Assassin’s Creed – A Review

I took my boys and my niece and nephew to see this movie over the break. I’ve never played the game, although I’ve watched my children play it. I had no expectations going into the film, but I was happy to see that Michael Fassbender was in it. He’s also in Prometheus and the new Alien movie Covenant, but we won’t hold that against him.

Side note: I’m actually pretty excited to see the new Alien movie; it looks like the first film. However, I’m also staying reserved in case it turns out like any of the AvP movies or Prometheus.

Back to Assassin’s Creed. I don’t ask for much when it comes to movies. I’m usually pretty happy if there are fight scenes, eye candy, and explosions. A plot is nice, but, as I said, I’m not overly picky. Thankfully, this film had it all.

It was a bit slow getting started, and I found myself wanting to be in the past more than in the present; there was so much more action. I also wanted to know a lot more about the other assassins and get their backstory, but that didn’t happen—and the vast majority of them died, so they won’t be getting expanded story lines.

I was also slightly confused as to how all of the assassins were captured and placed in the experimental program. A few, yes, but all? That doesn’t seem possible. And if it did happen, why in the hell didn’t they revolt against their captors? I mean, they’re trained killers. As it shows in the film, a few of them can take out a lot of enemies. What could a whole group of them do?

I’m fully aware that if that did happen Cal wouldn’t have his story, but I felt like that needed to be explained better.

The hypocrisy throughout the film was fantastic. The basic plot is that the Knights Templar are trying to find the Apple of Eden to eradicate Free Will, which, in their jaded minds, will eradicate violence. It will also give them the opportunity to rule the world. The Assassins have been tasked with making sure the Apple stays out of the hands of the Knights, using any means necessary. They follow the “Creed,” which dictates that nothing is more important than protecting the Apple, not even their lives.

As you can imagine, the Knights don’t exactly follow their rule of “no violence” and do whatever they have to do to obtain the Apple. They are much more focused on gaining power and controlling people than they are in helping them. As villains, they weren’t terrible, and the movie brought in a lot of interesting information with the Crusade and using different mediums to control the people from religion to consumerism. If I was inclined, I could look more deeply into the film and tease out the meaning behind it, but I won’t for this post. I need more time to think about it.

Again, I don’t know much about the video game except the bits and pieces I see when the kids play, but I don’t think you have to know anything about the game to watch the movie. It’s pretty self-explanatory. All in all, it was an enjoyable film that I didn’t regret taking my kids to. They really enjoyed it, so it was a perfect afternoon.

Have any of you seen it? What did you think?

Goals for 2017 #zombies #writing #mystery

(art: http://www.fg-a.com/)

It's hard to believe the year is coming to an end. And it's already staying lighter a little longer so spring will be here before we know it. Yay!

I'm a summer person myself, so have to plan for that!

  It's been a pretty good year, with the release of Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, so hoping 2017 goes even better despite the political and other world upheavals. (Changed to 2nd edition & new cover!)

A few goals:

* Finish the supernatural mystery novella about Dr. Seabury Bowen and a haunted Fall River, Mass. The Haunting of Dr. Bowen is done! See website.

If you don't know who he is.... he was the neighbor of Lizzie Borden, the family physician and first on the murder scene.  See his bio. 

What else?

* Finish cover and send dog stories to beta readers. About time I finished this fun little project - stories with dogs in them...  Flash to longer length.

*  Work on a Lizzie Borden sequel. I have some ideas; have to flesh out the outline.

Oh, other stuff will come up, of course.

** What are some of your goals?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to your and your family! 

Have a wonderful and blessed time with family and friends.

   

 Oh, and if you want a view of what a bad family time looks like... Happy Reading!

Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 
-- Print, Kindle and Kindle Unlimited!

Suicide Squad – A Review

I had been looking forward to watching this movie since the first time I read about it on one of the movie blogs I follow. I love antiheroes. Batman is my all-time favorite. I love how they are conflicted and torn between doing what’s right and wanting revenge. I like how they are human with flaws, emotions, and questions. Having villains become heroes is right up my alley.

Harley Quinn is actually one of my favorite female villains. I’ve watched her in numerous Batman cartoons, so I was interested to see how she would be on the big screen. I thought her character was fine.

I had every intention of seeing this movie in the theater, but time got away from me. Then, when it came out on disc, I couldn’t wait to rent it—but I had to. I didn’t want to buy it just in case it wasn’t that good.

I finally got to watch it last weekend. Amazon had it available for rent. It wasn’t bad. Everyone tells me I need to watch the extended version so it makes more sense, and I’ll probably check it out, but I didn’t think the regular version was terrible. I was upset that my favorite character (who also happened to be the coolest) didn’t make it (I’m not going to tell you who because I don’t want to spoil anything) and the bad bad guys were just meh. I wasn’t fond of the Enchantress. I don’t know a lot about her, so that might have helped.

Overall, though, it was a fun bang bang shoot ‘em up movie. It had eye candy and explosions, so it wasn’t a total loss. I don’t doubt that there will be more in the series, and it ties into the Batman vs. Superman movie and the Justice League movie. If nothing else, it will be interesting to see where the movie goes.

Have you seen it? What are your thoughts?

Great New #Zombie Book Review!

Another great 5-star eview for Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter!

"...It follows the facts so well that, even though you know that zombies are not real, it still makes you wonder what if? I guess that makes this a really well written book. I'd definitely have to recommend this book to any horror, history, or zombie lover. It covered all three and is very much worth the read...".Stormi, Boundless Book Reviews

You can also get a print, signed copy from me via my website! Still time for Christmas giving!

* Have you read it? I can use more reviews!!! 

New Zombie Books

I was thinking about it the other day, and it’s been a while since I’ve had a new book come out. I think the last time was Good Intentions, the third book in my Road to Salvation series. I supposed you could count Wucaii, but that was actually a re-release. It’s about time I publish a new book.

Thankfully, that wish is not far off. I’m working on the final edits for Humanity’s Hope, the first book in my Saving Humanity series. It’s another young adult zombie series, and I’m pretty excited to get it done.

I’ve been working on the sequel, but it’s been slow coming. I think once I’m done with this round of edits, I’ll be more inspired to write. I have to admit, even though the writing has been slow, I’ve been having a lot of fun with this second book. I get to do some things with my character I haven’t done in the past. I can’t tell you what that is—sorry. I don’t want to ruin the surprise.

I will keep you informed of the progress and let you know when Humanity’s Hope is going to be out. As of now, it looks like an early 2017 release. Woooooooooot!

10 More #Christmas Reads! #Horror #Mystery #Zombie

Get some great new reads to get lost in during the holidays!
 (Beats listening to the relatives. haa!) 

All kinds of genres, so enjoy! (See the first Christmas book list here.)

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays to you!

Christmas!

     

 Christmas Carol Critique Collection - Donald J. Bingle: Here's something different! Humorous, line-by-line critiques of holiday favorites you know and love. Perfect-ho-ho-holiday reading! 

Christmas Lites VI -New! Charity anthology benefiting  The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Stories by 25 authors featuring everything from Cthulhu to assassins, adventures and even the mob making holidays bright. A.F. Stewart (also author of Horror Haiku and Other Poems) offers a story of one faerie with a tragic history, a human with a secret legacy, and the legendary Snow Queen colliding in a fateful Christmas Eve encounter.

Steampunk Santa - Marc vun Kannon:  A Holiday Short Story! Trouble's brewing in the workshop when a forward-thinking elf wants to embrace the new 19th century technology. 

Horror - Historical:

 A Study in Grey (Sherlock Holmes, Science of Deduction Book 4) - John Linwood Grant:  Intrigue, mystery and touches of horror in this novella where Sherlock and Capt. Redvers Blake work to solve two intertwined cases at once.

Vampires:

  

New Release! Blood Shackles, (Rebel Vampires Book 2) - Rosemary A. Johns: When your whole species is enslaved-and it’s the humans who are acting like the monsters-how far would you go to free your family?

Blood Dragons: (Rebel Vampires Book 1) Escape into a supernatural world of love, revenge and redemption, where vampires are both predator and prey.

* Get it on Goodreads.  * Sign up for Rosemary A. Johns’ newsletter and get a free story, “Tin Soldiers.”

Zombies:

 Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter - C.A. Verstraete: What if Lizzie Borden did it ... because she had no other choice? ** On sale for Kindle: 99 cents to Dec. 15! ** 

  Mutation Z Series: Books 1-3 - Marilyn Peake: Triple the zombie goodness here!

 Nock, Year of the Zombie, Book 10 - Scott McGlasson: Since civilization's collapse, ferals have been turned into docile slaves. Stace has learned to live under the restrictions of her life, but now she'll have to really prove herself to her father - their lives depend on it.  









 Just released! Odium IV: The Dead Saga, Claire C. Riley:  The Dead Aren't the Only Thing to Fear...  There's a new group in town, the NEO's - New Earth Order - that are helping Mikey heal and move forward. But that doesn't mean this is going to be an easy path without more terrors, and something he never saw coming... 

Lizzie Borden: Guilty or Innocent?

Today I'm talking Lizzie Borden: Guilty or Innocent? @ Claire Riley's blog. Take a look.

New #Zombie Book Release: Odium IV!

Today is the release of a new zombie book , Odium IV: The Dead Saga by author Claire C. Riley!

Odium IV

The Dead Saga

The Dead Aren’t the Only Thing to Fear…

A kid, an old lady, and a heartbroken man…what could possibly go wrong?

Mikey is holding true to his promise to Nina, and is doing everything he can to keep the group alive. But when something attacks the threesome in the middle of the night, things begin to take a turn for the worst.

Luckily a new group—the N.E.O.s are on hand to ease Mikey’s burden and help fight alongside him. But first he must prove his worth to the leader Aiken and the people that follow him. Within this new group, Mikey begins to find a form of peace that he didn’t think was possible after losing Nina, and he discovers his place within this new world. A place where killing isn’t for fun, and is only ever committed as a last resort.

His heart is still aching, but at the end of the world there’s no time to stop and mourn, and as he searches out a Circus Freak Show and the horrors begin to stack up around him, Nina slips far from his mind.

It’s probably best, because there are many more terrors in store for him. Because within the folds of a small town, inside an old candy store, he meets a woman named Clare, her two dogs and something that he never saw coming.

Genre: post-apocalyptic zompoc with elements of ridiculous snark!

Contact Links:

www.clairecriley.com

www.facebook.com/ClaireCRileyAuthor

http://amzn.to/1GDpF3I

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Claire C. Riley is a USA Today and International bestselling author. She is also a bestselling British horror writer and an Amazon top 100 bestseller.

Her work is best described as the modernization of classic, old-school horror. She fuses multi-genre elements to develop storylines that pay homage to cult classics while still feeling fresh and cutting edge. She writes characters that are realistic, and kills them without mercy. Claire lives in the United Kingdom with her husband and three daughters.

Author of:

 Odium The Dead Saga Series (4 books)

Odium Origins Series (3 books),

Limerence (The Obsession Series) (2 books),

Out of the Dark Series,

Twisted Magic,

Thicker than Blood series (2 books),

& Shut Up & Kiss me,

Plus several charity anthologies.

New Mystery Column + Magazine

My latest Author Snapshot column is out in the fall/winter Mysterical-e.

In this issue's column, I include a Q&A with Jean Rabe, author of the recently released The Dead of Winter. Good interview, check it out. Plus other books including a witch mystery, my horror-historical-mystery, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, and books by Camille Minichino. Good issue, too.

Also if you like short fiction and mysteries, Mystery Weekly magazine not only has a free story by email, but is putting its issues in print.

I have a story in the  print Nov. '15 issue now up on Amazon. And hopefully I can finish some others to send in. Neat publication.

Happy Birthday & Free #Zombie Story

Hey Happy Birthday to Me today!!!! 

  A reminder - don't forget Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter is on sale for Kindle - 99 cents to Dec. 15!

A free gift to you - a fun little zombie story on my website!! Sign up for the newsletter (on the main page) while you're there too...

* updates on website: www.cverstraete.com

#Christmas Reading: 10 New #Mystery #SciFi #Fantasy #Horror #Zombie Books!

You know you want some new books for the holidays, right? 

You can never have enough books! 

Grab these great new books I've come across.

 Pretty cool, eclectic collection, so load up that Kindle!! 
I'll be listing more soon, so check back!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!

 Dystopian - Paranormal:

Defiled Earth and Other Tales - Sign up for Tom Adams' newsletter and get a copy free!

What Boys are Made Of: Book 1, Saint Flaherty series  - A cage fight goes wrong, leaving Simon "Saint" Flaherty a murderer...  Author S. Hunter Nisbet calls it a "Walking Dead without the zombies..."

Historical Fantasy:



For Queen and Country, Books 1-3 Omnibus - Patty Jansen:  Evil magic, ghosts and survival in a fantasy setting. A headstrong merchant's daughter is forced to flee for her life with her possessed royal friend, learn to survive, and do what's best for her people.






Horror:

Horror Haiku and Other Poems: A.F. Stewart - Short little horror morsels and photos.

Mystery:

Beneath the Skin, The Sam Hunter Case Files - Jonathan Maberry: How about some strange, odd and otherwise unworldly werewolf PI short stories? Odd cases in 578 pages, including cameos from Maberry's Joe Ledger books and the Pine Deep Trilogy.

The Dead of Winter, A Piper Blackwell Mystery, Book 1 - Jean Rabe: What happens when you have a new young sheriff, a small town, and a murderer is posing their victims like Christmas card photos? 

Romantic Suspense-Thriller:

 The Inheritance - Jacqueline Seewald: Just released and on the TBR pile!  A young widow inherits her grandmother's estate and must live there two years before she can make her claim. Then the threats begin, as someone wants her to know she's not wanted there...


Sci Fi:

Missing: The Lost Colony Series, Part One - Andrew C. Broderick: Sometimes the darkness we fear is our own... Can space engineer John Rees redeem himself and save the 100 colonists missing on an alien planet, or will his destiny be snatched away from him?




Zombie:

Just out! Bob the Tacoholic - Jaime Johnesee: In the new novella, this time Bob the Zombie finds his favorite food - tacos-have a deep, dark secret.

Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter - C. A. Verstraete: What if Lizzie did kill her father and stepmother... because she had no other choice?  *** The Kindle version is on sale for 99 cents to Dec. 15. (Check out the great 5-star review in Uncaged Book Reviews Magazine!) 

Ho Ho Ho #Zombie Santa Gifts!

Just joined up in a fun little venture to give some lucky readers some great book gifts from the Secret #Zombie Santa!

** The event "officially" starts at 7 a.m. so if you're here early you might have to wait a little bit! 

** See the info and the sign-up page until 12/17 to possibly win books and other gifts. 

Prizes include:

Devour : Book One of The Death & Decay Series By R.L. Blalock

Lockdown (AM13 Outbreak Series) (Volume 1) By Samie Sands

The Zee Brothers: Zombie Exterminators, Curse of the Zombie Omelet By Grivante

  

Zombie Transference : The Service Centre by Tom Germann

The Mutation Z Omnibus, Books 1-6 by Marilyn Peake

Gore Girls: Twisted Tales & Poems (YA Horror) by Jackson Dean Chase

Lizzie Borden : Zombie Hunter by C.A. Verstraete

*(*Note: the book is also on Kindle Unlimited -- the Kindle book is on sale for 99 cents to 12/15.)

Have fun and good luck! Be good - this is one Santa you don't want to tick off! heh-heh....

This Week in History!!

LIZZIE BORDEN INDICTED!!

Over 100 years ago on December 2, 1892, spinster Lizzie Borden was indicted by a grand jury for the gruesome August 4th hatchet murders of her father, Andrew Borden, and her stepmother, Abby Durfee Borden.

What if she did it... because she had no other choice??

 “The autopsy photos and violence of the crimes suggest a completely different reason as to why the victims’ skulls had been crushed,” says Verstraete, author of LIZZIE BORDEN, ZOMBIE HUNTER. “Based on the gruesome nature of the crimes, it’s entirely plausible to suggest that the victims had turned into zombies.”

** SALE!!!! **

 The Kindle version of LIZZIE BORDEN, ZOMBIE HUNTER  is on sale, Dec. 1-15 for 99 cents!! 

** Get it here!**

About the book:

Every family has its secrets…

One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. 

But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become... zombies? 

New Review & Interview!

REVISED: Wow - Interview plus a fantastic, in-depth, 5-star review! And a really nice presentation, too! Interview, pg. 7, review, pg. 12. Nice magazine, plus other reviews and short stories, too!

** See the Dec. Uncaged Book Reviews issue here. (Links are clickable in it, too.)

Here's the website: Uncaged Book Reviews magazine. 

It says in part, "All in all, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter is a wonderfully-written piece and a delight to read. If you are looking for a solid read, horror or otherwise, this is a book worth considering." - 5 stars! (Taken from Amazon  - read above for full review in the magazine.)

Be sure to check out the interview and excerpt!

****

** Don't forget to VOTE for Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter for the 50 Best Indie Books -Horror at ReadFree.ly - get entered to win a $50 gift card. Deadline: Dec. 16.

**********

** SALE!!!! **

 The Kindle version of LIZZIE BORDEN, ZOMBIE HUNTER  is on sale, Dec. 1-15 for 99 cents!! 

** Get it here!**

About the book:

Every family has its secrets… 

One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. 

But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become... zombies?