Sunday, June 30, 2013

Review: Doctor Zhivago


Doctor Zhivago
Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This was a very hard book to rate. At times I was thoroughly enthralled by Pasternak's wandering thoughts and at other times I felt like I was listening to my Great Aunt Lilly [93'ish] talk about whatever subject came into her head.

The book jumped quite a bit, quite abruptly. Kind of felt like I was on a coal cart and never knew when the cart would jump the tracks to another completely new track.

But this was a lush story. The hope, the despair, the national psyche, how everyone was effected by their emotions was as much a part of the story as the actual plot.

Characters weren't ones that you'd want to hang out with. Everyone was a revolutionary at the beginning, until they realized just want the Communists actually were. And the characters' dream of a Soviet Utopia died in fire, famine and horror.

Zhivago himself was a sad, pathetic character and at the same time I commiserated with him and hated him. He was crushed by the reality of communism, he went into and out of relationships like they had no meaning [3 wives? and 2 of them he created families with? Only to abandon them?]. Let's just say I wasn't sad at the ending of Zhivago's part of the story. In many ways it was better than he, Zhivago, deserved.

The ending to the book itself was so long and drawn out that I was ready for it to be done with after about 2 pages of the "Continuation" and "Epilogue".

It definitely helped that I've read books by [a:Ivan Goncharov|5326370|Ivan Goncharov|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1334441735p2/5326370.jpg], [a:Leo Tolstoy|128382|Leo Tolstoy|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1342945438p2/128382.jpg] and [a:Fyodor Dostoyevsky|3137322|Fyodor Dostoyevsky|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1328375676p2/3137322.jpg] before this.



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Review: Windows 8 for Dummies


Windows 8 for Dummies
Windows 8 for Dummies by Andy Rathbone

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is a review for the full 433'ish page book. Not the quick start guide, not the cheat sheet, etc, etc.

If you are familiar with Windows XP-W7, then the first 50'ishpages will be enough for you. Rathbone goes over the major differences in W8 and how to navigate and accomplish what you want.

After that, this book is more for newbs who are learning about Windows for the first time.

I am glad to have this as a reference for when I forget where something is or how to "Task X". I read the first 135 pages then skimmed the rest of the book.







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Saturday, June 29, 2013

Review: Imperfect Weapon


Imperfect Weapon
Imperfect Weapon by A.B. Potts

My rating: 0 of 5 stars



I only read the free sample. Which is why I'm not rating this.

From what I did read [prologue and first 4 or 5 chapters], it was grammatically correct and no glaring errors. However, I did feel like I was at a piano recital of a highschooler playing a difficult piece by Mozart. It was technically correctly done, but it was dry and by the numbers.

Nothing I read made me want to buy the whole book.



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Friday, June 28, 2013

Review: Second Chance: An Allons-y Adventure


Second Chance: An Allons-y Adventure
Second Chance: An Allons-y Adventure by Shawn Kass

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



This author spam promoted his book in a group I am a member of, against the very easy to read rules about spamming and self-promotion.

So that ended my reading of this book. Hence the "abandoned" and "authors to avoid" tag...



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Review: Free Stories 2011


Free Stories 2011
Free Stories 2011 by Patrick Lundrigan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This collection of short stories runs the gamut from the absolutely awesome to the unbearably dull.

Most of these stories appear to take place in each of the authors' own universe. So if you are not familiar with that universe, you're going to feel like an interloper at a party.

Honestly though, the worst I can say is that some of these stories were just boring.

And the good stuff really makes up for it. I liked the following stories.

Zahn's story took place in his Cobra War trilogy. It was a typical Zahn. I wasn't blown away, but I did enjoy it and I enjoyed the extra "boost" to the overall trilogy that this story added.

Second was a story called "Intelligent Design" that dealt with a young boy who discovers some sort of sentient computer. I really liked the idea.

Third, last and Best, was Larry C's short MHI story "Tanya: Princess of the Elves". Edward the urk is just awesome. And it was pretty amusing to see a little more into the elve's world, of ho-ho's and ranch dressing :)

I got this for free from Baen [Baenebooks.com]. Not sure I would have paid for this.



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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Review: Dark of the Moon


Dark of the Moon
Dark of the Moon by P.C. Hodgell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Gone is the light funny tone of the first book.

The story is split between Jame and her brother Tori. And between the viewpoint switching, the on purpose positively opaque writing, there were times that I felt as drugged and confused as Jame and Tori were. I didn't really enjoy that feeling.

There is a lot of deeper backstory that exists that we the readers aren't privy too. This makes for mystery, suspense and a sense of "keep reading to find out the ineffable mysteries!" Sometimes this works for me. This time, not so much.

There is a good bit of action, politic'ing, etc. I enjoyed this book overall, but not quite as much as the first book. I think part of that stems from suddenly having a second main character/viewpoint thrust upon me unawares.



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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Review: Intrepid


Intrepid
Intrepid by Mike Shepherd

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Really enjoyed the ground based battle that comprised the first 2/3rds of the book then the space based battle was "meh".

I think I enjoyed this more because Kris wasn't whining every 3 seconds about either her lack of boobs, her "hatred" of all things political or her lack of romance.

This was more action and less emotion. I liked it.



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Sunday, June 23, 2013

Review: The Rithmatist


The Rithmatist
The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The first couple of chapters left me feeling "meh", as the main character was not that likable. Then it gelled and became a standard Sanderson book, which being translated, means it was AWESOME!

This is steampunk. I hate steampunk. And Sanderson made me like this book.

Age of reading is definitely a step above the Alcatraz books, but not the full on adult world of say [b:Mistborn: The Final Empire|68428|Mistborn The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)|Brandon Sanderson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1312038619s/68428.jpg|66322] or even [b:Elantris|68427|Elantris|Brandon Sanderson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1316637512s/68427.jpg|2908871].

Really cool ideas that are well thought out. Characters were interesting, engaging, true to life [ie, even complete dicks have their good points] and fun.

The plot was twisty, turny with just the right amount of sentiment, hints of young love, pathos and courageous determinism.

The main reason I didn't give this a 5star is because it is the first of a series. Maybe the series will suck later and affect my thoughts on this book. Maybe Sanderson will die partway through book 2. Who knows. So I reserve judgement for that final star...



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Saturday, June 22, 2013

Review: The Last Battle: The Chronicles of Narnia


The Last Battle: The Chronicles of Narnia
The Last Battle: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This started out a bit depressing, so I stopped for a day. Then I finished it quick.

Absolutely loved it. And while Lewis and I don't see eye to eye on every theological point in the Book, this was as good of a simple picture of Heaven as I think I'll ever read. Enough so that it just made me ache to "go home"...



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Review: The Hunters


The Hunters
The Hunters by John Flanagan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



A good close to the series. The expected fight with with Mista Z is predictable but still just as fun and satisfying as if the outcome was truly in doubt.

The Herons return as hero's and the grumpy boy from the first book is set up to the future villain if there are any more books. Miss Tan and Lithe is placed front and center as the romance girl who must eventually choose between Hal and Stig. I would hope that Hal would learn the lessons of his father and mother and marry a Skandian instead.

However, I think this trilogy is as far as this series should go. The characters simply have not been given the "oomph" to go 10 books like in Ranger's Apprentice. I'd definitely like to see more from Mr. Flanagan, but maybe some more trilogies about other regions/peoples. Give me some more Nihon-ja. Whooooo young ninjas!!



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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Review: Six Heirs


Six Heirs
Six Heirs by Pierre Grimbert

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Take a classic David Eddings and make all the characters unlikable in a variety of ways and you get the group brought together.

I was expecting a lot more from this, as what I'd read about Grimbert painted him as THE voice in French fantasy. Well, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to be disappointed then.

It wasn't that this was bad, it was just mediocre. And I was not led to believe this was going to be mediocre. I feel kind of cheated actually.



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Sunday, June 16, 2013

Review: Endless Night


Endless Night
Endless Night by Agatha Christie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The whole time I was reading this I felt edgy, like something was off. I kept waiting for that nasty surprise to pop out of the closet and make me wet my pants.

It didn't pop out of the closet. It crept up, unawares, until the last chapter, where it proceeded to throttle me.

I don't like books where the main character is the badguy. Especially this bad guy. He was lazy, ego-centric, selfish and the image presented by himself to the readers just didn't quite add up, until the end, where suddenly it all made sense.

Of course, his complete collapse didn't fit in with his personality and how he'd reacted earlier in life. Oh well, Christie can make her characters act how she wants them to. :)



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Review: One Corpse Too Many


One Corpse Too Many
One Corpse Too Many by Ellis Peters

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This tale went sailing merrily along until about 2/3rd's of the way through, then for some reason it slowed down for me. Not sure why, but I stopped caring about all the different alliances, etc, etc that different people had for different reasons. It became boring.

But, I like the introduction of Hugh B. [I can't remember how to spell his last name]. He seemed like a good counterweight to Cadfael's age, vocation and temperament.



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Review: Black Light


Black Light
Black Light by Stephen Hunter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I enjoyed this as much as the first one. It was kind of weird at the beginning dealing with Earl, Bob's father, and thinking that the whole book would be about him. But then we caught up to the present and the good stuff starts.

I found the action scenes to particularly enjoyable for some reason. Not sure why, but the highway ambush really clicked.



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Friday, June 14, 2013

Review: Boston Blitz


Boston Blitz
Boston Blitz by Don Pendleton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Best book since the first.

I've been wondering for about 10 books when some Mafia would use Bolan's kid brother and former lover, the hot teacher, as leverage.

And it gets done. In Boston. This had the emotional tang of loss, sadness and revenge that the first book had, and that all the previous books really seemed to lack.

Mortars, double dealings, national implications, daylight hits. This book had it all in spades.



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Thursday, June 13, 2013

Review: Magisterium


Magisterium
Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Wrote a whole review and then accidentally clicked on one of the shelf tags and lost everything.

Anyway, this was shallow and annoying. The main character was a spoiled "princess" and extremely stupid to boot.

Nothing she did made sense to me, nor her reasons for those actions [or lack of reasons to be honest].

Obligatory "boy" who was more cardboard than anything. Some protector who manages to be both bad ass and all kind and gentle and fuzzy. Yeah.

Will not be reading any more by this author.





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Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Review: Brotherband: The Invaders: Book Two


Brotherband: The Invaders: Book Two
Brotherband: The Invaders: Book Two by John Flanagan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



A good continuation of the series. A real adventure and a girl.

For some reason I keep thinking of these characters as small people, like in the Ranger's Apprentice and then I get a reminder that these are big, burly vikings who will put an axe through your skull without breaking a sweat.

I love axes...



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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Review: Oblomov: A Novel


Oblomov: A Novel
Oblomov: A Novel by Ivan Goncharov

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



What can I say about this book that other reviewers haven't? Don't know, so I guess I'll just write what stood out to me.

Oblomov went from funny to pathetic to inspiring to sad to heartsick to pathetic again and ended on awe-inspiring. A lot of this is because I can see so much of Oblomov in me. I like retreating into my little safe cocoon of an apartment with my books or computer. Not a big fan of large groups of people. I don't like other people knowing intimate details of my life. I hate doing things spur of the moment. New situations make me uncomfortable. I'd much rather prefer other people to take care of problems I don't understand [just ask my mechanic!].

But, we also differ. Oblomov had a very twisted view of what life should be like. Work was an evil to be avoided at all costs. Effort was Evil and Komfort was King. [like the alliteration? I trust my sacrifice of grammar will be appreciated]
Oblomov resided in a world that he created in his imagination and when the real world didn't conform to that idea, he was thrown into the pit of despair and gave in to sloth and apathy.

When I first started reading, I was amused by the banter and back and forth between Oblomov and his servant Zakar. The verbal sparring, the bouts of temper and fits of sulkiness on both sides. Then we see more of how Oblomov has retreated from life by how he interacts with other friends. It takes too much effort to resist Tarantyev, so he goes along with just about anything he suggests. Other friends suggest, cajole, insinuate, etc but all to no avail as Oblomov has no higher ambition than to recline on his couch and relax. It was getting to the point where I was wondering if Oblomov had ANY redeeming qualities that weren't destroyed by his apathy and sloth.

Then along comes the girl. Oblomov falls in love. He strives. He struggles. You can see the blood beginning to burn once again in his veins. He is becoming the man promised in his youth. Plan are not only talked about, but action is taken. Life is Grand and Love is Supreme.

Hark, what is this? Oblovomitis has crept back in. It has poisoned his thoughts. Oblomov goes back to living in a world he has created in his head. And the girl is not enough. And so he sinks back below even the levels we found him at in the beginning. Let this be a warning to all who think that someone or something else can be the sole instrument of their change. Change must start on the inside.

A strange, to me, interlude ensues where the girls marries someone else and we see how they live and grow closer to eachother and how their lives work. And we find out that Oblomov dies of a heart attack from over eating and lack of exercise.

At the end of the book, Oblomov's friend is visiting the grave and he whispers about Oblomov, A wasted life.

This book was entertaining, uplifting, inspiring and overall, a warning. Nothing is better than Melancholic Russian Literature!




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Review: Oblomov: A Novel


Oblomov: A Novel
Oblomov: A Novel by Ivan Goncharov

My rating: 0 of 5 stars



What can I say about this book that other reviewers haven't? Don't know, so I guess I'll just write what stood out to me.

Oblomov went from funny to pathetic to inspiring to sad to heartsick to pathetic again and ended on awe-inspiring. A lot of this is because I can see so much of Oblomov in me. I like retreating into my little safe cocoon of an apartment with my books or computer. Not a big fan of large groups of people. I don't like other people knowing intimate details of my life. I hate doing things spur of the moment. New situations make me uncomfortable. I'd much rather prefer other people to take care of problems I don't understand [just ask my mechanic!].

But, we also differ. Oblomov had a very twisted view of what life should be like. Work was an evil to be avoided at all costs. Effort was Evil and Komfort was King. [like the alliteration? I trust my sacrifice of grammar will be appreciated]
Oblomov resided in a world that he created in his imagination and when the real world didn't conform to that idea, he was thrown into the pit of despair and gave in to sloth and apathy.

When I first started reading, I was amused by the banter and back and forth between Oblomov and his servant Zakar. The verbal sparring, the bouts of temper and fits of sulkiness on both sides. Then we see more of how Oblomov has retreated from life by how he interacts with other friends. It takes too much effort to resist Tarantyev, so he goes along with just about anything he suggests. Other friends suggest, cajole, insinuate, etc but all to no avail as Oblomov has no higher ambition than to recline on his couch and relax. It was getting to the point where I was wondering if Oblomov had ANY redeeming qualities that weren't destroyed by his apathy and sloth.

Then along comes the girl. Oblomov falls in love. He strives. He struggles. You can see the blood beginning to burn once again in his veins. He is becoming the man promised in his youth. Plan are not only talked about, but action is taken. Life is Grand and Love is Supreme.

Hark, what is this? Oblovomitis has crept back in. It has poisoned his thoughts. Oblomov goes back to living in a world he has created in his head. And the girl is not enough. And so he sinks back below even the levels we found him at in the beginning. Let this be a warning to all who think that someone or something else can be the sole instrument of their change. Change must start on the inside.

A strange, to me, interlude ensues where the girls marries someone else and we see how they live and grow closer to eachother and how their lives work. And we find out that Oblomov dies of a heart attack from over eating and lack of exercise.

At the end of the book, Oblomov's friend is visiting the grave and he whispers about Oblomov, A wasted life.

This book was entertaining, uplifting, inspiring and overall, a warning. Nothing is better than Melancholic Russian Literature!




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Review: Triumph of the Darksword


Triumph of the Darksword
Triumph of the Darksword by Margaret Weis

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



So instead of writing a good story, this duo [and don't get me wrong, I absolutely love some of their stuff] simply use a scifi cliche to advance the story 10 years for Joram.

And this story wasn't even about Joram really. It was all about the revelations of the outside world and how everything we thought we knew gets turned on its side and shaken. With some token villain who's a freaking stage magician. Seriously?

At least the tech warriors could have been cool. Special Special Forces [yes, that was a double]. And they fall apart and cry like babies. Seal Team 6 wouldn't have fallen apart like that!

Finally, to wrap things up, we get a love fest and everybody is going to be everybody else's best friend, except for the badguys, who we are told, are now going to be even badder. But the goodguys will be even gooderer. And can you not be inspired by a Gooderer Guy?

So while I might appear to have hated this book, I actually enjoyed it. It was just juvenile and not up to the level of sophistication that I enjoy now [anyone read those Myth books by Asprin?] If you enjoyed the first 2, this won't disappoint, but it wont get better.

And I found out that there is a 4th book after this. I won't be reading it.



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Saturday, June 08, 2013

Review: The Swords of the Sultan!


The Swords of the Sultan!
The Swords of the Sultan! by J. Eric Booker

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



Ok, I made it through the first chapter, but that is it. This appears to be a world of medieval tech level, as the main character's father was a metalsmith who mainly dealt with horseshoes.

So, why do words like "warp speed" and "refrigerated" appear? In the first chapter?

Then the plot. A young man's family is killed. They seem to be a slightly lower middle class. And nobody investigates? No other family exists? Our hero is left on his own to starve on the streets. When suddenly! A BUSTY BLONDE follows him, tells him he is cute, shows off her cleavage, reveals she is a master thief AND she thinks he has the talent to be a master thief as well. And all this because he stole a sausage.

Methinks the author is thinking with their own little sausage.

Writing style. In the beginning, the author shows me 7 ways that he doesn't appear comfortable with words. After showing me those 7 ways, he goes on to show me 3 other ways he could have been comfortable with words, but wasn't.

Ok, the above is an exaggeration, but that is what the author does. He literally shows me the world by the numbers. Almost like a connect the dots.

Thankfully, this was free. So while I was expecting a decent tale, at least I didn't pay for those expectations. If you can get past the above, maybe you'll enjoy this book? But I don't want to waste my time finding out. warp speed & refrigerate were enough for me.



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Review: Terminator Salvation: From the Ashes


Terminator Salvation: From the Ashes
Terminator Salvation: From the Ashes by Timothy Zahn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The prequel to Terminator: Salvation. I truly enjoyed this. Zahn does a masterful job of introducing us to the characters. Reese, Star, their protector Orzohc [or something like that], John and Kate Connor and their tight knit group of Resistance fighters.

Skynet prepares to cleanse a particular region of L.A. and the Connors prepare to pull of a coup to secure their place in the Resistance. And the group Reese and Star are living with are caught squarely in the middle.

This was written well, engagingly, with flashes of humor and sadness.



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Review: Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervections


Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervections
Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervections by Robert Lynn Asprin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Apparently, I skipped the book before this one, [b:M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link|148205|M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link (Myth Adventures, #7)|Robert Lynn Asprin|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1172193946s/148205.jpg|655619], and you know what? It didn't even seem to matter.

That is one thing I do enjoy about these Myth books. They are a series, but a very loose series where each book can 'almost' stand alone. It makes for a fun, enjoyable, no pressure kind of read.

So Skeeve grows up.



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Friday, June 07, 2013

Review: No Return


No Return
No Return by Zachary Jernigan

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



This novel started very much akin to one of [a:Steven Erikson|31232|Steven Erikson|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1219169436p2/31232.jpg]'s, with lots of whining and bitching about self and power and despair and blah, blah, blah.

So I settled in, prepared for whatever.

Then it got all sexualized and "careless god". Some gruesome violence/fights.

finally, we get some of the characters deciding that they will kill the god and the god is bored that he decides to let them start the process to see if they are "strong enough".

Overall, this was a prologue to a series.

Between the uncaring god/ascendant [not much of a god. Just a jumped up human], graphic sex, homosexuality, unhero's [not hero's, nor even anti-hero's, but plain ugly, unlikable filthy dirty characters] and lack of resolution, this just didn't work for me.



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Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Review: The Big Four


The Big Four
The Big Four by Agatha Christie

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Poirot takes on the world's greatest criminals and wins. Whoopee.

This was just too ridiculous. I don't think I'll be reading any more Poirot novels.



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Review: A Morbid Taste for Bones


A Morbid Taste for Bones
A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Having seen several of the tv series, and really liking them, I went into this series with a bit of trepidation.

This book more than met my expectations. Especially for a mystery.



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Monday, June 03, 2013

Review: The Crimson Crown


The Crimson Crown
The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This is classified as ya, and while I concur, it does seem to push the envelope a little.

I was hoping for an ending to the series, but it is obvious at the end that the story could go multi-national, as opposed to the internal we'd been having.

Lots of young love and doubt with some flashy magic'y stuff. If there is another book, I highly doubt I'll be interested enough to read it.



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Sunday, June 02, 2013

Review: God Stalk


God Stalk
God Stalk by P.C. Hodgell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I had just finished reading The Last Jedi by [a:Michael Reaves|12537|Michael Reaves|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1272842062p2/12537.jpg] and while I had enjoyed it as much as the previous books in that Star Wars sub-series, it was a kind of slog.

Then I read this [recommended by my friend Robert]. Whoo! This was a fast paced, action packed thrill a minute.

I tore through this like a starving man tears through a loaf of bread. There is something for almost every sub-type of fantasy fan. Galactic theology, world theology, romance, hatreds, family issues, master/student interaction, larger than life characters, thievery, drama, politics, intrigue, and the list goes on.

I highly recommend this to anyone who likes their fantasy to be multi-book but not epic. Fun, fast and furious. Just what you need sometimes!

Basic story is about a young woman, with limited memory, coming from the wastelands and living in a city. Is taken in by an innkeeper and helps out around the place. She is apprenticed to a legendary master thief and has to decide how she wants to live.



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