Tuesday, May 31, 2016

May '16 Roundup & Ramblings





21 books this month that really ran the gamut.

On the high end, I had:

1) Red Rising by Pierce Brown
2) Renegade by Joel Shepherd
3) Weirdos from Another Planet by Bill Watterson

On the low end,

1) Night of the Swarm by Robert Redick - Couldn't even get TO the 10% mark.
2) Ecko Burning by Danie Ware - Finished it but have to admit, I really wish I hadn't.

Then everything in the middle. Thankfully, neither of the low books were back to back, so I had some breathing room to recover. That can make a real difference.

Of course, the end of the month was tough with the news/notnews about Booklikes being sold, being denied, blah, blah, blah. Then finding out yesterday that Leafmarks IS shutting down in a month was just a big cup of manure on top of the crap cake I was munching on. Thankfully today was pretty physical at work, so I was able to clear my head and think about things instead of just "feel" and end up panic'ing, which is what I did most of yesterday.

So I am REALLY hoping that June is a better month than May.

Monday, May 30, 2016

Ecko Burning (Ecko #2) 2...


Ecko Burning - Danie Ware 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: Ecko Burning
Series: Ecko
Author: Danie Ware
Rating: 1 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 528
Format: Kindle Digital Edition








Synopsis:

Ecko, a cyber rat from London, is in some virtual world that he is convinced is being used to simply change him. The other virtual characters end up being more real than he thinks and he gets a good lesson that the world doesn't revolve just around him.

My Thoughts:

I read this thinking it was book 1 until the end of the book. However, even with that being said, it wouldn't have changed my review one bit.

What I liked about this book:
.......


What I didn't like about this book:

1) Ecko.  Ecko is a whiny, self-absorbed, selfish potty mouth.   Oh my goodness. He uses nothing but the F-bomb and Christ's name in vane in almost every sentence that he talks or thinks. He is your typical teenage boy on their most mopey day and is just generally unpleasant. Thankfully, we don't get just 500 pages of him as he seems to be a minor character even though he isn't.

2) All the other characters. I didn't like anyone because of the next 2 points.

3) Everyone was run and controlled by fear. Up until the 70% mark, everyone simply reacted or froze in just about every situation. Trained warriors just froze up! Every thought [and we get a lot of those as we are in the characters' minds a lot], every action was in response to something the character was afraid of.  Male, female, warrior, clerk, leader, follower, it didn't matter. It was like a plague of indecision and it disgusted me. It made no sense and while it was the author's intent, I'm not sure what Ware was trying to accomplish besides show that the world was inhabited by cowards and losers.

4) The denseness of the characters. Nobody can figure out anything.  They wonder, wonder, wonder but never actually form any conclusions. All the while being afraid. And we get a first row seat to the viewing. Ware seemed to go out of her way to obfuscate things and then make the characters not get things that were relatively clear. I don't enjoy that.

5) The writing style. There was a LOT of description that didn't need to be there. It doesn't matter that a side corridor, that nobody goes down or that we ever see again, is described in great detail.  Also, a lot of things were in triplicate. The rage I felt at this was like a river of lava. Red molten rock flowing. Hot and burning anyone who came near. It was irritating, like a mosquito. Because this book was a whole SWARM of them.

6) We don't get Answers, in fact, we don't even get full questions! In Lord of the Rings, the characters might think "That can't be Gandalf, we saw him die!". These characters think "That can't be..." then slump over in despair. And that is it, that is all we get.


I was going to DNF this at the 10% mark, but I kept hoping that things would change. Sadly, they never really did. Which goes to show that one should listen to their gut instinct when it comes to books one isn't liking. The only good thing to come from this is that now I won't ever waste another second on another Danie Ware book.

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Bleak Seasons (The Chronicles of the Black Company #7) 3...


Bleak Seasons - Glen Cook 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: Bleak Seasons
Series: The Chronicles of the Black Company
Author: Glen Cook
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 317
Format: Kindle Digital Edition








Synopsis:

Taking place mostly concurrently with the previous book, Dreams of Steel, we follow Murgen, the standardbearer, as he tries to keep the Old Crew alive in the besieged town. All the while he is having spells that throw him into the past and into the future but he can never remember anything from them.

My Thoughts:

This was confusing as all get out. While Cook has the writing skills to pull it off, I still didn't like it. Going from present to past to future to simply 'now' [which might be any of the 3] made for a very distracting read.

While I liked Murgen, I am not so much a fan of what Croaker, now the Captain, is becoming. Which is Cook's goal I believe. Can't have anyone becoming too heroic and hence possibly be a hero. Heaven forbid.

I am invested enough in the series that a book like this doesn't throw me off but I have to admit, I am sick to death of books that try to yank my chain in one way or another.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

War Factory (Transformation #2) (Polity) 4....


War Factory - Neal Asher 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: War Factory
Series: Transformation
Author: Neal Asher
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 472
Format: Kindle Digital Edition








Synopsis:

Penny Royal is now taking a more active approach. His next goal is the War Factory where he was created. Room 101. However, in getting there, he drags along a host of his past mistakes which he appears to be trying to fix.
One of those mistakes is Sverl, a prador who is turning into a prador/human/ai combo. Spear, from the previous book, is still along. Also tagging along is Captain Blite, who seems to be more of an observer than a mistake.

My Thoughts:

Sverl seemed to be the biggest character portrayed this time around. Satomi from the previous book is mentioned but that is it. Spear, Blite and some other humans all kind of blend into the "human" faction. We are also introduced to another AI, the Brockle, who seems to be heading towards the same path that Penny Royal once trod.

Convoluted is the term that comes to mind when I think of my time reading this book. Other Asher books have been complex and multilayered, but Penny Royal seems totally inscrutable and so a lot of what happens just seem random.  And speaking of convoluted, it helps your understanding of this book if you've read Asher's book Cowl, in which he describes some the drawbacks of time travel. If you've not read it, you'll just nod and accept.

It did not enhance my enjoyment of this book that at the same time I was reading this, all the chaos about Booklikes being sold [potentially] came out. I was distracted and not focusing on reading nearly so much. I KNOW that made this not as enjoyable as it could have been. It kind of pisses me off that a booksite related issue had a deleterious effect on my reading enjoyment. Kind of like a chef screaming in your face while you're trying to enjoy a good dinner.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Saint Odd (Odd Thomas #8) (Final) 5...


Saint Odd - Dean Koontz 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: Saint Odd
Series: Odd Thomas
Author: Dean Koontz
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 352
Format: Kindle Digital Edition








Synopsis:

Odd returns to Pico Mundo as he knows the cultists from the previous book are going to try to get back at him through his home town. Following a dream where the whole of Pico Mundo is underwater, Odd must stop the cultists from creating some sort of event that will shake the nation even while he knows that it is time for him and Stormy to finally be together forever.

My Thoughts:

Honestly, this felt weak. I have to admit, I was looking forward to Odd being back in Pico. I was hoping that the characters there would be as engaging as in the first book. I was hoping the badguys would be REALLY bad and that Odd would go out in a blaze of Fry Cook Glory.

It just wasn't to be. The faithful Pico Mundo'ites were barely sketched in, more like name dropping than anything. Remember that Sheriff guy, a second father to Odd? He's just a tired, ragged man with a badge. Those people who loved, nurtured and helped Odd? Names, just names.

The cultists were just crazy nutjobs blowing stuff up and trying to set loose a plague.

But my goodness, if you ever wanted to hear about Stormy, over and over and over again, you get that in spades. I get that Odd is a young 20'something and his hormones are as much in charge as his brains, but for goodness sake, give it a rest. Then the whole 2nd life Battle thingy, it felt rushed and forced, just to give a pseudo-happy ending.

For the series overall, I really enjoyed the first book and then one or two in between. But I didn't really ENJOY this book nor the overall series. I'll probably re-read Odd Thomas at some point but it will definitely only be the first book. That was gold.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

The Spoils of War (The Damned #3) (Project Reread #5)


The Spoils of War - Alan Dean Foster 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 Spoils of War
Series: The Damned
Author: Alan Dean Foster
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 273
Format: Kindle digital edition








Project Reread:

I am attempting to reread 10+ books in 2016 that I have rated highly in the past. I am not attempting to second guess or denigrate my younger self in any way but am wanting to compare how my tastes have changed and possibly matured. I am certainly much more widely read now [both in the good and bad quality sadly] than then.
I will hopefully be going into the reasons for any differences of opinions between then and now. If there is no difference of opinion, then it was a hellfire'd fine book!
Links may link to either Booklikes or Blogspot, depending on when the original review was.

Synopsis:

The Amplitur surrender in hopes of winning the war by subverting humanity in the ensuing peace.
One of the Wais has made humanity her specialty of study. In the course of things, she comes into contact with the Core, the humans who can influence others like the Amplitur. She also discovers that the Lepar aren't the slow stupid beings that everyone thinks they are.
Can humanity become a race that can live in peace or will they become the next Amplitur?

My Thoughts:

Reading this was practically like reading a new to me book. I just didn't remember any of the details. My previous review of Spoils of War was spot on in its assessment but with no details...

I enjoyed getting a viewpoint from the Wais.  However, just like the previous books, no resolution to the questions raised is ever brought about. It is more of a shrug of the literary shoulders and a "who knows?" Still found the overall series very enjoyable if not quite as compelling as before.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Weirdos From Another Planet! (Calvin and Hobbes #4)


Weirdos from Another Planet! - Bill Watterson 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: Weirdos From Another Planet!
Series: Calvin and Hobbes
Author/Artist: Bill Watterson
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Comics
Pages: 128
Format: Digital Scan




My Thoughts:

Yet another book of Calvin and Hobbes strips. These seemed to have been written in 1988, an election year, so there are some political spoofs, but nothing overt.

Other than that, since these are all pretty much one offs, you can read just about any book and fit right in. It's rather an amazing how Watterson kept thinking of interesting things that didn't require some long and complicated plot.

Genius.

Friday, May 20, 2016

Red Rising (Red Rising #1)


Red Rising  - Pierce Brown 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: Red Rising
Series: Red Rising
Author: Pierce Brown
Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 400
Format: Kindle Digital Edition







Synopsis:

Our culture has stratified into Colors. Darrow is a Red, working in the mines of Mars to make it habitable for the masses of Earth. When his wife is killed and he himself smuggled out of the mines, change is in the wind.

Everything Darrow has been taught has been a lie. Humanity spans the Solar System and the Reds toil for the pleasure of the other colors. They are slaves. Turned into a Gold, Darrow must now infiltrate Gold Society and try his best to bring it to its knees. But first he must survive the Academy and its no holds barred weeding out process. The Golds rule because they are as brutal with their own culling as they are in dominating the other colors.

My Thoughts:

Holy Smokes!!   (long for me review ahead)

First things first. A huge thanks to Dang Rover for reviewing this trilogy and explicitly stating that this was NOT young adult. I had seen glowing reviews, but everything led me to believe it was YA and I just wasn't interested. However, Dang was right, this is definitely not YA. I can see why I thought it was though. On the cover, it has a blurb by that asinine author Scott Sigler saying:
"Ender, Katniss and now Darrow!"
Then the continual references in reviews to the Hunger Games. Also the fact that Darrow is 16-18 during this book. All the YA tags too. And the publisher promoting it as YA on various outlets.

So let's deconstruct WHY this isn't actually YA, shall we?

Darrow himself. While he is 16 at the beginning of the book, he is already married and a skilled and ethical worker. He believes in what he is doing and that the sacrifices everyone in the Red community is making are worth it because it betters humanity. In other words, he has already grown up by the time we meet him. The whole death of his wife and revelations about society do not essentially change him. He is already formed in his character.  In this same vein, as he goes through the Academy test, what he experiences is not something new, as it is for other young Golds. Deprivation, violence, the hard knocks of life, are all things he already knows about.

The violence level. I gave this my ultra-violence tag and it definitely deserves it. It also pushes the book clearly into the adult section. Violence is a huge part of this book, as it is the way the Gold's weed out the weak.  It is brutal, it is harsh, it is explicit at times and it is unrelenting. There is rape. Thankfully, not graphic or sordid, but it plays a large part in several instances and people should be aware of that.

Finally, Darrow's focus on his mission. There are several times where he lets things happen that are wrong because his job is to become a high ranking Gold. He feels bad about it but knows his mission must come first. As an adult, I can separate from that. I sure wouldn't want to expose any young minds to that kind of thinking though.  It is very much a "Ends Justifying the Means" kind of philosophy being displayed. I find the underlying philosophy to be highly questionable at best and wouldn't want to expose a young mind to it before said young mind had already had a solid base from which to judge for itself. Kind of like a very dangerous rock climb. After some experience, or with an experienced rock climber, you can let them have at it. But before? You'd be criminally negligent in letting them try to navigate this by themselves.

So those are the reasons why this isn't YA. I also find it distasteful that the publishers are pushing it as such.

Now on to a more "regular" review.

Again, I say "Holy Smokes!!!"

I read this book in ONE sitting. I stayed up until 2am to finish it. I paid for that the next day, and I'll keep that in mind for when I read the next book. Probably save it for a weekend. It dragged me in and kept me glued to my kindle until the very last page.

Darrow's narration could be at times a bit flowery and I did find myself thinking once or twice "nobody is going to talk or think like that". However, it worked out ok.

The action was incredible. The battle in the Academy was awesome. Taking up almost a whole year, we get to see fighting from one on one to group tactics. We also get to see the class take on the Proctors [the Gold's assigned to oversee the whole process] because of their corruption. Having the Proctor's be corrupt also added an additional level of tactics, as Darrow not only had to overcome his classmates, but the Proctors as well, who were experienced Golds.

I also enjoyed how Brown made Darrow think and choose between several goals at once. Does he want revenge for the killing of his wife? What does he do when finds out he isn't the only Red turned into a Gold? Can he fall in love a second time? Can he put up with serving someone who pretty much embodies evil to further his aims?

Loved this book and am really looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy as I get around to it.

Thursday, May 19, 2016

I am Not a Serial Killer (John Cleaver #1)


I Am Not a Serial Killer - Dan Wells 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: I am Not a Serial Killer
Series: John Cleaver
Author: Dan Wells
Rating: 2.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Paranormal
Pages: 272
Format: Kindle Digital Edition







Synopsis:

John Cleaver is a 15 year old boy with an obsession about serial killers. He is intelligent and convinced that because he shares X number of traits with the profile of a serial killer that he'll become one.
Then a serial killer visits his town and begins a spree. John is fascinated while at the same time desiring to find, and stop, this killer. Can John be Dexter Jr and turn his weakness into strength?

My Thoughts:

This was disturbing, don't think otherwise. While John might not have killed, he's already convinced that he will and we get a first rate journey into his thought processes. His mind is a very unpleasant place.

Add in the fact that the serial killer turns out to be some kind of demon and this book was just a big bowl of disturbing covered in disturbing. Add in the fact that this is marketed and targeted to young adults and the disturbing level goes even higher.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Time Salvager


Time Salvager - Wesley Chu 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: Time Salvager
Series: -----
Author: Wesley Chu
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 381
Format: Kindle Digital Edition







Synopsis:

The Future sucks. While Humanity has expanded to the stars, they have lost the will to innovate and hope. While they have the awesome ability to time travel, they use it to plunder the past for energy.
One of these Chronman is James. He falls in love and brings a 21st Century woman to the 26th Century. Chaos, corruption and violence all spring into life. Amid the despair, Elise is a ray of hope. Question is whether James can keep her alive when the whole of the Time Department and a MegaCorporation wants her dead.

My Thoughts:

I was expecting more. In fact, I felt like I was doing a good deed by giving this 3 stars instead of 2 1/2 or even 2.

I just didn't like this. I didn't like any of the characters, I didn't like the situations, I didn't like anything. Hence why my rating is magnanimous.

Monday, May 16, 2016

Last Watch (Night Watch #4)


The Last Watch - Sergei Lukyanenko 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: Last Watch
Series: Night Watch
Author: Sergei Lukyanenko
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 402
Format: Kindle Digital Edition






Synopsis:

Someone is trying to recover an artifact of power that Merlin himself created. In doing so, they are murdering both Light, Dark and Inquisition. They are using humans and modern weapons enspelled.
Anton is tasked by both Gesar and Zabulon to find out what is going on and secretly, to find this monumental artifact. Can Anton please all 3 branches of Others while fighting off a new group calling themselves the Last Watch and protect his daughter?
Former friends and foes come together in a new Watch story.

My Thoughts:

Good stuff! This tied in quite heavily to the previous book with the Vampire who wanted to turn everyone into an Other. This time around you have various members from each of the Branches trying to bring back dead Others, who live on the 6th level of the Twilight.

The 3 story setup works quite well once again. Anton isn't angsty and his melancholy is almost non-existent, which is ok.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Impossible Odds (A Chronicle of the King's Blades #2) (King's Blades #5)


Impossible Odds - Dave Duncan 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: Impossible Odds
Series: King's Blades
Author: Dave Duncan
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 384
Format: Hardcover







Synopsis:

Grand Duke Rubin has been deposed. He seeks assistance from the King of Chivial who agrees to Bind some Blades to him. Only no Blades are available. So 2 young and unprepared men are bound to the Duke. Along with them is a damaged Blade who can never be bound due to defects in his eyes. They also drag along a former White Sister who seems to be very powerful.

All this time, someone is hounding the Duke across the continent. His bride is dead, his child and heir is dead and it appears that his martial Uncle is the one behind it all. Now the small group must return to the Duke's home and figure out a way to retake the kingdom.

Of course, nothing is as it seems and political intrigue twists EVERYTHING on its head.

My Thoughts:

It was good to get back into this series. I'd read the previous book, Paragon Lost, back in '14 and was wondering if I'd need a refresher, but thankfully, this was a standalone novel. It did make mention of previous books and events, but honestly, I couldn't remember who was who or did what. And it didn't matter a whit.

This was a great book for intrigue. The "Duke" who the Blades are bound to is actually the Duke's wife under a disguise spell. Their son is alive and the real Duke appears to be in captivity under his Uncle's control.  Knowing Duncan from his previous writings, I knew that what I was presented with still wasn't how things actually were. So I just sat back and enjoyed the ride along with the characters.

Things work out pretty happily in the end. My only issue with this book was that the real Duke was a loli-con. That means he preferred young woman barely pubescent. It wasn't portrayed as good or gone into detail, but it IS part of the story and left me feeling slightly soiled.

Friday, May 13, 2016

Renegade (The Spiral Wars #1)


Renegade - Joel Shepherd 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: Renegade
Series: The Spiral Wars
Author: Joel Shepherd
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 451
Format: Kindle digital edition







Synopsis:

1000 years ago, Earth was destroyed by a hostile alien race and humanity was on the brink of extinction. With the help and aid of 2 other alien races, humanity began a war of genocide against the killers of earth. We won. They are forever gone. We then moved on to punish the masters of that race. They surrendered after a galaxy wide and protracted war. Their power of the Spiral Arm of the galaxy was broken.

Erik Debogande is a third pilot under a famous Captain. When that Captain disappears and then Erik is framed for his murder, Erik, along with a Marine commander who knows more than she lets on, takes control of the ship and begins a race of survival against an unknown enemy who has plans unimaginable. What the Phoenix and her crew find out will change the History of the Galaxy, and potentially its future.

My Thoughts:

Whoooo! This was a thrill a minute book! Several times my adrenaline levels rose and I could feel my heart racing. And it wasn't because of caffeine or the such. The writing was just good enough to pull me right into the action and make me feel like I was there.

The idea of humanity losing Earth and the such brings me back to the times I've watched Titan, A.E. and I still love that movie. This story was about AFTER.  And man, does humanity kick butt. Of course, being a young race, we're being manipulated and this story is showing how we've been manipulated and what we can possibly do about it. Another thing I liked; machine civilizations inimical to biological life. That is just cool.

Overall, this was a great SF book with lots and lots of fighting.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Undead (The Haunted Lands #2) (Forgotten Realms)


Undead  - Richard Lee Byers 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: Undead
Series: The Haunted Lands
Author: Richard Byers
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 352
Format: Kindle digital edition







Synopsis:

The battle for Thay continues. Tsazz Tam obviously has some ulterior motive in taking over Thay, but we the readers aren't privy to it.
With cunning and treachery, Tsazz Tam takes out the other rulers even as they flee.
The story is told from the losing side though, so it is quite interesting.

My Thoughts:

In many ways, Tam is a sympathetic character even while being the antagonist. It makes reading this trilogy just a tiny bit different and I like that.

The 2 other main characters are now entwined and so they're not nearly so different as in the previous book. The vampire girlfriend is much more interesting than she was just as a maiden in distress. The revenge ridden mercenary just exudes mindless hatred and the griphon rider has definitely developed as a leader.

The battles were awesome with huge amounts of magic getting thrown around. Tsazz makes a deal with a god and pledges his soul in the bargain. Once again, he knows something we don't and he hints that he's got the better of the deal. At the same time that all of this is going on Mystra is killed by Shar and the other god previously mentioned [I forget his name to be honest] and the plague of blue fire starts running across Faerun. Magic is wonky, in a land filled with undead. It was more than zombies and vampires and Byers does a great job of coming up with imaginative ideas.

Good times!

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Blood Ties (Batman versus Predator #3)


Batman Versus Predator III: Blood Ties - Chuck Dixon 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 Ties
Series: Batman versus Predator
Author/Artist: Chuck Dixon, et al
Rating: 2 of 5 Stars
Genre: Graphic Novel/Comic
Pages: 136
Format: Digital scan







Synopsis:
Yet another Predator comes to Gotham, this time bringing a protege to train.
Tim Drake is the current Robin and he is now in the sights of the young Predator.
Can the Dynamic Duo put a final end to the Predator's interest in Gotham and its Champion?

My Thoughts:
Now I know why I never bothered to buy this book back in the day.  This was pure pablum and a complete failure as a story.

It was formulaic, lacking in any and all intensity and felt like the money grab it was. There was hardly ANY fighting and Batman "capturing" the older Predator to shame all the Predators so they'd leave Gotham alone felt like an idea that someone had at 4am after about 8 cups of coffee.

There was nothing bad about this, but insipid is the best I could call it. To continue the coffee thing. This was a cold cup with generic creamer that's congealed in a paper cup. Ughh.

Monday, May 09, 2016

The Night of the Swarm (The Chathrand Voyage #4) DNF@7%


The Night of the Swarm - Robert V.S. Redick 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 Night of the Swarm
Series: The Chathrand Voyage
Author: Robert Redick
Rating: 1 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: DNF
Format: Kindle digital edition







My Thoughts:
I have not been a fan of this series but I did want to know how things ended.

However, at the 7% mark, Ott [a character who is a spy master and has helped set up the events for the whole series] takes down one of the few non-hateable characters, has his henchmen hold him down with a pillow over his face. Ott proceeds to slice up the other character with non-lethal but very painful cuts AND then proceeds to piss all over the guy, in front of the command structure [and everyone there] on the ship.

I don't want that kind of filth in my entertainment.

Sunday, May 08, 2016

First Light (The Red #1)


First Light - Linda Nagata 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: First Light
Series: The Red
Author: Linda Nagata
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 417
Format: Kindle digital edition







Synopsis:
James Shelley, known as Shelley, is leading his little army unit in the latest dustup in Africa. He has some really good instincts and has kept his company alive.  Until he ignores his feelings on one occasion and several of them die.

It is revealed that some program in the Cloud has gone autonomous [not sentient, like Skynet, mind you] and is nudging people to do things they might not ordinarily do, for reasons unknown. Shelley has a link with the Red and nobody knows if that is good or bad.

A powerful Defense Contractor, who are known as Dragons, decides that the Red is to dangerous and ends up nuking America to take the the country off of the Cloud. It is now up to a newly rebuilt Shelley and an elite team to  bring this Dragon to Justice before a world court.

My Thoughts:
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Fast paced, action filled.

Saturday, May 07, 2016

The False Mirror (The Damned #2) (Project Reread #4)


The False Mirror - Alan Dean Foster 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 False Mirror
Series: The Damned
Author: Alan Dean Foster
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 343
Format: Kindle digital edition







Project Reread:
I am attempting to reread 10+ books in 2016 that I have rated highly in the past. I am not attempting to second guess or denigrate my younger self in any way but am wanting to compare how my tastes have changed and possibly matured. I am certainly much more widely read now [both in the good and bad quality sadly] than then.
I will hopefully be going into the reasons for any differences of opinions between then and now. If there is no difference of opinion, then it was a hellfire'd fine book!
Links may link to either Booklikes or Blogspot, depending on when the original review was.

Synopsis:
The fight continues.
The Amplitur are on the defensive and so make a choice to create a new set of beings masquerading as one of their own allies, a hybridized human without the mental defenses against the Amplitur that normal humans have.
We follow one of these super soldiers through his training, to his capture, to the revelation that he is human. Now he is on a crusade to free the other super soldiers.
And he is hiding a secret, one so big that it could tear apart the Weave and cast humanity into a role that is even more hated than the Amplitur.

My Thoughts:
This was different than I remember. I remembered a lot of conspiracy by the newly created humans to keep their existence a secret. I think I was confusing this with the next book.

Just like in the first book, aliens get as much face time as humans. I think that Foster does an excellent job of creating different species and cultures without resorting to rooting through human history and stealing forgotten cultures for ideas.

The training maze chapter near the beginning was probably the best one and sadly, the rest of the book doesn't live up to its awesomeness. You get a lot of introspection from the main human character who is dealing with the fact that he's a human and not an alien. It felt very "whah, whah, poor me".

The ideas put forth in this book though are what carry it.  Humans are already on the fringe of the Weave alliance. Our ability to commit, and love for, violence makes us attack dogs, not really allies and definitely NOT equals. For the most part, we don't care. But there are people, and aliens, who wonder what humanity's role will be once/if the Amplitur and their Purpose, is defeated. Then you add in the fact that there are now humans who have Amplitur mental powers. The humans realize what a danger they pose and hence the secrecy.

For a SFF book that is pretty shallow overall, Foster really takes a hard look at possible consequences of such a situation. I think that is why I like this trilogy so much. Gives me a little brain food with my candy.

Friday, May 06, 2016

The Straw Men (Straw Men #1)


The Straw Men - Michael Marshall 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 Straw Men
Series: The Straw Men
Author: Michael Marshall
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Horror
Pages: 404
Format: Kindle digital edition







Synopsis:
A man's parents die and leave him a clue that will start him down a mysterious and dark path.
A young teen girl is kidnapped and a former cop, who's own daughter was abducted, is brought on board by an FBI agent to try to save the girl.
Both of these plots weave and twine together in a horrific clash of the worst of humanity.

My Thoughts:
I'd like to thank Runner for putting this book, and this trilogy, on my radar.

I was conflicted during the whole read. On one hand, it was gripping, well written and I DID NOT WANT TO STOP READING. On the other hand, dipping my mind, no matter how tangentially, into the cess pool of an insane killer who has formed a whole group of uber-rich killers of like mind, was disgusting and left me feeling filthy.

I also noticed just how bleak and hopeless everything was. I don't want that type of thinking to invade my mind. There is hope and there is meaning and there is purpose. As Browning wrote,
God’s in His heaven—All’s right with the world!

The above is why I gave this book 3 stars. On the writing side, it was a strong 4, maybe 4.5. I just couldn't put this down and wanted to read and read and read.  I'll be finishing the trilogy but after that I suspect I won't be reading any more by Marshall. Bleak and Hopeless aren't things I can deal real well with on a continual basis.

If you want a taut, horrific thriller, this is the book for you.

Wednesday, May 04, 2016

The City of Splendors (The Cities #4) (Forgotten Realms)


The City of Splendors - Ed Greenwood, Elaine Cunningham 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 City of Splendors
Series: The Cities
Author: Elaine Cunningham & Ed Greenwood
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 544
Format: Kindle digital edition







Synopsis:
Waterdeep, an important city, is struggling under the weight of shiftless younger nobles, a rising working class, an ailing leader, attacks by a priest and his ilk and the machinations of a crimelord/magician.

My Thoughts:
I don't like Ed Greenwood's books. The couple of Elminster books I read were pretty low on the "skillz" level even for  Forgotten Realms. So I went into this with wicked low expectations. On the other hand, I really enjoyed Cunningham's Dark Journey. So I didn't know WHAT I was going to encounter.

This was also a good bit longer than the usual FR book, so that was nice.

Surprisingly, this was good. There were a variety of plot lines, that while intertwining, weren't repetitive. The whole Religion of Amalgamation was pretty interesting and I wished that it had played a bigger part than it did. It had potential.

Definitely a good wrap up to the Cities Tetralogy.

Monday, May 02, 2016

The Curse of the Gloamglozer (Quint #1) (The Edge Chronicles #4)


The Curse of the Gloamglozer - Paul Stewart 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 Curse of the Gloamglozer
Series: The Edge Chronicles
Author: Chris Riddell & Paul Stewart
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Children's SFF
Pages: 386
Format: Kindle digital edition







Synopsis:
Taking a generational step back in time, we now follow Quint, Twig's father, as a young man.
The head of Sanctraphrax is obsessed, with something. No one knows with what,not even his own daughter. Quint is involved, but not even he knows what is going on.
Sanctraphrax is tearing itself apart with factions while something evil grows right in it's heart.

My Thoughts:
Since we already know what Quint's end is, and that the Gloamglozer goes after Twig, this was kind of anti-climactic. In fact, I am thinking of skipping the next 2 books just to bypass the Quint sub-trilogy. I am not interested enough to read about past history.

This series isn't that interesting. It is a filler and I'm going to treat these as such.

Sunday, May 01, 2016

City of the Lost


City of the Lost - Stephen Blackmoore 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: City of the Lost
Series: -----
Author: Stephen Blackmoore
Rating: 2 of 5 Stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 225
Format: Kindle digital edition







Synopsis:
Joe Sunday, low life thug for hire, does a job and is killed because of it. He is resurrected by the man who killed him. What follows is a whole lot of pulp noir with magic.
A wizard who wants to live forever. His scorned girlfriend. Joe Sunday, zombie PI and some do gooder of a witch who just wants to help all the poor little vampires who have bad diseases from feeding on other lowlifes.

Everything revolves around a magic stone. Serious as serious can be.

My Thoughts:
The first 10% of this book was so filled with profanity that not only did I create a new shelf labeled "Profanity" but was about to dnf it. I don't need this kind of *&^%$#@! in my reading life! If you don't get that, please look up "irony" in the dictionary.  However, after that 10% mark, it just dropped off. I have no idea why or what caused the initial vomital sludge but it did stop being an issue.

It did set the tone for the book though.

I am not a fan of pulp noir. Detectives and thugs who are as bad as the ones they are crossing are not the kind of character I really like to read about. I am also not a fan of urban fantasy [with a few exceptions], so this mash up was pretty much the worst of both worlds for me.

It was engaging enough that I did want to know how it ended and I finished this. However, I'll probably be avoiding future works by Mr. Blackmoore on general principle.