What Are You Reading? April Edition

More book reviews!

How are things? I'm catching up on my book reviews today, both here and at Goodreads.
According to the site I've only had time to review nine books this year. Of those some were really amazing...while a few let me down. (See below for one that really sucked ass.) 

These are the three I'm reviewing today. Guess which one sucked?

Two of the books I recently read were written by Kim Newman and one is a "collection".  One of the Newman books is part of the Anno Dracula series, (which I love! ) You can find my review of book two of the series  here and book one here.

While reading the first book I knew I wanted to read the entire series, so I've been collecting them.

(Book two and three.)

I was very much looking forward to book three. This one takes place in Rome in the late 1950's.

This book is number three in the Anno Dracula series. 

Judgment of Tears ​by Kim Newman
This book was also released as Dracula Cha Cha Cha in the UK.  I started reading this series and was immediately hooked. I really enjoy the authors witty style of including historical and fictional era characters in the story along with a good mystery and lots of twisty plot turns. It's not your typical Dracula saga at all and if you are a Twilight fan - you will hate this.  

• Was it a page turner? Yes.
• Do I like this genre?  The Horror genre? Yes.
• Setting: The late 1950's Rome. 
• The story telling? Yes
• Was it well written? Yes. 
• Would you recommend this book? Yes, although now that I'm three books into the series, book one is still my favorite. There are familiar characters from past books and of course a trove of historical and fictional characters running rampant through Rome in this book.  I was pleased to see favorite characters from the first book return to add Victorian sentiment to an unsettling time period of decadence and indulgence.  
• Spoiler: I was pleased to see even the Adams family turn up! How can you NOT want to read this book? 
• If you are looking for a "traditional" vampire novel you will not enjoy this book, if you want a witty, fun read -  then grab the series. 

Yes, that's a James Bond spoiler!

The next book I dived into was Angels of Music also by Kim Newman. This one is not part of the Dracula series.

(List of the Angels)

Angels of Music by Kim Newman
I read this book because I'm touring Mr. Newman's catalogue, lol. This isn't part of the Anno Dracula series, but familiar characters do pop up. The book is a collection of stories set around the Phantom of the Opera and the women (Angels) he employees as spies, assassins and general heroes. Most of  the cases are of course,  paranormal or have a paranormal twist.

• Was it a page turner? Yes.
• Do I like this genre? The Horror genre? Yes, have you seen the books I read?
• Setting: Set in Paris over a 40 (?) year time period. What's not to love?
• The story telling? Yes
• Was it well written? Yes. 
• Would you recommend this book? Yes, although it is not a Vampire type novel. There are familiar characters and of course hosts of historical and fictional characters running rampant  through France.  I was pleased to see favorite characters from the Anno series return to add  sensibility to Paris, but I really never cared for the Phantom of the Opera stories in the past, so I wasn't all that excited to read this. But luckily there was just enough backstory on the Phantom to make it interesting, and not overkill. The book centers on the changing roster of ladies (Angels), all with specific talents and gifts; solving and curtailing unusual criminal plots. I enjoyed reading the stories and would recommend the book.
• The stories vary in length and make a  fun read.

This was one of the more gruesome tales.

Now on to the 3rd book - 'Haunted Trails' which is so misleading.

This Introduction doesn't match the book.

UGH! File this one under NO, Just NO!
This book wasn't what I thought it was, I thought it would be actual stories of camping, hiking, outdoor adventures with the paranormal or at least “urban legends” type stories. It was more like a middle school collection of short, classic (read old), ghost stories, mostly taking place in the UK. So if you are not familiar with the horror of overgrown hedges or abandoned manor houses it won’t really scare you. Some of the stores were well written, but not any more frightening than normal ghost stories you would tell around the camp fire. I’m donating the book to a school library.

Famous authors, short tales.

• Was it a page turner? No
• Do I like this genre? The Horror genre? Yes, have you seen the books I read? But this one fell under the written for 12 and under level of scary tales! 
• Setting: I thought it would be set in nature. Mostly the short stories are set in the UK.
• The story telling? Yes/No
• Was it well written? Yes/NO
• Would you recommend this book? NO
• The stories vary in length and while some of the authors are well known, I was so disappointed in this book.

But fortunately look what just came in the post today!

More reviews soon!