City of the LostBy Stephen BlackmoorePublisher: Daw BooksPublished In: New York City, NY, USA Date: 2012Pgs: 217REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERSSummary:A thug, a leg breaker, this is the hero. He’s caught up in something way beyond his ken and far away from his normal life. His partner gets sent out on a job to take care of some things for their boss. An easy job turned bad and his partner, his friend got killed. Only a day later, when he calls his partner’s widow to express his condolences, his partner is at home sitting on his sofa. From there, Joe Sunday’s normal everyday world slips down the rabbit hole as an ancient power stone, zombies, immortals, Nazis, razor toothed midgets, demon bartenders, and homeless vampire junkies appear on the periphery of his life and he is drawn into a web of occult happenings going on just beyond the pale of modern life. Joe has to find the power stone. In the course of these events, he got himself killed, but he hasn’t fallen down yet. Only thing is, he’s beginning to rot and the only thing that can stop it is the power stone...that or a healthy dose of brains...hearts...whatever.Genre:fiction, occult, horror, zombieWhy this book:The blurb on the back was pure crack. I was half sucked in before I cracked the spine.This Story is About:standing up to power, doing the right thing, figuring out which hand is holding the knifeFavorite Character:Joe Sunday is an awesome character.But so is the demon nympho bartender, Darius.Least Favorite Character: N/ACharacter I Most Identified With:Joe is the narrator. I got sucked into his world view.The Feel:There is a feel that Joe isn’t going to be able to get through the miles and miles of darkness that are pitted against him. Layers and layers on top of more layers hiding the truth from him.Favorite Scene:From the opening when Sunday meets Julio in the bar to the ending where Darius provides Joe with a drink in the denouement, this book is full of great scenes.Rioting homeless vampires.When Giavetti shoots Joe in the head...the first time.When Archie and Jughead show up for the first time.When Carl wakes up with a third eye...permanently on his forehead.Samantha and her whole Veronica Lake vibe.Settings:Los AngelesPacing:The pace of this is awesome, real page turner.Plot Holes/Out of Character:I don’t like the way that Darius and Joe leave it with his owing Darius an unnamed favor. Feels like a half hearted way to say, I want to write more stories with these characters. Instead of teasing it that way, he should’ve just done it.Last Page Sound:That’s cool.Author Assessment:I would definitely read more stuff by Blackmoore.Editorial Assessment:Very well edited. Fairly tight all the way through.Did the Book Cover Reflect the Story:The pic of Sunday with a hole blown in him is great. Wish he was a bit less Stallone, Willis, Sshwarzeneggar and a bit more Bogart, Spencer Tracey, Edward G. Robinson looking.Hmm Moments:So many...so, so many.Knee Jerk Reaction:instant classicDisposition of Book:Irving Public Library, but I need to get a copy of this to put on my bookshelf to keep.Why isn’t there a screenplay?This would make an awesome movie.Casting call:David Spade could play Danny, Simon’s sycophant 2nd in command.Anthony Hopkins would be incredible as Giavetti. John Billingsley would make an incredible 2nd choice.Josh Holloway, Alex O’Loughlin, David Boreanaz...any one of the three could make an awesome Joe Sunday, Would recommend to:friends, family, colleagues, everyone, genre fans I started reading this book and then life got in the way after 30 or so pages and I didn't pick it up again for over a month. But that is nothing against the writing, that's just points against my crappy life. The most important thing here is that I picked it back up and finished. After finishing it, I tweeted to Mr. Blackmoore and told him that I need more Joe Sunday.Joe Sunday is not your average zombie. Instead of brains, he eats hearts to survive and keep from falling apart. He'll help himself to all your other parts too but the heart is essential for him to carry on. This book kept me guessing through the entire thing. I was right there with Joe questioning who to trust and who to eat for supper. He's a hired gun turned zombie and he needs to find this mystical stone that is supposed to make you live forever with the correct ritual. There are many magickal types of people trying to get their hands on the stone and they all make some sort of empty promise to Joe who's running around town trying to keep from falling apart and figure out who to trust. Even a cop can't be trusted in this book! There was one scene with Samantha, the immortal vengeful beauty, where they get quite close to each other and I found myself wanting to be Samantha. I mean really, look at Joe on the cover of the book! Makes a girl weak in the knees (even with part of his chest missing). Joe isn't the only guy I found myself lusting after. I'm also quite fond of Darius, the demon bartender. He's snarky and big and well...a demon! I am heir to the throne in Hell after all, so of course I'm going to find myself fawning over the bad boys. Back to the story though...This book was just fantastic. I was confused at times as to what was going on and who double-crossed who at what time and who attacked who. But it all came clear to me in the end. Stephen told me that I can tell him the truth if I didn't like the book but I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it. So Mr. Blackmoore, give me more Sunday!
What do You think about City Of The Lost (2012)?
I won this book from First Reads Giveaway. Waiting to read it when I receive it. Thanks.
—josh
I won this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. Hope to read it soon. Thanks.
—Quinn
Oh man was this a wild ride! I truly enjoyed it! I need a sequel!
—Ashlee
