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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series

ABVH has been around for more than a decade already. Most reviews on it has been compared to Buffy the vampire slayer. But Anita is far more than Buffy. Shes a kick ass cynical girl. I think thats the reason why i like her bec she doesn't take crap with anyone and definitely doesn't kiss asses.

Series Started with GUILTY PLEASURES. The book tells how JEAN-CLAUDE raise to power as the new master of the city of St. Louis MO. How he placed the 1st and 2nd mark to Anita to make her his human servant. A Human Servant is the eye and ears of the vampire when the vampire is asleep at day. Well by the word SERVANT i believe you already know what that means. The servant make sures the master he/she serves will be taken cared of. its like having a private secretary in the same time having an elf like santa's little helpers. lol. But Anita doesnt really want to be JC's Human servant so she constantly denys his claim, GP is already released as a graphic novel under the debel brothers which is now under MARVEL.


The next book in the series is LAUGHING CORPSE. Theres nothing much in this book. Only that you tend to know more about our heroin in the series. How she came into her necromantic powers, how she got the job in Animator's Inc. And a touch of voodoo magic is in the story. CIRCUS OF THE DAMN is something you need not to miss in the series. Here, you will learned about more in vampire politics and the Vampire Council. The council is composed by 12 individuals. One of this individual is Oscar other wise known as the Earth mover. WEll bec his power can move the earth, can cause tremors on the very ground your standing. He challenges JC and offered ANita to get rid of JC in exchange that she herself will be free from his bounds. She nearly betrayed JC in this book. It is also in this book where we will meet Richard for the first time. Which eventually you will find out to be an emotional unstable werewolf.

Next book is LUNATIC CAFE. Here we get to know the local wolf pack of st. louis. And the ever wicked sexy Rianna, the werewolf LUPA... in plain english... werewolf queen to Marius's Ulfric "king". Also we get to know Gabriel the ever sadistic nimni-raj "wereleopard king" and star of Rainna's wickedly sex videos.

Bare with me everyone, This series has "atm" 16 books and the 17th book is scheduled to be release in June2009.


BLOODY BONES and BLUE MOON are books which is set outside St. Louis.


The book after it is the KILLING DANCE. Its where Anita first saw Richard turn into a werewolf right above her and she was forced to accept the 3rd mark to save both JC and Richard. Its also in this book that Anita ran away from Richard when she saw him eat the former ulfric and took the throne for himself. She ran away from him to the arms of JC for comfort thus beginning her dating the master vampire and accepting him in her life.



The next book BURNT OFFERINGS is a struggle of power and the test by the council to JC's teretory and power. They were visited by two vampire council member. PAdma "the BEast master" since he can control any wereanimal that existed. And Traviler coz he can transfer his soul "if vampires have soul" to any being. Here they have invaded JC's daytime resting place and held hostage all his people. So its in this book were Anita need to give a good show to the council that she is a good human servant. This is also when you gets to know more about vampire politics and the vampire council members.

OBSIDIAN BUTTERFLY is a book sit in New Mexico and JC and Richard is out of the picture in this book. The only male alpha in this book is EDWARD (NO! his not a vampire and his more than a kick ass male alpha than pathitic emo Edward in twilight). EDWARD the oh so sexy bounty hunter... and cruel if i may add. He kills without mercy. He's a bounty hunter for hire once he was hired to kill humans. But lately humans has bored him so he hunted wereanimals or vampires or anything that goes bumpy in the night. Both he and anita might not admit it but they are sure is a match made from hell. not in the since of love if i may point that out. oh wait, edward did said in this book that anita is his soulmate. lol and she didnt went gogo eyes on him, thats what i like about her. This book is one of my favorites in the series.

The next following books - NARCISUS IN CHAINS, CERELIAN SINS,INCUBUS DREAMS are the reason why some readers of the searies have stopped reading the series. Well for me it gave me more reasons in collecting the series. Its because of the sizzling sex with vampires and with the wereanimals. Some found it sickening I on the other hand find it... no words can describe it i just cant stop giggling and oggling over it. There were less murder scenes in this book and has centered into stablishing Anita's relationship with the vampires and how her power and JC's power is growing increasing. CS we meet Belle Morte through her servant and by the end of the book JC is already declared his own fountain head. Meaning he has his own blood line now no longer known under the blood line of Belle morte.
with all the many men of Anita's men Micah the ever perfect boyfriend of Anita got to have a novel of his own. Much to many disapointments the book didnt really showed the reader about Micha's mysterious past. Only that he is a sole survivor of a wereleopard attack.

DANSE MACABRE is the 13th book in the series. Its the first time in the series that 3 master vampires from other city will visit St. Luois for a grand ballet. Here we met the Master vamper of Chicago which will play a major role in the up coming book in june2009 tittled "SKin Trade".

In THE HARLIQUIN we know more about Marmee Noir "mother of all darkness" Here it is known that she is nearly awake from her thousand years sleep in the darkness. No one really knows if she wants Anita for herself or if she wants her eliminated after all it was Marmee Noir who declared a decree on death on all necromancers in her time.

Lastly but not the last... BLOOD NOIR is a full novel story set in North Carolinia in the city of JAson. Our well loved werewolf, pom de sang of JC. inshort... his the master's food. Here we look into the life and times of Jason the werewolf. It also brings an over view on what will be the next big thing in the next book. As you can see, in this book Marmee Noir is starting to control anita's hunger of sex "the adhoir" (i dont know if i got the spell right ^_^)

I have never been sooo addicted to an author before that i actually bought all her books even the anthologies. I also collect her Merry Gentry Series but thats for another blog coz this is going too long already. AS i was saying, even though i already have her books and the comic version of GP and LC are like mirrors of each other i still cant help myself in buying them and collecting them. So yes.. im an LKH fanatic. LKH is actually the 2nd author i knew about in writing vampires. And oh no her vampires are not the Anne Rice vampires nor Bram stoker's dracula. In her world Vampires and all other supernatural/paranormal creatures have rights and actually own businesses in the city. They have human servants and animal to call. in this case JC's animal to call is werewolves. With all vampire novels sprouting in the market i still say LKH vamps are the best. SOon if everything goes smoothly a t.v.s series will be aired soon under MGM productions. There are talks about making it into a movie. But i dont know about it, I mean Anne Rice got famous bec of interview of the vampire and Stephanie Meyer became an over night sansation bec of her twilight movie. Well with Anne Rice i read her books after i saw the movie. With twilight i remember being amazed of its wonderful cover but then returned it to the book shelf while rolling my eyes saying "oh god not another vampire cliche" well as a friend told me who bought the books for the sake of the pretty cover.. "dont bother reading it, you'l just get annoyed.. its like your reading an ANita wannabe..." LoL So i would still say ANITA BLAKE still kicks ass on all those vamp novels out there. ^_^

to know more about the Series visit the official LKH Philippine Book Circle.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Dante Trap

Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Author:Arnaud Delalande
"of Deceit, of Treachery and of Conspiracy." The Dante Trap written by the french author Arnaud Delalande and translated to english by Frank Wynne. A marvelous book set in the 17th century Venice which is the hights of its power and prestige. A man who is known as Chimera or il Diavolo led a satanic sect to over through the doge of Venice and its council of ten the governing body of venice. Indeed this book is poetically written (no pun intended) whose murders has been base from the famous Florence poet Dante (obviously stated in the tittle of the book >.<) The book takes us to how men is driven by lust and power, how politics makes a madman, why people succumb to treachery and deceit. In the first part of the book Pietro otherwise known as the Black orchid who has incarcerated due to seducing anna santamaria wife of a senator octavvio (see how powerful men can just throw someone to prison bec of personal vanditas?), has been given parole by the doge to invistigate the death of a famous actor Marcellio Terrovino who is later known as an agent of the serene republic of venice. As the story unfolds it takes you to the dark recess of a satanic cult who worships the il diavolo. Friends betraying friends just to gain control of the queen sea of the orient (which is venice for its open ports has been famous in trade and industry and merchants has flocked its way into venice). Little did the doge and the black orchid knows that the satanic cult killings and dante's passages that were written across the walls or the body of the victims were just distraction to the true plan of the il diavolo which is to murder the doge (prince of venice) and to cover up a conspiracy of deceit, treachery and power.

Although this book is set on the 17th century its story has been told over and over again through out history and even until now. One of il diavolo's henchman is Minos other wise known as Andreas Vicario which is a member of the Maggior Consiglo owns a librira full of demonology books of reference and other gothic and paganism text. He himself has written a book concerning the problem of evil. Although it is not new to me for the said topic has been a topic in my religious studies back in college (and "NO" i did not graduate in theology. it is the fate of students who studies in a Jesuit university. we were required to take up 14units of religious studies.) It is clearly discussed that man is ambivalent which are both good and evil. And that good always triumph evil is because evil itself betrays evil. in short "Trust no one for its used or to be used in the chess game of life."

Why i call it an great book? Is because it is well written, well versed and will researched. when i read through the pages its like i have transported back in time to witness every event in the book that takes place, thats how the author is very detailed in each event, in each place and in each murder. The murder scene are highly grotesque, as it depicted how people are being punished in hell according to their sins. I enjoyed the scene of the Carnaval. for i love a festivity of customes and mask. I wish such festivity is celebrated here in my country, which is famously known in europe now a days as the feast of fools. Celebrated on april 1st (although in the book it celebrated in the feast of the assecion from oct 1st to the middle of december.) A day when everyone gets to dress up to be kings and queens even if their not. ^_^

This book is great and if i were still in highschool, i would have chosen this book as my book report coz for me it can compare to those famous classic novels of all time. ^_^

The Ninth Circle


Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Author:Alex Bell
i wasnt really planning to buy this book but reading the tittle from the bookshelves of Bestsellers a month ago, it caught my attention. The cover art was interesting as well. The author is unknown for as i read its summary from behind i found it this is the author's debut novel. Ah the ninth circle, the title has me interested it has a ring of Dante's inferno. The very poem of which countless novels/stories/movies has sprouted from. the most detailed account on what Hell might look like and how every sinner is being punished. Ah the very book i asked my mom to buy it for me and she gladly did for before i wouldnt even touch a book let alone read it. After reading it i have developed some fixation about everything that is written there
Anyway.. going back to this book... reading the back cover the story is about a man who woke up not knowing who he was.. no idea where he is and why in short he woke up on a pool of his blood having an amnesia. The writing on the back of the book promises a dark and morbid past to the main character of the book and for that it made me more interested by the book. But as i saw the price it was rather expensive but the book was calling me saying buy me and i couldnt resists its call so i end up buying the book.

And lol.... this book didnt disappoint me. The price was worth-it. *giggles* who would think i will be meeting demons and angels in this book... i thought the title of the book is figurative but hey... it is interesting. The author really researched about the demons and angels and i like the author's concept. The book was full of surprises. There was the time when i thought i already guessed the main character's true identity but reading towards the end i was proven wrong. This is the type of books i like to read. Books/stories that is unpredictable.

But beware if you read this book... it may change your view about angels and demons. If u asked me if my view was changed after i read this book. my answer is no. coz i totally agree on each and every argument in the book between good and evil. lol

i totally love this book, i consider it a gothic classic novel ^_^.

its like Gaiman and pratchet's Good omens minus the humor of it ^_^

WIcked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West


Category:Books
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Author: Gregory Maguire
To be honest i noticed this book in the book store because of two reasons: One: It has a cool book cover and unusual design. second: the title itself interested me. As the title says its in an account of the life of the wicked witch of the west whose name is Elphaba. It started when she was born into a mother that came from a wealthy known politician at the eastern side of OZ and a father who is a pastor that preaches the doctrine of the unknown god. And also since birth she has been afraid of the water.

The second part of the book tells about her life in college (in school) and there she met Galinda later known as Glinda the good witch. How she had fought in research for equal rights for the Animals (which are talking animals like the animals in narnia) along side her professor in biology and her friends in school. (which was abolished when the wizard of oz came to Oz) Here in this part you can see the normal struggles between citizins and the ruling government. Racial issuies is also being tackled in this book. How people detach themselves by race and social classes. Which is common in our time, even though how much we believe that there are the human rights and equality in race, gender, social classes, etc... there are still discrimination amongist it. Here we could see that the wicked witch of the west isn't so wicked after all but just a girl who fought for equality with Humans and Animals and hoping that one day there will be equall rights with women and men as well. Her she faced the wizard of Oz for the first time and decided that she dropped herself in school and pursue her idialism. Also we learn here that the witch who got hit by dorphy's house is infact the wicked witch of the west's sister who was born armless and was favored more by thier father than Elphaba herself.

On the 3rd part of the book that a couple of years has already gone by and that Elphaba has hidden herself in the Emerald City the caplital of Oz. There she met a college friend which eventually became her lover and died on the night she want to do a job that will trigger a rebillion agianst the tyranny of the Wizard and failed the mission.

On the 4th part of the book another jump of time where Elphaba traveled to the west in the home town of her dead lover to ask for forgiveness by his widow and children. Along she came to their footsteps with her son to her lover and was welcome heartly by the widow of her dead lover and wasn't given a chance to say to her her real reason for the widow won't allow her. Along her time in the west she has been branded by the wizard as the wicked witch of the west and her sister the wicked witch of the east bec her sister has ruled their homeland behind the doctrine of the unnamed god.

In the last part of the book is pretty much like the end story of the Wizard of Oz. The wizard told dorthy to kill the wicked witch of the west in exchange that she can go home. But i think by now we all know what happened to Elphaba the wicked witch of the west. Although in this part of the book aswell that we surely know how Elphaba got her green skin. (a shocking and a irony of fate)

The book is a nice reflection of human sociaty. How people manupulate people to do thier bidding. How politics play an important role in gaining power. How people in the high sets illiminate the compition and the threat to their power. How people who got the brains and the guts to fight back are forced to be fugtives of law. no matter how we say that we treat people equally we still unconsiously discrimate people who are different from us. And indeed a proof that no person is born wicked but only the cruelty of the human sociaty breeds them.


This is the First book of Gregory Mogy "Lion among Men" isaguire's Wicked Series. out in TPB is the next sequel of the book is "SOn of the WItch" and the last of the tril now out in HB.
Also This book has a broadway adoptation CLICK ME for more info of the broadway version