The Bookwyrm's Review of Path To Villainy by S.L. Rowland

Author: S. L. Rowland

Length: 176 Pages/ 4 Hours, 29 Minutes (Audio)

Release Date: August 18, 2020/ December 22, 2020 (Audio)

Publisher: Self Published/ Tantor Audio 

Narration: Alex Knox

Genre: LitRPG

Amazon Link  

As a lifelong gamer, and that means starting with Pong in the mid 70's as a kid, I can honestly say that gaming has always been a huge part of my life. I discovered books like the Guardians of the Flame, which is built around college students playing a tabletop RPG, getting sent to the actual fantasy world of the game, when I was in high school. I consider LitRPG and GameLit the natural progression of books like that. It's amazing to see what the writers of these fairly new genres have created. This is what brings us to Path to Villainy, a stand alone novel dealing with a main character no one would expect, and who takes a path that you could never imagine.

PLOT SUMMARY

Villains aren't born, they're made. 

Witt was an ordinary NPC - a non-player character in a video game. As a kobold skald, he sang songs to empower heroes before they entered the local dungeons. 

Every day was a fresh start. Every day Witt woke with no memory of his previous encounters with all those so-called heroes. And every day he forgot the countless beatings and deaths he took at the hands of the murder hobos he valiantly buffed. 

But when all of those memories suddenly come flooding back, he only wants one thing: 

Revenge.

FURTHER THOUGHTS

For a fairly short story, this one packs in a lot of character and world building. Witt is an especially engaging character. Starting as a humble NPC bard, who's only job is to cast an enhancement spell on adventurers entering the local dungeon. Witt coming to terms with the fact that the "heroes" he's helping every day aren't who he thought they were, discovering that he had been murdered countless times by those he was helping and awakening each time with no memory of it, is kind of heartbreaking. His awakening to the truth of what happened to him, and realizing he isn't alone in this, is so well done. His decision to take the path of villainy is so coldly rational, so methodical, that his eventual fate, even with setbacks, feels completely natural. It's not often a single minded obsession can feel relatable, but with Witt, its just so well done that it is completely relatable. The secondary characters are such a wonderful group of characters. Witt's fellow kobolds go through their own growth as Witt's actions unlock their potential within the world's structure. They really help enhance Witt's story.

The world building is fairly standard for a fantasy LitRPG, but with some interesting little tweaks. While there are the standard fantasy races such as elves, dwarves, gnomes, halflings, trolls, orcs and the like, there is not the usual good/evil alignment classification. There are heroes of all those races, NPC races like Kobolds and various monsters. An NPC breaking his programming like Witt is unheard of, and the depths of the world we see because of it shows us parts of this kind of world you wouldn't normally expect. Its just a fun world that the author created, with some of the things you'd expect to see kind of turned on their head. 

NARRATION

The narrative work for Path to Villainy is handled by Alex Knox. I was unfamiliar with his work before listening to this one, but I'm happy to have discovered his work. He has a very pleasant narrative voice and excellent pacing. He creates such individual voices for each character, so much so that you are never confused about which character is speaking. He definitely helps bring the story to life.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I love a story told from the perspective of someone unexpected, and Witt is about as unexpected as it gets. I loved the twists and turns involved, and the path to villainy that Witt takes. I think this book will obviously appeal to fans of LitRPG, but I think that fans of books like Orconomics and other comedic fantasy should definitely find something to love in this book.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Finding Your Harpy Place by D.H. Willison

Author: D.H. Willison

Length: 370 Pages

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: November 14, 2020

Genre: Fantasy/Comedy

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Amazon Link

After reading and enjoying the first book in this series, I was excited to hear that the sequel would be released this year. When I got a review copy, the fantastic cover art really piqued my interest, because I just knew it pointed at a fun fantasy adventure with the two most mismatched protagonists in fantasy, Darin the Earth human transplant and Rinloh the Arvian Harpy. This is such an odd pair, but their chemistry is just so infection it just works, and I couldn't wait to dig in.

PLOT SUMMARY

Life is a journey. On Arvia, it’s a perilous one.

Darin, a human of extraordinary unimpressiveness, astounded observers by surviving his first year on the mythical world of Arvia. His training and equipment may be questionable, but at least his best friend, Rinloh, an accident-prone harpy the size of a three-story building, is willing to lend a hand. Or a wing. Yet when an ancient magic artifact leaves a trail of chaos in its wake, it’s no longer just the giant mythical monsters he has to worry about.


Rinloh, a harpy whose unbridled enthusiasm leads to the occasional sundry destruction, charges into things talons first. Her curiosity is as insatiable as her flockmate’s appetite for human flesh, yet she can’t protect Darin from them until she becomes full-fledged. Regrettably, the test is a human hunt.

A distant forest may hold answers to both quests, yet who dares venture where even harpies fear tread?

Life is a journey. Sometimes the most important journeys are within.

Finding Your Harpy Place, a new adventure on Arvia, a beautiful world filled with colorful, larger-than-life characters and ravenous mythical monsters more colorful and larger still. Experience it from the safety of your favorite armchair.

FURTHER THOUGHTS

A lot of second books fall to the dread sophomore slump, but Finding Your Harpy Place is not one of them. If anything, it takes what works so well in the first book, which is the relationship between Darin and Rinloh, and really expands upon it. It also expands their relationships with other characters as well, helping to create realistic relationships and character arcs for these other characters as well. This is especially funny, since in the case of Rinloh and her flock leader Jenolin, we are talking about giant carnivorous harpies, the apex flying predators on Arvia. We finally get to see some of the other races on Arvia as well, including goblins, centaurs (oversized like so many other creatures) and rodent men, as well as a host of various monster species. 

We even get to see another flock of harpies, and see that each flock has its own ways of living. Between the harpy roosts, the goblin village, the city of the rodent people and Darin's adopted city of Xin, we get to see a pretty wide range of settings in the world, and you realize there are many more places to see, and a lot of history that has yet to be explored. Rinloh and Darin's separate adventures really push their story arc's forward, giving us a much deeper look into the way their decision making processes. Darin's creativeness is on full display throughout the story in a variety of ways, and really pushes home the point that you don't need to be a fantastic warrior as a little to survive Arvia. Rinloh also learns that she is not bound to be the stereotype of a harpy, all hunger and feeding on anything smaller than herself. As the title says, she finally finds her harpy place, and even manages to work her flockmates into it. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

When its all said and done, what this book amounts to is a really fun story with excellent characters, good pacing, and creative world building. Darin and Rinloh, as well as their companions, are just such engaging, likable characters that it really helps draw the reader into the story. The way the story left off, it definitely leaves room for more adventures with Darin and Rinloh. This is good news for any fans of comedic fantasy, and I recommend they check this series out.

The Bookwyrm's Review of The Agent G Omnibus: Volume One by C.T. Phipps

Author: C.T. Phipps

Length: 598 Pages

Publisher: Crossroad Press

Release Date: December 14, 2020

Genre: Cyberpunk/ Spy Thriller

Amazon Link

I've always been a fan of omnibus editions. The idea of getting multiple books for a lower price just sings to my Scrooge McDuck side. When I heard one of my favorite series was made into an omnibus, I knew I had to share it. It's definitely worth the cost and the time to read.

Agent G: Infiltrator

The story revolves around Agent G, an assassin who works for the Society, a charity front that arranges high tech assassinations for large sums of money. If you have the money, they have the assassin for you! Assassins, named A to Z, are mind wiped, and are told they will be well paid and get their memories back after 10 years of service to the Society. This is the scenario G finds himself in. All the agents are cybernetically enhanced, both mentally and physically, and have beyond imagination black technology, real secret squirrel stuff.

This is the situation G finds himself. After he is ambushed at the Boston airport by a rival organization, the Carnivale, during a recall of all Society agents, it is discovered the Society has a mole in its midst. The mole is uncovered, and G is tasked with infiltrating the Carnivale and assassinating its leader, the Caesar and his daughter, a killer assassin in her own right. What commences is a wild ride of betrayals, plans within plans, gunfights, killer cyborg duels, torture and discovery for G, as he discovers more about the past that was wiped from his mind. In the end, he finds who he can really trust, and it's not who he expected. He has to decide what he really wants to be, and if the price for being that person is worth paying.

As always with a CT Phipps book, the story is very character driven. Whether its G, who is conflicted on many levels, his handler Marissa, with a shady past G is only becoming aware of, Persephone, the shadowy ice queen director of the Society or even the Caesar and his children, the characters are well defined, their actions making sense in context with their characters. They are fleshed out in subtle but important ways, being much more than just two dimensional cardboard cutout stereotypes of spies, assassins and villains. The setting is interesting, with locations and action occurring around the world. The dialogue is also crisp, swinging between serious and snark easily, depending on the situation. The story never lags with unneeded exposition, keeping a taut thriller feel.

Agent G: Saboteur

As I've said before, with a second book, the second book in a series, especially with a really good book like Agent G: Infiltrator, can sometimes be a letdown just because the first book set such a high bar. In this case, that's not the case at all, since Agent G: Saboteur is fantastic, an original story that expands on the characters and story from the first book but takes it to the next level.

After Agent G broke the back of the International Refugee Society, the secret murder for hire group he was created by (yes created, since he's cloned cyborg), he has been working for a secret black ops team of the US government trying to finish off the remnants of the society, as well as get a hold of their staff and assets. This is where the book starts, as G para-drops onto the mountain base of one of the Society's remaining leaders. His parachute malfunctions, and he is forced to improvise a landing he can survive in an amazing hair raising scene. This pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the book, as he fights his way through the defenses of the fortress and completes his mission with extreme prejudice, which includes getting the the Society's revolutionary AI and one of their best technicians.

Returning to the local airfield, G confides to his handler that his equipment was sabotaged, and he knows he cant trust anyone. After figuring out who on his strike team betrayed him, he interrogates him, finding out that G's ex wife, S, a deadly letter assassin herself, was responsible. This starts a wild series of events, since there is betrayal after betrayal as G and his team try to get the last of the Society finished off. What they don't know is there is a mysterious group opposing them, led by a face from G's life he never expected to see, that can derail all his plans.  This leads to the penultimate showdown with this threat, where more than just G's life is at stake. In fact, at the end of the book, events happen that change the world forever!

Like the first book this is a very character driven book. The various letter assassins, all trained the same, are nevertheless very different people (well, cyborgs). G's story comes full circle, as he goes from brainwashed Bioroid cyborg (that term comes into play in Mr. Phipps Lucifer's Star series) to free thought revolutionary. His act at the end of the book that changes the world as they knew it shows just how divorced from that life he had become. The various character interactions, the dialogue, is all crisp and well thought out. It just feels natural. These characters just feel real, even if the do the most fantastic things. The villains are excellent, especially the surprise villain at the end. You really get to loathe them and what they stand for, which is what any author should hope for.

The settings, whether a mountain fortress in South America, a set of high rises in Asia, or a ranch in Texas are all well thought out and described. You really get a visceral feel that you are there, on the ground, right in the thick of things. You can almost feel the heat of the ranch, smell the blood and gunpowder. This is common across his books, so it's no surprise.

This leads to the plot, which is intentionally steering the series from sci-fi spy thriller to cyberpunk. Its a good shift that flows naturally from the decisions made throughout the books roller coaster action scenes.

Agent G: Assassin

When the super volcano in Yellowstone erupts, the world is thrown into disarray with the resulting climatic, societal and economic chaos. After a massive die-off of the worlds populations, society is just getting back under something resembling control. The governments are massively weakened, while the multinational corporations are massively powerful, basically using the governments as puppets. Many people live in arcologies, trading in freedom for the illusion of security. Case also released all the Black Technology that had been kept from the world through the AI known as Delphi, resulting in even more societal changes, as the advanced tech made whole industries obsolete.

Ten years into this new paradigm is where we find Case, formerly Agent G, assassin for the International Relief Society. He is now chief security executive of The Atlas Corporation, the worlds premier security company. Working with Lucita and Agent S, former lovers and assassins themselves, Atlas tries to mitigate the worst excesses, while also turning a massive profit. When another former lover, Claire, involved with an advocacy group, H.O.P.E, which has a radical violent element, gets involved in a mission to find the mythical Black Dossier, which is supposed to have the deepest dark secrets of all the corporations and their executives, from every dirty deal made to what depravity the executives engage in, Case as to make some decisions where his loyalties lie.

Case and Claire begin their hunt for the Dossier, which is complicated when Marissa, Case's former lover/handler/enemy, gets involved in the chase, as well as Case's Society nemesis, Agent A,  the best of the Letter cyborg assassins. Their involvement complicates things a great deal, as the Dossier contains in information about medical Nanotech, which is of particular interest to Agent A. So interested in it, in fact, that he will kill anyone in his way to get it.  This all leads to a wild series of events, as Case must face some painful parts of his past as he tries to keep millions more people from being harmed by information contained on the Dossier, and Case and Claire must work to keep their worst nightmare coming true, killing millions in the process, resulting in a climactic final showdown.

Like all CT Phipps books, the Agent G series is all about the characters first. We have seen G, now called Case, go from a remorseless (well, mostly) cyborg assassin to a person who cares about more than just where the next contract is coming from, that is willing to make sacrifices for those he loves. His evolution as a person is one of the key selling points of the series. The secondary characters are also given lots of attention as far as building them into believable characters, especially with the huge changes the world has gone through. The introduction of Agent A was a bit unexpected, but he paid off in the story. Marissa and Claire Had especially wide arcs, and their character development survives a lot of turbulence, both of which the readers can really appreciate.

The world which Case helped create with his release of Black Technology is the amalgamation of every cyberpunk world. Corporate oligarchs run the world through weak puppet governments, while the poor have either died off, or are forced to live in archologies where they surrender freedom for a feeling of security. The only alternative is live a hardscrabble life in the slums where life comes cheap.  While the world building doesn't reinvent the wheel, it does show a deep knowledge of and appreciation of the genre, without being so outside recognizable that non cyberpunk fans cant get into the story.

Any time a series make a huge change in plot line, it can result in a a disjointed story. Fortunately, that's not what happened here. The shift to a cyberpunk future creates more storytelling opportunities, and I have the suspicion CT Phipps will take full advantage of them. I can whole heartedly recommend this story to a wide variety of fans.

The Bookwyrm's Review of The Huntresses' Game by Joe Jackson

 

Author: Joe Jackson

Length: 416 Pages/ 12 Hours, 43 Minutes (Audio)

Publisher: Aethon Books

Release Date: June 30, 2020/ October 8, 2020 (Audio)

Narrator: Chelsea Stephens

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Amazon Link  Audible Link  

As I mentioned in my recent review of the fourth book in this series, its easy for a series as long as this one to have books that feel like filler in the middle. Like book four, this book not only avoids that fate, but wow, what a kick to the gut with the sheer amount of revelations, action and tragedy in this book! So, with no further ado, lets get into the review.

PLOT SUMMARY

As the web of deceit and lies widens, Karian Vanador must try to find allies - however unlikely - to combat the enemies of the Demonhunter Order.

Effectively forced into a visit to the volatile King S'Bakthra, Kari must try to match wits with a being over 12,000 years old. Can she turn an enemy into an unwitting ally, without having the same done to her?

This is to say nothing of Kari's testing to become her deity's avatar. An age-old enemy comes back into Kari's life, forcing her to walk away from an ailing husband and young children to see to her god's wishes. Worse, she must leave behind friends and family as well to avoid having them used as tools against her. It seems a straightforward hunt, but as she uncovers more and more plots, it will be anything but....

What new allies will she find as she returns to the land of her birth, the nations where she was a legend, and can they stand against these ancient enemies?

OVERALL THOUGHTS

This is definitely one of those books that has multiple aspects that shine. The plotting is fast paced and taut, and the characters really shine in their individual arcs. With the amount of action and plot threads going on, it almost felt as if it would be too busy, but the author did an excellent job of tying off the plot threads within the story, while leaving their overall arcs open enough to continue in later books. He introduced some new characters to the fold that really added to the texture of the story, while continuing the arcs he has followed for the current cast of characters. I have to say that Kari Vanador, the main protagonist in this series, has to be one of my top five all time fantasy protagonists. She is such a bundle of contradictions. being an excellent warrior who leads an entire demon hunter order, but is wracked by self-doubt at times due to trauma and misfortune she has suffered. She constantly questions herself, and is her own harshest critic. She is just such an amazingly well rounded character. She's the exact opposite of the usual fantasy tropes we see so much in today's fantasy. Most authors would never imagine making a character so strong while so utterly vulnerable at the same time. 

The secondary characters also get a chance to shine and develop more of their own character arcs as well. We get to see a new side of characters like Alegios, Kari's brother-in-law, and watch as he struggles with his own place in Kari's life, as well as his own self worth after several recent failures during missions. It's interesting watching his decision making process as his character grows with what's he's forced to do. We also get a deeper look into the demon king Kourstourax, who is vastly powerful but still has some vulnerabilities that Kari uncovers and even manages to exploit. It's not often we see such a powerful possible antagonist be so outmaneuvered by someone with such a disparate power level.  The addition of an old friend turned enemy of Kari's is also an interesting twist, opening up more of Kari's past while pointing at more potential threats to Kari and the greater world.

NARRATION

Like the previous books in the series, the narration duties are performed by Chelsea Stephens. I have to say that this is an even better performance than book four, which was really well done. You can tell she is really invested in these characters, striving to realistically bring these characters to life. She truly outdid herself this time, and I can't wait to hear her work on the next book in the series.

FINAL THOUGHTS

It seems with every book in this series the author finds a way to make a complete arc for the book, all while adding hints and portents of events in the future. So far, the portents seem to point to threats that have world shaking consequences, all tying into the revelations about Kari. I look forward to seeing where the rest of the series goes, and where Kari's journey takes her. Fans of sprawling epic fantasy with lots of great characters, plenty of action and serious consequences should really enjoy this story.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Eldritch Ops by C.T. Phipps

Author: C.T. Phipps

Length: 314 Pages/ 8 Hours, 53 Minutes (Audio)

Publisher: Crossroad Press

Release Date: January 6, 2019/ October 20, 2020

Narrator:  Jeffrey Kafer

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

As a long time fan of C.T. Phipps writing, the chance to listen to and review was something I couldn't refuse. The fact that it's the sequel to Ecoterrorism, the first book in the Red Room series, and also ties into his larger United States of Monsters universe, just makes it even better. 

PLOT SUMMARY

Derek Hawthorne has ascended to become a member of the all-powerful Committee, which rules the world through the nebulous House. The House, officially, exists to protect humanity from the vampires, demons, and other forces of darkness that imperil humanity. Unofficially, it exists to protect its own power.

When his old partner, Christopher Hang, turns up as one of the undead—Derek is nonplussed to say the least. Christopher also has a message that troubles the tiny remains of Derek's conscience: the House is running a secret project to not only control supernaturals but eliminate them. Now, Derek has to figure out if he's to side with the supernatural or humanity or neither. Oh and did we mention Dracula, pirates, and werewolves were involved too?

OVERALL THOUGHTS

I have to admit, I was a little skeptical when I heard the Red Room series was being retconned into the origin of the Unites States of Monsters universe. After some consideration, though, it actually makes a lot of sense. The monster factions are already in place and fleshed out, so the Big Reveal seems like a natural progression. Tying in the supernatural communities, such as the various werecreatures in Bright Falls and the vampires in Detroit to the supernatural world of the Red Room universe was accomplished seamlessly. and has added a whole layer of complexity to the overall universe.

While the hidden supernatural world is explored thoroughly, it's in the character development where this story truly shines, especially when it comes to the main character, Derek Hawthorne. In Esoterrorism, we are introduced to Derek as a Red Room agent, jaded but still holding on to hope that he's making a difference. In Eldritch Ops, he's now a member of the leadership of the Red Room, but realizes there was a lot he didn't know about what the Room was up to, and that he's still being kept in the dark. How he deals with the truth he learns, and the fact he's going to have to make compromises and deals to do the right thing shows just how far he's willing to go. The secondary characters are so good, well rounded with character arcs and backstories that really add to the tapestry of this story. Bringing in one of the great supernatural villains in literature, a certain nobleman from Transylvania, could have ended badly, being such a trope. Instead, he created a whole new mythos around him, adding equal amounts of humor and horror to round out his portrayal. Definitely not the usual portrayal you expect to read, but definitely in character for C.T. Phipps to write.

NARRATION

Narration for this series is ably handled by Jeffrey Kafer, who narrates the bulk of C.T. Phipps books. He has excellent narrative pacing, keeping the story moving without rushing or having any unusual pauses. His characterizations are excellent, using various tones, accents and cadences to give each character their own voice. He is just another part of what makes these stories so good.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While the second book of a series can sometimes be a letdown, that's not the case here. It really expands the world and storyline of the original Red Room series, while neatly beginning to tie it in to the broader United States of Monsters universe. The series is a bit more serious than some of the others in the series such as the Bright Falls Mysteries or his Fangton books, but there is still a lot of humor throughout the story. This book, and the rest of the series, should appeal to fans of urban fantasy looking for a change from the usual Dresden Files knockoffs.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Legacy of the Devil Queen by Joe Jackson

 

Author: Joe Jackson

Length: 418 Pages/ 14 Hours, 22 Minutes (Audio)

Publisher: Aethon Books

Release Date: June 16, 2020/ July 30, 2020

Narrator: Chelsea Stephens

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Buy on Amazon

With a series that stretches 11 books, its easy to think that there will be, for lack of a better word, filler, books in the series. Four books in and it looks like this series will not be one of those, with the action and the stakes for the world seemingly increasing with each book. The personal stakes for head of the demon hunter order Kari Vanador have never been higher, or more potentially tragic.

PLOT SUMMARY

In the wake of a deadly attack, veteran demon hunter Karian Vanador faces a daunting task: sending her friends and family into danger without being at their side.

With her pregnancy progressing, she must uncover a spy within her own Order, expose servants of the demon kings living right in her home city, and match wits with enemies that she knows little, if anything, about. And in all of this, she must act as a general, putting the lives of her friends and family at risk to see to an end she can't accomplish herself.

Erijinkor Tesconis also faces a daunting task: lead the Silver Blades and their allies without Kari's expertise and sword arm. Though a capable leader, he and his companions face an unknown danger, something only seen once before in the world.

Both will face tests that push them to their limits, weighing the balance of love for their families against duty and a deep-seated desire to protect an entire world. But can either of them stand against the legacy of the Devil Queen herself?

OVERALL IMPRESSION

The way that this series has been developing definitely shows the author has a long term plan for how the series is mapped out. He doesn't just add characters just for the sake of completing a scene, he brings them in thinking about how they will affect the series three books down the line. The path Kari is on if one of the most interesting in any fantasy I've ever read. I can't think of many series in which a warrior like Kari would have to deal with so many critical issues while also dealing with being pregnant, and having her body betray her when she need to be at her peak. She is forced to trust in others to do tasks she normally would, something she is loath to do. She also has to deal with the reality that her mate Grakin is facing the end of his life at some point in the next few years, and all the ramifications from that. 

We do get a more in depth look at some of the supporting characters, as well as some new characters, including Kari's father-in-law, who is a member of the demon hunter order himself, and has a lot of unresolved issues with his family. Watching how the interplay in the family develops is definitely not the usual stale fantasy trope. These read like real people with real problems and successes, and having to deal with a threat that has seemingly returned from the dead and brought pain to Kari's family really adds to the feeling there are real stakes involved with the story. 

NARRATION

The narrative duties are handled quite ably by Chelsea Stephens. She does a nice job of keeping the narration flowing, never lapsing into a monotone or having any long pauses or noises interrupt her flow. She does a good job creating individual voices for the characters through changing pitches, tones, cadences and accents. She really helps bring the story to life.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was what you'd call a page turner, being one of those books I stayed up way too late reading at night reading, not being able to put it down. The characters keep developing in new ways, really drawing you in to the story, and the action just keeps ramping up as well. This is one series I heartily recommend for fans of epic fantasy, especially because the series is complete at book 11, and there's no waiting years for the next one. Get into the action today!

The Bookwyrm's Review of To Live and Die at Shadow Ridge by Adam Testa

 

Author: Adam Testa

Length: 219 Pages

Release Date: November 19, 2020

Publisher: Self-Published

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Amazon Link

While I normally review fantasy and sci-fi, I have always enjoyed the occasional mystery or thriller, whether it be something like a Robin Cook medical thriller to an old Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot mystery. I had Shadow Ridge recommended to me and decided I could use a good mystery review. Turns out it was a good decision.

PLOT SUMMARY

What if you learned your life had been a lie?

A year after his wife’s death, former investigative reporter Derek Price wants closure. But when his homeowners association blocks the sale of his house, his protégé Sonia Torres pushes him to investigate Shadowen Real Estate.

Now, Derek must revisit his past and uncover secrets about his life and home. He’s a middle-aged conservative with an old-school mentality; she’s a college-aged progressive raised with technology.

Together, they’ll unravel a conspiracy with personal and political ramifications that puts Derek in the cross-hairs of a vengeful serial killer. Will their efforts be enough to not only survive but to pull the truth from the shadows and into the light?

CHARACTERS AND WORLD BUILDING

I'll have to admit that the characters in this book are really what hooked me to the point I read this over most of a day. Derek and Sonia are a great combo as a father figure/boss and young protégé. Their political differences are so stark that they shouldn't be able to cooperate, but instead it just leads to a lot good natured teasing that actually feels natural considering their differences in ages and cultural backgrounds. Derek is just such a sympathetic character, still dealing with the death of his wife a year earlier, struggling with the frustration of what's happening with trying to sell his house. He just reads like a real person trying to move on with his life and circumstances seem to conspire against him.

 Sonia is the same way, really feeling like a 19 year old woman who has her own struggles, such as her sick mother, to deal with, all while trying to look after Derek as well. The secondary characters are really well drawn out as well, and the peaks we get into their lives really sets their character arcs up nicely. The villain, who I did not guess until he was revealed, was definitely a great foil for Derek and the other characters they dealt with. Definitely not a mustache twirling baddie, but a person dealing with their own tragedies and responding in dangerous ways.

World building is also a strength, showing the inside story of what an HOA community is all about, and not shying away from some of the more ridiculous aspects. The backstory with his wife's company and its connection to the HOA leadership is interesting, and the secrets that are exposed throughout the course of the story actually help flesh out the world the author has created. It definitely helps to create a feeling of tension.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Like any good thriller or mysteries, you expect lots of twists, turns and swerves, and Shadow Ridge delivers. I thought I had the villain and conspiracy figured out, and then, swerve, I didn't have it. While the book has lots of strengths, one of the few weaknesses I see in the story is the backstory for the conspiracy is a little underdeveloped, in that I'd like to have learned a little more about the company Derek's wife Madeline worked at, and how it was tied in to the HOA company. Just a small thing, and I expect most people aren't that detail oriented, so won't find it an issue. For a debut novel, I was shocked how well developed the plot and characters are, and how seamlessly the action flows in the faster parts of the story. I can definitely see this story appealing to a large group of readers, from fans of Brad Thor and James Patterson thrillers to Sue Grafton mysteries.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Duckett & Dyer: Dicks for Hire by G.M. Nair

 Length: 302 Pages

Publisher: DsDf

Release Date: March 30, 2019

Genre: Comedy/sci-fi

Rating: 4 1/2 of 5 Stars

Link to Buy on Amazon

I make no secret of my love for comedic sci-fi and fantasy. Make it kind of silly with lots of laughs, and a crazy cast of characters and I'm sold. When I saw the premise of Duckett & Dyer: Dicks for Hire, I knew this was a book I had to read, and the author was kind enough to send me a review copy. I almost didn't finish it, though, because I did something I never do with a book: I misplaced it. Took me a week to find it, because I couldn't for the life of me remember I had been reading it outside. Luckily, none of the kids or the animals got to it, and I was able to finish this highly entertaining took.

PLOT SUMMARY

Michael Duckett is fed up with his life. His job is a drag, and his roommate and best friend of fifteen years, Stephanie Dyer, is only making him more anxious with her lazy irresponsibility. Things continue to escalate when they face the threat of imminent eviction from their palatial 5th floor walk-up and find that someone has been plastering ads all over the city for their Detective Agency.

The only problem is: He and Stephanie don’t have one of those.

Despite their baffling levels of incompetence, Stephanie eagerly pursues this crazy scheme and drags Michael, kicking and screaming, into the fray only to find that they are way out of their depth. They stumble upon a web of missing people that are curiously linked to a sexually audacious theoretical physicist and his experiments with the fabric of space-time. And unless Michael and Stephanie can put their personal issues aside and fix the multi-verse, the concept of existence itself may, ironically, no longer exist.

CHARACTERS AND WORLD BUILDING

I mentioned that a zany cast of characters will draw me in every time, and this book has that in spades, especially in the two main characters, Michael Duckett and Stephanie Dyer. You could not pick two more different characters to play off one another. Michael, the straight lace, unambitious office drone, could have come right out of the movie Office Space. He's the kind of inoffensive guy you'd  never notice in a crowd. This is in contrast to his room mate and best friend Stephanie, who is as big a slacker as your likely to find. She can't hold a job, is always late with her half of the rent and basically just wants to sit around eating cereal on her couch while watching tv. People this different shouldn't be friends, but yet, they are. Stephanie is always pushing Michael to loosen up and take chances, while Michael wants Stephanie to grow up. Their reactions to the events in the book are priceless, and completely in character. You really get drawn into what makes this odd couple friends as they go from one disaster to another. 

The rest of the characters are well thought out, from a cop trying to solve years of mysterious disappearances to the guy who is responsible for the crazy events taking place. They all get some fun moments that point to greater motivations and their places in the universe. The characters just seem very carefully crafted to move the plot without seeming to, acting in natural ways to unusual situations. Its very well done.

The world building is insanely creative. When you are dealing with a multiverse, there seems to be a lot of temptation to make the various changes small between worlds. In this case, the changes are much bigger than that in a lot of cases, while in others, not much changes. There are some hilarious worlds Michael and Stephanie have to deal with, and some just plainly absurd but hilarious situations on them.  There is literally a world where their crazy conjecture about what could possibly be the weirdest world they can go to comes true, in hilarious fashion. The author has a twisted imagination, but in the best possible way. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

This is a book that could have gone horribly wrong in lesser hands. Luckily, it was written by just the right person. He managed to meld an interesting sci-fi premise to hilarious characters and situations and make it resonate with me as a reader. You really get to care about these characters, and can relate to their struggle, even though some of it is so out there. I think this book has appeal to a wide range of fans, from sci fi and comedic fans, with even mystery fans being able to find something to like here. I highly recommend you check out Duckett & Dyer: Dicks for Hire.

The Bookwyrm's Review of The Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira by Lou Diamond Phillips

Author: Lou Diamond Phillips

Length: 308 Pages

Release Date: October 20, 2020

Publisher: Aethon Books

Genre: Science Fiction

Amazon Link

It's not very often you see someone who's mostly known as an actor that can also add good sci-fi author to their resume. For every William Shatner and Claudia Christian, both of who's books I love, there's ten others that took a swing based on their fame and missed. I'm glad to say that Mr. Phillips' skills developed acting, directing and screenwriting are obvious throughout the book, and he uses them to finely craft a page turner of a sci-fi adventure.

PLOT SUMMARY

Everson didn't want to be a soldier. His parents forced him to serve, as all good Indiran men should. The only problem? His first battle against their mortal enemies goes horribly wrong and he winds up stranded on the enemy planet.

Now, Everson has to survive in this strange new land where everyone is out to get him. Not to mention, the planet Mano is covered in unforgiving desert. And he's the target of traitors who want to use him in a dastardly plot to overthrow their mad king, Xander the Firm, by having him retrieve a piece of mysterious and powerful ancient technology known as the Tinderbox.

But everything changes during a chance encounter with the king's daughter, Allegra. Despite her station, she's in as grave of danger from her own people as Everson is. And though their peoples have been at odds for centuries, an unlikely spark forms between them.

As their worlds come crashing down around them, their forbidden love might be the only chance to end this war forever. Or, it might just be the doom of everyone...

CHARACTERS AND WORLD BUILDING

While the plot and story are tightly paced, well thought out, and keep you turning pages wanting to know what's going to happen next, I think the characters and world building really shine brightly throughout. Everson especially is such a good character, and I mean that in multiple ways.  We see he was a callow youth, struggling to get out from under the yoke of expectation and tradition of his position, when he is suddenly thrust into a wholly new life as an unknown enlisted recruit in the Indiran Army, with the real possibility of combat down the road. He must sink or swim in a crucible he feels unprepared for, and it is this trial by fire that tempers him into the man he was meant to be. 

Allegra is also an interesting character. Sequestered by her father King Xander of Mano due to a prophecy that she potentially spells his doom, she has lived a sheltered life, longing to be free of what basically amounts to a sumptuous prison. Her story proceeds in some fascinating directions, and we get to see the true strength she has: strengths of character, intelligence, courage and will to do what she feels is right, even in the most trying of circumstances. She and Everson are actually likable, sympathetic characters, trying to deal with destiny thrust upon them. 

The secondary characters are also fully fleshed out, whether it be a simple farmer that helps the alien-to-him Everson to find an ally on Mano, to Queen Nor of Mano, seeing the potential for ruin to all that she loves, and willing to make almost any sacrifice to ensure the planets survival. The antagonists are actually quite well thought out, with more than just the usual lust for power aspirations so many villains get stuck with today. They have realistic rationales for their actions, even if they may be misguided. Definitely not the usual evil overlords laughing maniacally in their tower.

I think that the world building is incredibly creative, with a backstory that leads to the current situation in such a logical fashion. The destruction and reformation of the planet from one into two livable, but very different planets, and the disparities in technology, wealth and knowledge between the two are stark. The underlying hatred of each other based on who got to go on which of the escape ships that later returned to the two new planets set up the inevitable conflict, which only grew more heated over the years. Mano and Indira are so different, and the legends and stories try to separate the fact that they were once the same planet and the same people. Its such a good use of making the opposing side that "other" that seeks to destroy what you hold dear, with only a superficial difference between them making them the other.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I got my  review copy through Netgalley, so I have to thank the fine people there for providing it. Aethon usually has a good eye for storytellers, and in this case, its another win for them. I think this book will appeal to such a wide range of sci-fi fans, and even just to people looking for a well crafted story with characters that aren't all grimdark and shades of grey, but are sympathetic and relatable. I highly recommend you give this one a read, you won't regret it. I hope to see many more books by Mr. Phillips in the near future.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Threads of Fate

 

Author: M.W. Arita

Length: 340 Pages

Publisher: Aeonian Entertainment

Release Date: September 14, 2014

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Buy on Amazon

I make no great secret of my love for urban fantasy. whether it be the Dresden Files, the early Iron Druid books, Jane Yellowrock, Dante Valentine or the United States of Monsters series, I think there are just so many talented writers out there writing amazing stories. I had the chance to check out Threads of Fate, and I was glad I did, since this is definitely a fun beginning to a series. 

PLOT SUMMARY

As the story starts, we meet Tasia, a high school senior, at her part-time job as a barista in a local coffee shop in a town in upstate New York. Having a bad day at work one day, she upsets several customers, just feeling out of sync. After she leaves work, she is accosted in the park by one of the customers, who is ranting crazily that she ruined his life by messing up his coffee and he's going to kill her. Freezing up as he approaches her, she is shocked when a mysterious figure appears to save her, fighting the unnaturally fast and strong would be killer, and stopping him with a giant scythe with the help of Tasia, who mysteriously manifests a scythe of her own. 

Tasia's savior turns out to be Ace, a half-vampire Reaper who's job as a Reaper is to collect Remnants, parasitic remnants of souls that feed on specific negative emotions, taking over a host and emphasizing those negative emotions, creating chaos with them. Tasia just tries to continue on with her life afterward, but is surprised to see Ace the next day at school, who acts like he doesn't recognize her. She finds out what this is all about when her sister, Vivi, is kidnapped by a mysterious Remnant, and while Tasia and Ace try and stop the kidnapper, a female vampire hunter tries to kill him. Its only with the help of Ace 's twin Sunny that they manage to escape, although they lose Vivi in the process.

This starts a wild series of events, where they end up meeting the Ace and Sunny's long lost mother, a powerful vampire named Mira, who helps them along to the Reaper realm, where Tasia meets the queen of the Reapers, and is given the chance to take the reaper trials, even though she has not gone to the academy yet. This leads her to finding the kidnapper, who host is someone she never expected, and also brings out another powerful vampire, Hat, who wants to drain Tasia and gain her abilities, which turn out to be much more than just summoning a scythe and using Reaper powers. The Remnant that kidnapped Vivi has a connection to the girls they never expected, and is more powerful than they could have imagined. The final battle with the Remnant stretches all of their abilities to the utmost to avoid being killed and letting an evil far greater than could be controlled loose.

CHARACTERS & WORLD BUILDING

The characters are definitely the driving force with this book. Tasia especially is such a relatable character. She is not some perfect paragon who discovers her powers and masters them in two days and goes out and wrecks villains. Instead, she is a typical teenage girl, dealing with mean girls at school, job troubles, a drunk father, and helping control her wild child younger sister, all while dealing with crippling doubt in herself. Her character arc is handled really well, with plenty of setbacks and goofs to go along with her triumphs. In some cases, its just sheer willpower keeping her going. The other characters, such as Sunny and Ace, Gwen, the head mean girl, and Vivi, are all given some little growth arcs themselves, with the same combination of triumphs and failures adding so much to their character.. The antagonists are really well done, and the main villains are especially tragic, really taking a toll on Tasia and Vivi especially. These are definitely some of the better characters you're likely to find in urban fantasy.

The world building is very well executed. Taking place in a city in upstate New York, a setting not often used in urban fantasy, it creates good settings for the action to take place. The addition of the vampires hiding place in a magically hidden castle, as well as the very cool Reaper realm, gives a more mystical feel to the settings, and some of the other realms that are hinted at point to other potential settings in the future, adding another layer to the world. The magic is varied, but hidden from the mortal realm, and quite a few supernatural can learn to use it through spells, creating the potential for a lot more magical action in the future. Tasia's powers are really rare, and seem to have a really powerful potential behind them if she can learn to control them. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

As I read this book, I realized, as a 50 year old, I probably wasn't the target demographic for the book. However, It's been said of me that I'm just a boy grown tall, and there's some truth to that, because I found this book really enjoyable. It had some interesting, sympathetic characters that you can really get behind, and even the villains are more tragic than despotically evil. The author took the time to develop character arcs, which is something a lot of writers skip today, unfortunately, getting right into blowing stuff up. That's not to say there's no action in this, because there's plenty, but its just integral to the characters story arcs, not just tacked on. I think this book will appeal to a lot of urban fantasy fans, especially ones that like a good character arc. Its not a perfect book, but it is a really good one.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Born of Swords by Steven L. Shrewsbury

Author: Steven L. Shrewsbury

Length: 324 Pages

Release Date: June 22, 2015

Publisher: Seventh Star Press

Genre: Swords and Sorcery

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Amazon Link

Being a big fan of old pulp fantasy, I have wished for a while that someone would take up that style of uncomplicated action packed storytelling again. I discovered Steven Shrewsbury on his book King of the Bastards, co-authored with Brian Keene, which was a callback to Robert E. Howard era pulps like Conan and Kull. When I saw the premise about Born of Swords, I knew I had to review this one.

PLOT SUMMARY

Gorias La Gaul, 700 year old mercenary, finds himself in a small city hired to kill a man who has been cursed to turn into a monster. He was hired by the man's twin, who also turns into a monster, and who hired him to kill them both so they would stop wreaking havoc and death. While accomplishing this job, Gorias literally stumbles across Jessica, a scribe from the city of Nineveh, who has traveled a long distance to interview Gorias, and record his stories for posterity at the Nineveh School. Gorias is less than thrilled with the idea, telling her that she might not like what she learns, but she insists, so he allows her to tag along as he goes about with the trip he takes annually.

Jessica gets a chance to see the course of Gorias's life as recorded in the dragon eye gems she uses, and what she finds is nothing like she expected. She gets to see how Gorias's parents came to have him, and the details quite shock her, but it does set the tone for his life of violence, adventure and tragedy. We see the various adventures of his life, from his birth into a barbarian horde, to various adventures and battles against bandits, cults, wizards and warlords. Jessica sees him lead armies, and see those same armies betrayed and Gorias wreak terrible vengeance. She even sees him fight a dragon, something she never believed possible.

Meanwhile, as they travel, Gorias is collecting certain items on their travels, for which he won't tell Jessica the purpose. Why would he need a witches hand? Or a bag of bones? What could these items be worth killing for, and even possibly dying for? These questions lead to the end of the book, where the truth of what Gorias is doing is revealed, and Jessica's romantic illusions of the Gorias, who's name literally means King of the Bastards, are shattered by his need for revenge. She finds out that sometimes it doesn't pay to meet your heroes. 

CHARACTERS AND WORLD BUILDING

Since this book is basically a slightly modernized version of pulp sword and sorcery like Robert E Howard or Edgar Rice Burroughs would write, the characters are definitely the center point of the story. Larger than life and twice and loud, Gorias is everything you would expect from the son of the chief of a barbarian horde. Strong, determined, and holding a grudge like nobody's business, Gorias is more than happy to remove an annoying warlord's head at the shoulders if that's what it takes to get a job done, or just stop their yapping. He is just an amazingly fun character, and is one of my top five characters in fantasy. The secondary characters are well thought out, with Jessica being the obvious example. She is much more than the weak book worm you would expect, being able to handle herself in dangerous situations, all while collecting the information she was sent for. There are a wide assortment of villains, from evil warlords to conniving princesses, to dangerous bandit chiefs. They are a just the kind of villains you'd expect in a pulp story, and they really add color to the story.

The world building is so much fun, and you could imagine seeing Gorias on the bar stool next to Conan and Kull. The world bears the hallmarks of a Hyborean era setting, with evil wizards and warlords vying for power, as well as crazy cults and monsters as well. There's a wide variety of terrain and settings, from desert kingdoms to jungle villages, and of course, temples to various gods. We see that Gorias's god is Wodan, and this Wodan is definitely in the mold of Crom, a merciless warrior's god. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

There are just so many good touch's to evoke that old school pulp feel in this book. From the pacing to the characters, you just find yourself turning pages, getting more engrossed in the story with every page. This book should appeal to any fan of old school pulp fantasy, but also has plenty to appeal to fans of more modern fantasies. It's just a classic story that I can't get enough of.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Cody Black Vampire Hunter: Bite of the Wolf by C.M. Craddock

 

Author: C.M. Craddock

Length: 285 Pages

Publisher: Self Published

Release Date: December 31, 2019

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Amazon Link

I make no secret of my love for urban fantasy. Whether it be the big timer's like Jim Butcher, small press writers like C.T. Phipps or self published writers like Joel Spriggs, I just can't get enough of their books. When I got the chance to read and review this book, I jumped at the chance, and here are my thoughts.

PLOT SUMMARY

Cody Black absolutely hates vampires. This definitely helps with his job as a vampire hunter for the Foundation, the rulers of the vampires. Cody is not thrilled having to work for them, but its either kill rogues for them or end up dead. It does pay well, though. He launders the money through the gun shop and range he owns, which is run more by his assistant Sierra than it is by Cody. It does allow him to create and train with vampire killing weapons, though, so it works.

When a slew of murders start to occur in the club district, Cody is called in by the local vampire queen, Marie Delfleur, notifying him that an old vampire is turning people under 20, who can't handle the change and just become feral murder machines. This is against Federation law, and Cody is tasked to hunt him and his spawn down and end the threat. Discovering one of the young vampires, Cody follows him but is ambushed by the old vampire, a 1500 year old viking named Aabiorn,  who fights through all of Cody's weapons and injures him, although not without injury to himself that forces him to retreat. 

With the help of Sierra, Cody escapes, and begins to heal. Meeting with Marie, he gets injected by her with a substance that will supposedly help him be better able to hunt vampire, making him into a one of a kind vampire killer. Searching for the vampire's lair, he inadvertantly leaves clues as to where he lives, and they attack him there. 

This leads to the final frantic confrontation between Cody and Aabiorn, as he is now threatening everything Cody cherishes and would do anything to protect. This confrontation leads to even more revelations about who Aabiorn is, and what his plans were. It also shows that Marie has plans of her own that could have world shaking consequences if Cody does nothing to change it, and he has new allies to help him respond to the changes.

CHARACTERS AND WORLD BUILDING

This is a very character driven book, centered mostly on the title character, Cody. He's a very solid character, having a tragic background that led to his becoming a vampire hunter, and he is a well rounded character, with strengths and weaknesses that offset each other, just like a real person. Sierra also is fairly well rounded, although she is a bit of a trope as the beautiful assistant/love interest. The antagonists, which consist of Marie and Aabiorn, are both good foils to Cody, in their own way, with Marie wanting to control Cody, while Aabiorn just wants him dead. Their back stories are revealed later in the book, and help flesh out their motivations. The secondary characters are a bit flat, with most of the vampires just seeming to be a bit two dimensional. Not a deal breaker, but they don't add as much as they could.

The world building is fairly pedestrian. The story is set in New York, but it never really gives you a sense of anything particular about the setting. It just kind of seems like the story is set there, but none of the unique locales or culture is ever really used to enrich the story. Again, its not a deal breaker, but it just seems like a bit of a missed opportunity. The vampire world, though, is pretty well expanded upon, and a secret history of the world at large is also an interesting facet of the story. 

FINAL THOUGHTS  

While I wouldn't put this book in my very top tier of urban fantasy books, it's definitely in the upper range of the genre. Its flaws are far outweighed by the things that work in the story, and the characters are definitely worth exploring and keep the pages turning. I do have to mention that there are some adult sex scenes in this book, which I didn't mention earlier, so this is not a book I would recommend for young readers, but it shouldn't put off adult fans of vampire or urban fantasy. This is definitely on the recommended to read list.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Serpents Rising by Joe Jackson

 

Author: Joe Jackson

Length: 561 Pages/ 17 Hours, 5 Minutes (Audio)

Publisher: Aethon Books

Release Date: June 5, 2020

Narrator: Chelsea Stephens

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Series: Eve of Redemption, Book 3

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Amazon Link

Its always interesting to see where an author who has a multi-book arc is taking the series, especially when it's an extended series. At 11 books, I'd say Eve of Redemption qualifies as extended. When I started reading, I was wondering if this was kind of a placeholder book, or if it was moving the story arc along. I'm happy to say this is definitely a story mover, opening up new avenues of exploration for the characters, and challenging their knowledge of the world they live in.

PLOT SUMMARY

Picking up right after the events of the previous book, there is a bit of chaos in the ranks of the demon hunter's order, as it was discovered that quite a few syrinthian serpent people, servants of the demon king Sekassus, have infiltrated the order. Hatching a plan to expose them, they successfully draw them into the courtyard of the demon hunters compound in the city of Darkwind, and capture them. Kari, the new head of the demon hunter order, is weighing a journey to the underworld to help the priestess Danilynn rescue the daughter of a syrinthian high priestess she owed a debt to, and plans on using any intelligence gathered from those captured. 

After a lot of consultations to determine if its feasible, Kari decides to go, making a deal with one of Sekassus's rival demon kings, and they travel by magic to the underworld, only taking Kari, her sister-in-law Sonia, and the priestess Danilynn, as well as Kari's brother-in-law and her friend Eli. The women are to travel to Sekassus's kingdom from the underworlds capital city, since a group of women won't be accosted, being seen as harmless by the denizen's of that world. As they prepare to leave the underworld capital, they gain some much needed intelligence about the political situation, as well as how they need to proceed to get the young woman, named Sesasha, from the demon king. 

Proceeding through a path arranged for them, the party stops at a village they are guided to. The village is inhabited by mallasti, a hyena humanoid type of demon. This is where they start finding out that what Kari's order thought they knew about demons is completely wrong. Traveling with a young villager as their guide, they work their way towards Sekassus's kingdom, and along the way Sonia is learning to use her magic effectively from their guide, who's race is much more in tune with arcane power. 

Finally reaching Sekassus, they bargain for his prisoner, and Kari and the rest find out that their guide is the reason they can get her exchanged at all. When they have Sesasha, Sakassus shows how evil he truly is, shocking the entire party. As they leave to return to the capitol, they have a seven days grace period where they can't be harmed, but if they can't get out, they are subject to the whims of the king. 

What follows is a harrowing journey, as the Sekassus's forces try to delay the party, while Kari has to avoid killing the kings forces, invalidating their truce. Things come to a head at the border, where an unexpected attack comes from someone attached to Kari's deeds a few months earlier in Barcon. Barely escaping, they even add to their party, finding a lost elf from an earlier invasion of the underworld, and using his help to escape to the capitol.

Returning to the order, Kari takes Sesasha with her to meet the syrinthian prisoners, and Kari realizes Sesasha can be a huge source of help for them, since she is a high priestess of her people, who would happily turn on Sekassus. Taking Sesasha to the grave of her mother to commune with her spirit, Kari, along with a good part of her extended family, are attacked by someone who shouldn't exist, since he was killed by the king of the Gods. Returning part of the way home, Kari and a couple others travel to the temple that Kari, as Salvation's Dawn, is supposed to be able to open with certain keys. What they find there will change their plans going forward, exposing just how far behind they are of the forces arrayed against them. If they can't catch up, their world may be lost to them for good in fire and death.

CHARACTERS AND WORLD BUILDING

This series has to be one of the most character driven series I've ever read. While there's lots of action, strong plot and creative and expansive world building, it all revolves around the large cast of characters, with Kari Vanador as the focus. She has quickly become one of my favorite characters in fantasy. She's strong, well trained and determined to do right, but she can also be rash and caught by crushing self doubt, especially when it comes to her lack of formal education and the trauma of her childhood. She just really feels like a real person with the weight of the world on her shoulders. The secondary characters are so well written, they just fit seamlessly into the story. They are not cardboard cutouts, but well rounded characters in their own right, with strengths and weaknesses that really add to the story. The villains are well thought out, with their own motivations driving their actions, some in bewildering ways, but all seemingly for a purpose, and not just to advance the plot. I'm not sure I've ever read a better group of characters in any series.

The world building is strong once again, with the underworld added as a setting, and being not at all what I would have expected. Instead of a generic hellscape, we get a fully realized world that, while different than Citaria, is definitely a wide range of settings, as the kings realms are different from one another. When the history of this world is revealed, it really expands on what the demon hunters order doesn't know, but needs to find out if Citaria is to avoid the underworld's fate.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I have to say that this is an enjoyable read. It really takes some unexpected twists and turns, with the trip to the underworld really changing how the characters see their universe at large. I'm curious to see where these revelations lead. I think this series, which is now complete at 11 books, will appeal to a wide range of fantasy fans. 

The Bookwyrm's Review of The Temple of Arrival by M.S. Olney

Author: M. S. Olney

Length: 250 Pages

Publisher: Star Forge Books

Release Date: March 31, 2020

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Amazon Link

After reading The First Fear, the first book in this series, I was anxious to see where the story would go. Comparing it favorably to Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series, I was hoping to see more development of the characters and world he created. Here are the results, which don't suffer from the dreaded second book slump.

PLOT SUMMARY

The Liberator's success in provoking an uprising in the city of Asta, which included killing the Supreme's head enforcer, the First Fear, has emboldened them, even though they were forced to retreat from the city. The powerful Empowered Elian, who can use all the powers of the Gifted, and combine them, which is supposed to be impossible, is now one of the leaders of raiding parties trying to damage the power base of the Supreme, starting with freeing the mines of Hestra. While they initially succeed, they are again forced to retreat from a much larger force of the Supreme's troops. 

They are forced to separate, with one group moving on to the capital to try and gain intelligence about the Supreme's plans, while Elian, who is now struggling to use certain powers, goes looking for Vavius, who betrayed the movement to try and gain power on his own, replacing the Supreme. Along the way he meets an Empowered woman named Cassia, who says shes there to help protect him as he continues his mission, as well as teach him to better utilize his power. Elian remains suspicious of her, as her turning up seems a bit to coincidental.

 Proceeding forward, both groups face the Supreme's attempts to stop both groups, and Elian knows he must beat Vavius to The Temple of Arrivals, because if he gets there and seizes the power held there, he can become even more powerful than the Supreme, and make her rule look kind and benevolent in comparison. 

This all leads to a final confrontation where all the opposing parties meet at the Temple of Arrivals. Unfortunately, the power is not what it seems, and even the history of the world is shown to be a lie. The Supreme is not what they thought, but forces out of their control force a confrontation with results that have world shaking consequences for both the Supreme's forces and the Liberators, which could end with death for them all.

CHARACTERS AND WORLD BUILDING

There are an intriguing mix of characters in this book, with Elian getting the lion's share of attention, as he is the main protagonist. He is such an interesting character, having so much power, but struggling in his use of it. He's definitely a flawed character, trying to do the best, but often rushing off without thinking, making things worse. He comes across as a real person of his age, being forced to mature by circumstances. The secondary characters are given attention as well, to round out their personalities and story arcs, and it helps enrich the story. The villains are excellent, with Vavius really standing out, as his motivations are explored more, and we get to see just what brought him from an ardent freedom fighter to traitor to the cause.

The world building is excellent. The magic system is fully fleshed out, with a consistent set of rules, and an interesting premise with how it's powered. The ability to gain another tier of magic with sufficient mastery is also intriguing, and really adds to the story. 

The world itself is creative, with the various locations drawn out nicely on the page. The descriptions are very well done, without being overblown or excessive. You get a real feel for these places, and have no problem imagining the various locales. You really get a feel for the oppression the populace feels under the Supreme's rule, the general dystopian feel of the place, and what pushes the Liberators into their actions. Its definitely one of my favorite fantasy settings.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I was impressed with the world the author has created. Its magic system seems a bit complicated to start, but the included key to the various magics at the front of the book really helped keep track of what the various powers can accomplish. I also really appreciated the map, it helped really bring the world into focus. I am excited to see where the series goes from here, and think this series will appeal to a wide variety of fantasy fans.