Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
I just wanted to let you all know I’ll be away for the next week for some much-needed relaxation, rest, and reconnection with my family as we travel to sandy beaches and gorgeous mountains in South Carolina and Tennessee. I’ll catch up with you next week!
In an opening scene far-removed from the norm for The Dresden Files book series, Harry is making a guest appearance on a local talk show, discussing paranormal lore. While for fans of the series it may seem that Harry has lost his mind, he actually is participating in a clandestine meeting with a spiritual consultant, the authentic kind.
However, Harry is blind sighted by another guest on the show, Paola Ortega, posing as a Professor who debunks supernatural “incidents,” though Harry knows this person is in reality far different than what he appears to be. Ortega is a noble member of the vampire’s Red Court, and his real purpose for the deception is to issue a challenge to a duel with Harry, to end the war between the vampires and the White Council of Wizards.
Adding to this dangerous situation, a Vatican representative is in Chicago to hire Harry to investigate the local occult community for a stolen artifact. Father Vincent doesn’t seem to believe in the paranormal, but he will go to any lengths to recover the Shroud of Turin, which he sees as only a historical relic.
Harry, however, knows the artifact is far more than just that, and also how dangerous such a thing can be in the wrong hands. If certain groups, all whom are clamoring for Harry’s attention, get hold of the Shroud, it could mean the end of the world. Between the impending duel with the vampire, a group of Fallen Angels whose servants can assume the form of monsters and friends alike, and the attentions of the local mafia headed by Marcone, Harry has a full plate. Luckily he has God’s Knights of the Cross on his side.
Like the opening, the ending of this book leaves Harry in an unusual position, as he becomes just like the Lady of the Lake, holding a sword he is duty-bound to pass onto a worthy individual, as soon as he finds them.
I am amazed at how author Jim Butcher continues to keep this series fresh, with new ideas, new monsters, and creative new encounters with the supernatural, all while strengthening the relationships between existing and recurring characters. His battles are vivid scenes that can thrill the reader, while at the same time Harry’s doubts and vulnerabilities make him seem all the more human.
Butcher continues the formula that is one part detective story, one part romance, and one part paranormal adventure, in a tale that will delight readers old and new alike. I award Death Masks five stars, and look forward to the next book in the series, to see what happens with the continuing arc in the plot, but also for what Butcher comes up with next.
Many of you have heard of this popular show, available on Netflix, about the strange happenings in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, and the group comprised of mostly kids and teens who find themselves in the perilous position of saving the world from a hostile takeover from another dimension.
Now currently in its third season, Stranger Things has attracted a wide audience, and inspired merchandise ranging from books and tee-shirts to coffee mugs and Funko Pops. Why are we so taken with this show?
Science fiction and fantasy combined. The characters are regularly pitted against creatures from the “Upside Down,” an alternate reality that first appears to be an invention of Will, the would-be comic book artist, and which would easily fit into a sci-fi or horror movie. With the exception of Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, the team are not equipped with superpowers or special weapons. This group of underdogs uses their brains, their friendships, and their luck to battle things the government won’t acknowledge or can’t handle. (At least until it comes to the cleanup and the obligatory non-disclosure agreement.)
I love the 80’s culture. Stranger Things takes place in the 1980s in the states, and embraces this, in all its glory. Big hair, shoulder pads, legwarmers, and popular movie/TV references abound, as does the music, from groups like Huey Lewis and the News and Wham.
Lucas waxes poetic about New Coke in one episode, which also features a reference to Chief Hopper as Magnum P.I. A Russian assassin, Grigori, appears in the latest season that bears a certain resemblance, and attitude, comparable to The Terminator. Add in government cover-ups, Russian sleeper agents, and conspiracy theories that are not just theories and you have the plot of the perfect 80’s show, but with writing and special effects that demonstrate modern tech.
Nerd Love. The “core” group of friends embrace their intelligence and differences freely. Dustin compliments Erica on her math skills “You’re a nerd!” They spend their free time playing Dungeons and Dragons, and use their knowledge of these games to theorize about the denizens of the Upside Down, and even to name the creatures from there-the Demogorgan, the Mind Flayer. They use their connections with the audio visual club to help uncover vital details and ham radio equipment to communicate with each other, long before cell phones are common.
In the second season, the core group of boys-Dustin, Mike, Will, and Lucas- go to school dressed as The Ghostbusters for Halloween. Little do they know, but those costumes will soon become strangely appropriate.
Hardcore Females. While not all the heroic characters in this ensemble are female, there are plenty of girls in this equal opportunity action series to please even the pickiest of viewers. Of course there’s Eleven, the preteen telekinetic who’s something of a superhero despite having spent most of her life confined to a laboratory, but she’s hardly the only female character that stands out in the lineup.
New character Robin, the nerdy ice cream server, uses her gift of languages to decipher hidden Russian codes and help veterans Steve and Dustin infiltrate a hidden Russian base under the mall.
Nancy, the teenage angst-star from previous seasons, has evolved into a Nancy Drew-esque would-be reporter who chases down the truth, even at the cost of her job and in pursuit of rapid mutating rats.
Joyce, the mother character played by Winona Ryder, has proven over and over that she pulls no punches when it comes to protecting her children or doing what is right. This season alone, we see her wielding shotguns, chasing after Russian spies, and yelling at both clandestine government agencies and conspiracy-theorists alike to accomplish her goals.
Beat the boredom of summer reruns on cable and check out this amazing show on Netflix!
What to say about the book that spawned an award-winning musical by bestselling author Gregory Maguire? I had meant to read Wicked for years, but I finally found time to sit down and conquer this 500-page tome over the last week.
This very adult re-telling of the classic Wizard of Oz story goes into a great deal of behind-the-scenes action and into the minds of multiple players to rend far more detail into the world of Oz and its denizens than ever hinted at in the original story by Frank L. Baum. Each section of the book contains enough detail and depth of storylines to form a separate volume of a series, but the author grants us the entire tale in one massive hardcover.
Maguire goes into detail about the origin of the “witches,” their backgrounds, and motivations, painting a picture of three-dimensional characters that are far more than mere bad guys, enough so, that when we are finally introduced to Dorothy in the very last section, we are able to feel sympathy, if not outrage, of the witch sisters’ plights.
While this story contains a great deal of political and religious debate, developing a complex world for the fabled land, the author uses a folk tale format for much of the story that entertains the reader and utterly ensnares them in his creation.
Witness the birth of Elphaba, the Munchkinlander afflicted from birth with green skin, and Galinda, the spoiled, vain Gilikinese maiden who are thrown together in the most unexpected of ways, to become rivals, friends, and finally stand on the opposite sides of the story. Witness also Elphaba’s sister, sheltered and crippled, who rises to leadership in a revolt only to become a hapless victim of natural disaster.
The author leads the reader to question who actually is good and who is evil in the story? Surely those labels are contrary and interchangeable at points, as the nature of beloved and not-so-beloved characters from witch, to wizard, to loyal or rebel citizenry are questioned. The arrival of a small girl from Kansas just may be the powder keg that sparks the change of everything.
This is a story well worth the read, and easily earns five stars for fans of paranormal, fantasy, and modern retellings of childhood classics.
This coming Saturday marks the fiftieth anniversary of the one of the most iconic events of the twentieth century- the lunar landing of the Apollo 11, where the American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the surface of the moon. This amazing feat was an incredible testament to human ingenuity, determination, and willingness to reach for seemingly impossible dreams.
Long before this event, humans have been fascinated by our closest neighbor in the sky, and have used it as a source of inspiration and superstition. Here are a few of the more interesting stories our ancestors have told to explain the existence of this celestial body:
And a few interesting facts:
For more interesting facts about the moon, you can find plenty of resources such as this one.
This interesting but confusing book is the first in a series about redemption, specifically, that of a reluctant vampire named Arel. Arel’s guardian angel, Michael, is attempting to heal Arel of his curse, but to do so, his charge must be willing to face the demons of his past lives, learn to forgive himself and accept that he is worthy of love.
How do you cure vampirism? Apparently by feeding said vampire Michael’s angelic blood. This intervention sets off a process that nearly kills Michael multiple times as it begins to transform him.
Arel doesn’t make it easy for Michael; he’s arrogant, demanding, and needy in turn, not to mention depressed and sometimes suicidal. He stubbornly refuses Michael’s help over and over again until he is rendered unable to cope anymore. Still Michael, with true angelic grace, is there for Arel time and time again, picking him up and caring for him till he’s ready to stand on his own two feet again.
Everything changes when Arel meets a group of people who are as drawn to him as he is to them. Each of these flawed, but giving individuals figured prominently somewhere in Arel’s past lives, and as they become aware of their past relationships, struggle to integrate those old emotions and knowledge into this new life where they are all intertwined again.
While on the surface this story involves a number of different factors- i.e. vampires, angelic guardians, past life regression, the underlying plot is really a study of the human condition, equally parts uplifting and heart wrenching, until the conclusion which ends on a high note, save for an ominous message from someone in Arel’s vampiric past, thus setting up a cliffhanger for the next book in the series, William’s Blood.
I picked up this book as part of the author’s recent promotional giveaway, and shelved on my TBR list for a time. I finally decided to sit down and read it this past week, and I’m not sorry that I did, because despite the surprising mix of genres, the book is very moving and uplifting, as this extraordinary group of individuals, both human and angelic, face everyday crises and come out the stronger for it. The overall message of faith and hope is inspiring, and I recommend this series to any who need a little encouragement or who simply like a good read.
Happy Fourth of July! Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Tomorrow is officially the day we celebrate our Independence in the United States, but the festivities have already started! (In my neighborhood, we’ve been hearing firecrackers go off in the evening all week!)
On this most important of national holidays, we recognize that our country, despite our differences, our problems, and our political debates, we all share a core of ideals and values. We acknowledge that though we are far from perfect, we still have such potential, along with the freedom to choose our own destinies.
Tomorrow, and this week, is the perfect time to set aside our petty arguments and embrace that which makes us all Americans. Take a moment to remember that we have servicemen and women overseas even now, sacrificing to keep our values and our safety intact.
However you choose to celebrate, by going out to one of the many parades or fireworks shows around the nation, or by just staying home and grilling out in the backyard, I hope this Fourth is your best yet!
This fourth volume of the adventures of Warlock Holmes is the broadest sweeping narrative yet. Out-maneuvering Pinkerton detectives, overcoming Italian Mafioso’s, and uncovering folktale selkies, are just some of the encounters depicted in this paranormal spoof of Arthur Conan Doyle’s illustrious detective stories.
Our story begins as John Watson and Warlock Holmes reverse their characters more than usual for this author’s version of the famous duo. Watson, determined to find Moriarty and Adler, begins experimenting with introducing a 7% solution of mummified Persian sorcerer into his blood stream in hopes of inducing prophetic dreams.
Watson’s “dream sequences” populate every other story in this anthology of linked narratives, as Watson poisons his body and gains Holmes’ suspicions, under a drug-induced hallucinated state that shows him truths about Moriarty’s past. Watson’s addiction leads to an even greater role reversal for the master of deduction (Watson) and the bumbling sorcerer (Holmes) who is forced for once to be the responsible one, and attempt to save Watson’s life and soul in the process.
But how does Warlock manage to accomplish such a task with his limited understanding of humanity and human interactions? Holmes decides Watson needs a love interest of course. And naturally he chooses the latest damsel in distress to cross their paths, Mary Morstan. It doesn’t matter that Watson is not the least bit interested in her, not to Holmes. Because he has determined Mary will be John’s salvation, through a magical intervention that rocks the conclusion to this anthology.
G.S. Denning takes these well-beloved characters and molds them to fit perfectly into the new scenarios he has devised, while retaining enough of the original source material that they remain recognizable to fans of Conan Doyle. The author manages to seamlessly insert his own dramatic and paranormally influenced-material into the 1890’s vernacular, while his creations are at home discussing subjects of magic, sorcery, necromancy, and fairy tales.
While G. S. Denning is hardly the first author to imitate, or reimagine, the writings of the classic author, this book and the series are both a humorous and entertaining tribute, one I would recommend to any fans of either Sherlock Holmes or paranormal mysteries. I award The Sign of Nine five stars. I’m sad I have to wait almost another year for the next volume in the series.
Summer Knight (The Dresden Files, #4) by
Amy Caudill‘s review
Summer Knight opens as Harry Dresden’s life is falling apart. Reeling from the consequences of the last volume, (Grave Peril, which takes place some nine months before,) Harry is ignoring everything and everyone else in his life in his ill-fated attempt to find a cure for his love. Susan Rodriquez was infected by a vampire’s venom, and one moment of weakness is all it would take for her to give into the blood lust and turns into a creature of the night.
Unfortunately, the world waits for no wizard, and the events taking place in the Nevernever and spilling out into the mortal world will soon distract Harry from his quest. The debt Harry owes to his faerie godmother Leanansidhe has been sold to the Winter Queen, Mab, who wants Harry to investigate the murder of the Knight of the Summer Queen.
Meanwhile, the Red Vampire Court is after Harry’s blood and the White Council of Wizards may just be willing to sacrifice him to keep the peace. Harry has both allies and enemies on the council, and is quickly running out of time to appease them. The only chance the wizards have of avoiding all-out war with the vampires is for Harry to solve Mab’s case, earning safe passage through the Nevernever into the vampire’s territory, and doing so before Winter and Summer start a war of their own that could literally end the world.
This novel, fourth in the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher, plunges the reader into a much wider world of paranormal politics and intrigue than is seen in previous volumes. The epic battle in the clouds above Chicago reminds me of scenes from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, while the camaraderie between Harry and the Alphas, the pack of werewolf-shifters he befriended in Fool Moon, is reminiscent of other epic tales like Lord of the Rings.
I award Summer Knight five stars, and recommend it and the series to any fans of paranormal detective stories, and fans of adventure epics.
This coming Sunday is the day set aside each year to celebrate the man that means so much too so many of us-Dad. Where would we be without our fathers? We may not always appreciate the advice or lessons they attempt to teach us, or eagerly jump into the chores they give us. Still, dads have a way of letting us know they care in everything they do.
My own father passed away a few years ago, but I feel blessed that I had the chance to know him, not only from the perspective of a child, but as an adult. And what a difference a few years made in my opinion of him! As I grew older and raised my own children, I began to appreciate him all the more, for all the hard work and sacrifices he made in raising me and my siblings.
Towards the last years of his life my dad was more likely to have, and take the time, to tell us some of the fascinating stories of his own childhood, then some seventy-plus years past.
My father was born and raised in rural Tennessee, and received more education about farming, animal husbandry, and carpentry work than he ever did in formal schooling. He raised wild turkeys, which I learned were actually capable of flight, and which he had to chase out of trees to get them to their roost at night. He learned to churn butter, and grind pork into sausage by hand, by actually helping to provide for a large family of parents and siblings.
He left farming behind, and moved into the city, when he and my mother started a family, so that his children could have advantages he lacked growing up. Many of the skills he acquired working the land did not translate well to our little suburb, but he adapted, and till his last year still tended a garden in the backyard, and helped family and friends with home repairs.
My father was not always an easy man to know, or communicate with, but in his own way he always showed he cared. You could see it in his smile, feel it in his hugs, and tell in the look of pride on his face whenever he watched his grandkids.
I miss my dad, but I know he’s watching over me, and my family. I hope we make him proud. When I watch my husband interact with our children today, I am reminded that behind his sometimes gruff manner, he really does have the best interests of our children at heart. He reminds me of my own father just a little bit, but that’s okay.
Thanks for listening to me ramble on. The main point I hope to make is that fathers are special, and often underappreciated, so take this time to acknowledge everything they do and mean to us. Above all, to all my readers out there, Happy Father’s Day!
Amy
amycaudill.net 