It’s been busy… very busy. What with Xmas, work, baby, house move, etc… haven’t had a moment to write down some overdue reviews. So, let’s get right to it:

The Children’s Home – Charles Lambert (courtesy of Netgalley)

Had higher hopes for “The Children’s Home.” Blame the publisher, as it marketed the book with unfounded comparisons, billing it as the next Neil Gaiman, when it was nothing as such. But also blame the book itself, because quite frankly it just wasn’t that good. The story mainly revolves around a young man living as a hermit in a large estate, following a tragic event that left him disfigured. Slowly, random children start appearing in his house, helping him accept his new self while helping others free themselves from the atrocities taking place outside his home. It starts promising… but then sort of fizzles towards the end, leaving you with a sense of “meh.” Truth be told, just not very good. 2 stars

The House of Shattered Wings – Aliette de Bodard

This was an interesting read. The world building was really good – Paris ruled by Fallen angels, years after a war between Fallen Houses that destroyed the city, and life trying to return to some normalcy. A world of conspiracies and plots, power games between each House, a potential new war on the horizon. The story itself, though, not so great… you mainly follow two characters (a human foreigner, a new fallen) who somehow find themselves in the midst of an intricate revenge plot against one of the oldest Houses in Paris. But whereas the setting was solidly built, the characters left a bit to be desired, and ultimately, by the time you’re done, you find you didn’t really care enough. Nonetheless, the world the author developed is so compelling, will still have a look for further works in this setting. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The Private Eye – Brian K Vaughan (courtesy of Netgalley)

I’ve been a fan of Brian K Vaughan since I’ve read “Y the Last Man”, by far one of the greatest graphic novels I’ve ever read. And for Private Eye, Vaughan develops a very interesting concept… a world set 60 years in the future where the “cloud” bursts… exposing everyone’s secrets to the world. The future is therefore focussed on privacy and hidden identities, where the press is now the police force and the paparazzi are vigilantes. A very topical concept, with the world’s attention on privacy laws, leaks, hacks, etc. One wonders if this would’ve worked as a novel more than a graphic novel, as it feels the characters could’ve been developed better, and it may have been better served with the written medium. Nonetheless, liked the main characters, enjoyed the story, and was pleased with the read. 4.5 out of 5.