For the Twilight fans in the house–at midnight on Friday, the cover for Stephanie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn was released.

I love the cover art for all of Stephanie Meyer’s work–although I’m a bit surprised by this cover. It’s certainly not what I expected. The white Queen and the red Pawn…interesting. Any thoughts?

Breaking Dawn is the fourth and final book in the Twilight saga. It hits stores August 2, 2008–make sure to preorder your copy. I smell Harry Potter like lines come August 1…

And while we’re on the subject of new covers, Lois McMaster Bujold posted the upcoming cover for The Sharing Knife: Horizon (Book 4) (Since I have just finished The Vor Game and am even MORE in love with Miles–and Gregor too–I had to give her website a thorough once-over).

There’s a cool collection of all the cover art (by the same artist, Julie Bell) here. In her blog, Ms. Bujold says she wanted to use George Caleb Bingham’s depiction of Daniel Boone escorting settlers through the Cumberland Gap as a jumping off point for the Horizon cover. I kinda like the action shot feel of the Horizon cover, with the people in the background, and the western sort of feel. While the latter two covers don’t feel as ‘magical’ as the covers for Beguilement and Legacy, I do love the western fronteir, sort of exodus feel to Passage and Horizon.

The Sharing Knife: Horizon is slated to hit stores in February 2009. Book 3, Passage is available now at a bookstore near you!

I first heard about Meljean Brook from my gurus over at Ramblings on Romance. Based on Katie(babs) recommendation, I picked up Demon Angel and fell completely in love with both the world that Meljean Brook created and with her style of narrative – which I think is beautiful and compelling.

The Book Smugglers: First of all, we would like to congratulate you on the success of your Guardians series – it has gathered quite a huge following, good reviews all around blogland and made a die-hard fangirl out of our very own Ana.

Meljean: Thank you! And the feeling is mutual; I’ve become a huge fan of your reviews and polls. Where else can I go to vote on the best 1980’s fantasy action adventure film, where Labyrinth is pitted against The Goonies? (The answer: my blog, which just goes to show how freaking awesome you two are.)

The Book Smugglers: You started your working career in the world of accounting and banking – when did you decide enough is enough?

Meljean: I’d always been a rabid reader, and wrote on my free time — but I really thought I could keep it as a hobby while actually making money in a ‘real’ job. Ha! How we delude ourselves. When I started Alt+Tabbing away from my work-in-progress to a payroll spreadsheet whenever my boss walked past my desk, I knew it was time for a change. So I decided to go back to school for my English degree, was in the master’s program but still writing on the side (and trying to convince myself that I might actually write literary fiction, even though I was dying to write fantasy-ish romance). Then I forced myself out of that second delusion and decided to write what where my heart really lay — and it wasn’t long after that I was contacted by my editor regarding some fanfiction I’d written. So, luckily, I had something ready to show her (and that became Demon Angel.)

The Book Smugglers: we know that you are a major fan of comic books and that you used to write fan-fiction about the DC universe- was that an important step towards your writing career?

Meljean: Definitely. There’s the obvious reason — my editor contacted me because of the fanfic — but more importantly, fanfic allowed me to improve my writing in a supportive (but critical) community, and build confidence in my writing. I’d never been able to finish a novel-length story before I wrote fanfic, and had gotten to the point where I wasn’t sure I could. Now, having long stories definitely isn’t the problem

The Book Smugglers: The Guardian series is an all around work of literature that can’t be described simply as romance or paranormal. There is also fantasy, religious themes and a lot of action – how would you describe the books? Do you think they fit in one specific genre?

Meljean: I’ve been asked this a couple of times, but I still don’t know exactly what genre I’d put them in. Whatever their description, it would have “romance” appended to it, because that is always my focus when I begin the story, and — to me — the heart of the story. Urban fantasy romance, perhaps — paranormal romance (although that sounds so generic.) They are on the dark side, but not without humor; they’re hot, but sex isn’t the focus. They touch on topics of morality and belief but (hopefully) aren’t preachy. So I think they would work well for crossover readers from other genres — especially those fantasy/urban fantasy readers who don’t mind the romance and sex.

The Book Smugglers – You mention in your website that you were influenced by Neil Gaiman – which is one of our favorite writers by the way – what other influences where important to your world building?

Meljean: Oh, wow. Milton, obviously — the first books of Paradise Lost were a huge influence, but also his essays. I’ve pulled in items from Greek mythology, The Divine Comedy, Marlowe. I will unabashedly use anything I think would be a good idea that fits the stories and characters. Pride and Prejudice and Oscar Wilde hung over me while I was writing Demon Moon; every action-adventure movie I’ve seen while writing Demon Night. More recently in Demon Bound, it’s been stories like The Yellow Wallpaper, Jane Eyre (and attached literary criticism) and Tim O’Brien’s amazing collection of Vietnam-era stories.

Then there are the books I know influence me but that I can’t point to a specific reference: The Last Unicorn, for its look at heroism — but also for its unique villain who captures the unicorns for the simple reason that they make him happy. There’s the Black Jewels trilogy, which I love not because of Jaenelle — who the book centers around — but the sacrifices and relationships of the men around her. That story culminates — for me at least — not in what she did, but in what Daemon does for her…and if I can ever capture even a little bit of that emotion (including the horror) in those scenes, I’ll die a happy writer.

The Book Smugglers – One of the points in your novels is that Lust is good and the Guardians are allowed to fully appreciate it whereas demons cannot experience pleasure – that is quite twisted: what made you come up with that?

Meljean: Partially it’s that free will is the core of everything the Guardians stand for — and so repressing emotions such as lust just didn’t fit with that. Lust in excess might not be all that great (especially if it eventually damages someone) but to forbid it just wouldn’t fit into who the Guardians are.

And partially, it’s because on a purely personal level, I’m tired of lust being demonized (in romance, in other literature, everywhere). I’m tired of it being “bad” — when, IMO, it’s a completely human response. If my characters get hot for one another, I don’t want guilt or shame attached to it. (They might feel guilt and shame for other reasons, but because lust is “bad”? No way.) So, I took it out of the demons’ makeup. That isn’t to say that they can’t use lust to manipulate humans (or Guardians) — but it’s one thing they can never experience like a human, and is one thing that will always mark them as separate.

The Book Smugglers – One of the most appealing traits about your stories is that the bad guys are almost as interesting as the good guys. Take the Demon Sammael who is in love in Jane in Demon Night but without losing his evil edge or the Demon Belial, Lucifer’s enemy number one who dreams of going back to heaven. Even the good guys are not entirely good, there is some darkness in all of them. Can you talk about a bit more about this dichotomy and how it became central to your novels?

Meljean : I just think it makes the characters more interesting — not only because they are more complex, but because the decisions they make aren’t always going to be easy. I like making them struggle physically, intellectually, emotionally; if every decision was easy, they (and I) don’t have to work very hard for their happy ending. So, at the heart, it’s really just about trying to tell the most interesting story I can, and grinding my characters’ hearts into smithereens before putting them back together.

The Book Smugglers – Your action sequences are well thought out and most of them are extremely easy to visualize. Not only that, sequences like Hugh killing Lilith, in Demon Angel are a mixture of poignant and dark which would translate really well into imagery – did you ever consider making the series into Graphic Novels? Would that be something you would think of?

Meljean: Ohhhhhhh, yes. Dream of more than actually think, because there is so much going on, I’m not sure if it would translate well to that format. But the thought of one of my stories laid out in panels does make me droooooool.

The Book Smugglers – Talking about Lucifer (one of Ana’s favorite characters) – we haven’t seen him since Demon Angel. Are you planning to bring him back?

Meljean: Yes. Not in the next book, but he’s not too far away.

The Book Smugglers – Your novels are much longer than many of the other paranormal romance novels around, do you think that it helps in developing your stories? Was it your decision to make them more than 450 pages long?

Meljean: I tried so hard not to write them that long. In truth, when I turned in my final draft of Demon Angel to my editor, I was terrified — because the word count was half again as long as it was supposed to be. I had nightmares of trying to cut 1/3 of that book out. But when I got my edits, I actually had to add in a few scenes that I’d already cut (trying to get the count down).

Then for Demon Moon, I tried to hit standard length again … and it was even longer. Demon Night, the same thing happened, even though I was sure the plot I’d laid out at the beginning was quite a bit simpler.

So it wasn’t really a choice that they ended up so long — they did despite every effort I made for them not to be. But the complexity of the worldbuilding and plot demanded the length, I think (at least as told in my style of writing and my voice). My editor and I did look for things to cut, but didn’t find anything; and luckily, she was of the opinion that as long as the story worked, and there wasn’t anything superfluous, it was just fine.

That said, Demon Bound is quite a bit shorter. Still longer than the typical novel, but I’ll be surprised if the printed version is more than 400 pages.

The Book Smugglers – The next full length book to be released is Demon Bound and it features a pair of Guardians as the main couple – can you tell us a bit more about the story?

Meljean: I’d love to! It’s about Alice, who was briefly introduced in Demon Night. She’s a Guardian with a Gift for talking with spiders — and she’s been bound by a bargain with a demon for the past century. Jake is a novice Guardian who discovers exactly what she has to deliver to the demon — and has to decide to help her or not.

And I say this about all of my characters, but these two were so much fun. Jake is creeped out by Alice at the beginning (she’s built up quite a reputation among the novices) and Alice is just irritated by him. But they go through quite a bit together, and work it out … but to say any more would be too much of a spoiler. *grin*

The Book Smugglers – You plan to write 8 full length books in this series – will Michael, the first Guardian, ever get one?

Meljean: His will be the last book.

The Book Smugglers – Do you have any plans for when you finish the Guardian series? Would you consider changing genres? Horror for example?

Meljean: I’ve had a steampunk romance spinning it’s gears in my head for a while. I think I’ll be getting that one out. Whatever I do, I’m pretty sure it’ll be heavy on the romance; I think I’m just wired that way.

The Book Smugglers – to wrap it up, a cheeky question. Your books are full of pop culture mentions: from the X-files, Harry Potter to Karate Kid and The Fight Club. We see in your website that you are a major Joss Whedon fan as well. In a scale of 1-10 how much of a dork are you? (note: The Book Smugglers are proud to be a 10!)

Meljean: How much of a dork am I? On a scale of one to ten, I’m a 1013.

Meljean Brook thought herself a superhero growing up — a superhero princess. After her dreams of flying were brought to a crashing halt when she jumped off one too many sofas with a towel tied around her neck, she turned to safer pursuits: reading and writing about superheroes, princesses, and romance.

She read her first romance at the tender age of eight — Carole Mortimer’s Only Lover, Harlequin Presents #502. Thighs surged, hearts flipped, the men were larger than life and the women more beautiful than princesses, and Meljean was hooked. She consumed thousands of romances over the following two decades, first filching them from her grandmother’s library and reading them under her bedcovers, then proudly carrying them with her wherever she went. At the same time, in her notebooks and later her computers, she wrote romances by emulating her favorite authors’ styles — but it wasn’t until she wrote romantic fan fiction about two superheroes that she finally found her own voice.

Meljean writes sensual paranormal romance — she likes it sexy, emotional, and just a little weird. Currently, she is writing a novella in the Guardians series for Berkley Publishing. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their young daughter.

Title: The Down Home Zombie Blues

Author: Linnea Sinclair

Genre: Science Fiction Romance

Stand Alone or Series: As of right now a stand alone novel, but hopefully there will be more?

Summary: (from linneasinclair.com)
In this steamy, suspenseful new thriller from RITA award-winning author Linnea Sinclair, a dangerously sexy space commander and an irresistibly earthy Florida police detective pair up to save the civilized galaxy…but can they save themselves from each other?

Because if she fails, she’ll lose not just a planet and a promotion, but a man who’s become far more important than she cares to admit.

Review:

First Impressions

Thea: Having recently read and reviewed Gabriel’s Ghost by Linnea Sinclair, Ana and I were very impressed and hastily moved on to another book by the author. Since I have a natural affinity for zombies, and Ana had heard wonderful things about this one from Katie over at Ramblings on Romance naturally, we chose The Down Home Zombie Blues (henceforth, Zombie) for our next joint review!

Once again, I have to say I was impressed by Ms. Sinclair. This book read much more science fiction than romance, in my opinion, but don’t let that deter you romance fans. As in Gabriel’s Ghost, the romantic element is quite solid. I loved that this book was ‘land-locked’, so to speak–while there are a few scenes that do take place in outer space on a large spaceship, 99% of the plot is focused on Earth itself, which was a nice little twist. As a Star Trek fan (and I am primarily thinking of the episodes when the Enterprise time travels to ‘old’ Earth, and in films like Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home), I am a sucker for any juxtaposition of futuristic technology in a familiar setting. In this case, the action goes down in Bahia Vista, Florida. The characters were realistic and relateable, the setting felt incredibly well researched (I would not be surprised if Ms. Sinclair lived in Bahia Vista or a very similar locale!), and the plot was wonderfully tight, fast-paced, and engaging.

Ana: After reading Gabriel’s Ghost – and loving it – I had to pick up another novel by Linnea Sinclair. The Down Home Zombie Blues seemed like the best option, not only because of the raving reviews but because I was intrigued by the title itself. I was not disappointed, I was riveted with the story from page one and the more I read the more I realised I was going to love this book. It is quirky, fast-paced, funny, with an interesting premise (more on that later) , a cool heroine, a sweet hero and many cool references to shows like Star Trek and movies like Casablanca. This book is a winner and you can put me down as a Linnea Sinclair fangirl from now on.

On the Plot

Jorie Mikkalah is a bonafide zombie hunter. An extraterrestrial from the Chalvash System, Jorie ‘beams down’ to a dirt ball Nil Tech planet–aka Earth–via Personnel Matter Transporter (the PMaT) with a small team for a search and rescue incursion. As a Commanding Officer of the Guardian Force, Jorie is well acquainted with such missions, and dealing with zombies.

Theophilus Petrakos is a homicide detective in Bahia Vista, Florida. One fine day, Detecive Sergeant Theo is called in to a crime scene with a victim that has been…crunchified. A mummy with bright red hair, and gooey wet eyeballs. And a laptop that looks like it’s something out of a futuristic movie the only witness to whatever may have happened. The BVPD is stumped, and with the ‘geek squad’ unable to take a look at the laptop-thing, Theo hauls the evidence home for the night.

Jorie and her crew, using their Tech, sense that their agent (the mummy with wet eyeballs) is dead, and that his T-MOD (the laptop looking device) is “leaking”. Bad, bad news.

Zombies are attracted to Tech.

Jorie takes off after Theo and barely is able to get him out of the way as a a green glowing portal opens and a zombie slithers out, solidifying into a terrifying figure with glowing red opticals, and clacking, slashing limbs. Together, they are able to take down the zombie, but Jorie is forced to beam both of them up to her spaceship before more are able to materialize.

Theo realizes that he’s in for the Christmas vacation of his life.

These zombies are not of the “BRAAAAAINS!” (that’s Return of the Living Dead) variety–they are bio-mechanical entities created by Jorie’s people over 200 years ago. The entities, connected in a sort of collective consciousness to the C-Prime (the master zombie that gives each entity orders). While the zombies were created to police and repair Hatches (key access portals for travel, and of course trade), the C-Prime zombies started to ‘think’ for themselves, refusing their programmed orders. The Guardians exacerbated things by giving the C-Primes MORE intuitiveness, and things just imploded from there.

Jorie, offered a captaincy, must try to solve the problem of the zombies, why they are displaying alarming new abilities, why they are attracted to a Nil Tech dirt ball like Earth, and oh yes–deal with a growing attraction to her Earthling charge, Theo.

Thea: Linnea Sinclair knows how to write a tight, page turning plot. Zombie is one of those books that grabs you, has you frantically caught up in the heart-racing action, and leaves you breathlessly rushing through the book to see what happens next. Even though the book itself is nearly 500 pgs long, it doesn’t feel lengthy in the slightest.

More so than Gabriel’s Ghost, Zombie is a science fiction story. The sci fi is again of the Gene Roddenberry/George Lucas/Ronald D Moore variety–bipedal, oxygen breathing, English (or Vekran)-speaking extraterrestrials with the right number of appendages, the proper sexual organs, etc. Which is just fine by me! While Jorie and the Guardians primarily speak Arlash, they are knowledgeable of other languages–and the alarming similarities between Vekran and English is a wonderful revelation that comes late in the book.

This is a wonderful adventure story, and with a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek humor. Great stuff.

Ana:The book is a sci-fi romp about a very dangerous threat to our planet and it was really well done – I was gripped to the storyline, wondering where Linnea Sinclair would take us next and how the threat could possibly be averted. But Zombie is fundamentally, about the differences between the earthlings and aliens and how they see each other. In that case, the plot had a very clever premise which I am not used to but which I thought fascinating: if we usually are privy to how Humans would feel by getting in contact with a much more scientifically developed culture , this book subverts this premise by showing us how the opposite would completely and utterly dismay the aliens.

In that sense, Jorie’s bafflement at the lack of the development of technology of the nils was funny but also very easy to understand how that would be frustrating. I also like how there was a development in the way The Guardians saw the nils: how the fact that even though technologically lacking and simple they realized that the relationships and the way the humans relate to each other were not simple or lacking in any way.

The use of language was also well done. If at first, it seems rather off-putting that Jorie would know a language so very conveniently close to English , Linnea Sinclair managed to insert sly reasons of how it would be so. Their attempts at adapting to each other’s use of English or Vekran was a hoot to watch. I also liked how Theo , at first, used Earth’s not very easy to translate colloquialisms against Jorie any time he needed to unsettle her.The book was very humorous, at points I was laughing so much it hurt my sides. The best thing though was that the jokes or the funny moments were very subtle – I would even call them insider jokes like the ones about Star Trek or Casablanca – which Theo quotes and Jorie is obviously at lost. I also loved how Theo played the guitar and wrote his blues – like for example, the Down Home Divorced Guy Blues.

And the cursing? Also tremendously funny – how Jorie’s curses would translate in a nonsensical way whereas Theo would curse in Greek – I have a Greek friend and I can vouch for the correct usage of the world “malakas” here. I use it all the time too.I seem to be talking about or more about the tangential aspects of the story rather than about the plot itself but this is really where the book shone to me.

On the Characters:

Thea: I very much enjoyed both of the lead characters, Theo and Jorie. One big difference between Zombie and Gabriel’s Ghost is the difference in narrative style–while Ghost is written in the first person, Zombie is told in the more conventional third person (limited omniscient), so the reader knows the minds of both Jorie and Theo. Actually, we see more of Theo’s thought process than Jorie’s–and his asides are hilarious. Ms. Sinclair puts a lot of love into her male leads, and just as Sully was the star of Gabriel’s Ghost, Theo is the true lead in Zombie. I loved his quick wit, his rollicking sense of humor–and especially his Greekness! (Ana and I have a close Greek friend. You know who you are. *ninja*)

Most especially, I loved the interaction between the two characters. Jorie is incredibly driven, an “ice princess” who notches up her zombie kills and stays emotionally separate from everyone else. Her goal in life is to become captain of her own ship–certainly not to get sidetracked by some dirt-born Nil. Similarly, Theo is career driven and does not want any distractions. Both have been burned in the past by undeserving lovers. While this again isn’t a groundbreaking or new tale, the heartache that both feel at their perceived inevitable separation is incredibly touching.

The supporting characters, from Theo’s neighbors and family to Jorie’s teammates are all wonderful, in true Linnea Sinclair style. Zeke and his veterinarian wife, and Jorie’s teammate Tam are beautiful additions to the story. I wish that the villains were a bit more developed (we barely get any introduction to the Tresh), but even the brief glimpses we see of them are great.

Ana: I loved both Theo and Jori. I loved their interaction , the ease they had around each other – be it on the field, or just being close to one another.So, even if things (romantically speaking ) happened too fast, it was easy to believe that these would feel such a connection this soon. Not only because we all know, how danger can bring people together but also because we can believe that they had things in common. Both were mature people (another thing I like about the book: Theo was 43 and Jorie 39 – no green youths)with an unhappy history of relationship in their past. But also because they were both competent officers of law, in their own realms, both equally committed to their profession and who believed in what they were doing. Theo never underestimated Jorie only because she was a woman – good for him , because the woman was utterly and completely competent – a veritable warrior . Theo was a sweet heart who fell head over heels in love with Torie and who very soon was prepared to commit himself to her: Very swoon worthy (not as swoon worthy as Sully from Gabriel’s Ghost though, that one is going to be a difficult hero to beat).

Final Observations, Recommendations and Rating

Thea: What else can I say? Zombie is a wonderful, fun read. I would warn strict romance fans that this one is not as romance centered–although the romantic element is very strong. I’m honestly torn between this one and Gabriel’s Ghost. Zombie is more SF, and I loved the Earth-bound setting, and the culture clash between the two groups of characters. I also loved Ms. Sinclair’s re-imagining of “Zombies” (and heck, even “Vampires”!!!)–they kind of reminded me of the Borg, but minus the whole Assimilation trip. I loved all of the allusions to Star Trek, as well as the very real feel of bureaucratic chain of command on both the alien Guardian and Earthling police department ends. Ms. Sinclair is a retired Private Detective–and I believe her experiences in the field shine in this novel. The ending is somewhat open…I am desperately hoping that we getting a sequel?

Ana: If I saw Gabriel’s Ghost as more of a romance than a sci-fi novel, the opposite is valid for The Down Home Zombie Blues – I thought the romance was incidental to the dealings with the threat and that worked really well for me. Linnea Sinclair knows her sci-fi turf – the high tech gizmos that she came up with were creative and well thought out. They sounded so very realistically, i was very impressed.

Zombie is funny, action-packed, with cool high-tech sci-fi talk and some sweet moments between Jorie and Theo. This book is, to sum up, pure FUN.

Notable quotes:

Thea: Sans spoilers I promise…Ok, one Star Trek shout out, in an argument between Jorie and Theo:

“And this funny stuff you do with your computers,” he waved his hand at the assortment of parts in front of her, “this violates nothing?”

“That’s not the same.”

“It is. It’s for a greater purpose, a greater good.” A phrase echoed suddenly in his mind, and he spoke before he realized what he was saying: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one.” Christ, he was quoting Star Trek to her now, but for the life of him he couldn’t remember if it was Spock or Kirk who said the line.

Ana: As a fan of Casablanca, I loved when Theo says:

“Of all the crime scenes in all the towns in all the world, you had to walk into mine”

Oh and go check out The Down Home Zombie Blues , the official soundtrack!

Rating:

Thea: 7 Very Good

Ana: 8, Excellent

Reading Next: Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Title: Magic Lost, Trouble Found and Armed & Magical

Author: Lisa Shearin

Genre: Fantasy

Stand Alone or Series: Books 1 and 2 of the Raine Benares series

Summary: (from Amazon.com)

MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND

A girl with attitude. An all-powerful amulet. This could only mean trouble.

“My name is Raine Benares. I’m a seeker. The people who hire me are usually happy when I find things. But some things are better left unfound…”

Raine is a sorceress of moderate powers, from an extended family of smugglers and thieves. With a mix of street smarts and magic spells, she can usually take care of herself. But when her friend Quentin, a not-quite-reformed thief, steals an amulet from the home of a powerful necromancer, Raine finds herself wrapped up in more trouble than she cares for. She likes attention as much as the next girl, but having an army of militant goblins hunting her down is not her idea of a good time. The amulet they’re after holds limitless power, derived from an ancient, soul-stealing stone. And when Raine takes possession of the item, it takes possession of her.

Now her moderate powers are increasing beyond anything she could imagine—but is the resumé enhancement worth her soul?

ARMED & MAGICAL

Ordinary sorceress. Extraordinary power. Suddenly she’s the most popular girl in town.

“My name is Raine Benares. Until last week I was a seeker—a finder of things lost and people missing. Now I’m psychic roommates with the Saghred, an ancient stone with cataclysmic powers. Just me, the stone, and all the souls it’s ingested over the centuries. Crowded doesn’t even begin to describe it…”

All Raine wants is her life back—which means getting rid of the stone and the power it possesses. To sort things out, she heads for the Isle of Mid, home to the most prestigious sorcery school, as well as the Conclave, the governing body for all magic users. It’s also home to power-grubbing mages who want Raine dead and goblins who see her as a thief. As if that’s not enough, Mid’s best student spellsingers are disappearing left and right, and Raine’s expected to find them.

Lives are at stake, goblins are threatening to sue, mages are getting greedier, and the stone’s power is getting stronger by the hour. This could get ugly.

Why did I read the books: Recently, book 2, Armed & Magical, hit bookstores. I had Magic Lost, Trouble Found sitting on my TBR for an embarrassingly long period of time, so the new release finally gave me the kick in the pants I needed to start this series.

Review:

MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND (book 1)

Magic Lost, Trouble Found introduces us to the world of Raine Benares–a sorceress of mild to average talent, but one who is damn good at her job as a Seeker (that is, someone who ’seeks’ lost things, be they precious objects or people–which has more to do with Raine’s smarts than magical abilities). Raine is also a member of one of the most notorious families of pirates in all of the Isles, and happens to be an Elf. The book opens with Raine following one of her part-time…er…contractors, named Quentin, who can’t quite seem to kick his side business of petty theft. Raine, suspecting the worst, shadows Quentin while he breaks into a high ranking necromancer’s home and steals something VERY important. So important, in fact, that as soon as he has his hands on the goods, a number of deadly Khrynsani Goblins materialize out of thin air to relieve Quentin of his valuable merchandise. Raine leaps to action, and with her pirate cousin Phaelan, the three of them manage to stave off the Goblins. Naturally, Raine is peeved–not only did she have to save Quentin’s hide, but now they must deal with the very hot stolen merc, which turns out to be a strange amulet. To keep Quentin out of more trouble, Raine takes the amulet and slips it over her head…and finds herself in a whole world of trouble. Though it seems innocuous, the amulet actually is a keyed link to the Saghred–a rock of immense power, affectionately nicknamed by history “Soul Stealer”. And Raine can’t take the dratted thing off. From a seeker of minor talents, Raine finds her magical skills growing exponentially. Not to mention, a herd of really bad nasties are now hot on her trail, from Goblin usurpers and the evil Khrysani (and uber Goblin villain Sarad Nukpana), to the Elven Guardians who police the Isles. Needless to say, Raine is in it big time, and must find a way to avoid being enslaved and killed, keeping her loved ones out of harm’s way, and simultaneously try to deal with getting rid of the dratted all-powerful amulet.

Magic Lost, Trouble Found is a wonderful fantasy debut from Ms. Shearin. The book is fast-paced and thoroughly entertaining, and manages to maintain a light, playful tone despite the darker odds Raine finds herself facing. So often after reading fantasy, I finish a book feeling almost weighed down–both in terms of the length of the book, and due to many of the darker, oppressive content. Magic Lost, Trouble Found is a welcome departure from this norm as the book moves briskly without any unnecessary meandering side plots or verbiage, and manages to keep the overall mood light and snappy through the first person narration of the quick, humorous heroine.

Raine Benares is a wonderful heroine. I loved that Ms. Shearin made the choice to keep Raine’s natural magical talents very limited, and even when Raine is bestowed with the ALL-POWERFUL-AMULET!, she would much rather use her head, with magic as a last resort. As a narrator, Raine’s voice is sarcastic (but not jaded), playful, but most importantly, Raine is completely competent. She might not be the most powerful sorceress on the block or the best fighter, but she knows her strengths and uses them to her advantage.

There is also a romantic subplot that begins in book 1, between Raine and two powerful, different men. The Paladin, Mychael Eiliesor, is the commander of the Elven Guardians. A powerful spellsinger, Mychael is the “good guy” in the love triangle formula. On the other side, there’s Tam–Goblin, scoundrel, and gabling/night club owner. If Mychael is the clean cut good guy, then Tam is the bad boy with a dark past, but who Raine believes has a heart of gold under the charmingly scandalous exterior. Sure, this is formulaic and nothing groundbreaking, but as a subplot, with three very likable characters, it’s a nice perk.

I loved the quick pacing of this book, the smart fantasy, as well as the strong heroine. After finishing the last page, I closed the book with a grin on my face while reaching for the next volume…

ARMED AND MAGICAL (book 2)

Armed and Magical picks up immediately where Magic Lost, Trouble Found leaves off. After thwarting the nefarious machinations of the Khrynsani and managing to trick Sarad Nukpana into an eternity of servitude trapped in the Saghred, Raine sets off for the Isle of Mid with her cousin Phaelan, her good friend (and younger brother figure) Piaras, and the enigmatic Paladin, Mychael Eiliesor. Book 2 opens with Raine sequestered in a comfortable, luxurious tower room–where she can’t cause any more trouble. Raine is fed up with her pretty prison (for this is how she sees her stay in the prestigious college)–but things don’t stay quiet for long.

Gazing down at the opening ceremonies for the school, Raine sees Banan Ryce–leader of the Nightshades, a band of mercenary elves–as he gives a signal to assassinate the Archmagus in the ceremony below. Using her new Saghred-enhanced powers, Raine is able to stop Banan before anyone is hurt, but he and his men escape with a kidnapped student. As it turns out, another student has already been kidnapped…and more are taken. Raine uses her new improved seeking skills to try and get to the bottom of the mystery, while thwarting assassination attempts on the Archmagus, trying not to get caught up in nasty Conclave politics, all the while desperately looking for some way to rid herself of the Saghred (unfortunately for Raine, Sarad Nukpana has figured out how to ‘talk’ to her through the stone, and he’s not a pleasant voice to have in one’s head).

The second volume’s adventures equal the magic of the first–Raine continues to be just as cool as ever, except this time the stakes are even higher. In this book (more so than the first) I loved Raine’s reluctance to use her new powers (just ‘cuz she has them doesn’t mean she has to like it). The relationship between Raine and the Saghred is explained in much more detail here, and the gravity of the situation becomes painfully clear to the reader. Similarly, Raine’s relationships with both Mychael and Tam progress a little more, with some interesting complications. Also, the pacing of book 2, is just as crisp and quick paced as the first novel. I have to applaud Ms. Shearin for her ability to write novels that are this jam-packed with action, and yet manage not to give up all the cards. I like that while each book wraps up nicely, there are still a LOT of dangling, tantalizing plot lines remaining. No simple happily ever afters here–just the way I like it!

So…if you couldn’t tell by now, I loved these books. I eagerly await the third and fourth!

Notable Quotes/Parts: Hmm. Here’s a short section that doesn’t spoil, but shows a bit of the wonderful character that is Raine Benares!

Mychael’s smile was more like a baring of teeth. “I just might take you up on that.” He looked down at Phaelan’s rapier and sighed. “I really hate to tell you this, but I can only allow Guardians to have swords in Sirens this evening.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Even now?”
“Especially now.”
“And especially considering who he is,” I shot back.
“Raine, I can’t make any exceptions.”
Phaelan shrugged, unbuckled his sword belt, and tossed it on my bed. “As a guest here, I humbly comply with my host’s wishes.”
Mychael just looked at him. “You’re bristling with daggers, aren’t you?”
” ‘Bristling’ is such a negative term, I prefer ‘amply armed.’ ” My cousin turned to me. “Speaking of ample, there’s no room in that bodice for anything other than you. You wearing a thigh sheath?”
I linked my arm through Mychael’s. “Now what would be the sense of wearing just one? I have two thighs.” I glanced up at Mychael. “Welcome to a night on the town with the Benares family.”

Additional Thoughts: I felt that this book gave me a better feel for Raine’s world, the kingdom of Brenir. Book 1 gave a feel for the city of Mermeia in all its dark underbelly splendour–but Book 2 shifts locations to the privileged, snooty, political Isle of Mid. Social separations alluded to in the first novel became tangible here. One thing I do love in my fantasy novels are maps–and unfortunately there isn’t one in either book! Hmph. Regardless, I love the world that Ms. Shearin has created; I love the almost Venice-like feel to it; even the names of characters feel like an allusion to the Venetian nexus between the Eastern and Western world.

Author Lisa Shearin has a pretty cool website, and a great blog offering writing tips and valuable pearls of knowledge for any aspiring authors–stop by and give her a visit at lisashearin.com! Bonus–you can get signed copies of her books through her website. What a deal–I’m thinking about giving away my tattered copies and buying some autographed versions!

Verdict: An enchanting start to a new series! I highly recommend books 1 and 2; Raine Benares is a heroine well worth rooting for–plus, Goblins are sexy? Never heard that one before!

Rating:

Magic Lost, Trouble Found – 8 Excellent
Armed and Magical – 7 Very Good

Magic Lost, Trouble Found gets a slightly higher grade because I felt completely taken unawares by the book–I fell in love with Raine, Piaras, Tam, Mychael, Tam…it’s hard to get better than a wonderful introduction, but I have the utmost confidence in Ms. Shearin’s work; I cannot wait to read The Trouble With Demons, coming 2009!

Reading Next: Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn

Book News:

Pinky! Brain! Come and have a look: Julia Quinn has posted in her website, the cover and the summary for Mr Cavendish, I Presume – the second book in the Two Dukes of Wyndham series!

Summary:

There went the bride…

It’s true. He doesn’t. Thomas rather likes having a fiancée—all the better to keep the husband-hunters at bay—and he does intend to marry her…eventually. But just when he begins to realize that his bride might be something more than convenient, Thomas’s world is rocked by the arrival of his long-lost cousin, who may or may not be the true Duke of Wyndham. And if Thomas is not the duke, then he’s not engaged to Amelia. Which is the cruelest joke of all, because this arrogant and illustrious duke has make the mistake of falling in love…with his own fiancée.

On sale September 30th!

‘Round the Web and Other Random News:

Aidan over at A Dribble of Ink has the scoop on some big movie news–a transcript of a chat with Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro is up, concerning the TWO full length movie productions of The Hobbit!!! Can I just say how incredibly stoked I am that del Toro will be directing the movie (if you haven’t seen any of his films, you really *must* get on board, STAT–I cannot wait for this summer’s Hellboy II release!). A detailed interview with del Toro is up at TheOneRing.Net (TORN), for more info. Right now, The Hobbit is slated for release in 2011, with the second film to be released in 2012. Yeah, it might sound like a long ways off, but think of it as sweet anticipation! I cannot wait to see casting choices. For the Richard Armitage fans in the house, there’s a pretty strong fan basis that wants him to play Bard–I could see that. You can keep up with any up-to-the-minute info on the movies at The Hobbit Blog: The Official Movie Blog.

A&E’s The Andromeda Strain aired the final 2 hours last night in the US. If you missed it, never fear–the network will be airing both portions of the miniseries through the weekend, with an upcoming dvd release.

Battlestar Galactica is back this Friday after a one week hiatus (Gaeta’s haunting singing is still stuck in my head), but more importantly…

Tomorrow, the 2 hour season finale for LOST is on!!!! Major, detailed spoilers were up over a week ago (somehow, someway I have grown the willpower to resist the evil temptation to peek), and even those who have completely spoiled themselves *ahem ANA* are still chomping at the bit! I don’t think anything can beat the flashforward reveal from last season’s finale, but I’m sure Darlton and co. have something wonderfully delicious planned for us.

And…THE LAKERS took the 3-1 lead on the defending champ Spurs last night in a nail-biter! Back to LA tomorrow to hopefully finish the job, become the Western Conference champs, and sit pretty for Boston or Detroit. (Although one can never count out the Spurs, things are looking good for the Lake show).

What? I’ve been good about sports! I can make one tiny post about the Lakers if I want to, dammit!

And a couple of Announcements:

This Friday, we will be posting a joint review of another Linnea Sinclair book, The Down Home Zombie Blues.

We also had the privilege of chatting with the wonderful Meljean Brook, much lauded author of the The Guardians series (paranormal romance)! On Saturday, we’ll put up the interview, so stay tuned!

AND also on the horizon, Kmont from Lurv à la Mode has agreed to be our very first “DARE” invitee/guest reviewer. Basically how it works is, we asked the lovely Kmont what types of books she does NOT typically read (in her case, this turned out to be Mystery/Thrillers and Horror), and then we gave her a selection of books to choose from for her Dare. Kmont chose Horror, and she will be reviewing Dan Simmons’ Summer of Night in the second week of June. Hopefully the experience is a good one–it should be interesting to see how far those reading comfort zone barriers can be stretched!

Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty

Author: Libba Bray

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Gothic Novel

Stand alone or series: First book of the Gemma Doyle trilogy.

Summary: (From amazon.com)
A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy–jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.

Gemma, 16, has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother’s death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls’ academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions “for a bit of fun” and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the “others” and rebuild the Order.

Why did I read the book: I picked up the book on impulse, based on the lovely cover, and catching title. To my delight, after buying this one I discovered that it has quite a following and has received numerous positive reviews across the board.

Review:

The year is 1895, in Bombay, India. Sixteen year old Gemma Doyle is shopping with her mother, and being a typical teen–complaining. Gemma longs to go to London, to be a part of high society and to leave her perceived drudgery of India behind. Gemma’s mother tries to explain that high society isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, but Gemma isn’t having any of it (in true typical teen fashion, Gemma thinks her mother is out to ruin her life and holding her back from a glamorous life of parties, dancing and romance). They are confronted on the street by two strange men, one older one younger, and the older man relays a cryptic message to Gemma’s mother:

“Circe is near.”

Gemma’s mother reacts strongly. Panicked, worried, she tells Gemma she must return home immediately without further explanation–and Gemma, angry, runs off in the marketplace. And then, Gemma’s life changes forever. Lost in the crowd, Gemma feels a strange sensation, tingling through her body. Overcome with panic and fear, Gemma has a vision where she sees her mother stalked by a man with a dagger, and then a terrible shadow shimmers to life. Gemma’s mother grabs the dagger, whispers her daughter’s name, and plunges the knife into her heart before she can be devoured by the shadow.

Gemma is devastated. Somehow, what she has seen in her vision has truly transpired, and her mother is dead. Her family tries to cover up her death by saying she died of cholera (rather than admit to the horror of a supposed ‘affair’ or suicide), and Gemma’s father becomes increasingly dependent on laudnam to get through the day. Gemma is finally sent to London society, just as she’s always wanted…a tainted, sort of bittersweet twist in her young life. It becomes apparent that impetuous Gemma is not quite ready for high society, and so her Grandmother ships her off to finishing school–the same school that Gemma’s mother attended many years before.

Once she arrives, it becomes clear to Gemma that life in England isn’t exactly how she envisioned it. The girls in her finishing school are manipulatively brilliant, beautiful, and awkward–and through a shared secret, Gemma becomes “friends” with the select clique.

A Great and Terrible Beauty is kind of like what you would get if you took A Little Princess, Dead Poets Society, and The Craft in a room and had them try to procreate. And the end result is incredibly endearing.

There are moments of true beauty in this book–Ms. Bray writes with a poetic, beautiful flourish. I LOVE that this book deals with “mommy issues”, for once! Many, many romance novels, science fiction stories, fantasy epics deal with young boys or young girls struggling with their parents, but almost always this is focused on a father figure. This book is a wonderful insight to young girls and their (ever difficult and conflicted) relationships with their mothers.

Similarly, the focus of the story, on “friendship” between adolescent girls and the intimate hierarchy of social cliques, is absolutely wonderful. Girls are, for lack of a better word, MEAN. The nature of the relationship between Gemma and her three friends reverberates truth–it’s like high school, but in a Gothic Victorian setting.

The supernatural element to the book is very strong as well. Seriously, imagine if The Dead Poets Society had a mystical glamour thing like the chicks in The Craft did. The detailed “ghost” supernatural story (complete with Gypsies, soul stealing, sacrifices, and dark magic) is awesome. While the plot feels somewhat disjointed at times, jumping from theme to theme (whether it be friendship, female empowerment, or the epic fight between good and evil), Ms. Bray’s beautiful and vivid style make this a book worth savoring. I cannot wait to read Rebel Angels!

Notable Quotes/Parts: This book begins with the poem “The Lady of Shalott” by Sir Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Recently Ana read and reviewed Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran that featured this poem. During Gemma’s education, she has a young strong minded female teacher who asks her students about the meaning of the poem, and why the Lady left her tower, even though she “knew” she would die.

There she weaves by night and day
A magic web with colours gay.
She has heard a whisper say,
A curse is on her if she stay
To look down to Camelot.
She knows not what the curse may be,
And so she weaveth steadily,
And little other care hath she,
The Lady of Shalott.
…
But in her web she still delights
To weave the mirror’s magic sights,
For often through the silent nights
A funeral, with plumes and lights
And music, went to Camelot;
Or when the Moon was overhead,
Came two young lovers lately wed.
“I am half sick of shadows,” said
The Lady of Shalott.
…
And down the river’s dim expanse
Like some bold seer in a trance,
Seeing all his own mischance–
With a glassy countenance
Did she look to Camleot.
And at the closing of the day
She loosed the chain, and down she lay;
The broad stream bore her far away,
The Lady of Shalott.

The teacher, Miss Moore, asks her students what happens to the Lady of Shalott–and why. The girls answer that the Lady dies, because she is cursed, or because she cannot live without her love and thus dies romantically for love. Miss Moore responds with her own answer (very bold, and completely out of her time but who cares because it’s wonderful): “I think that the lady dies not because she leaves the tower for the outside world, but because she lets herself float through that world, pulled by the current after a dream.”

Additional Thoughts: It was almost painful to read about the cliquishness of these girls at Spence School–the tricks they would play on each other, the power ploys and almost backstabbing cruelty. But…that’s all part of growing up, right? Harsh as it may be, I loved the unflinching realism that Ms. Bray put into the relationships between her protagonist Gemma and her (conditional) friends.

Verdict: I really enjoyed this book. There were some moments of lagging action, but overall this is a truly beautiful (and terrible in its beauty) book. I cannot wait to dig into books 2 and 3!

Rating: 7 Very Good

Reading Next: Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin

I bought the book, brought it home and forgot about it. Until that fateful evening when I picked it up and read the first sentence: “Anthony Bridgerton had always known he would die young” . What ensued next was a battle of wits between my brain and my heart. I will try to replicate the exact conversation that took place:

Ana’s Brain: I can not believe we are reading a book called The Viscount Who Loved Me.

Ana’s heart: oh shut up will you? we are just having a good time. we are not getting involved.

Ana’s brain (henceforth, simply, Brain) : yeah, right. I heard that one before. Why can’t we read The Sorrows of Young Werther? or if you want something light we could re-read the latest Harry Potter.

Ana’s heart (Henceforth, simply Pinky): nah. I will give this a go. You can go to bed earlier, if you want to. I am sure I can manage by myself.

Brain: OK.

*a few moments later*

Pinky: hummm….this is actually good.

Brain: ha? what is? what is going on, why is so hot in here all of a sudden? are you actually warming up to this? it is only page what? 10? 15?

Pinky: But Anthony is a young man and his father dies and he thinks he will never live up to his name. oh, I want to hug him.

Brain: Puh-lease grown a back bone will ya. I think I will stick around to keep an eye on you.

*a few more pages later*

Brain: The man wants to marry someone he won’t love. That is just plain silly.

Pinky: Yeah, I will grant you that – but you must realise that he is just afraid. Plus, can’t you tell that he is going to fall in love with this woman Kate? She is very clever. I like her already.

Brain: humpft.

*later on*

Pinky: what’s that sound? Was that a laugh?

Brain: Sorry, it was me. This part was actually very funny and clever. (Ana’s insert: the Pall Mall game) But I am sure it is just a one off.

*after the thunderstorm and the assassin bee scenes*

Pinky: Oh my, this is really good brain, can’t you tell? These two are good together.

Brain: PINKY, stop that. You know I do not like cheese. No, get away from me. *chants* I will not surrender, I will not surrender.

*the wedding night*

Brain: It’s so so hot, should we open the window?

Pinky: Oh dear lord.

*towards the end…..*

Brain: Oh, he breaks down. Look at him, he is a wreck. You know that ever since Heathcliff in the Wuthering Heights, I can’t bear to see a man crying.Awwwww, how sweet. This cheese is actually good.

Pinky: *sniffles*

Brain: Pinky, are you pondering what I am pondering?

Pinky: I think so brain. But how can we find a time machine and go back to 19th Century England to marry Colin Bridgerton?

Brain: no dumb ass, we must get this woman’s entire backlist, pronto.

And so we did. Since that day, my heart and my brain have come to an agreement on how good romance novels can be. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Title: The Templar’s Seduction

Author: Mary Reed McCall

Review number: 53

Genre: Romance, Medieval

Stand Alone/ Series: It is book three of a series called The Templar Knights. I only read this one and had no problems following the story.

Summary: Only a lie will save his life . . .
Sentenced to the gallows for trying to sell the treasures of the Knights Templar, Sir Alexander de Ashby has one chance for survival. The scoundrel must impersonate the late Earl of Marston, to whom he bears an uncanny resemblance, and infiltrate the lord’s border castle to earn his reprieve. But first he must convince the earl’s beautiful Scottish bride that his rightful place is in her bed.
But only love can save his soul.
Relieved that the story of her long-absent husband’s death was false–and enticed by a wild, sensuous side of him she had never experienced before–Lady Elizabeth cautiously welcomes “the earl” back into her heart, unaware that the breathtaking imposter intends to vanish once his mission is complete. But escape may be impossible even after his secret is revealed. For now Alexander burns for the proud, remarkable lady…and desires nothing more than to live–and die, if he must–for a glorious love born of deception and sin.

Why did I read the book: KristieJ lists it as one of her top 10 reads of 2007.

Review:

Lady Elizabeth of Selkirk is a capable young woman who has kept wannabe invaders to her castle at bay in the four years that her husband was captured. She is now relieved that he has returned as the burden of taking care of things is to be taken from her shoulders. But she can tell that something is not quite right with him….is he truly her husband?

The plot reminded me of the movie Sommersby with Richard Gere and Jodie Foster but with an interesting twist. The man that went away in this case, was a loving, honorable husband with whom Elizabeth had a good life (even good sex) .The man that came back was a rascal. Alex is not the run of the mill honorable hero – he is someone who had abandoned a pregnant lover in his youth, who had joined the Knights Templar but never kept his vows – someone who was out for himself : dishonest , with no sense of conviction, who followed whichever way was the least complicated. God only knows how he has managed to have such good friends as the ones he made amongst the Templars – one guesses that all that warring together and protecting each other’s backs served some purpose.

Alex has indeed a long way to go in his redemption – and it all starts with his increasing sense of guilt in deceiving Lady Elizabeth – a woman who is so spirited, practical and passionate that he can’t help but to fall in love with her. And it is only then that he starts to develop a sense of honor and considers doing the Right Thing. And the right thing is to tell her the truth and hope for the best. For the first time in his life, he chose the difficult path.

The game of seduction and the banter between Alex and Elizabeth was fun to read and their growing love and the sense of impeding doom to their story kept me guessing how things were going to be solved. Elizabeth was a great heroine, one that was not so easily duped and whose reaction to the truth was not one of a TSTL woman. I quite liked that.

This was a nice and enjoyable read but ultimately, nothing to write home about. Readers who like Medieval romance will probably enjoy it.

Notable quotes /Parts: I liked the parts where Alex became increasingly aware of his intense feelings for Elizabeth. How he tried to keep her away but couldn’t and how he was engulfed by the long lost sense of guilt and his reacquainting with these feelings was both powerful and frightening. For example:

“And as if that wasn’t shocking enough, he’d also realized that without bribery or coercion of any kind , he would be willing to lay down his life freely for someone other than himself. For her.
It was staggering. It meant that somewhere inside the hollow, selfish shell of a man that he’d thought himself to be, he wasn’t entirely bad. He could taste redemption without pronouncing it bitter. “

Verdict: Enjoyable yet not the best medieval ever.

Rating: 6, good.

Reading next: To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt

I love Indiana Jones. I have watched all the movies several times. He is one of those larger than life, Iconic Hollywood characters that have become intrinsic part of Cinema History.

I still remember the first time I saw him – it was the Temple of the Doom, I was 11 years old and it was the first movie I ever watched on one of those brand new, VCRs.

I thought it was one of the most incredible things ever and fell in love with Indy and with Shorty. Later, in 1989, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade came out and I thought that was a tremendous movie, the best in the trilogy, the perfect ending for a perfect series.

Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull or should I say, The Kingdom of Lost Potential is a great big pile of Rubbish.

Oh. The pain, the pain.