Mrs. MabbThe Ladies of Grace Adieu

What a strange story? How did Susanna Clarke come up with this one? I think Mrs. Mabb is my favourite in the collection so far. Venetia is such a wonderful, determined character. She knows that she is not crazy. There is something in her, drivnging her to save her love, Captain Fox. With some expansion, I could see this being a lovely fantasy-adventure love story movie. I look forward to the second half of Clarke’s collection.

Undead and Unreturnable

MaryJanice Davidson brings us another book in the Undead series. I love Betsy. She is the most unlikely vampire queen. The story begins with Betsy, her human best friend and her sister (who is the daughter of the devil) staring at Betsy’s never-used grave. The plot and tombstone were paid for, so it was set up. Very morbid, I must say, but interesting. Betsy again winds up in danger, the worse kind any of the vampires can think of, exposure! Does Betsy want her whole history of being a vampire printed for all her subjects (especially the bad ones) to see? Sinclair and Tina certainly don’t want it to happen. I can’t wait too see if the revealing book is published.

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born

For anyone who is a fan of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, The Gunslinger Born is welcome addition to the canon. Even if you don’t read graphic novels, try this one out. If you’ve never read a Dark Tower novel, this is a great way to start. It was a great idea for Stephen Kin to partner with Marvel Comics (home of his and some of my favourite characters.) They did justice to his work, which is not just my opinion. King’s letter at the end of the story emphasizes how happy he is with the final product.

The Gunslinger Born isn’t a retelling of the fourth Dark Tower book, Wizard & Glass. I feel it’s more of a coupling; Wizard & Glass is the launching pad from which The Gunslinger Born springs forth. Many of the events that occur in both books are the same, though truncated in the latter. There are also new glimpses in the lives of the people in Roland’s world. We see the Crimson King, Marten, Walter & John Farson. It’s as though the reader is given a behind-the-scenes peek at the workings of the ‘Good Man’ and his followers. If you want to prolong your journey to the Dark Tower, pick up The Gunslinger Born