Recommendsday Review - Neverwhere

Today's Recommendsday novel is Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere.

Synopsis:

Richard Mayhew is a plain man with a good heart - and an ordinary life that is changed forever on a day he stops to help a girl he finds bleeding on a London sidewalk.  From that moment forward he is propelled into a world he never dreamed existed - a dark subculture flourishing in abandoned subway stations and sewer tunnels below the city - a world far stranger and more dangerous than the only one he has ever known...

The Minneapolis Star Tribune hit the nail on the head tagging Neverwhere as "a dark contemporary 'Alice in Wonderland'".  Mayhew starts out as any ordinary Londoner, going about his day to day life and keeping his nose out of everyone else's business.  That all changes when he meets Door, a girl bleeding on the street.  Due to his good nature, Mayhew helps clean Door up and becomes sucked into her world of adventure, danger, and London Below.  Yes, you read that right, London Below...ever ride a metro train and hear the recording "Mind the Gap" repeated ad nausea?  Well what happens if you fail to mind the gap and instead fall down it?  You end up in a world where the rules are all backwards, where earls, angels, bishops, and henchmen gather within the sewers and tunnels....you end up in London Below.

Poor unsuspecting Richard is now stalked by the same hitmen after Door and the only way to get back to the world he knows (London Above), is to go on a quest.  Joining the duo, are a bodyguard/assassin appropriately named Hunter and a slimy twofaced good for nothing (can you tell I despise him?) turdface called the Marquis of Carabas.  Many almost Monte Python-esque trials await the group; however where Python is silly, Neverwhere is just as dark and corrupt.

Characters are well rounded, plot is off like a shot every chapter, and the dialogue flows with no effort on the reader's part.  I had a very hard time putting the book down, even after I finished I contemplated starting all over again.  The world Gaiman weaves is nothing short of amazing.  I even caught myself peering down gaps in the elevator wondering what lay below ;p.

Mind the gaps as you run off for your own copy!

Rating: 5/5

~Helena

Book By Its Cover - Unchained

Today we'll be reviewing the cover of Sharon Ashwood's new release Unchained, on Book By Its Cover Tuesday here at Vamps R Us.

Synopsis:

Faced with a custody battle for her daughter, monster-killer Ashe Carver has hung up her stakes and taken a job at the public library. But then after centuries guarding a supernatural prison, the dashing Captain Reynard strides into her world. He has only weeks to live unless Ashe finds the thief who took his soul-and he's too drop-dead gorgeous to die...

Helena's Thoughts:

I almost feel like this is an urban hero/graphic novel. The likes of Sin City come to mind in particular, or the Watchmen, as far as typical scenery/world building go. The cover seems almost cold and inaccessible; I don't have that "drawn in" feel. Appeal wise, I am pretty apathetic on this one.

Lily's Thoughts:

I like bikes!

Young Adult Friday

It's Young Adult Friday. Indulge your younger self with these great reads.

A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

Someone was looking at me, a disturbing sensation if you're dead. Though I could not feel paper between my fingers, smell ink, or taste the tip of a pencil, I could see and hear the world with all the clarity of the Living. They, on the other hand, did not see me as a shadow or a floating vapor. To the Quick, I was empty air. Or so I thought.

In the class of the high school English teacher she has been haunting, Helen feels them: For the first time in 130 years, human eyes are looking at her. They belong to a boy, a boy who has not seemed remarkable until now. And Helen–terrified, but intrigued–is drawn to him. The fact that he is in a body and she is not presents this unlikely couple with their first challenge. But as the lovers struggle to find a way to be together, they begin to discover the secrets of their former lives and of the young people they come to possess.

~*~*~*~~*~*~*~

Old Magic by Marianne Curley and Jeannie Lee

Jarrod Thornton is mesmerizing, but Kate Warren doesn't know why.

The moment the new guy walks into the room, Kate senses something strange and intense about him. Something supernatural. Her instincts are proven correct a few minutes later when, bullied by his classmates, Jarrod unknowingly conjures up a freak thunderstorm inside their classroom.

Jarrod doesn't believe in the paranormal. When Kate tries to convince him that he has extraordinary powers that need to be harnessed, he only puts up with her "hocus pocus" notions because he finds her captivating. However, the dangerous, uncontrolled strengthening of his gift finally convinces Jarrod that he must take Kate's theories seriously. Together, they embark on a remarkable journey — one which will unravel the mystery that has haunted Jarrod's family for generations and pit the teens against immense forces in a battle to undo the past and reshape the future.

~Lily

Book By Its Cover - Rapture Untamed

Pamela Palmer's new release Rapture Untamed is today's book by its cover review.


Synopsis:

They are called Feral Warriors—an elite band of immortals who can change shape at will. Sworn to rid the world of evil, consumed by sorcery and seduction, their wild natures are primed for release . . .

The most combative—and tormented—of all the Ferals, Jag is a predator who hunts alone—until daemons terrorize the human population. To stop them, he partners with Olivia, a flame-haired Therian temptress as strong as she is beautiful. But Olivia is no ordinary immortal. The survivor of a vicious supernatural attack, she possesses a deadly and forbidden skill—one that must remain hidden, especially from the powerful Feral Warriors.

As Jag and Olivia's sensual dance of dominance and seduction gets wilder and hotter, a dark force sets its sights on Olivia, threatening to destroy everything she has vowed to protect. And the only one who can save her soul is the arrogant jaguar shifter she lusts for but dares not love.


Lily's Thoughts:

Whoa, I think that dude has an 8-pack. Tall? Check. Brooding? Check. Dark hair? Check. Apart from that Chachi-esque bandanna around the upper arm, this guy is hot all over. I'd buy it for the guy alone.

Wait, there's more to the cover than the guy? Huh...

Helena's Thoughts:

Mmmmm, feral? you don't say? ;p. Gorgeous half nekkie eye candy - yes please! What is with the cloth on his arm? Awww is he hurt? Well come over here hunk-a-muffin, let me fix you up...lol. Wow, I think I am having a little too much fun staring at this cover, ha. Rapture, um yea, the cover is the exact definition! When I laid eyes on this, of course I drooled, duh...then I noticed the panther. At first glance, I thought its eyes were just street lamps, with the typical urban scene backdrop. Boy was I surprised when I took a second look, crap that thing would have eaten my face if I didn't jump back in time. Love the black and white color palate, gives it a monochromatic gritty feel. Grade A plus plus plus :)

Book By Its Cover - Blood Song

Cat Adams' new release Blood Song is today's book by its cover review.


Synopsis:

Bodyguard Celia Graves has definitely accepted her share of weird assignments, both human and supernatural. But her newest job takes the cake. Guarding a Prince from terrorists and religious fundamentalists is hard enough, but it seems like the entire supernatural world is after this guy too. When she is betrayed by those she is employed to help, and everything goes horribly wrong, Celia wakes to find herself transformed.

Neither human nor vampire, Celia has become an Abomination—something that should not exist—and now both human and supernatural alike want her dead. With the help of a few loyal friends—a sexy mage, a powerful werewolf, and a psychic cop—Celia does her best to stay alive. On the run from her enemies, Celia must try to discover who is behind her transformation …before it’s too late.

Helena's Thoughts:

Love this cover! The eye color is piercing and animalistic. The gaze...wow, she is going to either rip you to shreds or completely ravage you. Love how her hair sweeps in. When I first saw this cover, I expected green/blue eyes and black hair...but this combo of brown and gold really works in a non-cliche kind of way. Font has a vintage edge to me. Title is fairly standard for the genre. Summary and cast of characters sounds highly intriguing. Definitely a novel worth looking into further.

Lily's Thoughts:

This cover strikes me as eerie and menacing. Yes, the woman pictured is obviously lovely, but I don't think anyone would mistake her as timid or passive. Her energy almost jumps off the cover. But it isn't repulsive, instead it kind of draws you in, perhaps against your better judgment.

This cover definitely makes me want to know more about the book.

Young Adult Friday

This Friday, we're going to introduce a random feature we're calling Young Adult Friday. In it, we're going to introduce a few young adult (YA) paranormal novels that are every bit as satisfying for adults as they are teens.


The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

~*~*~*~~*~*~*~

Fallen by Lauren Kate

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

~Lily

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of a Book Becoming a Play

Leanna Renee Hieber's Victorian Gothic novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker has wowed critics and readers. And that's not all. In April, Mt. Claire Entertainment purchased the novel rights for musical adaptation. Which means The Strangely Beautiful Tale may be coming to a theatre near you.

This is exciting news for book lovers, theatre lovers, and undoubtedly the lovely Ms. Hieber, pictured here in full Victorian costume at her release party.

Seriously, how awesome is she?

If you're interested in the novel that caught the attention of Mt. Claire Entertainment, check out The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker:

From Leanna Renee Hieber's website:

What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Considering how few of Queen Victoria’s Londoners knew of it, the great Romanesque fortress was dreadfully imposing, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met the powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadow, the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She knew simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow-white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gifts. But this arched stone doorway offered a portal to a new life, an education far from the convent—and an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death…


~Lily