Editorial Review

Since his first novel was published in 1974, Stephen King has stretched the boundaries of the written word, not only bringing horror to new heights, but trying his hand at nearly every possible genre, including children's books, graphic novels, serial novels, literary fiction, nonfiction, westerns, fantasy, and even e-books (remember The Plant?). With Read more

Subjects:  1. Authors    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - General    4. Fiction - Horror    5. General    6. Grief    7. Horror    8. Horror - General    9. King, Stephen - Prose & Criticism    10. Widows    11. Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

If your pulse flutters at the thought of castle ruins and descents into crypts by moonlight, you will savor every creepy page of Elizabeth Kostova's long but beautifully structured thriller Read more

Reviews (1105)

This historian is a good read
Okay, this is an enjoyable book, but far less enjoyable than any Harry Potter novel. I have yet to read the end, but I am disappointed that Dracula, himself, shows up only in the last 100 or so pages. That's lame.
I suddenly wish I were a Historian... Wonderful*****
I found The Historian to be a wonderful & easy read from beginning to the end.Very well written.VERY Dracula-esque.If you loved Bram Stoker's original masterpiece, you will love this as well.
Lovely!
The story begins with our heroine finding a bunch of old letters, all addressed, quite melodramatically, to "My Dear and Unfortunate Successor". Shortly afterwards, her father goes missing and she uses the letters to try and track him down. Her quest takes to monasteries and libraries all over Europe, and she finds herself being hunted down by a sinister figure - the same being that has haunted both her grandfather and father's letters, and who may be the cause of her mother's mysterious death. As she delves deeper, she finds out more about her family history and begins to understand just how truly terrible her adversary is.
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Subjects:  1. American First Novelists    2. American Horror Fiction    3. Fantasy - Dark/Horror    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - Fantasy    6. Fiction - General    7. General    8. Horror    9. Horror - General    10. Horror fiction    11. Occult fiction    12. Suspense    13. Vampires    14. Fiction / General   

Reviews (7)

Other than Kenyon, awful compilation
I didn't like one story in this book other than Kenyon's, and even that wasn't her best.The book was actually so bad that I resent the money I paid for it.And to add insult to injury, the other book I bought that was a compilation including Kenyon was even WORSE.Just a total waste of money.Two of the stories are written in the first person -- and come on, are you a 12 year old writing a story for composition class? -- and all of them are hokey and, to be blunt, lame.

severely disappointed
Severely disappointed is the only way to describe my reaction to this anthology.I ran right out to buy this book because of all the positive reviews.Save your money and buy it used.

Some are silver and the others gold, but all GREAT!
To say that I was looking forward to this book for the authors that I already know and love is an understatement.I couldn't wait to read L.A. Banks' story and Sherilyn Kenyon's.However, I have to say that I not only enjoyed the stories from the authors that I am already familiar with and love, but I enjoyed the stories from the authors who were previously unknown to me as well.What a great introduction to something new!I am definitely going to be broadening my book collection with some new authors and of course will continue on with the ones I love and know already.This was a book filled with interesting, romantic and exciting tales and I would recommend it to anyone.KUDOS to these writers for a capital accomplishment.
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Subjects:  1. Fantasy    2. Fantasy - General    3. Fantasy - Short Stories    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - Fantasy    6. Horror tales, American    7. Occult    8. Weddings    9. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Reviews (14)

The Original Erotic Horror Novel
When people mention erotic horror, which is a phrase thrown about continuously nowadays, I immediately think of Ray Garton's "Live Girls". There may have been other books that came before this one to pioneer the new sub-genre of horror but Live Girls was the first I was exposed to. In this regards, I find myself unbelievably lucky.
Unique, gritty, vampy...
Just now finished reading Live Girls. It's been a while since I've read straight horror and I reentered the genre with Ray Garton. I'm glad I did. The book was well-written with solid, realistic, flawed characters. Some of the things in there I hadn't seen before. I applaud Mr. Garton for breaking new ground - and for giving people new reason to avoid peep shows! Seems kind of obvious in hindsight that vampires would frequent the sex clubs - what a great way to shop for food! I'm glad to hear that there's a sequel and will be sure to read it.

I "Hole-Heartedly" Enjoyed Live Girls!
Ray Garton's Live Girls is everything a good horror novel should be: hip, edgy, fast-paced, and entertaining. But it goes one step further. It's everything a good vampire novel should be, leaving behind the Victorian trappings of Bram Stoker's Dracula and moving swiftly into twentieth-century Times Square. Thankfully there are no whining Anne Rice types brooding about the futility of life while sipping absinthe and applying black nail polish. This novel takes a fresh, original look at undead bloodsuckers and is more From Dusk Til Dawn than Interview with a Vampire. In my book, that's a very good thing.
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Subjects:  1. Fiction - Horror    2. Horror    3. Horror - General    4. Fiction / General   

Reviews (15)

Outstanding paranormal mystery
Harper Connelly and her step brother Tolliver have been invited by Dr. Clyde Nunley to demonstrate her power for his anthropology class.She can find the dead and determine how they died and their names.He has an old graveyard at Bingham College which hasn't been used for 50 years and recently the records of the old church have been found giving the cause of death for those buried there. The records have been sealed so he is sure that like others he has invited for demonstrations he can show that she is a fake or at least not reliable.Good characters, good plot nicely done and some humor as she spooks the class and Dr. Nunley by being right all the time and by finding Tabahia's body double parked in a grave. (She had been hired to try to find her when she disappeared a year ago from her home in Nashville, Bingham is in Memphis.) And more humor when she weirds out the corner. I still like her southern vampire series better but this is very good and a little better than her first book in the series.

Harris never disappoints!
Harris never disappoints and Grave Surprise is no exception. Harris's prose is both quirky and smooth as butter, and these characters really grabbed hold of me. Made me laugh, made me tear up, made me turn the pages faster and faster, and sigh when I reached the last. It's wonderful to read a writer who knows her craft as well as this. I can hardly wait for her next!

Lightening Can Strike Twice
In this, the second in Charlaine Harris' Harper Connelly series, we learn oh so much more about Harper, her paranormal ability to sense the dead and how they passed, Harper's childhood, and most tantalizingly, her relationship with her stepbrother Tolliver. It's an excellent weekend read. Read more

Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Children    3. Clairvoyants    4. Crimes against    5. Fantasy - General    6. Fiction    7. Fiction - Mystery/ Detective    8. Mystery & Detective - General    9. Mystery And Suspense Fiction    10. Mystery/Suspense    11. Occult    12. Science Fiction And Fantasy    13. Fiction / Mystery & Detective / General   

Reviews (54)

A great book
If you read all the rest of the dark books this is a great book. It has a the books in one adding to them. Very hard to put down.

The Carpathians are BACK!!
I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book.Ms. Feehan is incredible.She bought back every beloved character from the past and made their contribution to the story breathtaking.I even enjoyed Adrienne and Aidan's story.And, their book DArk Gold was the only miss Ms. Feehan ever had.Skylar and Dimitri's story is almost to delicious to wait for but, that Manolito.I cannot wait for Manolito and his heroinnes book.IT will be awesome.This book extended the series and bought me even closer into the Carpathian world.

Thank you Christine!!
I own all the books in the carpathian series.I have waited months for this book & I was not disappointed!!I have always wondered what went on with the characters after their book was finished. Now I know... I love that this book was a reunion of all the characters.Christine Feehan brought back all of my favorite characters, brought in some humor, but this was still a Carpathian book, still a romance novel, but a little more family oriented.I loved that she explained more about the past of some of the characters, and opens it up for more books to come.I can't wait for the next book!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Romance    3. General    4. Occult fiction    5. Romance - Fantasy    6. Romantic suspense fiction    7. Vampires    8. Fiction / General   

Subjects:  1. Fantasy    2. Fantasy - Dark/Horror    3. Fantasy - General    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - Fantasy    6. Gentry, Meredith (Fictitious character)    7. Romance - Fantasy    8. Supernatural    9. Women private investigators    10. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Editorial Review

In 1993, Scott Smith wowed readers with Read more

Reviews (451)

I could not sleep for a week after reading this book!
I don't understand all the bad reviews of "The Ruins?"It kept me turning pages all night.Sure the subject matter is dark and it does not have the pat happy ending, but hey! guess what it is a horror story!As some have mentioned, I was hoping for a story that involved Mysteries at a Mayan Ruin site, but thats not what this story is about.If your are looking for a thriller/mystery wrapped in the mystery of the ancient ruin sites I agree with the reviewer who recommended "Tourist in the Yucatan." cool thriller!

predictable and gross
I forced myself to read the entire gross mess in the hope there would be something worth while in there. Save yourself the trouble unles you enjoy slasher movies and that ilk.

Great for the beach or lunch time reading
This is the perfect book to take to work and read either on break or at lunch. The plot is very straight forward and its a very easy read. There is hardly any background on the villian which would have been nice. I am still wondering about the first tunnel sighted when they go down the shaft. The ending was quite good. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Horror Fiction    2. Cancâun (Mexico)    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - Psychological Suspense    5. Horror    6. Horror - General    7. Mayas    8. Suspense    9. Suspense fiction    10. Thrillers    11. Fiction / Horror   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (522)

Much more than what I was expecting
"Gates of Fire" is not, singularly, a book about the 300 Spartans who fought at the Battle of Thermopylae.Moreso, it is a look into the individual men who made up this group and the quality of character that makes a Spartan.This is one of the best "historical" novels I have ever read.I have been intrigued with the Battle of Thermopylae for awhile, and bought this book several years ago, but never got past the first few pages because it was a little boring. Thankfully, I struggled through them, because by page five, "Gates of Fire" really takes off and sets the pace for an incredible story.
You won't read a more vivid combat account...
I've read this book twice, and both times was awestruck at the vivid accounts of Spartan combat thousands of years ago.Further, Pressfield does a remarkable job of capturing the Spartan ethos, the manner in which they lived and ultimately died.An outstanding read for action fans and history buffs alike, this is one you will not be able to put down.

When Men Were Men
At a time when some want to appease or even capitulate to our enemies, it is refreshing to read of an era when men stood shoulder to shoulder and fought against impossible odds to defend their country. In about 490 BC a force of up to 7000 Greeks anchored by 300 Spartan "hoplites" (heavy infantry) fought a suicidal holding action against at least 200,000Persians under king Xerxes. They did this in order to give the rest of the country time to prepare for its defense. This Alamo-like stand at a place called Thermopylae-literally the "Hot Gates"- is related in fine detail by Steven Pressfield in his novel Gates of Fire.
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Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Historical    3. Historical - General    4. War & Military    5. Fiction / Historical    6. Horror & ghost stories   

Reviews (20)

I expected more from Marvel
I don't know if it's me, but this book was is not what I expected. The artwork in my opinion was not that great. The stories were somewhat bland and flat. One story is completed made up of splash pages (all art) and with nothing written on it. You figure with Marvels stable of talented artist, they artwork would have been better. The only halfway decent story was the last one in which the media, along with government, manipulates the news in order to give the people war propaganda news in which the human are winning, and not disclosing the casualties nor suffering that are being endured by mankind. If you truly want to read a gripping graphic novel with amazing artwork, check out Pride of Baghdad.Now that's a great graphic novel.

Opinion of a bigtime game/comic fan
Halo is a great game, and some of these artists have done other work which is awesome.But I have to say that this book didn't do it for me.I'm not a very analytical person when it comes to comics.I read them, and then I just ask myself if I had a good time.I didn't.
HGN
The best representation of the halo universe yet! Accounts for how Sergeant Johnson escaped the flood, and the day the covenant found earth ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comics & Graphic Novels    2. Graphic Novels    3. Graphic Novels - Horror    4. Graphic Novels - Media Tie-In    5. Graphic Novels - Science Fiction    6. Movie-TV Tie-In - General    7. Science Fiction    8. Science Fiction And Fantasy    9. Comics & Graphic Novels / General   

Editorial Review

Witness Stephen King's triumphant, blood-spattered return to the genre that made him famous. Read more

Reviews (651)

Dropped call....
As a huge Stephen King fan I really looked forward to reading this book but was quickly disappointed.There's no real character development.I would like to know who Tom was before the pulse or what Alice was like before the pulse. It started off very strong but towards the middle it started to lag and then eventually stopped.I didn't feel like I was reading a true Stephen King book at all. This felt like a third rate 'The Stand' with cell phones instead of a flu virus. 'The Stand' was a much better read.

Sorry, Wrong Number
What happens if one day everyone within hearing range of a cell phone were to suddenly go insane?What if that insanity caused those afflicted to attack everyone within sight?Stephen King asks these questions in this book.Unfortunately, our protagonists never find why and King makes me wish that he had picked the protagonists that located the source of the pulse.
Not one of Stephen King's best
The idea behind this book is a good one, like many of King's book: what if at one point in time, every person in the world who talks on or listens to a cellular phone receives some "signal" or "pulse" that acts like a "reset" button on a computer, erases his or her personality and leaves only primal madness, aggressiveness and eventually a sense of flocking with others of their kind? And what if a few people who were smart or lucky enough not to receive that "pulse" and have been able to figure out that the cell phones are the cause, get together and set off on a journey towards possible sanity?
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Subjects:  1. Cellular telephones    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - General    4. Fiction - Horror    5. General    6. Horror    7. Horror - General    8. Horror Fiction    9. King, Stephen - Prose & Criticism    10. Murderers    11. Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

While the Bible may be the word of God, transcribed by divinely inspired men, it does not provide a full (or even partial) account of the life of Jesus Christ. Lucky for us that Christopher Moore presents a funny, lighthearted satire of the life of Christ--from his childhood days up to his crucifixion--in Read more

Reviews (353)

A Messiah and miracle worker with a sense of humor
Moore created a tough challenge for himself as a comic writer by putting a fictional spin on the life of Christ, especially the years between His childhood and ministry that are a wide gap in the Gospels. Yet he succeeds brilliantly in giving the iconic Messiah and miracle worker a human personality with a trait some of His most dour, so-called followers centuries later still lack - a sense of humor. The number of grammatical errors and occasional factual goof (in his epilogue Moore refers to the Book of Revelations, instead of Revelation) are disappointing. Yet, overall, his research is meticulous. For me, the narrative stalled in the middle - where Moore has the Messiah in the Middle East learning Eastern philosophy from the three wise men. Still, "Lamb" is memorable and thoroughly enjoyable.

Delightful and fun!
I couldn't put it down! The scene in the garden, where Joshua first encounters the procrastinating angel, had me laughing so hard.. and then, every time I thought about it. Biff and Joshua are typical boys, growing up and venturing forth in the world. Biff knows his buddy is special and he's always there to cover Josh's back, to encourage and protect, and to discuss those things universal to young men. It's a fun book you'll want to share.

Tooo funny for words!
Are you tired of all the depressing news in the world today? Well, now you can escape for a while by reading Lamb:The Gospel According To Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. I was leary about purchasing this book because of my staunch Catholic upbringing. However, I trusted the Amazon reviewers and once again was rewarded with a fantastic read. Christopher Moore is my kind of nut case. His imagination is incredible and this book was almost impossible to put down. I have already ordered another one of his books and will most likely read every one that he has written. It feels so good to laugh...thanks Christopher! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible    2. Bible.    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - Historical    5. Friends and associates    6. Gospels    7. Historical - General    8. History of Biblical events    9. Jesus Christ    10. N.T    11. N.T.    12. Religious - General    13. Fiction / General   

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Romance    3. Immortalism    4. Occult    5. Romance - Fantasy    6. Romance - Historical    7. Romance: Historical    8. Time travel    9. Fiction / Romance / Historical   

Reviews (113)

Great reads ruined by horrible characters
The other reviewers will tell you about the book.I've read most of Preston and Child's works, including the other two books in this trilogy, and they are a good read.What gets very old and nauseating is the continual saps to modern feminism.I guess it's a necessity to get published today, but you'd think that at least SOME male authors would get tired of grovelling just to get published.I guess most people will sell their souls for money.Just about all the men in P and L's books are either wimps, effiminate, weak, bumbling, stupid (or liars or murderers), cry-babies, scared of their own shadows, and thoroughly unlikable (even Pendergast has his moments).The women, of course, are, without exception, tough, brilliant, shrewd, fearless, always right, on the rise to the top, always outsmarting the men, able to knock out a 7 foot, 300 pound man with a single karate chop to the neck (forgive the slight hyperbole), totally unfeminine, and just as unlikeable as the men.The stories are very good; it's unfortunate Preston and Child couldn't have come up with better, more realisticly human, less insulting characters.This slop may play in New York and California, but in Texas we still want our men to be men and our women to be women.
Great trilogy
Preston and Childs have ended this trilogy with a great high adventure read. Agent Pendergast is a most intriguing central character as are the supporting cast members.The ending leaves one to believe that there could be yet another novel.....????
A fitting conclusion to the trilogy...but is it really the end?
This book was billed as the capper to the Pendergast series, when all of the plot threads left by "Dance of Death" would be neatly sewed up. Much to my delight, the authors were apparently seduced into keeping things going. Not to give the plot away, but I doubt that we've seen the last of Diogenes, and the last sentence in the book just screams "continuation."
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Subjects:  1. Brothers    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - Espionage / Thriller    4. Government investigators    5. Horror - General    6. Horror Fiction    7. Mystery And Suspense Fiction    8. Occult    9. Sibling rivalry    10. Suspense    11. Thrillers    12. Crime & mystery    13. Fiction / Thrillers   

Reviews (11)

excellent characterizations!
This is a quick, riveting read for fans of the "woo-woo" factor. The real strength here is the character of Harper Blaine, a woman with new skills she did not seek out but must now learn to manage.Richardson does a fine job in portraying the tension between Harper's new life and her nostalgia for the simpler more clear cut world she inhabited before her injury.Several subsidiary characters are also nicely portrayed - the young college student who has gone missing, a computer "geek" who matter of factly helps Harper even as he perceives the truth of her situation and an attractive antiques dealer who hopes to be a permanent romantic person in Harper's life.
Intriguing New World

Ouch?
The grey between life and death does feel like an overdone premise lately, but I was hopeful for this new book. I'm still hopeful, and might read the next installment from this author, but I need to get over this one, first.
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Subjects:  1. Fantasy    2. Fantasy - General    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - Fantasy    5. Private investigators    6. Science Fiction And Fantasy    7. Vampires    8. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Reviews (9)

Halloween Chills
I love the beautiful illustrations in this book and the rhyming is perfect for phonemic awareness for preschoolers. It is the perfect amount of scary for 4 and 5 year olds. It is a short, spooky, read with gorgeous pictures.

wonderfully scary, but not too much
I just discovered this book and took it home to my two year old and he loved it.
My almost 3 year old memorized in a couple of days!
My son is just turning 3 and borrowed this book from the library to get him excited about Halloween ...did it ever!We didn't know how much he was taking it in until one night when we were very tired and reading it to him...we stopped to yawn and he filled in the rest of the story in a very scary scary halloween whispered voice!So much fun - we are buying it!GREAT pictures and colors that go right along with a GREAT story!I will probably buy this for all my niece and nephews for next Halloween! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cats    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction&nbs