Monday, August 31, 2015

The Hunt for Atlantis (Wilde & Chase #1)

Review:

The Hunt For Atlantis  - Andy McDermott

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.com & Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.

 

Title: The Hunt for Atlantis

Series: Wilde & Chase

Author: Andy McDermott

Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Genre: Action/Adventure

Pages: 546

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Nina Wilde, orphaned child of Atlantis hunters, continues in her parents footsteps. With help from the Philanthropist Kristian Frost, Nina has a shot at actually finding Atlantis.

But opposing her is Qobras and his Brotherhood.

Being protected by Eddy Chase, Nina globetrots, tracking down one clue after another.

 

My Thoughts:

As much as I complain about some of the action/adventure books I read being too short, this was too long.

 

It was fun, mediocre and pretty on par for how this month has gone. See how long this series lasts.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1243139/the-hunt-for-atlantis-wilde-chase-1

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Blood and Silver (Deacon Chalk #2)

Review:

Blood and Silver - James R. Tuck

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.com & Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.

 

Title: Blood and Silver

Series: Deacon Chalk: Occult Bounty Hunter

Author: James Tuck

Rating: 1 of 5 Stars

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 305

 

 

Synopsis:

Deacon has to deal with a group of Were, one part of which want to rule and dominate all other Weres and the other part is preaching pacifism and "let's all get along"'ism.

Of course, the pacifist is a hypocrite.

 

My Thoughts:

Deacon's Angel Powers, Homosexual Ninja Rabbit, Rapist Pacifist, Crack Mommies selling their children as sexual favors for more crack, it was all just too much.

 

In regards to Pacifism. I really, really, really respect a true Pacifist. Not resisting evil doers, valuing their lives above your own. I find that very high on the "Love Others" scale. And having that turned on its head just pissed me off. Not everyone should be a pacifist, Evil does need to be resisted, but those who are called to it, it reminds me of what those of us who do fight, are fighting for.

 

Another waste of a book for me.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1242186/blood-and-silver-deacon-chalk-2

Saturday, August 29, 2015

The Age of Innocence (Classic)

Review:

The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton, Maureen Howard

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.com & Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.

 

Title: The Age of Innocence

Series: ------

Author: Edith Wharton

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Genre: Classic

Pages: 305

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Newland Archer marries one woman while loving another. And while the ending isn't a horrible double murder/suicide, [ha] it is just as empty and meaningless.

 

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed reading this. Wharton was a master wordsmith and her skill at weaving a story together just kept me tied to the pages.

Each weekend that I'd read my allotted 25% was something that I looked forward to. It has been awhile since I've had a book like this.

 

With that being said...

 

This has to be one of the saddest, emptiest books I've read in quite some time as well. Newland is tied down with Convention, hoisted up on a cross of Ideals, that are based on Nothing.  There is nothing worse than Empty Ideals. It is like seeing someone wrapped in chains and being thrown into a pool of piranhas.  One little difference and those Empty Ideals can be Ideals and those chains can become Life Lines, offering escape from those piranhas.

 

Bleh.

 

As much as I enjoyed this, I don't think I'll be reading any more by Wharton. I do not want to fill my Mind with this depressing stuff. I also know I used a lot of Caps. I'm just in that kind of mood right now.

I could write a lot about this book, but you know what? I don't want to. The above encapsulates everything I need to know so in 10 years I can remember why I didn't read anymore of Wharton.

 

I still recommend this book. Weird, isn't it?

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1241325/the-age-of-innocence-classic

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Influx

Review:

Influx - Daniel Suarez

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.com & Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.

 

Title: Influx

Series: -----

Author: Daniel Suarez

Rating: 1 of 5 Stars

Genre: SFF

Pages: 530

 

 

 

Synopsis:

A secret branch of the United States government has been hoarding advanced technology. However, they now are advancing their procedures from Protect and Serve to Rule.

Only the combined might of a group of geniuses has a hope of stopping a megalomaniac and his A.I.'s.

 

My Thoughts:

Techy and then just deux ex machina time after time. And homosexuality hits again.

It is really making me question whether I want to keep on in the SFF vein of books.

 

I hate when principles cut across one's life.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1238023/influx

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

The Golden Elephant (Rogue Angel #14)

Review:

The Golden Elephant - Alex Archer

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.com & Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.

 

Title: The Golden Elephant

Series: Rogue Angel

Author: Alex Archer

Rating: 1 of 5 Stars

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 315

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Roux loses all his money and sends Annja out to recover a priceless artifact so he, Roux, can sell it to a collector.

Annja gathers a team, and in a race against a tomb raider, finds a lost city, beats off 2 armies, saves the treasure and becomes BFF's with aforementioned tomb raider.

 

My Thoughts:

This series has lost me with this book. I don't expect much from ghost written action girl series, but this went beyond "a mess" into full on "terrible".

 

First, Roux losing most, or all, of his money. That is so much garbage that I don't even know how to respond to it. The man has had 500 years to perfect his poker face and yet we're expected to believe he's almost broke? Ridiculous Number 1.

 

Second, Tomb Raider girl. An african princess, with severe daddy issues, has deux machine pistols and robs tombs. A tip of the hat to Lara Croft? Only if you're a senseless dolt. This was ripoff, pure and simple. 

 

Thirdly, the "philosophical" talks between Annja and Miss Tomb Raider consisted of T.R. saying her piece and Annja going "oh yeah, I guess you're kind of right..." Bad philosophy, or even wrong philosophy, is one thing but LAZY philosophy isn't acceptable. I wanted to jump into the story and just rip apart Tomb Raider's supposed arguments.

 

Fourthly, the "token" lesbian. I'm a Christian and don't accept the homosexual lifestyle as something that is ok, but even I was embarrassed at just how shallow and pathetic this 2 paragraph part of the story was. Change it "token christian" and you would have had a black woman hollering "Jesus save me!" once or twice and that would have been that.  Write it well or go home.

 

Finally, the collateral damage. I'm a big fan of lots of death in action/adventure stories. But when just about everybody dies simply to clean up the story and Annja is weeping hysterically one moment over them and the partying the next, well, it is pathetic.

 

So in conclusion, this was just a sad sack of a story and with the lacklustre of this and the past couple of books, I think I'll be done. I need to find some good series instead of settling for pathetic and mediocre.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1231449/the-golden-elephant-rogue-angel-14

Saturday, August 15, 2015

The Nautilus Sanction (Time Wars #5)

Review:

The Nautilus Sanction - Simon Hawke

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.com & Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.

 

Title: The Nautilus Sanction

Series: Time Wars

Author: Simon Hawke

Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Genre: SFF

Pages: 244

 

 

 

Synopsis:

The insane Russian from the previous novel, who happens to be a time rebel and the son of one of the most important men in the Time Military, sets out to be Captain Nemo and cause so many time splits that everyone will just have to live with it.

We are also introduced to a crazy genius [crazy seems to be rampant in these books] and Jules Verne, as well as our usual cast of Heroes.

 

My Thoughts:

Honestly, this was pretty meh and just kind of silly.

 

All of the "authors are so smart and observant and brilliant and creative" bs got on my nerves too. Maybe "authors" are all that, but in this day and age I see "writers", not "authors".

 

I'm giving this series one more book to keep me hooked. Otherwise, it's Curtains!

 

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1229227/the-nautilus-sanction-time-wars-5

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Satan's Sabbath (The Executioner #38)

Review:

Satan's Sabbath (The Executioner Book 38) - Don Pendleton

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.com & Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.

Title: Satan's Sabbath

Series: The Executioner

Author: Don Pendleton

Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Genre: Action/Adventure

Pages: 109

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Bolan has ONE more hit to make, to finish his mission of taking down the Mafia. But he has to run the gauntlet of Mafia who have seen his face and deal with a traitor in Brognola's group who has it out for them all.

Can Mack survive long enough to start the War on the rest of the world?

 

My Thoughts:

The final run for the series by Pendleton. After this book, it goes to ghost writers and a more international scene.

 

There was nothing bad about this book, it was just as run of the mill as the previous ones. The mafia has been done and Pendleton just ran out of ideas to make this interesting and engaging. Kind of just chugging along to get to the end here.

 

I've got the next 4 or 5 in the series and I'll see if things get interesting again with a new worldwide venue and new ghost authors. If it picks up, I'll keep on reading. If not, then I'll be done. I want to read more, as Macho Man Action Hero really appeals to me and I need a good dose of Testosterone every once in a while.

 

So Sarge, it's been real. Keep it hard.

 

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1227346/satan-s-sabbath-the-executioner-38

Saturday, August 08, 2015

Bloodwars (Vampire World #3) (Necroscope #8)

Review:

Bloodwars (Necroscope: Vampire World Trilogy) - Brian Lumley

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.com & Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.

Title: Bloodwars

Series: Vampire World, Necroscope

Author: Brian Lumley

Rating: 2 of 5 Stars

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Pages: 944

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Nathan Keogh returns to his homeworld, with our world's weaponry and some of our toughest ESP'ers in his entourage.

For it is time to put an End to the vampires, once and for all!

 

My Thoughts:

The official page count for the book is somewhere in the 800's, but the kindle edition I was reading had almost 950 pages. I'm wondering if page breaks were inserted between changes of POV as well as chapter breaks.

 

That aside, this was a long book. And, sadly, it was boring. Boring enough that I won't be reading any more.

 

I never liked Harry Keogh the Necroscope and I didn't like his son Nathan the Necroscope either. I liked some of the supporting characters, but they were just that, supporting. The endless cycle of "kill ALL the vampires, oh look we missed some, oops, here we go again" is ok for a couple of books, but for 8? Not for me. I know the series has at least 7-10 more books, so I'm quitting while I'm ahead.

 

I'll remember this series fondly for making vampires the monstrous embodiment of evil that they are.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1224262/bloodwars-vampire-world-3-necroscope-8