The Bookwyrm's Review of The Piledriver of Fate by Samuel Gately

Publisher: Cylinder Publishing

Release Date: February 25, 2021

Length: 233 Pages

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Titan Wars, Book 2

Amazon Link

After reading the first book in the series, The Headlock of Destiny, which I thought was one of the most unique takes on fantasy in years, I was hot to get the next book in the series. After finishing it, I can honestly say the wait was worth it. It's an even deeper dive into the world we got a glimpse into in the first book.

PLOT SUMMARY

In the aftermath of the Headlock of Destiny Tournament, battle lines are being drawn. The return of the Titan Wars is inevitable and Van the Beer Man must carry forward alone against his greatest enemy. With the dreaded OverLord drawing ever closer, can Van find safe harbor in this world of violent giants? And will he ever get that cold beer he's been pining for?

MY THOUGHTS

This book does such a good job taking what worked in the first book and expanding it is such interesting ways. The world building is really well executed, expanding from Van's village and Empire City to now include the Nether, the underworld realm of the Overlord. The Nether is such a surreal world, a land of mists and shadows that eats at the soul, making people relive their worst memories. Its also inhabited by the minions of the Overlord, such as goblins, golems, trolls, and those titans that fell in the ring to the might of the Overlord, and are now his undead thralls. Finding out the origin of the Nether, and how it ties into the Titans, is an interesting bit of world building, which you just don't see coming.  We are introduced to another race in the upper world, the Valkyries, winged warrior women who turn out to be not a myth, who have an ancient duty they still uphold to varying degrees. They end up in the mix when the Overlord's minions finally invade the overworld, leading to an even bigger confrontation.

The characters definitely shine again, adding new layers to the existing characters while introducing some fun new characters. We even get a look into the origins of the Overlord, and it turns out he's much more a tragic villain than you would ever expect. Van has such a good growth arc, because while he's no ones idea of a chosen one, he's the only choice they have. Its also fun reading about the titan characters and trying to put a face to their real life inspirations, Wrestlers such as the Undertaker, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Nature Boy Rick Flair, Andre the Giant and The Road Warriors, Hawk and Animal, are just some of the larger than life characters transformed into the Titans in this story. Its a lot of fun guessing who is who, and with the addition of the Valkyries, just adds another layer to the story.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While it is not always easy to avoid a sophomore slump with a second book in a series, Samuel Gately deftly manages to avoid that fate. Adding in the new layers the story and characters really helps engage the reader, and you really find yourself sympathizing with the characters, and being able to see the action in your minds eye. It is at least as good as the first book, and in my opinion, even tops it. I think fans of fantasy and wrestling can easily find something to enjoy in this story, and I highly recommend reading these books.

RATING: 9/10 STARS

The Bookwyrm's Review of The Horror of Supervillainy by C.T. Phipps

Length: 225 Pages

Publisher: Crossroad Press

Release Date: April 1, 2021

Genre: Superhero Prose

Amazon Link

When I first heard The Horror of Supervillainy was in the works, I was super excited to get a review copy. This is one of my favorite series, and one of the reasons I started a review blog in the first place. The continuing adventures of Gary and company are something that I highly anticipate, and imagine I always will.

PLOT SUMMARY

Gary Karkofsky a.k.a Merciless: The Supervillain without MercyTM has decided to give up supervillainy and embrace the path of righteousness. Unfortunately, he's terrible at it and no one wants him to be their superheroic protector. That all changes when a talking raven arrives with the perfect quest to make his mark: rescue the President's daughter from Dracula.

Unfortunately, Gary is being led into a trap. The location of Dracula's castle is in Satan Swamp, which is where Gary suffered one of the few defeats of his life. There's also a camp full of superpowered children, the return of alternate reality allies, a pair of psycho killers in love, and an old enemy returned.

MY THOUGHTS

When you write a series that has dealt with time traveling Nazi's, elder gods, the personification of concepts like Life, Death, Chaos, an evil version of the main character and a giant Luchador villain who once destroyed the universe, you have to imagine its tough to think of something new to top all that. Well, since it's C.T. Phipps, someone steeped in superheroes, horror and pop culture, it'll be super easy, barely an inconvenience. While Gary, Cindy, Mandy and their family return, the new additions are fun too. These include crossovers from other parts of the Phipps extended universe including Jane Doe, Weredeer shaman, Case, cyborg assassin, The Accountant, bonded to the spirit of murder, and Final Girl, the bane of serial killers and monsters. They all fit together so seamlessly into a cohesive unit of snark, pop culture references and attitude, not to mention being just badass all around. 

The villains are some of the most interesting to date, including a certain Count from Transylvania, a magic leaching southern Sherriff somehow working in a southern swamp town in Michigan, and some villains who look suspiciously like some characters who wont be mentioned because trademark lawyers work the interdimensional barriers too easily. They definitely add the sort of insanity and chaos I've come to expect with this series, in the best possible way. 

World building has also been a consistent strength with this series, and Horror is no exception. We get to see a bit more of the wider world Gary lives in, even getting to see the city of Atlas City in Florida, which is not, I repeat, not, that city with a certain Mouse Mascot's theme park, and the trademark lawyers can't prove it is. It's a definite change from Falconcrest City, which always struck me as Gotham City if it went on a 3 day heroin binge with Nikki Sixx, then a three day coke binge with Sam Kinison. It's some of my favorite worldbuilding in fiction today. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

I can happily report that this is an excellent entry into a series that I can't see losing steam. It has an author that obviously still enjoys writing it, and keeps coming up with creative ways to add to the story and lore. Having a huge shared multiverse to draw characters and plots from also doesn't hurt. Fans of the series should really enjoy it, as should fans of superhero fiction in general.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Heir To The Sundered Crown by M.S. Olney

Length: 372 Pages/ 9 Hours, 8 Minutes (audio)

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: June 28, 2014/ October 30, 2017

Narrator: Joseph Tweedale

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Amazon Link

As a fan of fantasy, I find it amazing the amount of choices we have when it comes to books to read. There is literally something for every taste. Sometimes, though, I just feel in the mood for a more traditional type of story, with clearly defined heroes and villains, epic quests and a fight to stop the forces of darkness from taking over and destroying the light.

PLOT SUMMARY

A realm torn asunder by civil war will give rise to a hero.

The Kingdom of Delfinnia is in chaos. After Assassins kill the king and his family, the barons now battle one another for the crown. Unknown to them, one heir yet lives.
As the civil war worsens, dark things begin to stir in the vast Eclin mountains. Horrors long thought destroyed have returned and led by an ancient evil begin to march upon the war-torn kingdom.
Meanwhile, in the mage city of Caldaria and as all hope seems lost, a young man named Luxon will discover his powers. The first wizard for a century, he is the man who will one day be known as the Legendary and the hero will give the realm its greatest king.
Sent on a quest to find the hidden heir, Luxon teams up with the legendary monster slayer, Ferran of BlackMoor, the deadly yet beautiful Witch Hunter Sophia Cunning and the noble Knight of Niveren, Kaiden of the Marble shore.
Together they travel the realm battling deadly monsters, assassins, and the most feared enemies of them all, the servants of the dark lord Danon himself, the evil N’Gist cult.
The Heir to the Sundered Crown is a heroic fantasy tale filled with action, battles and magic that will ignite the imagination and set the stage for an epic confrontation between the light and the darkness.

MY THOUGHTS

That's where Heir To The Sundered Crown by M.S. Olney comes in. It has that old school feeling of good versus evil, while adding in a few modern touches of realism. While the world building is strong with this book, its much more character driven, and that starts with Luxon, the main focus of the book. In the kingdom of Delfinnia magic banned in any place but Caldaria, the mage city. Luxon is an oddity, a wizard in a land of mages. He is in touch with his magic instinctively, and doesn't need to use ritual or spells to use his magic, unlike the mages, who require specialized training to access the magic. Luxon's life situation has also had some consequences on his life, as his father was executed by the barons when he swore that when the entire royal family was assassinated that the youngest price escaped. Considering a live heir invalidated the six baron's claims, he was branded a lying traitor and executed to shut him up, disgracing his family in the process.

This is what Luxom has had to live with. It informs his decision making throughout the book as he joins a group of allies in trying to defeat an ancient evil, an evil so bad it still frightens people centuries later. Its fun watching his growth from awkward youth to confident young man with unique power. He is well complimented by a varied cast of supporting characters, including his friend Yeppert, a mage student with surprising strength of character and will, Sophia, a Witch Hunter, Ferran, a Nightblade, those tasked with defeating monsters, and Kaidan, a knight of Nivarin, the order that keeps rogue mages from causing trouble. They all have interesting back stories and get lots of development throughout the story. Definitely not cardboard cutouts.

There are no shades of gray in the villains. Danon is an ancient dark wizard thought dead with the defeat of his dark god, but his return with dragons disproves that. His magic is well beyond what any current mage can do, and there's only one possible check to his power. Cliria is the other villain, a powerful witch, the partner and lover of Danon, and she has spent centuries arranging things to make his return possible. Her reveal is one of the best moments of the book, as things really start to unfold from there. Their motivations aren't justifiable as anything other than a lust for power, and it's kind of a refreshing callback to villains of the past. The characters really add some flavor to the mix.

NARRATION

The narration is handled by Joseph Tweedale. I was unfamiliar with his work before listening to this, but I was impressed with his voice work. He managed to create young sounding voices for the mage students, but also a wide range of adult and older voices for various other characters. He even put an excellent spin on a dragon's voice. He creates unique voices for each character using various tones, accents and cadence changes, all while avoiding dropping into a monotone during the narrative portions. I look forward to listening to more of his work.

FINAL THOUGHTS

As I stated, this book has an old school sensibility which I really enjoyed. None of the anti hero or conflicted villains we see in so many books today, just characters that are generally good trying to stop the plans of truly evil villains. Its an engaging story I think any fan of fantasy can find something to love. I highly recommend it.

Rating: 9/10 Stars

The Bookwyrm's Review of Nocturna: Beginning of the End by Heath Stallcup

 

Length: 245 Pages

Publisher: Devil Dog Press

Release Date: October 27, 2020

Genre: Science Fiction, Horror

Amazon Link

I have been a fan of Heath Stallcup's writing ever since I discovered his Monster Squad urban fantasy series back in 2014. That has continued with several subsequent series, in several genres, and continues to this day, now with the Nocturna series. I am always a huge supporter of my fellow veteran's writing efforts, and in this case, that's doubly so, because that military experience bleeds through on every page, bringing a sense of immersion and realism to a story that's already too close to reality in a lot of respects. So now, lets dig in and I'll explain what I mean.

PLOT SUMMARY

The twenty first century brought more plagues to mankind than any other time in history. Some were manufactured by man, others were acts of God. Even Mother Nature herself turned against the infestation known as man.

Nearly thirty percent of the population was killed by new virus strains. Racial tensions flared and evolved into two civil wars. Nations were fragmented with numerous ‘no-go’ combat zones controlled by local warlords, most still active to this day.

At a time when mankind should have been reaching for the future, it devolved into a nearly apocalyptic present, pitting neighbor against neighbor and nation against nation until another twenty percent of the world’s population had been extinguished.

Then came the asteroid Wormwood.

And everything changed.

MY THOUGHTS

The premise of the book, where a world hard hit by multiple pandemics that killed off 30 percent of the world's population, then has multiple civil wars across the world nations, leaving some areas as ruined no-go zones, definitely intrigued me. Into this dystopian setting we add Wormwood, a 150 meter long asteroid that strikes northern Africa, causing massive devastation to the area, as well as emitting a dust plume into the atmosphere. What is released from that asteroid strike is more than just the devastation from the strike, as something begins to occur to some people in the path of the falling dust. People start losing their skin pigment, and become sensitive to sunlight. And that's just the beginning. As violence and chaos start increasing, its up to scientists and soldiers to find out whats happening, and that's where the world building comes into play.

In a balkanized America, the civil wars have resulted in some of the cities being destroyed, and blocked off due to the political decision makers of the time. Since they wanted to rebel, the government cut them off, and refused to pardon them, so a new breed of Warlords have arisen in cities like Atlanta, where the story takes place. The CDC is now a fortress, with the interior of the city controlled by the various warlord's militias. The military has more high tech equipment, but even they won't venture into the war zones unless it's absolutely necessary. Any convoy of supplies for the outlying areas is bound to be raided, and it's truly feudal in these cities. When Wormwood hits, and the changes to people start occurring, its interesting to see how the federal government and the warlords react, which is to say in a very similar manner overall.

The characters are a definite strength. The soldiers are the usual mixture of people from various backgrounds, and their group interplay really comes across realistically. Lots of gallows humor between the various soldiers, who may tease and pick on each other, but they all have each others backs in a crisis. The way the command and soldiers interact is dead on as well, because quite often, what commanders want is not always based on reality, and soldiers are still expected to find a way to complete the mission. All of the tactical aspects of what the soldiers do are highly realistic as well, as I would expect from a writer who is also a military veteran.

The scientists are a mixed group, some from very different backgrounds, but they all play well off of each other. You can tell there are different agendas in the group, as well as differing levels of respect for some members of the team depending on their backgrounds. The pure research scientists don't hold the regular medical doctors or field researchers in particularly high regard, and vice versa. They are, however, willing to do what it takes to stop what could be a threat to humanity itself. Its interesting to see how this will play out within the group.

The secondary characters all play their parts in the story, with a bit of backstory for them leading their actions. The antagonist is not a single person, but more of an environmental threat, as Wormwood's results spread, threatening the human race in general. I'm interested to see if there is a more centralized figure emerging in later books.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I ended up reading this book in one sitting. It had me that hooked. The combination of entirely too prescient dystopia with the more horror story elements really gels, and the realistic military action is also appealing. I would easily rate this up there with the author's Monster Squad series, which is high praise. I can see this book appealing to many kinds of readers, including fans of dystopian sci-fi, horror and low urban fantasy. It is a definite recommended read.

Rating: 9/10 Stars

The Bookwyrm's Review of The Guild Core: Dragon Bourne by TJ Reynolds

Author: TJ Reynolds

Length: 556 Pages/ 16 Hours, 5 Minutes (Audio)

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: September 23, 2020/ October 6, 2020 (Audio)

Narrator: Steve Campbell

Genre: LitRPG/Cultivation

Amazon Link

Continuing my current trend for LitRPG books, it's time to review Dragon Bourne, the first book in the Guild Core series. I got a chance to listen to the audio version, so got the added bonus of Steve Campbell's narration. I'm glad to have added this to the recent collection of LitRPG reads/listens.

PLOT SUMMARY

Wake a Dungeon.
Form a Guild.
Fight to Restore the World.

Kai was the least likely young man to ascend. Raised on his uncle’s potato farm, he began his career as an adventurer with empty pockets and little skill. But a foolish attempt to prove his bravery leads Kai to unlock hidden power within himself and acquire a most unlikely ally.

Rhona is a battle-scarred soldier who’s as likely to toss a quip as she is to throw a punch. After setting aside a promising career in the army to pursue the Path of the Bleeding Tiger, she sets out to stop a war and seek atonement for a bloody past.

When Bancroft the Earth Core awakens, he can’t wait to clean up his dungeon and begin building things anew. A recovered item from his past reminds him that more is at stake, however, putting an end to such pleasantries.

Join The Guild Core, a small band of friends determined to restore the world to an age of dragons, heroes, and honor.

MY THOUGHTS

I found this to be a nice genre mashup, setting the story in a fantasy world but having character powers and abilities grow through the use of of RPG mechanics, in this case having cores that  collect aether, allowing the characters to ascend to higher levels of power. I thought the use of dragons to create sentient cores that form dungeons was also an interesting variant, giving it a game feel while keeping it grounded in the fantasy setting. The excellent world building throws us right into a fully developed world, with tensions between the countries palpable, and with the clash of each culture readily apparent. It feels complex, like real world cultures clashing. It is one of the better bits of world building in the genre.

The characters are just such a treat. Kai, Rhona and Bancroft fit into the story, and eventually into each others lives, so well. Kai is the young, naïve farm boy trope twisted onto its head. The revelations about him as the story progresses are surprising, but his progression from farm boy seeking adventure to competent fighter and potential hope for not only his people, but for the lost dragons and their dungeons as well, is well done. 

Rhona is such an interesting character, moving on from childhood trauma to become a decorated soldier, but deciding the path of the soldier was not for her, and giving up hard earned progression to go on a completely different path. She has such a good arc, and her strength not only of body but of will really draw the reader into her story arc. 

Bancroft, the third part of this trio, is a really fun character, if an unusual one. Unusual in that he's a sentient dungeon core, rescued from being shivered (shattered) by Kai, and he helps mentor Kai, all while working on 'his" own progression. He is just such a good foil to Kai's youthful naivety and Rhona's hard earn cynicism.

As far as antagonists, throughout the book there is more a feeling of antagonism in general to dungeon cores and their extinct dragons. There is not so much a face to it until the last chapter in the book. There are various evil beings in the story, and they're well done, but they aren't the existential threat that an entire country and it's army's antagonism is. I actually liked the way this was done, giving us a bigger world feeling, showing the events in one place have potential to shake the balance of power across the world at large.

NARRATION

The narrative duties are ably handled by Steve Campbell. This is only the second book I've heard him narrate, but I am even more impressed this time than the previous book. He did a phenomenal job bringing the characters to life, especially the three main protagonists. You can tell he really enjoyed bringing these characters to life, and his use of various tones, cadences and accents really differentiated each character. There is never a moment where the listener will be confused about which character is speaking. His narrative pacing is top notch, never straying into a monotone or into long pauses. He has definitely joined the ranks of one of my top 10 narrators.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While this is the first book I've read/listened to by this author, it won't be the last. It has so many good moments throughout the plot, with such good characters and worldbuilding, that I am excited to see where he takes the story. I'll definitely be continuing the series, and will check out his other series as well. This book will appeal to LitRPG fans for sure, but traditional fantasy fans can find a lot to love here too, so I recommend they check it out as well.

Rating: 9/10 Stars

The Bookwyrm's Review of Doomsayer Prince by Rune S. Nielsen

Author: Rune S. Nielsen

Length: 774 Pages

Publisher: Self Published

Release Date: July 7, 2020

Series: The Artifact War, Book 1

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Amazon Link

I've seen a trend lately for big, sprawling epic fantasies, with big casts of characters going on continent spanning adventures. Doomsayer Prince, by Rune Nielsen, is definitely in this mix, being a big sprawling epic with multiple POV characters, all on separate adventures whos story arc leads to an explosive conclusion. Definitely my kind of book.

PLOT SUMMARY

In his vision, colossal artifacts stride across his homeland, destroying everything in their path. In a desperate attempt to save his home, Mage Prince Phytiax heads to the wild north in search of allies. On his journey, his magical powers become damaged at the worst possible time, and his destined allies need to be saved before they can help him: Pino, the weakest Mage of all time and wielder of a mysterious artifact sword; Emilai, a kidnapped noble woman—turned Witch to fight her captors; and Cordin, an old Light Master wanted for murder, but dead-set on getting his life back. With the brutal and mysterious force invading and destabilizing the kingdoms around them, will his potential allies help or hinder him? And even if they save their homelands, the price might be worse than they ever imagined.

MY THOUGHTS

This is just such a big sprawling book that just really draws you in. The world building is so well done, from the Persian-like  Izanti Empire that Phytias is a prince in, to the Kingdom of Lyom, which is very much a medieval feudal society, with the nobility strictly controlling the peasants. The nobility all being mages in all these countries does make it easier to control their peasants. Each country has its own rules about who can use magic, which is split into five paths, of which users can only use one, whether it be Strength (Telekinesis), Light (Fire), Life (Healing), Death (Disintegration) or Omen (Prescience). The mages of previous ages had the potential to use multiple branches, but those bloodlines have faded over the centuries, and the society is just a faded remnant of the once powerful All-Master mage empires. 

The characters are amazingly well written. The POV character arcs are so well fleshed out. Phytiax's growth from a sheltered, ambitious prince trying to save his empire and his family is phenomenal. Emilai's arc starting as a sheltered young noblewoman, who's biggest goal in life is to make a good wife for a man she hasn't even met, has a story arc that takes her into unknown places and grants her immense power, with an interesting payoff. 

Pino is a really interesting character, being a throwback mage who can use all five magic types, but has almost no power or range at which to be able to use them, and is therefore a misfit, neither a mage nor a commoner. His path to the end of the story takes so many twists and turns, and Pino has to grow into his true potential. which is something you just don't expect when you meet his character for the first time. Cordin is the most traditional character, a past his prime mage that's kind of unscrupulous in working on raising his retirement funds, even with his scroll selling business. His character arc from aging grifter to knowledgeable heroic mentor is a fun one.

The antagonists are excellently written as well, ranging from ruthless but extremely competent henchmen, to a king of a small kingdom on the search for weapons from another age that will make him unstoppable. They are truly menacing, being a realistic threat to the protagonists, definitely effective foils to the protagonists. The secondary characters were well thought out, playing their parts in advancing the story, and even getting some character growth themselves, something often overlooked in storytelling. All in all, very effective and engaging world and character building.

FINAL THOUGHTS

A book this big in less capable hands could have felt like a huge slog. Instead, it caused several sleepless nights as I was just not able to put it down, having to keep reading to see what happened next. This book will have much appeal for fans of writers like Sanderson and GRRM, layered fantasy with multiple characters going thought story arcs leading to a dynamic conclusion. This is a definite must read if you enjoy epic fantasy.

Rating: 9/10 Stars

The Bookwyrm's Review of Return of the Phoenix by Heath Stallcup

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Author: Heath Stallcup

Length: 371 Pages/ 9 Hours, 30 Minutes (Audio)

Publisher: DevilDog Press

Release Date: October 18, 2019

Narrator: Jack Voorhies

Series: Monster Squad, Book 1

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: 8.5/10 Stars

Amazon Link

Long before I had a review blog, I was still reading lots of books. Discovering audiobooks just helped me get even more stories into my head. Being offered the chance to read and review this series was the seed of the idea that grew into this blog, since I wanted to get more eyes on this and the other books I was reading. I am really thankful for the indie authors that took a chance on someone like me they didn't know to read and give an honest review of their books.

PLOT SUMMARY

Humanity has spent its time enjoying the peace that can only be had through blissful ignorance. For centuries, stories of things that go "bump" in the night have been passed down and shared. When creatures of the night proved to be real, the best of America 's military came together to form an elite band of rapid-response teams. 

Their mission: To face the challenge and keep the civilian populace safe from those threats and hide all evidence of their existence. But during a routine mission, when things go horribly wrong, the Monster Squad finds themselves having to rebuild from the ashes of what they once were.

This time, they face not only the monsters that threaten the peaceful lives of the citizens they are sworn to protect, but their own government, as a dark storm brews on the horizon. A storm that will threaten not just the squad and their existence, but the lives of every human on Earth.

FURTHER THOUGHTS

I was asked to give an honest review of the book, so here goes. I loved it! As a former soldier, I understand the difficulty of translating the military experience to any kind of fantasy setting without resorting to clichés and stereotypes, but I think the author really hit it on the head. He was in the military, and obviously researched like crazy, because it was spot on in so many ways. The story is about the government's military monster hunting teams, made up of different Special Operations operators. After a team is wiped out to almost the last man in an ambush, new recruits are brought in and trained to replace them. 

No spoilers here, but everything is not what it seems. There is a Senator that wants the teams shut down, a civil war fomenting in the supernatural world, and revelations to be made about the hunter teams themselves. It is well written and engaging, with strong world building and character development. The only aspect I was kind of leery of was an inter-team romance that I thought would damage unit cohesion, but the author resolved the issue later in the book in a realistic way. While there is not a lot of back story in the book, but the second book fleshes out the back story nicely. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who likes urban fantasy and military thrillers. I have recommended it to my own friends and family, knowing they would enjoy it as well. 

The Bookwyrm's Review of the Damsel by David Dixon

Author: David Dixon

Length: 212 Pages

Publisher: Kyanite Publishing

Release Date: November 20, 2020

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: 9/10 Stars

Amazon Link

I have been reading quite a bit more sci-fi lately, and noticed the Damsel on one of my daily book searches on Amazon and added it to my wish list. Well, it's time rolled around and a day later, the book was read and it was time to review it. It's a pretty easy review, because this was definitely a fun read.

PLOT SUMMARY

After a hijacking attempt damages their decrepit Black Sun 490 freighter, Snake and his boss are desperate for cash.

Enter Carla, a gorgeous mercenary bad girl with a job offer that seems too good to be true. Unfortunately for him, while Snake is convinced she's stringing them along to their deaths, he's not the one in charge.

The job gets dicey in a hurry, and it doesn't take him long to figure out a fatal blow is coming. He's just not sure if it will come from the pirates that haunt the nav lanes, knife-wielding goons looking for revenge, Carla herself, or the cheap vodka he drinks to stay sane.

If Snake's going to make it out alive, he'll need every bit of his quick wit-and an even quicker trigger finger.

MY THOUGHTS

When I finished reading The Damsel, I definitely had a smile on my face. Why, you ask? Because it had such a Firefly vibe to it. The characters, while not being the kind of libertarian space cowboys that Firefly chronicled, were definitely that kind of scruffy grey area kind of space truckers. The two man crew of Snake, the ship's gunner, and his boss, called Boss throughout, have such good chemistry between them. They just bicker like a couple of brothers or really old friends. They also have some hilarious interactions with each other, even when they are covering each others backs in dangerous situations. And then there's that little problem Snake has, sleeping with every woman Boss is interested in, none of whom Boss had any chance with, although he still thinks he did. Its just a fun dynamic.

The secondary characters are a fun bunch as well. Carla the bounty hunter is especially good, being the kind of character you'd find in golden age space opera, taking out the trash with fists and guns as needed, and having no mercy on dirtbags. The other characters also add lots of flavor, and I think Carla's roommate is also a blast, playing well off her as well. Its just a great cast of characters, especially for a fairly short book.

The world building has a definite Firefly feeling as well. You get the idea there are some well controlled systems, and then some large lawless areas with bandits and pirates pillaging shipping through those areas. You get the impression that it's a big universe, and danger is around a lot of the corners. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

It's always refreshing to discover a new author who can take an idea already out there and twist and turn it to make it their own. David Dixon has created something special here, and I really look forward to seeing where he takes this next. I think fans of Firefly or lighter space opera will definitely enjoy this series.

The Bookwyrm's Review of The Lost Planet by Henry Vogel

Author: Henry Vogel

Length: 306 Pages

Publisher: Rampant Loon Press

Release Date: October 21, 2019

Rating: 9/10 Stars

Amazon Link

I am always on the lookout for new sci-fi reads. I especially love finding new space opera reads. When I got the chance to review The Lost Planet, I jumped, since the premise had everything I love about space opera: Great characters in far flung adventures with lots of alien races and big stakes on the line. So now its time to get this review going.

PLOT SUMMARY

He doesn't know how to be human. She has never been out on her own. But they're the last hope for humanity. 

Within the vast and alien Regency, starship pilot Glen Susa knows only the life of a slave. Raised by his master and forced into a life of crime, he dreams of freedom, visiting the Terran Republic, and meeting a girl. With human space ripe for invasion, Glen breaks the chains of slavery and flies off to warn his people.

The daughter of a xenoarchaeologist, Elise dreams of a normal life. Instead, she assists with her father's research into the fate of the Progenitors, who founded the Regency and then vanished. When her father discovers evidence of a Regency invasion of the Terran Republic, Elise goes on the run to take the news back to humanity.

Chance brings Glen and Elise together, but their warning comes too late. Certain the Terran Republic cannot defeat the alien armada, they set themselves a daunting task--solve the thousand-year-old mystery of the Progenitor's fate and discover their lost homeworld...

Can Glen and Elise do the impossible before humanity falls to the Regency?

FURTHER THOUGHTS

When I finished The Lost Planet, my immediate thought was that this had such a classic space opera feel to it, even though it had lots of modern elements. I loved the two main characters, Glen and Elise. They're  backgrounds developed such differing personalities, which end up having them play off so well against each other. Glens being basically raised by an alien smuggler, and never being around other humans has left him as alien to humans as the aliens are. Elise, while a bit sheltered, was raised by academic parents specializing in alien studies, so is intelligent and actually has a clue how to interact with Glen without overwhelming him. It does lead to some hilarious moments, though, as their world views clash and and they have to figure ways to find common ground. It makes for a fun dynamic. 

The secondary characters are such a diverse bunch, and they really play well against Glen and Elise. We get a good idea of their thoughts and feelings, and how their relationships with Glen and Elise Helps them grow as people. They have agency and backstories of their own, and they really add color to the story. The antagonists, the Elders, are a bit tragic, having been uplifted and basically abandoned by the Progenitors, the race that brought most other races to sentience over many millennia, who disappeared and left the Elders to keep things just how they left them. The Elders, being created with no imagination, took this quite literally, and its led to some tragic results for the Regency they rule, and possible tragic results for the separate human worlds.

The world building definitely shines. It kind of reminded me of David Brin's Startide Rising, with a bunch of alien races uplifted by by a Progenitor race that has disappeared into history, although in this case, instead of a bunch of vicious competing races, there is the Regency, where the Children (younger races) are led by the Elders, who were left in charge by the Progenitors. These are in opposition and competition with humanity, which was not an uplifted race, and who the Elders feel must be brought under their umbrella of care. The world building helps to create some of the scenarios of the plot, and really helps create the feeling of adventure the author is going for.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This is one of those books that will appeal to a wide range of fans. It has an old school feeling, but is very much at home with modern sci-fi and space operas as well. It also doesn't suffer from being overly graphic, so that shouldn't push readers away either. If you like space opera, or just books with great characters and lots of adventure, this is a book you should check out.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Dragon Mage by ML Spencer

Author: ML Spencer

Length: 828 Pages

Publisher: Stoneguard Publications

Release Date: December 19, 2020

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Amazon Link

Any time an author with a highly regard series branches out into a new series, its always chancy how it will be received. Is it as good as the previous series? Are the characters as engaging? Is it derivative? Dragon Mage is a book that may be the best thing this author has written to date, and that's no small thing.

PLOT SUMMARY

Aram Raythe has the power to challenge the gods. He just doesn't know it yet.

Aram thinks he's nothing but a misfit from a small fishing village in a dark corner of the world. As far as Aram knows, he has nothing, with hardly a possession to his name other than a desire to make friends and be accepted by those around him, which is something he's never known. But Aram is more.

Much, much more.

Unknown to him, Aram bears within him a gift so old and rare that many people would kill him for it, and there are others who would twist him to use for their own sinister purposes. These magics are so potent that Aram earns a place at an academy for warrior mages training to earn for themselves the greatest place of honor among the armies of men: dragon riders.

Aram will have to fight for respect by becoming not just a dragon rider, but a Champion, the caliber of mage that hasn't existed in the world for hundreds of years. And the land needs a Champion. Because when a dark god out of ancient myth arises to threaten the world of magic, it is Aram the world will turn to in its hour of need.

FURTHER THOUGHTS

Dragon Mage takes a very different path than the author's previous Rhenwar series. While it has dark elements, it's not grimdark. There is actual good and evil that are pretty starkly delineated as the story unfolds, with some excellent twists and turns to reveal those elements. The world building is top notch, as I have come to expect from this author. While the idea of a kind of sundered world is nothing new, the way this one is presented is definitely a new take on the idea. The fact that the world is separated into a "world above" with vanilla non-magic humans and the last vestiges of the magical Auld race bloodlines and a "world below" which still has magic to an extent due to the fact it is infused with Essence, the source of magic, and the people are mostly of the Auld race, really differentiates the two. Creatures such as dragons and elysium, a magical horse breed, still exist in the world below as well, and partner with the Auld in peace and war time. These two worlds are split by the Void, an unseen land of undeath and monsters that separates the dimensions, that occasionally ruptures and spills Essence seeking creatures into the worlds. This is the rich tapestry this story is set in.

The characters are so well written, which is not surprising with this author. The author took a chance in how she wrote Aram Raythe, who is not the average farm boy who takes the hero's journey. Rather, he is an outsider from the beginning in his village, a boy on the spectrum that just can't seem to relate to other people, and one who is bullied mercilessly. His life spirals out of control as his uniqueness is recognized for what it is, namely Auld magic,  and he has to go on the run. Aram is forced into situations that will test his very sanity over the coming years, as his unique magic makes him stand out in both worlds. Journeying with him is his friend Markus, who has the opposite of magic, since he is totally impervious to it. He is forced to make almost as many critical decisions as Aram in this book, and his journey is just as difficult as Aram's in many respects. They will both be forced past the limits of human endurance if their world has any chance of survival.

The secondary characters are integral to the story in a way most authors just can't manage. They are lovingly created, given their own agency and add the kind of flavor any good book needs. Definitely not the two dimensional cutouts of so many other books. Then we come to the villains. Such a diverse collection of villains, from a basic bully from Aram and Markus's training to a near deity level ancient evil Archon, and several in between. No overt mustache twirling types here, but real evil that deludes itself it has a rationale for their actions. These have to be some of the best spine chilling villains you are likely to come across in fantasy today. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

This book could have easily veered into YA territory in the hands of a lesser author. Instead, it takes some fairly basic fantasy tropes and turns them on their head, adding darkness and uncertainty to many of the scenarios throughout. There's a ton of Dragon rider books out there, many of them derivative of Pern or Eragon. Rest assured, while you can see a little Pern influence, Dragon Mage takes its own path to a satisfying end, and will appeal to a wide range of fantasy fans.

The Bookwyrm"s Top 20ish Sci-Fi/Fantasy reads of 2020

Top SFF Reads of 2020

As we wind down the last of the awful year that was 2020, it's possible to look back and see some things that were still good. In this case, it was a good year to discover sci-fi and fantasy books to help pass the time. I tried to narrow it down to 20, but if it goes over a bit, well, it's my list, so it'll just be as big as it ends up. These will be in no particular order other than they were my favorites this year.

Shadow of a Dark Queen by Raymond E. Feist

The first book in the Serpent War Story ark in Feist's Kingdom series, This book introduces a new cast of characters two generations after the initial trilogy, dealing with the ancient threat to the Kingdom rising from the southern continent, with possible world ending consequences if the Kingdom falls.

Gedlund by William Ray

Set in a quasi-Victorian era fantasy realm, this mixture of steam era tech with magic tells an exciting story, as the murder of the of the Verin Empire's crown prince leads to the Empire's invasion of a haunted land across the sea, dealing with the magical undead horrors that land has to defend itself, with only their Victorian era rifles, cannons and swords to fight those horrors.

Path To Villainy by S. L. Rowland

A fun LitRPG story about a Kobold bard who discovers he has been killed many times by the "heroes" he helps every day outside the local dungeon, and decides to get revenge on them for not only himself, but for his entire exploited race.

Harpyness Is Only Skin Deep/ Finding Your Harpy Place 

by D.H. Willison

This is my first multi-book addition, because these are both equally good. Centering around Darin, a human who agrees to travel through a portal to a magic realm, which sounds great, except he didn't read the contract very well, since Arvia is home to loads of giant predator species who think humans make a wonderful, tasty snack. It's only when Darin meets Rinloh, a giant harpy, that he discovers the world has so much more to offer.

They Eat Their Own by Amanda K. King and 

Michael R. Swanson

The second book in the Ismae series, this one is a combination of an Ocean's 11 type heist mixed with a revenge story, if murder and mayhem were also integral to the story. The main characters Syl and Aliara are just such multilayered characters, and you can't wait to see what they get into next. 

Forgotten Soldiers by Joshua P. Simon

A story dealing with soldiers returning home from a decade of war, to a country that doesn't want them back, thinking they had become barbaric killers that want to take what the people who stayed behind have built. When a cataclysm comes along, these soldiers are the only thing that can keep the people who didn't want them back safe.

Psycho Killers in Love by C.T. Phipps

A comedic homage to the slasher films the author loves, it ties in deftly to his wider universe, while inhabiting its own stand alone corner of that universe. Taking the usual tropes of those types of movies, he turns the narrative on its head and creates a slasher with a heart story unlike anything you're ever likely to read.

The Usurper by James Alderdice

A prequel to the brilliant Brutal, The Usurper shows us the life and adventures of Gathelus as he grows from the being the son of a barbarian Chieftain into a powerful mercenary captain and eventual usurper king.

The Fall of the House by C. T. Phipps

The final volume of the Red Room Trilogy, in which we see Derek Hawthorne oversee the fall of the House, which is the organization that kept the supernatural under control and hidden from humanity, which is now rendered useless as the vampires have revealed themselves to the world at large. Derek and his allies have to deal with the possible world ending efforts to stop this from occurring.

The Headlock of Destiny by Samuel Gately

A creative mashup of fantasy and wrestling, this book takes the over the top world of wrestling and puts it into a fantasy world in which titans are the stars of the world, travelling and competing in wrestling matches that only their giant bodies can handle, with death and maiming a real possibility for the losers. When an underdog threatens to upset the established order, all bets are off.

Ravine of Blood and Shadow & Mountain of Madness 

by Derek Prior

Another multi-book selection, this one is the story of one of the dwarves of the hidden Dwarven city of Arx Gravis who's tricked into taking up what he thinks is the lost legendary ax of kings, and instead is bonded to a demonic weapon that changes his life, ending with his escape to exile in the outer world. The second book deals with his struggles in the outside world, as he joins a team to try and stop a sorcerous threat to the world.

Salvation's Dawn/ Eve of Redemption series

Another multi-book series, of which I read the first 6 of 11 in 2020, this series centers around Karian Vanador, resurrected years after her death to fight in the apocalypse brought on by the Demon Queen Seril. After Seril's defeat, Kari continues her service to the demon hunter order, and the books focus on her rise through the order and her efforts to keep her world safe from the Demon Kings, and what her destiny as Salvation's Dawn means to the world.

A Ritual of Bone by Lee Conley

This book revolves around the rise of an undead plague brought about by scholars playing with rituals they didn't fully understand, and the beginning consequences for the Norse type society the story is set in, as they are forced to deal with the hungry risen dead.

Contact Front by Rick Partlow

Contact Front is the first book in the Drop Trooper series, which is centered around Cam Alvarez, an orphan criminal who, when he's arrested after he turned 18, faces a 100 year sentence in cryo-storage, but is offered the chance to escape that by doing a term in the Earth Commonwealth Marines. Going the marine route, he must learn to trust his team mates after a lifetime of trusting no one, and becoming the leader he has potential to be.

Mid-Lich Crisis

Mid -Lich Crisis is the story of the Dark Lord Darruk Darkbringer, necromantic Lich wizard, ruthless ruler of his kingdom, and his struggle to save the world, all while his minions betray and try and kill him permanently, as well as the hero Brynn Brightstar's constant foiling of his plans. Just don't call Darruk the "E"(vil) word . He's doing this for our own good...

Age of Heroes by C. C. Ekeke

This story starts with the murder of Titan, greatest superhero in the world, and the discovery that his powers have wound up somehow with a bullied teen boy. We see the boy's gradual growth into the powers, and we also see the search for Titans killer, and how they did it, as well as the birth of a potential new villain when a vigilante hero's plans go completely awry.

Agent G: Assassin by C. T. Phipps

The third book in the Agent G series, Assassin deals with the changes to society brought about by the release of advanced Black technology as well as the destruction caused by the Yellowstone super volcano erupting. The story has shifted much more to a cyberpunk storyline, and it really takes off from there, with G trying to protect what he loves in the face of monumental odds.

Uncanny Collateral by Brian McClellan

Uncanny Collateral is the story of Alek Fitz, a Reaper, which is a supernatural collection agent. Whether its a soul, a magic wand or an item of power, Alek can find and collect it. That little bit of Troll blood in his ancestry helps, as well as the genie who lives in his ring. Now if he can only figure out who is selling second hand souls to people.

Savage Wars by Jason Anspach and Nick Cole

Savage Wars, set in the earlier days of Anspach and Cole's Galaxy's Edge universe, tells the story of the Savage Wars, where the human elites who escaped a sick earth on their arcs have returned to haunt humanity, determined to destroy any humanity that wont conform to their genetically engineered "truth" in some cases, and in others just because they are in the way. It's up to regular humanity to come together and stop them, and the lengths they'll go to save humanity are extreme.

The Path of Ravens by P. K. Lentz

The Path of Ravens is the story of the Olympian gods on the edge of defeat to a Lovecraftian horde of monsters, so in desperation they summon souls from the void to live again in some of the fallen gods' bodies, to try and stop the horde. The souls, who are the fallen Atlanteans, end up falling back with the gods and end up in another realm, which turns out to be one of the realms of the Norse. They must join forces with the Norse, led by a mistrustful Odin, to try and defeat the horde and avert Ragnarok.

Sentenced to Troll by S. L. Rowland

Sentenced to Troll is a fun play on internet trolling, since the main character is convicted of trolling in a game and is sentenced to 30 days in VR immersion in a game world as a troll, the games most hated characters. He is supposed to learn humility, and does learn that there is value in others, even if you cant always see it. He also has to make some interesting decisions, and prove that even a troll has the potential to be a hero.

Brand of the Warlock by Robert Kroese

The Brand of the Warlock has an interesting premise, that of a man imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, even if he was wearing the evidence on his face, in this case, a black warlock's mark covering his face. The fact the real culprit magically placed it on his face after the crime isn't believed by the court, and now after his surprise release years later, he must try and keep the warlock from taking it back, ending his life.