Honey to the Bitch

Something seems to be troubling Clement XV. Monsignor Colim Michener, the papal secretary and Clement’s long-time friend and confidant, noticed that the 267th successor to St. Peter has been visiting the Vatican Riserva frequently in the past few months. The pontiff also asked him to study every Marian apparition there is, especially the incident in Fatima. Apparently, something about the third secret of Fatima is bothering the pope. Michener will soon find out that the third secret revealed by John Paul II was just a part of the Virgin’s message. He really didn’t care. But a series of events will lead him closer and closer to the missing part of the third secret.

Berry’s works have been compared to that of Dan Brown’s primarily because their novels convey messages unaccepted by traditionalists. The former, however, knows how to set boundaries. Through a writer’s note, Berry explains which parts are factual, and which are fictional.

As I’ve said, among all of the Berry novels, this is the one I read first. Although a little dismayed with the first half of the story, the second half KILLS, which makes me draw to the conclusion that this is quite a good read.

On the 1st of October, a mysterious Pulse has been transmitted and everyone who calls using their cellphones becomes turns into mindless zombie-like killers. Clayton Riddell, a struggling graphic artist who doesn’t own a cellphone, happens to be in the Boston Common that time. He figures out that the cellphones caused this frenzy and starts to worry about his estranged wife and his son who owns a cellphone back in Maine. Together with Tom McCourt and Alice Maxwell, people he saved during the chaotic chain of events, they make their way to Maine by foot, and discover more about the “phoners”.

With the world gone small with the help of cellular technology and people going agog with the hit TV series “The Walking Dead”, this novel could not be more timely. The first Stephen King book I’ve ever read, this one’s a definite page-turner. The plot build-up is tremendously excellent and plotholes are very, very minimal. Every character has been built up well and are some of the wittiest, most intelligent, and most logical people I’ve ever met in books. They are extremely humorous and optimistic despite the pandemic spreading in the novel. They also say some of the most memorable lines I’ve ever read, particularly, “Assume makes an ASS out of U and ME,” courtesy of Alice Maxwell. In order for a character to have wit, it should have an equally witty author. My kudos to Stephen King.

Prior to reading “Cell”, I’ve read a couple of reviews in the web saying that “Cell” wasn’t Stephen King’s best work, that it was above average. Well then, if that’s the case, then I’m in store for more, right?

After a century of slumber, a Prince finally plants a kiss on the legendary Sleeping Beauty’s lips and breaks the curse all throughout the castle. And they lived happily ever after…NOT! Don’t be fooled, this ain’t no fairy tale. The awakening of Sleeping Beauty only marks the beginning of this story. The Prince claims Beauty and brings her back to his Kingdom, where her wisdom will be broadened immensely, and her pride and vanity stripped out completely. 

The Sleeping Beauty Trilogy consists of “The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty”, “Beauty’s Punishment”, and “Beauty’s Release”. Despite being a trilogy, the story isn’t dragging at all. Just when I started to think than Anne Rice has used up all of her A-material in her first book, she managed to outdo herself in the second book, and outdo herself even more in the third one. Hence, these have been the most page-turning Anne Rice books I have ever read so far.

These books are not for those with faint hearts. True to it’s genre, the trilogy contains erotica at it’s finest from start to finish. Since it’s my first time to read a genre of this sort, I got really shocked at how descriptive the scenes are. I eventually got used to it, sooner than I expected.

Princess Beauty, Princes Alexi, Laurent, and Tristan, the Captain of the Guards, and Lexius will forever be ingrained in my memory for their unwavering sensuality and unearthly beauty. Plot holes are inevitable, and I really didn’t mind them until the last two chapters of the third book. Personally speaking, the ending was the major flaw. It seems to have been rushed, therefore creating a rather mediocre conclusion to the tale. Still, the Sleeping Beauty Trilogy is a worthwhile read- a sensual and delectable tale of sadism and masochism.