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Alien Royalty on the Run: Vagrant Queen and Class

18 Oct

The Bezoar of Kings (Vagrant Queen Dramatized Adaptation)
I became a huge fan of Vagrant Queen when the graphic novel was adapted as a TV Show on the Sy-Fy network it had a great diverse cast, a sweet slow burn love story, and lots of campy fun (there was even an episode based on the movie Clue). Unfortunately it only lasted for one terrific season. But whether you are missing the TV show or are new to Vagrant Queen, if you are fan of Space Operas you will want to take a listen to The Bezoar of Kings, a dramatized adaptation (with music and sound effects) of Vagrant Queen (think a movie with out the images or an updated version of radio dramas). The story centers around kind hearted scavenger Elida who has been on the run since the age of ten when her powerful royal family was overthrown. When she learns about her mother’s location she returns to the kingdom she never thought she’d see again, but the reunion doesn’t go as planned. You can also check out A Planet Called Doom a dramatized adaptation of the second graphic novel in the series.

Class (from the Universe of Doctor Who)
Class is the 2016 Young Adult spinoff of Doctor Who which features a brief cameo of the Doctor in his current visage at the time (Peter Capaldi). I’ve streamed the first three episodes which include “For Tonight We Might Die,” where the alien/monster drama begins when a battle erupts during a school dance where two alien refugees, the last of their people, including a Prince are revealed with devastating results; “The Coach with a Dragon Tattoo” about a dragon seeking vengeance; and “Nightvisiting” about an alien who can appear as loved ones who have passed away. The creatures and situations are used as metaphors or allegories for issues teens frequently experience. Although mostly focusing on the teens, my favorite character of the show is Katherine Kelly as Miss Quill, a snarky alien royal bodyguard disguised as a Physics teacher. As a fan of Doctor Who, I was curious to check out the show, but if you have not watched Dr Who, you still can get immersed into this new series. I also enjoyed it because it reminded me of Buffy, another favorite show from my 20’s, since the students at Coal Hill Academy go to school located in the Science Fiction equivalent of a Hellmouth due to thinning of space and time, which brings all sorts of alien creatures to them which they must battle (the school has previously appeared in episodes of Doctor Who since the 1960’s).

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager


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Magical Mysteries: Long Past Dues & Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies

11 Oct

Long Past Dues
by James J. Butcher
Long Past Dues is the second in James J. Butcher’s The Unorthodox Chronicles. Grimsby is a young witch who has achieved his dream of becoming an auditor at the elite Boston Department of Unorthodox Affair, but his dream job isn’t what he expected; his partner is depressed and refuses to leave his home, his friend he has a crush on is aloof, and he seems to only get the most boring of cases such as checking in with werewolves that they will be appropriately contained during the full moon. However, when he accidently becomes cursed, he must face creatures from the other realm based on myth like Echidna, a part woman/part snake monster, as well as creatures out of Butcher’s own imagination. I hadn’t read the first novel in the series, Dead Man’s Hand, but still was able to thoroughly enjoy it and quickly pick up characters and “the rules” of Grimsby’s world; warning though it ends on a cliff hangar that will lead you eagerly awaiting book three. Butcher is the son of Jim Butcher who also has written the Dresden Files, another Urban Fantasy I had previously blogged about.

Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies
by Misha Popp
Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies is the first in Misha Popp’s Pies Before Guys Mysteries. It is an unusual novel in the fact that though, Daisy, the protagonist is likeable in many ways, I still had trouble connecting with her character, similar to how I felt about the protagonist in Dexter. This is because both characters are murderers, in the case of Dexter, he kills serial killers and in the case of Daisy she uses magic pies to murder men who have violently abused women. Her pies can also give positive gifts like boosting confidence and giving a sense of calm to those who needed it. Much of the novel has a cozy mystery feel as Daisy tries to discover who is blackmailing her and starts seriously contemplating dating one of two love interests for the first time in her life; she is also entering a pie baking competition which probably could have been enough for an enjoyable read, but meanwhile Daisy is also finding women who she can make vengeful murder pies for. Usually when the main character is this morally gray in nature, the book tends to be quite a bit grittier, but there is a lot of whimsy in this story. Some of how you feel about Daisy and this book will likely be based on your feelings about vigilantism and certain political stances, but fans of the similarly whimsically dark TV series Pushing Daisies might want to check this novel out. I found it a truly unique reading experience. The third book in the series is scheduled to be published in May of 2024.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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