About the book: Is your spider-sense tingling? This wonderful little book reveals all the quirks and quick-wittedness that the scarlet spider revels in and dispels it for your pleasure!
How funny is Peter Parker really? How does he cope with J. Jonah Jameson’s incessant barking? Is an upside-down kiss as easy as it looks? All this and more as the mind of the most popular superhero of recent history is unwebbed!
With great power comes a great number of jokes, jibes and jovial wordplay as you delve into some of Spider-Man’s most comedic comic book moments, laudable cover art, and pure Spidey-(non)sense.
Contest is open to US residents only. No PO Boxes please. To enter, just fill out the form below. Contest ends December 3. I’ll draw a name on December 4, and notify winner via email.
Synopsis: By the year 2067, Earth has been ravaged by climate change and humanity is forced to live on artificial oxygen. An illness caused by the synthetic O2 is killing the worlds’ population and the only hope for a cure comes in the form of a message from the future: “Send Ethan Whyte”. Ethan, an underground tunnel worker, is suddenly thrust into a terrifying new world full of unknown danger as he must fight to save the human race.
Review: Kodi Smit-McPhee plays the hapless Ethan Whyte. He seems like the last person the future would be asking for. But a possible cure to the world’s oxygen shortage means a possible cure for his dying wife, so Ethan has no choice but to go. And Ryan Kwanten plays his best friend and confidant.
Some of the casting choices seemed a bit odd to me, as a couple were cringe-worthy in their acting. And the main character cried WAY too much. But thankfully, there was character growth for both of the main characters.
This is a lower-budget scifi film than what I’m used to, but it was more impressive than I expected. The special effects were solid. In fact, the future world had some beautiful scenes. The premise had me hooked – a post-apocalyptic tale with time travel. However, there were some major paradoxes and things that didn’t make any sense – even suspending disbelief, with the time travel aspect. But I tried to ignore those and focus on the story – which was very dramatic and filled with suspense and intrigue. I actually enjoyed the mystery more than the big scifi elements. With several exciting surprises/plot twists, the finale was satisfying and quite fun.
Synopsis: No one in the history of histories has lost more than Philippa Georgiou, ruler of the Terran Empire. Forced to take refuge in the Federation’s universe, she bides her time until Section 31, a rogue spy force within Starfleet, offers her a chance to work as their agent. She has no intention of serving under anyone else, of course; her only interest is escape.
But when a young Trill, Emony Dax, discovers a powerful interstellar menace, Georgiou recognizes it as a superweapon that escaped her grasp in her own universe. Escorted by a team sent by an untrusting Federation to watch over her, the emperor journeys to a region forbidden to travelers. But will what she finds there end the threat—or give “Agent Georgiou” the means to create her old empire anew?
Review: Emperor Georgiou from the Mirror Universe is a fantastically complex character in Discovery. She’s ruthless and unexpected – perfect for Section 31. This is one of her adventures while working with Section 31, set in between the 1st and 2nd seasons of Discovery.
This mission involves Georgiou, Emony Dax (a precursor of Jadzia and Ezri), and Sean Finnegan (shown briefly in the Original Series episode “Shore Leave”). Emony Dax has a secret to keep, but has altruistic motives. Sean is a bit unbalanced and provides a bit of humor to the story.
This standalone story is a lot of fun. Full of intrigue, suspense, new and unique aliens, and vivid characters – this was a fast-paced novel that was hard to put down. And the wonderfully-written Emony Dax made me want to go re-read The Lives of Dax, which is a collection of short stories from the lives of Dax, including Emony’s earlier career. This is a must-read for Georgiou fans. She is thrilling, oozes dark humor, and you can never predict what she’ll do. And I hope to see more of Georgiou’s escapades during her short time with Section 31.
Synopsis: Lester’s demigod friends at Camp Jupiter just helped him survive attacks from bloodthirsty ghouls, an evil Roman king and his army of the undead, and the lethal emperors Caligula and Commodus. Now the former god and his demigod master Meg must follow a prophecy uncovered by Ella the harpy. Lester’s final challenge will be at the Tower of Nero, back in New York.
Will Meg have a last showdown with her father?
Will this helpless form of Apollo have to face his arch nemesis, Python?
Who will be on hand at Camp Half-Blood to assist?
Review: This is the fifth and final installment in the Trials of Apollo series, an offshoot of Percy Jackson. The Percy Jackson series was a favorite of mine, and this latest series is just as fun and exciting. As a punishment, Apollo has been sent to Earth as a mortal. Now, he is working with Meg and his other demigod friends to take down the evil king before he becomes unstoppable.
This finale doesn’t disappoint. With the odds increasingly against them, Apollo and his friends form unlikely alliances and face down an incredible foe. With a big showdown, suspense, drama, and plenty of humor at times to lighten the mood – middle readers to adults will enjoy this fantastic series. And while it’s not necessary to read the Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series, it is helpful to know some of the characters who overlap. And Riordan proves once again that he’s a master at middle grade fantasy.
Hero Collector is the publishing imprint of the collectibles company Eaglemoss Most of you have probably seen their Star Trek ship replicas. I’ve eyed quite a few of them! They sell collectables from some of the most popular genre brands such as Marvel and Harry Potter.
I thought this was a simple look-and-find book. But, no. This is a book for nerds! The first page is a scorecard, then you can dig into the description and instructions. There are 4 types of puzzles in this book: find the exploding tribble, find the continuity errors, find the story element in each spread, and find the random quibbles (that only superfans will get).
There are eight, 2-page, full-color spreads. The exploding tribbles are easy to find. But you’ll spend more time on the other puzzles. And there’s a handy answer guide in the back if you really get stuck.
If you’re a Star Trek superfan of the original series, this is a great book to test your knowledge. The artwork is fantastic. And there are a lot of fun Easter Eggs that all Star Trek fans will enjoy.
Similar to the Star Trek book above, this Ghostbusters version has a scorecard and 4 types of puzzles. Again, 8 fantastic 2-page spreads with scenes from the Ghostbusters films. Each spread depicts what to look for – from continuity errors to creatures from other mythologies.
There are answers, in the back, if you get stuck. But Ghostbusters fans will really enjoy these fun and unique scenes – whether you find everything or not.
If you love cars and James Bond – this book was made for you. The 50 cars included in the book are divided up by cars driven by Bond, driven by Bond’s allies, and driven by his enemies. So, quite a few Aston Martins, BMWs, Jaguars, and many more. Even a tank and a moon buggy. The updated Aston Martin from the upcoming film No Time To Die is even included. There is a huge variety of vehicles depicted.
Each vehicle has a nice write-up, specialized details about the car, and noteworthy moments from the movie it comes from. This is a gorgeous book, with a 2-page, full-color spread for each car.
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Shae has led a seemingly quiet life, joking with her best friend Fiona, and chatting with Mads, the neighborhood boy who always knows how to make her smile. All while secretly keeping her fears at bay… Of the disease that took her brother’s life. Of how her dreams seem to bleed into reality around her. Of a group of justice seekers called the Bards who claim to use the magic of Telling to keep her community safe.
When her mother is murdered, she can no longer pretend.
Not knowing who to trust, Shae journeys to unlock the truth, instead finding a new enemy keen to destroy her, a brooding boy with dark secrets, and an untold power she never thought possible.
Review: Shae is a strong and determined young woman. She is focused on finding her mother’s killer, above her own safety. It turns out that Shae has a rare gift, so she uses her new position to search for clues. But there is something far more sinister going on.
Hush is the first in a new YA fantasy series. It’s set in a unique world that takes a while to start to understand. But the story is captivating from the start. It’s full of suspense, drama, and intrigue. There are several gripping twists along the way, as well as engaging characters. I devoured this one quickly, and can’t wait for the sequel.
