After reading – and thouroughly enjoying – C.S. Boyack’s romp, “The Hat”, I knew I had to follow up as soon as possible with “Viral Blues”.
Going into “Viral Blues”, I expected another funny, entertaining (and deadly) adventure featuring Lizzie St Laurent and her talking hat. What I didn’t expect was an esemble piece featuring the weirdest gang of superheroes since the Suicide Squad. While at first, I was a bit shocked by the addition of Gina and her Blunderbuss, Clovis and his attitude, Lisa and her outrageous sense of style, I quickly adopted them into my heart and accepted that in this adventure, yeah, Lizzie and the Hat definitely needed a little more firepower.
Going up against zombies, mobsters, and a mutating deadly virus, each member of the team reveals a unique talent that helps them battle the evil forces arrayed against them. For someone who hasn’t yet read the origin stories of the other superheroes, this was my first introduction to Lisa and her robotic talents, Jason and his foggy endeavours, and Clovis and his, well, Clovisness! Learning about these guys has definitely made me want to seek out their origin stories!
Boyack’s usual wry sense of humour is present in spades, as his action-oriented, almost comic-book-like writing style, but, as with The Hat, underpinning the humour and the kaboom of the story is heart. The relationships between this group of mismatched heroes are genuine and heartfelt. Lisa takes everyone under her wing like a mother hen, Gupta is the cautious overseeing ‘dad’ of the group, and Clovis…well, he’s the big bad brother. And you’d do well not to mess with his ‘siblings’.
If you haven’t gathered yet, I totally loved “Viral Blues” and will be waiting (im)patiently for more Lizzie and the Hat, hopefully with a few cameos from The Society’s best bunch of rogues.
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Seeing this makes my week. So glad you enjoyed it. I’ll share it far and wide.
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Reblogged this on Entertaining Stories and commented:
I found this wonderful review for Viral Blues this morning. Check it out, and look around Jessica’s place while you’re there. I really enjoyed her debut novel “Guns of Perdition,” and you might, too.
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Thanks for the reblog 🙂
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Thanks for posting this.
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The “Clovisness” of Clovis is my favorite thing about it. Loved this book. Glad to see you loved it, too, Jess. Great review.
Congratulations to Craig on story readers enjoy.
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There might not be a better way to describe him.
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Agreed. i wish I’d thought of it.
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He IS pretty unique!
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It really tickled my fancy, Staci. Maybe it’s because of the gloom of the world at the moment, but Craig’s brand of twisted spec fiction is just what I need!
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If you like Clovis, you’ll love The Playground. It’s not funny, but it’s chock full of my favorite antihero. It’s hard to pick a favorite of his stories, and we all know I’m the root monsters’ biggest fan, but The Playground and Will O’ the Wisp really stand out to me.
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Oh good, because The Playground is all queued up in my Kindle!!
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Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on that one!
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Oh you will!
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I’ve enjoyed so many of Craig’s books, and I adore his humour. Great review, Jessica. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Thank you, Harmony.
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I’m just getting into them all now, Harmony. Many more in front of me to enjoy 🙂
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Big Clovis fan here! I knew you’d enjoy this one, Jessica – it’s one of my favs of Craig’s.
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Thanks so much, Teri. Clovis is a blast to write.
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Yeah, this one really tickled my fancy! I love how everyone tries to come up with a plan, and Clovis just goes in and starts blowing people away. 🙂
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I have this book awaiting me on my Kindle, and this review has just encouraged me to bump it UP, for sure. Great to read how much you enjoyed it, Jessica, and congratulations on another wonderful review, Craig! Can’t wait to find out just how much Clovisness Clovis exudes. 😀
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That was a great line. Hope you enjoy it when it comes up.
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You’ll LOVE it Marcia! Humour, twists, robots, fog-men, talking hats, massive guns… it’s got everything!
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😀
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I also enjoyed this book very much, Jessica. Terrific review. Congratulations, Craig.
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Thanks for saying so here, John.
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I said so in my office but you couldn’t hear me so I thought I better write it down.
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Good man.
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snigger…
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It was a blast!
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You really hit on all the things that make Viral Blues so special, Jess. I loved having the whole wild and eclectic group together in this tale.
Super review and so well deserved for Craig!
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Thanks for saying so here.
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They were such a bunch of misfits, but when they clicked together…unstoppable!
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I love Craig’s imagination and writing style. A fun review!
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Thanks for your kind comments.
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Thanks Judi – you’re so right, Craig’s imaginiation is second to none.
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I enjoyed this one too, Jess. Craig creates a fun and zany world. Great review. I have Serang in my kindle and keep meaning to get started on it. A good break from those covid blues. 🙂
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I told her Covid Blues would sound great if played by Lizzie and the Pythons. Hope you enjoy Serang when it comes up.
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Yeah, I find very little that can totally lift my mood like Craig’s books at the moment. That’s ok, plenty of time to binge read them!
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Hi, Jessica! I read The Hat and enjoyed it. This one’s in my kindle, and I’m hoping to get to it soon. Thanks for the review! 😀
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Hope it holds up when you get to it. Book three is is the vault and just waiting for my October push.
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I’m sure it will, Craig. Sounds great!
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Exciting!!!!!
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This one’s like The Hat on steroids Vashti 👍🤗
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