[ARC REVIEW] Camp Midnight by Steven T. Seagle

Title:  Camp Midnight


Author:  Steven T. Seagle


Artist:  Jason Adam Katzenstein

Genre:  Horror / Humor / Camp / Friendship / Self Esteem

Year Published:  2016

Year Read: 11/27/2016

Publisher:  Image Comics


Source: eARC (NetGalley) / Library


Content Rating:  Ages 8+ (Some Scary Moments)

 

I would like to thank NetGalley and Image Comics for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Introduction:

Ever since I started using NetGalley to read some new books online, I have been on a NetGalley reading binge ever since I started and this book “Camp Midnight” by Steven T. Seagle along with artwork by Jason Adam Katzenstein were among my reads from NetGalley that I wanted to read through and I must say that I was quite impressed with this story!

What is this story about?

The story starts off with a young girl named Skye being taken to her divorced dad’s house by her mom as Skye is going to spend her summer vacation with her dad and his new wife Gayle, who Skye takes an immediate dislike to and even calls her “step-monster.”  Things get worse when Skye discovers that her dad and her “step-monster” are going to make her go to summer camp for that year in order for her to discover herself and even though Skye was against the idea, they still forced her to go to summer camp.  When Skye got on the bus to camp, she discovers that something is weird about the bus she went on as all the campers are monsters such as vampires, werewolves and witches and it was then that Skye realizes that she went on the wrong bus and is heading to the scary and mysterious camp, Camp Midnight.  While Skye spent some time at Camp Midnight, she found that she did not belong in that camp due to her being human, even though she became fast friends with a shy and mysterious girl named Mia.  It was then that Skye has to prove to everyone that she is happy with being herself even if she is different from everyone else.

What I loved about this story:

Steven T. Seagle’s writing:  When I found out that Steven T. Seagle was involved in big animated projects like “Ben 10” and “Big Hero 6,” I was like “OH GREAT!!! We have not had a big time TV writer writing comic books since Joss Whedon’s run on “Astonishing X-Men!” So, I was quite interested to see what kind of story Steven T. Seagle was going to write for this comic book and I was quite impressed by how this story turned out!  I liked the way that Steven T. Seagle combine both horror and slice of life elements into this story as it made the story unique to read since it is rare that I read horror stories that mostly focus on the characters’ personal lives rather than trying to scare the readers.  I also like the way that Steven T. Seagle wrote most of the characters, especially Skye and Mia and even though there were times where I was a bit annoyed with Skye’s attitude, I can actually sympathize with her situation as she was thrown into a new experience that she did not want to be in at the first place and she is having trouble trying to cope with being in a new environment and trying to discover herself in the process.  Steven T. Seagle has also done a great job at providing humor in this story as I found myself laughing at some of Skye’s sarcastic remarks about her situation as it made her experience much funnier to read about!

Jason Adam Katzenstein’s artwork:  Jason Adam Katzenstein’s artwork is quite expressive, especially whenever the artwork goes through different shades of color to convey the mood of the scenes, such as most of the artwork being shaded in blue when Skye’s dad and step-mom tell her that she is going to summer camp, conveying the sad mood of the scene; also another scene when Skye goes on the Camp Midnight bus and the artwork is shaded in green to convey the horrifying mood of the scene.  I also like how zany Jason Adam Katzenstein’s artwork is as the characters are drawn in an exaggerated way that makes the story both humorous and creepy to read through.

What made me feel uncomfortable about this story:

The reason why I gave this book a four star rating was because I felt that the story was a bit rushed and the artwork was a bit too chaotic at times.  In regards to the story being a bit rushed, I felt like we did not get enough information about why Skye’s parents divorced and when her father met Gayle, his new wife.  Also, I would have liked to know where Camp Midnight came from since it seemed a bit odd to have Camp Midnight show out of nowhere.  As with the artwork, as much as I like how zany Jason Adam Katzenstein’s artwork is, I felt that there were many scenes where the artwork got a bit too chaotic and I often had trouble trying to figure out what was going on in the scene due to the artwork being all over the place.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, “Camp Midnight” is a great comic book about the importance of being yourself that comic book fans will enjoy!

The Sunday Post Meme (63)

Hey everybody! I am participating in a book meme called the Sunday Post which is being hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer! The goal of this meme is to share news you have on various books and things you’ve read or received and also talk about what is coming up for your blog! Book hauls can include library books , yard sale finds, arcs and bought books and you can share these finds with other book bloggers!

Hello everyone!  I must say that I had a lovely Thanksgiving on Thursday!  The night before Thanksgiving, we started making our yearly Thanksgiving treats such as Banana Pudding and Cheesecakes and then we prepared the turkey in time for us to eat on Thanksgiving Day!  Then, we were watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV and it was lovely watching all the  parade floats and the performances, with my favorite parts of the show being the Charlie Brown kite balloon and seeing De La Soul (you know, that popular song from the mental institute scene from "Good Burger") make a performance, which really surprised me!  Oh, and the food turned out to be so delicious!  Well, I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!

★Book Reviews☆

We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen Review

 

 

 

★Miscellaneous☆

Blog Tour + Book Blitz: Cuffs & Kink by Harley Wylde

 

Blog Tour + Book Blitz: Catalyst by Kristin Smith 

 

Blog Tour + Book Blitz: J.C. and the Bijoux Jolis by Katy Regnery 

 

Blog Tour + Book Blitz: Shadow Fall by Audrey Grey 

 

Book Photo Sundays #6: November 20, 2016

 

New Releases on the Horizon #7: November 20, 2016 - November 26, 2016

  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!! 

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #1: November 21, 2016 

 

    

Stacking the Shelves #9: November 26, 2016

 

 

Book Photo Sundays Meme!

 

Looking for New Guest Posts! 

 

 

  

One Word: AWESOME!!!

 

 

★ Check out For the Love of Word's "Something To Look Forward To – Week of November 22nd, 2016"

 

☆  Check out Rabid Read's "Bookfessional: Classics I Have Not Read (Gasp!)"

 

★ Join in Caffeinated Book Reviewer's  "Black Friday Book Bonanza Giveaway Hop"

 

Well, that's the Sunday News for today and I will have more news for the various books I've read in the near future!

Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2016.

Book Photo Sundays #7: November 27, 2016

Hello everyone! Welcome to "Book Photo Sundays" where you get the chance to showcase photos of your books, bookshelves and book conventions you have gone to!  The goal of this book meme is to basically just post up a photo of the various books you have read or your book hauls on your blog and link back here so that way everyone can check out your wonderful book photos!  You can get your book photos through your Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, Iphone or any other account where you can get your photos!

So let's get started!

In celebration of Thanksgiving, here's a photo I took after I had my Thanksgiving meal with a very special book!

Stacking the Shelves #9: November 26, 2016

Stacking The Shelves is a book meme created by Tynga's Reviews and it is about sharing books that you are adding to your shelves, whether it's physical or virtual.  This means including books that you bought from the store or online, books you borrowed from friends or from the library, books you've reviewed, gifts and ebooks!

Hello everyone!  I must say that I had a lovely Thanksgiving on Thursday!  The night before Thanksgiving, we started making our yearly Thanksgiving treats such as Banana Pudding and Cheesecakes and then we prepared the turkey in time for us to eat on Thanksgiving Day!  Then, we were watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV and it was lovely watching all the parade floats and the performances, with my favorite parts of the show being the Charlie Brown kite balloon and seeing De La Soul (you know, from that popular song from "Good Burger") make a performance, which really surprised me!  Oh, and the food turned out to be so delicious!  Well, I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!

Book Purchased: 

 

Blog Tour + Book Blitz: Shadow Fall by Audrey Grey

 

 

Shadow Fall
 
Audrey Grey
 
(Shadow Fall, #1)

Published by: Blaze Publishing
Publication date: November 22nd 2016
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

The asteroid hurtling toward the earth will kill billions.

The Emperor and his Gold Court will be safe in their space station, watching from the stars. The Silvers will be protected underground. But the Bronzes must fight it out at the Shadow Trials for the few remaining spots left on the space station.
When an enigmatic benefactor hands Maia Graystone a spot in the Trials, she won’t just get a chance at salvation for her and her baby brother, Max: She gets to confront the mother who abandoned her in prison, the mad Emperor who murdered her father, and the Gold prince who once loved her. But it’s the dark bastard prince she’s partnered with that will make her question everything, including her own heart. With the asteroid racing closer every day, Maia must trust someone to survive.
The question is who?

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You can get your copy now for the special release price of 99 cents, and be sure to meet us at the Facebook Party happening right now!

—

My legs wobble as I step into the now lukewarm water. I sink to the bottom. Tiny bubbles escape my nose as I watch all the ugly remnants from the last seven years leave my body.

Lungs burning, I rise and come face-to-face with Pit Boy.

I glare at him. “You really have to work on the knocking thing.”

Despite the fact that I’m indecent, his attention never falls from my face. I almost wish it would, just to give me a break from the intensity of his focus.

“I only get a few more hours to be the ‘one-eyed freak’ from the pit. Might as well take advantage.”

He doesn’t dare crack a smile, so it’s hard to tell if he’s joking or serious.

“Don’t worry. In my heart, that’s exactly who you’ll always be.”

His words remind me that soon we’ll be reconstructed using forbidden nanotech. But it won’t just be our flesh they’ll reengineer. It will be our brains, too.

I don’t foresee my rewiring being too complicated, but Riser needs to upload almost twenty years of false memories. That will be tricky and time-consuming.

And time is the one thing we don’t have.

Riser flicks his gaze to the mirror. He lifts a hand, touches the patch of mottled flesh where his eye should be.

“How did it happen?” I ask.

“Careful, my lady.” His gaze settles on my face. “You’re beginning to sound like you care.”

I roll my eyes. “And I thought I was lacking in conversational skills.”

He focuses his attention on the graffiti sprayed across the mirror.

“It’s written language,” I blurt, even though all I want to do is end the conversation so Pit Boy can leave. His presence unnerves me more than the other Pit Leeches ever could. “It’s how we communicate.”

“I know what it is.” He examines his jagged thumbnail. “I just . . . can’t read it.”

“It’s just stuff about the Chosen. You know, insults.” The populace is finicky. As much as they love watching the Chosen with their petty intrigues and court life, they would be just as happy to see their heads on a pike.

“Chosen?”

Time to explain what you are, Everly, Nicolai’s voice grates inside my head. Riser’s eyes flutter just enough that I know he’s heard Nicolai’s voice too.

You do it, I think, watching Riser’s reaction. But his face remains emotionless; either he’s a good actor or only Nicolai can hear my response.

“The Royalist astronomers discovered the asteroid twenty-one years ago,” I begin. “It’s actually a slow moving planet called an earth-crosser, meaning its orbit and ours intersect every twenty-

thousand years. Usually it’s too far away to affect us, but this time it will pass close enough to wreak havoc and make the earth uninhabitable for years.” I stir the water with my big toe. “Before I was born, the Emperor decided that creating a population of genetically superior humans would be a great idea, you know, just in case the Caskets don’t work or the asteroid does more damage than predicted.”

Riser’s hyper-focused gaze bores through me. “You’re one of them?”

“Yes.” I run my hand through the filthy water. “But my father’s a Bronze, so even though my mother comes from a Gold House, the Emperor only allowed them one Chosen instead of the customary twins. So it’s just me . . . not Max.”

“What makes being Chosen so special?”

“I don’t know . . .” I bite my lip, trying to remember everything my parents told me. “My genes are perfect, I guess.”

For some reason, talking about my body makes me remember that I am naked in a room with a boy. As if reading my mind, Riser slowly lets his gaze fall, his expression both curious and unapologetic as he takes me all in, his thoughts cryptic.

“What are you staring at?” I blurt, smashing my breasts beneath my hands. Not like there’s much there to cover. “Haven’t you seen a naked girl before?”

A smile twitches his lips. “Not one that’s genetically flawless.”

“It doesn’t work that way! You can’t just look at us and tell. We look like everyone else—”

“No.” Riser shakes his head, a dark swath of hair covering his damaged eye. “You don’t. Whatever you are.”

“You must be happy . . . about our reconstruction, I mean,” I mumble, trying desperately to change the subject. “They’ll fix your eye . . . and . . . and all those horrible scars.”

I freeze as he slides off the counter, unable to look away as he hooks one finger beneath his shirt and lifts.

Scars ravage his anemic body in varying shades of red and silver and white. Some deep and pitted like the craters of a far-away planet, others smooth and neat. One particular nasty scar carves down his shoulder, tunneling across his chest and stomach. A fresh red wound nestles just below his throat.
He carefully touches the long ugly one. “I’m not ashamed for surviving.”

Audrey Grey lives in the charming state of Oklahoma, with her husband, two little people, and four mischievous dogs. You can usually find her hiding out in her office from said little people and dogs, surrounded by books and sipping kombucha while dreaming up wondrous worlds for her characters to live in.

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Blog Tour + Book Blitz: J.C. and the Bijoux Jolis by Katy Regnery

 

 

J.C. and the Bijoux Jolis 
 
Katy Regnery
 
(The Rousseaus, #3)

Publication date: November 21st 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Did you fall in love with The English Brothers? Were you hot for the Winslows? Katy Regnery’s New York Times bestselling Blueberry Lane series continues with The Rousseau siblings in 2016!

If the best man and maid of honor are both single, it’s practically an unwritten rule that they should pork.

…so begins a rocky acquaintance between Jean-Christian “J.C.” Rousseau and Libitz Feingold at the wedding of J.C.’s brother and Lib’s best friend. While manslut best man J.C. is surprised when maid of honor Libitz soundly spurns his advances, his curiosity is piqued. The girl he couldn’t have becomes the only one he wants.

So, when he finds a seventy-year-old portrait in the attic of his sister’s mansion that bears an uncanny resemblance to the prickly gallery owner, he enlists her help in solving a mystery seven decades in the making. Traveling from Philadelphia to New York to Marseille, a couple who started off as enemies will discover that even cynics can find true love…and mortal man is no match for destiny.

*All books in The Blueberry Lane Series can be enjoyed as standalone novels.*

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—

“You must be the famous Libitz,” he’d opened, taking his assigned seat beside her, and flashing his sexiest grin.

After all, if she was his chosen conquest for the weekend, there was no time like the present to work his wiles. Wearing a simple black sheath dress with aqua circles, 70s-style mod make-up and oversized silver and crystal chandelier earrings that almost brushed her thin shoulders, she’d turned to him and blinked those wide, all-seeing eyes.

“And you…must be kidding.”

Taken aback, he’d stared at her for a second before chuckling. “Wha—I mean, how’s that?”

“Let’s start over,” she said, cocking her head to the side. “Here’s your line, Romeo: “Hi, I’m Étienne’s brother, Jean-Christian. It’s nice to meet you.” Want to give it a try?”

He cleared his throat, his smile fading. “Hi, I’m Étienne’s brother, Jean-Christian. It’s nice to meet you.”

She locked eyes with his, her lips neutral, neither tilted up nor down. “Hi. I’m Libitz Feingold, Kate’s best friend…and it’s not cold enough.”

“What?” asked J.C., feeling completely turned around.

“It’s not cold enough in hell for me to fall for someone like you,” she said, then shifted back around to talk to the person on her other side.

Well, fuck me, thought J.C., taking another gulp of beer as he tried to figure out if he was insulted or impressed. After a moment, he nudged her in the side with his elbow and she looked at him over her shoulder, her expression annoyed.

“Yes?”

“I hear the temperature’s dropping there,” he said casually, then added, “because they’re expecting a visit from you.”

“Ha!” she chortled, a genuine grin brightening her eyes for a moment before she quickly reigned it back in to practiced ennui. “Is that right?”

He shrugged, tipping his bottle of beer back as he held her eyes, challenging her to come back at him with something clever. “So I heard.”

“From all the friends you’ve got there?”

He almost spit his beer out. Damn, but she was quick.

“Truce?’ he asked, placing his beer on the table and holding out his hand.

She stared at his hand for a moment, then looked away, leaning forward to pick up her champagne glass and bringing it slowly to her lips. “No, thanks. Mama didn’t raise no fool.”

“You’re unreal.” She shook her head, that bored look still in place.

“Nope. I’m real. I’m just not a good target for charming scamps looking for trouble.”

“A target? Shit. Who got to you?” he asked, feeling a little abused by her insta-judgement of him without actually getting a chance to know him in person. Not that she was wrong exactly. But getting into trouble with the right person could be a hell of a lot of fun.

“The list is long and distinguished,” she shot back.

His eyes widened and his lips wobbled.

“Oh, God,” she said, shaking her head as her cheeks bloomed an appealing pink under her make-up.

“I walked right into that one didn’t I?”

“Yes, you did,” said J.C. with what he hoped was a disarming grin. “All together, now…”

“So’s my Johnson,” they said at the same time, quoting the rebuttal line from Top Gun.

“Hey, look at that,” he said, still smiling at her. “You do know how to have fun. I was beginning to worry.”

Her smile instantly faded. “You’re not as cute as you think you are.”

“Yeah,” he said, nodding as he finished the last of his beer. “I am.”

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One year later, she signed her first contract and Katy’s first novel was published in September 2013.

Twenty-five books later, Katy claims authorship of the multi-titled, New York Times and USA Today Blueberry Lane Series, which follows the English, Winslow, Rousseau, Story, and Ambler families of Philadelphia; the six-book, bestselling ~a modern fairytale~ series; and several other standalone novels and novellas.
Katy’s first modern fairytale romance, The Vixen and the Vet, was nominated for a RITA® in 2015 and won the 2015 Kindle Book Award for romance. Katy’s boxed set, The English Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, hit the USA Today bestseller list in 2015, and her Christmas story, Marrying Mr. English, appeared on the list a week later. In May 2016, Katy’s Blueberry Lane collection, The Winslow Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1-4, became a New York Times E-book bestseller.

In 2016, Katy signed a print-only agreement with Spencerhill Press. As a result, her Blueberry Lane paperback books will now be distributed to brick and mortar bookstores all over the United States.

Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, two dogs, and one Blue Tonkinese kitten create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home.

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Blog Tour + Book Blitz: Catalyst by Kristin Smith

 

 

Catalyst 
 
Kristin Smith
 
(The Deception Game, #1)

Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: November 21st 2016
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult

Too pretty.

Too smart.

Too perfect.

In a crumbling, futuristic Las Vegas where the wealthy choose the characteristics of their children like ordering off a drive-thru menu, seventeen-year-old Sienna Preston doesn’t fit in. As a normal girl surrounded by genetically modified teenagers, all of her imperfections are on display. But after the death of her father, everything she’s ever known and loved changes in an instant.

With little skills to help provide for her family, Sienna clings to the two things that come easily—lying and stealing. But not all thief-for-hire assignments go as planned. When a covert exchange of a stolen computer chip is intercepted, she becomes entangled with a corrupt government official who uses her thieving past as leverage, her mother as collateral, and the genetically modified poster boy she’s falling for as bait.

In order to rescue her mother, there may only be one option—joining forces with the Fringe, an extremist group, and their young leader who’s too hot to be bad. Problem is, these revolutionaries aren’t what they seem, and the secrets they’re hiding could be more dangerous than Sienna is prepared for. In the end, she must be willing to risk everything to save the one thing that matters most.

Catalyst is a thrilling adventure of danger, romance, intrigue, and deception.

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—

“You need to learn a little hand-to-hand combat.” Trey puts his fists up by his face. “Always protect your soft spots—your face being numero uno.” He glances at my bandaged arm. “You right-handed?”

It’s after breakfast and we’re in the training facility, a large, gym-type room with thick mats, punching bags, weights, and a long wall of mirrors. The smell of sweat and stinky feet assault my nose as I stand across from him on the pile of black mats used to create a “ring”. We have the gym to ourselves. Most likely because everyone else is too smart to work out right after a meal.

I nod and flex my right hand, the one that’s not bandaged.

“You should be fine, then. I’ll take it easy on you.” He grins. “Go ahead—hit me.”

I take a step back and shake my head. “I’m not gonna hit you.”

He moves forward to decrease the distance between us. “I said, hit me.”

I raise my arms as if I’m about to fight him, but all I can think is how much he’s done to help me.

How can I punch the man who saved me from the government facility, removed my tracker, and is willing to help rescue my mother?

When he realizes I won’t fight, he lowers his hands. “Remember, Sienna, these men don’t care that you’re a girl. They don’t care how old you are. If given the opportunity, they will hurt you.” His eyes harden. “Now hit me.”

I punch him as hard as I can, and he’s not expecting it. The force of the blow to his face knocks him backward, and my hand throbs from the impact. He looks stunned, especially when a trickle of blood makes its way out of his nose. But then he grins.

Wiping his nose on his shirt, he motions with his hands for me to come closer. “Nicely done. Now, hit me again.”

Surely, he must be crazy. I’m about to walk away, but his words echo in my mind. If given the opportunity, they will hurt you. I can’t give them that opportunity.

 

Kristin Smith writes young adult contemporary and science fiction novels. When she’s not writing, you can find her dreaming about the beach, beating her boys at Just Dance, or belting out karaoke (from the comfort of her own home). Kristin currently resides in the middle-of-nowhere North Carolina with her husband and five incredibly loud but extremely cute boys. To read more about her obsession with YA novels or her addiction to chocolate, you can visit her at kristinsmithbooks.com.

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