Cover Snark: The Sideways View: T&A for Everyone!

The cover of a book is very important because other than the name of the writer itself, publishers count on the image on the front to attract a reader enough to pick up the book and read the synopsis.  

One of the reoccurring tropes is the repeated display of women’s bodies exemplified by the oft use side view.

 And what are the advantages of the side-view? Why, tits and ass in one picture! Also let’s not forget the ever so popular arch.  Women must be sure to arch their bodies in such a way that both their breasts and buttocks are jutting outwards.  That this may cause back pain is no concern because that’s why chiropractors exist. 

Enter to Win Rise of The Governor

Hello everyone, it's giveaway time again.  As you know, the fangs crew are huge fans of the comics and show The Walking Dead.  Unfortunately, The Walking Dead is on hiatus until February.  If you're like us, you're already dreading the long wait.  This is why we thought this month we would offer one lucky a winner a chance to win:

Rise of the Governor is the back story of the governor, the most hated character in The Walking Dead universe.  This is a must read for any real fan.  You can find our review of the book here.

We Have a Winner

Hello everyone The Twilight Breaking Dawn Celebration package giveaway has come to an end. The lucky winner of:

A 2012 Twilight Breaking Dawn Calender, The Robert Pattinson Watch, and the Twilight Breaking Dawn Tote Bag is........

Jennifer Wedemeyer

Jennifer, you have been sent an email and will have 48 hours to reply with your mailing address or a new winner will be selected.  Thanks so much for reading and stay tuned everyone for new and exciting giveaways. 

Jeremy Jahns Has a Few Words to Say About Twilight Breaking Dawn Part I

Alright, I know that this is just going to piss the twi fans off, but truth is truth. 

Review of Cold Magic by Kate Elliot Book One of the Spiritwalker Trilogy

Cold Magic is the first book in the Spiritwalker trilogy.  As with all new books in a series, it is necessary to do some world building to properly set the story for a reader.  Unfortunately, Elliott's approach was heavy handed and boring, because she ignored the adage of show and not tell.  At times it felt like being immersed in a history lesson about people, wars, and countries that as a reader, I could care less about.  Approximately, the first 100 pages is dedicated to world building and this makes the story exceedingly boring to read. At one point, I was tempted to put the book down, and simply give it a DNF.  It should not take 100 pages to begin telling a story.

Cold Magic is a steampunk novel in which magic and technology are clearly at war with each other.  The cold mages demand patronage of the people for protection and in return, the people are virtually enslaved and must exchange their labour.  Technology holds the promise of freedom from the oppressors.  The people seek voting rights as they were formed in ancient Rome as well as the ability to profit from their own labour.  There are far too many clans to list in this review and they are often difficult to remember as one reads the story.

For all of their belief in technology, the people are very spiritual.  Beneath the world that is readily visible is another realm of magic.  In this realm a dragon dreams and these dreams effect the faith of the waking world.  Fantastical creatures exist there whose purpose is as of yet unexplained.

In this world lives Catherine Bell Barahal and her beloved cousin Bee. They are both believe that that they are the descendants of the Hassi Barahal clan.  The Hassi Barahal's began as messengers but quickly became spies.  When the populace attempted to over throw the cruel rule of the cold mages led by Camjiata the rebellion was crushed placing the Hassi Barahal family in grave danger because of the potential of their activities becoming public knowledge and so a deal was struck whereby the eldest daughter of the Hassi Barahal clan would be forced to marry a cold mage of the four moon house before the age of majority.  Days before reaching the age of majority,  Andevai, an incredibly strong cold mage arrives to claim her.  Catherine is whisked from the home of the only family she has ever known and married off in a ceremony that binds her to Andevai using unbreakable magic.

Wednesday Reboot: The Craft

 

The Craft was released in 1996 and stars Fairuza Balk, Robin Tunney, Rachel True and Neve Campbell.  As with previous Reboot Wednesday posts, the goal of this piece is to interrogate the social justice fails in older movies.  At the time that movies like The Craft came out, the social justice blogosphere as we know it today did not exist and so consequently, these movies that have in some cases become cult classics have managed to avoid the criticism often aimed at current movies like Twilight.  

When Sarah Bailey played by Robin Tunney arrives in a new town she makes friends with three girls who are social outcasts at their school.  Nancy is bullied after being slut shamed by the highschool jock, Bonnie for her disfigurement and Rochelle for being Black.  As they walk through the halls, they are called things like the bitches of Eastwick, a play on the 1987 movie, The Witches of Eastwick staring Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, Veronica Cartwright, and Jack Nicholson.  Shortly after arriving at the school, Sarah goes out on a date with Chris Hooker and he tells the entire school that not only did she sleep with him on the first date, but that she was a bad lay.  This of course sets of a solid round of slut shaming. 

As Sarah, Nancy, Bonnie and Rochelle come together they discover that they have the ability to form a coven and perform magic. Bonnie wishes for the disappearance of her scars, Rochelle for revenge on Laurie Lizze played by Christine Taylor for her constant racial abuse, Sarah for Chris Hooker to like her and Nancy to an end of her White trash existence and having to watch as her mother is abused by her boyfriend. Over time each on of their wishes come to fruition but they are warned that whatever the put out into the world will return to them times three by Lirio, the woman who owns the local magic shop.  

In no time at all, the power that they wield quickly runs out of control leaving two men dead.  Sensing that Nancy is out of control, Sarah attempts to bind her.  This of course does not go down well with Nancy and she attacks her.  The two end up in the huge battle of magic in which Sarah is the victor, leaving Nancy institutionalized.

A Few Things You Might To Know About Grimm's David Giuntoli

1. Navy blue is his favorite color. “I’ve been told I look good in it,” he says with a laugh.

2. David never had a favorite fairy story as a child. “I’ve been asked this question before,” he says. “I don’t think I really have. I loved ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.’ I loved being scared. I loved horror movies. I loved ‘The Shining’ but I can’t say I was reading any fairytales necessarily. I was kind of more into wrestlers and things.“

3. Lists the following among his hobbies.  “I like to go see music. I like to read. Portland is a wonderful place to kinda go bike around and become a foodie, and I’ve done that here quite a bit. Those are my hobbies up here. Pottering about!” he laughs. “And drinking coffee and reading.”

4. Nick Burkhardt’s fiancee is played by actress Bitsie Tulloch. Coincidentally Both David and Bitise appeared together in an independent movie earlier this year called Caroline and Jackie – also playing a couple. “It’s a total indie but it’s got really good people in it,” David says of the movie.

5. Lists London as a place he would like to visit if he had the opportunity to live and work abroad for a year. “I would go to London,” he says decisively after a moment’s pause. “I’ve never been there. It would feed my soul. The best trained actors come out of there and I would love to immerse myself in that as much as I could. And it’s an expensive city, so there’s where I’d like to work!“

Read the rest of the article here

Review: Changeless by Gail Carriger, Book 2 of the Parasol Protectorate Series

I am going to say right up front, that when it comes to Gail Carriger, we have officially become fan poodles so do not expect an unbiased review.  Changeless marks the return of the indefatigable Lady Maccon, formerly known to us Miss. Alexia Tarabotti. Just as with Soulless, the first book in the Parasol Protectorate series Alexia continues to be a protagonist that is simply beyond compare. She is bright, funny, daring, logical, sarcastic but must importantly, strikingly independent, despite her marriage to Lord Maccon.  These traits are rare in a female protagonist and LJ Smith, Charlaine Harris,  and Cassandra Clare, really need to read this series and take notes. Yes, this is how it's done. This is how you make a character who is strong and intelligent. Who is independent but doesn’t make awful decisions. Who holds her own without being unreasonable, violent or a spoiled child throwing a tantrum. Not a whiff of Spunky Agency or Keille Independence In short, I don’t think we’ve come across a better female protagonist in this genre.

When Lady Maccon awakes in the morning to find her husband yelling, she assumes instantly that it is time argument and instantly argues back half asleep, with no idea what is going on.    

"Wasn't me, she immediately said, without having the barest hint of an idea as to what her husband was carrying on about. Of course, it usually was her, but it would not do to fess up right away, regardless of whatever it was that had his britches in a bunch this time." 

On several occasions various people turn to Lord Maccon from sort of relief from Alexia's biting tongue, but no relief is to be found, because Lady Maccon is simply determined to have her say.  

Lady Maccon further is not afraid to involve herself in action whenever necessary.  When the pack returns and takes up residence in the forecourt, Major Channing Channing of the Chesterfield Channings no less, has the misfortune to assume Lady Maccon is the hired help and becomes openly suggestive and condescending towards her. He quickly learns of his mistake when he is hit squarely over the head with her beloved parasol, Lady Maccon's weapon of choice.  It is virtually impossible to read the exchange without laughing out loud.  Fortunately for us, this is not the last we see of Lady Maccon and her infamous parasol.