Slice of Cherry review

Slice of Cherry

by Dia Reeves

Simon Pulse

January 2011

I hadn't realized that this book is actually the second book in the Potero series, the first being Bleeding Violet. I was excited to check this one out... about two very close sisters who go on a killing spree. Not having read the first book, I was surprised by the magical elements in the book. Somehow, I had pictured a Thelma and Louise type scenario... where in order to keep up with their habit of murdering, the girls are on the run. That wasn't the case at all. Fancy and Kit have grown up in the magical and haunted small-town of Portero, Texas, where the veil between worlds is thin, and the locals are all well aware that they may be prone to demon attacks at any time.

Kit and Fancy Cordelle are the daughters of the infamous "Bonesaw Killer" and as such, are hated and feared throughout the town. Together, they both have magical blood, enough that they are able to occasionally open a portal to another world. Growing up, they feel a hunger to kill in the way that their father did, and initially indulge themselves in hurting animals. When they are attacked by would-be rapists, they see an opportunity to try their hands at vivisection... something which it turns out, they really enjoy. They drag their erstwhile attacker, now victim, back to their basement, a place their mother avoids. They re-name him "Franken" à la Frankenstein because of all the cuts that Fancy likes to inflict, while Kit sews him up so they can toy with him more later. I found it difficult to believe that their mother could possibly be so checked out as to not realize what was going on in her own basement, but it fit the feel of the world that Reeves has created with everyone's casual acceptance of violence. I also found it tough to believe how quickly "Franken" falls prey to Stockholm Syndrome, quickly craving more of the girls' ill-treatment of him.

I had heard that there was supposed to be a lot of humor despite the grim premise, but I wasn't laughing. The gore level was so much higher than I expected. I nearly put this book down several times, but pushed on through. There are plenty of horror tropes employed here.

Character who eats until they explode, coating everyone else in disgusting goo? Check.

Extended scenes with cutting and torture? Yup.

Creepy, sickly plants grown out of dead victims' flesh? Done.

Ultimately, there were some really interesting themes that were touched upon. The whole idea of growing up, and needing to leave childish things behind. Deciding if you want to use your energies for good or for evil. The sisters are very co-dependent, and they do find a way to move past that by the end of the book.

Who would I recommend this to? I just don't know. At a hearty 512 pages, I can't see myself putting this in the hands of reluctant readers. Maybe readers who enjoyed The Darkest Powers books by Kelley Armstrong would like this. Young Steven King fans might appreciate this series of loosely-connected books. Actually, come to think of it, fans of the TV show Dexter would probably enjoy this book. I can say that this book was Not For Me, and I don't see myself reading any other works by Dia Reeves anytime soon.  This was a well-written book, but not for the weak of stomach!


I borrowed this book from the library.

Replacement review

The Replacement
by Brenna Yovanoff
Razorbill
September 2010

Mackie Doyle's family loyally covers for the fact that he isn't human. He's a changeling - the "replacement" for the real Mackie Doyle, who died years ago. He's allergic to most metal (especially iron), cannot enter hallowed ground and has always had a fragile constitution. Not being able to enter churchyards poses a special problem, as his father is the local minister, but he covers for his son by building an outbuilding for children's programs just off the edge of the consecrated property. I loved the sense of the open secret which is at the heart of this book. Everyone in town knows. Nobody talks about it. Mackie's mother knows for certain the fae are real - she herself had been stolen by them once, but managed to escape, something which she does not ever care to discuss. She feels Mackie's being sent to her is a "punishment" for removing herself from the faery world. Mackie's best ally is his sister, Emma, who frequently goes to extreme lengths to protect her brother.

It turns out that the town of Gentry has long ago struck a bargain with the underworld - increased wealth and prosperity, and an unusual amount of good luck for the occassional human sacrifice. The Fae -- duplicitous, grotesque, weird and scary, seem to do very, very little to hold up their end of the bargain. They most certainly collect on their blood debt - kidnapping a human child every few years, and replacing it with an ailing castoff child of their own. But the town of Gentry has been financially hurting for years, and is now dominated by a crumbling ironworks factory. The Fae occassionally put on rock concerts, which leave the human audience members enthralled and enraptured, and for the moment they consider this payment enough.

Mackie is drawn in to some intrigue when a girl that he has a crush on tells him she believes that her dead baby sister is in fact, a changeling, and her true sister may still be living as one of the pets of the underground Fae.

I was reminded just a little, of the grim hopelessness of M.T. Anderson's Thirsty, about a inhuman boy whose loyalty is firmly with the human family that has raised him. Fans of horror with gory scenes such as The Darkest Powers series by Kelley Armstrong will probably enjoy this book. I loved the cover of the hardcover, with it's terrifying mix of sharp implements and baby carriage and shiny silver background, but teens will probably find the paperback cover, featuring a hunky but moody Mackie, even more appealing.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

The Summoning review

The Summoning

by Kelley Armstrong

HarperCollins

2008

I picked this book up because I loved the cover.  I heard it was about a girl who has some psychic abilities, and I love fantasy, so I thought I'd give it a try.  Chloe Saunders has the ability to see dead people.  This book veers solidly into horror territory right away, with a flashback to malevolent ghosts from Chloe's childhood that doesn't shy away from the suspenseful or grotesque.  

After Chloe collapses at school after another particularly horrific sighting, her often-absent father and aunt decide to commit her to an institution, Lyle House, which is where the bulk of the story plays out.  Once there, Chloe meets up with other patients, Rae, Simon and his hulking brother Derek, her roommate Liz and catty Tori.

Simon hints to her that everything at Lyle House isn't what it seems.  All of the teens have special powers and they're being locked up as part of an adult conspiracy. Simon describes himself as a wizard; Chloe is, of course, a necromancer. Simon's adopted brother Derek has superstrength and the ability to shift into a wolf form, something which causes him to barf excessively.  Liz has the ability to make objects move, seemingly of their own accord, and when she freaks out and creates a mess, levitating and exploding shampoo bottles in the bathroom, she is taken to a different facility and not heard from again.  Only Chloe, via her special ability, knows that Liz is dead, and therefore knows that all of their lives are in danger.  Chloe, Simon, Derek and Rae all make a break for it, and the book ends on a tremendous cliffhanger, after Chloe realizes her trusted aunt is also in on the conspiracy.  With nowhere left to turn, she summons Liz's ghost for advice on what to do next.

There are plenty of descriptions of the teens acne, which at first I took as a sign of realism, but quickly realized was just something else that was added for more gross-out factor.  To be honest, I was hoping for a book with a more mystical, romantic feel.  While this book was interesting, I don't think I'll be returning to read the rest of the series.  Anybody want to convince me differently?

Monstrumologist

Simon and Schuster is offering Rick Yancey's new book, The Monstrumologist for free online from September 22 - 30.

I've read the first chapter and (so far) it seems like an engrossing read. It looks like an ARC which has been scanned in... a few of the pages have mismatched font or minor spelling errors. Happily, the woodcut-styled medical illustrations are included. From what little I've read, I'd say The Monstrumologist dials down the suspense but ups the ante with more horror than Frankenstein.