The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgård, Christopher Plummer
Director: David Fincher
Running Time: 160 minutes

Synopsis: (from the book cover)

A spellbinding amalgam of murder mystery, family saga, love story, and financial intrigue.

It’s about the disappearance forty years ago of Harriet Vanger, a young scion of one of the wealthiest families in Sweden . . . and about her octogenarian uncle, determined to know the truth about what he believes was her murder.

It’s about Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently at the wrong end of a libel case, hired to get to the bottom of Harriet’s disappearance . . . and about Lisbeth Salander, a twenty-four-year-old pierced and tattooed genius hacker possessed of the hard-earned wisdom of someone twice her age—and a terrifying capacity for ruthlessness to go with it—who assists Blomkvist with the investigation. This unlikely team discovers a vein of nearly unfathomable iniquity running through the Vanger family, astonishing corruption in the highest echelons of Swedish industrialism—and an unexpected connection between themselves.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo brings to life Steig Larsson's first book of his masterful Millennium  trilogy. As the movie opens, Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song (performed by Karen O) screams into the theater, setting the pace and tone for the film. It flashes in pieces and tidbits, exciting the viewer, drawing you in tighter, as it explodes across the big screen.

Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is a disgraced journalist caught in the trap of a scheming businessman/millionaire, Hans-Erik Wennerström (Ulf Friberg), literally robbed of his career. When Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) decides to hire someone to do what he has been unable to do and needs to finish before his demise, he looks to Mikael to accomplish the daunting task, to find the murderer of his niece, Harriet Vanger (Moa Garpendal).

She went missing 40 years prior after attending a children's festival. I say it is a daunting task because all the information is 40 years old, as are the pictures, recollections, police investigation. And Henrik is sure the murderer is a close family member.

Which leads us to the mysterious island of the Vanger family stronghold, Hedeby Island. It's where all (almost all) the Vangers live in relative peace, meaning they stay away from each other. Distrust runs rampant.

During World War II, the Vangers were known for the Nazi leanings, two of the three brother were Nazi sympathizers (Gottfried {Jürgen Klein} and Harald {Per Myrberg}), though Gottfried drowns himself in a drunken fall before Harriet's (his daughter) disappearance. Henrik is disdainful of his brothers, though with the disappearance of his niece, he has but little choice other than his nephew, Martin Vanger (Stellan Skarsgård) to operate the family business which interests are wide and varied.

Mikael's task seems insurmountable, and he asked for the use of an assistant/investigator which the family lawyer Dirch Frode (Steven Berkoff) readily provides, Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) a twenty-three year old ward of the state, currently being abused by newly assigned legal guardian, Nils Bjurman (Yorick van Wageningen).

She's a pierced, tattooed hacker/investigator known for her rough lifestyle and antisocial behavior, and admittedly, she has little reason to trust. Lisbeth is also a little lost, looking for an anchor, one she thinks she's found in Mikael. Together Mikael and Lisbeth piece together what might have happened, only to have reality slap them in the face, very much alive, in the here and now, and murdering still. Not everyone is who she or he appears to be, and the mystery grows.

One of the powerful lines in the movie, "I want you to help me catch the killer of women."

It will take all the skills of the rogue journalist and tattooed investigator to stay alive.

This is an amazing film that grips the viewer with the onslaught of images in the opening credits to the end of the wild ride of the movie. Twists and turns abound, danger lurks around every corner. I've read that the Sweden movie did better justice to the book, and I haven't seen the 2009 Swedish made film (but I want too). With all that said, Rooney Mara plays Lisbeth Salander, the socially different, outcast survivor to perfection and Daniel Craig (famed 007) plays Mikael Blomkvist with just the right amounts of human need, disillusionment, and vengeance. If you haven't seen this movie, it's high on my recommend list, one I'd like to see again, as well as the 2009 English captioned Swedish film of the same name, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. It's a rock em, sock em, roller coaster ride. One of the best films I've seen (and I watch a lot of movies!).

Five out of Five Fairy Kisses (tempted to add 5 more!)

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge, Week 77... (The Tuesday Edition)

Good Tuesday Morning (Afternoon)!! (Thanks B for letting me know...lol)

I've been such a bad blogger... I have a head cold and it's KILLING me.. lol. I had a post scheduled for Monday, and I didn't even check to see if it posted... I'm slipping bad...

So, here's yesterday's post today..

Good Monday Morning!

I'm going to get right to it this morning... It's time for another edition of Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge!!

This morning's image is another I found while creeping through deviant art/fantasy pages.... hope you all enjoy it!

Definitely warrior-ish... I wonder what it will lead too? I also wonder why guy warriors never have THEIR chest exposed, lol!! But, it's too good to pass up (just cos I gotta problem with less armor, maybe in my story... she'll pull on a chest plate of some kind.... but then again... maybe not).

Hope everyone enjoys it and we have some fantastic flash!!

Have a great week!

Ciao bella!!

Deliverance, Mortal Path, Book 3 by Dakota Banks

Publisher: Harper Voyager / Harper-Collins
Pages: 304

(Release Date: March 27, 2012)

From the Cover:

“A gut-kick of a read, with non-stop action and as inventive a world as I’ve ever seen.”
—Vicki Pettersson, New York Times bestselling author of the Signs of the Zodiac series

“Great characters who jump from the page; a smart, layered plot, and pacing that screams. This is the kind of book that makes you look forward to a rainy day.”
—John Gilstrap, author of Nathan’s Run

“Readers…will devour Banks’s clever and compelling Mortal Path series. Assassins, demons, and danger, oh my!”
—Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love You More

Dakota Banks has taken the supernatural thriller and given it a breathtaking new twist! Deliverance is the third book in Banks’s relentlessly exciting urban fantasy series, Mortal Path, featuring heroine Maliha Crayne, once a demon’s henchwoman and paranormal assassin now determined to atone for her centuries of murderous acts. A cross between Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft and Marvel Comics’s Elektra, Maliha finds her powers are rapidly fading in Deliverance, and discovers that her quest to avoid eternal damnation has put those she loves most in gravest peril. Banks’s Deliverance delivers suspense and edge-of-your-seat adventure—a non-stop paranormal roller coaster ride that fans of Jeaniene Frost, James Rollins, Vicki Pettersson, and Indiana Jones, won’t want to miss.

It will be another rockin rollin thrill ride from Dakota Banks and my favorite heroine, Maliha Crayne... a kick-ass ex-assassin, bent on reclaiming her soul. Can't wait to see what happens!! 

I have to say, Dakota is blessed with some of the best cover art... I'm loving these covers!!

Black Fang by Susan Blexrud

Publisher: DCL Publications
Pages: 45

(Released: August 17, 2011)

From the Cover:

Someone is deliberately infecting bats with a deadly fungus. The flying mammals are dying by the thousands, and along with them, a significant number of vampires in bat form have also succumbed.

Enter John and Lauren Wright. The vampire couple has conquered evil enemies in the past, but the perpetrator behind the bat deaths is more cunning than any they’ve encountered. Though John initially suspects that werewolves are the culprits, he discovers he is up against a colony of Unseelie faeries. The intoxicating scent of the faeries has been known to deceive vampires, pitting friend against friend—and wife against husband.

When a good friend flies into John's house, dying from fungus poisoning known as white nose syndrome, John makes it his business to find out what's going on. The vampires are falling as quickly as their little furry friends, and it has to stop.

To find out, he'll have to go bat himself. He suspects the weres, but after investigating, it appears to have a fey connection. When his wife, Lauren gets suck into a fairy mound, he'll have to try something new and hope it works, or she'll forget him and their daughter forever.


Black Fang is an excellent tidbit of a read from Susan Blexrud. She gives us characters that while preternatural are all too human, with just enough humor to give the reader a few chuckles too. I very much enjoyed this new addition to her Love Fang books. Just what I needed between reads and after NaNoWriMo, the perfect little getaway, the perfect change of pace even if only for a few moments. Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.

I received this book from the author, because that's just how she rolls (and besides, I had to read.... there were fairies involved....). Thanks Susan!! All opinions expressed are my own.

Dealers of Light by Lara Nance

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Pages: 336

(Released: August 19, 2011)

From the Cover:

A malevolent group of Light-Dealers have surfaced in Cara Collin's hometown of Norfolk, Virginia. Led by an ancient Aztec demon, the "Takers" are torturing and murdering their way to world domination. As the horror spreads, Cara-who has the ability to send "Light" into others to augment healing-receives a special power from a patient making her a crucial weapon in stopping the Takers. But, she must figure out how to use the gift before the Takers make her their next target.

When mysterious Rolf Van Harding shows up in town with information that may help her, she's torn between joining his quest and running for her life. When she discovers he's a powerful, ancient Light-Dealer she fears their growing passion will be a weakness-a weakness that could allow the Takers to murder the last remaining Light-Dealer capable of stopping them.

Cara Collins has been a healer her whole life, she knows no other way to be. She's part of a group of Dealers who support and help each other, and when possible, save each other.

When someone comes into her clinic sick or injured, Cara locates their portal and gives part of her inner Light to strength and support the person in need. A young woman, Nicki, comes into her clinic, claiming to have seen some kind of vampiric suctioning of another and Cara doesn't know what to make of it. But on her heals, Emmie comes into her clinic, claiming she's ready to meet her maker. She only came to share her gift, and Cara will need it, if she's to survive what's coming. Mystery engulfs her. Emmie won't accept Cara's healing light, and imparts what she has held within herself, dying in front of Cara's eyes.

Rolf Van Harding strolls into Cara's life, searching for the Takers, corrupted Dealer who have become addicted to the taking of Light. It's everything that goes against what Cara has done with her life, it sickens her to know that instead of helping others, these Takers are stealing Light from their victims. The individuals are mainlining the Light of others, drinking them dry, leaving a husk of a body behind, no visible signs of injury. But, Rolf knows different. He's spent his ancient existence killing the Takers, and now he fears that his greatest enemy has found a home in Atlanta.

When Rolf meets Cara, it's like rediscovering his heart. Emotions that he thought to be long dead, stir to life. Together they discover a bond, the ability to link together. And it might be the Dealers only saving grace.

Dealers of Light by Lara Nance is an sweet paranormal romance. Rolf is a strong alpha male who lost his mate many centuries ago. He's an immortal, his existence has become finding and killing the Takers, the ones responsible for his mate's death. When he stumbles across Cara, there's something about her that brings him to life, makes him want to care again, to live again. What Cara sees in Rolf's eyes is a longing for something more, if only he'll let her be that something more. Until finding Cara, Rolf has been looking for a way to leave life behind. It almost takes her loss for him to discover the depths of his feelings. Now, together, they must protect their small group, because they're the only thing standing between the eventually conquering of humanity and the Takers who are determined to take it all.

Dealers of Light is an unique story, combining ancient myths and modern times. Dealers takes place in Atlanta, though Rolf is from ancient Egypt. But, it is only with his help that Cara and her group can figure out what happening around them. And Rolf needs Cara and her group help if he's going to thwart an ancient evil, almost as old as he is, a demon and his greatest enemy. Dealers is a story of a love reborn, through great time and distance, Rolf learns to love again. And isn't that the best kind of love story there is? This feels like the beginning of a series, and I hope we see more of the wonderful cast of characters Lara Nance has created. The love story between Cara and Rolf is just building, and it's going to be great. I'd love to see more of their life together, and hope to in the future. I highly recommend this sweet paranormal romance (with one scorching love scene) to all lovers of romance, paranormal or not. It's a love story that build across the centuries to find a home with Cara, and with Rolf. I very much enjoyed Dealers of Light, the only thing I could have asked for more of was the hot romance building between Cara and Rolf... but maybe in the next book?? Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.

I received my copy for review from the author, Lara Nance. All opinions expressed are my own.