This was sold to me as a Victorian version of the Harry Potter series — there's supernatural elements such as vampires and werewolves, multiple criminThis was sold to me as a Victorian version of the Harry Potter series — there's supernatural elements such as vampires and werewolves, multiple criminal elements, dirigibles aplenty (including the floating finishing school itself), and while there's no school of wizardry and witchcraft, the plucky heroine attends a school that drills frippery and manners alongside skills including intelligence gathering and multiple methods of assassination (hence the book's title). I can honestly say it's not like anything I've read before, and I found it rather charming....more
An exceptional entry in this series of short stories that follow around a vampire judge and his person associate. I loved getting a look into Judge DeAn exceptional entry in this series of short stories that follow around a vampire judge and his person associate. I loved getting a look into Judge Dee's past in this one.
Reading this gave me the same feeling as watching one of those monster-of-the-week television shows (e.g. Buffy, Supernatural). There's lots of weird Reading this gave me the same feeling as watching one of those monster-of-the-week television shows (e.g. Buffy, Supernatural). There's lots of weird shit going on — magic, werewolves, vampires, monsters, aliens, etc. — but the narrative doesn't bog down too much explaining it all, so it's easy enough to roll with and enjoy the story. It's a quick read, and a fun enough ride, although not enough that I feel compelled to pick up future books in the series....more
Another clever case for Judge Dee and Jonathan to solve. Both the writing and the mystery were just as high quality as the first story in the series, Another clever case for Judge Dee and Jonathan to solve. Both the writing and the mystery were just as high quality as the first story in the series, Judge Dee and the Limits of the Law.
A really clever short story about a vampire "judge" and his assistant as they investigate a case in the European countryside. Judge Dee does not folloA really clever short story about a vampire "judge" and his assistant as they investigate a case in the European countryside. Judge Dee does not follow human laws, but a vampire code that is explained in this bit of dialogue:
‘The first law,’ the judge said, ‘is that not all vampires are created equal. A vampire is endowed by their progenitor with certain unalienable conditions. Chief amongst these is the condition of eternal undeath. Second, the condition of living forever in fear of exposure. And third, the condition of living eternally in the pursuit of prey.’
‘I see,’ Jonathan said, who didn’t.
‘To be allowed to roam the earth, one must obey the law. The Council I serve is thus instituted among vampire kind, deriving their powers from the just fear of the governed.’
Jonathan looked at him expectantly, and the judge sighed.
‘To put it simply,’ he said, ‘any of our own who poses a threat to our existence must be harshly judged. These are the laws: that a vampire may not reveal the existence of other vampires. That a vampire may not create an excessive amount of offspring. That a vampire may not kill another vampire without justification or valid excuse. And the fourth law: that a vampire must obey the rulings of the Council.’
I became curious about this story after seeing an email from the author on a speculative fiction email list, which read in part:
People have been askin
I became curious about this story after seeing an email from the author on a speculative fiction email list, which read in part:
People have been asking me for years why I didn't write a vampire story, so I finally did--and since stories about doctors and vampires go together like peanut butter and jelly, I combined them, along with my interest in Southern California.
That was enough to spark my interest, and should spark others as well, as it really is a fine modern vampire story -- and with no sparkling vampires, thank you very much....more
After reading the previous eight volumes, I was committed to this series in a big way. So for Alamo to have an ending worthy of the series' overall quAfter reading the previous eight volumes, I was committed to this series in a big way. So for Alamo to have an ending worthy of the series' overall quality was, in a word, a relief. There is little I can say without spoiling the ending, except that every major character has their moment in the sun, and a satisfying resolution to their story....more
I think, considering that this was the penultimate episode of a story that has so many characters and plot threads, this volume was as good as could bI think, considering that this was the penultimate episode of a story that has so many characters and plot threads, this volume was as good as could be expected.
There is a lot of variety in this issue -- Tulip's back-story, Jesse's cross country drive, Jesse and Tulip's reunion, a bit of color on Amy, more skeletons in Cassidy's closet, further degradation of Herr Starr, and a car-thievin', horse-rustlin', adventure from Jesse, Tulip and Amy's past. The end of that particular story is one of my favorite moments of the comic, where Jesse, riding his horse off into the sunset, ponders asking Tulip and Amy to have a threesome with him.
This issue contains the back story of Herr Starr, an earth-shattering confrontation between Jesse, Cassidy, Tulip, Starr, the U.S. military and the SaThis issue contains the back story of Herr Starr, an earth-shattering confrontation between Jesse, Cassidy, Tulip, Starr, the U.S. military and the Saint of Killers in the deserts of Utah, and some short vignettes about Arseface's rising musical career. It also leaves off on a rather tragic cliffhanger, so reader beware....more
I didn't love the place they took Cassidy's character in this volume -- I mean, was any sort of love triangle necessary in this series? Aside from thaI didn't love the place they took Cassidy's character in this volume -- I mean, was any sort of love triangle necessary in this series? Aside from that, this volume was still awesome, as usual....more
This volume was broken into three very separate parts -- the first was a flashback to Jesse's father's time in Vietnam, the second was a continuation This volume was broken into three very separate parts -- the first was a flashback to Jesse's father's time in Vietnam, the second was a continuation of The Grail plot, and the third was a flashback to Cassidy's past.
The two flashbacks were great, helping to give depth to the main characters and flesh out their motivations, but the real highlight was the middle part -- Jesse rescuing Cassidy from The Grail. Just when I thought this series couldn't get any more violent/absurd/awesome, it went and topped itself.
My only complaint about this volume was that the paper it was printed on wasn't glossy, unlike the first two volumes. It was pulpy, and didn't give the art the same pop the earlier volumes had....more
In my review of the first volume, I compared it to Kevin Smith's Dogma. Funny, then, that he wrote the introduction to the second volume. Perhaps thisIn my review of the first volume, I compared it to Kevin Smith's Dogma. Funny, then, that he wrote the introduction to the second volume. Perhaps this was an inspiration for him.
As for this volume, I loved the family revenge story in the first half. In addition to Dogma and Jonah Hex, which seem to color the overall series, it has a Deliverance feel to it. The second half, with the Jesus de Sade plot-line, was a little weaker, but overall, still awesome....more
The series picks up steam in its third volume, and is really starting to hit its stride. I loved the nod to Scooby Doo in the opening pages, the map oThe series picks up steam in its third volume, and is really starting to hit its stride. I loved the nod to Scooby Doo in the opening pages, the map of town in the middle of the volume, and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer feel to the overarching adventure. But why did it have to end it on such a cliffhanger? On another note, I enjoyed the bonus chapter at the end of this volume, about Diogenes, a good deal more than the last one about Ellie....more
While the glacial inching forward of the plot didn't speed up any since the first volume, I have adjusted to the meandering pace of this series, and IWhile the glacial inching forward of the plot didn't speed up any since the first volume, I have adjusted to the meandering pace of this series, and I am enjoying the minutiae of the characters' day-to-day comings and goings. And this volume is focused a great deal more on the entire ensemble cast than the first volume, which focused more on the title character, Gwen Dylan.
One complaint I had is that the last section of the book, titled "Ghost Stories" -- possibly bonus content, I am not really sure -- was terribly drawn, which was a surprising let down from the normally beautiful artwork....more
Lots of fluff, and not a lot of substance -- but I am hoping that is just because this first volume deals with a lot of character introductions and exLots of fluff, and not a lot of substance -- but I am hoping that is just because this first volume deals with a lot of character introductions and exposition. The premise definitely has me interested enough to keep reading, but I hope there is a bit more substance in future editions to go with the gorgeous artwork....more
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