BLOG TOUR: Strange Pictures

 

STRANGE PICTURES Vol. 1
by Uketsu, illustrated by Kikou Aiba
Available July 14

Not long ago, I got a big brown envelope from my friends at Titan Manga. The envelope contained the first volume of Strange Pictures, a manga adaptation of the bestselling novel of the same name, and five... well... strange pictures. The seemingly innocent artwork already had a somewhat uncanny feel to it, but that feeling just increased once I'd sat down to the manga volume itself.

I'll admit, I'm not familiar with Uketsu's original novel. This is my first exposure to it. I'm aware that Uketsu is a well-regarded YouTuber and writer, but that's about it. Having now read this first volume, I completely get why.

Strange Pictures starts with a psychological analysis of a child's drawing, but quickly moves on to a different set of pictures. These are discovered on a pseudonymous man's blog, apparently drawn by his pregnant wife and (by her reckoning) meant to be images of what the unborn child will look like at different ages. However, the blog has a gap of several years, followed by an unnaturally vehement declaration concerning the wife's crimes.

Some out-of-the-box thinking and careful analysis turns these images into a shocking prediction. But just as quickly as the case is solved, we're on to a new one: one that will have to be addressed further in Volume 2. But already there are similarities between these two stories: a deceased parent, an odd drawing, and a gap of three years.

This more visual form is an excellent way to discover Strange Pictures. The solution unfolds itself eventually, but clues are scattered in such a way that the reader has a little time to try and crack the case themselves. If you're a lover of horror, mysteries, and "puzzle box" books, Strange Pictures will draw you in.

Thanks to Titan Manga for sending along a copy of Strange Pictures Vol. 1 for my perusal!

BOOK TOUR: Aoashi 3-in-1 Edition, Vol. 1

AOASHI 3-in-1 Edition Vol. 1
by Kobayashi Yuugo
Available June 9

I'll be honest, I wasn't a big sports anime or manga fan for the longest time. My only exception was Aim for the Ace!, a really gorgeous 70s tennis anime that also served as the basis for much of Studio Gainax's Aim for the Top! Gunbuster. But as I've become a more consistent reader of Shonen Jump titles, I've begun to see the appeal. I love to watch characters striving for a goal, working together, and discovering the best version of themselves. And Aoashi, in its first three volumes, is definitely that.

Fair warning, I don't know much about soccer, or indeed any sport. But Aoashi is kind enough to offer details when certain calls need extra context, and the rest doesn't require deep knowledge to follow. Like any good sports manga, it's got details for hardcore fans but plenty of story for newcomers.

Our hot-blooded hopeful is Ashito Aoi, a young striker from Ehime who's more focused on winning than on teamwork. When he's involved in a brawl on the field as a scout is watching, he's convinced his career is over. But an encounter with that very scout teacher Ashito the joy of hard work, and shows the scout that this young player really does have it takes to succeed.

One thing I noticed right away is that Aoashi stands in almost direct opposition to current soccer hotness BLUE LOCK. Heck, as the manga opens, Ashito feels like he'd be well suited to the Blue Lock project, given his seemingly self-centered style of play and his role as a striker. But a keen reader will notice what Fukuda Tatsuya noticed: Ashito actually knows and cares about his teammates. Watching this brash but big-hearted player face down seemingly impossible odds is a joy. Also a joy are the cutaways to his family, including and especially his mother who wants the best for him. And just as Aoashi occasionally covers the nitty-gritty of soccer as a game, it doesn't shy away from discussing it as a business.

Even if you've never seen the anime, and even if you're a bit iffy about sports manga, this one is worth a look. The art is fun and kinetic, the story is engaging even if you don't know soccer, and the omnibus edition makes it easy to dive in quickly.

BLOG TOUR: Unemployed Killers Support Group

UNEMPLOYED KILLERS SUPPORT GROUP
by Rio
Available April 21

It's difficult losing a job, especially one that requires your unique skillset. Imagine, then, how difficult would be for hitmen — and not just because that's a very specific job that comes with its own set of problems.

Locker Loyed isn't leaving the business out of guilt or a change of heart. Rather, he's losing his eyesight and simply won't be able to do the job. His former employer directs him to a support group for people who share his predicament. And wading into this new group of people uncovers a variety of secrets, while also digging away at Locker's own past concerns.

I'd never heard of Rio prior to reading Unemployed Killers Support Group, but this creator tells a truly compelling story. The rough and cinematic art conveys the moods and histories of the comic's tortured protagonists perfectly. And while there is a central story arc taking place in real time, the best parts of the stories are the flashbacks, where we learn about Locker's fellow unemployed killers. Everyone's story is vastly different, ranging from jobbing assassins driven to emotional outbursts to a man who's never even pulled the trigger once. The dialogue is tight and clever, and everyone's background and motivation is vastly different from each other, creating a colorful and variegated narrative.

Equal parts funny, emotional, tragic, and violent, this is an uncommonly good noir manga that deserves the accolades it's received. You can grab your copy from Titan Manga starting April 21!

Thanks to the folks at Titan Manga for supplying me with an advance copy.

BOOK TOUR: Sanda Vol. 1

 

One of my favorite things to do in my role as an anime journalist is get ahead on upcoming adaptations. This has led to reading a ton of manga and light novels. Fortunately, the occasion to do this fell in my lap courtesy of Titan Comics. Science SARU's anime adaptation of Sanda kicks off next month, and the original manga is now also available in English.

How do I sell this to you quickly? Well, consider: a manga by the author of BEASTARS (who is also the daughter of the author of Baki), about a future where youth is a commodity and Christmas no longer exists, starring a descendant of Santa Claus who turns into a very ripped Santa whenever he wears red.

And even then, I'm not doing nearly a good enough job describing it. Imagine The Santa Clause as a shonen fighting manga, and you're maybe approaching an accurate description. Maybe.

Kazushige Sanda is our hero: a middle-school student who is indeed descended from the jolly old elf himself. Through an unhinged ritual instigated by classmate Shiori Fuyumura, he becomes the embodiment of Santa in an era when all things Christmas pretty much don't exist. The reason? Shiori is a child who needs a wish granted — finding her missing-presumed-dead best friend. And Santa grants the wishes of children, right? Right.

But Shiori isn't the only kid whose wish needs granting, and Sanda finds himself developing a new relationship with his classmates: benevolent caretaker. Sure, he's technically a teenager, but the Santa-brain starts to take over as he regards the shining youth of his post-apocalyptic world as his precious younger charges. It's a spin on the transformative aspect of the manga that I wasn't expecting, but it's actually kind of adorable.

The final pages of the manga hint at a bigger conspiracy, though. In this society that values youth above all else, there are people who have their knives out for Santa upon his return. Fortunately, this version of St. Nick has supernatural powers. What kind? You wouldn't believe me if I told you.

Oh, fine. He's got sleigh feet. At least in the first volume. Something tells me we'll be seeing more strange abilities manifest as the series continues.

From this first volume alone, the pairing of Itagaki's story with Science SARU (the people behind DAN DA DAN and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!) is an absolute no-brainer. I can't wait to see this manga brought to life onscreen. But I also can't wait to read more of it in print.

SANDA Vol. 1 is now available from Titan Comics.

BOOK TOUR: Minky Woodcock: The Girl Called Cthulhu

 

Cross detective fiction with historical figures, add burlesque sensibilities, and you get Minky Woodcock: a comic book series by Cynthia von Buhler. Now in her third collected volume, the sleuth will take on eldritch cults, international spies, and one of literature's simultaneously most revered and reviled horror authors.

Fresh off cases involving Harry Houdini and Nikola Tesla, Minky is now in correspondence with HP Lovecraft himself, concerning a book that he and the late Houdini were planning to collaborate on. But cracking this case open leads to a run-in with Aleister Crowley himself. The notorious magician wants Minky to help clear him of a murder accusation, but there's much more at stake than she realizes. In a story that spans six years, Minky Woodcock encounters a cult, discovers the early works of Ian Fleming, and becomes embroiled in a a mystery that could decide the course of World War II.

While the surrealist art won't be everyone's cup of tea, many readers will find it very fun to look at. von Buhler also employs a number of models for reference, bringing a unique look to her art. The story itself, though, is what's fascinating, and threads of what came before are worked through this new story to ensure everyone is at least somewhat caught up to Minky's misadventures. In the final pages of the collected volume, von Buhler goes into detail about which bits of the story were based on truth and how certain events actually went. She also addresses readers who might be less than thrilled by the presence of Lovecraft as a major character in the work.

The physical release itself is a gorgeous full-color hardcover, packed with bonus material including pages of cover art from the various issues within. That is, of course, one of the best things about Titan Comics: their physical editions are truly worth owning.

Titan also offers the first two volumes: The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini and The Girl Who Electrified Tesla. You don't have to start at the beginning — but after seeing Minky Woodcock fight off mad magicians and international spies, you will almost certainly want more.

Minky Woodcock: The Girl Called Cthulhu is now available from Titan Comics.

BOOK TOUR: YAN Vol. 1

 

Thanks to the awesome people at Titan Manga for making me a part of this book tour! Be sure to check out the entire roster as we finish out the month, and get your own copy now!

I got to review volume 1 of Chang Sheng's gorgeous, genre-busting YAN for the Otaku USA website back in May. I was completely unfamiliar with Sheng's work, knowing only that I really like Titan's manga releases and that they tend to find titles that even avid fans might miss or overlook.

Reader, I was not prepared. I was so unprepared that, when I was offered a spot on the book tour for YAN Vol. 1, I accepted it, just to have a chance to say more.

First off, the obvious: the art. Every single page, every single panel of YAN is a treat. So often I see series that cannot walk the line between realism and expressiveness, with the need to achieve visual perfection making facial expressions look either strange or nonexistent. Until a month ago, I would have pointed out Kiyoto Shitara's amazing two-page spreads for Bug Ego as the only exception to the rule I'd personally seen and enjoyed.

YAN, though... good lord. For every character to stay on model, to stay expressive, and for the protagonist to spend a lot of time in ornate Peking Opera headwear and makeup? It's unbelievable.

The comic, for those of you who are unaware and who didn't read my OUSA review, is about Yan Tien-Hua, sent to prison for what was believed to be her role in a brutal massacre at her opera company. She was also believed to have died in prison—but here she is, decades later, looking no different than she did when she was put away. And she's out for revenge.

That story along would be more than enough; there are already multiple mysteries to unravel here. But even within the first volume, we're not done. There's also Higa Mirai, a Japanese go prodigy who appears to be able to see the future. How do their lives tie together? What really happened 30 years ago? Why is Yan the same as she was back then? This first volume lays out enticing mysteries, coupled with gorgeous visuals.

And then there's the book itself. I've mentioned I love Titan Manga, and Titan Comics in general. Besides the titles they pick up, I also love the print volumes they put together, complete with tons of bonus material in the back. This first volume of YAN is weighty—about double the size of your typical tankobon. The vibrant cover is the perfect gateway for the story inside.

I read a lot of manga and manhwa and webtoons and light novels for work, and these days it's rare for me to stick with something long-term unless an anime adaptation is on the horizon or it hits just right. YAN hits just right. I've truly never seen anything like it, and I want more.

YAN Volume 1 is now available from Titan Manga.

BOOK TOUR: VANGUARD STRIKE by Jarom Strong

 

Thanks to Second Sky for offering a copy of this book for my consideration!

Vanguard Strike: Paragon Space Book I hit shelves yesterday. This novel by Jarom Strong, the first of three in the series, takes place in a spacefaring future that's a little bit Warhammer, a little bit Gunbuster. Within this first installment, readers will travel from the horrors of the battlefield to a heist in nullspace.

Our hero is Lax, a former Vanguard: an enhanced super-soldier who, through a combination of metal implants and regularly-administered uppers and downers, fights for peace (albeit of a Helldivers sort, it seems) and for Paragon. When the war comes to an abrupt end, he finds eight years of reprieve with the love of his life and a lucrative job picking over ships as a "vulture." But when a job goes wrong, he'll lose everything and spend the next eight years behind bars.

This is where the story begins. An old friend and fellow former Vanguard offers to break Lax out of his 20-year sentence early. The catch? One last job. Instead of throwing fights for bets in prison, he can be part of a massive score. And the target is a big one: a Paragon battlecruiser, believed to be lost in the depths of nullspace. But even with a crack team at his disposal, the job is deadly on many levels.

While Vanguard Strike is great fun for fans of military sci-fi and heists, where it really shines is its unique depiction of PTSD. Lax's dreams of his lost love, the invading imagery of the day everything changed, and the peace he can find only from the medications he's become accustomed to all paint a very vivid picture of the difficulties of coping with trauma.

This is not a solely serious or depressing book, though. There's plenty of action, surprising moments of romance, and interesting and complex characters throughout. If you're ready for well-crafted sci-fi in a deeply developed world—and if you crave stories that value story and character above checking off a list of tropes—give this one a go.

Vanguard Strike is available now from Second Sky.

Want me on your book tour? Email karaATkaradennisonDOTcom to get in touch.

BOOK TOUR: By the Horn of the South - Sue Davies

 

Official Website | Buy from Amazon

Based on a true story, this historical adventure is set on a Greek merchant vessel, The Delphis, as it sails down the coast of West Africa in search of treasure.

It is about 500 BCE. There is a volatile mix of navigators, healers and soothsayers on board. The seas are huge and the hunt for gold, relentless. The skies are overcast and navigation by the night sky impossible. They get lost in lakes and lagoons, fall ill with mysterious fevers and some die. They ride out a tidal wave and hunt for gorillas.

When they return home they must answer for their actions to one of the most dangerous men of the known world. He hauls them up before an enquiry. Was any treasure found? Who was responsible for the failure of the voyage? Most importantly of all, why is their leader not amongst them? The man seems to have completely disappeared.

This multi-voiced, historical adventure is fast paced and gripping. It explores what was it like to travel the world when it was thought to end at the Straits of Gibraltar and Helios, the sun, disappeared sizzling into the sea each night only to rise, fresh faced again, every morning.

* * *

A unique and intriguing read, By the Horns of the South has a massive cast, each with their own goals and motivations at play. At the core of the group is a family of healers, bearing both the physical ills and the biases of their gathered party. Both during the voyage and after, everyone wants an explanation for the poor fortune of the journey—or, if necessary, a scapegoat.

Gravitating between a post-journey explanation and the cramped quarters of the voyage itself, the book seeks to plunge the reader into the midst of the experience. Between ill health, violent weather, and unkind crewmates, it's not a pleasant world. Even so, bonds are forged, and the crew's healer does her best to care for her crewmates despite their inclinations otherwise. While the ending isn't necessarily joyful, it is peaceful.

If you're interested in historically-inspired reads, this is a great one to pick up. A prequel, By the Pillars of Herakles, is apparently en route for publication in September 2024. Be sure to check out the author's website for more information!

This blog post is part of a book tour sponsored by The Book Network.

BOOK TOUR: Facing the Beast Within: The Anxiety of Cameron Poole

 

Cameron Poole has a problem, a big problem: he's a bully magnet who struggles with anxiety.

Being the smallest sixth-grader at his summer camp, everything around him triggers his everyday struggles with anxiety, or with his Beast, making it impossible for him to do the same things other kids can do. In a constant state of worry, Cameron feels like a perpetual failure, his self esteem crushed. That's bad enough, but when Cameron learns that mythical monsters are trying to invade his camp, things go from bad to worse.

Malphas, the Demon Lord from a parallel world called Agartha, wants to bring mythical creatures from his world to form a monster army, attack Camp Pontchartrain, and begin his invasion.

But before he can bring the biggest and most ferocious monsters to Earth, he must find the seven Skull Keys that will keep the gateway between worlds open forever.

Against all logic, Cameron is chosen to lead an unusual collection of kids to stop Malphas from finding the Skull Keys. But the Demon Lord of Agartha has other plans. He sends mythical creatures to Earth, gremlins, imps, gargoyles . . . to find the keys and destroy anyone in their way.

To stop the Malphas and his monster army from getting all the Skull Keys, Cameron must face his deepest fears while trying to keep his friends safe. But when he learns Malphas's real plan, Cameron's blood runs cold with fear.

Can Cameron control his anxiety and confront his Beast while battling an army of minotaurs, banshees, ghouls, golems, and other nightmarish monsters?

Visit the Author's Website | Buy on Amazon

So, I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Among other things. But anxiety is a big one. As a kid in the 80s and a teen in the 90s, I didn't get quite as much access to material on mental health as kids and teens do now. My childhood was filled with after-school specials about how bullies are misunderstood and the onus is on the bullied to defuse the bullying. The 90s were marginally, if not functionally, better. There was mild comprehension that something really ought to be done, but nothing particularly structured.

Growing up, I always thought—and was told by many of the adults in my life (who probably didn't know any better)—that my anxiety was my temper, or my personality, or some other indivisible aspect of me. Facing the Beast Within: The Anxiety of Cameron Poole gets a jump on this in the title of the book. The "Beast" of the title is the name Cameron, our young protagonist, has given his anxiety: a separate entity that can be damaging and frightening when summoned, but that can also be tamed and put back to sleep. That said, there are plenty of very tangible Beasts outside of Cameron's anxiety, and coping with them is going to challenge every coping mechanism he has.

The story is a very straightforward kids' coming-of-age adventure. While coping with bullying and feelings of inadequacy at a cliquish summer camp, Cameron discovers that he and a handful of his fellow campers are the first line of defense against an invading demon army. This group of campers is made up of friends, foes, and otherwise: people who may have had no reason to associate with each other, and in many cases deliberately avoided doing so.

Scattered throughout the otherworldly battles, unexpected friendships with candy-loving imps, and treacherous quests are real-world coping mechanisms that readers can employ in their daily, less demon-infused life. They aren't just mentioned, but described—meaning young readers can make actual use of these (although explanation from a therapist would always be helpful). I immediately recognized several I had already been taught, specifically calming and grounding practices that I've used either at the end of a difficult EMDR session or when I can't sleep because my thoughts are racing. Importantly, characters remind each other to use them during tense times. Because this can be difficult to remember.

With all that being said, Facing the Beast Within: The Anxiety of Cameron Poole actually is a fun read from a purely fictional standpoint. All the real-world usefulness aside, it's got a touch of that classic Amblin vibe that draws even grown readers like me back to kid lit. Seeing kids from different backgrounds, experiences, and areas of interest combine their talents to drive back a demonic horde is both exciting and gratifying. And the understanding between bully and bullied is as realistic and hard-won as it is in the real world... and it's not, as my childhood would have had me believe, the responsibility of the bullied to defuse.

Facing the Beast Within: The Anxiety of Cameron Poole is a book at least one kid in your life needs. You probably know which one.

Visit the Author's Website | Buy on Amazon

This blog post is part of a book tour hosted by The Book Network.

BOOK TOUR: Catharsis: Landscapes of Love

 

Catharsis opens this trilogy about the entwined love lives of three characters, Charlotte, Daniel and Anne Marie.

Charlie lives on the large family estate in the spectacular Yorkshire Dales. Since university, where she was physically abused by a wealthy American fellow student, she has had no interest in developing relationships and has thrown herself into managing the estate and enjoying her successful business as a landscape photographer.

Daniel is an independent mercenary who works for governments and wealthy organisations around the world. He uses the financial rewards to run conservation programmes for white rhinos in Kenya and mountain gorillas in Rwanda. When his wife is killed, he uses his business skills to track down those responsible in the whole ‘white gold’ supply chain across the world and destroy them.

Anne-Marie is a very intelligent and extremely beautiful Afro-American who helps Daniel with his dangerous work. Anne Marie develops a passionate love for Charlie.

The three volumes of Landscapes of Love delve into the complex relationships of these three lead characters and how their lives evolve together.

Buy on Amazon | Official Website

This blog post is part of a book tour hosted by The Book Network.

BOOK TOUR: Burned Out

 

I'm really impressed by doctors. Between spending most of my life as a "professional patient" and working as a writing advisor for medical school application, I'm well aware of what goes into being a physician—and, more than that, what goes into being a good physician. One of the key ingredients is sacrifice... which is true of being good at anything, to be fair. But when you're rotating through multiple people's lives and well-being, trying to keep them all on the positive side, "sacrifice" is a lot more than giving up an evening out with friends.

I also know what burnout is. Although not on the scale of Eric Philson, the protagonist and narrator of Burned Out.

Dean Mafako, M.D. tells the story of a physician pushing to reform the cardiac ICU at the fictional Biloxi Children's Hospital. As the story opens, it's a mess: all records are still kept on paper, the atmosphere is bordering on toxic, and new well-tested methods are rejected because staff is doing things the way they've always been done. As the book opens, Dr. Philson is staring down the end of his time at Biloxi, and potentially the end of their CICU. But how did we get there?

The story is told across 500 pages: a detailed retelling of the rise and fall of the CICU under Dr. Philson's best efforts. But it's also a retelling of the rise and fall of his health, his sanity, his family, and countless patients who are unwitting pawns in a power struggle well above their heads.

Order Burned Out on Amazon

This blog post is part of a book tour hosted by The Book Network.

BOOK TOUR: The Thief, the Harlot and the Healer

 

Buy the novel on Amazon
Author Website | Author Facebook | Author Twitter

For fans of Francine Rivers, Kate Mosse, Tessa Aftshar and Jenifer Jennings…comes this riveting tale of the life and death struggle of a woman facing calamity in AD 33.

In a time of miracles and demons a woman like Rachel has no right to life. She is enslaved in a brothel, with no prospect of love and freedom, until a young girl is abducted and placed in her care. Rachel’s escape with the child, determined to return her to her family, commences a gripping page turning account of a chase across Galilee to Capernaum.

Along the journey Rachel meets the followers of the strange Healer. One man in particular, Thomas, seeks to help her. But Rachel, so damaged by the past, faces an even greater battle to rescue the young woman inside herself who for so long has been denied love and care.

Who can rescue Rachel? And will it be too late?

- - -

There's a lot of Bible fanfiction out there. Some of it has become classic literature; some is just a mess. So on approaching The Thief, the Harlot and the Healer, I was cautious. There are all sorts of ways a Biblical narrative, especially a New Testament one, can go wrong. Go too far in the direction of either hard criticism or apologia can ignore important historical and cultural context.

In fairness, M.E. Clements's book is written so a broad modern audience can understand and engage with it. That said, it examines the last days of Jesus as grounded in the world in which he lived: one in which people were looking for a very specific kind of Messiah, and may well have been disappointed by the kind they got. Or, in the case of protagonist Rachel, they may not have wanted a Messiah at all—in fact, the very idea of what he was offering might come across as insulting.

Rachel is an unwilling member of a brothel. Many year ago her daughter, Anna, was stolen from her by the thief Boataz. As the book opens, this same thief brings a new child to the same brothel: Mina, the teenage  daughter of a well-off family. Rachel is desperate to save Mina from the life she's been forced into and, with the help of the madam and some alleged allies, the woman and the girl make their escape. However, Mina's absence has been noted, and her family seems keen to pin the blame for her disappearance on Rachel.

This is only part of the story, thought. The "Healer" of the title is, of course, Jesus—or "Yeshua," as he would have been called at the time. There's no Renaissance reimagining here. Yeshua is a simple man with worn hands and a kind personality. The fact that he has no plans to violently overthrow the Romans and create an earthly kingdom bothers many people. 

But what bothers Rachel is what he's really here to do. As a woman who has been hurt and taken advantage of by men all her life, the idea that she's broken and should go to a strange man to be healed is insulting, to say the least. It's an insightful angle, and one that takes into account how even the most well-meaning witnessing can come across to a person who's been through hell on earth.

The Thief, the Harlot and the Healer is a compelling read, even divorced from its deeper spirituality. With an intriguing story that weaves in and out of history and scripture, it's a page-turner that will keep you enthralled until the final page.

This blog post is part of a book tour sponsored by The Book Network.

BOOK TOUR: Turmali and the Light Savers

 

Visit the website

The World of Turmali has been invaded by Aliens who have set out to destroy the Rainbow Bridges and leave the seven lands isolated and dark. 

Will the 12 Light Saver characters from Earth and their robot friend help the Turmali people defeat the Alien invaders? 

Our multi-national Light Savers promote an ethos of diversity and inclusivity. The twelve children must problem-solve, grow in confidence, show determination and make important decisions in order to achieve their aims. 

The stories include a multitude of interesting topics to keep readers engaged and informed.

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Turmali and the Light Savers is a 14-book series for young readers. The first, appropriately titled How it all began, introduces the world of Turmali. This far-off land, initially Earth-like, is made up of continents floating in the sky rather than separated by seas. There was a time when these seven continents could be easily spanned via rainbow bridges. But due to the invasion of evil aliens and their quest to obtain the world's magical tourmaline deposits, the world and its connections have gone dark.

How it all began aims to introduce young readers to the series as a whole, laying out the lore of the world and the cast of characters. From there, children can choose which of the other 13 books to pursue first—one for each of the 12 Light Savers, and one for their robot IKE.

More information on the series, as well as a bookshop where you can pick up all the books so far, can be found on the official website.

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This blog post is part of a book tour organized by The Book Network.

BOOK TOUR: The Phoenix Chase

 

Purchase The Phoenix Chase from Aconyte Books

Find Neil Kleid online

The X-Men confront space pirates and intergalactic war in this stunning space adventure featuring Kid Omega and a quest for the legendary powers of the Phoenix Force. Kid Omega’s latest scheme to set up his own mutant school goes horribly awry when mysterious aliens called The Remaining kidnap his “students”, demanding a rare Phoenix Egg – source of the awesome Phoenix Force – in exchange for their lives. Wildly out of his depth, Kid Omega turns to Cyclops for help. He gets a ride with space pirates the Starjammers, and someone more responsible: Cyclops’ brother Alex “Havok” Summers.

Their mission: rescue the students, recover the Egg, save the day. But it won’t be easy. Galaxy-hopping sleuthing, heists, and action lead the X-Men to clues that reveal a monstrous plot using the Phoenix Egg to ultimately conquer the universe.

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If you can't keep track of every Marvel eventuality, I don't blame you. Fortunately, there's only one thing you need to know to enjoy The Phoenix Chase by Neil Klein: omega-level psychic powers are great for memeing.

The Phoenix Chase by Neil Kleid takes place amongst the next generation of X-Men. Two schools, one each headed up by Cyclops and Wolverine, continue the work of Charles Xavier. But Kid Omega (a.k.a. Quentin Quire) thinks that's dumb. He's gearing up to create the ultimate remote classroom experience: Mutants Without Borders, a school that exists entirely inside his mind. Unfortunately for him, an intergalactic threat calling itself "The Remaining" uses orientation day to kidnap his closest friends for ransom. The price?

Summers. And the Phoenix Egg.

You don't have to know a lot about the X-Men to know that "Phoenix" means "bad news." And even if you don't, The Phoenix Chase fills you in on everything you need to know, as any good tie-in does. Rather than involve Cyclops, who (understandably) has big feelings on the whole Phoenix thing, Quentin turns to Scott's brother Alex, a.k.a. Havok. The two then set off across the galaxy on the universe's most dangerous egg hunt.

Marvel fans will see a lot of familiar faces along the way. A few of the Guardians of the Galaxy have a look-in, as do bigger and smaller names, both in person and in flashback. Expect to see friends and foes from all across the universe... and expect Kid Omega to have something to say to all of them.

Quentin and Alex are a surprisingly satisfying odd couple, both dealing with similar issues in vastly different ways. In the end, it'll take a bit of Kid Omega's chaos and Havok's levelheadedness to save the day. But is the day really saved? Or just stabilized for later catastrophe?

Even if you don't have an encyclopedic knowledge of Marveldom, The Phoenix Chase guides you through its many locations and characters with ease. That's a must for a solid tie-in, as I say quite a bit. But it's also got another: a story that could hold its own even if you filed the serial numbers off. If Quentin was an off-brand psychic and the Phoenix Egg was a sci-fi McGuffin by any other name, the story would still be strong, and his and Alex's reluctant friendship and mutual growth would still matter.

If you're in the U.S., you can grab The Phoenix Chase now. U.K. readers will have a little longer to wait—July 20.

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This blog post is part of a tour hosted by The Book Network.

BOOK TOUR: Message from Orion

 

Orion is spreading along the Orion Arm towards the centre of the Milky Way galaxy. New worlds encountered are subsumed and all knowledge passes both ways. It is not the peoples of Orion that are moving but the collective knowledge of all Orion worlds. Most worlds are favoured and subsumed immediately. Some worlds are subsumed later when the time is right. A few worlds are disfavoured and left behind. Disfavoured worlds receive a message from Orion.

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The history of alien invader fiction is long and storied. Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End was the precedent-setter, and its premise still makes for compelling storytelling. Sure, there's serious excitement to be had in stories of fighting off malevolent alien invaders. But there's a quieter, more thoughtful story at the heart of stories like the aforementioned, and like Message from Orion: the concept of Earth as a lesser-evolved planet under the watchful eye of higher intelligence whose goals, while not wicked, may not be ideal for Earth's longevity.

We rotate between two points in time: our protagonist "John" talking to an alien being, and the same protagonist speaking to a scientist six weeks later. John makes contact with Su, a being from the planet Syf who has come to Earth to bear a message. Why to "John Smith"? Su deliberately does not know. But John absorbs all Su has to say: the truth of the intergalactic community known as Orion, its technological advances, and where the planet Earth falls into it all.

While the message is meant for John, he consults a scientist to make sense of it—for better or for worse. Armed with a miraculous high-tech implement of travel, he sets out to prove his story, and then to unravel his strange message. While this is not what Su wanted, his choice to share this wisdom (and the aftermath of that choice) will help the final piece of Orion's message fall into place.

Message from Orion is a curious read, leaving the reader as adrift as its protagonist for much of the story. It's a dry read at times, infodumps interspersed with space travel. While this may be a necessity for the story, it can make sections of it something of a slog. That said, the story pays off in spades in its final act.

The strongest part of Message from Orion is its postscript: a trio of snippets from other times in the history of humanity that bring further context to Su's message. These final windows to the truth are the strongest writing in the book, springing from the past to the far past to the beginnings of Su's predictions taking hold.

Overall, it's a promising book. The worldbuilding and plot progression are all there. I would be fascinated to see what the author brings to the table next.

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This blog post is part of a book tour hosted by The Book Network.