Book Review - Discount Armageddon

DISCOUNT ARMAGEDDON

SEANAN MCGUIRE

I first discovered Seanan McGuire at the start of last year, but not as Seanan McGuire but as her pen name, Mira Grant. I have yet to find a UK shop that sells her work under her own name. I had to get this (and a couple others which i haven't read yet) send over from the States. It was worth it though! She's a wonderful author, but as herself and as Mira.

I had been reading the short stories on her website based before this series so i have a good idea how this world worked and i was excited about starting this book. 

The story follows Verity Price, a young woman who would like nothing more than to dance. However, she was raised to be a cryptozoologist, to protect innocent creatures from humans and other creatures that may want to hurt them. So she lives a split life. But one day, cryptid women start disappearing and it's up to Verity to find the cause and stop it. It doesn't help that a member of the Covenant of St. George is in town too (the Covenant's goal is to wipe out these creatures and sees the Price family as traitors to the cause as they had once been members)

So what did i think? I loved it! It was fun and action packed. You didn't really know what was round the corner and even if you did, you didn't see the witty dialogue. Verity is a kick-ass heroine and proves that you can still fight off the baddies in high heels.
One thing i loved about the prequels was the Aeslin Mice, who turn everything into a religious celebration. I was glad to see them back. I mean, who doesn't want to celebration "The Holy Feast Of I Swear, Daddy, I'll Kiss The Next Man That Walks Through That Door" !!

I can't really think of much else to say, the plot is easy to follow, the characters are likable and the writing is great. I have already imported my copy of the sequel and can't wait to start that too and hope that McGuire will publish some more prequels too. 

"One Hell Of A Ride", "No Place Like Home" and "Married In Green" are all available on Seanan's website and follow the lives of Verity's Great Grandparents.

Book Vs. Movie - Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

WARNING!!! CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS 

Once people get to know me, they discover that i like to know months in advance which movies to look out for. Over a year before it was released, i came across a movie called "Cirque Du Freak". Recognizing the name as a book by Darren Shan, i got a hold of every Shan fan i knew (which was a load) to give them the heads up. Skip forward to 8 months before the release date and the people i'd told were excited but annoyed. The film kept changing release dates and the title had been changed to "Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant". On talking about it to a friend, i admitted never actually reading any of Shan's work (oh how times have changed!!) She was so shocked, she let me borrow the full Saga Of Darren Shan to show me what i was missing out on. I really enjoyed the series and i keep meaning to go back and reread it (since then, i have not only bought my own copy of the series but i've meet Darren (more than once) and had it all signed!)

So what happened when the movie actually came out in October 2009? We had to see it on the first day! We just had to! And here's where we come to the Book Vs. Movie stuff because i didn't really enjoy the movie. 

The first half plays up a little like the book but the whole second half is different. The film is meant to be based on the first three books in

the Saga Of Darren Shan (Cirque Du Freak, The Vampire's Assistant and Tunnels of Blood), but only Cirque Du Freak is really kept similar. Characters you meet in the next two books aren't in the movie meaning that if they were to continue the series in movie format, they would have to change a load of the later on stuff as either the characters return or they have some sort of impact on the series. In fact, thinking back, Darren and Steve have two other friends who return later in the series who are also missed out from the Cirque Du Freak section. 

Another thing that spoils the movie makers chance at turning this into a series is the ending. I don't want to spoil too much but the ending of the film should have been left to a later date, as it is in the book. Though, the actual ending ending leads into the next book. Not the same way as the book but it defiantly is leading into book 4. 

There was some things i liked about the movie. I liked the opening credits. Thought that was pretty cool. I liked the Little People. They were kinda cute in a creepy way. I liked seeing the Cirque brought to life. I liked how the movie (before it came out) introduced me to a wonderful author. 

What i didn't like? Missing characters, different ending, spoiling some of the overall ending, Mr. Tiny doesn't look anything like i pictured him (Where was the heart shaped watch and wellington boots ?!?!?!?)  

Conclusion

Simple, no doubt about it. Book was far better!! 

Also on a side note, since the release of the Hunger Games, i can't watch this movie without thinking about Josh Hutchingson as Peeta and not as Steve :(