Queen & Country: The Definitive Edition, Vol. 1 by Greg Rucka, Steve Rolston, Brian Hurtt and Leandro Fernandez
This collection introduces SIS field agent Tara Chase who is sent all over the world in service to her Queen & Country. Meanwhile Director of Operations Paul Crocker walks a narrow tightrope between his loyalty to his people and the political masters that must be served.
It's always interesting to read these collections as each chapter can vary stylewise as different illustrations illustrate each chapter since this originally came out as separate issues. This very much feels like MI-5 which is one of my husband's favorite shows.
Beauty and the Squat Bears by Emile Bravo
When the queen's magic mirror declares that Snow White is the fairest in the land, Snow flees the kingdom and finds herself at the doorstep of the seven squat bears' cabin! But the squat bears aren't interested in harboring fugitive princesses. The best place for a beautiful princess is with a prince!
Setting off to find a prince, the squat bears quickly learn that the lives of royalty are far more trying than they seem! One prince has lived as a bird for seven years thanks to a sorceress's curse. One prince is heartbroken after learning that the woman of his dreams is actually a cinder-covered housemaid. One prince was transformed into a hideous beast and scares every princess who comes near. So which one will walk away with Snow White on his arm?
Very funny graphic novel rendition of Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs. I had to admit it was a lot more funny than I expected as the expressions on the squat bears and meeting with all the various Princes was hysterical. I like fairy tales varients and this is a new format that I had not thought of before.
Vicky Hill Exclusive! by Hannah Dennison
Novice newswoman Vicky Hill is desperate to get a front page exclusive. But she is stuck reporting on the funerals in the small village of Gipping-on-Plym in England while Annabel Lake, who was hired after Vicky, gets sent on all the best assignments.
But when Annabel faces a bout of food poisoning, Vicky jumps on the chance and takes on of her tips. The dustman has found some mutilated chicken corpses, and he things something may be afoot.
Meanwhile, Vicky must cover the funeral of Sir Hugh Trewallyn, a local aristocrat and hedge jumping enthusiast. But why is Vicky's land lady hiding in the bushes outside the church? Who is the strange man the widow attacks after the service? Did Sir Hugh really die of natural causes? And how does all this tie into those chickens?
This is a very scattered kind of cozy but not really a cozy. Cozies are usually low on murder and gore and sex. This was low on murder but lots of sexual inuendos that got old really quick. I liked aspects of this story but found the main character's obsesson of losing her virginity (didn't matter if with a male of female) became rather off putting. Not sure if I really want to read any more or not now that I've let it sink in.
