A friend of mine from high school has a hook-up to the Jimmy Kimmel Live! show in Hollywood, CA. so I thought I'd give him a call to see if he could get me in as a VIP. I finally saw him after 23 years and mind you we attended high school in Hawaii, so it was pretty cool that we both would end up here in Southern California. He set it up so I would attend a taping on March 31, 2011 with guests David Beckham, Wes Craven, and music band Sum 41 performing an outdoor concert right outside the studio. This VIP admittance would include access to the green room, with all its food and beverage amenities that were absolutely delicious, be a part of the audience for the live show, and also be the audience for the Sum 41 performance outside.

I didn't even think to look for the guests as they arrived because I was so caught up in the food, drinks and the excitement of it all just being there. One of the guys I met there told me he saw David Beckham arrive with his wife Victoria and one of their children. Man I wish I could have seen them in person, but I did take a mental note next time I'm here to sit close to the dressing room hall where the security stood.

So after eating and taking in the glamorous life, we were led into the audience area where we had to endure a comedian tell bad jokes and have a silly talent contest. We are not allowed to take photographs in the building at all so if you were caught I was told you may have to be escorted out. The girl sitting beside me decided to do some crazy chicken dance for the talent contest and her girlfriend decided to use her cell phone to take some photos. Yah, that didn't go well because the show's coordinator caught her and asked her to delete the photos. I was like, kick her ass out of here! Follow the rules just like everyone else for frak's sake right? Wrong.....this girl won a gift card to the apple store. How do you like them apples? They both should have been kicked out! oh well c'est la vie.

Now its time for David Beckham's appearance and he looked mighty dapper in a grey designer suit. I loved that his dress shirt was lavender, more men should wear colors like that it's sexy. He mostly talked about his family life, taking the kids to school everyday, of course a little about his soccer career, and his pregnant wife. They were still undecided on names for their unborn baby girl.

Next up Wes Craven! Gosh I've been watching his Nightmare On Elm Street movies since right after high school. Believe it or not me and my brothers, sister and cousins were so afraid of going to sleep fearing Freddy Krueger would kill us in a dream, that we would have to all sleep in one room with the lights on! Yah, we were young and naive what can I say. Nonetheless, we all still continued to watch all his Freddy Krueger movies for years. But tonight Wes Craven was not promoting Freddy but his new "Scream 4" flick. They showed a clip from the movie and I decided right then and there I would go out and watch it.

After the show and feeling satisfied with this experience we were led outside to the concert area. But before going into the arena i caught a glimpse of Guermo, his funny Mexican sidekick! I got so excited I asked him if i could take a photo with him, and of course he was more than happy to oblige. Yup Guermoooooo, he kind of makes the show funnier because of the crazy antics Jimmy makes him do!

Lastly, Jimmy Kimmel announced the rock band Sum 41 and that's when i could take a photo of him. I realized this during the taping but he looks a lot thinner in person than on television. Well you know the camera adds ten pounds right? After the the band played a few songs, it was time to go home. My feet were definitely killing me from the red,five inch platform heels I was wearing, but hey I wanted to look hot just in case David Beckham wanted to leave his wife for me. As we were leaving my cousin spotted a group of people huddled around someone so were rushed over. Good thing too because Wes Craven was signing autographs and taking photos with the fans! OMG.....I didn't have anything for him to sign but I did manage to take a couple photos of him. My cousin took one of me with him on my cell phone but my face came out a bit blurry, reminicent of a ghost. It so screams "I'm with Wes Craven" haha.... so yah I won't be posting that picture.

THE DARKEST HOUR is near

Summit Entertainment, New Regency & Oni Press will unveil a special collectible poster at WonderCon 2011 from the upcoming art book for THE DARKEST HOUR, a new film about five young people who find themselves stranded in Moscow, fighting to survive in the wake of a devastating alien attack.   The 3D action-thriller highlights the classic beauty of Moscow alongside mind-blowing special effects from the minds of visionary filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (WANTED, NIGHT WATCH) and director Chris Gorak.   

The full art book is set to debut later this year, with stunning artistic interpretations of the film's vision of a world lost to an overwhelming and frightening alien force, featuring work from a diverse roster of comics' hottest creators.  The global events are captured in epic detail as the last remnants of humanity struggle for survival in a world that is no longer their own.   

The special WonderCon collectible poster (11x17) features an image of destruction at the Taj Mahal, with two soldiers from opposite sides of a centuries-long conflict fighting together as the last men standing against the unseen alien invaders.  The limited edition poster, illustrated by Brian Hurtt and colored by Bill Crabtree, the art team behind Oni Press' hit comic book THE SIXTH GUN, will be given away at Oni Press' booth (601) during WonderCon in San Francisco. 

Additional artists who are contributing to the collectible art book include:

Ben Templesmith - Artist of 30 DAYS OF NIGHT (IDW), cover artist of WASTELAND for Oni Press - one of the premiere horror artists in comics.

Brian Churilla - Artist of THE ANCHOR (Boom Studios), THE ENGINEER (Archaia). 

Tom Fowler - Artist of MYSTERIUS THE UNFATHOMABLE (Wildstorm).

Mateus Santolouco - Artist of MONDO URBANO (Oni Press), RAMPAGING WOLVERINE (Marvel), AMERICAN VAMPIRE (DC/Vertigo). 

Pia Guerra - Artist of Y: THE LAST MAN (DC/Vertigo).  

Nathan Fox - Artist of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #500 (Marvel), PIGEONS FROM HELL (Dark Horse), FLUORESCENT BLACK (Heavy Metal). 

Brian Hurtt - Artist of THE SIXTH GUN (Oni Press), THE DAMNED (Oni Press), GOTHAM CENTRAL (DC). 

Jeremy Haun - Artist of BERSERKER (Top Cow), DETECTIVE COMICS (DC).

Ron Chan - Artist of THE GUILD: CLARA (Dark Horse), STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC (Dark Horse). 

Nathan Fairbairn - Colorist on Tom Fowler's artwork. One of the top colorists in the business, currently coloring BATMAN, INC. for DC Comics.

Bill Crabtree - Colorist on Brian Churilla, Mateus Santolouco, Pia Guerra, Nathan Fox, Brian Hurtt, Jeremy Haun, and Ron Chan art pieces. Currently coloring THE SIXTH GUN (Oni Press), and colored the first 50 issues of INVINCIBLE (Image Comics).

Rick Spears - Writer of THE DARKEST HOUR art book. One of comics' true original voices, Rick Spears is the critically acclaimed writer of books such as BLACK METAL (Oni Press), TEENAGERS FROM MARS (Gigantic Press), PIRATES OF CONEY ISLAND (Image Comics), and DOG BROTHER: IMMORTAL WEAPONS (Marvel).

WITNESS THE COLOR OF WILL

DISCOVER THE ORIGIN OF THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS IN
ALL-NEW DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL MOVIE
GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD KNIGHTS
COMING JUNE 7, 2011 FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO

Primetime TV Stars Nathan Fillion, Elisabeth Moss Headline Voice Cast;
Available as Blu-rayTM Combo Pack & DVD


BURBANK, CA, (March 30, 2011) – The origins of the ultimate intergalactic police force are revealed across six interlocking tales of the legendary Green Lantern Corps in the all-new Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, the next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Building up to the release of the highly anticipated live action film, Green Lantern, in theatres June 17, Green Lantern: Emerald Knights arrives on Blu-Ray™, DVD, On Demand and for Download June 7, 2011 from Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation.

The full-length animated Green Lantern: Emerald Knights will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack and DVD. The film will also be available On Demand and for Download.

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights weaves six legendary stories of the Green Lantern Corps’ rich mythology around preparations for an attack by an ancient enemy. As the battle approaches, Hal Jordan mentors new recruit Arisia in the history of the Green Lantern Corps, telling tales of Avra (the first Green Lantern) and several of Hal’s comrades – including Abin Sur, Kilowog, Laira and
Mogo. In the end, Arisia must rise to the occasion to help Hal, Sinestro and the entire Green Lantern Corps save the universe from the destructive forces of Krona.

Primetime television stars Nathan Fillion (Castle) and Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men) lead a diverse array of performers as the voices behind the Green Lantern Corps.

Fillion provides the voice of the animated film’s central character, Hal Jordan, the human Green Lantern assigned to Sector 2814 (which includes Earth). Fillion has starred in several primetime television series including his current hit Castle as well as Desperate Housewives, Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He has also developed a popular cult following as a pair of Joss Whedon’s heroic captains: Capt. Mal Reynolds in the space-western series Firefly and follow-up film, Serenity; and Captain Hammer in Whedon’s internet sensation Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Fillion returns to the DC Universe after his successful turn as Steve Trevor in the animated film Wonder Woman, and has performed voice work on the animated series Justice League, Robot Chicken, The Venture Bros., and several Halo video games.

Moss gives voice to Arisia, a young recruit forced into her first mission on just her third day as a Green Lantern. Prior to starring as the ever-evolving Peggy Olson in AMC’s ground-breaking series Mad Men, Moss was featured on The West Wing, Invasion and Picket Fences. Moss has been active in voiceovers for animation with previous roles in Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs, Freakazoid! and It’s Spring Training, Charlie Brown!.

The voice cast for Green Lantern: Emerald Knights also features actor/spoken word artist Henry Rollins (Sons of Anarchy, The Henry Rollins Show) as Kilowog, Jason Isaacs (the Harry Potter films) as Sinestro, legendary professional wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (They Live) as Bolphunga, Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) as Abin Sur, Kelly Hu (The Vampire Diaries) as Laira and Wade Williams (Prison Break) as Deegan. Radio Hall of Fame commentator/talk show host Michael Jackson voices the esteemed Guardian, Ganthet.

Bruce Timm is executive producer of Green Lantern: Emerald Knights. Directors are Lauren Montgomery, Jay Oliva and Christopher Berkeley. The six interlocking tales are penned by comic
book luminaries Geoff Johns, Dave Gibbons, Peter J. Tomasi, Eddie Berganza, Alan Burnett, Todd Casey and Michael Green & Marc Guggenheim.

“Green Lantern: Emerald Knights is filled with wonderful backstory and exposition on the Green Lantern Corps going far beyond Hal Jordan, making this film a perfect complement to the live-action major motion picture, Green Lantern,” said Hersin Magante, WHV Marketing Director, Family & Animation.


Green Lantern: Emerald Knights Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack has over 2 1/2 hours of exciting content, including:
* Feature film (est. 75 min)
* Sneak Peak at Batman: Year One, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie
* Behind-the-Scenes look at All-Star Superman
* Featurette: “Only the Bravest: Tales of The Green Lantern Corps” – Bravery is the unique, identifying characteristic of each Green Lantern. Yet what does it mean to be brave? How has the world of Green Lantern and the Corps made bravery into something we can all relate to? This story reveals and defines the bond that holds together the Green Lanterns’ affection for the ring, and the ring’s unwavering loyalty in return.
* Featurette: “Why Green Lantern Matters: The Talent of Geoff Johns” – Geoff Johns is a force to be reckoned with. He’s not only the Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment, he’s a New York Times bestselling writer with a fresh and vibrant storytelling perspective. Johns discusses his contemporary take on the Green Lantern character and why that character resonates in our culture.
* Pod: From Comic Book to Screen: Abin Sur – Take a peek into Geoff John’s “Green Lantern Secret Origin” book which, for the first time, showed fans what really happened to Abin Sur before he crashed landed on Earth, and passed his ring to Hal Jordan.
* Pod: Beautiful … But Deadly – From Comic Book to Screen: Laira Omoto – Green Lantern: Emerald Knights again creatively weaved a riveting comic book short story into the 
intricate plot of the film while introducing the honorable Green Lantern, Laira Omoto. Known as one of the Green Lantern Corps’ fiercest warriors, this mini-featurette takes a
deeper look into the history and origin of this humanoid marital artist and her 
family feud with the Golden Dragon!
* Audio Commentary: Dan DiDio and Geoff Johns
* “Green Lantern” Digital Comic Book
* Two bonus episodes from animated television series handpicked by Bruce Timm.
* Standard and high definition versions of the feature film
* Digital copy on disc of the feature film



BASICS
Street Date: June 7, 2011
Order Due Date: May 3, 2011
Languages: English and Spanish

Audio: Dolby Surround Stereo
Color / Closed Captioned
MPAA Rating: PG

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights
Blu-ray Combo Pack - $24.98 SRP
Price: SD 1 Disc - $19.98 SRP

BD Combo Pack UPC: 883929136902
1-Disc UPC: 883929137411

So last month I promised that we here at Muse Led would be giving away one of our very precious signed copies of the new All Together Now and finally here it is! I have one (1) copy which was signed on the release day in LA last month by Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley and Deborah Ann Woll! How's that for making good on a promise?

To Enter: Just two simple steps:

(1) Make sure you follow us here at Muse Led. It's quick and easy, and if you haven't already done it, what are you waiting for? We don't sell your address or spam you. In fact I don't send you anything unless you win!

(2) Tell me what you love about, you guessed it, True Blood.

As an added bonus entry if you post about this contest somewhere else and you tell us about it in the comment section you'll get a bonus entry! Don't forget to include the link in your post so we can validate your entry. Limit one per site, so you can't post a million times on facebook or twittr and have each count as an extra entry!

Rules: All entries must be in by Tuesday, May 10th 2011 at 11:58 pm PST, which happens to coincide with Trubie Todd Lowe's aka Terry Bellefleur's, birthday! This contest is only open to blog followers. All entries are validated against follower list. Entries by non-followers will be disqualified. Contest is open worldwide. Winner will be chosen randomly from valid entries and will be posted here. So don't forget to check back, if I have not received notice from winner within 7 days I will announce a new winner. Void where prohibited.

About: Blood and sex mix on a hot rainy night at Merlotte's, when Sookie and her friends are trapped by a vengeful spirit who feeds on shame. People die and dirty secrets are revealed as Sookie, Bill, Eric, Sam, Tara, Jason, and Lafayette and are all coerced to dig deep and tell painful memories from their past-those things we all have locked within us that we never tell another living soul! Bon Temps, Louisiana has never been stranger, or more twisted, in a story co-plotted by TRUE BLOOD series creator Alan Ball, with a script by David Tischman (Bite Club) and Mariah Huehner, and lush art by David Messina (Star Trek: Countdown).

Update: While at Wonder Con, this weekend, I had a chance to have Michael McMillian (Rev. Steve Newland) and J.Scott Campell, the artist of some of the variant covers, both sign this edition as well. So that's a total of five (5) signatures!

Limited Edition Copies of new “DOROTHY OF OZ” Comic to Debut at WonderCon

Ten “DOROTHY OF OZ” Fans will Also Win the Comic via Facebook Video Contest

When:          Friday – Sunday, April 1-3

Times:          Friday: Noon to 2 p.m.

Saturday: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday: 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Where:         IDW Publishing Booth

WonderCon Convention

Moscone Center South

                   747 Howard St.

                   San Francisco, CA 94103

What:          DOROTHY OF OZ, the first in a series of five limited edition comic books, will be officially unveiled at San Francisco’s WonderCon. The comics will fill in the gap for eager franchise fans from the classic L. Frank Baum “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” tale to the upcoming 2012 release of the animated DOROTHY OF OZ, based on the book by his great-grandson Roger Stanton Baum. The comic is produced by Summertime Entertainment and Publishers IDW. **

Also, 10 lucky OZ fans who can’t make it all the way to San Francisco will win the comic in an exclusive Facebook Fan contest. Entrants will submit a personal video explaining in 60 seconds or less why they are excited about DOROTHY OF OZ and why they are the biggest Oz-fans on Facebook.  The contest will run worldwide from Wednesday, March 30 through Wednesday, April 6.

  

For more information, visit www.dorothyofoz.com and see Dorothy of Oz’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/dorothyofozthemovie.

Sucker punch by definition is an unexpected punch or blow, but it isn't just that. It is a blow that not only catches the victim off guard but leaves them open to future attacks. And the movie show cases that and more.

If you take away the mind blowing action, zombies and orcs and dragons oh my, the surreal situations, hello, a planet with two moons, in its heart it is about believing in yourself and fighting back. You have all the weapons you need, we are told, and our characters do.

It's a story about finding yourself, about finding hope in the unlikely of places, and angels in forms that you never expected. Will some be turned off by the message, yes but only because they can't see past the flash, and because Zach Snyder gives us a little dose of harsh reality.

The ending may shock some, but like Snyder's other flich 300, we start at the ending before telling the story. And it kinda makes me scratch my head that some are shocked by what happens in the end. But we along with Babydoll, have to learn that just because we're here doesn't mean that its about us.

The big picture is just that big, and what we set in motion today will impact those around us long after we are gone. Some are expecting a Hollywood ending where everyone lives happily ever after, but the big sunshine after the rain is not delivered in the clean cut fashion. It's instead gritty, and ugly, and a little heartbreaking in that the characters we are closest to are lost in the building of a better tomorrow. And for this I think it is fantastic.

Huge Spoiler Alert If Babydoll had just escaped in the end, nothing would have changed for anyone. Blue would have still been dirty, Dr. Gorski still in the dark to the dirty dealings in the institution, dear old step daddy would have a new way to victimize Babydoll in that she would have never truly be free. For the rest of her life she would have been on the run, in hiding, in fear. Because even if she had found a way to kill him, she would be a mental patient on the run, and the authorities would be less than likely to believe her innocence. She'd have wound up in prison subject to all new forms of victimization. That is not a very empowering message, and that empty cotton candy ending would have left you with nothing.

A character seeking revenge is nothing new, we see that story all the time. Which isn't to say that those aren't entertaining, because they are. But here it's not about getting revenge for the wrongs against her, and there are many. It's a character finding hope, true hope, where there is none, seeing what's truly at stake, and setting herself free which has a domino effect on her world, reshaping it for the better.

Babydoll realizes that this isn't just her story. I don't think that meant the story was instead about one someone else in particular, but about everyone else now and in the future that will come to Lennox House, if there is a Lennox House in the aftermath. Because of her acceptance it made the performing doctor question the validity of the procedure, it made Dr. Gorski finally see the corruption, it made Blue confess to the reason for Babydoll's lobotomy, it brought to light step daddy's crimes. The entire evil empire fell. Babydoll discovered that the most powerful weapon in her arsenal was herself. You can't get more girl power than that. End of Major Spoiler

It's billed as Alice in Wonderland with Machine guns, which is a very accurate description. The music was an awesome tool used to both enhance and further the story. Visually it was amazing, as if Zack Snyder could deliver anything else. His use of slow motion enhances the story in a way that few others can accurately duplicate. The surreal situations were wonderfully executed, and not truly excessive. As the danger of the mission grew, so did the sheer craziness of the situation. The gore was about nonexistent, and unneeded even with all the heavy weaponry. Some of the dialogue was lame, but there was very little of it, and the introduction and epilogue were so phenomenal tying the story together so well that they made up for it.

And the up skirt shots, because I've heard so much negativity on this, I feel I have to address it, I'll just say: She's wearing tap pants, which people wear when they don't want to show their panties. These are the same things that cheerleaders wear, not just the pros, but high school and pee-wee, and I don't hear many parents in outrage over people essentially seeing up their daughter's skirts when they are being thrown in the air, or stunting because they are covered up. Hearing about all the up skirt shots I was expecting Anime dirtiness, but found none of that.

If you're looking for raunchiness, and nudity you'll be sorely disappointed. The characters spend a lot time in a bordello, and in tight costumes but we never see them in that kind of action. And really the costumes don't show all that much.

Babydoll's dance is sheer genius because we never actually see it. This is great, because no matter what Emily Browning did, it would have never been good enough, and this way the audience doesn't get the horror movie let down, where the monster is finally exposed and is just lame. By only showing the characters reaction to it, and having it be described as pure and raw, we can make it whatever we want. Instead of thinking of it as the girls doing sexual favors whenever Babydoll goes to dance and our mission scenes occur, maybe she is just dancing. If you've ever seen a dance or musical performance that has moved you to tears, you'd understand the power of something so beautiful. And if you're constantly surrounded by ugliness, rare beauty is even more astounding in any form. After all there is a stage in the real world and part Dr. Gorski's therapy is to dance, or sing, or act out the hurt. And it's completely possible that she did just that.

To say You will be unprepared is the most accurate tag line. Because even knowing how it ends, I don't think most of us are really prepared for it after the journey. Open your mind because you're in for one hell of a ride, and it is as great as you let it be.

Released: 3/22/11     720 pages
Publisher: Bantam
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-0553386790

Winter Is Coming. It's the tag line that has been all over television, the next much anticipated HBO show, but what is it really about? Well, its not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. The first of seven planned books, is pretty much amazing at every step.

Westeros is a world wrapped in fantasy where no one is safe, not even our heroes, make the scheming of Rome look like ameturish child's play. The prose is amazing, and my goodness there is blood. Death comes quick and leaves a lasting impression.

Knights are abound, and there is enough chivalry to choke a direwolf, but there is so much heart to the story. There is so much depth to the characters that they leap off the pages. The story centers around Eddard Stark of Winterfell and his family. He's an honest man, called to be the King's chief councilor, the Hand of the King, after the previous one dies. Stark suspects he was murdered and that his king is now in danger, but he isn't the only one in trouble, especially not when his top suspect is the Queen.

But trouble comes from all direction, as they say when it rains, it pours, and it's about to pour. In the North trouble is coming from the fabled Others, and the men that guard the Wall are no match for the otherworldly creatures. And in the South, the former ruling family the Targaryens are aligning themselves with the Dothraki in preparation of an all out war to take the kingdom back.

The plot is well written, the intrigue is drawn out in the most delicious of ways, making the reader beg for more. This first book makes it impossible not to read the rest. Throughout the story the characters mature and grow. And it really breaks the mold on how a fantasy novel should be written.

Kim Harrison was in Sacramento yesterday and we have the pictures to prove it. Lovely as always, she was willing to spill a little about her series without being too spoilery.

First up, she showed off the cover of her new graphic novel, Blood Work, seen on the left. It will be the first of two, possibly more all told from Ivy's point of view. It takes place during the golden year when Rachel interns under Ivy, and good news for all the Kisten fans, which I happen to be a huge one, he'll be back. Well not really back, since these take place before the Hollow novels, but he'll be in the graphic ones, and we'll catch a glimpse of him in the tub. Yum! Can't wait!

Trent and Rachel. There's been talk in the past that Kim has said that there was never any chance between Trent and Rachel, and if you've read Pale Demon you go what a minute I thought she said...? Well, last night she said "I have never, ever, ever said that there's no chance between Trent and Rachel. I've never said that." Well that little rumor can now be put to rest.

But she did say that the series was winding down to it's close. Right now it's at nine books with Pale Demon, and at the moment she has only twelve planned. She has everyone's happy endings in sight, although she did say that Rachel's won't be the normal romantic ending with a white picket fence and 2.5 kids, but it will be happy. Even Al's happy ending is in the works, though his will be a little more tricky.

I'm still wondering why there weren't more Al questions. As always someone asked how to say Al's name, and its origin. It's Al's a liar and a reptile. Al-ga-lia-rept. But no one mentioned the fact that in the past she's always hinted that Al wasn't interested in Rachel, he was more a teacher, but maybe it's just me, but there was definitely a moment in the last book, where he was more. And I'm not just talking about the kiss. But maybe that would have opened the door to too many spoilers.

One last Hollows items she did touch on was the Pixies. Someone asked if we were ever going to find out why the Pixies get pulled back to reality from the ever after when the sun comes up? "I don't know, that surprised me when I wrote it. I wasn't expecting that to happen. But there are a lot of things that I wasn't expecting to happen. But I hope to, and if I can find a clever way to make it work, I will, if I can't I'm going to pretend I never said it."

And I'm sure we'll pretend right along with her, just to stay in her good graces.

Released: March 2011 372 Pages
Publisher: DAW Books, Inc.
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-7564-0666-0

I asked Charlaine Harris in 2009 what book she would recommend reading. She told me the best new book she had read was Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire. I had to wait 3 months until it was released, but when Charlaine Harris tells you to read this book, DO IT.

Seventeen months and 3 books later, I anxiously awaited the 4th October Daye novel by Ms. McGuire. I was not disappointed.

October Daye, “Toby,” is a Halfling, half human, half Fey. She doesn’t really fit in either realm. She is a Knight of Shadowed Hills and also private investigator from when she tried to live as a human.

Toby has been close to death many times, but now it’s her friends who are struggling to survive. Two mother figures/mentors have become gravely ill and Toby is running out of time to save them. The Luidaeg, a helpful ally, is not talking to her, she thinks she maybe hallucinating, and the only one willing to help is Tybalt.

Tybalt is the King of Cats. His species, Cait Sidhe, are the only Faerie race with their own political hierarchy. He used to show only distain for Toby, as if she was beneath him. Then, he started having fun annoying her and, in general, pissing her off. Toby and Tybalt’s relationship has developed over the last 3 books to one of respect. If you miss the Tybalt from the first book, don’t worry, he’s back with new tricks to keep Toby off balance.

I love how the relationships develop in Late Eclipses. Toby has made great friendships, but those friends can’t always help her. In fact, she is banned from Shadowed Hills, her home as a child. She also will be arrested for the Murder of Blind Michael and poisoning of Luna Torquill if she is found in the Faerie realm. She doesn’t have anywhere to hide and unable to communicate with her allies. Tybalt helps her until the deadly illness starts attacking his people.

Toby believes her old nemesis, Oleander, is the cause. She senses her, but can’t prove it. She sees her and tries to fight her, but when others show up, Oleander is gone. People ask who she was talking to or swinging at. She sees Oleander in her dreams and begins to think she may have started hallucinating during the day.

Late Eclipses sounds like a ‘dark’ book, and it is, but McGuire adds just the right amount of humor through Toby’s thoughts and the banter between herself, Tybalt, May, Connor, and her cats. Along, with the mystery and developing friendships, Toby is also on a journey of her own. Never really knowing why her mother left, Toby is constantly trying to figure out the meaning of her dreams.

In the end, Toby is changed. Those changes will help her within Faerie, but will also create new enemies. The October Daye novels with its deaths, births, and ever evolving relationships are the best supernatural series out there. Now, I can’t wait for the 5th book, One Salt Sea, out later this year.