Horror Books

It is probably best to face the controversial issue in this volume right up front. The previous installment finished with little Guts as in a precarious situation. And as expected, the soldier that paid Gambino, the boy's stepfather and "protector", for a night with Guts, achieves his goal in a vicious manner. The scenes in the manga are clear and vividly disturbing, but I think that given the nature of this series it is reasonable to go this route instead of excluding the scene and only mentioning it. This brutal act is a key piece in understanding Guts, his distrust of other people and the hate and darkness he carries inside. At this point, I am fully aware that events of this nature are likely to show up again in this series, I accept it and it is not going to detract from my enjoyment of it.

On a different note, I found that this volume contained a considerably larger amount of dialogue and the absence of demons (if you discount Griffith) gives it the felling of a more typical story in medieval times. The volume follows Guts through his childhood and life as a mercenary. Maybe even more importantly, we witness the moment in which Guts meets Griffith and his Hawks, including the mighty female warrior Casca. Guts confrontations with Griffith are some of the best I have ever seen.

I have commented in my reviews of previous volumes about how detailed and vivid the graphics on this series are. In this case, I believe that the graphics were taken up a notch, or maybe it is because the nature of the story calls for more light, and therefore the details are easier to observe. The storyline is still fascinating and as I mentioned before violence and gore are present as usual. It is amazing how someone can create characters with such depth using images and sparse words; hats off to Kentaro Miura!

I'll start with the way this manga began, which is really the only reason why I took two stars from what I had guaranteed myself would be a five. In the previous volume, what I thought was an implied molest ended the graphic novel, but this volume picks up from that final scene and continues it all the way up to penetration. Though not graphically drawn, the motions and the imagery make it quite clear what is happening to the young Guts. This was an ugly scene that actually caused me to put this manga down for a while. Not only that, but it was unneeded. After finishing volume three, I had already known what had or was going to happen to Guts, as I'm sure most of the readers of this manga knew as well. And while the book has a sticker on the cover stating that there is graphic content within these pages, I think this was taking it too far. Violence and nudity is tolerable, but this wasn't. Kentaro Miura, or even the American publishers, could have cut this scene by two or three pages and it still would have made plenty of sense. It left me with a bad taste and I nearly gave this book a one because of it.

Luckily, though, it still is Berserk, and after that distasteful beginning, the story goes on into Guts's past. His history with Gambino is concluded in this volume, and his place with Griffith and the Band of the Hawk begins. For anyone who saw the anime first, this will be instantly familiar to you. Guts's beginnings with the Band of Hawk is not good. It begins as a series of confrontations and death, until Guts finally faces off with Griffith. It's this battle that determines Guts's future with the Band. After that, Guts begins his first official assignment, and determines that he'll succeed no matter what the costs. Despite the darker tones of the previous volumes, this volume is a little darker without the presence of the comic relief Puck.

Now, though I may be repeating myself, I will only recommend this book to fans of the Berserk series. If you're aren't really interested, then stay away from this book. And if you weren't impressed by the first couple volumes, then stop now so as not to find yourself extremely disappointed with a very graphic beginning. But, if you're aren't as sensitive as me, I'd still only recommend this book for readers eighteen years of age or older. There is nothing in Berserk that should appeal to kids in any way, and parents should avoid purchasing this for their children.

F. Paul Wilson's THE KEEP is one of the best atmospheric horror novels ever published. Cleverly plotted, ably written and featuring characters of remarkable depth and complexity, it does a great deal to single-handedly destroy the sterotype that "scary" books can't rise to the level of art.

THE KEEP begins in early-mid WW2, with a small unit of German soldiers occupying a deserted castle in the Translyvanian Alps. When one of the soldiers foolishly disturbs a secret chamber in the cellar, however, he discovers that the castle isn't deserted after all. Something was sleeping inside...and it woke up hungry. A week later, Wehrmacht HQ receives a chilling telegram from the German commandant: "Request immediate relocation. Something is murdering my men."

THE KEEP is actually many carefully interwoven stories. Captain Klaus Woermann is a tough, principled officer of the Prussian school, appalled by the effortless ease with which an unseen, possibly supernatural killer is butchering his elite soldiers. SS-Major Erich Kaempfer, dispatched with a "special action commando"to crush what he initially is sure is a guerilla insurrection, is a pitiless killer who views his assignment as a way to wangle a concentration camp command and settle an old score with Woermann. Magda Cuzar is a lovely Romanian Jewess forced to accompany her wheelchair-bound father, a folklore expert, Theodor to the keep, in the hopes that his expert knowledge of its history may prove the weapon the Germans need to save themselves. And mysterious traveller Glenn may or may not be the missing piece of the puzzle everyone needs to survive the night.

Wilson's novel distinguishes itself from the pack by virtue of its very strong and well-drawn characters and by the individual trials each much endure in the bloodthirsty corridors of the keep. He plays heavily on classic themes of Gothic horror but adds some surprising and unexpected twists which prevent the story from falling into predictable conventions. Just as importantly, it establishes from the very first chapter a feeling of dread which intensifies to an almost unbearable degree as the story goes on. The gore-spattered climax comes almost as a relief.

Many reviewers mention THE KEEP as being part of Wilson's "Adversary Cycle", but it should be clearly understood this book was written as a stand-alone work and doesn't obligate the reader to buy anything else. Nor is there any need. THE KEEP does for itself, and it does just fine.

Pleasant dreams.

I lost alot of sleep staying up to the wee hours reading this wonderful story.F Paul wilson is a great story teller.His other books in the series night world,the tomb and the touch are must reads as well

A few key elements to an entertaining story are here. An old dark
fortress, a bunch of ratzi soldiers, and some vampire type monsters. Not
a lot more you could ask for in a horror tale of this type.

What would you expect when you fortress is a castle in the
Transylvanian mountains? Unsurprisingly, the commander starts to see
his troop numbers decrease.

All I can say is this is one of my all time favorite reads. This story will grab you from the very beginning and never let you go. After I finished reading the Keep I found myself wanting more. I hope F. Paul Wilson's other writings are as good as The Keep, if so I'll be a very happy lady.

In 1941 a small contingent of Nazi soldiers occupies an abandoned keep in the mountains of Romania. The origins and purpose of the keep are shrouded in mystery, but the Germans care little about such things. The first night of their occupation, one of their number pulls one of the stone blocks that forms a cellar wall. In search of buried treasure, he instead finds a quick and grisly death. By breaking into a secret chamber, he has released something that had been trapped for 500 years. The remaining soldiers quickly come to believe that it is a vampire, but is it really? The quest for answers leads them to recruit an old professor, Theodore Cuza and his daughter Magda, who happen to be Jews.

The Keep is the first in F. Paul Wilson's Adversary Cycle series of six novels. After this series was written, Wilson went on to start the Repairman Jack series that is up to eleven books with more to come. Since this is where the whole epic starts, it's virtually a must read for fans of either series. The story is part horror, part character study. Captain Woermann is semi-sympathetic German officer because he is not a Nazi and is sickened by the actions of the SS and others. Yet, he is not exactly pure of heart so most readers will probably have a love/hate relationship with him at best. Magda and her father are the story's innocents as they get dragged into a lethal situation. They are threatened with death if they don't help the Nazis, and death later even if they do.

The Keep clocks in at just over 400 pages and that helps keep it from dragging too badly. It's not the tightest plot you'll ever see, but it mostly pushes forward and holds a reader's interest. The climactic battle at the end is worth the journey and should satisfy most. I would recommend this book to any Wilson fans and as a starting point to anyone interested in trying his work. The other obvious choice for beginners is The Tomb (Adversary Cycle/Repairman Jack), which is the second of the Adversary Cycle series and introduces Repairman Jack.

This is the 4th in a series of very clever & FUNNY romps through KeyWest & Florida. I love TacoBob & his crazy visions... Can I SEE a Chacmool now?

The story of an average family and their sensitive son had its eerie moments. The end was a major disappointment, which left me unable to tie up all the loose ends.

You have the relationship of the family, despite all the things trying to erode them from the outside, teachers, church members, co-workers and bosses. There is their strong faith too that makes the family appealing even to non-believers like me.
There are lines in this book that made my eyes tear up. When I was mature enough to be moved by this book, the ending made me bawl my eyes out.

There were interesting twists and turns in the story. You'll never really expect the end. It will punch you in the gut.
This book is Orson Scott Card at is finest. Writing a powerful story with characters based on him and his own family. It's right there with Ender's Game and Seventh Son, two other fine books by Orson Scott Card.

Over the years I have read several of Cards books. When his first stories came out I thought that I would be reading every one of them because they were so great. However, over time, I started to pick up one story after another that left me totally unsatisfied. What makes me so up-beat about Lost Boys is that it is really an adult novel that works well on several levels.

First of all, the story is very complicated. Card surrounds this premise with layer upon layer of details that you just don't ordinarily find in genre writing. This got a little long winded at times and I thought that Cards foray into Mormonism, though interesting, was way to predominant. It would have been great if he had edited it down enough so that it would have meshed nicely with the computer programing, but this is just a little bit of a nit-picking exercise on my part.

Secondly, the characters are great. They are based on himself and his family, and this really adds a level of detail that is just inspiring. I could read mundane little episodes and was just sucked into passage after passage. In a lot of ways, this story is lots of small trails that barely link together. In the end they do, like in To Kill A Mocking Bird.

Two reasons for my not giving this book five stars are that the parents a more than a little blind to some goings on of the eldest child. It was frustrating for me to see that they were not asking the right questions or any questions at all. And secondly, as I said before, at times the book slows down to the point of a stall when Card goes into just a little too much detail such as with the Mormon Church.

I think that if you like Cards work, you would really enjoy this story. Well worth picking up. Especially if you are searching for genre writing that is just a little more adult and better thought out than the usual fare.

I am a Orson Scott Card fan, however this story was just pointless. Although it is well written, and the characters are interesting, the story is just a recruting story for the Mormon church. I have nothing againt the LDS cgurch, and as a matter of fact found the family in the story wonderful... ipossibly SO wonderful. A fantasy always gets along no problem family. The real plot goes nowhere slow... painfully slow. Just not interesting. Much better stories out there to devote time to.

I read this book maybe 10 years ago and still think about it constantly. This is definitely number one of the list of books that I can't "shake". Incredible story with a shocking ending that is completely unforgettable!

This graphic novel collects 3 previously published stories, "Spike: Old Times" by Peter David, and "Spike: Old Wounds" and "Spike: Lost and Found" by Scott Tipton. The art in each of the stories is by Fernando Goni. All of the stories are set during Angel: The Series. Spike is living in Los Angeles as a vampire with a soul. If you found his portrayal on A:TS a bit lacking, I think you might enjoy this book more.

First of all, the artwork is superb. There is nothing worse than reading a Spike comic that draws Spike ugly or as having little or no resemblance to James Marsters. Fear not, Goni's artwork is painstakingly accurate to ALL the actors from the series. Some of the expressions that he gives Spike seem straight out of BTVS, like choices that James Marsters would actually make as an actor.

The first story, "Spike: Old Times," pits Spike against the Vengeance Demon Halfrek, who used to be Cecily, the woman that Spike once loved and wrote "bloody awful poetry" for back when he was the human William. Cecily once told Spike he was "beneath her". This is an amusing little revenge tale for Spike.

The second story is "Spike: Old Wounds". Spike teams up with Fred to prove his innocence in a gruesome murder from decades past. We get to see a lot of Spike's backstory here from his Bad Boy days. More importantly, perhaps, we see his relationship with Fred, and conversely, the lack of trust he receives from the rest of the "Fang Gang".

The final story is also the best, and the most compelling reason that I am recommending this volume. It is "Spike: Lost and Found," and it reads like the best episode of Angel never made. In Angel Season 1, Spike guest-starred in an episode where he goes to LA to steal the Gem of Amarra from Angel, a magical ring that makes the vampire who wears it indestructible and impervious to sunlight, crosses, stakes, etc.

"Lost and Found" is like a sequel to that episode. Complete with humorous flashback to Spike's short-lived relationship with Harmony, we discover that, unbeknownst to Spike, there were actually TWO Gems of Amarra. Now a vampire has his hands on the Gem, and is using it to commit murders in broad daylight. It's up to Spike and Angel to find the vamp and take back the Gem.

The best thing I can say about this story is that it does read like an actual quality episode of Buffy or Angel. The characterization, plot, and humor are all there. The interaction between Angel and Spike is brilliant, and possibly better than anything we saw in Angel Season 5. The story, besides having a good plot, is all about the CHARACTERS and the tension and guilt between Spike and Angel. Fighting against a vampire with the Gem of Amarra reminds Spike of the vampire he used to be, and also of the torture he had inflicted upon Angel when he was after the Gem.

Perhaps the best part of the story is the ending. The question is, if Spike regains the Gem, this time what does he do with it? Does he use it to become invincible, does he use it for his own selfish purposes (such as visiting Buffy), or can he make the same choice Angel once made, and destroy it? Exactly how much has Spike grown and changed since his earliest days on BTVS?

Fascinating read, excellent dialogue. Scott Tipton treats these characters well, and you'll thank him for it!

This volume of stories portrays Spike as a Good Guy and a Hero, without watering down his snarky attitude or Bad Boy persona. Highly recommended for all Spike fans.

I was not impressed by the artwork. The storylines where unoriginal and lame. They could have done better. The cover art is the best part of the book. Tales of the Vampire is way better.

I like Spike, so when I saw this comic book (I guess they say graphic novel now), I ordered it right away. The stories are good, the text easy to follow and the drawings are outstanding.

I recommend this one highly!

I loved the stories( all three) and the art work is wonderful. I mean very beautiful. I say this is worth the purchase. Or if you rather now they have a Premiere edition in hardback... it has all the Spike stories( 5 or 6, I think), go for that! I am.

This is a must-see, must-have for any fan of BTVS/ANGEL. Fernando Goni's art is perfect, the writing is perfect, and you really get the impression that you've just watched unaired episodes of ANGEL, as opposed to just reading another comic book. The three stories are each very good, full of humor, action, and everything else we love about our favorite Brit bloodsucker (and the universe in which he brings chaos to). Joss Whedon should let these guys write the script for the purported Spike movie (if it ever goes into production).

This is one of the best zombie books I have ever read, and I have read a few. Take a moment, order and read the thing, you will be glad you did. I cannot wait for more.

The book was good in all aspects of zombiedom. I have only one question. Does the author hate America?

I have not read this book yet, but did read the previous one. I really only have one comment on the recent surge of Zombie stories: for God's sakes, tactical military vehicles DO NOT use ignition keys! I know that many authors use the lack of an ignition key as a action-point, but come on! If an author is going to use an item in a story, please do some research to ensure that it is realistic. If they need a key, then use the steering wheel locking cable as an action-point, not non-existent ignition keys.

The prequel to this book did itself good by creating a story that made itself stand out, but with the sequel, the book seems to jut out on the bookshelf with a bloody and violent cover, one that official says, `Do not be alarmed, everything is under control . . .'

How's that for drawing somebody into the book? Ibarra makes sure that people read by introducing a lot of interesting characters, and from where George leaves off, we enter the tale of a whole mix of other characters that introduce the reader to a variety of different survivors. There's women who are as tough as nails, men who are corrupted by the savage tenacity of a brutal world, and a young child who believes himself to be his favorite cartoon character when things get bad. Ibarra is able to tell a good story, just like he did in the first book, he shows us how tough it would be to survive in such a world. Zombies are constantly lurking, and with FEMA still on the loose as they try to put the survivors in contained, dangerous encampments-which are meant to protect them-the world is even a more dangerous place than it had been before.

Down the Road: On the Last Day is violent, bloody, erotic and sexy with a whole lot of trouble mixed into it. Read the book, because as we all know, They're coming to get you.

I agree with Patrick S. Dorazio on his review - the story is good but the execution is very flawed. It's too obvious that the author does not think highly of the UN which in itself is not a crime however to assume that European UN peacekeepers would start slaughtering innocent US civilians... I personally could see a planned military coup as being more realistic.. after all the Europeans and other UN members would be too busy fighting their own zombie plague before even thinking of "helping" another nation. The end was also a letdown and I think he can do much better. Maybe next novel...

I thoroughly enjoyed the Frontiersman but this was too much data - I enjoy Eckert's descriptives and narratives - should have known as it is described as a chronicle of events.

Regardless of the Indian slaughters people kept moving west. They were not innocent in their fight to populate the frontier west of the Alleghenies. Indians took scalps and sold them to the British. The settlers given the opportunity also took Indian scalps for revenge. It took a long time before the people east of the Alleghenies to become concerned about the troubles in the west. In this book "Grity" is a troubled frontiersman rather than a monster. I agree with the author's viewpoint. By Ruth Thompson Author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River"

I bought this book about two years ago. The last book by Eckert I had read before this was "The HAB Theory", published in the 70's. Overall, I enjoyed the book; however, much of what Eckert wrote about my family, the Zane Family, is innacurate. That's because he took what Zane Gray--a distant cousin--wrote in "Betty Zane" as gospel. The first Zane was NOT a Danish nobleman; he was an Englishman named Robert Zane, who came here in 1687 with William Penn (the Zanes were originally Quakers.) Robert's grandson, William, was kicked out of the Society of Friends for marrying a non-Quaker. William's children were Silas, Ebenezer, Jonathan, Andrew, Isaac, and Elizabeth. These are the 'famous' Zanes. Ebenezer founded Wheeling WV; Zanesville OH is named after him. Isaac, my direct ancestor, was raised by the Wyandots and married Myeerah, daughter of Chief Tarhe. Elizabeth--Betty--saved Fort Henry (Wheeling) in the last battle of the Revolution (NOT Ebenezer's wife, Elizabeth, as Eckert wrote). Many present day Zanes, including me, wrote to Eckert to protest what was written (I, personally, am miffed he made no mention of Isaac and Myeerah). He promised to make all corrections when the book comes out in another edition.

Eckert combines a great veracity for historical accuracy with a spellbinding ability to weave too-often dry history into a narrative form. This is a wonderful book, full of history and adventure--so much better than anything Hollywood could come up with!

I bought this book because I found out on the internet that it chronicled an ancestor of mine that I knew very little about. I was not disappointed. My ancestor, Capt. Sam Brady, was one of the main characters and his life story was made clear to me for the first time. If you thought the main Indian wars were held in the west you need to read this and have your eyes opened. It's nothing we should be proud of but we need to be aware of it anyway. It is brought to light in such minute detail it's a wonder it could have been written in a lifetime. Great book by a great author.

I really wanted to give this book a 4 star rating. I enjoy the author and definitely enjoy the world she has created. I think it's different from other worlds about vampires and shapeshifters. However, I could only manage a 3 star rating for this one.

I enjoyed her first two books of the series tremendously. Elijah however, starts off very slowly. There's very little dialogue in the first couple chapters and if you haven't read the first two books I'm not sure you could understand it. You wouldn't get the interplay and the attraction between the two lead characters. As a reader, you also wouldn't understand the other couples and their backstories. I would suggest you not start with this book. It's not a stand alone. I also found a lot of the story unplausible or didn't ring true based on what has happened before.

The book picks up its pace about mid-way through. The last 50 pages or so are very good and action packed. I don't agree with some other reviewers about ending the book before the get together takes place. I think this serves the purpose of making the series flow. I recommend this book to followers of the series in order to stay up on what is happening for future books. However, I am concerned that the series may start repeating itself and going downhill. I look forward to the next book to see if the author turns it around.

This series is a wonderful way to spend a few evenings in an alternate world. Good stories, colorful descriptions.

whole series is so hot you'll burn your hands. guaranteed to improve your love life

Easy read, somewhat silly in the love department (his budging biceps caught her attn and she could not help but wonder what the rest of him looked like) just made that up, but silly things like that. Besides the corny love/sex scenes, it is entertaining and light. I like this series a lot.

"Elijah" is the first book I've read by Jaquelyn. This is a romance between a man and woman of slightly different races, neither quite human. It takes place in a modern day variantion. The man is injured in an ambush, the woman finds him and nurses him back to health, and viola! It is a classic plot, nicely done, always a winner.

That said, this book starts really ... really ... really slowly ... like watching wheat grow, or trying to out-sleep a cat. The first two chapters have no dialog, almost no action, just loads of back-story presented as summaries. It reminded me of a UFC match I watched where the two combatants lay without moving for 30 minutes in the same position (the guard), while the crowed chanted "Boring, Borring, Boring!" That about summarizes the first two chapters.

But once you get past those chapters, "Elijah" is pretty good. It has some really fun ideas, creative characters, and interesting personalities. The mood is melodramatic and fun. I loved the woman's race in particular -- way cool! From chapter 2 to about 2/3 of the way through is really quite good. And then...

Then the book really should have stopped. There is an obvious point where the author could have said "the end" and had a solid 4-star book, slightly shorter than Elijah. The couple has worked out their differences, gotten married, close to black. Alas, no. Instead, it starts point-of-view hopping madly between what are obviously characters from previous books, a kluged ending that distracts from and weakens the main romance and doesn't really seem to fit.

Altogether, a fun book for a lazy afternoon reading in your hammock. Enjoy! Oh, and consider stopping when the main couple work out all of their differences.

After a series of volumes in which happiness abounded and things were looking up, this installment represents a turning point in the story and a return to darker times. At the end of the previous volume, Guts swiftly defeated Griffith and abandoned him and the Band of Hawks. Guts did this in an effort to seek his destiny and his dream instead of just following Griffith's. But now he is already having doubts, especially since for the first time in his life he had a group of people he could call friends.

Griffith has been greatly affected by Guts' departure but is still pursuing his dream, and in the process he is getting romantically involved with Princess Charlotte. But there will be repercussions from his actions. In the meantime, Casca, who had started developing a friendship with Guts, misses him greatly, as does a good portion of the Band of the Hawks.

There are two things that make this an outstanding volume in this superb series. First, the story speeds forward into darker times with an intensity seldom seen, but also manages to insert some interesting elements in the process. Second, you will get to witness one of the most awaited moments of the series, and one which allows the creator to show his magnificent ability for detailed and vivid drawings.

Once again, we get a healthy dose of violence and gore, but this installment contains a much higher concentration of sexual scenes than any of the previous ones. There are even elements of incest, and some of the allusions get bolder and bolder. Moreover, some of these elements are efficiently used in helping understand better the psyche of the characters. Fans of the series will likely find this volume to be one of the best in the series so far.

I was able to get a great price on these New Beserk books but it took around 8-10 days before I received them.

If you've found yourself tiring of high school comedies & ninja kids, but still want engaging graphic storytelling, then do yourself a favor & give this series a try.

By volume 9, Miura's style is at it's height. This volume is the end of the beginning, so to speak - the good times of comraderie, romping around as a mercenary gang, climbing up the midland social ladder - are coming to a sudden and violent end. Griffith's ambition may destroy the hawks once and for all...

The series is now almost to the point where the Anime left off..and believe me, you want to see what happens next.

Background (general series) info: In the feudal era, a time of demons and knights, one man refuses to let anyone else control his destiny. Gatsu, a mercernary who recently left the infamous "Band of the Hawk," wanders and trains to become even stronger. As the protagonist of the series, Guts approaches battle with a mixture of savagery and cunning that is utterly destructive.

This issue: Guts has just left his post in the mercernary group, the Hawks. To do so, he defeated Griffith in a duel. Upon gaining his freedom, he wanders alone into the woods, confronted by the Knight of Skeleton. Strangely, this awesome figure utters advice that he believes will save Guts' life. Something incredibly ominous approaches. Something is about to happen that will change the lives of Guts, Caska, and Griffith forever.

If you enjoy a good plot, you cannot go wrong with Berserk. It is such a strange and skillful blend of fantasy and realism that you become completely submerged in it. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys action and supernatural intrigue.