The New DC 52: Weeks 0 and 1

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The New DC 52: Weeks 0 and 1

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Michael M. Jones

As a comic book fan of some little brain and great enthusiasm, it seems appropriate that I–like everyone else– review and comment upon DC Comics’ great, grand experiment to basically start over from scratch with their entire universe. 52 #1 issues, stretched over 5 weeks. Their flagship title, Justice League, shipped last week on August 31st, and the first wave of 13 titles shipped today. Now, I didn’t order all of them, since even I have my limits, and I was able to rule some titles out based on entirely arbitrary criteria such as writer, artist, character, or mood. Still, I expect to read 40 or so of the 52 by the time the first month is done. After that, we’ll see if anything gets dropped to give my poor budget a little more wiggle room.

Will I do this again for month 2? Perhaps. We’ll just have to see. But let’s get started, shall we?
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New Realms of Fantasy and New Reviews Online

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Michael M. Jones

The August 2011 issue of Realms of Fantasy has arrived, and that means it’s time for a new column. In this issue, I covered the following YA SF/F books:

Huntress, by Malinda Lo
Eona, by Alison Goodman
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente
Red Glove, by Holly Black
The Girl in the Steel Corset, by Kady Cross
Supernaturally, by Kiersten White
Born at Midnight, by C.C. Hunter
Queen of the Dead, by Stacey Kade
Always a Witch, by Carolyn MacCullough

With this issue now in the wild, I’ve archived the reviews from the previous issue on my website. Click through to check out the following:

The Iron Thorn, by Caitlin Kittredge
Teeth, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
Rage, by Jackie Morse Kessler
Tiger’s Curse, by Colleen Houck
Angel Burn, by L.A. Weatherly
Falling Under, by Gwen Hayes
After Midnight, by Lynn Viehl
A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

Finally, the following reviews are live on The Green Man Review:
Hard Spell, by Justin Gustainis
Sympathy for the Devil, also by Justin Gustainis
The Snow Queen’s Shadow, by Jim C. Hines
The Sleeping Beauty, by Mercedes Lackey

A Long, Long Sleep, by Anna Sheehan (Candlewick Press, 2011)

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Michael M. Jones

Rosalinda Fitzroy has just woken up from sixty-two years in stasis, only to discover that everyone she knew is dead, and society has changed greatly. As the last member of a once-powerful family, she’ll inherit the world’s most powerful company when she comes of age. Until then, she has to adjust and rediscover herself, free at last from her domineering parents and their unreal expectations, free to pursue her own dreams. But with an unstoppable killer stalking her, that freedom may be short-lived. As she struggles to stay alive, the mystery of her past unfolds, revealing romance and tragedy. This futuristic riff on Sleeping Beauty combines an interesting setting with a fast-paced plot and complex characters, making for a satisfying read.

After Midnight, by Lynn Viehl (Flux, 2011)

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Michael M. Jones

When Catlyn Youngblood and her brothers move to the tiny town of Lost Lake, Florida, she hopes that this will be the end of their constant moving for a while. Unfortunately, the siblings get a cool welcome from their new neighbors, for reasons unknown. It all changes when Catlyn has a chance meeting with the mysterious Jesse Raven one night, and they forge a clandestine friendship that soon deepens. Unfortunately, their romance is forbidden by both familes. Jesse Raven is a vampire, while the Youngbloods are descended from one of history’s greatest hunters, and there’s bad blood between the two clans. As Jesse and Catlyn defy those who would keep them apart, more secrets come to light, potentially dooming their love. Coming off as Twilight crossed with Romeo and Juliet, this YA debut for Viehl has a lot of appeal and some genuinely surprising twists.

Falling Under, by Gwen Hayes (New American Library, 2011)

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Michael M. Jones

The night Theia Alderson watches a burning man fall from the sky, her sheltered life is changed for good. Now she spends her days trying to understand the new boy in town, Haden, who adopts a much more capricious and wickedly seductive attitude when he also shows up in her dreams. Alternately attracted and repelled, Theia falls for him, even after discovering his true nature and intentions towards her. She’s the target of an otherworldly plot, with life and soul at stake. Can she win free, even with the help of her friends, or will she be altered irrevocably? Dark and compelling, this tale of forbidden love maintains its individuality thanks to engaging supporting characters and a memorable concept.

Angel Burn, by L.A. Weatherly (Candlewick Press, 2011)

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Michael M. Jones

Alex has spent most of his seventeen years hunting angels, extra-dimensional energy vampires who feed from humans and leave illness in their wake. As the angels flood into our world, their influence rapidly grows, inspiring a new religion, with only a very few realizing the awful truth and fighting back. Willow is a psychic teen whose unique heritage holds the key to stopping the angels, so they target her for death. In a last-ditch effort to survive and save humanity, Alex and Willow desperately team up, fleeing cross-country in search of allies. As they race against the clock, the peril intensifies, leading to one electrifying confrontation after another, and an explosive climax. High octane action meets newfound love in this adrenaline-fueled thriller.

Tiger's Curse, by Colleen Houck (Sterling Publishing, 2011)

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Michael M. Jones

In search of a summer job, Kelsey Hayes takes a temporary position with a visiting circus, responsible for helping the animal trainer. She immediately bonds with Ren, an unusually intelligent white tiger. Soon, she learns that Ren is actually a centuries-old Indian prince suffering from a curse, and that she may be the only one able to help him break the curse and permanently regain his human form. Their quest takes them back to India, where they brave all manner of dangers. But will their mutual attraction make the job easier, or will it tear them apart? This is a treat for the senses, with lush details leaping off the page at every turn. Steeped in Indian culture and mythology, it’s an unusual and engaging story.

Rage, by Jackie Morse Kessler (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt,2011)

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Michael M. Jones

Filled with anger, obsessed with maintaining control, Melissa Miller cuts herself for a multitude of reasons. The object of scorn and derision and targeted by bullies, she’s the butt of a vicious prank which tips her over the edge, prompting her to accept the role of War, one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Now the embodiment of human aggression, she struggles to understand her new role even as she tries to balance out her normal life. If she can’t cope with her own feelings, the human race will suffer. Like Hunger before it, Rage tackles a vital teen issue with delicacy and intelligence without preaching. Raw, visceral, pulling no punches, this story strikes home like a razor blade. It’s unforgettable, heart wrenching, and enlightening.

Teeth, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling (HarperCollins, 2011)

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Michael M. Jones

Twenty top-notch authors explore the concept of the vampire in stories and poetry, reintroducing elements of danger, mystique, allure and passion to a topic seemingly bled thin in recent years. From those who love vampires to those who hunt them, from those attracted by immortality to those seeking it, drawing inspiration from a dozen different vampire myths, this collection is filled with gems. Some stories explore love, others life and death, others family and friendship. Freedom and imprisonment, change and stagnation, the duality of the vampiric nature is in full bloom here. This collection masterfully conveys the complexity of the concept, with nary a clunker to be found, and is a must-have for any vampire fan out there.

The Iron Thorn, by Caitlin Kittredge (Delacorte Press, 2011)

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Michael M. Jones

What do a clockwork house in a steampunk setting, the Cthulhu Mythos, the Fae, and a girl engineer all have in common? They factor into Kittridge’s endlessly entertaining YA debut, a delightful juxtaposition of unlikely elements and high adventure. When Aoife Grayson receives a plea for help from her long-lost brother, she runs away from the strict school she calls home, accompanied by her best friend and guided by a dashing rogue. Encountering airship pirates, flesh-eating ghouls, untrustworthy Fae and more, Aoife must unlock the secrets of her family, even as her world is torn apart by betrayal, revelations. With its unique blend of steampunk science, eldritch horror, dark magic and Gothic atmosphere, this book draws you like a shoggoth’s tentacle and doesn’t let go.