Book Review: The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Volume One: At the Edge of Empire by Daniel Kraus

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At The Edge of Empire
The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch (Volume One)
Author: Daniel Kraus
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: October 27, 2015
Review Source: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

May 7, 1896. Dusk. A swaggering seventeen-year-old gangster named Zebulon Finch is gunned down on the shores of Lake Michigan. But after mere minutes in the void, he is mysteriously resurrected. His second life will be nothing like his first.

Zebulon's new existence begins as a sideshow attraction in a traveling medicine show. From there, he will be poked and prodded by a scientist obsessed with mastering the secrets of death. He will fight in the trenches of World War I. He will run from his nightmares—and from poverty—in Depression-era New York City. And he will become the companion of the most beautiful woman in Hollywood. Love, hate, hope, and horror—Zebulon finds them. But will he ever find redemption?

Ambitious and heartbreaking, The Death & Life of Zebulon Finch, Volume 1: At the Edge of Empire is the epic saga of what it means to be human in a world so often lacking in humanity.

I won't lie, I was a bit intimidated by this book. 642 pages can do that to someone. Luckily this book pulled me in straight away and kept me hooked the entire time! To say that was a relief is an understatement. You always want a big book to be good!

Zebulon, our narrator, is telling us his story. That is one of my favorite things about this book: the writing style Daniel Kraus went for. It definitely helps in keeping you interested. The characters each stood out on their own and in their own ways. Zeblon's character arc throughout the book was amazing. The book summary tells you that in itself, really. Zebulon's life is full of amazement and wonder with so many things that he goes through. You'll stay entertained!

There was SO MUCH content! Which is a great thing, don't get me wrong, but you have to keep up with it so it doesn't boggle your mind at times. I found myself kind of taking moments to rethink about what happened, but it didn't slow me down at all!

At the Edge of Empire is definitely something you should add to your book shelves. It's so different and amazing. Truly unlike anything I've ever read before and I can't wait for volume two!

Book Review: Trollhunters by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus

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Trollhunters
Author: Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: July 7 2015
Review Source: Hyperion

In San Bernardino, California, children are going missing.

The townspeople don't believe the rumours of trolls, but fifteen-year-old Jim Jnr knows that they're a very real threat. At night, is anyone safe?

TROLLHUNTERS is a funny, gruesome and undeniably del Toro-esque adventure perfect for teen readers and fans of Pan's Labyrinth.

Trolls are real, and they are hungry. In San Bernardino children are going missing, and no one is sure why. Until Jim's brother goes missing and he sees something that scares him into an over cautious living for the rest of his life.

I am an avid film go-er. I am a cinephile. Guillermo is one of my favorite directors. He directs a film, I'll be there opening day. And I am usually never disappointed. So I figured it'd be the same thing with this book. But that did not happen...I was disappointed. It had the essence of a story that could have been great, but it really didn't grab me. I wasn't ever really hooked on the story, I was just reading along because I had already invested so much time reading this story that I felt like I had to continue.

I feel like there might be others who argue with me, and I appreciate that. I can see how this book could be interesting for others. The story was interesting, it's fantasy based, it has the makings of something that could be addicting to read. But for me, it was short of that.

Giveaway Blitz: #Trollhunters by Guillermo del Toro + Daniel Kraus

From the minds of horror geniuses Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus comes a new illustrated novel about the fears that move in unseen places.

"You are food. Those muscles you flex to walk, lift, and talk? They're patties of meat topped with chewy tendon. That skin you've paid so much attention to in mirrors? It's delicious to the right tongues, a casserole of succulent tissue. And those bones that give you the strength to make your way in the world? They rattle between teeth as the marrow is sucked down slobbering throats. These facts are unpleasant but useful. There are things out there, you see, that don't cower in holes to be captured by us and cooked over our fires. These things have their own ways of trapping their kills, their own fires, their own appetites."

Jim Sturges is your typical teen in suburban San Bernardino— one with an embarrassingly overprotective dad, a best friend named "Tubby" who shares his hatred of all things torturous (like gym class), and a crush on a girl who doesn't know he exists. But everything changes for Jim when a 45-year old mystery resurfaces, threatening the lives of everyone in his seemingly sleepy town. Soon Jim has to team up with a band of unlikely (and some un-human) heroes to battle the monsters he never knew existed.

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Guillermo del Toro is best known for his critically acclaimed feature films, such as Pan's Labyrinth, Helllboy, The Hobbit, and Pacific Rim, as well as his best-selling Strain Trilogy.
Daniel Kraus is the award-winning author of Scowler and Rotters, and is the director of six feature films. He lives with his wife in Chicago.

From Pan's Labyrinth to Hellboy to his best-selling novel The Strain, del Toro has captured the imagination through his works. His co-author Daniel Kraus is another award-winning author and filmmaker with a penchant for horror stories. Kraus' debut novel, The Monster Variations, was selected for New York Public Library's "100 Best Stuff for Teens." Fangoria called Rotters, his Bram Stoker-finalist and Odyssey Award-winning second novel, "a new horror classic." Kraus' 2013 title, Scowler, also won an Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults.



ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Sean Murray is an illustrator, concept artist, author and teacher known for his work on video games such as Dungeons & Dragons Online and The Lord of the Rings Online, as well as the creator of The World of Gateway, which includes his fantasy guidebook Gateway: The Book of Wizards and the upcoming card game Gateway Uprising.

PEEK INSIDE THE BOOK!

X | X | X | X

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COMIC-CON SIGNING
Will you be at San Diego Comic-Con? Stop by the Disney Publishing Booth on Friday afternoon for a TROLLHUNTERS signing with co-authors Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus. Limited to 100!

DETAILS
Guillermo del Toro & Daniel Kraus Signing
Friday, June 10th
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Disney Publishing Worldwide Booth #1129

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THE HORROR FAN STARTER PACK
Get introduced to the genre!
One (1) winner will receive a Disney-Hyperion collection of Young Adult Horror Books including:
·         Trollhunters by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus
·         The Enemy by Charlie Higson
·         Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
·         plus branded Trollhunters pins!

LEARN MORE
Learn more at Un-RequiredReading.com
Follow Disney-Hyperion on Twitter & Tumblr
#Trollhunters

Giveaway open to US addresses only.

Prizing and samples provided by Disney Hyperion.

a Rafflecopter giveaway