That Which Shiri is Reading:
image via goodreads.com
If I hadn’t already read a synopsis, the tag line would have turned me off (my library copy has it, this image doesn’t. Interesting, I didn’t know it was an optional feature). Can’t say I understand the new trend of including said on the cover and I sort of hope it goes away soon. They’re very hard to do well and I find the majority of them off-putting.
I’m very glad I did read a synopsis first because California Bones is a ton of fun (my kind of fun, anyway. Which is a little twisted and often involves demons of one kind of another). The central character, Daniel Blackland, fits nicely into that alt-LA-fantasy-tinge of horror populated by Richard Kadrey’s Sandman Slim and Stephen Blackmore’s Eric Carter; if you’re fans of those guys (and I am – authors and anti-heroes alike), you’ll be apt to take a liking to Blackland as well.
The magic system of focus, osteomancy, which involves ingesting the bones of cryptozoological creatures in possession of the powers the mage wants is awesome. And gross. And awesome. I’m super impressed that, two-thirds of the way through, Van Eeekhout has managed to keep the story engaging while still relegating the big bad to the back burner (think Shining level, “waiting for something horrible to happen” tension).
I’ll do a full review, possibly a smack down with Stephen Blackmoore’s new book, Broken Souls, when I’ve finished both.
image via
comicsalliance.com
Because who doesn’t need more Star Lord in her life? My comics pull list is quickly becoming my own personal rogues gallery and I like it. More closely related to the movie than to the 2008-2011 Guardians run, just FYI, and I suppose you could say it’s a little spoiler-y re: information hinted at in the movie that I am guessing will be fleshed out in the already announced Guardians 2 as regards Quill’s absentee father. While I won’t say it’s earth-shattering by any stretch, it’s comic-brain candy with my preferred style of art that earns an out loud giggle every page or so. Good fun.
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