We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach

March 31, 2015July 14, 2019 / Riot @ Absidity Art - Sarah Fairbairn / 2 Comments

We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach

Release date: April 1, 2015

Thank you Simon & Schuster Australia for giving me an ARC to read and review

Four high school seniors put their hopes, hearts, and humanity on the line as an asteroid hurtles toward Earth in this contemporary novel.

They always say that high school is the best time of your life.

Peter, the star basketball player at his school, is worried “they” might actually be right. Meanwhile Eliza can’t wait to escape Seattle—and her reputation—and perfect-on-paper Anita wonders if admission to Princeton is worth the price of abandoning her real dreams. Andy, for his part, doesn’t understand all the fuss about college and career—the future can wait.

Or can it? Because it turns out the future is hurtling through space with the potential to wipe out life on Earth. As these four seniors—along with the rest of the planet—wait to see what damage an asteroid will cause, they must abandon all thoughts of the future and decide how they’re going to spend what remains of the present.

When I finished reading the last page I actually laughed at loud “that’d be right”. I closed the cover and muttered to myself “that’s brilliant”. Yep, I LOVED IT. And dare I say, I think it’s going to be the next big thing, I’m imagining the closing credits for the movie adaptation already.

I finished We All Looked Up on Sunday morning and I’ve been trying to figure how to write a review to do it justice ever since. Wallach’s writing is beautiful, easy to read, emotional and powerful.

We get backgrounds on the four view point characters and then follow them as they learn that there is an asteroid tearing toward earth with a 66.6% chance of impact, with the possible collision being so catastrophic it will wipe out the world. The four viewpoints are: the all-around golden boy and Jock Peter, the promiscuous and artsy Eliza, the good girl and overachiever Anita and the stoner and slacker Andy. Wallach uses teenage stereotypes and makes them feel real. He gives a world of complicated characters to care for and despise all at once. There is a little bit of all of us in this story somewhere.

We follow them as they try to survive until the end, as they try to deal with and make sense of their lives, as the world goes crazy and they try to come to terms with death. There are inner demons faced and new friendships made. The story keeps moving on, revolving through the different viewpoints. The different points of view flow beautifully and I enjoyed getting in all their heads.

The ending was open and leaves us to ponder. I’d like to think this book might make a few teens wake up to themselves. What would you do if the world was coming to an end? I found a few parts hard to swallow, mainly Anita’s struggle of living her life for everyone other than herself, as I feel that way sometimes, so that made me contemplate my own situation.

FIVE STARS for the next big thing > > > We All Looked Up.

Website – http://www.tommywallach.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/tommywallachland

Twitter – https://twitter.com/tommywallach

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18392459-we-all-looked-up

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/snovision

Tumblr – http://wealllookedup.tumblr.com/

Ice Kissed by Amanda Hocking

March 25, 2015July 14, 2019 / Riot @ Absidity Art - Sarah Fairbairn / Leave a comment

Ice Kissed (Kanin Chronicles #2) by Amanda Hocking

Publish Date: May 5^th 2015

A big thank you to Net Galley, Amanda Hocking and her publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read and review Ice Kissed.

In the majestic halls of a crystal palace lies a secret that could destroy an entire kingdom…

Bryn Aven refuses to give up on her dream of serving the kingdom she loves. It’s a dream that brings her to a whole new realm…the glittering palace of the Skojare.

The Skojare people need protection from the same brutal enemy that’s been threatening the Kanin, and Bryn is there to help. Being half Skojare herself, it’s also a chance for her to learn more about her lost heritage. Her boss Ridley Dresden is overseeing the mission, but as their undeniable attraction heats up, their relationship is about to reach a whole new level—one neither of them is prepared for.

As they delve deeper into the Skojare world, they begin to unravel a long-hidden secret. The dark truth about her own beloved Kanin kingdom is about to come to light, and it’ll change her place in it forever…and threaten everyone she loves.

I liked the synopsis of this book and requested to read and review it without realising it was the second book in a trilogy. OOPS!! But I read it anyway. I kinda wish I’d read the first book Frostfire first. I really enjoyed Ice Kissed anyway. I grew to love the characters, but I assume I would have already loved them if I’d read Frostfire first. And more than likely the big moment at the end would have meant more. I didn’t understand the depth of the ending of Ice Kissed until reading the synopsis of the first book while doing up this review post and I had an “Oh Snap!” moment.

A lot of the books I’ve been reading lately have been third person. It was so refreshing to step into a first person story via Bryn. I find first person to be so much more emotional and personal, I know it doesn’t work with every story – but it works wonders with this one.

The story starts with Bryn recapping a failed mission with Ridley and beating herself up over the failure. From the beginning scene of Bryn riding on horseback through the snow along high city walls, I was thinking “yeah I love medieval times, bring on some epic king Arthur settings and battles”. Then the words drove and SUV popped up and I was like “um, what, where the hell am I!”

Magic: After reading further on I was able to figure it all out: this is a story of trolls. I saw them in my head as human, oops. It is set in current times. The human world still exists, just as it is and the Trolls use a lot of our modern technology, hence the Range Rover they were driving in. I’m sure in the first book the whole world would have been built and I’d have already known this. We don’t see this Troll world thanks to magical Troll enchantments. Amanda Hocking really has beautifully blended our modern world with that of a Troll world secretly going on under our noses.

Romance: Bryn and Ridley have a forbidden romance thing going on. Ah it’s always sweeter when it’s forbidden. It’s always more exciting – well that’s my opinion.

At the 34% there is a sex scene which I wasn’t expecting, it’s not over the top or porno feeling. Stress less people. But it did make me realise I had no idea how old the characters were supposed to be. Also my brain went “Troll Sex, Um, well Trolls are humanoid, yes, yes, I’m imagining this correctly”. And really they are very human these trolls, they just live in secret from humans and have magical abilities. I’d been imagining Bryn as about 17-ish, but she may have been older, I really don’t know. She started working at twelve and after that I found it hard to figure out her time line.

Action: After the 34% mark the books takes off at light speed with Bryn leaving Ridley and her home with the Kanin to help the Skojare. At this point I delved into a fast flowing world of danger and mystery and Bryn fighting for what she feels is right. And I loved it. And I’m devastated that I have to wait until August to read the next book and see how things turn out. And I’m not going to tell you anymore about it or I’ll give away all the twisty turny awesomeness.

I really enjoyed being in Bryn’s head, I found her really engaging and her life captivated me. FIVE STARS.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3486415.Amanda_Hocking

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amanda_hocking

Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandahockingfans

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/aehocking/

Wattpad: www.wattpad.com/AmandaHocking

Website: www.worldofamandahocking.com

Nobility by Kayla Bain-Vrba

March 22, 2015July 14, 2019 / Riot @ Absidity Art - Sarah Fairbairn / Leave a comment

Nobility by Kayla Bain-Vrba

Published March 18th 2015 by Less Than Three Press LLC

I received a copy to read and review through Net Galley, so thank you to the Author and Publisher for allowing me this opportunity.

Determined to escape an arranged marriage, and with very few options available, Danna brings a curse down on herself and settles into life in an enchanted tower. The very last thing she needs or wants is to be rescued, no matter how beautiful or compelling her unexpected rescuer is.

Nobelle is desperate to avoid the hangman’s noose, and as last ditch efforts go her life could be worse than rescuing a bratty princess. But an easy way to stay alive turns into a complicated tangle of lies as she and Danna grow closer and Nobelle has no easy way to admit that she’s no knight in shining armor…

I so wanted to love this, but it all moved way too fast and I didn’t get a chance.

The story is a cute, quick, insta love story. Nobelle is the arse kicking outlaw and Danna is the pretty princess with more to her than meets the eye. There are little snippets of humor the whole way though keeping the story light, fresh and entertaining. There was definitely a really strong background for what could have been spun into a longer and more thrilling tale.

I really loved the sound of this story, its synopsis and the cover. I think if the author had had the extra pages to build the characters and the world more, I would have loved it. I wish it had been a longer story so that we could have watched the Women fall in love – I know it’s only a short story but it just felt too rushed for my taste.

Twitter – https://twitter.com/KaylaBainVrba

Tumblr – http://kaylabainvrba.tumblr.com/

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5357735.Kayla_Bain_Vrba

Live Journal – http://kaylabainvrba.livejournal.com/

Benjamin Buckingham and The Nightmare’s Nightmare

March 20, 2015July 14, 2019 / Riot @ Absidity Art - Sarah Fairbairn / Leave a comment

Benjamin Buckingham and The Nightmare’s Nightmare by Gregory Gershwin

Published December 16th 2014 by The Gregarious LLC

I received a copy of this book from the Author in return for an honest review – so thank you Mr. Gershwin

WARNING: Do not read if you hate talking dinosaurs.

DOUBLE WARNING: This book contains adventure and castles and nightmares and faraway lands.

TRIPLE WARNING: Do not read this book while riding roller coasters.

What happens when you wake after a night of dreaming to find your favorite dinosaur character from your favorite TV show talking to you in your bedroom? You and the dinosaur panic!!! After nine year-old Benjamin Buckingham calms down, he chooses between chasing after the dinosaur into a secret world or… going to school. What Benjamin finds is an imaginative world with castles filled with people who create dreams. But, Benjamin discovers something else, something awful, something treacherous. An evil castle creates nightmares and the ruler of this castle wants to destroy all the dreams. Benjamin begins a quest to save a kidnapped king and finds talking animals, magical castles, and frightening monsters along the way. Will dreams survive? Will nightmares be destroyed? Will dinosaurs continue talking forever?

Nine year old Benjamin Buckingham from Pennsylvania doesn’t fit in with the other kids at school. His only friends are the action hero talking Dinosaurs he dreams of at night. So it’s no surprise when he awakes one morning to find one of his dream Dinosaurs in his bedroom that he follows it into an unknown new world.

Benjamin finds sympathy and friendship in the form of the dream worlds King. The trouble starts when the King tries to return Benjamin to his world and they miss the portal (thanks to bad guy interference of course). Things only get worse for Benjamin as the King is kidnapped and he finds himself banished from the castle. Being that the king is the only one who can send Benjamin home, he does the only thing he can do – set off to save the king.

In this story we see Benjamin transform into a confident, happy boy, who learns his self-worth and makes friends along the way (be it with a talking caterpillar and a squirrel that runs with its eyes shut).

The story has a kind of Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of OZ, Never-ending Story vibe – It entertains you and makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. There are plenty twists and turns in the story to keep even the adults riveted. Not to mention there are some really good character speeches, imparting some important life lessons. This story has everything; action, adventure, bad guys, good guys, dinosaurs, dream studios, classes about creating dreams for grumpy old men, and a nine year conquering his fears and saving the day with his creative imagination – what more could you want.

I enjoyed this as an adult and I could really see a child eating it up, loving Benjamin and the dream world Mr Gershwin has created.

Website – http://www.benjaminbuckingham.com/

Gregory’s Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5585946-gregory-gershwin

Benjamin’s Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24505266-benjamin-buckingham-and-the-nightmare-s-nightmare

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Buckingham-Nightmares-Nightmare-Gershwin-ebook/dp/B00QUR5386/ref=sr_1_3

B&N – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/benjamin-buckingham-and-the-nightmares-nightmare-gregory-gershwin/1121199701?ean=2940150199491&isbn=2940150199491

Incite by Erica Crouch

March 15, 2015July 14, 2019 / Riot @ Absidity Art - Sarah Fairbairn / 6 Comments

Incite (Ignite #2) by Erica Crouch

Earth is in ruins, and the war of Heaven and Hell has spilled over into the mortal world. In the frozen wasteland of the apocalypse, Azael and his band of cohorts search for Pen and Michael with orders to kill. Little does he know that his sister has incited a rebel army of her own.

Angels and demons alike stand side by side, ready and willing to fight for a future they didn’t realize they could have. Change doesn’t come easy, though. Pen is wary of joining New Genesis’s revolution, but when Azael shows his hand and Pen learns all that he holds over them, she chooses to fight back, no matter the risk. She only has to survive, one hour at a time.

“Strength does not come from remaining untouched and unaffected. It comes from picking yourself up again and again, no matter how many times you’re thrown to the ground and shattered.” Micheal – I loved this quote in the book.

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first. I was apprehensive going into it thinking that I was going to hate reading from Azael’s perspective, but I did enjoy it.

Nothing is accomplished in this book and we are left with a rather large cliffhanger. It’s really just a bridge from a good first book to what feels like it will be an epic finally (hopefully in the third book).

There is a lot of running/flying away from danger, which does lead to a fast paced story. We meet New Genesis a group of Angels and Demons banded together by the same beliefs that we saw bring Pen and Micheal together in the first book.

It was well worth the read and I am looking forward to the next installment, until then I’ll keep my fingers crossed that Pen’s heart will beat again :-).

My Review of Ignite >> http://sarahfairbairn.com/2015/02/04/1257/

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21971646-incite

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ericacrouchbooks

Twitter – https://twitter.com/erica_crouch

YouTube – http://youtube.com/moreerica

Blog – http://ericacrouch.com/

BATGIRL: ‘The New 52’ DC Comic Book Series

March 13, 2015July 14, 2019 / Riot @ Absidity Art - Sarah Fairbairn / Leave a comment

The daughter of Police Commissioner Jim Gordon, Barbara Gordon was raised in Gotham City, knowing firsthand the dangers inherent in living there. A classic overachiever and determined student, she struck out on her own as Batgirl in an attempt to help both Batman and her father in their mission to protect the citizens of Gotham. Quickly reined in by Batman and trained to be a more effective hero. Batgirl became a valued member of his team along with the first Robin, Dick Grayson. Tragically, Barbara’s life was forever altered when the joker shot her while she was in her civilian identity, while he was attacking her father. She was paralyzed from the waist down, and it seemed as if her time as Batgirl has been ended permanently. But Barbara did not give up. Working herself to the absolute limits of her physical and mental abilities, in time she regained the ability to walk. Taking things a step further, she made the daring choice to retrain herself and return to patrolling Gotham City as Batgirl.

I’d forgotten Batgirl was Commissioner Gordon’s Daughter, so that was a nice surprise.

I like Batgirl; she has a cool motorbike that can ride up walls then para-shoot back down, oh and she’s a strong, independent female kicking bad guys asses.

I started this whole thing backwards; the first Batgirl comic I read was #39, then going on to read #39’s story continuation in Secret Origins #10. I decided at this point that I really should stop and start at the beginning.

I’m still getting used to how short comic books feel – they end and I just want to keep reading.

So let’s start at the beginning:

Batgirl #0: in this Issue we get to see the First time Barbara puts on the cape and becomes Batgirl. We get a glimpse at her first year as a crime fighting vigilante. I really enjoyed this prequel issue setting up what I am sure to be an action packed and entertaining series. I’m looking forward to following Barbara Gordon through this series. I can definitely see myself becoming addicted to Batgirl’s world, which my husband is not too happy about lol.

The Doctor: Friday Fictioneers 100 Word Story Challenge

March 12, 2015July 14, 2019 / Riot @ Absidity Art - Sarah Fairbairn / 10 Comments

Sorry guy’s I’ve been watching a lot of Dr Who lately, David Tennant style. I love that man, or should I say I love that Doctor. This flew out of my hands at 167 words and as I always make it exactly 100 words, it was hard to cut down – but TADA! I did it. I can totally see myself running across a field like a lunatic chasing after a blue police box Mwahahaha.

* * *

I didn’t see the stump hidden in the long grass. I didn’t have time to register the pain radiating from my left shin bone. I got right back up and kept running.

I could see the old school blue police box in front me. Adventure and freedom so close I could feel it.

I was about 200 meters away when the box shimmered, I heard a grinding noise and it disappeared.

So close.

I broke down and cried.

I’m still looking for that blue box and hopefully one day I will get my chance to travel time with the Doctor.

* * *

Friday Fictioneers is a challenge set by Rochelle Fields where writers around the world create 100 word stories inspired by the one image.

This week’s PHOTO PROMPT Copyright Sandra Crook

Frost on a stump. Sandra Crook.

For more information see:

https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/13-march-2015/

Bob’s Burgers

March 5, 2015July 14, 2019 / Riot @ Absidity Art - Sarah Fairbairn / Leave a comment

Bob’s Burgers Volume 1 By Chad Brewster, Jeff Drake, Justin Hook, Rachel Hastings and Mike Olsen

Published Apr 7 2015 by Diamond Book Distributors / Dynamite Entertainment

I received a copy to read and review through Net Galley, so thank you to the Authors and Publisher for allowing me this opportunity.

Now you can read about the Belcher family (parents Bob and Linda, and their children Tina, Gene and Louise) with brand-new in-canon stories created by the TV show’s producers, writers, and animators!

That’s right, all-original stories that expand upon the fan-favorite animated series, including hilarious installments of “Louise’s Unsolved Mysteries”, “Tina’s Erotic Friend Fiction”, “A Gene Belcher Original Musical”, “Letters Written by Linda”, “Bob’s Burgers of the Day”, and much more!

I’ve only every managed to catch a few episodes of Bob’s Burgers the show and I liked what I saw. I decided to give the Comic book version a ago and I’m glad it did as it was a really fun and quick read.

‘Volume One’ contains the first Five issues. Each issue is set up with each Belcher getting their own sections to show off their quirky wonderful selves. My favourite throughout was Tina’s erotic friend fiction, it gave us everything thing from a Frankenstein Jimmy Jr with a perfect butt, to Tina as a super hero horse with some zombie apocalypse thrown in for good measure. I also really enjoyed Louise’s fort inspired shanty town and giggled out loud when it imploded on itself. Linda’s letters were amusing and Bob’s burgers of the day were delicious. I couldn’t really get into Gene’s Musicals, although the farting frog pied piper was a goofy bit of fun – I felt everything else transferred to the page from the screen really well.

I’ve gone and got myself some Bob’s Burgers DVDs now 🙂 time to give them a go.

Four Stars