Sixth of the Dusk (Cosmere Novella)

Review:

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: Sixth of the Dusk

Series: Cosmere

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SF

Pages: 65

 

 

 

Synopsis:

A low tech world has been contacted by a space faring race. But what can one anti-social trapper do, especially when his own people are against him?

 

My Thoughts:

A  thoroughly enjoyable story [it is listed as novella, but to be honest, it doesn't seem that long to me, more like a long "short story". Ha]

 

I could sympathize with the main character,  in his attitude and his outlook on the passing of what he knew. I also think Sanderson did an excellent job of giving us a full story without falling into the trap of trying to tell us everything. This was an exercise in precision and he performed perfectly.

 

I think that the whole Cosmere thing [Sanderson has his own multi-uni-verse and every story takes place in it, even if they aren't connected] is just a marketing ploy but since it doesn't adversely affect anything, I don't have any problems with it.

 

And getting a short dose of Sanderson is always a good thing. Sometimes one doesn't want 500-900 pages, just a taste.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1251561/sixth-of-the-dusk-cosmere-novella

Son of the Black Sword (Saga of the Forgotten Warrior)

Review:

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: Son of the Black Sword

Series: Saga of the Forgotten Warrior

Author: Larry Correia

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 464

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Ashok, the best of the Protectors, has a magic sword of black steel. With it, the demons of the sea don't stand a chance.

Unfortunately, Ashok's whole life is based on a lie. A lie woven with magic, a lie that can't be undone.

And a prophecy. Gotta have a prophecy in a fantasy book.

 

My Thoughts:

If you had asked me if Larry Correia writing Fantasy would be better than Larry Correia writing Urban Fantasy, I would have just given an automatic "yes". However, I have to admit, I enjoyed the MHI series and the Grimnoir series more.

 

Don't get me wrong, this was a great fantasy.  But when I've been glutted on the likes of Brandon Sanderson, it takes something immensely AMAZING to wow me. This was just plain old amazing, not immensely amazing. Isn't it crazy when you have the kind of books available so you can make those kind of distinctions?

 

So good stuff. Great magic, society based on lies, vast conspiracies, water demons. I was never bored reading this. You know how good a feeling that is?

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1251093/son-of-the-black-sword-saga-of-the-forgotten-warrior

The New War (The Executioner #39)

Review:

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 New War

Series: The Executioner

Author: Don Pendleton

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: Action/Adventure

Pages: 184

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Mack is off to South/Central America to rescue a valuable mole. Unfortunately, a hurricane happens at the same time.

Mack against the Palestinian terrorists and a Hurricane. Talk about Man against Man and Man against Nature!

 

My Thoughts:

I am used to violence in this series, but even with that said, there was a LOT of brain/grey matter being blown all over the place. Gotta love that magnum.

 

New location, new enemies [terrorists from the 80's and whole Communist thing] and a Team. It all worked together pretty well.  You can definitely tell that it wasn't actually Pendleton writing, but that was a needed change. Gives me hope that I can hang onto this series for another 40+ books :-)

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1250389/the-new-war-the-executioner-39

Leviathan (Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier #5)

Review:

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: Leviathan

Series: Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier

Author: Jack Campbell

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 324

 

 

Synopsis:

Geary tracks down the rogue A.I. fleet with help of the alien Dancers. He must destroy them at all cost or civilization, both of the Alliance and the Syndics, will fall.

But with secret black agencies working against him and the Government, can Geary do his job and still abide by the laws he believes are necessary?

 

My Thoughts:

Now this is a good military SF book. I like a main character who has character. I like space battles, just not too much [this book was balanced perfectly in that regards]. I like happy endings.

 

In short, this book is why I buy certain books in hardcover. I like it, I'll re-read it in a decade or so and I want to have it on hand should I decide to do a year long re-read of all my favorite books.

 

I truly enjoyed the "If I do that, then they'll do that, then I'll do.." kind of logic chains that went on between Geary and the computers in the A.I. fleet which were coded based on him. How cool is that, fighting a version of yourself?

 

Since Campbell wrote 6 books in the original Lost Fleet series, I am hoping he keeps up the symmetry and ends this sequel series in the next book.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1248804/leviathan-lost-fleet-beyond-the-frontier-5

Dawnbreaker (Legends of the Duskwalker #3)

Review:

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: Dawnbreaker

Series: Legends of the Duskwalker

Author: Jay Posey

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 512

 

 

Synopsis:

Wren separates from all the others and begins training under a mysterious Master, the Master of House 8, the House that Three came from.

At the same time, Wren's mother Cass begins to explore her own power and must decide whether she'll keep running or stand and fight Asher.

Finally, Asher. He is seeking out both Wren and Cass, to stamp them out and to begin to consolidate his powers, in real life and in the wired world.

 

My Thoughts:

A fantastic ending to this trilogy. Things wrap up rather quickly. It does leave a LOT of space for future books but at the same time it is a complete ending.

 

A good bit of time is spent on Wren's training. Some might find it somewhat tedious, but I've always enjoyed seeing a character grow, both in skill and mental agility. The battle for Greenstone was pretty good but not as fleshed out as I was hoping for. Cass's journey of discovery was just as enjoyable as the other plotlines.

 

I enjoyed this book as much as Three mainly because we get to see Wren starting to become the Man who will be the Duskwalker.  I was mislead by the series name, Legends of the Duskwalker, especially in the first book, as I was expecting Three to said Legend. But when you deal with such things as Legends, they always have to have a beginning and this trilogy is the beginning of Wren's Legend.

 

As satisfied as I am with how things ended, I really hope we get to see more of this world. So many little clues about how different, how Post-Apocalyptic it is, but it never is the focus. I want more.

 

In ending, a huge thanks to Krazykiwi for putting Jay Posey on my radar with her review of Three. It is for just this type of thing that I love a social booksite like Booklikes. I never would have found Jay Posey on my own.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1248161/dawnbreaker-legends-of-the-duskwalker-3

August '15 Roundup

Overall, this was not my best month. In fact, I would say it qualifies for the worst month of the year, reading-wise, so far.

11 books. Only one 4 Star and even that was not super enjoyable. And a whole bunch of 1 stars. Bleh.

1) Act of War - Dale Brown - 3 Stars

2) The White Rose - Glen Cook - 3.5 Stars

3) Feeling Lucky - Walter Knight - 3 Stars

4) Bloodwars - Brian Lumley - 2 Stars

5) Satan's Sabbath - Don Pendleton - 3 Stars

6) The Nautilus Sanction - Simon Hawke - 3 Stars

7) The Golden Elephant - Alex Archer - 1 Star

8) Influx - Daniel Suarez - 1 Star

9) Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton - 4 Stars

10) Blood and Silver - James Tuck - 1 Star

11) The Hunt for Atlantis - Andy McDermott - 3 Stars


Flop down, roll round and wallow in despair.
I'm counting on September to be a much better month. In fact, I'll be reading some books I've saved for just such an occasion. It can't be worse than this month was.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1244954/august-15-roundup