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Tattoo Rampage
Evangelina Marquez-James gets her first tattoo, a symbol of courage to carry on after her husband dies in the line of duty as a police officer. The skin art is of an elite yet obscure super heroine created by a forgotten 1940s artist.
A solar disturbance triggers a metamorphosis in her new ink, enabling Evangelina with the ability to transform into the embodiment of the character complete with powers. She sets out to wage war against the types of vermin who murdered her husband.
Acid, a sociopathic killer who can assume the form of his warlord tattoo, seeks the artist’s original sketchbook. When Evangelina comes into possession of the drawing pad, Acid not only tracks it down, but her family as well, forcing her into a standoff with his nightmarish army born of ink.
A solar disturbance triggers a metamorphosis in her new ink, enabling Evangelina with the ability to transform into the embodiment of the character complete with powers. She sets out to wage war against the types of vermin who murdered her husband.
Acid, a sociopathic killer who can assume the form of his warlord tattoo, seeks the artist’s original sketchbook. When Evangelina comes into possession of the drawing pad, Acid not only tracks it down, but her family as well, forcing her into a standoff with his nightmarish army born of ink.
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
216 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2013
252 people want to read
About the author
Gusto Dave
5 books106 followersTattoo Rampage is represented for film by Hotchkiss and Associates, the same agency that brokered Secretariat, The Kite Runner, and Joe Hill's Horns from books to the screen.
Not your typical author, “Gusto” Dave Jackson started writing in his constant pursuit to become a renaissance man. Then he fell in love with the art form. Comedy remains as one of his many passions. He writes and performs skits as well as stand-up. Also a songwriter and guitarist, he has composed over 300 musical titles.
Not your typical author, “Gusto” Dave Jackson started writing in his constant pursuit to become a renaissance man. Then he fell in love with the art form. Comedy remains as one of his many passions. He writes and performs skits as well as stand-up. Also a songwriter and guitarist, he has composed over 300 musical titles.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 12, 2013
Ok, so this book--is in one of my top five of the year so far. I grabbed this in NetGalley because it looked different and kinda fun. I needed to mix up my genre reading a bit and I was like, "Eh, what harm could it do?"
Well, apparently a whole heap of harm to my sleep cycle!
Not only is the writing just masterful in this book, the characters are so well written that they come alive and just sucker punch you in each scene. I am seeing a trend with Male writers lately writing some of my favorite female lead characters. I am sort of an odd bird though. I don't find women that strong minded as b*tches. I find them as strong and masterful. Eve is one of those masterful characters that I found myself wanting to be so much that I was putting myself in her shoes while I read the book. Which is kinda fitting considering the storyline.
So, ok, for all yous that want to know what is so 'fantastic' about this book. Let me give you the low down. In Tattoo Rampage there is a world were Tattoos go to die. It is called Inkscape--think Cool World but like ten thousand times better.
I literally turned into one of those creepy fangirls. I was screaming FEELS FEELS FEELS in my living room while reading! I never do that. But let me tell you Zig and Eve, they can give the Feels to a Nun!
It is really hard to fully just dive in and tell you what makes this book pack the punch that it did for me. I just think this author knew what he was doing. I needed something fresh, different, and smart and I got it! All the characters were powerful and I was crying and screaming laughing (a lot, mostly I blame Zig for that)
All I know is that I want more of Zig and Eve. I don't think my writing life will be complete until I get more Zig and Eve in my life!
*I received a copy of this book from Curiosity Quills Press/Dave Jackson Via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Well, apparently a whole heap of harm to my sleep cycle!
Not only is the writing just masterful in this book, the characters are so well written that they come alive and just sucker punch you in each scene. I am seeing a trend with Male writers lately writing some of my favorite female lead characters. I am sort of an odd bird though. I don't find women that strong minded as b*tches. I find them as strong and masterful. Eve is one of those masterful characters that I found myself wanting to be so much that I was putting myself in her shoes while I read the book. Which is kinda fitting considering the storyline.
So, ok, for all yous that want to know what is so 'fantastic' about this book. Let me give you the low down. In Tattoo Rampage there is a world were Tattoos go to die. It is called Inkscape--think Cool World but like ten thousand times better.
I literally turned into one of those creepy fangirls. I was screaming FEELS FEELS FEELS in my living room while reading! I never do that. But let me tell you Zig and Eve, they can give the Feels to a Nun!
It is really hard to fully just dive in and tell you what makes this book pack the punch that it did for me. I just think this author knew what he was doing. I needed something fresh, different, and smart and I got it! All the characters were powerful and I was crying and screaming laughing (a lot, mostly I blame Zig for that)
All I know is that I want more of Zig and Eve. I don't think my writing life will be complete until I get more Zig and Eve in my life!
*I received a copy of this book from Curiosity Quills Press/Dave Jackson Via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
October 3, 2013
http://seh-bookblog.blogspot.com/2013...
TATTOO RAMPAGE brings out my most girlish squeals, and I am not ashamed to admit it! What a unique take on urban-fantasy. This, this is a creative world and fantasy writing done at its best; this book is every tattoo and comic book geek’s bundle of paradise. I was immediately drawn in by Dave Jackson’s clever dialogues and kick-ass characters. Oh, Zig. (Swoons) I will get into the characters, later. But first … tattoos coming to life?! That is beyond this world amazing! If you have read my Goodreads profile and follow me on my image blog, you should know that I love tattoos and have a few of my own. SO, you can imagine how stoke I was to receive a review request from Curiosity Quills (publisher of this wondrous book)! As I read through the book, I imagine my own tattoos becoming animated and although they are no threat to others (what can a hummingbird surrounded by Sukira flowers do?), it is still fascinating.
Evangelina is a mother of a son, whose father was shot during his duty as a police officer. She goes and gets her first tattoo, done by a very close friend, Rowdy. But only hours after, she starts to feel strange and finds herself in Inkscape -- a world where the inked images spout to life. Intrigued yet in horror, Evangelina searches for an escape to get back to the real world. I enjoyed the alteration between this imaginative and the real world. It is definitely an attention-grabber. Evangelina then meets Zig who has the same abilities as her and was the first to venture into this other world. Zig will be the one to teach and tell her all about this, phantom dimension and their purpose. And so the action picks up, and both hero and heroine will team up to try and stop this psychopathic killer, Acid – who in turn is looking for them, to get a hold of a sketchbook that fell into Evengelina’s hand, when her friend Rowdy all of a sudden goes in hiding.
Zig was a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting a male protagonist, I have to admit. His character was very carefree, yet at the same time mysterious (all you can ask for in a male protagonist). Throughout the book, I wondered what Zig’s story was. Why is he alone? How did he find out about Inkscape? And as Dave Jackson slowly broke it down for us, I wished he hadn’t – at the same time I loved that he did. Readers wouldn’t be able to fall in love with Zig if his creator didn’t release such important information. In doing so, you will see that behind the entire carefree manner there is something much more. Let’s not forget he is what Evangelina needs, after the death of her husband; a new beginning and a breath of fresh air.
Speaking of our charismatic heroine, she is one of the best ever! She demolishes her role as the part-time warrior and mom. And they both just complement one another so well … Zig and Evangelina, that is! It’s rare to find two characters that really contrast yet harmonize another. Their conversation were oh, so entertaining and definitely one of the finest points of the book.
Dang it, this book is just SO good that I don’t know what else to tell you. After reading it, I felt I had so much to say, but as I write this review, words can only supply limited appreciation of what I have for this book. From start to finish, I was hooked. There was not a single page where I didn’t find myself feeling satisfied. Great plot, witty characters, so much intrigue, one of my favorite books of the year.
(Anyone remember buying comics at the comic store, where the comics are freshly wrapped in their plastic bags? Ugh, I wish I had kept them! I use to have tons.)
Recommend!
TATTOO RAMPAGE brings out my most girlish squeals, and I am not ashamed to admit it! What a unique take on urban-fantasy. This, this is a creative world and fantasy writing done at its best; this book is every tattoo and comic book geek’s bundle of paradise. I was immediately drawn in by Dave Jackson’s clever dialogues and kick-ass characters. Oh, Zig. (Swoons) I will get into the characters, later. But first … tattoos coming to life?! That is beyond this world amazing! If you have read my Goodreads profile and follow me on my image blog, you should know that I love tattoos and have a few of my own. SO, you can imagine how stoke I was to receive a review request from Curiosity Quills (publisher of this wondrous book)! As I read through the book, I imagine my own tattoos becoming animated and although they are no threat to others (what can a hummingbird surrounded by Sukira flowers do?), it is still fascinating.
Evangelina is a mother of a son, whose father was shot during his duty as a police officer. She goes and gets her first tattoo, done by a very close friend, Rowdy. But only hours after, she starts to feel strange and finds herself in Inkscape -- a world where the inked images spout to life. Intrigued yet in horror, Evangelina searches for an escape to get back to the real world. I enjoyed the alteration between this imaginative and the real world. It is definitely an attention-grabber. Evangelina then meets Zig who has the same abilities as her and was the first to venture into this other world. Zig will be the one to teach and tell her all about this, phantom dimension and their purpose. And so the action picks up, and both hero and heroine will team up to try and stop this psychopathic killer, Acid – who in turn is looking for them, to get a hold of a sketchbook that fell into Evengelina’s hand, when her friend Rowdy all of a sudden goes in hiding.
Zig was a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting a male protagonist, I have to admit. His character was very carefree, yet at the same time mysterious (all you can ask for in a male protagonist). Throughout the book, I wondered what Zig’s story was. Why is he alone? How did he find out about Inkscape? And as Dave Jackson slowly broke it down for us, I wished he hadn’t – at the same time I loved that he did. Readers wouldn’t be able to fall in love with Zig if his creator didn’t release such important information. In doing so, you will see that behind the entire carefree manner there is something much more. Let’s not forget he is what Evangelina needs, after the death of her husband; a new beginning and a breath of fresh air.
Speaking of our charismatic heroine, she is one of the best ever! She demolishes her role as the part-time warrior and mom. And they both just complement one another so well … Zig and Evangelina, that is! It’s rare to find two characters that really contrast yet harmonize another. Their conversation were oh, so entertaining and definitely one of the finest points of the book.
Dang it, this book is just SO good that I don’t know what else to tell you. After reading it, I felt I had so much to say, but as I write this review, words can only supply limited appreciation of what I have for this book. From start to finish, I was hooked. There was not a single page where I didn’t find myself feeling satisfied. Great plot, witty characters, so much intrigue, one of my favorite books of the year.
(Anyone remember buying comics at the comic store, where the comics are freshly wrapped in their plastic bags? Ugh, I wish I had kept them! I use to have tons.)
Recommend!
September 12, 2015
Two years after her husband's murder, Evangelina decides to get her first tattoo. to represent Evangelina's strength, her best friend chooses a female superhero called "Sabron Quill", a design by an underestimated comic book writer turned tattoo artist of the 1940s. This marks the beginning point for a hell of a lot of trouble for Evangelina. Suddenly, she turns into Sabron Quill herself and finds herself prey to a psychopathic serial killer and his horde of ruthless tattoos. What Evangelina doesn't know: The sketchbook with her tattoo is incredibly valuable.
I really liked the plot idea, it was very unique. You definitely don't meet tattoos come to life in every other book! I found the idea of "Inkscape", a sort of cemetery for tattoos whose bearers are dead, absolutely fascinating. But that's not exactly a safe place for clueless Evangelina, because many people like to have dangerous designs on their skin.
The book is not for the faint of heart. On page one, you get to meet Acid, the psychopathic serial killer that enjoys torturing his victims with a hammer. He and his "scratchers" will do anything to get what Acid wants. But I have to admit I found the violence rather fitting. The mood of the book is rather violent and dark. It wasn't overly gory or gross either.
It was interesting to learn Evangelina's new super powers together with her. These powers are not exactly what you'd expect from your average superhero(ine). Everything's based on the concept of tattoos being made of ink, so every unusual aspect of Sabron Quill and the other tattoos revolved around ink. Very well done!
I wasn't too fond of the ending, though. The love story came out of nowhere and I really didn't understand their feelings for each other. It felt like the author realized halfway through that there was no romance in his book and figured every good book needs its love story, so he had to come up with something. Luckily, it was only a minor part and not very important, so it wasn't too distracting.
Other than that, I somehow missed a certain spark. I can't really explain it, but while the plot was very unique and the ideas were well executed, I found myself missing something.
And there were a lot of typos and spelling mistakes. Not on every page, but there were most definitely too many for my grammar nazi nature.
Four stars from me for a well written book full of unique ideas that was unfortunately missing a certain spark with an unnecessary romance.
"Tattoo Rampage" is a book for everybody that likes their fantasy dark and violent and who's into tattoos. Definitely a great read!
I really liked the plot idea, it was very unique. You definitely don't meet tattoos come to life in every other book! I found the idea of "Inkscape", a sort of cemetery for tattoos whose bearers are dead, absolutely fascinating. But that's not exactly a safe place for clueless Evangelina, because many people like to have dangerous designs on their skin.
The book is not for the faint of heart. On page one, you get to meet Acid, the psychopathic serial killer that enjoys torturing his victims with a hammer. He and his "scratchers" will do anything to get what Acid wants. But I have to admit I found the violence rather fitting. The mood of the book is rather violent and dark. It wasn't overly gory or gross either.
It was interesting to learn Evangelina's new super powers together with her. These powers are not exactly what you'd expect from your average superhero(ine). Everything's based on the concept of tattoos being made of ink, so every unusual aspect of Sabron Quill and the other tattoos revolved around ink. Very well done!
I wasn't too fond of the ending, though. The love story came out of nowhere and I really didn't understand their feelings for each other. It felt like the author realized halfway through that there was no romance in his book and figured every good book needs its love story, so he had to come up with something. Luckily, it was only a minor part and not very important, so it wasn't too distracting.
Other than that, I somehow missed a certain spark. I can't really explain it, but while the plot was very unique and the ideas were well executed, I found myself missing something.
And there were a lot of typos and spelling mistakes. Not on every page, but there were most definitely too many for my grammar nazi nature.
Four stars from me for a well written book full of unique ideas that was unfortunately missing a certain spark with an unnecessary romance.
"Tattoo Rampage" is a book for everybody that likes their fantasy dark and violent and who's into tattoos. Definitely a great read!
September 19, 2013
This book is amazing! I love alternate realities, and Dave Jackson has crafted an incredible one in Tattoo Rampage. It’s not just tattoos that come alive. Wicked imagination brings the world of skin ink to life in a Dark Narnia I couldn’t put down. If I ever find a Tat shop that has a Sabron Quill pattern, I’m going under the pen. A superhero for a new age.
May 23, 2015
I absolutely love the thought of ink coming to life. I cant wait for more from this series. Gusto Dave is on to something special with this book. I did not want to put it down. I special ordered it from Barnes and Noble.
March 3, 2014
[I won a copy in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks!]
TBA.
TBA.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews