Horror Books

This is the perfect introduction to a study of both Gothic Literature and, by extension, 20th Century horror literature and cinema. The author walks a fine line between academic and accessible and keeps things moving along at a nice pace, covering 250 years in under 200 pages. The book is part of the Routledge "New Critical Idiom" series that sums up concepts from literary and critical theory in nice digestible servings. If you are an undergrad looking for a place to start your research or a non-academic who isn't afraid to get a little theoretical, I'd recommend this book highly.

This is an excellent starting point for those interested in getting a very broad but thorough understanding of Gothic literature. After reading this, you will feel confident in knowing the backbone of Gothic and what it entails.

(I might also add that this is a very well-written book; the author is easy to read and very knowledgeable.)

This book is fabulous if you are looking for a historical survey of Gothic which does not lose itself in the labyrinth of feminist theory. However, I think Botting spreads himself a bit too thin in attempting to cover works like Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" in one sentence. I loved this book for bringing out the evolution of Gothic from early works to the present.

I have read many of Dean Koontz's books, my favorites being "Fear Nothing," "Sole Survivor," and "Strangers".I really enjoy how his hits are being published in sets of three now, and I recomend that more readers will start exploring these new sets.(except for those people who start reading and can't finish till its done, because they wouldn't be able to sleep for a while reading all three stories in a row) My favorite story out of this set would have to be "HideAway," for I, like many people, have a interest in death and the power of love. The other titles, "Cold Fire" and "Key to Midnight", are intense and extremely "well discriptive", as are all of his books. I would recomend this "set" to any reader who has read at least a book or two by Koontz, for the newly-reads will need to have some experiance in intense/mystery. Well, i hope that this advice served you all well, and i wish the best for all of you Koontz readers, new and experianced!

i am deployed to iraq and have a great love for reading. the biggest problem with this is how fast i read. i might read a book every 2 days or so and i dont always have enough foresight to bring more than one book along. with the three novels in one, if i finish a book while im out, i have two more right there with me. i recomend you buy this for the convenience, quality of writing and the decorative hardcover makes a nice addition to any library.

Koontz X 3...all in one book. And, at this low price. He is one of the most prolific writers of our time. His characters constant battles between the forces of good and evil hijacks you into staying up into the wee hours of the morning. It is hard to put any of his creations down. I just can't wait for the third installment of Frankenstein! Keep up the great stories Mr. Koontz.

But, as I said prior, three novels...one book...low price...Dean Koontz...it does not get better than this!

every edition builds on the last, and every time i turn the last page, i'm dying for the next edition!

Tite Kubo, Bleach: A Flower on the Precipice (ViZ, 2001)

Things are looking pretty tough for the soul reapers, and the head of the city, in response, authorizes weapons and full battle capabilities inside the city. But the soul reaper guards don't have just Ichigo and his pals to contend with...

While A Flower on the Precipice does advance pieces of the plot not directly connected to fighting, the battles are the central thing here, with both Chad and Ichigo running into different captains. Even here, though, Kubo's mastery shows through, as the captains are fun guys to read about. (Not so fun to fight, perhaps.) A notably enjoyable volume in a series that's already notably enjoyable. ***

Wow! This volume is what good manga is all about. Volume 12 is more about the story than the fighting, which is not the case with most of the Bleach volumes.

Volume 12 centers mostly on Ichigo and Chad and their relationship. (Orihime and Uryu don't even appear in this one). Some of Ichigo and Chad's past is revealed as to how they became friends and why their conviction to help each other is so strong. There is also further insight into the Soul Society and something's amiss in the ranks of the Soul Reapers. What happens is a real catch you off guard surprise.

After Ichigo's defeat of Renji the Soul Reapers now consider the ryoka a major threat. The captain of first company had declared that all captain and assistant captain are allowed to used zanpaku-to and full wartime powers within the court. So, from here on out team Ichigo will have deal with the best the Society has and that's not a pretty proposition. The only acceptable outcome for the Soul Reapers is the death of the intruders.

With a great story, a monster cliff hanger, serious drama, and enough comedy to lighten the mood, this volume is one of the best in the series to date. This one is worth every bit of your $7.95.

Don't get me wrong. Bleach is one of my all time favorite animes. The action, story, and characters are all great. But the American version of the manga is very flawed. The thing that really makes me mad the most is that Viz constantely says "Soul Reapers." They translated the word WRONG! It is actually supposed to be "Death God." Why they said Soul Reaper, I have no frickin clue. Second, the editing from the original translation of Bleach is extremely annoying. Nobody probably has a clue how many swear words are in the original Bleach, when about one or two appear in an entire volume of the manga. Usually, two is about the minimum for one chapter. For example. Volume seven, when Renji meets Ichigo. In the japanese version, Renji says "What's with your big ass soul slayer." The Viz version goes "What's with that oversized zanpaku-to?!?" See what I mean. Also, while Ichigo and Ganju are in the soul society, they find out about the "Companies." What the hell is that? Viz also translated a frequently appearing word. The word actually translates to squads. The Bleach anime has been licsensed by Viz for America, and I hope to god they don't go and crap up the anime like they did with the manga. (Cross your fingers that it doesn't go on Cartoon Network!)

Volume 12 of Bleach follows the aftermath of Ichigo's battle with Renji... seriously injured, Ichigo is in need of some healing, and Ganju is not above forcing him to rest. But can they avoid the powerful captain of the 11th Division, Kenpachi Zaraki

Meanwhile, intrigue is playing out, in full murderous fashion, in the court of the Soul Society... the various divisions have been completely mobilized and all out war is declared on the invaders.

Futher character development fleshes out Chad's motivations and his history with Ichigo, leading up to his fight with the seemingly lackadaisical captain of the 8th Division, Shunsui Kyoraku.

The art is as tight as always, and it's nice to see new characters challenge the various members of the rescue team, but it's getting to be too much of the same thing over and over. Find an upper level Captain or Lieutenant, defeat them, move on. C'mon, let's get Rukia saved, already...

Honestly, I know there's a lot more to come... but I'm starting to jones for some closure to this arc so we can get back to the real world.

All in all, this is a volume strong in Bleach standards, an enjoyable read for all fans.

This is my first Moloney read and I am impressed .

The story starts out so relaxing in a fictional town of Goodlands North Dakota . A small town that most would say is a nice place to farm and raise a family but then Goodlands hasn't had any rain for 4 yrs and the farmers are concerned and then Tom (a drifter ) comes to town and his first stop is a bar where he meets these guys and makes a $50 wager with them that he can make it rain ............

In away the author brings Tom to life in the novel and with his ways of trying to congure up the rain it is so relaxing like you are right there on that field next to him and feel the presence of the rain just beyond grasp , so real you can almost smell the rain and the fresh air .

A very nice relaxing read and I give this author and the plot of the story 5* . I will read more by Moloney .

I originally read this book when it was first published years ago. I never forgot it and, when I ran across a copy recently, grabbed it up to visit once again.

Unfortunately, like many fond memories revisited, this book failed to live up to my recollection. The story stayed in my mind for years because of the originality of its premise, but the writing quality isn't as spectacular as I recall. Either that, or my taste has been educated and elevated over the last several years.

Still, it's a decent workmanlike genre novel: a romantic thriller with supernatural overtones, efficiently plotted and relatively well-executed for its kind. Karen the banker and Tom the rainmaker are sympathetic characters, if somewhat underdeveloped. The other town residents barely rise above two-dimensionality but serve their purpose in advancing the story. The loose ends, with one glaring exception, tie up neatly. (The "town secret" is the one gaping hole in the plot never resolved to my satisfaction.)

If you're looking for great literature, read To Kill A Mockingbird. If you want an enjoyable way to give your brain a rest and kill a few hours, read this.

Once I started reading this book it had me well within its grasp. I could not put it down. There are a few places where it drags and the author goes on tangents (I blame the editor, not the author), but the story itself is gripping.

With a better editor, this author could definitely give Stephen King a run for his money.

I really was interested in this book from the get go. It has a very interesting and unusual plot. I found myself skimming pages toward the last third of the book only because I was beginning to find the writing slow and more "filler" than anything. As good as the story started out, my interest dwindled toward the last part of the book. I think the "main" characters, the rainmaker and Karen, should have been explored further, as well as the entity. It just never seemed to quite cross the line from interesting to gripping.

Canadian writer Susie Moloney's second novel is served ala king - Stephen that is. A Dry Spell is macabre, sometimes far-fetched, and ultimately chilling.

We learn straightaway that Goodlands, North Dakota, the fictional setting for this preternatural epic, is not living up to its name. Despite its motto "A Good Little Town," there's nothing good going on in Goodlands.

A four-year drought has parched the earth, and turned once sanguine farm families suspicious. They're losing their land to foreclosure; their hopes have turned to dust. Despite the Farmer's Almanack prediction for a "wet, cool spring" and a wet August, it rains everywhere but on the wheat and barley fields of Goodlands.

In addition, there are some bizarre happenings taking place : cement driveways rupture; a gigantic oak falls through a plate glass window; water tank spigots vanish as precious liquid is lost.

Banker Karen Grange has been banished to Goodlands for past infractions (a tendency to max out credit cards in an accumulation of the unwanted and unworn). As manger of Commercial Farm Credit it is her unhappy task to inform families that they are losing their homes and, if the drought continues, she may lose the bank. With "some invisible umbrella hovering over Goodlands, and no scientific explanation for it," Karen summons a rainmaker.

Tom Keatley, the tall, long-haired rain doctor uses no incantations or magic rituals. With his emphatically square jaw and narrowed eyes he summons cumulus clouds by sheer dint of will and an occasional shot of Wild Turkey. But there was something wrong with Goodlands, and he knew it. There was "that hum that ran underneath the earth, the incredible, persistent dryness of the place, the way the sky wouldn't open for him...."

Much of what is wrong in Goodlands roils within Vida Whalley, youngest daughter of a disreputable clan. "Whalleys had been plaguing the town, drinking and fighting, stealing and making trouble for years." Directed by an inner voice Vida makes more than trouble.

As events become nightmarish, friends turn on friends and a melee ensues at the local caf?. Sheriff Henry Barker, who normally only chases dogs and breaks up fights, has his work cut out for him. Add to the mix Carl Simpson, a once reasonable man, who blames the drought on government men hiding in silos, and you have a town on the brink of disaster.

Sometimes it is slow going to reach this point, as descriptions of dryness and hoped for respite tend to be repetitious. It seems a bit pat for both Karen and Tom to be the results of deprived childhoods.

Nonetheless, Susie Moloney has penned a harrowing tale in which she recreates the classic struggle between good and evil. Which prevails? Chiller/thriller fans will welcome A Dry Spell.

- Gail Cooke

This is one of Cornelia Funke's best ghost hunter books. I am a third grade teacher and have read the ghosthunter series to my class. They can't get enough. They hang on every word and when I stop reading they plead with me to continue. Cornelia Funke sparks a love for reading with her wildly witty and creative characters. There is just the right mix of humor, excitement, and good scary fun as well as some unlikely heroes! I would recommend this book to anyone young or old who likes a little action and a whole lot of fun!

My 7 year old son loves this whole series of books. They are some of the only books he wants to keep on reading, even after his reading timer goes off. He can't seem to put them down, and he talks about them after reading. He also has picked them a few times to do his book reports on. Highly recommended!

My youngest son got this book for Christmas and loved it. In fact, he tore apart his room to find the first three books so he could reread them all in order. He says hopes Cornelia Funke decides to translate more books like these for English readers to enjoy.

In this galvanizing addition to the "Ghosthunters" series, Tom has to identify and capture an unclassified ghost as the final step to being awarded his GhostHunting Diploma. Everybody, including Tom, thinks that this is a mere formality, because as we all know, he has already defeated ghosts in Category Six, and the field test requires capturing a mere Category Three specimen.

The thing is, there's a new guy on the Examining Board, and he's changed the rules a bit, so that the apparently routine task becomes just a little more challenging. Tom is only allowed one assistant for the assignment, and that means that he has to choose between Hetty Hyssop and Hugo the Averagely Spooky Ghost. Logistics demands that he choose the one with a driver's license, and of course the other isn't too pleased about it.

When they arrive at the old village of Bogpool, they find it buzzing with ghostly energy, and soon learn that the village is a veritable ghost-magnet, and that the ghosts there don't much care for Ghost Hunters of any sort. The particular ghost required for the assignment turns out to be a rather unpleasant NEPGA (which we are told is a Negative Projection of a Ghostly Apparition), which would have been all well and good if it hadn't let on that it was really the "Twelfth Messenger", and believe me, this sounds a lot nicer than it actually turns out to be.

It isn't long before the earth starts moving and the mud starts bubbling, and the intrepid team of Hyssop & Co (plus a new friend) find themselves fighting for their lives. Ghosts of all sorts herald the arrival of the terrible "Muddy Monster of Doom" and his dreaded sidekick the "Thirteenth Messenger", and this definitely seems like one assignment doomed for failure.

The final chapters will have you holding your breath, making this a truly breathtaking experience, and trust me, that's no bull.



Amanda Richards, April 6, 2007

I couldn't put this one down! It is one of those books were you think you know what is going to happen next,but then it fools you. I loved it.

Read more like a typical suspense novel than what I'm used to in a Laymon novel even though it was gorier than what happens in a regular suspense novel. However, I'm more than willing to give his other books a shot.

In the beginning, this is just the average Richard LAymon book: PLenty of gore, blood, and sex. The 'mystery lover' in the beginning has you guessing until the end, and it turns out to be the last person you'd (or at least I) suspected. I reccomend any Richard Laymon book excluding, Blood Games.

This was my first Laymon novel, and I loved it. It got me hooked on this writer, who is now my favorite horror novelist. This is a great introduction to Laymon. It's probably not his best book, and it was somewhat predictable, but it was still a fast-paced and fun read. I was left with a couple of questions at the end...but it didn't bother me so much.

I read alot of different horror writers, but Laymon has always been my favorite. It's not his best book, but it is still a good read. If you've never read Laymon before and want to cut your teeth on a great book I recommend Bite, but if your a long time fan Amoung The Missing isn't to be overlooked.

Clearly better then the previous three books, especially as long as we can see some interconnection between 3d and this one. (1st and 2d did not seem to be connected at all). Darker. Violent. Epic. Just what it should be.

Zayl and Humbart are back in another tale of mystery and intrigue involving the resurrection of an ancient evil that threatens to overrun all of Westmarch. Zayl and Humbart both made their debut in Knaak's previous Diablo novel, Kingdom of Shadow and serve as entertaining leads in Moon of the Spider. The supporting cast is full of memorable characters, but the antagonists really shine. Zayl's adversary is cunning and Knaak's descriptions of the monsters that are sent after Zayl and friends are chilling and horrifying. The adventure is deep and fun and definitely worth a read, especially if you enjoyed the previous Diablo novels.

This novel is the spiritual sequel to the last Diablo series novel written by Knaak. The story continues the comedic adventures of the necromancer Zayle and his talking skull Humbart. Although not as good as some of his previous work, Knaak thoroughly entertains. His desciptions are superb, allowing his reader to easily visualize any sort of described locale or monstrosity. Despite the fact that the reader can easily guess who the villan might be and how it might end, the story is still worth reading, and the comedy value of a talking head in a sack alone is worth it.

Read through it in less than a day. Storyline is always on track, and good characters as well(wb Zayl & Humbart).

This has to be one of the most suspenseful and exciting books in the series (thus far). The necromance Zayl and his animated friend Humbart return in this book and fight against an even greater evil than in their last adventure (see Kingdom of Shadow).

In this book, a powerful lord looks to unleash a demon back into the mortal world. Zayl is drawn to this evil and encounters a lovely noblewoman who somehow ties into all of this, but unbeknownst to him, one of his own is masterminding the sinister plot and find out the connection that the noblewoman has to the evil demon Astrogha before all of Westmarch is engulfed by the evil.

Totally awesome book, and the end will make you hunger for more.

This is definetly a 10/10.

If you have read the previous 3 books from Kathy Love you have a basic Idea. If you have not read the serious it is not a problem this book does not leave you lost like others in a series.
My sister is a wereworlf is entertaining and a definate can't put the book down untill I am finished.My Sister is a Werewolf (The Young Brothers, Book 4)

this is a very good book that compliments the ones before. It finishes the series off nice. I wish there was going to be more, but it doesn't look like that.
anyway, I love this author and love the style of writing.

Elizabeth Young is a werewolf in a family of vampires. She's trying to change that, though, by working on a vaccine that will cure her of her werewolf affliction. She thinks she's close, but nothing has worked.

Jensen Alder has come back to West Pines to take over his retired grandfather's veterinary practice. Jensen's fiancée died in a car accident. He feels terrible guilt over the event and doesn't plan on falling in love, until he meets Elizabeth in her brother's bar.

Jensen doesn't know Elizabeth is a werewolf. He just knows that he's very attracted to her. She obviously feels the same way, since she comes on to him the first night they meet. That meeting starts them on a ride over rugged terrain, where they will both face up to their feelings.

Alternating between sweet and tender, and erotic and hot, My Sister is a Werewolf is a fun, engaging thrill ride of a story. I loved watching Elizabeth and Jensen dance around their attraction to each other, and then finally learn to waltz together.

The feelings in this story pulled at my heartstrings and made me sigh in more than one place. My Sister is a Werewolf is a great addition to Ms. Love's Young Brothers' series. This is definitely a story that paranormal lovers won't want to miss.

Amelia
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Great start to the book. Wonderful sex scenes, very hot. The writing or editing (I'm not sure which) falters a little at the end. When the hero is attacked by the bad guy his senses change (he can see in the dark). It seemed to me that he had started his "change" into a werewolf hero, but in the climax the heroine had to change him. So, what happened? Was it a miss in the editing or a plot change in the writing that never got fixed? Minor complaints, The Young Brothers Series is well worth the read. The first in the series is my favorite. I keep waiting for her to get that good again. She almost did in "Wanting What You Get", but I'm still waiting.
Kathy Love is well worth the read.

Kathy Love does another hot and sexy tale in My Sister Is A Werewolf.

Elizabeth Young has been finally reunited with her long lost brothers. This should bring her joy but she has that pesky werewolf business to deal with. Plus she is hard at work trying to find a cure for her ailment. Elizabeth can't explain why she is so restless of late, she is on edge. She spots an attractive man at her brother's bar that she approaches for a night of passion with no strings.

Veterinarian Jensen Adler has moved back home to help his aging grandfather with his vet practice. This is also a chance for him to start to socialize again after a tragic loss. When a stunning woman offers to rock his world there is no way he is saying no. But this wild and sexy woman has a sweet and vulnerable side that Jensen is also intrigued by.

Elizabeth and Jensen both have troubled past that are affecting their daily lives. When a man from Elizabeth's past tries to cause trouble, Elizabeth tries to protect her love ones. But Jensen has his own ideas about keeping Elizabeth safe.

My Sister Is A Werewolf is a wonderful addition to the previous books in this series. It was a special treat for me to reconnect with her brothers and their mates. Seeing them interact with Elizabeth just made me love them more. This book is another keeper for me.

When reviewing zombie novels of course I am going to compare them to each other, and so after I read this I stacked it up against the David Wellington "Monster" trilogy, and Brian Keene's two part "The Rising" and "City of the Dead". I do not believe that "Twilight of the Dead" is on this level, but is certainly not a bad book. The pros of this story are the main character, the semi-fresh perspective on how humanity deals with the post-zombie apocalypse. Of course the military are a bunch of jerks, of course no one believes in the severity. However, the black beret concept was intriguing as well as the twist on the antagonist. Overall the major issue was Adkins description of the events that unfold. It doesn't hold a candle to Wellington or Keene and that is what makes their books highly readable and keep me coming back for more. I see great potential in Travis Adkins, and I hope for a sequel b/c in my mind it has the potential.

Okay, here are your survivors, locked up in a gated resort community. Okay, its a Z-book, I'll go with that, they've all got to start somewhere.

Wetsuit-clad, Wakazashi wielding, .22 sniper Zombie SpecOps teens/post teens? Okay, that's different, but I'll be honest, it was fun to read where the author was going with it.

Nifty little drawings and diagrams about how to fight a Z hand-to-hand. You have to love that part.

I was not expecting much from this, but picked it up anyway from the Amazon 'others who have purchased' list. At the end of the read, I was pleased to have purchased this book. The author took a stock 'end of the world' Z-book and added some twists (see wetsuits, supra) to the story, and throws in a mad scientist for fun. The main character actually has enough depth that you can't see light through her, and the story was interesting if very, very short. I'd certainly pick up another if the author decided on a sequel.

As with my reviews of the other Z-books, the 4 stars is in relation to the genre, not literature as a whole. Its a zombie thing. ;)

Twilight of the Dead takes five years after the initial outbreak of the zombie plague, and it is told through the view of a young woman named Courtney. Courtney is a sad person who is depressed at the loss of her father and the fact that her life has been ruined by the dead corpses that have now taken over the world, and this is what makes Courtney such an interesting character. Unlike the big, bad guy heros of the zombie genre, Courtney is the center point of Twilight of the Dead , and this helps make the novel different from any ordinary novel. The plot is interesting, the way he tells the story is unique, and the design of the book (which he did by himself!) is especially interesting and makes the interior of the book aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

The novel begins with Courtney reminiscing about her past life before the zombie plague, right after one of her fellow Black Berets, Leon, talks to her and says that she needs to come out of the shell that she is and be an actual missing. It then follows with a flashback of what happened with Courtney before and while the plague is happening, and how she is trained by a Black Beret operative to be what she truly is.

The novel gets even more interesting when a strange scientist called Dr. Dane appears at the fortress town of Eastpoint, where he claims that he has found a cure to the plague that has been threatening humanity for years. He tells Courtney and Eastpoint's council that he spent several years working for a cure, and now that he has one, he wants the Black Berets to go retrieve it.

This is where the story kicks into high action, with zombies, great plot twists, and new things that have been cleverly introduced to the genre.

This second edition of Twilight of the Dead offers a bonus of three short stories targeting specific characters that help to build on to the world about what happened before the original storyline, and it is a great boost to the novel.

Twilight of the Dead is a novel that any zombie fan should pick up. Never again will you think of a zombie novel as, Over the river and through the woods. Adkins offers too much to the genre to make it seem like an ordinary zombie novel.

In a nutshell my review of Twilight of the Dead by Travis Adkins goes like this: Twilight of the Dead by Travis Adkins is yet another book in the Permuted Press family that adheres faithfully to what has to be the company's mandate: good ideas told badly.

Because that is what Mr. Adkins does. And he does it very, very well.

The basic premise of this book is not all that unique. The Dead rise and Society crumbles before their relentless onslaught. The main character must somehow survive the horrifying horror of the End of the World and then, along with a disparate group of survivors, learn to their even greater horror that the true monster isn't just the rotting ghouls scratching away outside their walls, but the living, breathing people they're trapped inside with.

See? Nothing unusual or groundbreaking there, but then, it doesn't have to be, right? That description is exactly what gets us all excited, it's the story we want, the one we've been looking for and the reason we are all willing to slog through all of the sub-par "literature" found within this genre. And that nugget is what Mr. Adkins starts out with. Then he takes it up a notch and throws in one of the most loved protagonists in the sci-fi/comic-book/horror set: The snarky rocker chick. After that he adds in some ruin looting, a walled haven and a team of specially trained zombie fighters and what does that mean to you and me?

It means we got ourselves a possible slice of fried awesome, that's what.

But then Mr. Adkins fumbles, he stumbles, he trips and then he falls. In a word: he fails. In two words: He fails miserably.

To begin with, the time line makes no sense. 5 years ago the town filled up with all the supplies they were ever going to need so they just stopped going out? 5 years ago? So... they've just been hanging out then? Doing what? Partying? The noise from their many BBQs and Badminton matches didn't ever bring an army of the Dead down upon their heads? 5 years now, this magical cornucopia mall they have within this gated community has just been pumping out a never ending cascade of food and supplies while the people dance and sing and laugh, tra-la-la-la and go back to normal lives? 6 months, okay, maybe they might hunker down for six months, but 5 years? The World ends, Society is destroyed and then a bunch of spoiled First-World-living-the-leisurely-high-tech-lifestyle Americans build and are able to reasonably maintain the first ever completely contained and self-sustaining community WITH a coin based economy? Based on what? Gold? Air? What about medicine or chemicals for mixing gunpowder or more planting seeds or a million and a half other things? Five years? ugh... forget it... moving on...

Secondly, Courtney, the intended snarky, independently awesome and capable rocker chick, is instead consistently portrayed as naïve, stupid and ridiculously stubborn. She's a complete cartoon, so much so, you wonder if Mr. Adkins has ever actually MET a girl like this before. Once again... for 5 years she's lived here, not having to work due to her service as a scavenger, 5 years she's been in this town and all she's done is watch movies and read books and sneer at anyone who tries to talk to her? For five years? Once again... maybe for a month or two, but after five years wouldn't she be forced to grow up or maybe mature a little bit, if not from simple aging then from the nature of the world itself? And if you're willing to buy that, the fact that she hasn't just makes her all the more unlikeable. Also, wouldn't the townspeople grow concerned over this highly trained killer hermit with a bad attitude holed up all by herself at the far end of their town?

And the Gossip Girl/One Tree Hill type high school drama is so pervasive, so false and so completely without any emotional motivation to back it up, that it just becomes tedious and way, way too quickly at that, especially when you consider just how short a novel this is. None of the human interaction rings true, with the possible exception of Courtney leaving her Father in the very beginning, but other than that...

I mean, I understand what he's trying to do, because, as we all know, the real meat of a zombie story is the survivors and the emotional yoke they toil under, but you have to be able to make your characters and their inner turmoils real or the story just sinks hard and fast and unfortunately, Mr. Adkins can not make them real.

And then there's the oh-so-transparent Jock hate, (nerd...) but wait... apparently the Jock is actually one of the rare, kind of alright rich kid jocks (Just like She's All That... but reversed! With zombies!) And the Black Berets themselves? Their outfits are ludicrous. They're laughable. Coupled with the ninja swords, they just reminded me of my friend's home made "Surf Ninja" Halloween costume. It was silly, people, silly. Lets not even get into the uncomfortable, overt naïveté that rides shotgun with the mishandled and uneven sex scenes that go on between Courtney and her mentor, Sgt. Soontobedead.

Oh yeah, the zombies... forgot about those... How is that possible you ask? Oh, well, that's because they're kind of not really ever mentioned or that much of a threat to begin with, except of course when clichéd Mad-scientist-killer-type-guy inexplicably sends an army of them to attack the town. That's no big deal right? Eastpointe has high walls, right? Oh yeah? Well these zombies have on metal helmets (they're indestructible!) and knives tied to their hands (they're Wolverine!). Will Courtney and Leon (the Jock) stop the evil Lex Luthor's army of radio controlled zombies in time? Will the cure (cure for what? Being eaten?) miraculously save one of the main characters if they get bitten during the story's climax or is that too telegraphed and clichéd? And if so, why not just go all out and embrace the clichés and stage an end fight scene at that infamous Hollywood-action-movie-staple: the fire and steam factory?

I apologize, at this point I'm being too rough on Mr. Adkins, he does deserve kudos for even finishing a novel in the first place and then putting it out there to be snarked at by jerks like me. To be fair, I actually enjoyed the beginning of the story, especially the attack on the convoy and many other sporadic moments through out, which really only highlights the true problem with this book for me. Mr. Adkins has ability within him, he has ideas. He's not awful, he's not without hope. And while they may not be well executed, his stories are well grounded, thought out and, in the end, fun. He's got potential. Honestly, its not his story that fails here, its his details. So, yet again, the Permuted Press editorial staff, such as it is, has completely failed their authors and done them a huge disservice with their ridiculously poorly performed job. Right now Mr. Adkins is just another example of the only thing small internet presses have proven to me so far: Sometimes people don't get published for a reason.

Mr. Adkins' reason is because he is not yet ready. This story needs a lot of work, attention, critique and second and third drafts, TRUE second and third drafts.

My recommendation: Not yet. Almost, but not yet. Our quest for a great zombie book continues, dear readers, so slog on, because there's nothing to see here.

This book was brought to my attention on a website that I help manage and being a huge zombie fan I decided to check it out. Man was I disappointed. I was hoping for some action right off the bat but instead I felt like I was reading a crappy teen magazine. I read the first few chapters and decided to put the book down and go read I Am Legend again. Some people told me that it will get better but I have yet to see where it gets better. I love it when an author gets into a character development but sometimes they can go overboard with it. I can care less about her sexual issues and teen angst. I want battles between hordes of flesh eating ghouls and close battles, NOT "Oh I screwed you once and blah blah blah." Needless to say, if you into the zombie genre then read Down the Road or Day by Day. Those are classics in the making.

My brother loved the PJ Funnybunny books as a kid. Now my son loves them, too. A cute story with great illustrations, sure to become another family classic.

My son has had this book for several years and very much enjoys it.

This delightful story follows a bow-tie wearing P.J. Funnybunny as he and his three friends--Ritchie the raccoon, Buzz the beaver and Potts the pig--set out to go on a camping trip.

P.J.'s sister, Honey Bunny, asks if she and her friend Donna Duck can come along. "Camping is not for girls", P.J. lectures.

The rest of the story shows all the "hard" work that P.J. and friends experience as they establish their camp. P.J. even tells a campfire story so scary that he frightens HIMSELF!

Then, two "ghosts" appear--scaring the beegeezus out of the boys...who then run home. But, when P.J.'s mom ask what happened--they all lie.

But Honey Bunny and Donna know what happened!

In addition to being a clever story, P.J. Funnybunny provides a great opportunity for parents to discuss the topic of lying with their children--not to mention gender equality!

This book is a Step 2 "Step Into Reading" book by Random House and is geared towards 5-6 year olds. (I have more recent Step 2 books and this one seems a bit more complex/longer than recent Step 2 books.) Step 2 books tend to have basic vocabulary, short sentences and simple plot lines. So, it's a good book for beginning readers--as well as a good story for bedtime.

At first I thought this book was a little negative for girls because PJ and his friend kept telling his sister and her friends that camping is not for girls. But even my three year old daughter understood that the boys were the ones who did not know what they were doing. The ending allows for discussion on telling the whole truth.