Book Review : The Complete Horowitz Horror by Anthony Horowitz

The Complete Horowitz Horror
by Anthony Horowitz

Paperback, 448 pages

Published August 14th 2008 by Puffin

Synopsis

Welcome to a world where everything seems normal. At least, at first. But the sinister and truly terrifying lurk just beneath the surface. Like a bathtub with a history so haunted, no one dares get in it…or an ordinary-looking camera that does unspeakable things to its subjects…or an elevator filled with cannibals just waiting for their next victim to walk in…. This wicked collection of eighteen macabre tales combining both Horowitz Horror and More Horowitz Horror will send shivers up your spine.

Review

Even though this book is targeted at middle grade readers, I really enjoyed reading it. Horowitz's writing style is one-of-a-kind. Most of the endings of his stories are left hanging, leaving them to the readers' imaginations. Under usual circumstances, this would have irked me, but it didn't. In fact, I found myself wondering about the character's fates, the gears in my brain turning round and round as I decided what would be best for the characters.

I read this at night, and goodness, it frightened me! Despite my fear for the unknown and my drooping eyelids, I kept on reading; it was as if I was addicted to Horowitz's horror stories. Horowitz is the children's new King of Horror!

Rating:

About The Author

Anthony Horowitz is perhaps the busiest writer in England. He has been writing since the age of eight, and professionally since the age of twenty. In addition to the highly successful Alex Rider books, he is also the writer and creator of award winning detective series Foyle’s War, and more recently event drama Collision, among his other television works he has written episodes for Poirot, Murder in Mind, Midsomer Murders and Murder Most Horrid. Anthony became patron to East Anglia Children’s Hospices in 2009.

Book Review : Reckless by Cornelia Funke

Reckless (Reckless, #1)
by Cornelia Funke

Hardcover, 391 pages

Published September 14th 2010 by Little Brown Books

Synopsis

Beyond the mirror, the darkest fairy tales come alive. . . .

For years, Jacob Reckless has enjoyed the Mirrorworld’s secrets and treasures.

Not anymore.

His younger brother has followed him.

Now dark magic will turn the boy to beast, break the heart of the girl he loves, and destroy everything Jacob holds most dear. . . .

Unless he can find a way to stop it.

Review

My first book by Cornelia Funk, and probably my last.

I don't mean to sound critical, but Reckless really reads like a failed fairy-tale mash-up. Needless to say, I'm disappointed.

Characters Introduction:

Jacob really lives up to his last name. He disappears for weeks into the Mirrorworld for adventure and treasure hunting without thinking about the little brother he's left behind.

When Will Reckless follows him beyond the mirror, Jacob is thrust into a race against time before a curse will turn his brother to stone. Suddenly, Jacob knows how much Will means to him. But is it too little, too late?

Will has always believed in his brother, no matter what. But now he's followed Jacob into another world, and a fairy curse threatens to change everything about him. As the curse takes hold, Will burns with flashes of anger—at his brother. Is the curse turning Will into a monster? Or making him stronger?

Clara is studying to be a doctor. In the world beyond the mirror, she may be the only one who can lift Will's curse. But before they can live happily ever after, Clara must survive her trip to fairy tale land.

What's the problem with Reckless?

1. An insubstantial opening. Basically, I really had no idea what is going on at the beginning of the novel and it took me moments to realize the identities of the characters. They felt boring but I forced myself to go through it, since I didn't want to give up so soon.
2. Deeply flawed plot. The story started with Will turning into a Goyl and Jacob wanting to find a cure for his brother. There is no explanation as to why he is turning into one. It felt so strange that I couldn't help but wonder whether this was supposed to make the reader feel excited or bewildered.
3. No chemistry between supposedly "in love" characters. The relationship between Will and Clara seemed so fake, if you get what I mean. I couldn't sense the love between the couple. They did not emanate the feeling that they were in love.
4. Bad fairy-tale mash-up. This story is full of mythical creatures, but anything that is overboard is not good. This case applies for Reckless. Bits and pieces of fairy-tale is mashed up to form a story. Though the concept of Man-Goyl (man of stone skin) is new, but I didn't like it. I still don't. And perhaps I never will.
   
5. Translation. I understand that this book was originally written in German and was then translated into other languages. This explains some of the strange sentence structures and certain weird phrases I encounter in the book.

While I didn't like reading this book, it doesn't mean that it is completely devoid of good elements. The themes of family love, friendship and courage are shown clearly in Reckless.

Rating:

Cornelia Funke was born and raised in Germany, just like Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. In German, “Funke” is pronounced “FOON-kuh” which means spark. Cornelia grew up in a small town which wasn't a very adventurous place so she became a book eater at the age of 5 and loved her walks with her father to the public library from which they both returned with piles of book treasure. Books were, as Cornelia says, her windows and doors to the world. They promised adventure and hundreds of interesting characters she couldn't find in the streets of her home town. Nevertheless she never imagined that one day she'd write books herself. She thought this to be quite a magical skill only performed by very mysterious beings who for sure were either very old or very dead.

Read more at Get Reckless

Here's a better cover of Reckless:

Book Review : Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead

Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid, #1) by Richelle Mead

Mass Market Paperback, 360 pages

Published August 1st 2010 by Zebra

Synopsis

When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they often pay with their souls, but why get technical?

But Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid's life is far less exotic. At least there's her day job at a local bookstore—free books; all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can't.

But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle's demon underground. And for once, all of her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help because Georgina's about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny...

Review

I've never read any book with a succubus as the main character, until this book. In folklore traced back to medieval legend, a succubus (plural succubi) is a female demon appearing in dreams who takes the form of a human woman in order to seduce men. In Succubus Blues, Georgina Kincaid is a heroine who, despite being a succubus, has many traits which are comparable to humans. She drinks coffee, reads books, and has a crush on her favourite author. She also can shape-shift into anyone she likes. But she is clueless about what she wants. Even when she knows what she wants, she has no guts to admit it.

While this book has some pretty interesting characters - I couldn't really relate to any of them, but I somehow understand Georgina's feelings and lack of confidence in getting what she really wanted. Georgina's favourite author, Seth Mortensen is seriously lacking of interpersonal skills. He is quite an introvert and likes to speak monosyllable terms. Georgina's other admirer, Roman is a dashing, unabashed man who seems to have the confidence to do anything in order to woo her. However, I seriously don't like this character. He is too cocky, and in my opinion, a little perverted.

The plot is good, though. It keeps me guessing who the villain is, and when the villain is finally revealed, I couldn't help but feel a tinge of pity for him/her even though he/she is a total baddie. Succubus Blue is quite good, but it still has rooms for improvements.

Rating:
Warning: This book is PG-18.

Book Review : Constantine by John Shirley

Constantine by John Shirley

Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Published January 25th 2005 by Pocket Star

Available on Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Synopsis

Hidden from mortal eyes are the angels and demons that coexist with mankind...supernatural beings who seek to influence our lives for better and for worse. Amoral and irreverent renegade occultist and paranormal detective John Constantine is blessed and cursed with the ability to interact with this secret world. When Constantine teams up with skeptical L.A. policewoman Angela Dodson to solve the mysterious suicide of her twin sister, their investigation catapults them into a catastrophic series of otherworldly events — even as the forces of Hell conspire against Constantine to claim his immortal soul....

Review

Alright, I admit it: I bought this book because I loved the movie. Unsurprisingly, it didn't let me down. I totally enjoyed reading it. Constantine is portrayed as the same cynical, irreverent supernatural detective who is dying of lung cancer caused by too much smoking. He knows he is damned to hell for his past attempt of committing suicide and tries his best to win back God's grace. This book pretty much follows everything that's shown in the movie, although there were some minor differences. Constantine is a mix between paranormal and action, and reading it is really an exhilarating adventure - you wouldn't want to miss it!

Rating:

Spooktacular Books Challenge

Eli to the nth is currently holding a a Spooktacular Books Challenge. To enter, you must pick 3 or more "spooky books" to review in October.

Here's the list of spooky books I will be reading and reviewing:

Constantine
by John Shirley


Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid, #1)
by Richelle Mead


Reckless (Reckless, #1)
by Cornelia Funke

The Complete Horowitz Horror
by Anthony Horowitz

If you wish to participate in the challenge, please go to Eli to the nth to read the rules.