Book Review: The Rose at War

Danie Ware, The Rose at War. Nottingham: Black Library, 2022.  

Genre: Warhammer 40,000, science fiction

Subgenre: Adepta Sororitas

Format: e-book

Source: I own this one  

This collection contains three short novels and five short stories. The tales feature Sister Augusta Santorus and her squad of Battle Sisters from the Order of the Bloody Rose. The stories are presented sequentially so we follow their adventures and missions in order. 

As in most collections, some stories are better than others. "Wreck and Ruin," the story featuring the inquisitor was a bit irritating for me since early on we figure that Inquisitor Istrix is pursuing a personal vendetta, one that cost the lives of a previous squad. Inquisitors in Warhammer 40K are often odious characters, and Istrix is no exception. So we keep reading this story hoping the sisters will make it alive somehow despite the inquisitor's obstinacy and incompetence, traits the inquisitor's enemy exploits. 

The short story "Da Big Mouf" offers a different view. We start with some orks in a space hulk. Initially I was curious why we get an ork's story in a collection of Adepta Sororitas stories. We soon realize there are Battle Sisters on board, and we see them from the orks' point of view. To the orks, the sisters searching for a relic are the invaders. The story was a cool idea. 

The stories are connected, so in a way you can read this book as one big novel. However, for the most part, you can read the stories on their own too. 

Action and pacing are pretty good. The squad has a good mix of personalities. The stories as a whole are entertaining, and the narrative keeps you reading. Even when a story is so-so, like "Wreck and Ruin," once you get past it the tales get better. 

Fans of the Adepta Sororitas will want to read this. For 40K fans wanting to read about Battle Sisters this may be a good entry point. For me it was fun reading that featured different missions from recon to solving a mystery in a convent. 

I really liked it, and I'd recommend it. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

This book qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

 

Book Review: The Boys Omnibus, Volume 6

Garth Ennis, et.al., The Boys Omnibus Volume 6. Mount Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, 2020. ISBN: 9781524108595.  ISBN: 9781524113377. 

Genre: graphic novels and comics

Subgenre: superheroes, antiheroes, satire, adapted to television

Format: trade paperback omnibus edition

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College 

 

As I look back, I realize I read and reviewed volume 5 almost a year ago; that review is dated April 11, 2025. I will include links to the previous reviews in the series below. Anyhow, I finally picked this up and read it, thus completing the series. As I have stated before, I have not seen the Amazon series. 

This volume includes issues 60-72 of the original comics, which bring us to the end of the series. In addition, the volume includes some bonus materials including the original series pitch with author commentary, the series cover gallery, and a pin-up gallery. 

The inevitable confrontation between The Seven, led by the Homelander, and The Boys arrives. When Homelander schemes a coup to take over the United States, The Boys and the U.S. military spring into action. But that is not all. Ennis gives us a surprise twist, and then we soon realize that Butcher has a plan of his own to eliminate the supes once and for all. 

Once the story starts the pace is swift, and you just keep on reading. The story draws you in. Just when you think things may settle, the plot goes on. We get drama, action, heart breaks, betrayal, and more. 

The art is very good, but it is also very graphic including some gore at times. There are reasons this series is rated for "mature readers," and I suspect the Amazon series seriously tones down some of the graphic elements. Feel free to comment if my suspicion is accurate or not. Still, the art is well produced, and it is another reason to read this volume and series. 

The author's commentary in the story on topics like U.S. politics, corruption, corporations, and their abuses of power remain as timely as ever. This last volume, the compilation, came out in 2020. The series itself started in 2006, running to 2012. It is within that context that The Boys operate. 

Overall, this series remains a good series and a solid story. Even in this year and time, it holds up well both for the action and the intrigue story and its social and political commentary. Again, it can be very violent, so not for the faint of heart. Otherwise a great work, and a pretty good way to end the series. That is all I will say to avoid spoilers just in case. 

I do recommend it for libraries that collect comics and graphic novels. I prefer these omnibus editions to the previous trade paperbacks, and I'd encourage libraries to get the omnibus editions. We got them at our library. This is one I really liked, and as a whole, I'd add the series to my personal collection. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

 

Qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

Links to reviews of previous volumes: 

• Volume 1.
• Volume 2.
• Volume 3.
• Volume 4.
• Volume 5.  

 

 

Book Review: Postcolonial Astrology

Alice Sparkly Kat, Postcolonial Astrology: reading the planets through capital, power, and labor. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 2021. ISBN: 9781623175306. 

Genre: postcolonial studies, astrology

Subgenre: politics, political theory, activism

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library

 

I picked up this book out of curiosity. Sure, the subtitle-- "Reading the Planets Through Capital, Power, and Labor"-- should've been a warning for me. I figured it might be similar to books like Tarot for the Hard Work and Magic for the Resistance (links to my reviews of the two books). Those books are political, but they also offer lessons, rituals, and other practical elements. Not this one. This book is basically a long political manifesto. 

The book is arranged into 10 chapters; each chapter looks at the etymology of a planet, say Chapter 2: Etymology of the Moon. Each chapter then looks at the origins and historical development of the planet's name and any associated words and concepts with a postcolonial, labor, power, capital, and feminist lens. That is basically it. It does not offer much in the way of doing astrology. It is basically a long and fairly dry text of political theory applied to astrological concepts. 

In addition, this is not a book for beginners. The book assumes readers come in with at least a basic understanding of astrology. Long time astrology practitioners seeking to politicize or add a more activist element to their practice could be interested in this book.  

The book includes a works cited page featuring 166 works. Out of those only 10 are about astrology, barely. The rest are basically general political theory and history. Some of the authors featured I read back in graduate school when I did critical theory along with a few other things. 

Overall, if you want a practical book about astrology and how to do it, this is not it. If you want a political treatise to add some leftist politics and decolonization to your established practice, this could be for you. For public libraries, this is highly optional. This is not a book for casual readers nor beginners. For academic libraries, still optional, mainly for academic libraries with strong interests in postcolonial studies, some political theory courses, and maybe peace and social justice studies. I'd order it for our library if a patron requested it. 

In the end, for what it does, the book is OK. 

2 out of 5 stars. 

Deck Review: Star Wars Affirmation Cards

Marc Sumerak, Star Wars Affirmation Cards. San Rafael, CA: Insight Editions, 2021. ISBN: 9781647224868. (Link to publisher)

Genre: Star Wars

Subgenre: affirmation cards 

Format: 52-card deck with small companion book in box

Source: I own this one. I got a good break. They retail for $19.99 but HPB had them for $7.99.   

 

This is a 52-card deck to help you "discover your inner Jedi." It is a collection of motivational cards with "lessons, advice, and inspiration." 

The kit includes a companion book and the 52-card deck. The book is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction. This goes over the deck's structure. The deck has four categories or suits: Positive Affirmations, Inspirational Quotes, Feel-Good Activities, and Confidence-Building Conversation Starters. 
• How to use the cards. Some simple suggestions. 
• How to use this book. The book has entries on selected cards. The entries provide questions and prompts for further reflection. Note that the cards that have extra content in the book have a small icon with book page number in a corner of the card. 
• The card entries. Each entry features a full color reproduction of the card and the additional message. 

Card message: I have hope 

The book overall is simple and very easy to read. Though this is a deck for children, anyone at any age can use it and gain benefit. Children can read the book or have an adult read it to them. 

The cards feature a photo image from the Star Wars films including Rogue One and Solo along with the trilogies. Each card has a message and a brief explanation. The cards are color coded by category. The card backs are in the category color with the category title. 

These are cards you can use for daily and weekly draws, or just when you need a positive message. It include messages for when things are down, so it is also a good deck when you need a lift in the Hard Times. This is not really a deck for divination, but you could use it for clarifiers or just as a bonus card in a cartomancy spread. I kept the deck in my work altar for a daily message, and it worked well for me.

The cards measure about 5 3/4 inches by 3 3/4 inches. They do have a soft gloss coating that makes them stick a little, so they are not easy to shuffle. Still, they are very nice cards to view. 

Star Wars fans will likely appreciate this deck, but you don't have to be a fan to enjoy its uplifting messages. If you need a little positivity in your life, this deck is a nice option. 

4 out of 5 stars.  

Short Book Review: Alhazred

Donald Tyson, Alhazred. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn, 2006. ISBN: 9780738708928. 

Genre: fiction, horror

Subgenre: esoterica, Lovecraftian 

Format: trade paperback

Source: I own this one 

 

After reading and liking Tyson's Necronomicon (link to my review), I started reading Alhazred to get the "biography" of the author of the Necronomicon.

The book starts pretty strong, As a young man, Alhazred is an adopted prince. When he is caught having an affair with the king's princess, the king tortures, castrates him, and then leaves him to die in the desert. Disfigured, Alhazred manages to survive. From there, he does anything necessary to survive, becoming a necromancer along the way in the hope of restoring himself. 

Necronomicon was a relatively fun to read book and interesting at times. Alhazred after a few chapters just goes off the rails. After a while, the story just keeps meandering and going on and on. . . and on and then on further. I speculate the author lacked a good editor to help him cut out some of the filler. This book does feel like it has a lot of filler. Alhazred is an interesting character, and his dive into necromancy and dark magic could be a good story. However, the novel's length and meandering just gets tiring. 

I read this book also because I have Tyson's Necronomicon Tarot deck, which I hope to use soon. I'd say you can likely read the book Necronomicon, and skip Alhazred unless you are a completist. The Tarot deck does have a good companion book if you want to dive in.

Overall, this is a book I do not recommend. I would consider it highly optional. Tyson has written other Necronomicon works, and I may try to read them down the road, but I am no rush to do so. 

1.5 out of 5 stars. 

 

This book qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

    

Media Notes: Roundup for April 2026

 

 

  

 

Welcome to my somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during April 2026.

Movies and films (links to IMDB.com for basic information unless noted otherwise. I am trying out the movie database as an alternative as IMDB is getting more restrictive and paywalling more features. If it becomes a problem, I may just use Wikipedia). Some of these I watched via TubiTv.com or other online source. The DVDs come from the public library (unless noted otherwise). In addition, I will try to add other trivia notes, such as when a film is based on a book adding the information about the book (at least the WorldCat record if available). 

• Event Horizon (1997. Horror. Science Fiction). I commented on this one back in the April 2019 roundup.  It is one of those favorites that if I see it come up on a channel, I will stop to watch it. It came in April again, so yea, I watched it. Via TubiTv, though I also own it on DVD. Watched 4/4. 
• Airplane! (1980. Comedy. Spoof. Parody). Plot description: "After the crew becomes sick with food poisoning, a neurotic ex-fighter pilot must safely land a commercial airplane full of passengers." This is a spoof of the airline disaster films of the mid-1970s or so. I remember watching some of those, and I also remember watching this close to the time it came out.  Part of the reason we watch films like these is the cast, which here includes: Robert Hays, Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Robert Stack among others. If you ever watch the Airport movies, you will notice the various cliches parodied here. Even if you have not seen those movies, you'll recognize some of the cliches used in later disaster films. Still, despite some dated details, the humor overall holds up pretty well. For recent viewers, there may be a gag or two that may not be as "politically correct," so there is your heads up. Otherwise, a pretty good spoof that still works. The pacing is pretty good as we get joke after joke at a steady clip. 4 out of 5 stars. Viat TubiTv. Watched 4/4. 
• The Knock Knock Man (2025. Horror). Plot description: "A group of friends summon an urban legend as a dare, but when someone breaks a rule, the entity becomes real. As it hunts them down, they must discover its origins and banish it before they're all killed." Opening has a brief text explaining the origin of the legend, a neglected child that dies and becomes the lost spirit of the Knock Knock Man; it is a pretty good premise for a horror film. We start with the usual cast of somewhat spoiled teens that we can't wait to see dead, you know, superficial people we could not care less. Once they get to the lake house, and evening hits, they start the game, and initially it works. When one of the players breaks the rule, that is when the trouble starts. This was an OK suspense movie. The horror when you look at it is relatively minimal, it is more suspense that outright horror: will the Knock Knock Man get them or not, and we can all guess the answer. Pacing is OK; it manages to maintain a sense of tension throughout, but aside from that, a passable slasher film, except the deaths are relatively minimal. There is some gore, but no big deal. The acting is average at best. Thing is this character could have potential for a series along the lines of urban legend movies or similar horror, but it stays at a basic level. Decent enough movie to watch late at night, but it is mostly a watch once and move on. The twist at the end with the Black guy did not quite make sense if you consider the rules the movie set out for the Knock Knock Man, but then again, it is horror and sometimes rules get broken. 2 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 4/10, 
• Your Host (2025. Horror). Plot description: "Four friends get trapped in a sadistic game show, forced to outwit a twisted serial killer while racing against time. Every move brings them closer to freedom or a gruesome fate."  After we get a somewhat gruesome opening where a "contestant" chose poorly and gets killed, we moved to our four friends coming to some luxury country house one of their parents own. Again, as happens in these kind of movies, your usual vapid shallow characters you won't care about much. The one rich kid is an asshole, the two girls are a bit on the obnoxious side, though one of them is because she is worried over a sick parent, and the remaining guy is sort of meh. 15 minutes into the movie they get captured by a stranger and taken to the unknown game show location. The host puts them through a series of torture games. Once the "show" starts, it keeps going. At one point in the game, they have to confess the worst thing they did, which in a way confirms they are all assholes. Is that reason why they were picked for the game? Anyhow, we do not get much about the host or reason why the youth are chosen initially. Late into the film we get, via flashbacks, the host's background and a bit of why they were chosen. Overall, it is a decent thriller with a variety of fairly gruesome deaths. Reminiscent of the Saw  films? Yes, it is. Still, the actor portraying the host does pretty well. The rest of the acting was OK. While not great, it is pretty good. I watched it in part because Tubi suggested it as having similar appeal to The Knock Knock Man. It was a bit better though not by much. There is some gore, but not as much as other more known horror films. Still, it is watchable.  2.5 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 4/10.
• The Witch: Part 1: The Subversion. (2018. Action. Mystery, Science Fiction. Korean film. Original title: Manyeo). Plot description: "When a bright high school student with memory loss enters a national talent show to help her struggling family, she finds her ordinary life flipped upside down by the sudden arrival of mysterious strangers seemingly connected to her past." Initially I thought this could be a horror film given the title, but the trailer conveyed it was a different concept, so I decided to take a chance.  For starters, the opening credits with the various medical and pseudomedical images was interesting, adds a bit to the movie's initial mystery. The protagonist is a girl that escapes some kind of institution at 8 years old. She finds herself adopted by a cattle farmer and his wife. Time passes, and she is 19 now, the economy is bad, and her adoptive parents' health is frail, which motivates her to enter the contest. However, the contest brings exposure she did not want nor need. The story builds gradually as we get hints and bits of the girl's past and those who want to capture her. About halfway into the movie things really start to escalate, and the hunt is on. To be honest, this is not a new idea: some special child or youth kept in an unknown agency and raised to be an assassin or such. So the movie hinges on the intrigue, which it keeps very vague at times, and the action, which for at least first part of the film is minimal. We get some clues the program, whatever it is, is not just in Korea but other parts of the world as we get references of some kids being made in America (the U.S.). That part I find intriguing, but we do not get much of that background. As for the girl, it is the case of guy or gal with mysterious past living a peaceful life until they come after them. You know, stirring the nest of hornets they should've left alone. On a side note, for some reason, the dialogue in brief times uses English phrases but it is otherwise in Korean with subtitles. Not sure why they made that choice, but it is a bit weird to hear. As interesting as the film is, there is a bit more talking than anything else which kills the pacing. When the scientist is just talking out exposition later in the film, it just drags as you wait for the confrontation we all know is coming. The twist at the end, where we find out who baited who, is a nice detail. Yet in the end, some excessive dialogue ruins what can be a great action film. This is  Also it leans a bit much into melodrama for what it is. a two-hour film, but it probably could have worked just fine in an hour and forty minutes or so. Still, in the end, story and execution are decent. Protagonist performance is pretty good too. It is good visually, and the action scenes are done well.  I'd say it is one worth watching despite some flaws. I like it enough to give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 4/25. 
• The Witch: Part 2: The Other One (2022. Action. Mystery. Science Fiction. Korean film. Original title: Manyeo Part 2: the Other One).  Plot description: "After escaping from a secluded laboratory, a young girl with overwhelming power finds herself on the run from several mysterious organizations, seeking refuge with a woman and her younger brother." Turns out there was a sequel to the previous movie, this time with a new girl. Tubi has it this month, so I just went right away to watch and see if it is worth it. The plot starts now about 10 years later from the original. Turns out in all that time the scientist's sister, who is also a researcher, has been doing some research of her own along with others. Some of the gifted children are out in the wild, and of course the organization, or rather organizations because there are factions it seems, wants them eliminated. Meanwhile, the new girl manages initially to stay out of sight with the woman and her brother. This movie is a lot slower than the previous one, and the added subplots, such as a gang trying to take over the woman's land for some development, does not help the film. Again, too much talking at times just slows down the film. Then we get annoying characters like the farm woman's brother, who is a typical annoying teenager. The attempts at humor, such as the grocery store scene, do not help much either. Bottom line is various folks are after the girl, but we need to get through other subplots to get there. The overall concept of the films is good enough, but this sequel we probably could have done without. By the way, this one includes a post-credits scene, so it looks like they are leaving an opening for yet another sequel. However, if we go by this one, I am not expecting a third installment to be any better. This one in the end was a bit of a mess with the subplots, and it felt slow for most of it. For this one, it could have been so much better if it was better focused, shorter length. 1.5 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 4/25.  

 

Television and other series (basic show information links via Wikipedia unless noted otherwise). Some of these come in DVD from the public library. Others may be via YouTube, which, as noted before, I keep finding all sorts of other old shows in it, often full episodes:

• Kojak (1973-1978. Action. Crime. Drama).  The classic police drama procedural with Telly Savalas in the title role as Lieutenant Detective Theophilus "Theo" Kojak. Went on with season 4, which I finished, and into the 5th and final season of the series. Overall, I've been enjoying this series very much. Good writing, good drama, and of course, Telly Savalas had some serious charm. Rest of the cast perform well too. Via TubiTv. 
• In season 4, episode 15, suddenly we see Brian Dennehy as a security company officer.