tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78684422326741906702024-03-25T23:17:11.387-07:00The Bookwyrm Speaks Book ReviewsA blog with honest, in depth book reviews and author interviews by a lifelong fantasy and Sci-Fi fan.The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.comBlogger247125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-32131158333794900172024-03-25T23:16:00.000-07:002024-03-25T23:16:39.086-07:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Convergence by Joe Jackson<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsZBJVaR9GKy3dUGXKTaZ9-zdudU8hOnvLQN5-37j1_w8t_sBvYsk4aVZrCJaljaaXToo5ie0ywAMqm_daMFe4fAAZiJ0aOcVGNaqssy2E5D0ar1X9ruRmFHkOLaiim1BD8vgAuoFS0y2jqWXuxc9OO2qOc-uV7gI5d4VSFO6s_NA4TIJpDMiM5Wzeqs/s445/convergence.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="288" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsZBJVaR9GKy3dUGXKTaZ9-zdudU8hOnvLQN5-37j1_w8t_sBvYsk4aVZrCJaljaaXToo5ie0ywAMqm_daMFe4fAAZiJ0aOcVGNaqssy2E5D0ar1X9ruRmFHkOLaiim1BD8vgAuoFS0y2jqWXuxc9OO2qOc-uV7gI5d4VSFO6s_NA4TIJpDMiM5Wzeqs/w414-h640/convergence.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CY6LPT6?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_6&storeType=ebooks&qid=1711383055&sr=8-1">Buy On Amazon</a><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Convergence-Audiobook/B0C21GBQ7T?qid=1711385039&sr=1-2&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=VP75FCTN6Z2QPHF2WWBJ&pageLoadId=jQzwCNRwNecYwxLo&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Buy On Audible</span></b></a><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating: 9.5/10 Stars</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Synopsis</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">With her brother-in-law imprisoned behind enemy lines, Kari must mount a daring rescue to rival her previous forays to Mehr'Durillia. The problem is, the battles she's fought in recent weeks have left her in no condition to go anywhere...</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Now she must lean on the tactical and fighting expertise of her former commander, Kris Jir'tana, to lead the Silver Blades in their covert mission. But she will not be idle, for there are many battles left to be fought at home. In the wake of the attack upon her home city, she must uncover a treachery decades old and buried deep to prevent DarkWind and Citaria from becoming battlegrounds.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Justice, vengeance, and retribution will collide in a convergence of fates that will change the destinies of three worlds forever...</span></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;"></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A lot of book series seem to run out of steam a bit when they hit the middle books in a larger series. Thankfully, Convergence, the seventh book in Joe Jackson's epic 11 book series, does not suffer from that problem. In fact, with Convergence, the author seems to be picking up steam, increasing the stakes dramatically, while deepening the storyline and expanding the world he has created.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The world building is solid as I have come to expect from this author. You get a deeper look into the politics in Kari's home city of DarkWind, We get a deeper look into the aftermath of the attack against the city and the consequences. There seem to be alliances and conspiracies that were not seen before, although they were hinted at, and a new force comes into town to change the status quo completely. It's really well done, and the conclusion is a total swerve to what I was expecting, but in a good way. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We also get a much deeper look into </span></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Mehr'Durillia, what was considered the world of the demons, but is really just another dimension with some very different peoples. We have seen smaller scale views of a few kingdoms there, but we get a much deeper view of the geo-political system there, with a much more intimate view of the rulers and the ruled. There are cracks in the system that are shown, and the possibility exists that their leaders may be showing unexpected weakness, giving their people hope they might finally be able to throw off their shackles. It's complex and nuanced, and the twists and turns will keep you guessing.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">The characters are just so well written. Kari, the Avatar of Vengeance, the god Zalkar's chosen champion, is the main protagonist. She has grown so much, really coming into her own after her resurrection to fight in the Apocalypse against the Devil Queen Seril and her legions. She is recovering pretty well from the death of her husband Grakin, and has definitely settled into her role as leader of the Temple. After her mission in Mehr'Durillia ended with the death of five demon princes, she is now determined to get revenge for the attack on DarkWind, and is healing from the strain of that mission, but refuses to just leave things to others. Her willpower is legendary, and she is the glue that holds her family together, and you can tell she has a much greater destiny ahead.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">The secondary characters are fully fleshed out as well, especially Kari's old commander and potential love interest, Kris Jir'tana. He is a strong presence who is happy to support Kari's initiatives, and is willing to put his life on the line to make sure justice is done. The fact he is willing to go the Mehr'Derillia to try and rescue Kari's brother-in-law Eric from a demon king with no hesitation shows his character, and that's a typical example of his character. The rest of the characters are given the same kind of treatment, getting their own arcs in service to the story, and it really helps engage the reader.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">The villains are still the Demon Kings, although some may not be as villainous as previously thought. King Arku is the main baddie, being the reason Eric was captured and tortured, and he also played a hand in the destruction at DarkWind. He is not one of the greater Kings, but he is still a force in comparison to his subjects. The confrontation with him and his fellow kings kind of shows their hand, and shows that a confrontation is coming between the worlds, with no way to know how it will go. It really ratchets up the tension in some excellent ways. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">The audiobook narration is performed by Chelsea Stephens. She does a good job bringing the characters to life, especially Kari. She gives her some real emotional resonance, and does an excellent job differentiating the various characters. Her narrative pacing is very good, and you never feel that the story lags. It's very consistent with the other book performances. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">You can easily tell that the story arc is starting to work towards the final confrontations, and we are getting past setup into action. The pieces are set up on the board, and soon will be moving into battle. It is interesting to think where this story will go. It should appeal to fans of epic fantasy, and is very much outside the box in its story and execution, and I give it my highest recommendation. Check this series out today!</span></span></span></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-684934236336029122024-03-21T14:34:00.000-07:002024-03-21T14:34:05.335-07:00The Bookwyrm's Review of The Tree of Azathoth by C.T. Phipps<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SVSKJW8oa-kMtZEvmSIILOR-5EpGeRHcQxmF0ycyi_CXeqv0k5gnTt7D2eRwJputUvKBozMqbqYOt_SpJYY9ZAYvTUxtDcxzrxPdpdW_ZC5_rgirnIpjPpwRYf4Yi69BPsxMFojxaMVPon4enMCIn666BTiMYbSeIqhJlF9CeoBfLd4oWD2j05bHOFc/s425/tree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="266" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SVSKJW8oa-kMtZEvmSIILOR-5EpGeRHcQxmF0ycyi_CXeqv0k5gnTt7D2eRwJputUvKBozMqbqYOt_SpJYY9ZAYvTUxtDcxzrxPdpdW_ZC5_rgirnIpjPpwRYf4Yi69BPsxMFojxaMVPon4enMCIn666BTiMYbSeIqhJlF9CeoBfLd4oWD2j05bHOFc/w400-h640/tree.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tree-Azathoth-Cthulhu-Armageddon-Book-ebook/dp/B0BYV4QGTJ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.eb5FIsnSPG8rWDjRN8iBUuGdQm0i4fAH-vKAylPRMp_GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.dg84le27T-03OvcC3QmsJcffXLjGXA8lm2bvhnGN9iY&qid=1710914787&sr=1-1">Buy on Amazon</a><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Tree-of-Azathoth-Audiobook/B0CWHMT3DX?eac_link=JuIcPcPSyTJ2&ref=web_search_eac_asin_1&eac_selected_type=asin&eac_selected=B0CWHMT3DX&qid=ySsDmlbtmQ&eac_id=139-2467772-8033806_ySsDmlbtmQ&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Buy on Audible</b></span></a><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Rating: 9/10 Stars</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span></span></b></p><!--more--><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Synopsis</span></b></div></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700; text-align: start;">"The Dreaming City has a million stories."</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The world has finally reached its final hours with Yog-Sothoth devouring time itself. John Henry Booth is not content to die and seeks out an old enemy to provide him an escape from the dying Earth. This results in him being transported to a strange monster-filled city where millions of humans live in a bizarre hodgepodge of eras. John soon finds out he's been here before, or at least some variant of him has, and he is soon founded by faces long thought dead. And what is his lost son's connection to the mysterious metropolis?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">The Tree of Azathoth</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"> is the third novel of the Cthulhu Armageddon series, a post-apocalypse continuation of H.P. Lovecraft's popular Cthulhu Mythos.</span></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;"></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">When The Tree of Azathoth was released, I was excited to see where the story would go, because so much had gone on in book two with Booth and his companions. Booth finally knew what he was becoming, and had a firm idea of where the world was headed. Unfortunately, it was a place where humanity meets its end in some form or another in 60 years, although what that really means is in doubt. This book shows just how it may not be what has been predicted, though.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The world building is excellent, as usual. Starting about 20 years after the end of book two, the world is still slowly sliding into disrepair and chaos. It's basically Judge Dredd's Cursed Earth, only caused by the return of the Elder gods, and with more mutants and monsters. It's a dying world, and people are losing hope, although they will go down kicking, screaming and fighting the entire way. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That's how the story begins. However, due to a surprise sacrifice I won't spoil, Booth is hurled into the dream lands, the realm outside time and space where dreams become the stuff of reality. In this case, Booth is stuck in an alternate version of himself, who wasn't raised in the dystopian weird west cataclysm, but instead a 1930's type noir dystopia, run by a fascistic dictatorship that lives down to every expectation you'd have for that kind of system. Mix that with mutant gangs and it's just as dangerous, of not quite so dirty, as the dystopia Booth just left. It's quite apparent the author has more than a passing familiarity with noir mystery stories, and that knowledge permeates the world he has created, in a good way. It's an interesting direction to go, and it pays off.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The characters are excellent as usual. Booth is such a complex character, tragically doomed to become something much different than human, but still holding onto his humanity as much as he can. He believes in honor in a remnants of society that has none, and finds himself more and more an outsider, alone and waiting for the inevitable end. The shift to the Dream Lands is interesting, because he has to make some drastic changes to his approach, because he is shifting from more of an old west type enforcer to a private detective type mentality, and those are distinctly different. It is a lot of fun watching him adjust to his new circumstances, especially since here, he has lost most of the protections he had in the wastes. His choices here have greater consequences than he could have ever imagined.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The secondary characters are familiar, since in most cases, they are kind of different timeline versions of his previous friends and enemies. They all get their own interesting arcs within Booth's main arc, and it is interesting the changes they have undergone with the change of setting. They are definitely different than their outlaw personas, but their cores are still the same, and Booth just works so well with them. It's a tonal change, but not in a bad way, and it will keep the reader turning pages.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The narration is performed by Cary Hite, who is new to the series. He has a different take on the character, who doesn't come off as quite as cynical and world weary, but he does an excellent job bringing Booth to life, infusing him with emotional resonance. He makes the listener feel as though Booth is flesh and blood, a man struggling with the end of the world, and he is trying to hold off despair, and it bleeds through into his performance. It is a worthy addition to the audible versions.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Overall, this is a worthy addition to the series. The tonal changes could have fallen flat, but instead just added spice to a complex character and the world he inhabits. I think the story has a lot of appeal to to a wide range of genres fans, and I highly recommend checking the series out today. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-54237548903799369122024-03-18T15:19:00.000-07:002024-03-18T15:26:00.964-07:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Couch Surfing Through the Twelve Chambers of Hell by Curtis M. Lawson<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJkW_qjZ0G5_5F6cvappoCCLmFpaXRXgU__Ae2FpRhBhkfYDe2atQyY4_3pxP-c3Dt5V8lHEdAtBV7P1W-NfYcq1eHwTG7rF1_32yWw_zcfuwnWqMhU0FpkKHpSks8a8FSUeLxzEWwP4Oj6l4YKQJUGaabusrVNYYoy8ysJmEkgd6PZzFpNJzeUOH5sY/s445/Couch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="296" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJkW_qjZ0G5_5F6cvappoCCLmFpaXRXgU__Ae2FpRhBhkfYDe2atQyY4_3pxP-c3Dt5V8lHEdAtBV7P1W-NfYcq1eHwTG7rF1_32yWw_zcfuwnWqMhU0FpkKHpSks8a8FSUeLxzEWwP4Oj6l4YKQJUGaabusrVNYYoy8ysJmEkgd6PZzFpNJzeUOH5sY/w426-h640/Couch.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Couch-Surfing-Through-Chambers-Hell-ebook/dp/B0CTHPQYGZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2AVUTFXDE5ZGU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hsh_UDq7HQeeSoB_PFTdY3o91DOlBRTEvRehikv0eB-CuksCkbBFyvY7c5WXKS_MeGWv6SmVMG1-HZYcO3BJcTchLIuB1kZT4eFzkRCrsjSonqLkE8fhwPyCujzCDZl8D1NEeE7VCx0naUBnkgYRuJ20kNbbUEYM71itIronAWOs1A5AijwCINojcagsYtxR-YVa6zW_PNcH3vdcdTeBgxkIxDKtNfZq_dHuXDQSy6c.iMyfGnm7ZEokIOk2lUsIyuYDrAWND5Jcks_W51e5bqo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Curtis+M.+Lawson&qid=1710777104&sprefix=curtis+m.+lawson%2Caps%2C606&sr=8-1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Buy on Amazon</b></span></a><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Rating: 9.5/10 Stars</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span></span></b></p><!--more--><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Synopsis</span></b><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>A dark, hallucinatory Rock N' Roll road trip across America and through the Egyptian Underworld.</i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>The charmed life of aging rock star Nathan Pharaoh comes to a screeching halt when his wife and daughter meet violent deaths. Unsure of how to cope with this immense tragedy, Nathan embarks on a road trip down Route 50, "the loneliest road in America".</i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>As Nathan grapples with grief, anger, and survivor's guilt, he is haunted by a demonic figure responsible for the death of his family. The monster is hungry for Nathan's soul, urging him toward oblivion. Nathan is not alone, however. On his voyage he comes across old friends and older gods, each guiding him toward life and rebirth.</i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Will Nathan Pharaoh make it across Route 50, or will he be dragged into the underworld for all eternity?</i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review</span></b></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;">I have been</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"> a fan of Curtis Lawson's writing for quite some time. His books are hard to quantify as far as genre, because they cross over the established boundaries of genres to take their own path in meshing them into their own unique thing. The haunting prose mixes with a sometimes brutal aesthetic, mixing in horror, gothic and fantasy elements to create something special. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">The world building the just what I would expect from this author. He uses such evocative prose in his descriptions that it really draws the reader in. Just his descriptions of things like the terrain around Route 50 and the creeping horrors that may or may not exist in the darkness outside the headlights view is described in a haunting way, giving the impression that something is just out of sight, waiting for you to let your guard down so they could strike. As Nathans's journey continues, we get to see some places that led to Nathan's gradual decline as he relives some of the most harrowing parts of his existence, the greatest losses in his life, forcing him to relive them in the starkest way possible. It's almost poetic in a kind of brutal way, delivering a gut punch of emotional resonance.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">The story centers around it's main character, Nathan Pharaoh. A rock star guitar player, he traveled the world, made millions of dollars, and entertained fans for years. That rock star life meant he spent months on the road at a time, missing out on many moments in his wife and daughter's lives. It was a trade-off he was willing to make, but it also sowed the seeds to the destruction of everything important in his life, when the two people he loved most in life are taken from him while he was on tour. The story covers the aftermath of this, as Nathan slowly descends into chaos as he deals with his broken life. As he starts his journey to what he knows will be his final end, he goes through certain events tied to portions of his life, using metaphors for certain mythologies and horrors to show how a lot of what Nathan is experiencing is a consequence of his actions, Some of which could have been avoided, some not. He meets up with some interesting characters on the road, and a recurring theme of love and loss is shown throughout, as well as temptation and personal destruction through ones own actions. In a twist, though, there is a bit of a redemption arc at the end. Nathan finally sees that while he has played a part in his own torment, he was not solely alone in it, that others had agency as well, and he has a chance to live on and, if not make things right, learn to forgive himself and move past his tragedy. its actually a very poignant ending, one I was not expecting at all. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I was really surprised at some of the twists and turns this story took. As Nathan's life is shown to the reader, you get the feeling that he is as much a victim of fate as he is the master of it. I was ready for anything in this story except that ending, which was an awesome twist, catching me completely by surprise in the best way. With its mix of elements and storytelling twists, this is a book that should appeal to anyone looking for a good read that will keep you guessing, but has a quality payout at the end. I give it my highest recommendation.</span></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-10285321786468558542024-03-06T23:48:00.000-08:002024-03-06T23:48:26.709-08:00<p> </p><p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br />
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFzPWe1vafDRf4COpNEpa-I3Ba6H5jPw_U2nvxMr17F2zVlte4KaguSZcU3gwA71-UbvPWy3a4AcFH5Z7t3C0QRcU9AytVle0rf6On7d2iLw9ZIKvg9Ivfk7tlEK1qmhuiQjaa0vZhyphenhyphencgkgeOmSV03iT-Fes5Vp1_EM_1fBxAqZmWQ-R9VdPr935wQlg/s500/zhaal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFzPWe1vafDRf4COpNEpa-I3Ba6H5jPw_U2nvxMr17F2zVlte4KaguSZcU3gwA71-UbvPWy3a4AcFH5Z7t3C0QRcU9AytVle0rf6On7d2iLw9ZIKvg9Ivfk7tlEK1qmhuiQjaa0vZhyphenhyphencgkgeOmSV03iT-Fes5Vp1_EM_1fBxAqZmWQ-R9VdPr935wQlg/w400-h640/zhaal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tower-Zhaal-Cthulhu-Armageddon-Book-ebook/dp/B01N4QX8XZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1GYIDDWMRQOTH&keywords=tower+of+zhaal&qid=1678301056&sprefix=the+tower+of+zhaal%2Caps%2C481&sr=8-1" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Buy
on Amazon</b></span></span></a></p>
<p align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Tower-of-Zhaal-Audiobook/B06Y5FQ3LD?qid=1678301103&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=CAKQ02YY3W5FYBX1H3KM&pageLoadId=aXBQkawkz0TxUbxm&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Buy
on Audible</b></span></span></a></p>
<span><a name='more'></a></span><p align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><b style="font-size: 24pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rating:
9.25/10 Stars</span></b></p>
<span><span style="font-family: arial;"><!--more--></span></span><p align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><b style="font-size: 24pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Plot
Synopsis</span></b></p>
<p align="center" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.15in; margin-top: 0.15in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>It has been a year since
John Henry Booth's exile from New America and the fall of the Black
Cathedral. Cursed with a slow transformation into a monster, he has
begun a doomed relationship with fellow escapee Mercury Halsey as
they seek some way to arrest his transformation.</i></span></p>
<p align="center" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.15in; margin-top: 0.15in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Dubious hope arrives in the
form of the University, the deranged scientists and cultists
descended from the staff of Miskatonic University. Except their offer
of help comes at a price. Having sold themselves to ancient aliens
called the Yith, they wish John and Mercury to join a group of rogues
in hunting down a wayward member of their faculty: a man who intends
to release the last of the sleeping Great Old Ones on an already
ravaged planet. If they're telling the truth, John and Mercury will
be heroes. If.</i></span></p>
<p align="center" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.15in; margin-top: 0.15in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>The Tower of Zhaal is the
second novel of the Cthulhu Armageddon series, a post-apocalyptic
continuation of H.P. Lovecraft's popular Cthulhu Mythos.</i></span></p><p align="center" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.15in; margin-top: 0.15in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><p></p>
<p align="center" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.15in; margin-top: 0.15in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Review</b></span></p>
<p align="left" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.15in; margin-top: 0.15in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>C.T. Phipps’s books tend to
blend the lines between genres, and Cthulhu Armageddon is certainly
no exception. In fact, it probably mixes more genres than any of his
other books, having elements of post-apocalyptic dystopia, weird
west, Cthulhu mythos and horror mixed throughout. It’s this
combination of elements that really sets this book apart, especially
because it is very sparing in humor compared to the author’s other
books. </span>
</span></p>
<p align="left" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.15in; margin-top: 0.15in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The story centers around John
Henry Booth, former ranger for one of the remaining human
settlements, and now outcast in the wilds of the post-apocalyptic
world left after the old ones returned. He is still trying to cling
to his humanity, even though it was revealed in the first book,
Cthulhu Armageddon, that Booth is not human, but something far
different. This struggle to hold onto his identity is a
central theme in the book, especially as events spin out of control
and he is forced to embrace what he has denied for so long, in an
effort to save those he loves, and avoid becoming a bigger monster
than those he fights against. He is just a tragic hero, and you can’t
help but root for him, even though the odds are definitely stacked
against him.</span></p>
<p align="left" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.15in; margin-top: 0.15in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>The secondary characters are
excellent. Mercury Halsey is such a strong character on her own.
She’s there to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and she’s all out of
bubblegum. She is the perfect partner for Booth, although you have
the feeling that her relationship with Booth has tragedy written all
over it. She is his link to the humanity that he is slowly losing the
fight to maintain, and it’s interesting the way her character
develops throughout the book. There are several other side characters
that get some attention as well, and they each have their own arcs as
they go in and out of Booth’s sphere of influence. </span>
</span></p>
<p align="left" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.15in; margin-top: 0.15in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The villains are a mixed
bunch, ranging from cultists to post apocalyptic raiders of varying
levels of humanity. Some of the villains are of the unexpected
variety as well, as they didn’t appear to be villains until their
sudden, inevitable betrayal. It’s an excellent mix to keep the
tension ratcheted up throughout the story, and leads to an excellent
epic showdown at the end,</span></p>
<p align="left" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.15in; margin-top: 0.15in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The world building is what you
would expect from a big fan of Lovecraftian worlds. It’s a world
steeped in despair, where kindness is as rare as hen's teeth. It’s a
world where the Elder Gods came in and wreaked havoc on the world, not even noticing the bacteria that is humanity to them. This has left the world a dystopian wreck, with what remains of humanity scrambling to live in a world that even the strongest have trouble surviving in. It's a world where the definition of humanity is murky at best, where human hybrids are common and and it has become impossible to claim that their is a pure strain of humanity left. It gives the reader some interesting things to think about, including the nature of what is a family, and what is truly important when all the nonsense of modern life is suddenly cast aside to focus on survival. </span></p><p align="left" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.15in; margin-top: 0.15in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The audiobook narration is performed by Jeffrey Kafer. He brings a lot of warmth and snark to a story that could have been fairly grim and dark due to subject. He gives each character a wide array of emotions, and each has their own voice , distinct from the others. His narrative pacing is excellent, and you really get engrossed in the story.</span></p><p align="left" style="background: #ffffff; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.15in; margin-top: 0.15in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This is very much a worthy sequel to Cthulhu Armageddon. It takes what worked in the first book and expanded on it, all while increasing the stakes. You really are in doubt throughout the story if the protagonists will pull through and save the world, and the answer will definitely shock you in a unseen twist. The author's deep knowledge of the Cthulhu mythos is quite obvious, and it really helps to build a fleshed out universe of incomprehensible beings who are responsible for the near annihilation of humanity. Its a book that will appeal to any fan of the mythos, dystopian futures and fans of good writing in general. I give it my highest recommendation.</span></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-56758844130606441832024-02-28T15:00:00.000-08:002024-02-28T15:00:22.945-08:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Dead Tired by Ravensdagger<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaW_kn3y8jh9nNHgbzkBZfVhQbVuPW8Mk26AM_mPjaZ0tRzThlgBi8D6IyD_zZ_dCHB9K9AkFLhZMx2jlcCK_C4E4SRVfLdcpTJ2oqMwQfBxAn3dndo8p0RFU8KQ-PlPP-_WW-HFMxS2AuhCwrbkY304ZD9yuQpH_Ny8Oego6jWL53WWUcFArFhkkIOQ/s385/dead%20tired.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="257" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaW_kn3y8jh9nNHgbzkBZfVhQbVuPW8Mk26AM_mPjaZ0tRzThlgBi8D6IyD_zZ_dCHB9K9AkFLhZMx2jlcCK_C4E4SRVfLdcpTJ2oqMwQfBxAn3dndo8p0RFU8KQ-PlPP-_WW-HFMxS2AuhCwrbkY304ZD9yuQpH_Ny8Oego6jWL53WWUcFArFhkkIOQ/w428-h640/dead%20tired.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Tired-I-Ravensdagger-ebook/dp/B0CD3T2BB8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=X28F8K5NPQ3U&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HvK_8h2r90MJtc04ZbRLTUV3lfGtOkFoPab8fEeBNWLPG7IYvu8BKt2LRAhCZom5AdlRxxkBOkAjsV4LkzXkVHV3hy1QCFV3ru6f_vPYL4eHAUF0ewb-leTFCmhrQFSjrFJx0hA9yzqq2lt9ZxV_YEqXi1E8SkD2zlLIZTwefulrL7zy8QNGW2hwevF6_SHXQJ1xoHPDiC-m81qAhQo2YFHhJo4-0rckTUL5_v0_pEU.nPgCa4X5TTlK5FeUhsBm04CnvofOs0fLlA2cBFkBeZ8&dib_tag=se&keywords=dead+tired&qid=1709095624&sprefix=dead+tir%2Caps%2C1176&sr=8-1">Buy on Amazon</a><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Dead-Tired-I-Audiobook/B0CP2T1M1Y?qid=1709095496&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=602C9PFC59CN3S3KKWKT&pageLoadId=ARmdtib6ZSnzgteK&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Buy on Audible</span></b></a><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating:10/10 Stars</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Synopsis</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">In the distant past, a time of magic and swordplay, there lived Harold, the mightiest lich of all, a master of arcane sciences, and a challenger of gods. After reaching the pinnacle of his power and finding it surprisingly bland, Harold waged a cataclysmic war against the gods, aiming to shatter the very system that confined him.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Then, he took a nap.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">An incredibly long nap that ends with a jolt, thanks to an unwitting adventurer who trips into Harold's crypt. Blinking into the torchlight, Harold finds a world he barely recognizes. No more swords and sorcery, but a universe buzzing with cultivation, celestial sects, and far too many pretentious dialogues about the path to godhood.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Harold is no naïve cultivator, he's an ancient lich with a single ambition: to slide back into his uninterrupted eternal slumber. But the cacophony of quarreling sects and smug martial artists seems determined to keep him awake.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Undeterred, the sleep-deprived overlord is ready to confront this brave new world. After all, no aspiring deity, no grandiose sect, and certainly no self-righteous martial artist is going to rob him of his beauty sleep.</span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;"></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: xx-large;">Review</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I usually roll my eyes when I see weird pen names for authors. I gave it some thought, though, and it's LitRPG, so I just started thinking of these names as Gamertags, and had some fun with it. In the case of Dead Tired, the author Ravensdagger has some fun with the tropes of both LitRPG and cultivation progression, to some hilarious results. </span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The world building takes some interesting turns. Its a world that at one time was a sword and sorcery type LitRPG system with character sheets, stats, classes, levels and outright magic. It was a world of warriors and wizards, of bards and rogues, where science, magic and alchemy existed side by side, and grinding levels killing mobs was how you gained power. 2100 years have passed since Harold went to sleep, and when he's awoken, he finds the world has changed significantly. Instead of the stats based system he left behind, he finds the world is now controlled by cultivators, martial artists who increase their physical abilities through meditation and channeling chi under Taoist beliefs. There's no stat sheets, no classes (that they can see) and they don't use spells. Science has disappeared, to Harold's great distress, and society has definitely regressed. The gods that are currently ruling are all young, since the older, more powerful gods were mostly killed off in the older era. This leads to some hilarious interactions, since way too many of the new gods are unfamiliar with Harold and just how little time he has for them and their machinations, and with no understanding he can do something about it. It's a great clash of cultures, with Harold being the bridge between the old and the new. </span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The characters in this are so much fun. This starts with the main character Harold, a wizard who, when his level maxed out, decided, well, time to make changes to get past this limit. Apparently, becoming a lich allowed for just that. Being a genius scientist, he took magic in whole new directions, since he has infinite curiosity to go along with immortality. He also doesn't have the best social skills, seeing those around him in terms of utility, since he is so insanely powerful, and such a science nerd that he sees everything scientifically. Some of his experiments are absolutely hilarious, but are completely in character. He comes across as one of the guys from Revenge of the Nerds, if you replaced obsession with sex with obsession with magic. His predilection for puns and dad jokes is so funny, especially in the audio version. He is just so well done, especially since he is so OP, but that's never rubbed in the reader's face. It just works. </span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The secondary characters are equally hilarious. Alex and Limpet are the two primary ones, and they are interesting in their own right. Alex is Harold's butler, although maid might be more accurate. An amalgamation of a dead human adventurer and a magic panther, Alex has some confusion to him, mostly due to being a mix of not only species, but genders, since the adventurer was a male and the panther was a female. This leads to some hilarious situations, since Harold is sure that it was only a teensie oops, and not an issue whatsoever. It's not usually, although there might have also been a tiny issue in the spell Harold used, because Alex considers Harold his/her? father, and calls him bone daddy in some hilarious scenes. He is also undead, so is ridiculously strong and fast, and immune to most damage. He is also a great servant, willing to protect Harold at all times, and will not tolerate rudeness, as the 17 cultivators who sexually harassed Alex found out painfully, and even terminally. </span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Limpet is a failed cultivator, a young woman that has been refused by every sect, but takes the chance to try and gain power and strength by joining Harold as his "test subject". She is naive, but doggedly determined to get strong enough to take revenge on the cultivators that killed her family. This puts her in the position to be Harold's test bed to see if modern people can still work the system he was familiar with. She is willing to put in the work, and starts learning to cast spells as she starts her own journey on the path to power and learning. She even manages to pleasantly surprise Harold with her successes at times, and their relationship is slowly growing into more a master/apprentice thing, even if Harold doesn't necessarily see it that way. She has a nice growth arc and you learn more about her as the story proceeds. </span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There are some other fun side characters as well. There are a couple of cultivator adventurers partnered up with some dwarves, exploring the ruins of a fallen city Harold still remembers in its prime. They add some fun bits of levity, as well as giving more of a look at the broader world Harold now finds himself in. They get their own little arcs, even for a relatively short time in the story.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There is no real villain yet, but you get the feeling the emperor may be an issue down the road. The cultivators are an arrogant bunch, following the lead of the emperor, and with his ban on the undead, he is definitely a threat to Harold and his group. The new gods and their new source of power are a sore spot with Harold, one he intends to do something about, and the cultivators sects may be a thorn in Harold and company's sides as well.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Now comes the part I have been most looking forward to, talking about the narration for the audio-book. The narration is performed by Justin Thomas James, Dorrie Sacks, Tiana Camacho and Jeff Hays, with the majority of the characters and story narration performed by Justin Thomas James. As a whole they do a fantastic job, with Dorrie Sacks doing a fantastic job bringing Limpet and her other characters to life. She really gives Limpet a sense of wonder and innocence, but she has an edge when talking about her revenge. Jeff Hays and Tiana Camacho both do a stand up job bringing their various characters to life, putting real emotional weight into them all. As far as Justin Thomas James, who I have listened to many times narrating, I think this is his defining role, Similar to how Princess Donut and Boxy Morningwood are for Jeff Hays. He does an absolutely amazing job bringing Harold into bright living, or maybe unliving, color. He is so funny, with so much snark and humor injected into the character, but also those moment of wonder as Harold admits he doesn't know everything and is always wanting to learn more. Existing for millennia this gives Harold an interesting world view, and Justin brings it to life. His method for telling Harold's Jokes and puns, and his reactions to them, are priceless. it is as close to a perfect performance as I could imagine for this story, and I recommend it as highly as I can.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I think this book will have huge appeal for a lot of people. I mean, LitRPG and cultivation fans will surely enjoy it, but I think it has a lot to recommend it to fans of regular fantasy as well, and even some sci-fi fans might find it appealing. The humor is just great, and considering we are dealing with an undead uber-powerful lich, it keeps the story from becoming dark and oppressing. The characters really make this book something extra special, and the audio-book version is my preferred edition. I give this book my highest recommendation, and it is definitely in my top 5 reads of the year. Check it out today.</span></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-11913888847683379572024-02-18T13:48:00.000-08:002024-02-18T21:29:51.624-08:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Heroes of Courage: The Evenstar Saga by Charles Cleveland<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7g8td41sa6VLsDWA1tDkYGjADRLritp-darfetgpz93_ey1jkAgaDIMu0ArqnEzGQVsfy2oBRf5jpikEUaeBT-SniUPFCF6rLlISKGQchDCDwSOJjTaut_He8QSiDNiZ_WE4RjbO9IgjOpR2rkNelOwPNaqmLYqH3WCbYa6LOyejL2wU7zj_2ONsd3Rg/s425/Heroes%20of%20courage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="281" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7g8td41sa6VLsDWA1tDkYGjADRLritp-darfetgpz93_ey1jkAgaDIMu0ArqnEzGQVsfy2oBRf5jpikEUaeBT-SniUPFCF6rLlISKGQchDCDwSOJjTaut_He8QSiDNiZ_WE4RjbO9IgjOpR2rkNelOwPNaqmLYqH3WCbYa6LOyejL2wU7zj_2ONsd3Rg/w424-h640/Heroes%20of%20courage.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heroes-Courage-Evenstar-Charles-Cleveland-ebook/dp/B0CSV9XBSW/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YPl0_voCLZnZi87v6JSuUHnParACat4C7Y6-Y3A8a9WKWdemCe2E2W2BOYpvlu6RnaUgaGi73ZadPuknGGBti3qzI3lekVTJjPnWent_ytlhcxCrorABRjB9OBZBuMO-oh9vVWeVGcFEu-s_sBURJjnaiGD1ju65zPEOkN8BnPX4Pf685AuHQSVH_R1-8fzdFRVHyormwxnVek8P6YsLmBLI6zIe5HjtrMbV3bffmgc.306hsxN4EVQAOW5riDjZ7eeJ-9DaQkLFwv0VWL-sHz8&qid=1708062940&sr=8-1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Buy on Amazon</b></span></a></div><p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating: 9/10 Stars</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Synopsis</b></div></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Kylan Evenstar has known nothing other than the rough life of a lowly mercenary, having been raised by his Uncle Rusl, the Commander of the Evenstar Mercenaries. The mercenary company is filled with eccentric, mischievous, but well-trained mages and warriors, including: Kylan himself, a cursed half elf, three bastard brothers, shapeshifters, a deadly assassin, duelists, and many more. They bring bandits to justice while seeking to keep the peace for the common folk in the Kingdom of Baldoa—a kingdom whose knights and ruling class only deem the lands of their noble lords’ worthy of protecting.</span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">However, the Evenstar Mercenaries will soon be faced with far greater trials than escort missions and fending off bandits. An unfavorable war threatens the kingdom, and Kylan learns that his destiny is tied to a Goddess. The strain of a looming war forces the Baldoan Lords to call upon the mercenaries to carry out an important mission, but a mysterious man, who seeks to restore an imprisoned Goddess, threatens to be their downfall.</span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In this dark fantasy, in a land teeming with selfish lords, sadistic priests, cruel bandits, and the horrors of war, the Evenstar Mercenaries will have to learn how to fight like hell and become courageous in their own ways in order to fight for justice in an unjust land.</span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span></span></i></span></p><!--more--><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Review</b></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This one is a little out of the ordinary for me, because I discovered this book one day browsing through my Instagram feed and seeing an ad for it. I thought the premise seemed solid, and decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did, because what I discovered was an epic coming of age story set in an outside the box fantasy world with a group of characters that were just so engaging to read. It just has so many elements, with so many tone switches and twists and turns, it really keeps a reader on their toes.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The world building takes some interesting turns throughout the story. It's a world of magic and steel, with nobles, peasants and mercenaries, where goddesses have walked the planet and worked through mortal avatars. Its a world with humans, elves and animagans (animal shape shifters) living their own lives in uneasy peace. It's also a place where the social contract between the nobility and the peasants has broken down. Commoners are still taxed heavily, but the King and nobles no longer provide protection. Mercenaries have to be hired by towns to protect those towns from bandits and pirates, and the nobles keep their own troops to protect their own estates. There is a very small army, and its job is just to protect the King and possibly try and fend off invaders. That and keep any peasant uprisings down. It's fairly dystopian, and you can tell this is a land in decline, with their goddesses either dead, imprisoned or forgotten, and threats both internal and external as petty grievances are played out between kingdoms, to the detriment of everyone, as forces rally to destroy everything.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The characters are a real strength in this story. Being a coming of age story, it requires a good protagonist, and Kylan Evenstar is is just that. Starting off as a somewhat naïve mercenary trainee, he is unaware he is part of a grander narrative. He cares about his family and friends, and wishes to make his uncle, Rusl, the leader of the mercenary company, proud. What he doesn't know is his family legacy has been kept from him, and that decision to keep that secret will have so many consequences for Kylan and the world in general, since the power he will have access to requires years of training, and wow, a crash course in power use was way more brutal, both physically and mentally, than I could have ever expected. It helps shape Kylan's personality for the second half of the book, and it leads to some tragic results, but also some hope as well.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The supporting characters are an interesting bunch. They are a nice mix of mentors, rivals and friends for Kylan. That being said, they have their own arcs of character growth. Rusl is Kylan's uncle, his mentor and his boss, and he has raised Kylan and his sister Lily since their parents died. He is protective, but also realizes he needs to teach Kylan to protect himself. His love for Kylan is part of the reason why he keeps the family legacy from Kylan's knowledge, seeing it as a curse. Rusl is such a respected warrior that it's hard to fault him. He is aided by Val, his second in command, an exceptionally talented warrior woman who is his sounding board and strong partner. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The rest of the mercs are an interesting bunch, and add a lot of spice to the story. It's interesting seeing their adventures, and they all get some character growth moments. This also includes a surprise, since one of the group's trainees is a teen named Adam, who has his own secret being kept from him: he is the illegitimate son of the king, and elevated to heir in a desperate bid to keep the kings blood line alive if he himself is killed in the upcoming war. He is a nice kid, a teen just trying to fit into the group, and he finds himself elevated into a snakepit of politics and cruelty, and his upbringing means he has to make plans of his own to effect changes for the better, even it's from the ashes of the kingdom.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The villains are actual villains, not misunderstood antiheroes. Malachus is the main villain, the older brother of Rusl and uncle of Kylan, and he is a tragic villain. The death of his wife and child has driven him to the dark side, seeking any way to bring them back, even if it involves making a Faustian bargain to do so. He will do whatever it takes to accomplish his goals, no matter how dark the deed. He isn't delusional that he's a hero in his own story, just determined to get back what he lost, not thinking if they would appreciate his swing to the dark side to accomplish it. Andulin is the other main villain, the usurper king of Loren, who overthrew the nobles in a peasant revolt, and is now looking to expand that revolt out of Loren. Seeming at first to just want equality for all, he has grander and darker ambitions, and a lust for power lurks under the surface. He is also willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goals, and damn the consequences or honor. Together, they make a formidable pair, and that before they make an agreement with Dante, the assassins guild leader who it so much worse than that, with an infernal origin and desire for destruction, death and chaos. With these three working together, death and destruction are guaranteed, with no guaranteed outcome for the heroes. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">With all these elements, I think this book has a lot of appeal to fans of fantasy. A coming of age story with a hero's journey with some excellent twists and turns, it should appeal to a wide range of fans. It has some darker elements to offset the lighter moments of levity, striking just the right balance. I give it a solid two thumbs up, and recommend it whole heartedly.</span></span></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-31796082268794606262024-02-12T13:57:00.000-08:002024-02-12T13:57:13.629-08:00The Bookwyrm's Review of The Great Hearts 5: Imperator<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlylZuSgiP5oJ4ygLhRwm_dqfAJzPjUg4YRrVj-tcBDXySr0B-FBHVYwv_QFdSt29ESFjvPVntVvKugQlZ96UWZKxS3q71AH1kxOOcrT6tQZOAiE0iGkoEdbpCWrGnrfYFRw-qu1DvtLHppx04jNaaz3xXo_npV5d0YTvKO0ce23mOpWe5GalsIYz6Z3o/s425/GH%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="283" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlylZuSgiP5oJ4ygLhRwm_dqfAJzPjUg4YRrVj-tcBDXySr0B-FBHVYwv_QFdSt29ESFjvPVntVvKugQlZ96UWZKxS3q71AH1kxOOcrT6tQZOAiE0iGkoEdbpCWrGnrfYFRw-qu1DvtLHppx04jNaaz3xXo_npV5d0YTvKO0ce23mOpWe5GalsIYz6Z3o/w426-h640/GH%205.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CRRLBY3G?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_4&storeType=ebooks&qid=1707456498&sr=8-1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Buy on Amazon</b></span></a></div><p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating: 10/10 Stars</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Synopsis</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700; text-align: start;">Progression comes at a price.</span></span></i></div><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;">The end of the Academy is in sight, but at what cost?</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;">The eighth and final year of the Academy awaits; a brutal and harrowing place designed to remove emotion and create the perfect Imperator. A place of legend amongst the Imps and barely repressed horror amongst the Imperators. A place where the final tempering in the forging of an Imperator is completed.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;">A place where monsters are made.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;">Wolf’s Hollow.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;">Can Calidan do what is necessary to become the tool of vengeance he seeks to be? Better still... should he?</span></span></i></div></span></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;"></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am amazed that we are five books in and this series just keeps getting better. David Oliver has just kept upping the stakes and steering us towards some massive revelations, and in this book, did we ever get the payoff! We find out in both past and present scenes how the Empire's enemies have gotten so far into it's frontiers. We find out where Ella and Scythe have gone. We see first hand how Cassius has been changed into what he is, and we finally find out where Seya is, and how she got there. Not one info dump, but actions and reactions that have been set up over the course of 5 books finally pay off in these reveals that are organic to the story. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The world building is some of the best in fantasy, and that's saying something with the sheer volume of books I go through and all the different fantasy worlds I've seen written, We get to see the world expanded upon yet again, seeing the Dusk Court of the Power called Rizain, The Last Redoubt, the final line of infiltration the Empire has in Hrudan lands, and Wolf's Hollow, the final testing center for eighth year imps to finally make finished Imperators. The silver door in the bowels of the Emperor's palace is finally opened as well, and it's mysteries are finally exposed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wolf's Hollow, and the events over the year there, are just harrowing. What happens at Wolf's Hollow, with it's massive psychological and physical stress, takes such a toll on the students there, and Calidan's group is no different. The training and testing are so strenuous that it makes the Hunger Games look like a nice Sunday walk in the park in comparison. It is meant to create the kind of ruthless, pragmatic to the extreme, Imperators who think nothing of collateral damage if it means accomplishing the mission, it pushes everyone to the breaking point, and then past it. It's a place where human monsters are made, where conscience goes to die. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The characters are yet again some of the best in fantasy. The story centers yet again on Calidan, but there are a few chapters that have Cassius and Ella as POV characters, so that's new. Calidan is more determined than ever to become an Imperator, but his sense of right and wrong, and usual disrespect for authority, gets him into trouble at Wolf's Hollow pretty much from the start, but they have draconian measures to punish resistance. Slowly but surely, he finds out that what he has dreamed about all these years might not be what he thought, and it's a crushing disillusionment. He also finds out exactly what the Emperor has been doing, and some of his secrets shatter Calidan's world, showing how current Calidan has become such a jaded, driven version of himself. He is easily my favorite character's in this story, and no description of him by me can do him justice. He is vengeance, and you disregard him at your own peril.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The secondary characters are so well written. There is not a cardboard cutout of a character in the bunch. Cassius is the main one, since he has been with Calidan the longest, having grown up together. He is a fantastic fighter and seraph user, but his sense of right and wrong is so deeply ingrained that Wolf's Hollow is the ultimate horror for him, since they are required to do things that would make the strongest person weep. It is easily the most challenging part of his life, and to be honest, it's amazing he made it through at all, because his moral qualms were such a barrier. It's only after Wolf's Hollow that we see what the Emperor has planned for him, and see what lengths the Emperor will go to make Cassius into the tool he needs, regardless of the cost to Cassius, and it ends up costing him that which he treasures most in the end.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The rest of the group is excellent. Ella is still the same efficient, get the mission done person she has always been. Growing up a street thief, she has a very different set of values that Cassius, being much more pragmatic, but she loves Cassius with all her being, I think seeing him as the better half of her life. When something happens to Cassius, she will literally stop at nothing to find out where he is, with tragic results for everyone in the end. Scythe and Sophia are both great warriors, focused on their training and later their missions, and they make a great pair, both as Imperators and lovers. They play off of each other in many ways, and compliment each others skill sets so well. They seem to struggle least with Wolf's Hollow and being Imperators, and we will find out what happened to both of them by the time the story ends. The last of the group is Rikol, a street rat like Ella, who is one of the most talented Seraph users to come out of the academy in a while. He is driven to be the best, and you have a feeling he will accomplish great things, if only he is given the time. Seya, Calidan's Great Heart bonded companion, is her usual amazing self, pushing Calidan hike a mother hen, but always willing to throw herself into danger to protect him. It's a lot easier to do that when your'e a panther the size of a horse. She goes through a lot in this story, being captured by the enemy, experimented on, and her story is more fully revealed, especially her past after the great Cataclysm. We find out why she refuses to talk about her past, and finally, where she is in the current timeline, and why we haven't seen her by Calidan's side. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The villain is still Charles, the Emperor's enemy since the distant past, one of the bringers of the great cataclysm. He is such a great villain, being so unassuming looking, but having so much incomprehensible power. He is truly evil, but of course, is the hero of his own story. Unfortunately, he is also a genius in many fields, including seraph use and genetic engineering, and he makes some truly incredible monsters and minions. Even his failures have impressive results, and you just know this is a man that plays the long game, and leaves nothing to chance. The final battle is approaching, where this long game is finally coming to fruition, and it's hard to see how it will turn out, but it will be a wild ride for everyone, and you know there will be much tragedy brought to a world that has been tragically wrecked multiple times. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With all that said, I'm not sure I can do justice to this book. It has such a great payoff of all the teasers that have been layered throughout the previous books, and the reveals never feel cheap. It was solid storytelling that got us to that point, and makes the reveals that much more satisfying. This is a story that will appeal to just about any fan of fantasy, and it's twists and turns are well thought out and deliver in the end. I give this story my highest recommendation, and it will be hard to top as my book of the year in 2024.</span></div></span><p></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-23826727058655435252024-02-11T18:52:00.000-08:002024-02-11T18:52:01.162-08:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Space Punks by Anna Mocikat<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IOCIBfXOLgVXTPhIT0uwJ_2AAD6P6rY5L7uxZq1eVme9mjn3UIHoinG2qnKy8wO9BhKg8gjluk-b9IBuC-KKJzO-xzYB8AHLD9UekwKqBJoXu8aCIV0Ehe7r4k69DYkvlp-K0mUAyaOdsNhpNReol0YgmcPNGv6D7O6DEEv5bW5ba5PQQCRF6Dqnsqs/s445/Spacepunks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="279" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IOCIBfXOLgVXTPhIT0uwJ_2AAD6P6rY5L7uxZq1eVme9mjn3UIHoinG2qnKy8wO9BhKg8gjluk-b9IBuC-KKJzO-xzYB8AHLD9UekwKqBJoXu8aCIV0Ehe7r4k69DYkvlp-K0mUAyaOdsNhpNReol0YgmcPNGv6D7O6DEEv5bW5ba5PQQCRF6Dqnsqs/w402-h640/Spacepunks.jpg" width="402" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Space-Punks-Science-Fiction-Adventure-ebook/dp/B0C7LV66G4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ZPEBGNQUVI1B&keywords=space+Punks&qid=1707450412&sprefix=space+punks%2Caps%2C294&sr=8-1">Buy on Amazon</a></b></div></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Space-Punks-Audiobook/B0CP89MQRD?eac_link=8uwQX1lWaHRB&ref=web_search_eac_asin_1&eac_selected_type=asin&eac_selected=B0CP89MQRD&qid=nBhyopoCEf&eac_id=139-2467772-8033806_nBhyopoCEf&sr=1-1">Buy on Audible</a><br /> <span></span></b></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Rating: 9/10 Stars</span></b></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-36768899-7fff-da5a-2e07-c371ee114aca"><span><!--more--></span></span><span><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Synopsis</span></span></p><br /><h4 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 3pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Meet the Space Punks—the only ones crazy enough to challenge the Pentad’s supreme power...</span></span></h4><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">David wakes up in a high-security prison on the forsaken Martian moon Deimos with no memory of his past. A chance encounter with Aztec, a deadly purple-haired cyborg, propels him into a daring jailbreak. She brings him on board a mysterious warship manned by the most notorious and badass crew of the galaxy—the Space Punks.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">One hundred years ago AI waged a devastating war against its human creators. Humanity won, but barely and at a horrible price. Ever since, the solar system has been strictly controlled by the Pentad, a ruthless coalition of megacorporations.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As David tries to regain his memory, he finds himself fighting battles between mechs, cyborgs, robots and super-soldiers alongside his new brothers and sisters-in-arms.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But is there more to the Space Punks than meets the eye? Everyone on board, human and cyborg alike, seems to have their own secret agenda.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Including their inscrutable leader, known only as the “Duchess.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Needless to say, the Pentad sends out their best people to get rid of this unruly menace.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">And in the shadows lurks the seemingly defeated enemy, a threat to all humankind, ready to strike again…</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: -14pt 0pt 11pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Space Punks is a sexy, adrenaline-fueled ride for fans of Firefly and Guardians of the Galaxy!</span></span></p><!--more--></span><h5 dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.71429; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></h5><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review</span></span></p></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />As a big fan of space opera and cyberpunk, I was happy to see that one of my favorite cyberpunk writers, Anna Mocikat, decided to create a story that merged the two genres together, I was intrigued what she would produce. After finishing it, I can say up front its a fast paced thrill ride with a lot of polish and panache, that has some twists and turns that the reader might not see coming.<br /><br /> The world building is an interesting mesh of dystopian cyberpunk and space opera. After an AI uprising has left earth an uninhabitable ruin, The government is not=w run from Mars. There are colonies on Venus and Ceres, as well as colonies in other solar systems reachable through alien tech left over from a vanished alien race. Society is controlled by the Pentad, the Corporations that took over after the AI uprising was narrowly defeated by humanities last hope, cyborg Warriors using technology the AI couldn't overcome. It has left a very stratified society in its wake, with a clear line between the haves and have-nots. This is where the space punks come in. Misfits who don't fit into the system, they are the outsiders who fill in the gaps between those haves and have nots. Technology is advanced to the point where even the poorest people have implanted chips in their heads, but that still doesn't even the playing field, just adding another layer of control instead. It is the epitome of a cyberpunk dystopia, and it is so well executed.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The characters are such an eclectic bunch, but they play off of each other really well. David is the main character, and we meet him as a he is a prisoner on the prison moon of Deimos for a crime he can't remember committing. Deimos is the equivalent of Alcatraz in space, and its a chance encounter with a fellow inmate, Aztec, that sets his course in the book, as he helps her on a mission to help another prisoner escape. While he can't remember who he really is, he seems to have fighting skills that make him important to Aztec and her associates, and as he joins the group, he puts those skills to use as the space punk group they are a part of is now on the run from the Pentad after coming into possession of an alien artifact, the kind of thing the Pentad will kill anyone in their way to get a hold of. It </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The secondary characters are the usual well rounded bunch I would expect from this author. Aztec is more a second lead, and she is such a fun character. A beautiful woman, she is death on two legs, as she is a former spec ops soldier, specifically augmented with cyborg limbs and other augments to be able to fight AI troops, although she is quite capable of killing human thugs. She is skilled and focused, but also has a sense of humor and still cares about people. She comes across as a complete person, not just a Merciless killing machine. She very much lives, laughs and loves, although going murder hobo at times is an occupational hazard. Her partner Nightingale was her partner in spec ops. He is a bit more fatalistic, knowing that he is unlikely to die in bed as an old man, so he takes a gallows humor approach to life. He is as competent and dangerous as Aztec, and is the kind of person who will make the ultimate sacrifice for those he loves.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The rest of the characters are excellent as well. Bonesaw, their combat surgeon, is another confident, competent character, and she loves to tease David, as he finds her extremely attractive, and I could see they might have something down the Road. The captain of the ship, who they call Captain Jack, is a big bear of a man, and not a swishy pirate, but he is a fun character. He really cares about his crew, and you can tell that he definitely knows his job and can be trusted when the chips are down. The wonder of their ship, the Duchess, is a beautiful mystery. She seems to know more than everybody else, and has knowledge way beyond the rest of the crew. One of her mysteries is revealed at the end of the book, and it throws her backstory into view for all to see, and it's a complete shock. An excellent twist. Niemand is the Duchesses mysterious partner, and when his past is revealed, its another fantastic twist as well, which explains his often reserved demeanor in the story. The last crewmember is Galahad, the pilot of their ship, the Nephilim. He is a hilariously snarky cyborg who is literally attached to the ship. Great pilot, but he is more than happy to make fun of his crewmates in his definitely fake British accent. They are all just a fun bunch that mixes the action and humor in the best ways.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There were several antagonists in the story. One is called Wraith, a mysterious crime lord who tries to set the group up for destruction trying to recover the artifact. It's bad for him that the crew is so talented though, and the menace they faced wasn't enough to take them out. The true menace is Lucien, who is attached to the Pentad, and is a truly chilling, ruthless character. He also has a mysterious connection to the Duchess in their past, one that is somewhat revealed at the end of the story to excellent effect. They are excellent foils for the team.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The audiobook is narrated by a full cast. I actually enjoyed this performance, because it allows for a wide range of voices and personalities to shine through. I think it allows the humor to shine through more, IN addition, the dialogue slows more smoothly, much more like a conversation instead of reading, so it is is engages the listener just a little bit more. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I think this book has appeal to a wide range of fans. With it's sci fi elements, it can appeal to space opera fans. It's cyberpunk elements will appeal to those who enjoy a dystopian future read. I give this a definite thumbs up recommendation. <br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><br /></span></span></div></span></div></div>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-63158660319831923532024-02-08T20:05:00.000-08:002024-02-08T20:05:13.911-08:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Tales of Nyarlathotep by Various Authors<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe_RIwFfCvHxulOQbQSNojimjnyecbERCSIVl7lqvXa4mG0RTd_j4Quq0kLmM3oLHUFnUMGDk1AHsL5vZkOfDCeWRbn5kL_rilt8GTI-jYza3kY_Cau8jNdPT5XphSl5VF5KQwnA4raYIvztQg8XdGPV3CWH-VYvkHiJyE-7R-ciy6y8P78JOtFjlk20/s425/nyar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="283" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe_RIwFfCvHxulOQbQSNojimjnyecbERCSIVl7lqvXa4mG0RTd_j4Quq0kLmM3oLHUFnUMGDk1AHsL5vZkOfDCeWRbn5kL_rilt8GTI-jYza3kY_Cau8jNdPT5XphSl5VF5KQwnA4raYIvztQg8XdGPV3CWH-VYvkHiJyE-7R-ciy6y8P78JOtFjlk20/w426-h640/nyar.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Nyarlathotep-Books-Cthulhu-Book-ebook/dp/B0C4JVR9WJ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1707451134&sr=8-1">Buy on Amazon</a><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Tales-of-Nyarlathotep-Audiobook/B0CP4FD4FY?eac_link=iCYfiv9aZbaO&ref=web_search_eac_asin_1&eac_selected_type=asin&eac_selected=B0CP4FD4FY&qid=qzvqDUS1AQ&eac_id=139-2467772-8033806_qzvqDUS1AQ&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Buy on Audible</span></a><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Rating: 9/10 Stars</span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Synopsis</span></b></p>
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">TALES
OF NYARLATHOTEP is the fourth book of the Books of Cthulhu series by
Crossroad Press (Tales of the Al-Azif, Tales of Yog-Sothoth, The
Book of Yig). It is an anthology featuring pulpy tales of horror
starring Outer God and his myriad plots as well as games.
Nyarlathotep is functionally omnipotent and treats humanity like ants
underneath a magnifying glass. He is impossible to kill but perhaps
capable of being thwarted. Or maybe that's just what he wants you to
think.<br />
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Experience such stories as a redneck family dealing
with their insane body-snatching ancestor, a resurrected pharaoh
trapped in a museum, a depraved family of British nobles out to
harness ancient forces, and a post-apocalypse town under siege by a
an immortal gun-slinging god's avatar. Whether a hero or an ordinary
human, none can triumph but maybe they can survive for another day.</span></span></i></p><p align="center" class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Review</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The fourth book in the Books of
Cthulhu series, Tales of Nyarlathotep focuses on one of the more
interesting members of the Cthulhu Mythos. Nyarlathotep is a
completely different kind of elder being than Cthulhu, Yog-Sothoth or
Yig, beings that don’t even think about humans, because they are so
many fleas in comparison. Nyarlathotep is a little different. He too
has power over time and space, but will deign to contact humans,
mostly for his own amusement. These stories all focus on various
aspects of that interaction, with cultists who try and bargain for
power with him, ancient artifacts that could potentially open the
world to his avatars, and adventurers fighting these forces of chaos.
We even get a peek at an ancient ruler meeting the being in person
(if that word applies to this kind of being) and showing just how one
sided any deal you make with something like this can be.
</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="left" class="western" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">These authors are all used to writing
in this mythos, so take their established characters like Harry
Stubbs, John Booth, Captain Cross, and many more, in a wide range of
times and places. The world building is excellent, and the stories
take place with the richest of upper crust nobility to poor farmers
to mutant humans in a post apocalyptic world on the brink of
annihilation. It leads to a great collection of stories that mix
horror, adventure and even some comedy that should appeal to fans of
the rest of the series, as well as fans of fantasy and </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">sci-fi in general. I give it my
highest recommendation.</span></p><br /><p></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-56765838473813751172024-02-01T13:58:00.000-08:002024-02-01T13:58:33.909-08:00The Bookwyrm's Review of The Secret King: Letháo by Dawn Chapman<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjj-TxIzhXHJMjusf5tpvDBav4cMiMLe1-QcBWsYMSparJMbODK18k1SMgE91SAPnexapwCLgZLUFeXnZzNRjY4Cl9fdkVRJ5LkvvMLKgsv1sIS0EFTmtWbYIlZJ8axT1CXnC2bkxNfxXodf9L-gwbFvveNnruIqeQmXed1vyZ4G3CkmUCn-QDjzW8z=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjj-TxIzhXHJMjusf5tpvDBav4cMiMLe1-QcBWsYMSparJMbODK18k1SMgE91SAPnexapwCLgZLUFeXnZzNRjY4Cl9fdkVRJ5LkvvMLKgsv1sIS0EFTmtWbYIlZJ8axT1CXnC2bkxNfxXodf9L-gwbFvveNnruIqeQmXed1vyZ4G3CkmUCn-QDjzW8z=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Secret-King-Lethao-Dawn-Chapman-ebook/dp/B0762GZPKX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=30EAWFIZU5YMW&keywords=The+Secret+King%3A+Lethao&qid=1642574524&sprefix=the+secret+king+letha%2Caps%2C1461&sr=8-1">Buy on Amazon</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Secret-King-Lethao-Dawn-Chapman-ebook/dp/B0762GZPKX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=30EAWFIZU5YMW&keywords=The+Secret+King%3A+Lethao&qid=1642574524&sprefix=the+secret+king+letha%2Caps%2C1461&sr=8-1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Buy on Audible</span></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>RATING: 9.5/10</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span><!--more--></span><b>SYNOPSIS</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Kendro, King of the Aonise, can do nothing to prevent their sun from collapsing, consuming their home planet Letháo in a single fiery blast. Running out of time and options, he evacuates the entire population, setting off into the unknown galaxy in four crowded ships. Under constant danger from their ancient enemy, the Zefron, treasonous dissent seeps into his inner circle. Threatened inside and out, Kendro struggles with whom to trust, until a mysterious vision finally brings hope to the distraught King. A new home awaits the Aonise, if Kendro can only unite them long enough to survive the journey.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><span><!--more--></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>REVIEW</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There are certain elements that will always draw me to a sci fi story. Things like an overwhelming alien threat. A complex set of politics set across an entire planet's population and a desperate escape to an uncertain future. A leader with an actual mental connection to he people he or she rules. Epic space battles and wars to the knife. These are all elements that are a part of this story. It has shades of all of these and so much more. If you took Battlestar Galactica and meshed it with Kevin J. Anderson's Seven Suns Saga, you would have a good starting point to what this story has going on.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The world building, or in this case, destroying, is really well done. With the imminent destruction of their planet Lethao, the Aonise have to evacuate the entire population on four giant ships that haven't been completed or tested. Needs must though, especially since on top of planetary destruction, the Aonise greatest enemy, the alien Zefron, are on their way to finish off what the planet's destruction didn't. After the escape, we get to see what life on these giant arcs is all about, especially in a stratified society like the Aonise, who have a very delineated power structure, based on the mental and energy power abilities of the ruling class, with the King being the most powerful, literally connected mentally to all his subjects. His level of power is mind boggling, but there are always those that want to replace those on top. The fear, desperation and rage as an entire planets population is forced to live side by side for an unknown time, with the fear of destruction by aliens is vividly portrayed, and feels so realistic. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The characters are a really interesting mix. The main character is Kendro, King of the Aonise, who has to face the worst choices any ruler ever could. He is a good ruler, but he can make the hard decisions if he has to, including splitting his own power to enable his people to escape, leaving himself weakened in a time when he can't afford to show weakness. He has to play an interesting political game, where he must appear as powerful and confident as usual, all while recovering from using so much of his power to escape. With multiple threats to his rule, including one much closer than he expected, Kendro is caught in a cloud of uncertainty in an uncertain future.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The secondary characters are also well thought out. Kendro's wife Mika is a smart, savvy partner to Kendro, dedicated to both Kendro and the Aonise, who has a strong personality, able to withstand personal trials with grace and dignity. Octav is Kendro's Second in command. He is intelligent and implacable, as dedicated to saving the Aonise as Kendro. Brie, a ships doctor, is one of my favorite characters. She is such a caring, compassionate person, but strong willed and is willing to make sacrifices I would never have expected. These and so many other characters make up a great supporting cast, who we get to know throughout the story. This is not a book with two dimensional characters, but fleshed out realistic people dealing with the worst situation imaginable.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The main villain, and that is what he is, is Dalamaar, and he is the best kind of villain. Cold, calculating and ruthless, he is the kind that is always thinks three steps ahead. He is lurking in the shadows moving his pieces on the board until he reveals himself in one of the best mic drop moments at the end of the book that I've read in recent years. It's just such a deliciously cold, calculated moment, and it was perfect for his character. I can't wait to see where his story fits into the ongoing series. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The audio book version is narrated by Greg Tremblay. He has really good narrative pacing, never becoming monotone or having weird pauses as he performs. He is also good at creating mood and emotional resonance by changing cadence and tone, and he is excellent at creating different voices for each of the characters. He does a great job bringing the story to life.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">With it's mix of sci-fi elements, This is a book that should have a broad appeal to sci-fi fans. There is just so much to enjoy. I give this book my highest recommendation.</span></div><p></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-66750133021800344092024-01-31T11:33:00.000-08:002024-01-31T11:33:06.436-08:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Hunters and Hijinks by Nick Steverson and Melissa Olthoff<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvDTQwTulP2ixUjrCqnh0xQhWH25LUl3OriLtBp2U2lRp_ggYwbl4a4Ke1CVJbpXuzpndo3qqvcfMRa0LRPJP4ZXOdeSiwSBgn3kyjBY6Rh0PNQSZ1gCfB76CzHkDbgSNQ_dFE3e_HKBUQ4q5GOTB5KBi3aGLGNf8ZLAiCcUa3IMW6jqAab1hMKYdsGA/s445/hunters.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="279" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvDTQwTulP2ixUjrCqnh0xQhWH25LUl3OriLtBp2U2lRp_ggYwbl4a4Ke1CVJbpXuzpndo3qqvcfMRa0LRPJP4ZXOdeSiwSBgn3kyjBY6Rh0PNQSZ1gCfB76CzHkDbgSNQ_dFE3e_HKBUQ4q5GOTB5KBi3aGLGNf8ZLAiCcUa3IMW6jqAab1hMKYdsGA/w402-h640/hunters.jpg" width="402" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hunters-Hijinks-Salvage-Universe-Treasure-ebook/dp/B0C3KVXYS6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=hunters+and+Hijinks&qid=1698039925&sr=8-1">Buy on Amazon</a><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Hunters-and-Hijinks-A-Salvage-Title-Universe-Novel-Audiobook/B0C8328SBF?qid=1698038470&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=J9EQF2Z9SMDXQDBGTNWD&pageLoadId=6K8kl9uxuvA92Fe5&ref_plink=not_applicable&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Buy on Audible</b></span></a><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating: 9.75/10 Stars</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Synopsis</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Have you ever wanted to quit your soul-sucking hell of a day job, tell your supervisors exactly what you think of them, set the office on fire, jump in your slightly used spaceship and scour the galaxy for lost treasures? Of course, you have. And Reggie, Maddy, Ed, and Harold are no different.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Joongee aren’t supposed to like adventure. Quite the opposite, in fact. They’re supposed to like safe, quiet office jobs, become engineers, programmers, or whatever keeps them away from a battlefield or anything remotely dangerous. But after one disappointment too many, Reggie decides that maybe, just maybe, there’s something to Harold’s crazy obsession with the mystery of the Lost Weapons of Koroth. There must be more to life than dying by slow inches in a cubicle. Right? He knows he’s got to do something soon, because if he doesn’t get his small clan away from Galactic Solutions, Maddy really will set the office on fire.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">But the galaxy is a dangerous, unforgiving place. It’s full of pirates, overly enthusiastic and sparkly Ahkal-Tiki, and savvy business Krugeri whose minds are as sharp as their claws. It takes cunning, heart, and a whole lot of luck to survive.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Can our office workers-turned-adventurers navigate the treacherous galactic currents, follow the clues, and discover the treasure? Or will they find themselves begging to return to the old 9-to-5?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">One thing is certain—there are bound to be hijinks along the way.</span></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;"></span></span></p><!--more--><div style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Review</b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;">Have you ever come across a series that just keeps you completely engaged from beginning to end? Well, Hunters and Hijinks was one such read for me. It starts off as Office Space in space, and morphs into an intergalactic treasure hunt, with a myriad of twists and turns that keep the reader completely engaged. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;">This book, and its sequels, is set in Kevin Steverson's Salvage Title universe, but this is a stand alone that doesn't require reading that series, although there are some Easter eggs if you are familiar with it. It's a universe with many different races, of which humanity is just one of many. In this series, humans aren't really a big part of the characters life. The four main characters are a species called Joongee, who basically look like humanoid Hyenas. They look pretty fierce, but in a hilarious twist, tend to be drawn to admin work. Lots of bureaucrats and customer service jobs are filled by Joongee. It's just a funny twist in the universe, and is very well done. The technology is very much advanced space tech, and there heve been some era's of higher and lower tech in the universes history. It's interesting seeing how some of these eras kind of come together in this story.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;">The characters are probably my favorite part of the book. Reggie, Maddie, Ed and Harold are all Joongee, office workers who would never seem the types to go on an adventure, but looks can be deceiving. The Joongee come in three different types based on size. Ed is the largest type, about 6'6", but is a big teddy bear in personality, which seems to be typical of the larger JoonGee. Reggie and Harold are the middle size, about 5'6", and are the most typical, with a range of personality types. Reggie is much younger than Harold, and has a much more active past than the rest, It's a fun series of revelations as his past is revealed, and the struggles he has to go through to not let that past affect how he reacts in current times. Harold is much more of a dreamer, someone who has been frustrated with how his dreams have been thwarted, but he is the Joongee with the idea to get out of the corporate grind and talks the rest into joining him on this epic quest. That leaves Maddy for last. She is the smaller type of Joongee, about 4'6", with attitude that's about two feet taller than she is. She is sharp witted and even sharper tongued, and she certainly doesn't suffer fools. She is also the one most likely to start a bar fight over an insult. She is such a fun character, and is my favorite character in the book. She reminds me of the small but fierce women in my family, and is just a blast. She and Reggie also have some romantic tension building, and it will be interesting to see where it goes.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;">The secondary characters are pretty fun as well. They add plenty of spice to the story, and some are fun Easter eggs, such as a mall cop named Blart at the biggest mall in the galaxy. They all have much more life and personality than you would expect, and you can tell the authors really took time and care to flesh them out as much as possible. Even the ship, named HIADA, has a personality, and that name is a hilarious acronym which ties into the story so well. And the </span></span></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Ahkal-Tiki? They may be the most hilarious alien race in the history of sci-fi. Nice horse breed Easter egg in that one, and as a former horse owner, I appreciate a deep cut Easter egg.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">The antagonists are an interesting bunch. They range from the groups boss at their former employer, who I kept expecting to ask about cover sheets for a TPS report, to a group of Pirates who are more or less competent, and even have a connection with Reggie. There is also an unexpected antagonist who is a power broker, who is so devious and underhanded that you can see how his actions will drive the story continuing into book 2. He's the kind of villain you love to hate.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">The narration is performed by Daniel Wisniewski, and he is the perfect voice for this story. He is one of the best in the business at breathing life into characters, investing so much emotion and depth to each character's portrayal. and he does such a wonderful job creating distinct voices for each character, no matter how minor. It's easily some of his best work. He's easily one of my top three favorite narrators, and I am excited to see what he does in the rest of the series.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">This is a book that I think should have broad appeal for fans of sci-fi. It's got comedic elements, space opera elements and action/adventure elements, all which weave a great story that will keep the reader/listener engaged the entire time. I am very excited to see where the story goes from here. I give this my highest recommendation!</span></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-83263851842688073202024-01-22T17:50:00.000-08:002024-01-22T17:50:08.866-08:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Battleborne by Dave Willmarth<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiylt2jx8FFr2Ov27kdd3PBwU0RrtE1SZ3kOIiudYVMch6O48zvLONdGK5HlvMv2KSUJo_VO1ss0sp7xU1fBhv2aIpv5Lm_NdnXekJFd4ZM1w-yqN_ZF_eo1gQFKahJfG31tEnRIFizKbmqe9EnmXMm0w6bJbN_Cwvu6VknB7eVHI7H2Q_-aYAFVZMi1E/s445/Battleborn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="276" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiylt2jx8FFr2Ov27kdd3PBwU0RrtE1SZ3kOIiudYVMch6O48zvLONdGK5HlvMv2KSUJo_VO1ss0sp7xU1fBhv2aIpv5Lm_NdnXekJFd4ZM1w-yqN_ZF_eo1gQFKahJfG31tEnRIFizKbmqe9EnmXMm0w6bJbN_Cwvu6VknB7eVHI7H2Q_-aYAFVZMi1E/w396-h640/Battleborn.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08C4Y9DV7?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks&qid=1704262104&sr=1-1">Buy on Amazon</a><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Battleborne-Audiobook/B08JHG7DMD?qid=1704261500&sr=1-2&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=SYTS94637Q9873E06NS8&pageLoadId=1ePDkKtVtimBBEBn&ref_plink=not_applicable&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Buy on Audible</span></a><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating: 9.5/10 Stars</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Synopsis</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; text-align: start;"><i>Max was a professional soldier, and extremely good at his job. Right up until it killed him.</i></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;">At the moment of his death, he meets Hildi the Valkyrie, and is given three options. Serve Odin in Valhalla as one of the Einherjar, fighting each day and celebrating each night until the battle of Ragnarok. Accept his death as final, and end his existence. Or be reincarnated as a Battleborne on a random unknown world.</div></span><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;">Max chooses to gamble! To live a new life, whatever that might entail. Favored with a blessing of the Valkyries, who gift him with an unusual bloodline, he is reborn on a world of magic and monsters. In fact, his own new body is half monster!</div></span><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;">Thrust into the world with nothing but a canvas diaper, sharp teeth, and claws, Max must use his skills as a soldier to improvise and survive. There are no respawns, and at level zero, nearly everything can kill him.</div></span><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;">With his new status as one of the Battleborne, much is expected of Max. Dangerous and difficult quests are presented to him, and the loot ranges from filthy goblin loincloths to epic weapons!</div></span><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Join Max as he learns to navigate his new life, struggling with the instincts of his monster bloodlines, and taking advantage of them at the same time.</span></div><div style="font-size: large; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;"><!--more--></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Review</b></span></div></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I always enjoy when authors manage to mix in real world action with traditional fantasy elements, and cross it into a LitRPG/Progression type universe. In Battleborne, Dave Willmarth manages just that feat. Mixing in realistic modern combat at the beginning of the story, it quickly mixes with a bit of Norse mythology, leading to a reincarnation in a fantasy progression setting with LitRPG elements that is just seamless. There is some real creativity involved in mixing these elements successfully.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The world Max finds himself in is a great example of a fantasy world with some excellent LitRPG/Progression twists. It's a world of magic and steel, a world where dwarves, humans, orcs, goblins, gnolls and dragons exist, not always peacefully. It's a world where you can meet a god who gives out quests, where you can get everything from riches to experience that will help level you up. Its also a world where life can be taken in so many ways. It's a visceral experience, as if someone's D&D campaign came to brilliant life. There's a feeling that this is a vast world to explore, and the journey is only just beginning. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The characters are the real strength of this story, especially Max. His story arc is very intriguing, starting as a soldier under fire in a war in our world, given a second chance at life by a Valkyrie after an explosion puts an end to his war. He is not a gamer, so getting set in a world with some game type rules like classes and stat building is foreign to him. He is also much changed from his human form, since his new form, Chimera, is a cross between human, dark elf, troll and stone talon. This mix makes him strong, hard to kill, and have potential to use magic, with the weaknesses of his monster half of being too dense to swim and being more flammable to contend with. Not a bad trade to Max's way of thinking. It makes him even deadlier in a fight than he was as a soldier in our world, and Max is determined to make the most of this new opportunity. Especially after a run in with the dwarven god of smiths, Regan, who points Max on a quest to earn his favor, something Max would be a fool to pass up. We get to see Max progress quickly, as his unique build is fantastic for gaining experience through combat, and he is given plenty of opportunity as the story progresses. He also takes advantage of the dwarves generosity to learn some non-combat skills too, such as smithing. When Max makes a hasty decision after a battle to accept becoming a king, he has a whole new set of problems to overcome, but with the help of his companions, he may just be able to rise to the occasion.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The secondary characters are a nice mix. They range from a goblin shaman that is now the leader of his goblin tribe, now that Max has eliminated his competition, to the king of the Dwarves, who sees Max as a powerful fighter who can help solve several of his own problems. In addition, there is a dwarven lady that Max becomes better than good friends with, who teaches Max a thing or two about combat in this world, as well as just what honor means in this setting. These are just a few of the examples, and they never come across as just two dimensional cutouts there to make the plot move, but fully fleshed out characters in their own right who you grow to care about. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The main antagonist so far in the story is the War Leader of the orcs that live in an abandoned human city to the north of the dwarves. He is ambitious and greedy, and willing to do what it takes to accomplish his goals. The orcs in this world are not necessarily evil, and can have honor, but this one is not one of those. He rose to power by killing his predecessor, and will do whatever he can to gain more power, including betraying those who come to him in peace bearing gifts of friendship. In other words, he's a right bastard who can't be trusted to not stick a knife in your back the second your back is turned. He makes an excellent foil to Max, who doesn't appreciate duplicity in the slightest.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The audio book version is narrated by the talented Daniel Wisniewski and Jessica Threet. They both do a fantastic job bringing emotional resonance into their characters, so much so that you are drawn into the story. You can feel their triumphs and tragedies as though you were living them yourself. They do a great job differentiating each character, and the listener is never in doubt about what character is speaking. You can tell that both narrators had some fun working on this, and it made it all the better.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This is a book that I think can appeal to a broad range of people. Whether it be people who like epic fantasy, LitRPG, dark fantasy or even comedic fantasy, I think that there is something here for everyone. It is just a good story with some great characters and world building, and who wouldn't want to read that? I highly recommend checking this book out.</span></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-18531723466077299792023-12-09T00:02:00.000-08:002023-12-09T00:02:06.006-08:00The Bookwyrm's Review of The Jaws of Hell by Samuel Gately<p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBB9w-BKcmXiYYDQRji-H4lKokILSTPoj_ZergDxqxU6t7e3PDTPA082DW4bhrskvM5a00J-ZWpZKrEoihmHxZU2SO70tkWWY3-rl8MrIDG25BWRo_Ja6dtIF2M6G_iAKJuwR7JNALpYyP_jap2G1pYjhdySyXhJHM0wrjYuyo7ASr0lLVYJbo2RscuVA/s425/jaws%20of%20hell.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="266" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBB9w-BKcmXiYYDQRji-H4lKokILSTPoj_ZergDxqxU6t7e3PDTPA082DW4bhrskvM5a00J-ZWpZKrEoihmHxZU2SO70tkWWY3-rl8MrIDG25BWRo_Ja6dtIF2M6G_iAKJuwR7JNALpYyP_jap2G1pYjhdySyXhJHM0wrjYuyo7ASr0lLVYJbo2RscuVA/w400-h640/jaws%20of%20hell.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jaws-Hell-Titan-Wars-Book-ebook/dp/B0CLL1SY46/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2HHWF8QYDHCVY&keywords=samuel+gately&qid=1702064928&s=digital-text&sprefix=samuel+gately%2Cdigital-text%2C262&sr=1-2"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Buy on Amazon</span></a></div><p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating: 9.25/10 Stars</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Synopsis</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Step into the Jaws of Hell. Only the Lucky Survive.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="font-size: medium;">Scott Flawless was certain a return to the friendly confines of the ring was what he needed. But he didn't count on the murderers' row sharing this tournament bracket with him. The underground circuit is a dangerous place, and with titans like the scheming Dursham Brothers, the mighty Bell King, and the savage Fog of War, he'll be lucky to make it out of the Jaws of Hell alive.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: large; text-align: start;">The Jaws of Hell concludes the Titan Wars tag-team of books featuring Scott Flawless.</span></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: xx-large;">Review</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I may have mentioned on my review of the last book in this series that I am completely sold on the formula of mixing epic fantasy and pro wrestling. These elements go together like peanut butter and chocolate, like the Four Horsemen, The Midnight Express or the Fabulous Freebirds. They just create something greater than their separate parts. The four books of the Titan Wars series certainly fits that mold, and the latest entry, The Jaws of Hell, is certainly no exception. It continues Scott Flawless's journey as he deals with the aftermath of the last book, and takes some truly unexpected twists and turns.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The story again takes place in the city of Stillwater, although it focuses much more on The Iridescent, a hotel and casino that caters to the ultra rich of Stillwater, and hosts the Jaws of Hell wrestling Tournament. Where the Headlock of Destiny more resembles WrestleMania in its scope and quality of competition, The Jaws of Hell much more resembles Japanese Death Matches, where the chance of injury and even death is greatly enhanced, all for the amusement of the rich pampered citizens of Stillwater. There are so many shenanigans tied up with the tournament, and you can see there are deals and conspiracies surrounding it that play out as the story progresses. </span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The story focuses once more on Scott Flawless, now not so flawless in looks as his facial injury from fighting the creature in the sewers in the last book have healed badly, leaving half his face badly scarred. This is a big hit to Scott's self esteem, since he took great pride in his looks. He really has an interesting arc, as he has resolved some issues that had plagued his younger life, but is now a bit adrift, although the potential purse from the Jaws Tournament could give him financial security to create breathing room and ponder next steps. That is if he can get him mojo back enough to defeat some truly brutal titans. He goes through a really interesting arc, as he must discover if he's evil or just an a**hole, as another character put it. He's done some rotten things, but does he want to do better? This is the journey he's on, and there is a definite answer to that by the end of the story.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The secondary characters Asa the bard is back to help Scott and chronicle his story, as is Scott's manager Jimmy. They are joined at times by the lawman Trey, who Scott had a run in with in the last book, and who has come looking for Scott to make amends, They all provide Scott help and help his progression tremendously. Vic the Viper is an older titan from Scott's past that is looking to try for one more win before hanging up his boots, and while they try and keep their association quiet, Vic helps where he can.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The heels of this story, or antagonists in non-wrestling terms, are all very different. There are the three Dursham brothers, Titan siblings who have come to try and win the Jaws, but have much bigger plans than that for Stillwater, having once been rivals for underworld power with Scott's father. They are truly ruthless and nasty. Lady Eidra is another thorn in Scott's side, a representative of Scott's wrestling promoter, and she is controlling, conniving and ruthless in trying to control Scott, even if it means harming those close to Scott to gain his compliance. The Titans in the tournament make up their own group, but they are quite the variety of villainous heels looking to win it all. The final antagonists are part the of Iridescent, including the manager Bernard, who is all about using titans to increase the prestige of the casino, at any cost. It seems at times like this is an insurmountable challenge, something Scott excels at defeating.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This is the second story arc the author has managed to pull off successfully, in a genre crossing romp that will have the reader on the edge of their seat. You just never know what's going to happen next, and it's great to anticipate what insanity is going to next. The only thing that's guaranteed is it will be total nonstop action when titans are concerned. You should check this book and series out today!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-40279186990569166722023-11-15T23:02:00.000-08:002023-11-15T23:03:44.206-08:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Inherited Revenge by James Haddock<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHKWcIIp9AphwA1afTT47kXnBza9qETZ8hfWVgEuQMFrV_y7m5h48UhXAgdwX6OT0nlw-TFLpIg4yhks7Jra2C2u-16uJKJiL5xFhkQw3zmbTLjXvTgfzQv-e5XnK_C2-TTFIXDGyizA1i2buC46iWqpqTNYEdfRFASuZ1aw_LnEdl_dRFlyPcbNRhJY/s385/iR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="241" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHKWcIIp9AphwA1afTT47kXnBza9qETZ8hfWVgEuQMFrV_y7m5h48UhXAgdwX6OT0nlw-TFLpIg4yhks7Jra2C2u-16uJKJiL5xFhkQw3zmbTLjXvTgfzQv-e5XnK_C2-TTFIXDGyizA1i2buC46iWqpqTNYEdfRFASuZ1aw_LnEdl_dRFlyPcbNRhJY/w400-h640/iR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Inherited-Revenge-James-Haddock-ebook/dp/B0BXTVK87D/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HUTN5W8BD804&keywords=inherited+revenge+james+haddock&qid=1699251529&sprefix=inhereted+revenge%2Caps%2C1441&sr=8-1">Buy on Amazon</a><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Inherited-Revenge-Audiobook/B0CLL85VK9?qid=1699252360&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=XAHND3YEKSKDJ65C9D0E&pageLoadId=akyDIeSZzvzLv2iE&ref_plink=not_applicable&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Buy on Audible</span></b></a><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating: 9/10 Stars</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Synopsis</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Chuck, a fifteen-year-old hardened war orphan has seen friends killed and now lies dying on a salvage battlefield himself. But the universe has a different plan for Chuck. A mortally wounded man offers to save his life, and Chuck accepts his help. A moment later Chuck regrets his decision when his rescuer forces Chuck’s mouth open and a reptilian octopus is ejected from his rescuer’s mouth and into his.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Because of Chuck’s symbiote, Tom’s desire for revenge, Chuck finds himself drawn into a shadow war with an alien race. Chuck must hide from the aliens because they would rather burn the planet to a cinder than let Tom escape. He must also hide from the government because they want Tom’s knowledge of advanced tech and will do anything to get it.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Chuck has a few advantages: Tom’s DNA has mixed with his, giving him access to genetic memories; Tom’s race is aquatic, which gives Chuck the ability to breathe underwater; and no one knows Tom is a symbiote, so no one is actually looking for Chuck.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Chuck is content to hide in plain sight as a salvager until someone kills his new family while trying to kill him. Now all bets are off as Chuck is on a search-and-destroy mission looking for those responsible. He uses every piece of war salvage he must to find and kill them. Inherited revenge or not, revenge will be had.</span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;"></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review</span></b></div></span><p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">James Haddock has quickly become one of my favorite authors in both fantasy and sci-fi. He tends to write using the hero's journey formula, and is not shy about putting setbacks in his characters way. I mean, it's possible for one of his protagonists to have to make multiple restarts after some catastrophic failures, but it's the journey back from the bottom that is so intriguing. Whether it's an orphan teen in a dystopian war world or a young man just coming into his mage abilities, you can tell the story is going somewhere interesting.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The world building in this book is interesting in that it's a war torn dystopia, set sometime in the future, but it's kind of cagey about whether the planet is actually Earth. There are indications that it might not be, but you never really find out. I kind of like that ambiguity, because it allows for some interesting political and societal quirks, since there is no real relationship to the current governments and societies. It is much more a Mad Max type scavenger situation set in a war zone, where death can come at any second outside the protected towns. The technology levels are interesting as well, since you see some basic electronics you'd see in the world today mixed with much higher tech, such as usable EMP weapons, portable nuclear power units and much advanced drone technology. This is all mixed with bandits, scavengers, regular townspeople and corrupt politicians, and it makes for some tense situations throughout, and some great action scenes as well.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The main protagonist is Chuck, who starts the story as a 15 year old orphan, scavenging in a dystopian war zone, trying to keep from being killed by gangs and other scavengers. He seems to have streaks of bad luck, then good, and it just kind of goes in cycles for him. For every success, there seems to be a setback, until the ultimate setback for him, being at deaths doorstep after a bombing raid, and he's given a chance to live. That chance? Bonding with Tom (the only part of the name he can pronounce), an alien symbiote who is escaping from another alien race that has enslaved his, and is now going to partner with Chuck for revenge against the aliens and their human allies. They goes through an interesting character arc as Tom's memories help Chuck understand the greater universe, as well as give him new abilities, such as breathing underwater, night vision, quick healing and immunity to cold. He also gains Tom's engineering knowledge to go along with his own to form a formidable intellect, as well as a merciless urge to survive at all costs. He is utterly ruthless when it comes to betrayal, and any attack on Chuck is responded to in the most violent way possible to avoid repeat attempts. Chuck is surprisingly likable for all that he is very much a product of his environment. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The secondary characters are a mixed bunch, ranging from bandits and gang members to regular town folks, and pretty much everything in between. It's a harsh, war torn world, and pity for the weak is in short supply. That being said, there is the occasional heart of gold to go with all the black hearted scoundrels, These include a mother and son Chuck meets on his travels that become business partners with him, and some town residents when he finally finds a place to settle and call his own, These relationships are always fraught with danger though, since its such a dangerous world, and bad things do happen to some people. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The audiobook narration is performed by one of my favorite narrators, Daniel Wisniewski. He is just fantastic at infusing emotional resonance into his work. You can feel the happiness, sorrow, rage and other emotions of the characters just coming out of the speakers as you hear the story unfold. He gives each character a distinct voice, and you are never in doubt about which character is speaking. He has great narrative pacing as well, so the story never seems to drag. He was the perfect choice for this book.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This book is fairly representative of the author's writing style. A hero's journey with successes and failures throughout, with a character becoming more powerful in various ways as the story progresses, It's a fairly fast paced story, and has some dark moments, but not so much to overwhelm the reader. It's a book I'd recommend without reservations, and the audiobook is especially good. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-74008379986059807432023-11-03T23:50:00.000-07:002023-11-03T23:50:38.813-07:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Tales of Heaven by Scott Reichek<p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CJdPusef-rdpg_hIA6dwSI69o9r7b1SHMUenjELvNXtNpC6mXkt7K6uQl6tGNfBLjNtfsdzRzFncpf3Znr74M09mjCdWlwm60FWATchihR5oIwFSrDJBIWJkHG7GvEW0qzEVIXluFHfaQal1iu1i3JocEdQNYIEQvKBJqNjmFgpTqWRkXbZiq2-Lqac/s385/heaven.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="241" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CJdPusef-rdpg_hIA6dwSI69o9r7b1SHMUenjELvNXtNpC6mXkt7K6uQl6tGNfBLjNtfsdzRzFncpf3Znr74M09mjCdWlwm60FWATchihR5oIwFSrDJBIWJkHG7GvEW0qzEVIXluFHfaQal1iu1i3JocEdQNYIEQvKBJqNjmFgpTqWRkXbZiq2-Lqac/w400-h640/heaven.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Heaven-Scott-Reichek-ebook/dp/B0CGVP7BBG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=30OTTJ55R219R&keywords=tales+of+heaven+scott+reichek&qid=1698169715&sprefix=Scott+reichek%2Caps%2C248&sr=8-1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Buy on Amazon</a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;">Rating: 10/10 Stars</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;">Synopsis</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>A Demon, a Vampyr, and a Werewolf walk into a bar, and if you're looking for a good time, you should follow them. Where do you go to unwind after a long day of pretending to be human? In Houston there's a place where everyone is welcome, if you can find it. It's an establishment unknown to most ordinary people, and internationally famous to others; a place called "Heaven." There is only one rule: "No Harm Within These Walls." </i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>When the regulars overhear the owner, an honest, hardworking man named Dave, receive a call telling him his daughter has been kidnapped, and threatening her murder if he fails to pay, or contacts the police; they are unanimous that this is a very foolish thing for someone to do. They also set out to impart this lesson as only such beings can.So begins the first of the Tales of Heaven, a compact, fast-moving urban fantasy told from the perspectives of several characters, each carrying a piece of the tale, and drawing you, the reader, into a new and more exciting version of the world you already know. The doors of Heaven await your pleasure</i>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><b>Review</b></div><div style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've been a huge fan of urban fantasy for many years. Authors like Mike Resnick, Jody Lynn Nye, and Jack Chalker got me started, and Authors like Jim Butcher, James Hunter, John Hartness, Faith Hunter, S.M. Reign and C.T Phipps have really expanded where urban fantasy could go. Who knew that a wizard from Chicago and a redneck monster hunter from Georgia could be equally great characters, showing just what a creative author can do. This book is another example of outside the box thinking that just really works well.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The world building is only typical of urban fantasy as it pertains to a magical society existing underneath the mundane world. In this case, the story is centered in Houston, Texas, which is a big city, with lots of history, but is not one of the usual places most authors would think to set an urban fantasy, but it really works. The centerpiece of this hidden world is Heaven, a bar that has one rule: Harm none within these walls. For a viciously violent society of "monsters", having neutral ground that you can kick back and not worry about being murdered is a godsend. This center point of contact for the various characters creates some great situations throughout the book, giving a natural look into the various characters.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The characters really shine in this book. The book has several POV characters of various supernatural types. These include Easy, a demon who has been on earth for millennia since the fall, who is now a private detective of the catch cheating spouses variety. He's not evil, and has a lot of regrets about that whole rebellion in heaven thing. He also gets missions from on high occasionally when God wants a message sent that can't be seen to come from his hand directly, since he is out of the direct smiting business. His demonic abilities come in particularly handy for these missions, and for his everyday work as well.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mia is another of the POV characters. She is a Lamia, a Greek woman with a snakes lower body, who runs an underworld forgery/documents service, including work for the government. Work so good it can pass in any time or place as real ID, able to withstand any scrutiny. She has built up a lot of enemies, including foreign governments looking to either capture or eliminate her, she's just that good at her work. She's quirky, but powerful and deadly if necessary.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Connie is one of my favorite POV characters. She is a succubus who has been around for centuries, and decided to blend in more in this time by going to college for a business degree, and is in a sorority. She protects her sorority sisters, and any other woman she can, by feeding from the predators that prey on women. You guessed it, the date rapers who slip drugs into women's drinks. Well, lets just say she's an expert at diverting their attention onto her, and she'll be the only one that comes out the other side of the encounter still breathing. If she can feed off the sex energy of low life raping scum, so much the better.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The final two POV characters are Georgi, a Russian immigrant vampire turned during WW1, and who meets up with Dave, the owner of Heaven, and becomes the inspiration for the bar as he explains how the supernatural world works to Dave, and Fjodor, the alpha of the local Weres, and very much not the creature you want to mess with. These characters are just so well written, and so fully realized that you can feel as though they are real, people you would meet walking the streets.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There is also a section of the book that involves the president and VP elect, getting their first brief into the world of the supernatural. It is set up like a realistic reading in of any top secret information, with plenty of briefings with experts, including the new president and VP actually meeting a werewolf scientist, and finding out that supernatural creatures work for the government in many capacities, from the aforementioned scientist to military spec ops teams that are more special than most. These politicians reactions are priceless, and adds yet another layer of realism to the story.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I think that this is a book that has a bright future if people give it a chance. It has all the elements of a great urban fantasy: Engaging characters, magic and monsters, a fast paced plot that has some excellent twists and turns, and humor in all the right places. This is now one of the books I will recommend for any one who wants a good starting place getting into urban fantasy. I give this book my highest recommendation, and it will be in my top 5 books of 2023 list at the end of the year.</span></div><div style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-27655465709826610412023-10-31T23:56:00.000-07:002023-10-31T23:56:30.512-07:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Rematch of the Titans by Samuel Gately<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjdeYZOgpHSDdckpgr9H1TzsR3Hg2lsKdu1YokOJGFcN8ZqBccxPNcUd9-uekZsWj7exmJ61PfrKKx0Joz5tq8wdyekQXA1FGi6crDbzFtTB91MWUw1KwN8Y3lZ0pAJNppwJXNMAfZKyxnizzk5CRvP24w03G2ymvhRfAjBgRcqnBzLU8Oust36dsgJk/s385/titans.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="241" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjdeYZOgpHSDdckpgr9H1TzsR3Hg2lsKdu1YokOJGFcN8ZqBccxPNcUd9-uekZsWj7exmJ61PfrKKx0Joz5tq8wdyekQXA1FGi6crDbzFtTB91MWUw1KwN8Y3lZ0pAJNppwJXNMAfZKyxnizzk5CRvP24w03G2ymvhRfAjBgRcqnBzLU8Oust36dsgJk/w400-h640/titans.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rematch-Titans-Titan-Wars-Book-ebook/dp/B0CK7FT389/ref=sr_1_4?crid=TT4C2W4TIYQL&keywords=samuel+gately&qid=1698729085&s=books&sprefix=samuel+gately%2Cstripbooks%2C208&sr=1-4"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Buy on Amazon</b></span></a><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating: 9.5/10 Stars</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Synopsis</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">In a world where a titan is worth only his latest victory in the ring, Scott Flawless is the envy of them all. He’s dominant, fearless, and remarkably good-looking, at least according to him. But his self-proclaimed perfection will be challenged when he is dragged off to a far corner of the Open Nations. Here he’ll battle a new host of dangers as he squares off with a ruthless syndicate run by his late father and an unscrupulous manager with a predilection towards chains. In a city where the dead refuse to stay that way, being Flawless may not be enough to survive.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Rematch of the Titans is part of a complete two-book arc within the Titan Wars series along with its sequel The Jaws of Hell. Readers can begin the Titan Wars series with The Headlock of Destiny or dive in right here.</span></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span></span></span></i></p><!--more--><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="a-text-italic" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><b>Review</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I am a huge fan of the first two books in this series, the Headlock of Destiny and The Piledriver of Doom which focus on the rise of Van the Beer Man from beer warehouse laborer to Headlock of Destiny Titan Wrestling champion and then savior of the Open Nations. Rematch of the Titans is part of a separate arc in that universe, following Scott Flawless, six time Valley of the Sevens champion and perennial contender for the Headlock of Destiny title. This is his journey as he has a huge setback, and his climb back to where he once was.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The world building focuses on a new corner of the Open Nations, Stillwater. The city of Stillwater is kind of like a medieval Gotham city, run by corrupt politicians and gangs, most notably the Crosstrees Syndicate, of whom Scott's father, Jesler Gillum was a founding member. It's a great setting, really stratified by walls and gates to separate the rich and the poor, to the point where internal gates to various levels of the city require passes to get through, meaning the riff-raff are kept away from the rich and powerful. It's a seedy, rough city, not nearly as polished as the other cities in the Open Nations, and proud of it. There is an interesting blend of the magical and the scientific, somewhat along the line of Amanda King and Michael Swanson's Ismae books, and to me, that's a good thing. There is a distinctly darker tone in this book, with the shift from a rise from obscurity to success story of the first books to a fall from grace and rise to redemption, with a side order of vengeance, in this story.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The characters are the usual colorful assortment you would expect in a book like this. The story centers around Scott Flawless, a true big time Titan wrestler. He has all the skills to succeed, and the arrogance that goes with it. Handsome and built like a Greek god on steroids, he is the Champion of the Valley of the Sevens and a threat to win the top crown annually. When he learns his long gone father has died, he goes into a funk in his life and career, and this is where his story takes off. We get to see Scott have to return to Stillwater and deal with the ghosts of his past, including his father's business partner Morris and a titan protégé of his father with major beef with Scott. Coming back to the place that set him on the path to becoming Scott Flawless, he goes through a great arc in this, with some flashbacks showing how Scott got to where he is today. The characters that starts the book is very different from the one that finishes.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The secondary characters</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> are interesting. There's Nat, an orphan girl Scott meets on his way to Stillwater, who's defining traits are quick hands and quick wits, all turned toward driving Scott nuts. There's Asa, a female bard with a beautiful voice, who is determined to write the ballad of Scott Flawless. Dremmel is an interesting character, since he is looking to bring the Syndicate down for the murder of his girlfriend, and is willing to do anything to see that accomplished. Avery and Gabriel are a couple of foreign Titan sailors that have interesting ideas about honor and dignity, and how people should treat each other, to the point that Avery gives a valuable lesson to one of the villains in this regard.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The villains are very well done. Morris is the main villain, a gang leader with big dreams, who can be charming and ruthless in turn. He is as ruthless as his former partner Jessler, and has big plans for Scott, whether Scott likes them or not. He employs the other villain, Whammer Largo, a nasty piece of work who has hated Scott for years, and takes every chance he gets to sucker punch Scott. He is just an evil turd, a bully and a psycho, but he does get a lesson in manners at one point, which surely didn't hurt. All in all, definitely solid villains for this story.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I really enjoyed reading this. It took a distinctly darker turn than the first books, but still had plenty of the humor and warmth of them as well. I really got invested with the characters, and found myself rooting for Scott, even though I wasn't sure I would. He goes through some real growth, and I like the place he ended up in. This is a book that will appeal to fans of fantasy, and even has some stuff for fans of wrestling as well. Two genres you'd never expect to mix, but it's done so well you can't help but like it. I highly recommend this book, and the series as a whole.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-82831936236044145502023-10-27T12:25:00.000-07:002023-10-27T12:25:10.896-07:00The Bookwyrm's Review of The Fall of Supervillainy by C.T. Phipps<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0TKqgKrKz6yb6pJgZdMbB6gaD0T3Gjtskzuj_vq1J2UMBDTroG8F5L7tPxd4zKbNQYPk66qyl4hcOGAogdo-mUrrQPgP4E2waVgkzCLwoNeYMByzWelk_82mb3iUyQVjJdqw6GEeKTm-8BmRIZyeVNrGDndmIXCy-Y9sFtwf1N6rnMD_Y6zz1ZKklqs/s385/fall%20of%20supervillainy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="257" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0TKqgKrKz6yb6pJgZdMbB6gaD0T3Gjtskzuj_vq1J2UMBDTroG8F5L7tPxd4zKbNQYPk66qyl4hcOGAogdo-mUrrQPgP4E2waVgkzCLwoNeYMByzWelk_82mb3iUyQVjJdqw6GEeKTm-8BmRIZyeVNrGDndmIXCy-Y9sFtwf1N6rnMD_Y6zz1ZKklqs/w428-h640/fall%20of%20supervillainy.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fall-Supervillainy-Saga-Book-ebook/dp/B0CG4Z92M4/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1698356618&sr=8-1">Buy on Amazon</a></b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Fall-of-Supervillainy-Audiobook/B0CLL7RGH5?eac_link=Fp9PUth5tVTM&ref=web_search_eac_asin_1&eac_selected_type=asin&eac_selected=B0CLL7RGH5&qid=31c8btvBct&eac_id=132-4515374-1295930_31c8btvBct&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Buy on Audible</b></span></a><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating: 9.5/10 Stars</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Synopsis</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Gary Karkofsky, a.k.a. Merciless: The Supervillain Without MercyTM is enjoying the bliss of a newly rebooted Earth. Ultragod is President of the United States, most supervillains are either harmless or imprisoned, and superpowers are being used to benefit all mankind. Of course it couldn't last. Suffering a near fatal heart attack and under attack by extra-dimensional evils, Gary struggles to find an object that might repair the universe he's unwittingly damaged the fabric of.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Gary will find himself dealing with an alien witch queen, a fantasy world with a massive dungeon, and a final showdown with his greatest foe!</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Oh and he sleeps with a dragon.</span></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;"></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;">The Supervillainy series is now in it's ninth book with The Fall of Supervillainy, and it's a series that doesn't seem to be losing any steam. The author still seems to be able to come up with creative new ways to expand his already expansive superhero universe, a universe that in no way resembles any copyright distinct universes by certain US comic companies, honest. In this latest installment, this would be considered an "event" story, if such a thing existed outside comic books, that is. It could be a secret crisis that's infinite in the house of some letter, but obviously isn't, because it's copyright distinct from certain companies owned by Disney and Warner Brothers. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;">The world building as always in this series is excellent. Always looking to create new settings and expand on what came before, this one adds several new layers to the reality he has already created, all by having Gary reboot the universe to stop reincarnation, but with exceptions that create havoc. Taking the story off planet for a large chunk of the book, we get to see everything from an evil alien planet that ends with a large gladiatorial arena of doom, which was fitting for that scenario. We also get treated to Gary's next destination, a fantasy world of snow and gloom, with the copyright distinct wraith knighr who bears only a coincidental resemblance to a ring wraith (no need for a cease and desist letter, Tolkien estate. Maybe pay more attention to Rings of Power, instead, because, yikes is that awful.) We get to see a little more of Falconcrest City as well, and honestly, that city seems to be as much of a character as anyone else. Gotham would run screaming to therapy after a visit to Falconcrest City.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;">The story again revolves around Gary Karkofsky, aka Merciless. He is such a great character. He tries to come off as a sarcastic narcissist, which he is in ways, but he can also be an avenging angel for the people he loves if someone threatens them. He is so torn, because he always thought he wanted power, but when he got it, found it didn't really suit him. He shows some real growth in this book, being a bit more introspective about his life choices, and how they led to failure at times. Still, his love for his wife Mandy is the rock in his life, because her being an undead bloodsucker isn't really even a bump in the road as far as Gary is concerned. I can't wait to see where his story goes from here. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;">The secondary characters are the usual quirky cast of misfits. Gary's family of Harley Quinn...err, Red Riding Hood, aka Cindy, his daughters Mindy and Leia, his sister Kerri and her husband Diabloman are all on hand, adding to the chaos or bringing order, depending on who they are. If you thought Cindy was going to be the same agent of chaos and mayhem, well, you thought right. She's huts, in the best way possible. She can be counted on to say the worst thing possible in any situation. Mindy and Leia are fantastic as always, bringing a sense of order way out of proportion to their ages. It's been great watching them grow up in this series. Kerri and Diabloman are there to embarrass Gary with childhood stories in Kerri's case, and be a mentor for Gary in Diabloman's, since he's done the big villainous acts himself, and can help Gary dealing with the consequences. I mean, he did destroy the universe once, so is definitely the guy who understands what Gary is going through. There are also some new characters like Ketra, the dragon shapeshifter from fantasy world, who Gary had a bit of thing with, and is not the creature you mess with. All told, the old and new characters do a great job adding color to an already colorful world.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;">The villains are the usual colorful assortment, ranging from the Lich Queen of the Tsavong aliens to Omega, the time travelling Nazi who was once president of the US. In fact, a huge amount of villains make a return, since Gary's universe reboot wasn't quite as thorough as Gary would have expected. It's great to see some of the returning villains, especially since when the villains return, well, they have to be offset by heroes, right? But it's totally different from the final battle in Avengers: Endgame, totally. Nothing to see here, Disney, put your lawyers away.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;">The narration is performed by Jeffrey Kafer. He is so familiar with these characters, and is excellent at bringing them to life. When I read my paper copies of the series, I hear them in Jeffrey's voice, and it makes me laugh out loud. He brings the humor and sarcasm out of the characters, but he also really nails the sadness and pathos of the various characters as well. I can't imagine anyone else doing these characters justice.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;">This is a series that could be continuing on cruise control, but has somehow avoided that. C.T. Phipps obviously loves this universe, and is constantly coming up with new ideas to keep it fresh and exciting. I am excited to see where the story goes from here, because like the comic books, there is always a new story to tell. I highly recommend this series without reservation. Check it out today.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></span><p></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-58816313925104264032023-09-25T11:38:00.001-07:002023-10-09T20:52:30.231-07:00The Bookwyrm's Review of A Good Thief: A Thung Toh Jig Prequel by Amanda K. King and Michael R. Swanson<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-zOpXjQfzdDA3gpn2C6HURRD7pcJ4sDsalb6O9MwBi6xfM3EWDFekRa_RgCBqEagC0LSu25eFBdv7QN7AKefutet48SmQ_nAJCe3dNTjErxX12oJljX5SwdM0zMntf09c_o-dWQAT5rXPEfCwNnpkYNWciC4IBBL_O9B5nN7o-_Sa9QJeQxpM9qx4Es/s5333/20230727%20A%20Good%20Thief_Cover_Kindle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5333" data-original-width="3333" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-zOpXjQfzdDA3gpn2C6HURRD7pcJ4sDsalb6O9MwBi6xfM3EWDFekRa_RgCBqEagC0LSu25eFBdv7QN7AKefutet48SmQ_nAJCe3dNTjErxX12oJljX5SwdM0zMntf09c_o-dWQAT5rXPEfCwNnpkYNWciC4IBBL_O9B5nN7o-_Sa9QJeQxpM9qx4Es/w400-h640/20230727%20A%20Good%20Thief_Cover_Kindle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: x-large;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Good-Thief-Thung-Toh-Jig-ebook/dp/B0CJCGSHVF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=MLBO9DV7GYV8&keywords=amanda+k.+king&qid=1695232489&sprefix=amanda+k.+king%2Caps%2C215&sr=8-1">Buy on Amazon</a></b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating: 9.75/10 Stars</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: x-large;"><b>Synopsis</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; text-align: start;"><b>Surviving on the streets of Dockhaven took quick hands and the instincts of a gutter rat.</b></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; text-align: start;">Schmalch was a good thief, just not a lucky one. Thanks to the rain, he hadn't even picked enough pockets to stay drunk and sleep dry. If only he could earn a spot on a crew, he wouldn't have to spend his days scrounging anymore, but every opportunity he had went keel-up.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; text-align: start;">When a simple pickpocketing goes awry, two strangers offer him another shot at a crew—if his luck doesn't sink him again. Schmalch may only want a few coins and a safe place to sleep, but a secret lab, an unwanted prophesy, and a fancy pistol will lead him to a back-alley deal that will change his life forever.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: large; text-align: start;">***</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; margin: 0px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: medium; text-align: start;">A prequel to the award-winning Things They Buried , A Good Thief follows Schmalch on a gritty adventure down some of the nastier byways in Dockhaven, the planet Ismae's greatest port city.</span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><i><span></span></i></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #1e1915; font-size: xx-large;">Review</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;">The Ismae series is one of those series I recommend to anyone who will listen. When I was offered a chance to review an early review copy of this prequel story, I jumped at the chance. I was always curious at the backstory of the characters, and this story, which centers on the thief/scrounger Schmalch, gives us a good look into his past, and leads right into the first book in the series, Things They Buried. I like the fact the story is focused on Schmalch, since he seemed to have a a past that had some twists and turns that led him into the greater story of Sylander and Rift, and we get to see just how he tied into that greater story by the end.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;">Dockhaven is one of my favorite fantasy settings. It is such a complex and fully realized settings, highlighting the stark differences from the haves and have-nots, and showing the wild swings in technology as well. Things like photography are rare and wildly expensive, and yet technology like a desalinization plant exists to produce clean water. It's a city with a tram system, but people throw slops from windows. It's a city where people carry energy assisted pistols next to their swords and daggers. It's a place where genetic engineering is possible, and yet disease and squalor are rampant. It's easily the match of any of the great settings in fantasy such as Sanctuary and Lankhmar. Dockhaven is the kind of place residents would leave to go to Mos Eisley, Mogadishu or Detroit for a vacation to get a break from the stress.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;">The characters are what I've come to expect from these authors. Complex, flawed and all too real, very much the way they are because of how and where they were raised. Schmalch is the best example of this. The center of the story, Schmalch is a much more nuanced character than I expected. A small time thief and scrounger, we see him here really down on his luck, barely surviving by pick pocketing marks at the tram station. His money goes right into booze, or a girl, but he is destined to never rise higher. In the very stratified Dockhaven, orphan pukas (a small humanoid race) like Schmalch are just throw away, with no value beyond their utility to their supposed betters. He can spot opportunity, though, and when an opportunity is offered to him to make big money, and not get stomped by the people he was trying to rob, well, the clever little puka knows its better to go along than get stomped. He does show he is clever and surprising brave at times, if the situation is right. He also sometimes just has incredible luck, whether good or bad is a tossup at times. I'll admit he is my favorite character in the series.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;">The secondary characters are excellent as well. They run the gamut of races and character types, from gangsters and working girls to merchants and vagrants. Schmalch being on the low end of the social order means these people are looking to use or control him, and their personalities reflect the harsh realities of a place like Dockhaven. Schmalch's "girlfriend" is his girlfriend any time he can afford her, and in the cutthroat Dockhaven, there's plenty of competition for her attentions. The various gangs in Dockhaven are run by some shady characters, and Schmalch get embroiled in the affairs of one, a rare female puka gang boss, who rules by brains and cunning. He is partnered up with a pair of foreign thieves, a couple who are a combination of brains, brawn and ruthlessness, although they seem to not really understand just how unforgiving Dockhaven can be. It's these characters and more that really sell this setting, and there are Easter eggs sprinkled throughout with the various characters that tie into the rest of the series.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;">I was glad to get a chance to read this prequel, a look into a slice of Schmalch's life prior to his much bigger adventures with Sylander and Rift. It definitely helps understanding his origins, and goes a long way in explaining his vacillating moods and actions. If anything, the story made me like his character even more, and I can't wait to see where the series goes in the future. I give this book, and series in general, my highest recommendation.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #1e1915; font-size: xx-large;"><br /></b></div></span><p></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-36682854574883324702023-09-20T00:01:00.004-07:002023-09-20T00:01:51.583-07:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Blood Red Steel by Damien Larkin<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDttQlCWqjo4ksXYdt8sGMPsiRMi0aF92-pF9QqTOvomjUxJB-_RF2Ziaq1pyeToFjYDkmpM5AU86qsELqRsil8gF0OQBUpCOgHRdTRS2RDxikH17bIYLr0QDj54LhFI-e0eA7QuZ3rw8M0-SZFy8KIWuAS30mBZO_9qWCekIOlvkwZyBN93cDNJH72g/s425/Bood%20red.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="283" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDttQlCWqjo4ksXYdt8sGMPsiRMi0aF92-pF9QqTOvomjUxJB-_RF2Ziaq1pyeToFjYDkmpM5AU86qsELqRsil8gF0OQBUpCOgHRdTRS2RDxikH17bIYLr0QDj54LhFI-e0eA7QuZ3rw8M0-SZFy8KIWuAS30mBZO_9qWCekIOlvkwZyBN93cDNJH72g/w426-h640/Bood%20red.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Red-Steel-Damien-Larkin/dp/1939844959/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1695014890&sr=8-1"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: large;">Buy on Amazon</span></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: x-large;"><b> Rating:9.75/10 Stars</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: x-large;"><span><!--more--></span><b>Synopsis</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><i>Blood alone decides the fate of Mars</i></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><i>For two years, the Mars Expeditionary Force has held the line against the last remnants of the Third Reich. McCabe, Jenkins, and the Second Battalion long for home. Reinforcements have arrived, but the veterans of the MEF have one final mission. Defend Forward Base Zulu at all costs.</i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><i>While Generalfeldmarschall Brandt plans a decisive showdown at Forward Base Zulu, Reichsführer Wagner celebrates the activation of the first generation of the Hollow Programme. Surrounded and cut off, McCabe and Jenkins once again find themselves in league with the MAJESTIC-12 operatives known as the Black Visors. Now the future hinges on the sacrifices of a few determined soldiers.</i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Review</b></span></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">Blood Red Steel is one of those books that I was really anticipating. After reading the previous book, Blood Red Sand, I was curious where the author would take the story, since he had introduced so many new elements and characters into the series, which was already loaded with great elements from the first book, and had crossovers between the two. I was wondering how the book would carry on the intersections between what amounts to two timelines, and how he could take the story forward. He accomplished this by adding in some new elements to merge the two timelines to work around, and you get to meet new/old characters as a much earlier intersection in their lives, and get an idea of how they got to where you first encounter them.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">The world building is a thing of beauty. Mars is a fully realized setting, with colonies set up in various locations, from large cities such as New Berlin to military bases like Forward Base Zulu. The escaped Nazi's founded these colonies, but the has defeated them for the most part, and has been chasing down insurgent werewolf units afterword. There is also a native civilization of Martian humans, who end up playing a much larger part in the story that I would have expected. The Martian native's tech is more advanced in some ways, more primitive in others, and it makes for some really excellent culture clashes as things go sideways in the story. The revelations of a level of tech that is beyond anything currently seen, and a threat of an even older race is hinted at, and helps explain how the Germans ended up on Mars. It's very well done, and still leaves mysteries to explore later.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">The characters are fantastic, as they were in the first two books. Characters from both timelines are present, although this story centers mostly on Lieutenant McCabe and Corporal Jenkins. Veterans of the first wave of soldiers on Mars, they and their fellow members of the Mars Expeditionary Force have held the line against the Nazi's they defeated, dealing with insurgents and saboteurs who keep chipping away at the MEF. McCabe and Jenkins are both worn down from the constant pressure, the constant danger they face. It's obviously PTSD, but it's the 50's, and like so many soldiers in so many era's, they bury it inside, because they are expected to perform, no matter what. They are the first one on the line though, willing to do what it takes to defeat the enemy and keep their brothers in arms safe. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">The secondary characters are well done as well. The Black Visors, who are spec ops soldiers who appear at the most desperate times, seem to know way more than anyone else, but are willing to be right in the thick of the action trying to accomplish their mission at any cost. Anna Bailey also makes a return, looking for revenge for what the SS did to her, wreaking havok like a spirit of vengeance on the Nazis in her way, in the most gory ways possible. The various other characters all get some character building as well, and we even see an early appearance of a character from the original book in the series, who plays an important part in the events in that book. These characters really add the spice to this story, and you will find easter eggs throughout if you look.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">The villains are mostly the Nazi's. The same Nazi's that escaped from Earth as the Third Reich fell, and who started right back up with their evil ways on Mars. Two years on, the Nazi's are somewhat pacified, but there are elements led by the last Wehrmacht and SS holdouts who have allied with the native Martians, who seemed to think National Socialism is just swell. It's this mentality that causes a battle of the bulge type attack, with the natives and Wehrmacht troops far outnumbering the beleaguered MOF troops. It's a war with no quarter, and it's viciously brutal to the bitter end, an end that is in doubt throughout the battle.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">This book, and series in general, have all the elements I love in science fiction. It's set on another planet, it has elements including consciousness transfer, time travel, ray guns, an alien menace, undiscovered history, genetic engineering and so much more. In the hands of a lesser author these elements might not work together, but Damien Larkin has a deft touch mixing the fantastical elements with the grounded ones. It mixes high concepts with vicious ground combat that show the range of the author's imagination, and you are just drawn into the story, which never lets you go. I give this book my highest recommendation.</span></span></span></span></span></p></div>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-44974862778894427392023-09-13T14:51:00.001-07:002023-09-13T14:51:33.925-07:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Dragonslayer by Duncan M. Hamilton<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinynxlwrpi8-MpYtSfcihc2jNRdowp3ECSYv12kgyhU2Hxa1K2nE6nPX0yFie5tQaldDY8Jiv71dZ3H5p8SBV-R6bwtx4lT37lcOMJrRLIL_FCmKPqDomcmNok8AAscW-hVLnJveQjipUCDSlH3heXTWchuNgMim1qY5iXx9T0NX2uIyiYkHa6STXNtjw/s346/dragonslayer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="228" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinynxlwrpi8-MpYtSfcihc2jNRdowp3ECSYv12kgyhU2Hxa1K2nE6nPX0yFie5tQaldDY8Jiv71dZ3H5p8SBV-R6bwtx4lT37lcOMJrRLIL_FCmKPqDomcmNok8AAscW-hVLnJveQjipUCDSlH3heXTWchuNgMim1qY5iXx9T0NX2uIyiYkHa6STXNtjw/w422-h640/dragonslayer.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dragonslayer-Book-Duncan-M-Hamilton-ebook/dp/B07CRFSDLS/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1692142768&sr=8-1">Buy on Amazon</a><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Dragonslayer-Audiobook/1250318971?qid=1692230956&sr=1-2&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=Z2B0N9ZRV5CRTDJTQD6V&pageLoadId=4fQJjhp1aJWCpeYd&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: large;">Buy on Audible</span></a><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating: 9.75/10 ★</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Synopsis</b></div></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #061624; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><i>In his magnificent, heroic adventure fantasy, <span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Dragonslayer</span>, Duncan M. Hamilton debuts the first book in a fast-moving trilogy: a dangerous tale of lost magics, unlikely heroes, and reawakened dragons. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #061624; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><i>Once a member of the king's personal guard, Guillot dal Villevauvais spends most days drinking and mourning his wife and child. He’s astonished - and wary - when the Prince Bishop orders him to find and destroy a dragon. He and the Prince Bishop have never exactly been friends, and Gill left the capital in disgrace five years ago. So why him? And, more importantly, how is there a dragon to fight when the beasts were hunted to extinction centuries ago by the ancient Chevaliers of the Silver Circle? </i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #061624; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><i>On the way to the capitol city, Gill rescues Solène, a young barmaid, who is about to be burned as a witch. He believes her innocent...but soon proves that she has plenty of raw, untrained power, a problem in this land, where magic is forbidden. Yet the Prince Bishop believes magic will be the key to both destroying the dragon and replacing the young, untried king he pretends to serve with a more pliable figurehead. </i></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #061624; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><i>Between Gill’s rusty swordsmanship and Solene’s unstable magic, what could go wrong? </i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #061624; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #061624; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span style="font-size: large;"><!--more--></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Review</b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #061624; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;">Dragonslayer by Duncan M. Hamilton is one of those books I've had on my review radar for a while, and after finishing it, I wish I'd gotten to it sooner. This will very easily be in the running for my top read of 2023. It has so many elements I love in books: flawed protagonists, complex villains, politics and a universe that is still grounded despite having magic and dragons. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;">The world building is fantastic throughout. Set in the kingdom of Mirabaya, one of many formed out the remains of a once larger empire, it seems society has fallen quite a bit from it's previous heights. Magic is banned due to a wizards revolt long before, and society has a superstitious fear of it now. The dragons that used to terrorized humanity have been killed off by the Knights of the Silver Circle, who have degenerated to a bunch of drunken womanizers far removed from their heroic past deeds. and the church is splintered throughout the kingdoms, with the top prelate, the Prince Bishop, ignored by the leaders of the church in other kingdoms. It's a society that seems to be sliding backwards, and when a dragon turns out to be not as dead as was thought, its a society that is ill equipped to handle the threat.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;">This is where the characters come in. This is an author that creates some incredibly complex characters. Characters that read so true to life, with strengths and weaknesses on full display. There is no better example of that than the main protagonist, Guillot dal Villeyauvais, Gil for short. Once the greatest swordsman in the kingdom, a knight of the Silver Circle and one of the King's bodyguards, he is now a disgraced drunk, living in his old family holdings, wasting his life away on drink and rich foods, all while letting his duties as a noble slip to the wayside. There is a reason for this funk, and it is revealed throughout the story, and it's only when he comes into contact with the other protagonist in the story, Solene, that he starts to pull his life back from the abyss.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;">Solene is a great character as well. A woman on the run after being chased out of her village for witchcraft, she is working as a baker and barmaid in a larger town, keeping her head down, using a bit of magic to make awesome bread. The plan is to open her own bakery, which is derailed when she has to use her magic to defend herself from a drunken patron of the bar. Apparently turning someone into a pig for a few minutes is frowned upon, and she is only saved from burning at the stake when Gil saves her from the mob. This starts her journey as she is taken to the capitol and ends up inducted into a secret order of mage warriors the Prince Bishop has founded to try and bring the benefits of magic to the land, as well as himself. She finds herself growing in power and responsibility, but finds that all is not as it seems in the order, and has to make decisions on what path her life will take, decisions that could effect the greater world.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;">The antagonists are excellent as well. The Prince Bishop is a very Cardinal Richelieu type character, a schemer of the highest order who is very much the man behind the throne. Unlike Richelieu, he was a swordsman himself until an incident ruined his ability to fence, an incident Gil played a huge part in, so their enmity is well deserved. His dedication to increasing his own power, and the power of the church is a driving force, as is his willingness to flout tradition in trying to bring magic back. He is very much an ends justify the means type of individual, and he will stop at nothing to make his goals a reality. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;">The truly tragic antagonist is Alpheratz, the last dragon, who has slept for decades while his kind were killed off, only to awaken to find his mate and hatchlings murdered many years ago by the damnable humans, the same humans they once worked with, but who hungered for more: More magic, more land, more treasure, just more, at any cost. His rage is incandescent, and honestly, he is one of the most sympathetic antagonists I've seen in any book. He is the dragon version of Gerard Butler in Law Abiding Citizen, driven by rage and the injustices done to him. His species has been destroyed, and sometimes, the world just seems to to need to burn, and he's just the dragon to do it. He remembers the Knights of the Silver Circle, and has a special bone to pick with them, and his confrontation with the last of the Knights, Gil, is at times comical and epic, and it's quite obvious only one will survive this clash of the last of their types.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;">The audio book version is narrated by the talented Simon Vance. A master of using various tones, cadences and accents to differentiate the characters, he really outdoes himself on this one. You can feel the pain in both Gil's and Alpheratz voices as they mourn their lost families, and he does just a fantastic job emoting throughout. There is real emotional depth in his performance, and you just get engrossed in the story as he tells it. His narrative pacing is some of the best in the business, and he is never droning. He is simply one of the best doing his usual outstanding job.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;">I think the final conclusion is that this story takes elements of fantasy, such as dragons, a fallen knight, an evil prelate, a misunderstood sorceress, and creates its own special story, turning the tropes on their head. The characters are relatable, even if not necessarily sympathetic, and the story flows smoothly from beginning to end. The mix of tragedy, comedy, betrayal and adventure is sure to find fans in the fantasy genre, but I think has broader appeal as well for fans of just a good story. I give this book my highest recommendation.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-33257630281269924512023-08-09T15:11:00.000-07:002023-08-09T15:11:13.164-07:00The Bookwyrm's Review of The Coffin Maker's Book of Dark Tales by Curtis M. Lawson and Joshua Rex<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1eZm1NlYXl4q2nbRtIzwFz-q8EHX3rW98dx40-aNBoDkBs2imEdeHoyrV334L0Br3tPcbwvGaPT5UVQJQpo7ZynEQvjpIEZ0xC1JuLFMjBreYJJMHWI-UTu07mfKuLARDRM8epwgyThY6p6WnHw2WrFSxpCV5Ax-VITlbE25kdZndZv9C4q4su25ZcY/s500/coffin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1eZm1NlYXl4q2nbRtIzwFz-q8EHX3rW98dx40-aNBoDkBs2imEdeHoyrV334L0Br3tPcbwvGaPT5UVQJQpo7ZynEQvjpIEZ0xC1JuLFMjBreYJJMHWI-UTu07mfKuLARDRM8epwgyThY6p6WnHw2WrFSxpCV5Ax-VITlbE25kdZndZv9C4q4su25ZcY/w640-h640/coffin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Coffin-Makers-Book-Dark-Tales-ebook/dp/B0BRY814L6/ref=sr_1_2?crid=10D8H1L0WLYHR&keywords=curtis+m.+lawson&qid=1691603643&sprefix=curtis+m.+lawson%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-2">Buy on Amazon</a><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Coffin-Makers-Book-of-Dark-Tales-Audiobook/B0C221DFD9?qid=1691603421&sr=1-2&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=3WE6Z1AV7Y0G1PBVWNGY&pageLoadId=rNYduXExjF5CoonB&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;">Buy on Audible</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><br /></span></div><span><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><a name='more'></a></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Rating: 9/10 ★</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Volkhov;">Synopsis</span></b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">What sinister beings live behind the mirror’s reflection? Can the apocalypse bleed from the pages of a notebook and into the real world? What terrible cost must be paid when one steals from the realm of dreams? These are just some of the questions presented in this beautifully illustrated collection of the macabre.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">The Coffin Maker, your host and guide, presents twelve ghastly tales from two of the most gifted voices in modern horror. Curtis M. Lawson (DEVIL’S NIGHT, BLACK HEART BOYS CHOIR) and Joshua Rex (THE DESCENT, THE INAMORTA) weave the beautiful and the grotesque into rich tapestries, both chilling and fantastic. Sometimes hopeful. Often bleak. Always overbrimming with darkness.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Equally inspired by the gorgeously illustrated editions that made you fall in love with horror as a child, and the golden age anthologies of Rod Serling and EC Comics, each dread tale features an introduction beautifully rendered by celebrated artist Luke Spooner. THE COFFIN MAKER’S BOOK OF DARK TALES is a must-read for fans of classic and contemporary horror alike.</span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;"></span></span></p><!--more--><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><b style="color: #0f1111; font-size: xx-large;">Review</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><b style="color: #0f1111; font-size: xx-large;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">As a fan of Curtis Lawson's books such as his Bad World series, Devil's Night and The Devoured, I was intrigued what an anthology of dark supernatural tales by him and horror vet Joshua Rex would look like. What it turned out to be was an engaging collection of stories that run the gamut of themes and outcomes, some of which are personal and limited in scope, and some of which have world altering consequences. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">Both authors bring their own unique voices to bear, and what we get is a collection of stories ranging from seeing a couple escape from a cult and the effect it has on their lives, to a camping trip in the woods, where the darkness of those woods comes from an unexpected source and has tragic and horrifying consequences from the campers. There are stories dealing with cosmic horrors brought to being through a lost author's journal in a kind of meta commentary on the power of imagination, and stories about the horrors that lie on the other side of the mirror. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Volkhov;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">These stories and more make up this collection, and I have to say, there is not a weak story in the bunch. The characters are shockingly well rounded for short fiction, and the pacing and plots are taut and engaging. Some of the stories are straight up horror, and some are more suspenseful and atmospheric, and they all work regardless. While there is a grim, foreboding feel to the book overall, there is humor sprinkled throughout, and I was shocked that every story didn't end with death and ruin, but with hope or redemption instead in some. This collection is one I would recommend to anyone looking for well written, engaging stories that let ones dark imagination off the leash.</span></span></span></div><p></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-84793469606777620512023-08-01T12:58:00.001-07:002023-08-01T12:58:49.293-07:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Pina Coladas and Rats by Angel Ramon<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VjB3L-xax0ax6xiok3u26ZytAEp4B8f-AnQncg8W4D0h2erQmLbJRNLiBG1xM0ZbyRU6oQIGRXlCarpzS89zgsvh-Q-Rq063mixd-_K8I8bw6gvGsS2h9xODnSiLXGmoOFNLNYd6nGFv9y8mQbDZFmeJ9iXqVhd4elBy7hcCX8Xr-K5WoA8ykr-WBvc/s500/pcandR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="334" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VjB3L-xax0ax6xiok3u26ZytAEp4B8f-AnQncg8W4D0h2erQmLbJRNLiBG1xM0ZbyRU6oQIGRXlCarpzS89zgsvh-Q-Rq063mixd-_K8I8bw6gvGsS2h9xODnSiLXGmoOFNLNYd6nGFv9y8mQbDZFmeJ9iXqVhd4elBy7hcCX8Xr-K5WoA8ykr-WBvc/w428-h640/pcandR.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pina-Coladas-Rats-Angel-Ramon-ebook/dp/B0C7FL3K33/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MZK6M3R4FYW3&keywords=pina+coladas+and+rats&qid=1690260205&sprefix=pina+coladas+and%2Caps%2C4452&sr=8-1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Buy on Amazon</span></a><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating: 9/10 Stars</b></span></p><span><!--more--></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Synopsis</b></span></p><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>A woman's Caribbean dream life turns into a rat-infested nightmare!</i></span></span></h4><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Otilia, a woman looking to escape the hustle and bustle of NYC purchases her dream home in a start-up neighborhood in the quaint town of Salinas, Puerto Rico. What's the catch? The start-up neighborhood is being built over a huge sugar cane farm. Also, the town has a dirty little secret - killer rats are on the loose. Unlike regular rodents, these bloodthirsty creatures are attacking residents and leaving a trail of destruction.</i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Otilia's new life quickly turns into a fight for survival as she and her husband are faced with hordes of rats ready to make them their next meal. However, this mystery runs deeper than just a killer rodent infestation. Something much darker is lurking in the shadows and threatens to change Puerto Rico forever.</span></i></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: large; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Get ready for a spine-tingling extreme horror story set in a time before technology ruled society. Don't miss out on this heart-pumping tale that will have you checking under your bed for rats.</span></i></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: large; font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></div></span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><div style="font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent; text-align: center;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: start;">Who said rats couldn't enjoy a pina colada by the shore?</span></i></div><div style="font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent; text-align: center;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: start;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;"><!--more--></span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review</span></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: center;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: start;">Horror is not usually the genre I review, but I am a fan of Angel Ramon's other books, so I was happy to give this a look. It was especially intriguing because the story takes place in Salinas, Puerto Rico, which is one town over from my mother's hometown of Ponce on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. It's certainly not the usual setting for a story like this, and I think it is an excellent example of using an exotic locale to create a different sense of tension.</div><div style="text-align: start;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: start;">The world building is interesting. Setting the story in Salinas, Puerto Rico in the mid 80's means that people will get a look not only at a place in the US they normally wouldn't see, but at a time of transition, as the town moved away from it's past as a farm community centered around sugar plantations. It also highlights the stark differences in viewpoints in the town, since the difference between rich and poor is especially stark. That income inequality is actually a story point that has serious repercussions when tied into an unusual element of the culture that some people practice there: Santeria. If you are unfamiliar with what Santeria is, by the time you finish this book, you will know what it's all about it.</div><div style="text-align: start;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: start;">The characters really draw you into the story though. The story focuses on a group of people finding themselves in a nightmare scenario where a nuisance on the island has turned into a deadly menace. Otilia is the main focus of the group. An immigrant from central America, she and her Puerto Rican husband moved to the island for financial and lifestyle reasons, and it seemed like a true paradise on earth until hell seems to come to Salinas, and she must use her inner strength to survive the horror that is upon her and her companions. </div><div style="text-align: start;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: start;">Those companions are an interesting group. They include Frank, her neighbor and friend of Otilia and her husband, who helped them get settled on the island. He is struggling to believe what is happening, but seems to have the fortitude to do what's necessary. Jack, on the other hand, is a lot more prepared, since his job as a bounty hunter has him able to adjust to the unexpected, and that gun he's carrying is going to come in handy. The last members of the group are Clarke, a doomsday prepper who has been waiting and ready for the world to fall apart, and his teen daughter Jessie, who is a fairly typical teen who is just trying to help the group to survive. All in all, not the worst group to have in a life threatening crisis.</div><div style="text-align: start;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: start;">The villains spend most of the book off screen, but their effects can be seen throughout the story. Those effects come in the form of fur, claws and sharp teeth of rats swarming over the town, but these aren't garden variety field rats. These have glowing green eyes and act in completely surprising and horrifying ways, and some of the rats are literal nightmares made flesh. They are a great horror element, because lots of people are scared of rats, and some of the changes make them into horrors anybody would run screaming from. The people behind the rats tie into some of the societal differences in town, and as their grand plan is revealed, you can see that Salinas is only the beginning of their insanity. It's a great setup.</div><div style="text-align: start;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: start;">I really liked this book. The elements of horror mixed with the location and time really fit well. It was a time of transition, with old traditions starting to come into conflict with a more modern society, and the clash is artificially exacerbated by this plot. The horror of a hoard of rats changed and unleashed on a coastal town were set up well, and drive the plot in a fast paced race to find a place to survive, and only discovering that safety is an illusion. I highly recommend this book, and can't wait to check out the next book. Check it out today!</div></span></span><p></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-38704510403278495732023-06-26T11:53:00.001-07:002023-06-26T11:53:54.697-07:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Big Red by Damien Larkin<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTTDbGQi_3QO0fZpM9Y_wJ3IMWhq49Mp9VhwjsXMj_aFFWu1gs6mL5POZ8ziwGSRKkwM-WQn-asDKTXwqjc9_JxSYeo1zDOeoiSdgVIFmi1ulrGsrlZVu-96tr6QxqOcMgqwNFlBdljbl-2TweGVJTEiokq1m7lRo9K1T8BkhjZuM9jHPt1iQ4GRs/s500/bigred.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="330" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTTDbGQi_3QO0fZpM9Y_wJ3IMWhq49Mp9VhwjsXMj_aFFWu1gs6mL5POZ8ziwGSRKkwM-WQn-asDKTXwqjc9_JxSYeo1zDOeoiSdgVIFmi1ulrGsrlZVu-96tr6QxqOcMgqwNFlBdljbl-2TweGVJTEiokq1m7lRo9K1T8BkhjZuM9jHPt1iQ4GRs/w422-h640/bigred.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Big-Red-Damien-Larkin-ebook/dp/B07NQM7W5S/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1TTZK0D3FAAVM&keywords=big+red+damien+larkin&qid=1653938714&sprefix=big+red+damien+larkin%2Caps%2C210&sr=8-1">Buy on Amazon</a><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating: 9.75/10 Stars</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Synopsis</b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><i>We have always been here...</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">Traumatized by the effects of Compression travel, soldier Darren Loughlin holds the key to the fate of Earth’s Martian colonies. With his Battalion decimated, his fractured memory holds the only clues to the colony-wide communications blackout.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">With time running out, Darren pieces together his year-long tour of duty with the Mars Occupation Force. Stationed in the Nazi-founded New Berlin colony, ruled by the brutal MARSCORP, he recounts his part in the vicious, genocidal war against the hostile alien natives and all who question Terran supremacy.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;">But as his memories return, Darren suspects he is at the centre of a plot spanning forty years. He has one last mission to carry out. And his alien enemies may be more human than he is…</span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;"></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: xx-large;">Review</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: xx-large;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">I am always looking for interesting new stories, no matter the genre. I have always been a huge sci-fi fan since my early childhood, in the halcyon days of seeing Star Wars in the theater on its original run in 1977 as a kid, to watching shows like Space 1999 and Battle of the Planets on Saturday mornings. I love it when an author will try something outside the box, not trying to make another Star Wars knockoff or gritty space opera, but instead, take a bunch of different elements and blend them into a story all their own. This book has so many elements I love in sci-fi: time travel, consciousness transfer, an alien menace, and oh, lest I forget, escaped Nazis on Mars. Who could ask for more?</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">The characters are such a great part of this story. Darren Loughlin is the main protagonist, an Irish veteran who joins a special military unit that he discovers will transfer his consciousness across time and space into a clone body on Mars, where the MOF, Mars Occupation Force, is in control of New Berlin, the hidden refuge of a bunch of escaped Nazis. They also have to face off against hostile bug aliens on Mars, who seem to be a threat to all mankind. He is a natural leader, and as time passes on Mars, grows into that leadership, as many strange occurrences make him question everything he thinks he knows. This is especially true when his mind is thrown back into his real body after some catastrophic event on Mars, and his fragmented consciousness slowly recalls for his superiors what happened there. This ties into bigger events overall, and leads on a hell of a ride. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">The secondary characters are just as good. There a re a range of fellow soldiers serving with Darren, who all have to face the same hardships, from the alien menace to incompetent and petty officers. You can tell there is trouble brewing, and which way they go will depend on many factors. The reason they have to occupy Mars, the Nazi's, are portrayed in a very realistic fashion. They act like the way you would expect them to act, with resentment and tension at times flaring to violence, and it's not hard to see they aren't taking their reduced fortunes well. They are just as bad as you expect them to be, and the author makes no real attempt to try and make them redeemable, because these are the people that did so much damage to Europe and murdered millions of people all those years ago. Some things are unforgivable, and sometimes a deal with the devil is just that.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">The final arc of the story is where things take a sharp turn, as Darren's memories return fully and you find out just what has happened on Mars. You also discover that all is not as it seems, and some of the characters have gone in completely unexpected direction because of the revelations of what has occurred. A conspiracy wrapped in an enigma that is explosive when unwrapped, and all these characters have to deal with finding that things might not be what they seemed for so long.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">This book could have fallen apart with so many sci-fi tropes involved. Instead, with a deft touch, this talented writer, in his debut novel no less, manages to avoid pitfalls that have snared many more experienced authors. He does a great job mixing the elements of the story with the characters, and creates a realistic world that seems like an interesting mix of past, present and future tech that really effects how the characters can respond to different situations. The conspiracies that are uncovered truly shock, and the effects they have are devastating. This is a story that will have so much appeal for sci-fi fans and fans of Military sci-fi, and for fans of of good storytelling in general. It's quite obvious the author's experience in the Irish military was useful, because all of the military elements are as realistic as possible. I highly recommend this book, and look forward to reviewing it's sequel/prequel, Blood Red Sand. Check it out today.</span></span></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-15777877599363400862023-06-21T14:31:00.000-07:002023-06-21T14:31:17.637-07:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Territory Wars: Scourge by Devon C. Ford<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnCJA1qZuJJv57IBRSMHOyfNaLZy6R1gg25GJAjcQrgSfOHWezMnduOJg3IlQ4K2xpaFqMSsWQQFrCxpZcytmb8KQ-FpFsyirSmnG9hrTBpMgJmbyON7HxQM19k4KxNLIJGGyhnpNBnyQEkl1tjK-OueHIi5uQeB-t27D3mF546nQQ82ucOSdRKfC/s500/scourge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="358" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnCJA1qZuJJv57IBRSMHOyfNaLZy6R1gg25GJAjcQrgSfOHWezMnduOJg3IlQ4K2xpaFqMSsWQQFrCxpZcytmb8KQ-FpFsyirSmnG9hrTBpMgJmbyON7HxQM19k4KxNLIJGGyhnpNBnyQEkl1tjK-OueHIi5uQeB-t27D3mF546nQQ82ucOSdRKfC/w458-h640/scourge.jpg" width="458" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Scourge-Military-Sci-Fi-Territory-Wars-ebook/dp/B099FJZVK5/ref=sr_1_38?crid=P147DIC8FJ8V&keywords=devon+c+ford&qid=1686602058&sprefix=devon+c+ford%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-38">Buy on Amazon</a><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Scourge-Audiobook/B09HY5YQ2N?qid=1686602024&sr=1-13&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_13&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=KBG8YNCB0XYF2KQ75FGT&pageLoadId=Oed9amMNcbsVPevW&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c">Buy on Audible</a><br /></span></div><span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a name='more'></a></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating: 9/10 Stars</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span><br /><!--more--></span><b>Synopsis</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What could test a marine more than all-out war? The Scourge.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="color: #0f1111; text-align: center;">A simple distress beacon…</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><div style="text-align: center;">A mining colony in the outer reaches…</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><div style="text-align: center;">Supposedly another routine deployment for Mike Barton of the Combined States Marine Corps, but what they find on the surface is unlike anything anyone had ever encountered.</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><div style="text-align: center;">Horribly wounded in a battle with an unknown enemy, Barton only survives through a chance encounter with two special operators. As if the skirmish wasn’t enough, what comes next will be beyond his imagination.</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><div style="text-align: center;">Thrown into a joint task force with troops from the New Russian Confederacy, Barton must return to the colony, face what had befallen him there, and investigate what killed everyone.</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #0f1111;"><div style="text-align: center;">But the investigation will have to wait because the Scourge won’t. The fight for his life rages on, and his chances are slim.</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Don’t miss the start of a Military Sci-Fi thrill ride from bestselling author Devon C. Ford. It’s perfect for fans of Rick Partlow, JN Chaney, Nick Webb, and </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Gears of War</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box;">.</span></div><div style="color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span><!--more--></span><span>Review</span></div><div style="color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #0f1111;">I've had a lot of luck lately finding good sci-fi reads, and Scourge is no exception. It is without a doubt one of the most action packed military sci-fi reads in this current renaissance of that sub genre. It takes some tropes from the genre and expands them to good effect, all while creating an expansive universe that still ties back to the conflicts in the the current geopolitical space, with some surprising twists.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #0f1111;">The basic world building is solid. There are two competing main players, politically speaking, trying to expand their territories. These blocks are the Combined States of North American made up of the US and Canada and their rivals, the New Russian Confederacy and their allies, the New British Empire. The Combined States can also at times count on help from the Japanese and Africans if the situation suits their needs, while the Chinese and Indians stay neutral for the most part. Both main blocks have a cold war going, with covert action and the occasion diplomatic incident occurring, but no outright hostilities. That changes when a discovery is made on a remote mining planet that turns that cold war to hot in a blaze of missiles and bullets. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #0f1111;">The character's really shine in this book, especially the main character, Mike Barton. He starts as your average enlisted Marine, sarcastic and a bit jaded about the leaders over him, but dedicated to doing his job. It turns out that being the lone survivor from his unit after the discoveries on Planet Zero and barely surviving horrible injuries flips his switch, because it really showcases his determination. He focuses on the chance to get payback for what happened to him and his platoon, and his mental fortitude is definitely shown throughout. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #0f1111;">The secondary characters are mostly excellent. They revolve around a Special operations team, known as Odin teams, who are the best operators the Combined States has to offer. They are true warriors, and each distinct in their own way. Mark is the tough team leader, intelligent and deadly, who has to balance mission and team, planning missions no one else can accomplish. Mac and Anders are the glue of the team, brothers in arms who are willing to do the dirty work that's always required. Edwards is the Teams pilot, an Air Force pilot attached to their team. Coates is the one team member that plays on a trope that's gotten a little old, the Velasquez trope. She's tough as nails with an over sized chip on her shoulder who obnoxiously busts Barton's chops constantly, and I thought she was kind of a generic trope. She isn't a deal breaker, but I find her to be the weakest character just as a type.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #0f1111;">The antagonists are well matched to the story. They are a Spetnatz team of .operators for the Russian Confederacy, the dark mirror versions of the Odin teams, Where the Odin Teams are scarily effective commandos, the Russians are just plain scary, the kind of operators that put fear into strong men's hearts. Led by a ruthless giant of a man, they are willing to do whatever they need to for the glory of their motherland. They are very much a throwback to old school Russian spec ops, the kind of ruthless soldiers in which limits didn't exist. These uber-serious elite soldiers and Barton the smart ass are like oil and water. It truly creates some great scenes and leads directly to the climactic clash as the end, as well as leading into the next book in the series.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #0f1111;">The narration is performed by one of my favorite narrators, James Patrick Cronin. I am a huge fan of his work on John Conroe's Demon Accords series, as well as on Rick Partlow's Drop Troopers books. He does a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life, making you feel as though you are in the scene with the characters.He does such a good job creating a myriad of voices for the various characters, and you are never in doubt which characters are speaking. His accents are realistic, and his narrative pacing is some of the best in the business. It never lags or devolves into a monotone. I highly recommend this format.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #0f1111;">This is one of those books that is a great starting point to a series. It tells a great story, but leaves the door open for so much more, setting a high bar for any sequels. If you enjoy space opera or military sci-fi, this is definitely a book you should check out. It's few cons are far outweighed by it's many pros. I'd highly recommend checking out the audio version as well. </span></span></div></span></span>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7868442232674190670.post-85359307390703727362023-05-16T12:14:00.000-07:002023-05-16T12:14:11.586-07:00The Bookwyrm's Review of Season of Kings by A.J. Rettger<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vplPzKwIwufhdVKep_pHFkt5dvrVvNbXh1RtBJeel1LrgwP8OOvLNgyLjGR8uX1nUtNqpa0qYHGromITnY25QId6MVjGseCwI_QTxfquoUdWfyD8peFv_ZSHIWL5bKtP9kxbD-wuJxsiIQ3R57DWc6PD12iZ-sE1Y5NBOyddfWJmW4bLYngV9YfE/s500/kings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vplPzKwIwufhdVKep_pHFkt5dvrVvNbXh1RtBJeel1LrgwP8OOvLNgyLjGR8uX1nUtNqpa0qYHGromITnY25QId6MVjGseCwI_QTxfquoUdWfyD8peFv_ZSHIWL5bKtP9kxbD-wuJxsiIQ3R57DWc6PD12iZ-sE1Y5NBOyddfWJmW4bLYngV9YfE/w426-h640/kings.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Season-Kings-Ravens-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B0B1RJ735C/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JBQ9VWF7C90J&keywords=season+of+kings&qid=1681881821&s=digital-text&sprefix=season+of+kings%2Cdigital-text%2C245&sr=1-1">Buy on Amazon</a><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Season-of-Kings-Audiobook/B0BFBRK6XL?eac_link=SU1h6qkocnbX&ref=web_search_eac_asin_1&eac_selected_type=asin&eac_selected=B0BFBRK6XL&qid=H4SqnrqCuy&eac_id=134-0888351-4055866_H4SqnrqCuy&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Buy on Audible</b></span></a><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rating: 9/10 Stars</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Plot Synopsis</b></div></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>War is upon the land and the throne sits empty. Who will claim it?</i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Elbert of Artanzia finds himself in a precarious position. After stealing the throne from his older brother, he finds himself newly crippled and low on friends. The nobles want to undermine him, while the populace wants to depose him. In a desperate attempt to keep his power, he launches a campaign against the barbarian islanders to the north, something that no king has ever done.</i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>In the forest to the south of the capital, lives Anna and her father. While raised in isolation, Anna is taught how to hunt and kill everything that makes its home in the monster-infested forest. However, her quiet life is torn apart when a group of visitors pay her father an unexpected visit. Forced to flee to the capital city, she must find her long-lost aunt, all while fighting to protect herself and socializing with other teenagers for the first time.</i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Grimm White-Eyes, a legendary barbarian warrior and Shield of the Isles, is accused of murdering the Islander High King’s brother. With a price on his head, he must flee his homeland and find refuge on the continent. Yet no ship will risk carrying someone of his notoriety. Unable to leave, he is forced to ally himself with the enemy, in hopes that he can continue to live his life as the gods intended, free.</i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span></span></span></p><!--more--><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><b>Review</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Grimdark books to<b> </b>me have always been hit or miss. I think it comes from having to create a morally gray world, where the characters have to steer into that gray area where they are not morally righteous, while at the same time not becoming such turds that they are wholly unsympathetic and unlikable. Some authors, like Glen Cook in his Black Company series, nail it, while others miss to either side of that sweet spot. A.J. Rettger is much more on the Cook side of the equation, hitting the target with a cast of morally questionable characters who nevertheless are still very human and relatable. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Those characters begin with Elbert, who begins as prince of Artanzia but ends up king after his brother has an "accident" after too much wine and a fall from a palace balcony. Elbert may not be the warrior his brother was, but he has a vision for the kingdom to stop its decline, no matter the cost. After an ill advised meeting with a mage, he ends up paralyzed from the waist down, and that steers a lot of his decision making, especially in a country that values physical ability. He's willing to make alliances and even invade Artanzia's main enemy if that's what it takes to retain his throne. He is a definite schemer, and willing to sacrifice people to accomplish his goals, but he is surprisingly caring about his wife, and he makes a connection with someone in the Isles that is shockingly innocent and pure. It's very different from what you'd expect, and gives him some real depth. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anna is the opposite of Elbert in so many ways. She grew up sheltered in the woods, trained to hunt monsters by her father, until his mysterious past catches up to him and she is on the run at the age of 14, trying to reach the capital of Artanzia to find an aunt she has never met to take her in. She has a real struggle to reach the city, avoiding monsters, soldiers and bandits who might mean her harm, until she reaches the city with a troupe of performers she met on the road, where she is separated yet again. Struggling in the city, she is saved from an assault and is taken in by the human thieves guild, where she and a group of other young people learn the ways of the streets. She is ingenious and clever, and a decent fighter, so she has real value to them, but she is naïve as well, and has a real difficulty in discerning when she is being played. Anna is easily the most sympathetic of the three main characters, but she too can be ruthless when the situation calls for it. Her arc is one you don't see progressing the way it does towards the end of the book. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Grimm White-Eyes is the third POV character, and he is significantly different than Elbert or Anna. A close friend to the King of the Isles, his indiscretions with the King's brother's wife bring tragedy down upon Grimm, who responds by killing the King's brother. This leaves Grimm on the run with all hands turned against him, in a country where he was once one of the most admired of men. Grimm is a brutally violent man, happy to cleave a head off or disembowel anybody who gets in his way. He seems like a man led strictly by his own wants and needs, his passions and lusts, but his interactions with a young dwarven slave girl, someone who he should see as disposable, gives a whole different look into his personality. This cruel, ambitious man does have a heart after all, and it's all the more shocking the lengths he'll go to protect those he cares for. He is very much a Jekyll/Hyde type of character.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The secondary characters are excellently written. Chief among them is Randall, who is Anna's mentor and love in the thieves guild. He has an interesting backstory, and his actions in response to events throughout the book by both the leader of the guild and the crown have much wider effects throughout the kingdom. He seems like such a sympathetic character, but some of actions </span><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">make you question just what his motives are. There are a variety of other characters, including Elbert's bodyguard, who is ruthless in his duty to protect Elbert, and it's interesting to see where his story goes. Throughout the story all the various characters interact in such interesting ways, and you can see as it progresses that they are all bound for a collision course at the end. It's a bit of a shock just how it ends, and how the decisions made will progress into the next book.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">The world building is not overly complex, but that's a strength. The Kingdom of Artanzia reminds me of a medieval European kingdom, with a rank and ruling structure like that of England of that time. The Isles seems to be based on Viking era Denmark, led by the strongest warlord who has united the kingdom, and has no plans to stop raiding Artanzia. The switch up is Artanzia deciding to invade the Isles, something they would never have expected. There is magic, but it doesn't seem common or useful for much. More like the rare curse or seer's vision of the future. No fireballs and shooting lightning or overt magic of that sort, but you get the feeling that there might be some subtle magics at play in the background. It's an excellent setup for the world in general, and leaves lots of potential for expansion in future installments.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">The audiobook narration was performed by Cad Delworth. I was unfamiliar with him before this, but he brought a wide range of voices to the story. He was excellent differentiating the accents for the various classes, and brings real emotional weight to the various characters. His voices for the three POV characters are all distinct, and really do channel their various personality traits into them. HIs narrative pacing is excellent, and you never find yourself losing focus on the story. Considering this is his first performance of something that is narrative fiction, I am doubly impressed. I'm looking forward to hearing him again.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">All in all, this is an excellent addition to the grimdark fantasy ranks. It has everything a fan of the genre should enjoy, including betrayal, vicious fighting, conspiracies and morally gray characters. I think this author is definitely going places, and recommend you check this story out.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p>The BookWyrmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14391707557047682270noreply@blogger.com1