What the Hand

                What the Hand is not your typical book about the end of the world. It takes a tongue-in-cheek look at how humans have destroyed the world through various means and what happens to them when the Book of Revelations comes true. George is the main character who is left behind when his daughter is taken by the Rapture. The book is told from George’s point of view as he ponders his past sins while living in the outskirts of Heaven. The book flashes back to the past as George dwells on everything he has done wrong on Old Earth. This is probably one of the best satirical novels I have ever read. It explores politics, religion, the greed of big money and many other subjects that lead to a person’s downfall. However you do not have to have an interest or know a lot about any particular subject because the author presents it in an amusing format that makes it very entertaining. I have no interest in politics but even found those sections of the book amusing. It is black humour and rather dark reading at times but that is to be expected when reading a book about the end of the world. I found it funny with a lot of subtle truths in what the author writes about. The format and editing worked very well on my ereader and the cover drew me in. This is a perfect book for anyone who enjoys dark humour and great satire.

Shade City: The Dead Side Blues

                Shade City: The Dead Side Blues is not a book I would normally pick up to read. The title conjured up visions of a mystery involving blues music, a genre of which I have no interest. The cover, at a quick glance, didn’t grab my attention, at least not until I figured out how the cigarette on the cover art pertained to the story. However, I am so glad that I took the chance and read this book because it is a great read. Dante, the main character, has the special talent of being able to touch someone and seeing if they are possessed by a “shade” which is basically a deceased person, not a ghost but a variation of one. He can force the shade to leave the body, thus allowing the person to be free from possession, by getting the shade to inhale sage smoke by way of sage cigarettes he carries with him. Dante also carries around an antique watch that is possessed by a twelve year old girl named Violet who helps him to expel these shades from the bodies. The book has an interesting premise and has a bit of everything including mystery, romance, sex and the supernatural. The characters are interesting and the author has created a whole other world called the Dead Side. I’m hoping that this is one book of many that I’ll be reading by this author. It is entertaining and fun to read. It worked well on my ereader with perfect formatting and editing. The cover didn’t catch my eye at first but did make sense when I read how Dante gets rid of shades. This is definitely worth the read.

The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck

                Move over Harry Potter, Hobart Hucklebuck is the new kid in the world of magic. In Magic and Mayhem, Stan Swanson brings to life a world of magic where everyday appliances and objects come “pre-enchanted” and the simple act of sweeping with a broom is considered the “old way”. Even the bread walks to the toaster and hops in on command. When all of this stops, Hobart’s little town turns upside down and his grandfather is blamed for all of the troubles and put in jail. Hobart and his two friends (and the town bully) decide to investigate and find out what is really going on. They often find themselves in a pickle, including a shrinking potion that goes haywire. This is the perfect book to get a tween to start reading. The world that Mr. Swanson has created is fun and creative, even down to the phrases the kids use such as something being “thermal” meaning it’s cool. I’ve read other books by this author and enjoyed them as much as I loved this one. Mr. Swanson’s ability to invent the characters’ names alone shows how invested he becomes in this world as he writes and it’s that reason that makes the reader want to become invested too. This would make a great television series and, at the very least, a great book series.