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itcamefromthepage's reviews
838 reviews
Batman Returns by Craig Shaw Gardner
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
What an unhinged and completely unnecessarily horny novelization for a film that is ALREADY BOTH OF THOSE.
Penguin is a straight up Richard Laymon character in this novel hahahaha it is kind of amazing.
As a novelization it gets all of the main points of movie well and doesn't overstay its welcome. It is much more R-rated than the film its based off of, be warned.
Penguin is a straight up Richard Laymon character in this novel hahahaha it is kind of amazing.
As a novelization it gets all of the main points of movie well and doesn't overstay its welcome. It is much more R-rated than the film its based off of, be warned.
The forbidden visions of Lucius Galloway by Carrie Harris
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Received as an ARC from Netgalley:
This was another excellent entry into the Arkham Horror line with a unique perspective and a very tense ending. This book plays around a lot with dream logic and obsession which fits the world extremely well.
Our lead characters are all much older than the normal leads of most fiction. Lucius is in his 60s and as such he isn't the rip roaring hero of most pulp. Making him a queer black man makes this something Ole HP would never tackle. The characters are incredibly well drawn and likeable. The pace is a bit slower, but that works well for the story being told.
Many book spaces have had this erroneous claim lately that reading isn't political and a book like this perfectly highlights why YES IT VERY MUCH IS. In the 1920s women had to fight in order to get access to academic circles, being able to get into certain libraries were restricted, and the same of course for people of colour in the era.
Great cosmic horror tale!
This was another excellent entry into the Arkham Horror line with a unique perspective and a very tense ending. This book plays around a lot with dream logic and obsession which fits the world extremely well.
Our lead characters are all much older than the normal leads of most fiction. Lucius is in his 60s and as such he isn't the rip roaring hero of most pulp. Making him a queer black man makes this something Ole HP would never tackle. The characters are incredibly well drawn and likeable. The pace is a bit slower, but that works well for the story being told.
Many book spaces have had this erroneous claim lately that reading isn't political and a book like this perfectly highlights why YES IT VERY MUCH IS. In the 1920s women had to fight in order to get access to academic circles, being able to get into certain libraries were restricted, and the same of course for people of colour in the era.
Great cosmic horror tale!
Silent Night, Deadly Night by Armando Muñoz
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was truly vile in sections but in a way that reminded me of older extreme horror as opposed to the newer slate of 'splatterpunk'. It was nasty but there was a point to the nastiness.
Silent Night, Deadly Night as a film creates a structure that impacted slasher literature in many ways. The character study elements are something uniquely suited to the novel format and Munoz does a great job tackling them in an official novelization.
Whilst not perfect, elements added can be extremely skeevy in ways that I'm not always comfortable with, and sometimes the tonal shift between 'serious character study' w/ 'campy slasher movie' conflict.
All that being said though...this is a book I really liked and I don't know if I feel good admitting that hahahaha.
Silent Night, Deadly Night as a film creates a structure that impacted slasher literature in many ways. The character study elements are something uniquely suited to the novel format and Munoz does a great job tackling them in an official novelization.
Whilst not perfect, elements added can be extremely skeevy in ways that I'm not always comfortable with, and sometimes the tonal shift between 'serious character study' w/ 'campy slasher movie' conflict.
All that being said though...this is a book I really liked and I don't know if I feel good admitting that hahahaha.
The Rose at War by Danie Ware
medium-paced
3.5
A fun and enjoyable Warhammer collection, I think I prefer the smaller scale stuff in this as opposed to the bigger battles that are explored in the final novella but it was good time!
Universal Monsters: Dracula by James Tynion IV
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
AMAZING AMAZING artwork, the story is typical of Dracula faire but it works quite well, the artwork though really sells this one.
Sons of the Selenar by Graham McNeill
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fantastic conclusion to the Shattered Legions and this is my last book connected to the main Horus Heresy Line which is hard to believe. What a journey.
Sojourn by R.A. Salvatore
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It is rare a book leaves me with quotes to ponder, ideas, concepts, emotions? Yes...but words to live by? Not often. Sojourn accomplishes all the latter elements excellently but it's the quotes I think that shall stick by me most often. Especially in months such as this, when it appears the future to be Grim.
“My very survival has been based upon my belief that there is a higher purpose to this life: that principles are a reward in and of themselves. I cannot, therefore, look forward in despair, but rather with higher hopes for all in mind and with the determination that I might help to reach those heights"
“There is a wide world out there, my friend, full of pain, but filled with joy as well. The former keeps you on the path of growth, and the latter makes the journey tolerable.”
“Those who aspire to less accomplish less. There can be no doubt. It is better, I think, to grab at the stars than to sit flustered because you know you cannot reach them.”
Words and ideas to live by.
“My very survival has been based upon my belief that there is a higher purpose to this life: that principles are a reward in and of themselves. I cannot, therefore, look forward in despair, but rather with higher hopes for all in mind and with the determination that I might help to reach those heights"
“There is a wide world out there, my friend, full of pain, but filled with joy as well. The former keeps you on the path of growth, and the latter makes the journey tolerable.”
“Those who aspire to less accomplish less. There can be no doubt. It is better, I think, to grab at the stars than to sit flustered because you know you cannot reach them.”
Words and ideas to live by.
Candy Cain Kills Again: The Second Slaying by Brian McAuley
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was AWESOME, everything someone would want from a slasher novella. I think it's better than the first one and proof that Brian McAuley is one of my favourite authors writing genre fiction today.
The kills were absolutely brutal but it was balanced with some genuine emotion that made the whole thing work.
Between this and American Rapture ex-church kids be feasting this year.
The kills were absolutely brutal but it was balanced with some genuine emotion that made the whole thing work.
Between this and American Rapture ex-church kids be feasting this year.
Ghouls of the Miskatonic by Graham McNeill
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This one took a bit to get going, but once the plot kicked in I had a great time. Some truly spooky sequences that really make me excited to dive into the cosmic weirdness the rest of this series is sure to provide.
Graham McNeill tells a good cosmic tale whether it be in the 1920s or the 41st Millennium.
Graham McNeill tells a good cosmic tale whether it be in the 1920s or the 41st Millennium.
Spider Man: Carnage In New York by James W. Fry III, David Michelinie, Dean Wesley Smith
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The plot is definitely convoluted and to get going a lot of weird things have to occur buuuuut the core message of the story really let this one shine.
Should Carnage be activating Spidey sense? No but who really cares. The core of this is classic Spidey complete with an ongoing personal issue with a ticking clock. This really highlighted why the marriage was such a good dynamic shift as MJ does as much as Spider-Man to solve core plot issues.
I read this and I'm not entirely sure if the audio version cuts this book down slightly. I saw a few comments saying that they felt Carnage was toned down for the story, whilst in the book I read he brutally murders an entire party worth of people in a truly gruesome fashion...so audio listeners beware you may be missing the best part.
Carnage is spooky, Spidey is quippy, and I'm a happy webhead.
Should Carnage be activating Spidey sense? No but who really cares. The core of this is classic Spidey complete with an ongoing personal issue with a ticking clock. This really highlighted why the marriage was such a good dynamic shift as MJ does as much as Spider-Man to solve core plot issues.
I read this and I'm not entirely sure if the audio version cuts this book down slightly. I saw a few comments saying that they felt Carnage was toned down for the story, whilst in the book I read he brutally murders an entire party worth of people in a truly gruesome fashion...so audio listeners beware you may be missing the best part.
Carnage is spooky, Spidey is quippy, and I'm a happy webhead.