by Andrew Nance & illustrated by Coleman Polhemus ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 19, 2011
Taking titles from a mysterious blank book that possibly belonged to Rudolph Daemon, Tremblin invites three contestants to...
Despite the terrible events at Daemon Hall last year, horror writer Ian Tremblin is repeating his contest to discover and publish a talented young writer (Daemon Hall, 2007).
Taking titles from a mysterious blank book that possibly belonged to Rudolph Daemon, Tremblin invites three contestants to join past winner and former mental patient Wade Reilly along with Daemon Hall survivor Demarius for an evening of storytelling. During the sharing of the first story, the six writers are suddenly transported to Daemon Hall, where horror still lives. Whether they tell tales of haunted Native American hunting grounds, construction deaths or possessed tattoos that stitch themselves onto a host, the authors must share their stories and survive the night. Nance again uses the frame to present an enjoyable compilation of fireside tales. While none of the individuals has a fleshed-out personality, the narrative format really doesn't demand them. Daemon Hall is reminiscent of many a haunted house, and the Faustian bargain that underlies the story is comfortingly familiar. Polhemus’ stark artwork builds the mood, with heavy lines and crosshatching complementing the campfire nature of the tales.Pub Date: July 19, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8050-8748-2
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano/Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2011
Share your opinion of this book
More by Andrew Nance
BOOK REVIEW
by Andrew Nance ; illustrated by Jana Heidersdorf
BOOK REVIEW
by Andrew Nance & illustrated by Coleman Polhemus
by Jason Henderson ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 26, 2011
Still, humorous dialogue and harrowing escapes will keep action-oriented readers mostly entertained. (Supernatural action....
Wisecracks, gadgets and fast-paced action sequences abound in the second book about Alex Van Helsing, a 14-year-old boy with a supernatural gift for sensing evil.
The evil, in this case, is old-fashioned malevolent vampires, headquartered in the Scholomance, “a school and a research facility and a massive organization all rolled into one,” hidden under Lake Geneva. Nearby are Alex's all-boys' boarding school, Glenarvon Academy, and a central office of the Polidorium, an international vampire-fighting agency with which Alex is slowly becoming involved. Action is the main focus here, and Alex's two vampire nemeses pose constant threats. Elle, who menaced Alex and his friends in book one, toys with Alex with the elaborateness (and propensity for being foiled at the last minute) of a Bond villain. Ultravox, the new bad guy, is subtler: His genuinely unsettling powers of persuasion can convince humans to attack others or to harm themselves. Astute readers will figure out the vampires' secret M.O. and notice traps before Alex does, and a few references, like a Polidorium agent's horror that Alex hasn't heard of New Wave music, seem thrown in for adults.
Still, humorous dialogue and harrowing escapes will keep action-oriented readers mostly entertained. (Supernatural action. 12-14)Pub Date: July 26, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-06-195101-5
Page Count: 304
Publisher: HarperTeen
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2011
Share your opinion of this book
by Dan Jolley & illustrated by Alitha E. Martinez ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2011
Hip, steamy fun.
A small-town teen fond of taking on difficult boyfriends as "projects" acquires a taste for tougher challenges when her newest one turns into a giant bat.
"Vampires are like cockroaches. If you see one, you've got a few. If you see a few, you've got a lot." So explains Vanessa's mysterious but hunky new squeeze Jean-Paul after blowing his cover as a janitor by driving off an attacking band of preppy bloodsuckers—and then revealing that Vanessa herself is descended from a line of monster hunters, and he has been appointed her protector. Rescuing a beloved teacher from exsanguination (armed with industrial quantities of garlic powder and a shop-vac) not only proves the truth of Jean-Paul's observation but firms up Vanessa's vague career plans, too. Presented in graphic panels done in suitably gothic black and white and featuring both sharply drawn characters and plenty of snarky dialogue, this spirited standalone episode joins both its predecessors (I Love Him to Pieces and Made for Each Other) and the simultaneously publishing Under His Spell, by Marie P. Croall and illustrated by Hyeondo Park, as fine fare for Buffy fans of all...types.
Hip, steamy fun. (Graphic paranormal romance. 12-14)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7613-7078-9
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2011
Share your opinion of this book
More In The Series
by Trina Robbins ; illustrated by Xian Nu Studio
by Robin Mayhall ; illustrated by Kristen Cella
by Dan Jolley & illustrated by Natalie Nourigat
More by Erin Hunter
BOOK REVIEW
by Erin Hunter & Dan Jolley ; illustrated by James L. Barry
BOOK REVIEW
developed by Erin Hunter ; by Dan Jolley ; illustrated by James L. Barry
BOOK REVIEW
developed by Erin Hunter ; by Dan Jolley ; illustrated by James L. Barry
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.