaults.

The book isn't ridiculously text heavy – it could very well become that with gleeful nerdy abandon – but it is instead anecdotal for the most part, almost like a documentary. Reading it you can hear the tracks playing and if you were around at the gigs and tours it mentions you'll probably be hit with happy memories. Where the information does get quite heavy, visuals of timelines, logos, artwork and photos break it up well so as not to bombard you. But otherwise it is an easy read that doesn't get overtly nerdy, but instead opens the doors on the rise, near fall, and continued success of one of music's most unique labels.

The book itself is a thing of beauty. Not only is the subject matter visually beautifully represented on the pages in full colour and great detail. But the embossed hard cover, stitched spine with 'Mute' proudly emblazoned on it, and the thick paper all make this feel like a work of art. Just as the Mute Synth and 'Audio Document' collections before it, this feels like a great quality and collectable item before you even get round to reading the text and looking at the art inside.

Any fan of electronic music will be familiar with Mute Records and the artists that have graced it over the years. In 'Mute: A Visual Document (From 1978 – Tomorrow)' you get not only a visual retrospective but a biography of the label itself, it's successes, its troubles and ultimately the passion of everyone involved in it. It has been a fascinating journey from one man's attempt to put a record out, to a globally recognised leader in electronic music, and long may it continue. Fans of the label, fans of the bands, fans of great design, and even anyone out there toying with the idea of getting into the music industry will find this a great read and a treasure trove of ideas.  

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Book Review: Jim Balent - 'Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose #106'

JIM BALENT
'Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose #106'
BROADSWORD COMICS

Dark fantasy acquires a new definition in the latest issue of 'Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose', created by Jim Balent, a Halloween themed chapter in the adventures of the Swordmaiden of the Goddess in which she faces the spirit of the festivity itself.

Tarot, her sister Raven Hex, her husband Jon Webb, and her former lover, Boo Cat, have a not so pleasant meeting with the Spirit of Halloween as it takes a ride across Salem, turning people’s costumes into their real selves as long as the day lasts.

The witchy sisters find themselves caught on a delicate situation when the city is completely turned upside down, now inhabited by monsters, demons and every creature they could have thought about to dress like during the festivity, even worse when they have to come face-to-face with an enraged group of werewolves on their own.

Such a simple story is enough for Balent to create an interesting episode on the ongoing comic series, showing that it’s not always mandatory to overthink ideas, and that sometimes it takes only an interesting plot twist near to the end to produce an entertaining piece such as this issue.

'Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose' has been known for combining erotic art with dark fantasy and some touches of gore now and then, elements very present in this issue #106 and that fight between themselves to have the perfect balance. I’d say that there was more of the first, but you never know what can happen in the next chapter, which is one of the best aspects of this comic!

As always, the level of detail in each of the issues is surprising, making it worth the two months of wait between each of them, with all of the pieces in their rightful places and an incredible colouring that can only captivate the eye of the reader. Followers of the series will be even more bewitched!

The shadows play a major role in this chapter, not only as an element of art but also as part of the narrative, making it all look gloomier than usual, and even giving its body to the Spirit of Halloween, a character I’m sure many of us will want to see again in the future!

I will only complain about the simple backgrounds on some of the panels, something that has changed gradually issue after issue. Doesn’t mean you don’t get Gods-like detailed environments anymore, but that the single coloured panels behind dark shadows are becoming more usual than I’d like to see.

As for the rest, this stand-alone issue was enough for me to remember why I fell in love with Tarot, her whole squad and entire universe, filled with seductive characters and ferocious beasts, as well as being a very well-inspired reflection on the Wicca religion and what it stands for. It’s great to see another kind of witches around beside those that sold their souls to the Devil.

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First look at Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose #109

Cover A

Broadsword Comics revealed a first look at the issue #109 of dark fantasy, ongoing comic, 'Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose', which will be titled 'A Dark Union' and is scheduled to ship on late March 2018.

Besides Cover A of the issue, Broadsword Comics also revealed the Photocover Edition, the Deluxe Art Print and the SkyClad Edition. Currently, this edition and a special bundle for the issue are on sale on the company's official store.

The synopsis and covers could indicate that this issue will be focused on Tarot's sister Raven Hex and Azure, an immortal elf on a quest to conquer the human world, something he tried to do manipulating the Gothic witch. However, his plans have been foiled on multiple occasions by the Black Rose Coven.

Tarot is shot while accompanying the Skeleton Man on one of his missions! Jon must steal a police car to save her life! Time is ticking away as Tarot bleeds out! Meanwhile, Raven Hex is attacked by two of Azure's minions as they attempt to retrieve his severed arm.

18th Anniversary PhotoCover

Deluxe Art Print

Tarot#109 Skyclad edition

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Book Review: Stacy King - 'The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe'

STACY KING
'Manga Classics: The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe'
UDON ENTERTAINMENT

I’ve been a fan of Poe’s work since I discovered both the author and his creations. Even the life of this man has been of my interest. Also, manga and anime have taught me than even the simplest of the stories can have amazing artwork. 'The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe', which contains five of the most iconic tales of the author adapted by Stacy King, blends them both together with a great result.

The selection is to be praised, as the four stories and the most memorable poem are presented in a singular manner, dressed with an aesthetic sometimes medieval, sometimes Victorian, an intriguing choice for such mysterious plots and that also matches the emotion in each of them.

I do miss stories such as 'William Wilson and The Oval Portrait', as I strongly believe they would have looked stunning more than once. However, the characters from 'The Tale-Tell Hear't, 'The Cask of Amontillado', 'The Raven', 'The Masque of the Red Death' and, my personal, all time favourite among Poe’s stories, 'The Fall of the House of Usher'.

Along with them, there were some extra pages with commentary from the artists and some sketches to show how the development process of certain panels and characters was done. Admitting that they are a nice addition will do, and have to add that it would have been even better to have them in all of the stories, since it is not the case.

Each of the stories was drawn by a different artist, yet trying keep all of their styles similar, giving the book and homogeneous look. The fact that all of them are in black and white give them a singular enchant, although certain scenes are the exception to the norm; nothing can be perfect, not even something with Poe’s name on it.

I found especially hunting the art for 'The Masque of the Red Death' and 'The Fall of the House of Usher', with a darker twist and interesting proposals in almost each of their panels, with the most intriguing perspectives and a good layout. There were even scenes that I would have found too challenging to be illustrated, but to see them perfectly represented … now that was a great surprise!

Edgar Allan Poe was one the most underrated creators of the past, but this is one of those moments when you see that even with a Japanese look, he can send chills down your spine despite looking gorgeous and creepy at the same time. Yes, a weird, strange, mix, but a successful one.

I would recommend this to anyone that like darkly twisted stories that give you something to think about, but especially for fans of Poe. This manga was a delight to read and see! Looking forward for something like this in the future.

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Book Review: Peter David / Nicole D'Andria – 'Artful'

PETER DAVID / NICOLE D'ANDRIA 'Artful' 

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT 

Vampires are such interesting and attractive creatures. We don’t seem to get tired of them anytime soon because of how versatile they are and how easy is to work with them, and even more interesting how they can change a tale such as Oliver Twist’s.

The original novel, 'Artful', written by Peter David, has been adapted by Nicole D’Andria to the comic format, and was recently published as a complete graphic novel. I’d like to have many good things to say about, as the story is pretty original and caught my attention after a couple of pages, but I must admit the art does no justice.

It would be better, to properly start, that the idea of Victorian vampires has always made me fall in love with whichever story that used it, in different intensities, to tell the whole truth. This is not an exception, as I said, but I feel some scenes could have been better created.

After so many different, alternative and changed versions of the original creature, I really felt blessed to put my hands on a more classic proposal. No one can really get tired of vampires, but Artful is a good return to the myth’s roots and offer a well known, familiar face of the race.

After you read the first pages, which were a little too slow for me, the real story begins, in the middle of the first chapter, if I remember correctly, and so the action starts to be seen. Although it is not completely explicit, D’Andria did a good job choosing which scenes should be seen and which not in order to offer a balanced result: not that familiar, but certainly not so explicit.

This is a story that, after that chance, is read by itself. It absorbed me in some way, though I was still barely aware that time was passing, which made it a heavy reading at times. There were some scenes that could have been done better, that’s for sure, but I like what 'Artful' has to offer: a good while among blood, wild creatures and a story with funny moments.

I feel that the Victorian elements in the story, however, could have been better used. It seemed like only the setting and style were the clue that this was placed in such era, as even the characters spoke, sometimes, in a manner more similar to nowadays’. Bittersweet combination although I want to think it is for its targeted teen audience.

Even more bittersweet was the art. I can see there was a lot of effort in each of the panels, but many had bad shadows, thicker than thick lines and exaggerated expressions on the characters. That my main problem with it, although the vivid colours were a good plus to compensate it.

There was also some Anime influence in the look of 'Artful'. I cannot put my finger on it, as there is no certain scene to say such thing, but if you’ve seen anime, read manga, manhwa, or any other variant, you may get the same feeling, which got me a very good vibe. It was great to have both Western and Asian style combined.

However, I still have a very good time with this book and would like to see more material like this on the market, as the Pros were more than the Cons. Very grateful to the publisher for sending me this copy, I tried to be as honest as I could. 

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Book Review: Olivier Peru / Sophian Cholet - 'Zombies, A Brief History of Decay'

OLIVER PERU / SOPHIAN CHOLET
'Zombies: A Brief History Of Decay'
INSIGHT COMICS 

I’ve never been a big fan of "Z fiction". Movies, books, video games… Not the type of content I’m used to enjoy, that’s it, but that doesn’t mean I’m not capable of see something good when it is in front of my. This comic was really good for sure.

'Zombies: A Brief History of Decay' is a graphic novel full of drama and emotions. Writer Olivier Peru isn’t afraid of playing with your feelings and killing every single character you start to like. It’s carnage at it’s primal look.

The story presented is far from being the most original: the world is about to end by the hands of the zombies, and human race is trying to survive the best way they can. Groups are formed, families search for each other, Friends try to protect themselves… I think you get the idea.

However, Peru plays with your feelings with no shame, putting all of his characters in different situations that make you wonder what is wrong with him, why wouldn’t he let things be just a little happier, but the truth is that life is not that pretty in these kind of situations, humans are not that simple, and 'Zombies...' is, first of all, a very human story.

Don’t expect to find a main character, they all have their own time and space in this comic, and each of them has something to add to the general plot. Because of this, depending on what kind of reader you are, you can either get lost among so many of them or see a bigger plot taking place on its pages. I must say I’m between both possibilities, ending with a love-hate relationship with this story.

What surprised me the most (besides the fact that this guy seems to be very friendly to have created something so cruel) is that even if you don’t fully understand everything in the beginning, the story is so light and fluent at that point that you just keep going on, page by page, until you’re so deep in this wretched world that you won’t stop until you’re done with it. 

To say that the illustrations are perfect and match the plot is just not enough. Graphic, no censorship allowed and with a visceral style, artist Sophian Cholet and colourist Simon Champelovier take all the risks to create a world as interesting as this story, working (almost always) with small panels that still have enough space for the dialogues and narrative. 

I had a problem with this at first, as I strongly prefer the art to tell the story by itself, but with so many words and so detailed graphics, I felt overwhelmed more than just once. As I said before, this is not my kind of reading, and neither the style I’m used to in comics, but once you get into it, things become more enjoyable.

The last thing I have to say is a big thank you to the publisher for this ARC. I’m sure as heck will be keeping an eye on both the company and the author!

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Book Review: Various Authors – 'Prom Nights from Hell'

VARIOUS AUTHORS
'Prom Nights From Hell'
HARPER COLLINS 

Whenever I think about a perfect romance story, I almost immediately think about a book with five different romances, all of them with a paranormal, dark touch, which adds the perfect dose of enchantment and dreamlike atmosphere. Not that I would like to live all of them, but be sure that there are some that I would like to experience in some level. 

I’m speaking about 'Prom Nights from Hell', a paranormal romance anthology book with five short stories from five best-selling different authors. You can hate me from saying this, but the best one for me will always be Stephenie Meyer, her story as the best one in this book, for what matters. 

Each one of those stories give you a different possibility about what could happen on a prom night if this world was interesting enough, five alternative universes we briefly explore and that could put you creativity into action. Don’t say no, it happened with me right after I was done with this book. 

I completely ignore the stories’ original order because I read this book in Spanish, so I’ll be going on each of them following that order. If you own a copy of it in English, then feel free to go and switch from one paragraph to the other, if that’s what it takes. 

The first one is 'The Exterminator’s Daughter', by Meg Cabot, an interesting tale about sworn to death enemies that reminded me of Romeo and Juliet’s romance: two characters that were supposed to hate each other, and the end up falling in love, finding the sense of their own existence in that of the other. 

It was nice, entertaining, with some minor details I didn’t like that much, as some dialogues that felt too fake, not really natural, but the whole plot managed to keep me inside that little world from the beginning to the end. Not the best one, but very well and a cool starting point for the book. 

Next, we have 'The Corsage', by Lauren Myracle, the darkest and creepiest story among them all. It’s Myracle’s own version of The Monkey's Paw, by W. W. Jacobs, but I feel there’s enough sense of originality into it. 

To be honest, it gave me chills more than any other story I’ve read so far, and trust me, I’ve seen many creepy thing in books and real life, but none of them can be compared to what happens in this one. You have to be brave in order to reach the final page. 

'Madison Avery and the Dim Reaper', by Kim Harrison, is the third instalment in the book, being the introduction to a the already finished Madison Avery trilogy by the same author, which give the already good plot a big plus, and, if I remember correctly, one of the longest in 'Prom Nights from Hell'. 

Filled with action, tension and teenage drama, it was also one of my favourites, behind Myracle’s tale. I would like to explore this world again, as it is the only one that was fully developed in Prom Nights from Hell, but haven’t had the chance (yet.) I literally devoured the pages of this story! 

As the forth one, there is 'Kiss and Tell', by Michele Jaffe, which I can only describe as a curious tale about a paranormal bodyguard and more than interesting client, which end up in a dangerous problem that could cost them their lives. 

I don’t remember this one very well, and it’s because it wasn’t that interesting when I read it. Sure, it entertained me, was worth my time, but didn’t have enough substance on its concept in order to be interesting to the reader. Think of it as a supernatural thriller intended for teenagers. Maybe not the best combination, but a curious one, nonetheless. 

Finally, as the perfect closing story for an awesome book, we get Hell on Earth, by Stephenie Meyer, which I already told you was my favourite one in Prom Nights from Hell. It had a cliché concept, an overused idea, but with such an incredible way it surprised me with every single scene. 

Some may know I’m a Twilighter, but even if you don’t like the sparkling vampires, the idea for this last chapter is completely different and uses an alternative version of Christian mythology. An interesting proposal I fell in love with since the moment I started reading it.

So, is this book worth your time and money? If you’re into paranormal, teenage romance, with doses of action and fear, then the answer is a big yes written in bold neon lights letters. Even if that’s not your kind of reading, I’m sure many of you may have a pleasant time with it and find it as an entertaining distraction from daily life.

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Speaking about Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose #103

Cover A

I started reading the indie comic Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose last year, and I’ve become a huge fan since then. Each issue has giving me something, a different and good lesson, along with great stories and amazing artwork, which is also filled with a high voltage of erotic scenarios. 

Tarot has become a project I’m more than eager to support and follow until it is done, may it be after many years! Its most recent issue, Tarot #103, follows a simple yet powerful script and idea, with an incredibly dynamic pace, light and easy to understand. Jim Balent, the creator, writer and artist, is also not afraid of using controversial ideas such as the inaction of the Divine in unfair situations. 

Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose has created its own mythology, but this issue expands it by adding a new creature and group to the world where the story is set: the Nameless Ones, a coven that is more than clear with their intentions, their point of view about the Gods and how they should be treated. You will also be surprised with the way things turn to be this time. I’m a strong believer that words are way more powerful than actions, in most of the cases, and this idea is loud and clear for the issue, exploring a different, passive  and effective side of Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose. 

Cover B

Contrary to the script, the art of this comic is pure marvel. The level of detail is as high as it can be, and the many different elements for each panel is worth a look, with some of them even adding more information about the plot with their own symbols and meanings. Feelings, emotions and thoughts are graphically reflected in many pages, with a semiotic meaning behind all of them, some obvious, others more hidden. I can also say that Tarot recovers her original dark fantasy look and matches it with its most recent moral-intended subliminal messages. 

You’ll be able to find that there’s hardly a single scene with one more present than the other, but both aspects are nicely used to be in perfect harmony. Also, Balent has taken a new step in the comic series: Jon Webb, the male protagonist, shows his private parts for the very first time, not as explicit as the female characters, but there’s nothing in there censoring male anatomy, which I consider to be good inclusive content for male readers of Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose.

As always, this comic deserves the best score. I haven’t find anything bothering on it and considering this a independent comic published by a small company, that says a lot about its quality and high standards. Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose, is published by Broadsword Comics, with script and art from president Jim Balent, and colours and lettering by Vice President Holly Golightly. Visit their website to buy this and other issues.

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Searching for The Gold-Bug of Poe

There are some stories from Edgar Allan Poe that amazed me at some point, others that gave me chills and a little fear, and there are others that were just a pleasant surprise, but nothing else. That’s the case of one of his police tales for which his is most known nowadays: The Gold-Bug.

The story seems to be pretty simple and with not a big relevance when it comes to an actual plot, as it is about an interesting and exciting adventure done by two friends and the servant of one of them, searching for what they think may be a great treasure no one else has been able to find.

However, things end up not being as easy as this intrepid trio thought at the beginning, starting to succumb at the effect of their own nerves, stress and confusion. What seemed to something curious and interesting starts to show the worst side of each of them, before an end can be reached.

In The Gold Bug, we won’t get any phantom, ghost, specter, supernatural creature or magic of any kind. This is not a tale with these elements or anything remotely similar, but a tale more focused on mental abilities, highlighting human capabilities and how far can our brain go if they are applied correctly.

Although the main idea, which is a treasure hunt because of a singular bug and the ideas a man gets by thinking on it, the narrative is somewhat disappointing, heavy, hard to follow from beginning to end, and filled with many fancy words that only make it more challenging to understand what Edgar Allan Poe was writing.

What bothered me at first about The Gold-Bug was that it was such a simple story, with nothing that remarkable or relevant, and that relays on its characters’ abilities to decipher a mystery. This could be considered one of the first detective stories for some of us, and has the pros and cons of the time’s style, but to have such simplicity, and coming from Poe is what didn’t let me enjoy the reading as in other cases.

This is one side of Poe I explored for the first time, and despite it wasn’t the best experience and not even near to how I thought it would be, I cannot deny that it was interesting and fresh. The Gold-Bug shows how versatile this man was and gives another reason to love his work and memory, as if there were not enough of both.

Don’t get me wrong, this story doesn’t disappointing at all, as it still keeps you immersed in the plot, maybe not as much as other darker tales, and with even more reason if this is not the kind of readings you’re used to, but it wasn’t the experience I thought I will have, to be honest.

I can clearly see why many people have been amazed because of this story, as it gets really interesting in the second half of The Gold-Bug, after a long explanation on how things took their path and shape, and you can be sure that I liked to know more about this page after page, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is a heavy reading.

As I see it, you should know all of this before start with this one, in case you commit the same mistake as I and forget that Poe was, besides a writer interested in the darkest side of gothic literature and horror, he was a lover of mysteries and detectives as well. Not the best of his creations, if you ask me, but you’ll be able to like and enjoy The Gold-Bug by keeping this in mind.

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How to change human mind with 'The Fall of the House of Usher'

One of my favorite writers, and that I feel connected with, is Edgar Allan Poe, not because of name matters as some used to tell me before, but for the way we see life and reflect it on both tales and poems. I believe there’s enough material out there that could serve as an inspiration for scary, creepy texts, very visual and with a different, alternative proposal. Poe seemed to think the same.

Among the stories I’ve read from him, there’s one in particular I cannot get tired from and always re-read after a while: “The Fall of the House of Usher,” which I see as a constant inspiration in many books, TV shows and even some movies, with material intended for either teens or adults. Seems like many agree with me on this, as I find only positive commentaries on this famous tale.

It didn’t surprised me, to be honest, since this is one of those stories that perfectly represent the gothic movement, not only because of the aesthetic, which is very well done by a master on the topic, but because it makes the reader think on uncomfortable matters such as sanity, human condition and family bonds for a long while, changing many points of view we used to believe were solid.

I consider that books, and any kind stories in general that is meant to be presented to a public, should have at least some substance, content, more than just entertaining purposes, and The Fall of the House of Usher is a perfect example on how this should be done: creating a unique world, interesting characters, a simple, yet original plot, deep dialogues and finish it with a dramatic plot twist.

Despite being a very short, brief tale, easy to read in a couple of minutes, Poe managed to get the reader into the world, put ourselves in the characters’ skin and feel everything they may have inside, may it be love, loss or the deepest sense of doom and claustrophobia. The fact that it’s not a light, simple reading doesn’t represent an obstacle at all, but the whole contrary: it adds more enchant to this sinister plot.

In a deeper sense, The Fall of the House of Usher explores the influence of certain places, especially one’s own home, in human mind, how it can change us, make us a different person and the different levels of effect it can generate in our minds. This idea is divided in two parts: those who adapt to the place, changing themselves in the process, and those who cannot do it, no matter what.

Also, it combines the two sides of literature Poe is famous for: prose and poetry, which he combines for a short while to create a distraction from the narration, a fantasy brief addition, right before the original plot starts to show its real, horrific face, playing with the readers’ emotions as if they were mere toys and leaving us seeing and thinking about the world under a different point of view. Needless to say that this is a new, darker perspective some may find unpleasant.

However, since nothing is as perfect as we’d like it to be, I wouldn’t recommend you to read The Fall of the House of Usher if you’re under hard, difficult times, if you suffer from depression, anxiety, or anything similar, that’s the only punctual negative aspect of this tale: its triggering nature. I myself had some hard minutes due to some descriptions, all of them metaphoric, but closely related to what I was feeling during those days.

Besides this unfortunate face of such an amazing and emblematic story, I consider that anyone who wants to be considered as part of the Gothic subculture, or alternative movement in general, should have read this story at least once, as it is one of those stories that rewrites itself every time you come back to it, changing its meaning depending on who you are while reading. You can call me whatever you want, but nobody can deny the emotional charge and potential in The Fall of the House of Usher. 

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'The Witching Hour', by Anne Rice, and it’s Gothic enchant

Way back in 1990, Anne Rice was publishing 'The Witching Hour', the first book in her 'Lives of the Mayfair Witches' series, of the stories that showed the kind of stories this woman had in mind and wanted to write.

I had the chance to buy this emblematic book not long ago, just because of the curiosity I felt towards Rice’s work, praised as one of the best ones in the Gothic vein of literature, knowing practically nothing about it, just that it was better to start with this series and then go for her 'Vampire Chronicles'.

Some of my obsessions in books are magic and witches, which are the topics I always try to include in my To-read lists, and in the stories I write as well. Since this is one of the most worshipped authors among readers, I thought there was nothing to lose to give her a try.

Little did I suspect that Rowan Mayfair and Michael Curry, main characters of 'The Witching Hour', will become close friends of mine during my trips in my comings and goings from college. What used to be an empty time that I spent doing nothing became a very precious reading time I felt too short.

The beginning was strange, as it starts directly with the accident’s consequences in Curry, detailing everything that happened and the subsequent encounter with Rowan Mayfair, a woman who knows nothing about her family history, her roots, her past and surrounded by a halo of fame and mystery as a neurosurgeon.

From there, 'The Witching Hour' will let us discover the many secrets that Rowan has dealt over the years and the hard time Michael has been living since the accident. Their romance, a secondary plot in the overall plot, will serve as a guide and their motive to travel and discover the lives of the Mayfair family.

To describe it as tempting the idea of telling you what this family is in reality, besides witches, is not enough. I almost need it, but I’m sure it is going to spoil the whole book for you, which I strongly recommend you to read.

You will find many heavy topics and uncensored stories for each member of this peculiar family, each of them weirder than the past one, and, strangely, they are all presented in an elegant way, so you don’t realize what you’re reading until you need to stop for any reason, that’s when you realize how twisted The Witching Hour really is.

Many classical elements of Gothic literature are presented in a mean way, creating a sinister and dark atmosphere. It’s like getting immersed in a different world, a new side of this very same Earth we think we know and discovering its macabre secrets, although I can hardly think about anyone who will like to have this kind of familiars.

I cannot deny that 'The Witching Hour' has its own enchant. Every phrase is so graphic and poetic at the same time it casts a spell, making us read as much as we can, despite the heavy content and style.

Because of this, I would tell you read many more books before getting into this one in particular. It’s not the reading you could describe as fast, easy, light or kind, but it won’t either make you suffer, scream or get traumatized, or not before the end, at least.

Many bloggers have criticized just that, the end. I’ve see a lot of reviews on 'The Witching Hour' complaining about it and how they felt that Rice should have changed it in order to make it better and more “readable,” and if any asks me, that’s a complete nonsense.

People makes the mistake of comparing this with other books, mostly those that fall in Young Adult or Teenager category, which have a different style in every sense, including the ending. If it wasn’t enough to get out of their comfort zone, to expect the same for this than in other light novels is what they needed to hate such an interesting story. I’m begging you not to do this if you want to fully discover 'The Witching Hour’s' enchant.

I can only recommend it for mature reader, but, considering these times, some will agree with me saying that a seventeen years old will feel comfortable enough to enjoy and learn a little bit with 'The Witching Hour'. 

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