DarkMatter fanzine

Index of Reviews  

Tomb Raider by Crystal Dynamics a game review by deth Let me preface this review of Tomb Raider by saying that I don’t often actually finish games. I pick up many games, blast through a chunk of the story in one sitting, play it once or twice more, then leave it half-finished. This is because most

Trinity Rising by Elspeth Cooper a review by Nalini Haynes Trinity Rising is the second book in a quartet by Elspeth Cooper that began with Songs of the Earth. Songs of the Earth was nominated for a Morningstar Award, which “celebrate[s] the newcomers to the fantasy genre, whose first book published in English.” I reviewed

NOS4R2 by Joe Hill a review by Stephen C. Ormsby There is a great book buried within the 700 pages of NOS4R2, but it’s overburdened with redundancy and extensive explanation that sometimes really doesn’t work.  The tension I expected built incredibly slowly, and Joe gives away important details that could be saved for surprise value. I

Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson a review by Stephen C. Ormsby I expected more from this book.  There I’ve said it – upfront and early.  Whilst reading Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson, I expected more from it.  Not sure what that more would or should have consisted of, but it lacked something.

Before the Storm by Sean McMullen a review by Nalini Haynes Before the Storm by Sean McMullen is an alternative history time-travelling YA novel. Emily and Daniel Lang, teenage brother and sister, live in Melbourne in 1901. We meet them a fortnight before Australia becomes a Federation, opening its first parliament in Exhibition Building. Fox

The Paladin Prophecy by Mark Frost a review by Rebecca Muir Publisher: Doubleday, Random House Children’s Publishers The Paladin Prophecy is the first installment of a planned trilogy, based in present day USA. Will West is a teenager who has spent his life moving around with his parents. He is very smart and a gifted runner, but he

A reviewer on reviewing by Nalini Haynes In his essay ‘Say Goodbye to the Play-by-Play Book Review,’ Michael Bourne talks about changes in reviewing culture caused by the internet revolution. Michael argues that to merely give a synopsis and indicate if the book is worth reading is no longer valid; instead one must contribute what he considers

Princess Nevermore by Dian Curtis Regan a review by Elizabeth Manthos  Princess Nevermore follows the story of the Princess Quinella of Mandria, a magical world beneath our own. Ever since she could, Quinn would stare through the wishing pool into our world “outer earth”. Fifteen year old Quinn wasn’t ready for the responsibility of running a

Star Trek Into Darkness a review by Nalini Haynes I take my life into my hands as I review Star Trek Into Darkness in the full knowledge that too much information will result in a lynching. This would be regrettable. I, especially, would regret this. So, what can I say? HOW MUCH can I say? I