Manga/Graphic Novel/Video Game Novel Challenge 2013 Review

So this year since I said that I would try to get to Level 3 of the Challenge That means I need to have at least 25 books read before the end of the year. That's at least 2 books a month. (and one extra one in at least one of those 12 months)   As a change from last year I'm gonna be putting the reviews up here as I get them done and then linking them in the monthly round-up at Mother/Gamer/Writer.  I also plan to try to remember my update my Challenge page at the end of the month. Want to see what the other people in the challenge are reading this month? Click here!

Grimm Fairy Tales: Robyn Hood: Wanted

By: Patrick Shand & Larry Watts

Amazon Summery:

As a mysterious villain calling himself "the Sheriff" begins to terrorize Nottingham, the people that Robyn once liberated are again in need of her help. But with the police searching for her on Earth, Robyn has her own problems. Can Robyn rise up and be the hero that Nottingham needs, or will she be forced to face the consequences of her own actions? Find out in the sequel to the fan-favorite series, Robyn Hood: Wanted!

My Review:

Robyn Hood: Wanted picks up a year later from where the previous story left off. (Check out my review here)  Robyn has returned to Earth and the people of Bree have started over in their newly renamed town of Nottingham. But all is not right with either world.  Robyn finds herself wanted for the murders she committed on Earth and the people of Bree find themselves terrorized by the Sheriff of Nottingham. The first chapters bounce between Earth and Bree as the reader catches up with what has been happening in both worlds.

I have to say I’m still really enjoying the story.  More is revealed of the characters and the story is still very dark.   Plus I love the way the traditional Robin Hood story has been rewritten for the part of Robin to be played by a girl.  I also liked the fact that she jokes about her ‘clothing’, or lack thereof, in Nottingham.  As I’ve said before though about the women’s clothing in the Grimm Fairy Tales, I know some view it at sexist, but if I could get away with wearing it, I definitely would.

 I love the illustration as well.  All the artwork that I’ve seen from the Grimm books has been amazing and this one was no exception. You can definitely tell the difference between Earth and Bree/Nottingham.  While both are drawn well, Earth’s coloring lacks a certain luster and richness to it; making Earth seem the less realistic of the two worlds.

The book does end with a cliffie, so I hope that the next installment comes out soon.  Also, as with the other graphics I’ve read from Grimm Fairy Tales, I wouldn’t recommend this for the under 18 crowd. First because of the gore and then there is the whole clothing thing, not so much in this one, but still.  But over all I really enjoyed this edition of the Robyn Hood series and I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Steampunk Hop Giveaway!

First let me start by thanking V over at Vvb32 Reads for hosting this hop! Second unfortunately due to budgetary issues this giveaway is limited to U.S. only. Sorry to all my international readers, but I will be having some that are open internationally in the near future. Now onto the good stuff the prize!!!  One lucky reader will win my print copy of The Lazarus machine by Paul Crilley!

The Lazarus Machine 

By: Paul Crilley

Amazon Summery:

An alternate 1895, A world where Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace perfected the Difference Engine. Where steam and Tesla-powered computers are everywhere. Where automatons powered by human souls venture out into the sprawling London streets. Where the Ministry, a secretive government agency, seeks to control everything in the name of the Queen. It is in this claustrophobic, paranoid city that seventeen-year old Sebastian Tweed and his conman father struggle to eke out a living. But all is not well. A murderous, masked gang has moved into London, spreading terror through the criminal ranks as they take over the underworld. As the gang carves up more and more of the city, a single name comes to be uttered in fearful whispers.Professor Moriarty.
When Tweed's father is kidnapped by Moriarty, he is forced to team up with information broker, Octavia Nightingale, to track him down. But he soon realizes that his father's disappearance is just a tiny piece of a political conspiracy that could destroy the British Empire and plunge the world into a horrific war.

Just enter using the Rafflecopter below. If you want to find out more about The Lazarus Machine check out my review here at Mother/Gamer/Writer.

Remember you need to have a U.S. mailing address and be 18+ to enter.  Then continue on with the Hop using the linky below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Release Day!!

Happy Release Day to:

Into the Fire

Book Two in The Ending Series

By: Lindsey Fairleigh & Lindsey Pogue

Amazon Summery:

The Virus changed them, but that was only the beginning...

...death...mutation...insanity...corruption...terror...

...all that remains is hope.



In the wake of destruction left behind by the Virus, it took Dani and Zoe months to find each other. But their reunion was short-lived. Dani has been taken, and though little distance separates them, they might as well be worlds apart.



From the moment she hears Dani's scream, Zoe's only goal is to save her best friend. She and her companions scramble to come up with a rescue plan, but when a ghost from Jake's past reappears, lines are blurred, decisions become harder, and secrets are revealed...and some secrets are best left buried. To keep heartache and fear from consuming her, Zoe must cling to her determination. She will see Dani again.



Dani awakens inside the final hold-out of civilization: the Colony. Remnants of the former world surround her--electricity, safety, social order--but all is not what it seems. As she faces her most manipulative adversary yet, she loses sight of who she is and who she can trust. Friends become enemies, enemies become allies, and allies will betray her. Dani will have to decide what she's willing to do and whose lives she's willing to risk if she is to have any chance of breaking free. 

So today the sequel to After the Ending comes out!! I am so excited! If you haven't started this series yet, be sure to pick up a copy of After the Ending, which is on sale for a limited time for only .99 cents. Click here to get your copy!

Review of Into the Fire by Lindsey Fairleigh & Lindsey Pogue

Into The Fire

By: Lindsey Fairleigh & Lindsey Pogue

Amazon Summery:

The Virus changed them, but that was only the beginning...

...death...mutation...insanity...corruption...terror...

...all that remains is hope.

In the wake of destruction left behind by the Virus, it took Dani and Zoe months to find each other. But their reunion was short-lived. Dani has been taken, and though little distance separates them, they might as well be worlds apart.

From the moment she hears Dani's scream, Zoe's only goal is to save her best friend. She and her companions scramble to come up with a rescue plan, but when a ghost from Jake's past reappears, lines are blurred, decisions become harder, and secrets are revealed...and some secrets are best left buried. To keep heartache and fear from consuming her, Zoe must cling to her determination. She will see Dani again.

Dani awakens inside the final hold-out of civilization: the Colony. Remnants of the former world surround her--electricity, safety, social order--but all is not what it seems. As she faces her most manipulative adversary yet, she loses sight of who she is and who she can trust. Friends become enemies, enemies become allies, and allies will betray her. Dani will have to decide what she's willing to do and whose lives she's willing to risk if she is to have any chance of breaking free. 

My Review:

So I reviewed After the Ending, the first book in The Endingseries, a few months ago and I enjoyed it immensely.  Fortunately Into the Fire, the second book in the series, did not disappoint.

 I’ve really gotten attached to Dani and Zoe, but in Into the Fire even more characters were introduced that I liked just as much.  I still also like the way that the authors switch back and forth between the characters viewpoints.   Dani, however, is still my favorite.  But I did start to like Zoe even more in this book and, without giving too much away, I can’t wait to see where the authors take her in the next book that comes out next year.

As for the story, in Into the Fire the reader gets to find out even more about how the virus came about.  There is still lots of action and this time there are a lot of plot twists.  Some I saw coming, but a few, on in particular, I really didn’t expect but again, I can’t wait to see where it goes. The first book ended on a definite cliffie, and into the fire does end rather abruptly, but more as a lead in into the next book, not as a shear drop.  I actually really liked this ending, especially when compared to the ending of the first book, and I really thought it was going to end completely differently so again without too much spoilerage I was definitely pleasantly surprised.  Also I love the way that the authors have woven Dani and Zoe’s stories together.  Both in how they came together at the end of the first book to how they came back together again at the end of the second.

Overall I think this series is really good. It started strong and has continued into the second novel without losing steam. I can’t wait ‘til next year when book three, Out of the Ashes is released.  I definitely recommend reading the books in order though, so if you haven’t read After the Ending yet, pick it up and get reading!  

Seriously go pick it up! For a limited time book one in the series, After the Ending is on sale for only .99 cents! Just click here to find it on Amazon!