Book Review: Zombies vs Unicorns

I haven't really finished this book. I can't. It saddens me. Let me explain.

This book started when two writers began an argument about which was better zombies or unicorns. It turned into this big deal so they got other authors together (including Scott Westerfeld, Naomi Novik, Meg Cabot, Cassandra Clare and Garth Nix) to create an anthology were authors took sides and created this book. I saw part of the blog argument and then picked up the book at the library the other day. I mostly got it for my boyfriend because he loves zombies and when he saw the title he seemed interested.

I started reading the stories in order, until I got to a creepy one about zombies. I am super terrified of zombies. I routinely have panic attacks about them which is normally brought on by the fact that my boyfriend finds them fun and talks about them and reads books about the all the time. And then I have night mares and stay up late reading romance novels until I am not scared any more. So yeah after that first creepy zombie story I switched to only reading the Unicorn stories.

This anthology got the length right, all of the stories I read had enough time to develop a character and a connection to plot before it ended. One Unicorn story was rather hysterical and involved a drunk girl who was not a virgin and a surly unicorn that just wanted help. The story were unicorns are vicious and predators was interesting as well. There was one about a princess having an affair with a unicorn that I skim read a little to fast and cant tell you what happened because it wasn't interesting.

The one zombie story I did manage to read was rather epic and involved a new kind of zombie that was half cured enough that he had the ability to function on a certain level, enough so that he didn't want to kill the boy he liked. Gay zombies was a turn I was not expecting. The second one had that whole end of the world thing that creeps me out to no end and I rushed reading that one.

The thing that I really loved was that each story was prefaced by a mini argument or discussion between the two authors that started the fight. I found myself reading those no matter what, even for the zombie stories that I skipped and I enjoyed them greatly.

This is a book I suggest to anyone that likes zombies or has an interest in hearing more about this battle. There are some very comical moments and well written short stories. The cover also entertains me to no end to see zombies and unicorns in full on battle.

His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik

I got tricked into reading this book. I really did. The nook was given it away for free and I will never turn down a free book. So I open it up thinking that because the description says its about dragons in the Napoleonic wars that I am going to get some pretty awesome action and stuff. I was tricked I say.

In steady I spent a good couple chapter with a ship captain and a very bored dragon. And there was a lot of nonsense boredom in the middle two. The ending came way too quickly and I had trouble following the action when it did happen.

The really annoying part is I couldn't put it down. I read the whole thing. In about one night. I am not one to keep reading if I dont like things.

At first I was very bored with the open. The book begins when a British Naval ship wins a battle with a French Naval ship. The British boards to find that the French are trying to smuggle a dragon egg to France. It is quickly apparent that this is the time of Napoleon's war in Europe as well as the fact that in this universe there are dragons. In Europe dragons are used for war and have to be put in a harness almost the moment they are born, if they do not take a harness they are considered wild a not good for anything but breeding. Later it is revealed that in Asia and the Americas dragons are treated very differently.

The story is told from the point of view of Laurence the captain of the British naval ship. He is completely honor bound, and never questions his loyalty to the crown. He has been raised as the perfect British gentleman of his time, which means he is boring and dull.

A good deal of the book is dedicated to teaching the dragons maneuvers and waiting for an attack from Napoleon. Laurence also spend a decent amount of time either shocked or confused by what the areal corps are like.

In the end I read it, and the next book as well. I have yet to try the third and fourth books but I shall see.

Suggestion: pick it up at the library just in case you need excitement in your books to keep you reading.