Review: City of the Dead

City of the Dead by Brian Keene
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I realize that there are those who passed on this title because book one was so insane, but isn't that the beauty of this genre? Keene is one of the people who were in the vangard that brought zombies back to the forefront. Kirkman simply gets the credit because he has a hit TV series, but there was a time when zombies were NOT so prevalent on Amzon in the book section. Keene stood out with this tale because it does not try to make you feel good. It tries to unsettle you and does so very well. And to have the demon aspect so well melded into this genre is a testament. This tale is even more action packed and fingernail destroying than the first installment.

I refuse to dock this selection simply because I (and obviously in the minority here) did not care for the narration. It was just did not do it for me.

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Review: THE SPLENDID AND EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF BEAUTIMUS POTAMUS

THE SPLENDID AND EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF BEAUTIMUS POTAMUS by Peggy A. Wheeler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those stories that made me think of all the great "animals as people" tales ranging from Jungle Book to Animal Farm to Charlotte's Web. Yes, a broad range indeed, but this story has that going on for it. There is such a beautiful poetry to it that you find yourself lost. There are actual "laugh out loud" moments (not to be confused with the overused LOL. I mean you will actually chuckle. This is fantasy with a twist and I think you are missing out if you don't give this beautimus story a shot.

As for the audio version...the narration was, for me, the weak point. There was just something about Ms. Hazen's voice that did not work for me. That said, narrators are like singers, one person loves Sinatra, the next Bon Scott, so take that criticism with a grain of salt. I will say she has a vast array of voices and the production is top notch.

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