Trailer Talk - Book Trailer Reviews

Good Friday All!  Has everyone got their holiday shopping wrapped up?  (See what I did there?)  Only a couple of more weekends left!  Just in case you're waiting until the last minute (like I am), let me give you something to help you procrastinate.

The first of this weeks trailer offerings comes via follower recommendation (thanks, Nomes!).  Yes, I do requests here on the OV, and no I don't take any kind of payment or offerings for doing the reviews.  Wether I like them or not is purely my own prerogative.

Now for the dirty!  


TRAILER # 1: The Rosie Black Chronicles by Lara Morgan



The Skinny: (From website)

"Five hundred years into the future, the world is a different place. The Melt has sunk most of the coastal cities and Newperth is divided into the haves, the “Centrals”; the have-nots, the “Bankers”; and the fringe dwellers, the “Ferals”.

Rosie Black is a Banker. When Rosie finds an unusual box, she has no idea of the grave consequences of her discovery. A mysterious organisation wants it – and will kill to get it.

Forced to rely on two strangers, Rosie is on the run. But who can she trust? Pip, the too attractive Feral, or the secretive man he calls boss?

From Earth to Mars, Rosie must learn the secrets of the box – before it’s too late."

What Worked: 

I was drawn in by the stark black & white imagery straight away.  This is clearly a dystopian, and the lack of color paints a bleak setting and tone that would support that style of book/reader.  I really, really loved how the city and girl are drawn in, and then slowly 'un-drawn' as the video progresses.  It creates a visual urgency that fits with the "Time is running out, etc." narrative.

What Didn't: 

Really wasn't feeling the music/soundtrack.  It was so wordy and over the top that I had to watch the video a second time on mute, focusing on the written narrative, to figure out what the story was about.  Also not a huge fan of rhetorical question openings (What would you do?, etc.) and this trailer lead off with no less than 3!  Which leads me to my final nitpick: it was a little long (1:18 ... granted the last 10 seconds are outro).  I'd have started with the "it's 500 years in the future..."

I've seen the trailer, would I read the book?

Maybe.  If I were a dystopian fan, it would be a definite yes.  However, as someone who neither hates nor loves the genre, I didn't see much to indicate what was going on in the story outside of conventions.  Although, the trailer is cool enough that a couple of friend endorsements would be all it would take to push me into the read category.

Trailer # 2: Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices - book 1) by Cassandra Clare

The Skinny:  (Amazon Review)

"Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all."

What Worked:

This is clearly a big-time trailer from a mega-popular book that has been professionally done.  The effects are topnotch, the music is Hollywood intense, and there is enough story detail to let you know this is a steampunk/paranormal blending of the highest drama.  I particularly loved the opening vintage film reel vibe.  The trailer has the perfect blend of artistic relevance and commercial appeal.

What Didn't:  

Frankly, there just isn't much wrong with this one.  It's a little long, and the visual tone of the trailer might be a little steampunk heavy for non-fans of the genre.  That being said, if you hated steampunk, I'm not sure this would be a good read for you anyway.

I've seen the trailer, would I read the book?

Absolutely!  I'm not even a diehard fan of either genre (steampunk/paranormal), and this story still sounds amazing.  That's called great advertising.

That's it for this time, check back next week for some more TT, and let me know if there are any trailers you'd like to see reviewed.  Have a great weekend!

-EJW-