Welcome to the Lair!

Exploring dark alleys. Discovering new nightmares. Revisiting the masters.

Monday, May 2, 2016

Missing In Action



I didn't abandon my blog, I've just been dealing with a lot of horrible news. I've had more than one family member in the hospital. One of my cousins needs a liver transplant. If it's not cancer trying to take someone, it's an autoimmune disease. As a result, I can't concentrate on much of anything.

A lot of authors are waiting for reviews from me, and they probably think I'm flaking out on them. I am really hoping to turn things around this week.

Thank you for your patience, and please check back in a few days.

As always,
AstraDaemon 

P.S. I still think Michonne took it like a champ.

Saturday, April 9, 2016

TWD: What Are They Thinking As They Kneel?


For fans of The Walking Dead (no spoilers):

I was watching yet another rerun of the season finale, and wondered what was going through the characters' minds. I wondered if any of them might be praying.

Not trying to insert my own beliefs or bring ongoing issues into TWD universe...just speculating based on each character's background.

For instance, Maggie was raised in a Christian household. I wonder if she's written that all off by this point. I wonder if she is more terrified for herself, her baby or her husband.

Thoughts on Maggie or the other characters? Thought we could talk about something other than Lucille's victim...

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Walking Dead Theories (Possible Spoilers)



First of all, let me just say what a shit finale that was. Season 6 had a good run, until Negan went Christian Bale on the camera man. And what about the awesome gas mileage of the RV? Don't even get me started on the fact that this group of people still haven't learned how to avoid an obvious trap. Enough with the small talk...

My first theory is about the shot heard around the world. I am convinced that Dwight shot Daryl in the dick. Why? For one thing, Dwight has a special hate for Daryl. For another, Dwight is probably not happy about the injury he suffered at Eugene's teeth. What has me really convinced is the blanket that Daryl has wrapped around himself at the end of the finale, while kneeling down with the others. Why would Daryl be given a blanket, unless he is now a eunich or cold from blood loss?

Many of my theories revolve around the mystery victim who was beaten to death by Negan, courtesy of Lucille.

Throughout the episode, we catch POV flashes of someone locked up, while the RV gang is being herded. So, it stands to reason, that POV belongs to one of the four people that Dwight captured: Daryl, Glenn, Michonne or Rosita.

I don't think it's Daryl. I think he's already been punished with an injury to his manhood. This way, the writers never have to divulge Daryl's sexual preference, and risk alienating a group of Daryl fans.

There's been speculation that it's Glenn because of the comic storyline, and rumors concerning background audio of Maggie and Glenn crying out to each other. However, the show has been deviating from the comic for some time now. Also, I believe the "leaked" audio is just a recording from moments earlier, when Glenn realizes that Maggie is in the kneeling line-up as well. So, I don't think it's Glenn.

Rosita would most likely be recruited to be one of Negan's wives, or considered "soft goods." I don't think Negan would kill off a perfectly good piece of ass, not to mention Rosita's background story which includes performing sexual favors to stay alive. Although, I think, ultimately, Rosita will end up with Eugene, but knocked up with Spencer's baby.

That leaves Michonne. Negan might not advocate raping women, he is not above killing them. I won't mention names, but he does kill two women in the comic. The dredlocks that were attached to a zombie in the undead Red Rover might be foreshadowing. Annnd, in the comic, Negan says a man can be destroyed by "fucking a man's vagina." Rick is number one on Negan's shitlist, and Negan needs to break Rick down.

Possibly, one of the four, or even Eugene, could have been interrogated before the RV group is captured. Someone might have revealed Michonne's relationship with Rick. Last but not least, Rick's love is like the kiss of death.

I think Michonne took it like a champ.

What I really want to know is what has been happening to Tara and Heath. Are they at Hilltop? Or, perhaps Morgan and Carol will find them at the Kingdom. (Armor, horses - you know Ezekiel is making an appearance soon.) Tara doesn't know Denise is dead yet.

I even have a theory about Enid: I think those pickles she gave Maggie were poisoned. I do not trust Enid. However, I think it's possible that Maggie simply has appendicitis. It doesn't always have to be a conspiracy.

I would love to read your thoughts/comments on my theories, and feel free to share your own theories.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Google Policy Makes No Sense

Today, I received the following warning from Google, after trying to post review links from my Blogger account to my Google Plus account:

Dear Ursula K Raphael,
We've determined that your posts may be in violation of our User Content and Conduct Policy.
Spamming, including sending unwanted promotional or commercial content, or engaging in unwanted or mass solicitation, is not permitted.
Continued violation of our policies can lead to the loss of your ability to use some or all features of Google+ and other Google services. Learn more
Sincerely,
The Google+ team

I assumed that if Blogger provided a share button to Google Plus, it must be okay to post a link to the content of one Google page to another. All I did was use a feature provided by Google itself.

When I think of all the memes and other useless crap streaming on Google Plus, not to mention the fact that people can CHOOSE whether or not to follow my account, I am at a complete loss to understand how my reviews could be considered "spam" or "mass solicitation."

Until I resolve this with Google, please look for future review links at my Facebook and Twitter accounts under both my real name and AstraDaemon.

As always,
Ursula K Raphael a.k.a. AstraDaemon


Tuesday Twist: Devil Inside

Kenya Moss-Dyme presents a page-turner about a young woman's harrowing journey through cancer treatment at the hands of a beguiling nurse who gives her more than the normal care. The tormented patient morphs into something unrecognizable, as the mystery unravels and she unleashes a surprise of her own for the twisted nurse upon her return.


Devil Inside by Kenya Moss-Dyme is about a woman named May, receiving chemo treatment and experiencing unusual side effects. Dawn, May's neighbor, is desperate to discover the fate of her missing cats. The build-up is really slow and the timeline jumps back and forth without warning, which took away from the suspense, unfortunately. Yareema, the nurse, is the real mystery.

This story frustrated me - it raised more questions than it answered. This is not the author's strongest work. Daymares has much better stories from Moss-Dyme, with her trademark twist on the dark side of relationships.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Monday, March 28, 2016

Monday Mystery: Before The Fall

On a foggy summer night, eleven people-ten privileged, one down-on-his-luck painter-depart Martha's Vineyard on a private jet headed for New York. Sixteen minutes later, the unthinkable happens: the plane plunges into the ocean. The only survivors are Scott Burroughs-the painter-and a four-year-old boy, who is now the last remaining member of an immensely wealthy and powerful media mogul's family.

As the passengers' intrigues unravel, odd coincidences point to a conspiracy. Was it merely by dumb chance that so many influential people perished? Or was something far more sinister at work? Events soon threaten to spiral out of control in an escalating storm of media outrage and accusations. And while Scott struggles to cope with fame that borders on notoriety, the authorities scramble to salvage the truth from the wreckage.


Before The Fall by Noah Hawley is a mystery-suspense story centered on a plane crash. Only two people survive, and the investigation reveals numerous dark secrets about the passengers, as well as the flight crew. As the backgrounds of the characters are revealed, there are several theories of why the plane crashed. The POV focuses mainly on Scott, the man who saves a four-year old passenger.

The writing style is brilliant and so unique, I'm not sure how to properly describe it. The backgrounds are presented as flashback biographies that not only summarize the life of each passenger, but the segments also uncover the circumstances that brought the characters onto that particular flight. I found it extremely riveting and read the novel in one sitting.

While there are a lot of characters to keep track of, Hawley does an amazing job of personalizing each life. There is not necessarily a lot of action, but the intrigue and interaction between the characters propels the story at a steady pace. The ending is quite a surprise.

I've never heard of Noah Hawley before, but I would gladly read more of his work.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Sunday Suspense: Baggage

Over the years, terrible things keep happening to Anna Ray on February 17. First, there was the childhood trauma she’s never been able to speak about. Then, to her horror, her husband killed himself on that date.

A year later and a thousand miles away, Anna tries to find solace in the fresh start of a new job in a new place. She takes comfort in her outspoken cousin Jeannie, the confidant and best friend who’s there whenever she needs help. On the day of the dreaded anniversary, Anna and Jeannie hit the town, planning to ease the pain with an alcohol-induced stupor and then sleep…

When Anna awakes the next morning, she thinks she can put one more February 17 behind her, but fate is about to intervene in the form of two gruesome murders with eerie similarities to her violent past. This time, however, she won’t be an abandoned daughter or a grieving widow. This time, she’ll be a suspect.


Baggage by S.G. Redling is better than what I expected. The story flashes back every now and then to different periods of Anna's life, revealing the memories that haunt her, one piece at a time. The pace is a bit frustrating. The POV switches between Anna and her cousin Jeannie, which keeps it interesting, but I think a third POV would have fleshed out he story more. While I loved the mystery and suspense throughout the novel, the ending seemed weak compared to the rest of the writing.

I did enjoy reading this book, but Redling needs to step up her game if she wants to stand out in this genre.

As always,
AstraDaemon