This Week's Review of...

Shadow of Night

There’s nothing quite like it when an extraordinary story takes you by surprise. And this second book in the All Souls trilogy does just that.

In a world where witches, daemons and vampires struggle to maintain a fragile balance, Diana and Matthew must travel further than they ever realized in an effort to unravel the secrets of a manuscript they hope contains the answers to their prayers.

But what happens when what they’ve striven for must be relinquished?

Yes, Diana discovers who and what she is and must adjust to the weighty responsibilities that revelation brings, for she is a bridge between worlds; between light and dark; between life and death itself, and the future rests on her finding something that has eluded her thus far . . . balance.

A most enjoyable sequel to an already excellent story.

Alias Grace

Based on the award-winning novel by Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace tells the story of Grace Marks (Sarah Gadon), a young, poor Irish immigrant and domestic servant in Upper Canada who - along with stable hand James McDermott (Kerr Logan) - is accused and convicted of the infamous 1843 double murder of her employer Thomas Kinnear (Paul Gross), and his housekeeper/lover, Nancy Montgomery (Anna Paquin).

Following the trial, McDermott was hanged and Marks was sentenced to life imprisonment. End of story . . . or so you think.

Because of her exemplary behavior, Grace is allowed out every day to serve in the house of the prison governor. Her case comes to the attention of a committee of gentlemen and ladies from the Methodist church, who – led by the minister – hopes to have her pardoned and released. The thing is, Grace is adamant she cannot remember what happened on the day of the murders, and exhibits symptoms of hysteria. On the basis of this, the minister hires Dr. Simon Jordan, a psychiatrist, to interview her, hoping he will find her to be a hysteric, and not a criminal.

Much of what you see takes place in flashback, and portrays the harshness of the times, for you see life through the eyes of an abused young girl who quickly grows to become a woman beset by demons. Those caused by the era in which she lives, in which females are nothing but chattel; those created by an upper class who despise and look down on those who serve them. And of course, the very real horror of how simple it is to be caught up in events that can impact your life forever.

Alias Grace is both compelling and at times disquieting. It’s colorfully portrayed, yet captures a solemnity that reminds you the lower class lived at the whim of their “betters.” But most of all, you witness the personal demons of a young woman who is elusive with the truth, while portraying an innocence that is disarming.

I shan’t say more, other than it is one of the best period dramas I’ve seen . . . (And my wife loved it too!) Therefore – Highly recommended.

My Thoughts On. . .

Containment

In this follow-up to “Convergence”, we catch up with Solstice Winters – elf extraordinaire and intrepid reporter for “The Spiritualist” – after she finds herself stranded in Russia following her escape from the clutches of the OSA (Ordo Sanguinem Aeternam).

The thing is, she can’t simply pack her meager belongings and go home. Not with so many dangerous numina running loose in the streets. And now the cat’s out of the bag about her origins, well . . . she has to set an example that not everyone or everything from the Echo are all that bad.

Thus begins an adventure that ends up dragging her deeper and deeper into a murky magical mire. Thankfully, she’s not alone, and manages to keep her head above water with the help of some amazing friends, a talking cat, and a character straight out of history.

As before, great fun – engaging dialogue – adult humor – and lots of action make this an appealing story that I’m sure most readers will relate to. I know I’m looking forward to the next installment.

Winter’s Coming. . . ?

Deadpool 2

Witty one-liners. Below the belt gems. Narratively sharp. Cruelly sadistic and irreverent. Superbly choreographed fight scenes. Telegraphed clangers that you know are coming but love when they eventually hit you full in the face. I cried . . . and absolutely loved the character of Domino, whose super power of "good luck" just so happens to outshine everyone else’s.

And in among the nonstop action and humor, a superbly crafted emotional tearjerker of a moment.

Best of all, Deadpool isn’t afraid to laugh at itself. A must-see extravaganza of fun.

And the additional scenes at the end? Pure genius.

This Week's Review of. . .

A Discovery of Witches

It begins with absence and desire.

It begins with blood and fear.

It begins with a discovery of witches.

What those words mean remains a mystery as you journey ever deeper through a cleverly constructed world of intrigue and wonder. One where vampires prowl the shadows through the centuries, daemons influence the outcome of history, and witches hide away in plain sight.

Always with us – always separate, the creatures hold to an uneasy, millennia old covenant that teeters on the brink of collapse. And the discovery of a long lost text by a young witch who has shunned her heritage threatens to trigger a war the likes of which will change mankind forever. . .

I have to say, having seen only several episodes of the TV series, I purchased the books. A wise choice, for the depth of background history and foundation added by the creator’s original ideas are spellbinding. It’s superbly written too, and details the struggle of two people falling in love against centuries of tradition prohibiting any form of dalliance with “the enemy.”

In a nutshell – THIS is a quality work you’ll quickly become immersed in. Outstanding!

The Alienist

The Alienist is an American period drama television series based on the novel of the same name by Caleb Carr. The series stars Daniel Brühl (Dr. Laszlo Kreizler), Luke Evans (John Moore), and Dakota Fanning (Sara Howard), as an ad hoc team assembled in mid-1890s New York City to investigate a serial killer who is murdering street children. The series incorporates fact with fiction by including characters that are historical figures, such as Theodore Roosevelt, who held the post of police commissioner from 1895 to 1897.

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When a series of gruesome murders of boy prostitutes grips New York City, newly appointed police commissioner Roosevelt calls upon Dr. Laszlo Kreizler – a criminal psychologist and John Moore a newspaper illustrator – to conduct the investigation in secret. Joining them is Sara Howard, the first woman to work for the police department as secretary to the commissioner, as well as the Jewish twin brothers, detective sergeants Marcus and Lucius Isaacson.

Needless to say, the team meets stiff opposition from the majority of officers within the NYPD, primarily from Captain Connor and the recently retired Chief Byrnes, both of whom are more committed to protecting the reputations of New York's high society than they are to finding the architects behind the crimes.

Overall, I found the Alienist to be a rather entertaining, breathtakingly gruesome murder–mystery possessing a brooding intensity and a complex narrative. The contrast between the exaggerated gentility with which the denizens of 1890s America address one another and the casual savagery of their everyday existence worked wonders. The actors certainly do their jobs too: Daniel Brühl portrays a haunted, painfully introverted and aloof man with an irritating arrogance that demeans the brilliance of his insights. Luke Evans is equally annoying, displaying the foibles of his character superbly, while retaining a loyalty to his friends that put the rest to shame. But it’s Dakota Fanning who shines in my opinion. She’s patient, sharp, strong and brave, while displaying a vulnerability that helps you appreciate the uphill struggle women must have faced to get themselves recognized in a man’s world. The cheapness of life is revealed in all its glory, along with the corruption that ate away at the soul of a burgeoning city.

Excellent stuff, spoilt only by the last 15 minutes or so. I won’t ruin it for you by revealing why here, but I felt a fabulous series and surefire winner fell at the very last hurdle because of its lackluster ending. “Anticlimax” doesn’t describe the injustice.

Something for the weekends . . . 

Until Christmas?

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