Cirque du Freak

Series: 
Saga of Darren Shan, #1

Author: 
Darren Shan

Publisher: 
HarperCollins, 2011

Annotations:

Darren Shan is obsessed with spiders. Meanwhile Darren’s best friend Steve “Leopard” Leonard is obsessed with vampires. Life is normal for the two teens until the Cirque du Freak comes to town; soon after through a series of events Darren ends up becoming a half-vampire and a assistant to the vampire Larten Crepsley as a consequent of stealing Crepsley’s pet spider Madam Okta.


Follow this character-driven, first person narrative that mixes horror with paranormal fantasy to create this moderately paced fiction novel.

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An American Werewolf in London

Director:
John Landis

Distributer: 
Universal Pictures, 1981

Annotations:

Life for American college students David and Jack was normal until everything took a dark turn when the pair is attacked by what seems to be a large wolf while backpacking though Britain. While Jack dies from his wounds, things go from bad to worse for David when Jack’s mutilated ghost appears to warn him of his grim fate that will fall upon him on the next full moon…

Get hooked as this must-see film mixes horror, comedy and fantasy with a character-driven focus upon the main duo protagonist’s bleak situation, to create a film that you will not soon forget.

For more information:
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Movie Trailer

The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall

Author: 
Katie Alender

Publisher: 
Point; Reprint edition, 2015

Annotation:

Delia’s life was rather ordinary, this changed however when she moved into her new home. You see her home was once an insane asylum which housed so called “troubled females”, whether they were insane or not matter not. In fact a large portion weren’t insane, just strong willed and defiant; much like Delia herself.

Now Delia has to worry about the house’s dark past coming back to haunted her… literally. Can Delia escape from the twisted house she now calls home, or will she be forever trapped within the corridors of Hysteria Hall.

Start reading and you will be drawn into this compelling, character-driven story that combines horror, mystery, and paranormal fantasy to create a moderately paced story.

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The Nightmare Before Christmas

Director:
Henry Selick

Distributer: 
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, 1993

Annotations:
This film follows Jack Skellington, Halloween Town’s adored leader and pumpkin king through his misadventures as he tires of the same yearly events of Halloween. An evening stroll through the woods changes all this however when Jack comes across a number of doors each with a design relating to a holiday. Watch as a chain of events unfold as Jack becomes obsessed with a holiday that isn’t his own and the chaos that follow.

Be enchanted by this quirky, fast-paced, character-driven fantasy that uses claymation to capture the viewer’s eye; meanwhile the musical style captivated the viewer’s ears for a sensational experience.

For more information:
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INSIDER

iZombie

Series: 
iZombie

Author: 
Chris Roberson

Illustrator:
Mike Allred

Colorist:
Laura Allred

Letterer:
Todd Klein

Publisher: 
Vertigo (DC Comic Imprint), 2010

Annotations:

Gwen’s life is fairly simple: go to work as a gravedigger, hang over friends and consume a brain once a month to avoid turning into a walking stereotype. The last one is thanks to her condition as a zombie, which is where her job comes in handy. After all it’s not the recently deceased is going to mind.

Her routine life is disrupted however, when Gwen is spotted by an organisation dedicated to eradicating the living dead. Matters are complicated further when she eats her latest meal, obtaining the memories of those she consumes thanks to her diet.

The latest memories however, are relevant in the sense that her recent meal was in fact murdered and so Gwen promises to find the killer so that the killer’s victim may shut up and leave her in peace.

Get hooked with this moderately paced, character-paced paranormal fantasy horror that uses sequential art with a colourful cartoon style to get readers to come back for more.

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Vertigo Comics (Publisher website)

DC Database

Moon Called

Series: 
Mercy Thompson, #1

Author: 
Patricia Briggs, 2016

Annotations:

Mercy Thompson’s life is not exactly average. A fae is her former boss; she has a werewolf for a next-door neighbour and is currently fixing a car for a vampire. Mercy is not surprise by the existed of said creatures though; after all is herself is a coyote shifter and as such has a nose for the supernatural.

Said sense ends up causing her trouble when a young boy that she senses is a werewolf asks for help and whom she ends up giving a job too. This act however, sets off a series of events that drag Mercy into discovering a diabolical experiment being performed on werewolves.

Follow this action-packed, moderately paced, character-driven romance utilises urban and paranormal fantasy to tell a compelling story that kept readers wanting more. 

For more information:

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The Goblin Emperor

Series: 
The Goblin Emperor, #1

Author: 
Katherine Addison

Publisher: 
Tor Books, 2014

Annotations:

Enjoy this descriptive tale of Maia, the youngest son of the Emperor, who has lived his life in exile thanks to his half-goblin heritage. His life is a simple one away from the Imperial Court, however this all changes when an his father and half-brothers die in an "accident".

Now follow his journey to survive the dangers of the crown in this moderately paced third person narrative that uses a steampunk setting enchants the mind in this fantasy of manners style science fiction novel.

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The Devil is a Part-timer!

Director:
Naoto Hosoda

Publisher: 
White Fox, 2013

Annotations:
This tales for the Satan, a Demon Lord capable of terrorizing mortals has his conquest of Ente Isla stopped at the hands of the hero Emilia. After two of his demon generals are defeated Satan escapes that a dimensional portal that lands him in modern-day Tokyo.

Stuck in world with magic and powerless as a result Satan has to assume the form of a human named Sadao Maou and has to work a part-time job at MgRonald’s to meet ends meet. He soon desires not only to conquer Ente Isla but to climb to the top of the corporate ladder and rule Earth as well!

Embark on this funny, leisurely-paced comedy that also adds action and fantasy to this character-driven animation.

For more information:
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So I'm a Spider, So What?

Series: 
So I’m a Spider, So What?, #1

Author: 
Okina Baba

Illustrator: 
Tsukasa Kiryu

Publisher: 
Yen Press, 2016

Annotations:

In this tale, there are two worlds of note. A fantasy world where a Hero and a Demon King fight against one another and a world that is just like ours. One day, the magic generated from the fighting pair impacts the other world, killing an entire classroom full of high school students and their teacher. Those that dying in the explosion end up reincarnated in the other world. One of those students is the main character, a girl that is the lowest in the class reputation wise.

The girl awakens to discover she has been reincarnated as a spider! She now has to struggle with being at the bottom of the food chain and is focused to adapt to survive the dangerous labyrinth she now calls home.

Enjoy this character-driven, magical fantasy that is leisurely paced and utilises humour and first person narration with sequential art in a black and white manga style to capture the reader’s interest and attention.

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That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

Series: 
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, #1

Author: 
Fuse

Illustrator:
Taiki Kawakami

Publisher: 
Kodansha, 2016

Annotations:
Mikami Satoru was once an ordinary 37-year-old working man until his untimely demise by a passing robber and subsequent reincarnation as a slime within another world.  Soon after being reincarnated Satoru meets the legendary Storm Dragon Verudora and takes on the name Rimuru Tempest while he becomes friends with Verudora and thereafter starts a grand adventure that causes changes that impact the very world they live on.

Be drawn into this action-packed, moderately paced first person narrative that portrays action, comedy, adventure and fantasy with sequential art done in a black and white manga style.

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