Imajica by Clive Barker.

Many readers consider Imajica an epic novel from a master storyteller. So after reading a friend’s 5 star review, I thought I would give this book a go.

Imajica is a fantasy novel of make believe worlds, containing magic and societies on planets away from earth. We are not talking about interplanetary travel but that earth exists in the Fifth dimension and the heroes can travel back and forth between the Fifth (ours), the fourth, the third and the second dimension. Part of this novel takes place on earth but some characters can travel to the other dimensions.

This is NOT a book in my normal reading genres but because of it’s reputation I thought I would read it with an open mind. Imajica is a VERY LONG book running to 896 pages. Normally I start a book and read it to the end but with Imajica I would read a chapter and put it down, turning to another book. I started reading Imajica last year and many, many other books inbetween. After 9 months I have finally finished reading Imajica. Looking back over the highlights I have made on my Kindle, I have found Imajica an exhausting read. The story covers a lot of ground in detail and I feel as though I have been on a very long journey. But at the end I do not feel it was a journey worth making.

Clive’s writing is articulate but I did not find his tale gripping. The lack of realism annoyed me and reading this book became a slog. The characters were richly described as legends with colourful histories. But everybody seemed to be wandering around in an endless quest which I found irritating. 

The plot was disappointing, lengthy and not obvious, making me wonder why any character was really bothered. I did not engage with Imajica and think it is a POOR 2 star read. Clive Barker has lots of fans but his novel left me cold and I do not think Imajica is a classic book. Imajica was written 30 years ago but I do not consider it to be a timeless classic. My curiosity has been solved but I shall not be reading another Clive Barker book.

Imajica was written in 1991 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

I’m in Seattle, Where Are You? By Mortada Gzar.

Mortada Gzar is a novelist born in Basra, Iraq and this is his memoir.

Mortada has an unusual writing style for his memoir. He goes back and forward in time and between his life in Iraq and America. He tells his story to the reader as though he is telling his life story to another person or object. His memoir is centred upon his falling in love with an African American soldier he meets in Baghdad and later moves to Seattle to make a life with him.

I liked Mortada’s story highlighting the cultures within Iraq and Seattle. He makes a big story about his homosexuality and the differences between gay culture in Iraq and America. However his memoir is very easy to relate to regardless of your gender or sexuality. Love of all types happens between people and his book is essentially a love story. The tension slowly but steadily builds as Mortada searches high and low around Seattle to find the love of his life Morise. In the final pages there is a surprise ending that simply tugs at your heart.

I liked how Mortada explained his teenage life around Basra collecting scrap metal from battles staged in the desert, observing an abandoned tank shake and meeting a three legged woman.

I liked reading about Mortada’s university life in Baghdad, where he met Morise and their relationship flowered. I liked the historical perspective of his memoir when Mortada wrote about the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003. He explained the cultures and prejudices within Iraq, not just the looking down at the people of Basra by the people of Baghdad but the differences between Shi’i and Sunni Muslims.

I liked his observations of the gay scene in Seattle and the colourful and lively people he met. I also liked his use of nicknames and how he shared a house with the Three Monkeys and was befriended by the Three Monks.

I am pleased that I read a copy of I’m in Seattle. Where Are You? - I was irritated by the backwards and forwards in time. I think Mortada wrote his memoir in this format to hook the reader in early with the love interest but I feel this was unnecessary as there were so many varied and enlightening things that happened to him before he met Morise. With his rambling story telling writing style it was so easy to forget this was a memoir/true story and think I was reading a regular mystery novel. As memoirs go, I’m in Seattle was not an inspirational read but an interesting and personal insight into another world. I found this to be a NICE read but I found nothing special or outstanding. Looking through the highlights I made on my Kindle, I found there was not a memorable quote I could use in my review. When I finished reading this book I felt as though I had met Mortada and got the measure of the man. It was a case of “nice to have met you” and I think that I’m in Seattle is an OKAY 3 star read.

I’m in Seattle, Where Are You? is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2021.

Imago (Kate Redman Mysteries #3) by Celina Grace.

Follow DS Kate Redman in the 3rd mystery in this series set around a fictional small town in the West Country. A body is found and it is the job of Kate and the other police officers to catch the killer.

I am enjoying reading this series and I find it a regular British police procedural. The main character is DS Kate Redman and you get her day job plus extras about her family and social life in each novel. I find this format of storytelling very comfortable as a reader. By mixing Kate’s work and private life the reader takes things in context as they are in real life.

Imago is different to the preceding 2 novels in this series. There are occasional chapters put in at random throughout this story that are simply the killer’s diary. This puts the reader in the position of knowing far more than the police do as their investigation progresses. Because you read both sides to this crime, the reader can appreciate just what a difficult job it can be for the police to catch a killer with little evidence surrounding the body.

I loved all the twists and turns as this story unfolded. It was nice that there was some romance thrown in the direction of Kate this time. I loved that “wait, I’ll get my coat” moment that really made me smile. Most women would react that way!

I like how Celina’s writing has remained consistent in quality and style in this series. Imago is another GOOD 4 star read. Having read 3 of Celina’s novels, I know what a sure fire hit her books are, in the same way that I know Tesco Multiseed Batch gives me lovely toast on a morning.

Imago is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2013.

The Devil’s Kiss by Gemma James.

Kayla has been caught by her boss Gage of stealing money from his company. Gage gives Kayla the option of becoming his slave in the bedroom or going to jail. Kayla does not want to go to prison because her 3 year old daughter is very ill in hospital. Follow Kayla in this dark romance as she puts trust in her boss with his out of court agreement.

I found The Devil’s Kiss to be a FUN read. It is an ADULT erotic story that has a fair amount of sex which involves a lot of BDSM. This tale is unrealistic but enjoy this book for what it is, a story of a fantasy world within a master and slave relationship.

The characters of Gage and Kayla were well developed and the rawness of their relationship is fully explored. Other characters are brought into this story to play their part, co-workers, an old boyfriend and an ex-husband.

I liked how this whole story was told in the first person, from Kayla’s point on view and with a linear time frame. There is a plot which gives this book a useful framework to work around. I liked how social issues were explored including the old adage of victims of domestic abuse whose new partners very often abused them. Sadly some women seem to repeatedly attract abusive men, going from one bad boy to another.

The Devil’s Kiss is a work of fiction and although the situations are very unlikely, I suggest the reader simply goes along with it and enjoys it as ADULT entertainment for a mature audience. Because this story is unbelievable, it is very easy to find it funny in many, many places. For example…

“We have a Christmas party to get to.” Gage helped me to my feet, and I gasped when he spun me around and pushed me to the bed. “Bend over.” I hadn’t noticed the cocktail dress he’d set out on the mattress...or the butt plug and nipples clamps. I cringed to think of the pain those things would inflict.

His eyes lingered on my nipples, and the edges of his mouth turned up. “Stand up straight and clasp your hands behind your back. You’ll learn to present your breasts properly.”

...The Devil’s Kiss is NOT a wonderful book but it is full of surprise that will raise your eyebrows and maybe a laugh with the role play between Kayla and Gage. It was a welcome change and distraction from my usual crime/mystery/thriller genre and I consider The Devil’s Kiss to be an OKAY 3 star read.

The Devil’s Kiss is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2013.