REVIEW| Torchwood: World Without End

Torchwood: World Without End v.1 (Torchwood Comics)
Writers: John Barrowman, Carol Barrowman
Artist: Antonio Fuso
⭐

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Synopsis:

The members of the Torchwood Institute, a secret organization founded by the British Crown, fight to protect the Earth from extraterrestrial and supernatural threats. 


Review

The Cover

I really love the cover choice for the bind up. The hues of orange and blues are just simply glorious. Although, ir speaks more military than aliens. No?

To be fair, that is what RTD did turn Torchwood into by the end of the fourth series.

The Content

Where do I ever begin?

I feel like I say that everytime I've made passing at this one, but this might just be the biggest disappointment of 2017 and I fear a rant is going to follow. So, I'll keep it brief.

I'm not quite sure who's idea it was to make this a bind-up issue at only four volumes, but already we are lacking story content. Comic book bind-ups, that I usually read, are five? Six? volumes long. And you could tell this fell too short. Both the pacing between each panel and the dialogue were off. I thought it was just me, but since I finished reading, I've gone on to read countless peoples commenting on having to flip back through pages thinking that they had missed a few panels, because they didn't have a clue at what was going on. My brain couldn't even fill in the gaps? 

Did it include aliens? Yes. Which says a lot considering the last series of Torchwood. Which didn't use anything alien in origin, like seriously? But, I have no clue as to how they were central to the plot... if there was even any plot. 

It just felt like Jack and Gwen were reunited, BAM!, ending. It just needed more. Either more issues and the plot really thorough out or perhaps, if they were to collaborate to produce a graphic novel. 

I am complaining about this a lot, but the characterisation of Gwen, Rhys and Jack was spot on when they did say something. And I did really like some of the art. There were a few full page illustrations with a very loose pen style that I thought were lovely. I say lovely, they were at all the big explosion parts. 

WRAP UP| Apr-May '17

I've had quite a good reading quarter, even with deadlines around every corner (promise, this is the last time I'll mention it).

I am in a current state of writing reviews for most of the books I've read over the last three months. 

April

The Song Rising (The Bone Season #3)
Samantha Shannon
⭐⭐⭐⭐

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I made the mistake of reading this the day before leaving Uni. I was emotionally wrecked. So good! 

I spoke to Samantha Shannon about this, and she said why I might not have liked it as much as I LOVED The Mime Order. If her theory is true, then I am going to be OBSESSED with book 4.

Strange the Dreamer (Muse of Nightmares #1)

Laini Taylor

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+

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This might just be a new favourite of mine. Everything that I wanted this to be it became. And more.

If you love myths, fairy tales, lost tales, heart-wrenching stories and lyrical writing- get to this one, and quick!

Nobody Told Me: Poetry and Parenthood
Hollie McNish
⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Required reading for University.

This one took me by surprise. Why were we being made to read a book about parenthood and children?

Torchwood Tales (Audible Exclusives #1-7)

Various Authors

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- The Sin Eaters

⭐⭐⭐⭐

- In the Shadows 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Hidden

⭐⭐⭐

- Department X

⭐⭐

- Everyone Says Hello

⭐⭐⭐

- Ghost Train

⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Army of One

⭐⭐⭐

Torchwood: World Without End
John Barrowman, Carole Barrowman
⭐

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This was written by the man who knows the characters, arguably, the best. Captain Jack Harkness. So, why did this suck?

This needed to be longer, a graphic novel rather than a bind up of a few issues. This one will definitely have a review coming up soon- my most disappointing read of the year so far.

May

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3)
Sarah J. Maas
⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Well, this conclusion has been rather polarizing. A lot of people loving it and others that just hated it. I was- meh?

The first half was fantastic, and then it went to shit. Again, another one where I'm in the middle of editing a review for this. But, I'm indifferent to it. It wasn't going to live up to ACOMAF, was it?

Champion

Marie Lu

⭐⭐

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Its been about a over a year since I started Legend, just under a year since I read prodigy, so why did I think it a good idea to read the final book in the trilogy? Who knows?

I was lost for most of this story, to be honest. That was a given. The only thing that gave this book the rating I did was the fact that it was a unique ending to a dystopia. One that I haven't read before in YA.

A Dance with Dragons 2: After the Feast (A Song of Ice and Fire #5.2)
George R.R. Martin
⭐⭐⭐

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I've had this on my "Currently Reading" tab on Goodreads for probably 18 months, and I was just sick of seeing it on there. I read it. Pushed myself to read it as fast as I could. It was like Hell- all my least favourite POVs. 

Where was Dany? Arya? Sansa? Cersei? I needed my woman!

Stardust

Neil Gaiman

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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I listened to the audiobook for this one. Read by Neil Gaiman.

I think it would have been interesting if the movie kept the intended audience for the film as much as the book. The good ol' tradition that fairy tales are for children only.

I really did like this one. 

REVIEW| The Shadow of What Was Lost [ARC]

The Shadow of What Was Lost (The Licanius Trilogy #1)
James Islington

⭐

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Synopsis:

It has been twenty years since the end of the war. The dictatorial Augurs - once thought of almost as gods - were overthrown and wiped out during the conflict, their much-feared powers mysteriously failing them. Those who had ruled under them, men and women with a lesser ability known as the Gift, avoided the Augurs' fate only by submitting themselves to the rebellion's Four Tenets. A representation of these laws is now written into the flesh of any who use the Gift, forcing those so marked into absolute obedience.

As a student of the Gifted, Davian suffers the consequences of a war fought – and lost – before he was born. Despised by most beyond the school walls, he and those around him are all but prisoners as they attempt to learn control of the Gift. Worse, as Davian struggles with his lessons, he knows that there is further to fall if he cannot pass his final tests. 

But when Davian discovers he has the ability to wield the forbidden power of the Augurs, he sets into motion a chain of events that will change everything. To the north, an ancient enemy long thought defeated begins to stir. And to the west, a young man whose fate is intertwined with Davian’s wakes up in the forest, covered in blood and with no memory of who he is…

Review

Usually, I would talk a bit about the cover and it's relationship to the book and any other initial thoughts. I'm not going to go into my full review process, because I DNF'd this one. (For those who doesn't know- Did Not Finish.) Although I chose not to read to the final page, I still feel like I have read enough of this book to make some judgment, and to pass on why it wasn't working for me.

I stopped reading The Shadow of What Was Lost at around 200 pages. The premise and the books comparisons was what initially intrigued me to the point that I had requesting an ARC from the publisher. It was pitched, compared and recommended to fans of Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan. Don't get your hopes up?

The world building and the characters that we are introduced to initially kept my interest enough to keep going after the first few chapters. The writing was good and accessible.  Then I hit 150 pages in.  Everything just fell apart. Every curveball felt convenient as a plot device and seemed like reading what the author needed to happen, rather then being the characters choice. It just didn't hold together and was jaded. I felt no attachment to these characters at all nor get excited about picking the book back up again.  I just don't think reading the other 500 pages would have benefited me, in any way. As a University student, I don't have time to waste reading books I don't like, because I already have to do that as part of my degree!

REVIEW| Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Jane Austen, Seth Grahame-Smith

⭐

Synopsis:

So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you’d actually want to read.

My thoughts: 

I've been told by many people that they hold  Jane Austen close to their hearts out of love for the great for feminine wit and sassy charm of her female character. My interest peaked in accomplishing to read of Jane Austen peaked when someone had re-written this classic to include zombies.

Who isn't moved by the idea of bad-ass Elizabeth Bennet kicking Zombie ass in hopes of great affliction of feminism? 

Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

No.

I gave myself to high a expectation and let it drop down low. Because this didn't happen!

Perhaps it's because I haven't actually read the original that this stands alone in my love for this. Grahame-Smith could have taken this and drew all the little witty pieces that Austen had to offer, yet I found it completely lacking and still focused on the aspects of marriage.

Hello? There's Zombies outside. Why are you still nattering away about bloody balls?

Maybe I just missed the heart of this novel? Or perhaps, Grahame-Smith was too focused on recreating this novel for the changing zombie loving audience that he himself lost himself to producing something worth of reading.