Book Review: Blood Lament By Raven Dane

I read the first book in this trilogy after meeting Raven Dane at the SFX weekender, we'd talked about Vampires and how I intensely disliked ones who sparkle and she spoke about her brand of fangs which are predatory and have bite but also as a reader you can empathise with them even when their motivation is alien.

I had read Blood Tears and it had been a good read that I had enjoyed but I hadn't felt the thrill of excitement that happens when I can't put a book down. So I hadn't hurried to read the sequel and middle book in this trilogy. I am regretting that decision now because Blood Lament is brilliant, where Tears felt ponderous in places Lament is pacey. Tears was predominantly set around World War II whereas Lament is bang up to date and the human protagonist Gabrielle is feistier than Khari and more insight is offered into all of the Dark Kind.

The writing is beautiful, clear and descriptive evoking a clear sense of place and Dane always writes beautifully about Horses which has to come from knowledge but it really adds to the colour of the novel.

I'm looking forward to reading the third installment as soon as it is available on the Kindle.

Futile Flame and Demon Dance by Sam Stone

Where the first novel focuses on Gabrielle the second novel concentrates on Lucrezia (yes Borgia) and her story. I have to say Sam Stone doesn't shy away from tough storylines and the second chapter might be rather tough for some readers.

The pace of the novel is quick and I've had to do a few things one handed the last couple of days just so I could see what happens next.

The last third of the novel really takes an unexpected turn and I'm not 100% convinced by it, it's quite a departure to what has gone before, what I will say is that it didn't make me any less determined to read the third in the series.

Demon Dance is the third in the Vampire Gene series of novels and by far the most complicated in terms of its narrative. Futile Flame left us dangling with Lilly disappearing and then phoning up from Sweden and Demon Dance picks the tale up from that point and runs with it.

Again I don't want to give much of the plot away but the major theme in this of time travel and paradox and places which were visited within Futile Flame are returned to and explored from a different point of view.  Lilly is very different to the version we meet in killing kiss. The change is necessary and  does make sense once you start reading.

I have to confess some elements of the book didn't move me, some of the mystical stuff was a bit bangly hobbity for my tastes and the Allucians don't really work for me but having said all that it didn't stop me from enjoying the book.

I like that the author is prepared to make her narratives unreliable and things that one character has told us might not be the truth. I like being hoodwinked by an author it means I have to make decisions as a reader and that's always fun.

I do like the author's use of language, the imagery that she uses to describe scenes is evocative and I particularly enjoyed the description of the relationship between Lilly and Rhuddlan castle.  The description of her magical elements, ley lines and gene magic are both utterly compelling and so vivid.

One thing that I thought sorted itself a tad too easily was the triangular relationship between Lilly, Gabrielle and Caesare. I would have expected there to be some awkwardness even if that was dealt with in the next book.

Overall a very enjoyable and entertaining read, less disturbing than the previous one, I'm looking forward to the next one which I believe is out soon.

Film: The King's Speech

My thoughts on the King's speech.

Well it's a great film and it all about Colin Firth's performance. Thinking about the film in terms of a technical performance, I'm blown away by Colin Firth because I have no idea how he achieved that stammer so convincingly.  I read an interview he gave which explains just how the stammering affected him.  http://www.stammering.org/colinfirth.html

Geoffry Rush was fantastic as Lionel a perfect foil for Bertie. the dynamic between them really made the film. Lionel was always trying to get to the bottom of why Bertie stammered and how Bertie struggled to get to the point where he was able to make a speech and manage the stammer.  One thing that really struck me was how frustrating and debilitating a stammer can be. And how amusing it was to hear Colin Firth let rip with a stream of expletives.

I really liked Helena Bonham Carter as the person who became the Queen Mother and it was strange to see her without shed loads of make up or CGI and she painted a very likable character.

Also props to Jennifer Ehle turning up and being awesome as Lionel's wife and looking pretty good. I know it seems like an age since I last saw her in anything.

The film was full of worthy british actors like Michael Gambon, Derek Jacobi, Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill (which made me and my chap chuckle) Also Ramona Marquez from Outnumbered as Princess Margaret.  Ooh and Guy Pearce - aka Mike from neighbours.

Its a fantastic film and well made, definitely an enjoyable evening.


A mini squee, Jennifer Ehle tweeted me. :D