Wednesday, September 23, 2015

The Godborn (The Sundering #2) (Erevis Cale) (Forgotten Realms)

Review:

The Godborn  - Paul S. Kemp

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 Godborn

Series: The Sundering

Author: Paul Kemp

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 336

 

 

 

Synopsis:

100 years after the previous Erevis Cale book, his son is being raised by monks of the god of light. Cale is still frozen in hell and the dark goddess Shar is still trying to end the world. Riven is taking Mask's place and Rivalen is still trying to free Shar.

 

The end of the world is in Vasen's hands [Cale's son] but can he do it?

 

My Thoughts:

This was a good wrap up to Erevis Cale's story. While he is less than a 2d character, at least he is present and things get wrapped up.

 

Vasen isn't a bad character, but he just doesn't get time to grow on us. Erevis had 6+ books, Vasen not even one.  This is not a good standalone book, as it won't make much sense without those 6 Erevis Cale books to lay the foundation. I don't think you need to have read the previous Sundering book however.

 

So a pretty good book if you're an Erevis Cale fan but otherwise, just a blase Forgotten Realms book.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1259169/the-godborn-the-sundering-2-erevis-cale-forgotten-realms

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Aincrad (Sword Art Online #1)

Review:

Sword Art Online 1:  Aincrad - Reki Kawahara

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: Aincrad

Series: Sword Art Online

Author: Reki Kawahara

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 256

 

 

 

Synopsis:

The Light Novel that spawned the popular anime. 10,000 people get trapped inside a new virtual reality game by the insane creator of said game.

The players must clear a one hundred level tower to get free.

 

My Thoughts:

First off, I think SAO in nothing but a ripoff off the vastly superior Hack//Slash. So I'm not exactly unbiased.

Second, even for a Light Novel, this was singularly blase.

 

I didn't like it but I suspect hardcore fans of the anime would like it.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1258555/aincrad-sword-art-online-1

Monday, September 21, 2015

Verily, A New Hope (William Shakespeare's Star Wars #1)

Review:

William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope - Ian Doescher

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: Verily, A New Hope

Series: William Shakespeare's Star Wars

Author: Ian Doescher

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 174

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Star Wars, done in iambec pentameter. If you don't know Star Wars, don't read this.

 

My Thoughts:

The first time I read this, I rather hated it. This time, I bravely made my way through. I found myself reading it aloud and it made it much better.

 

I suspect hearing this read aloud would be the best choice. I might try that for the next two. I need an audible version.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1258099/verily-a-new-hope-william-shakespeare-s-star-wars-1

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Jinx on a Terran Inheritance (The Terran Inheritance #2)

Review:

Jinx on a Terran Inheritance - Brian Daley

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: Jinx on a Terran Inheritance

Series: The Terran Inheritance

Author: Brian Daley

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 416

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Alacrity and Hobart (I just love saying those names. Daley did a grand job of picking them) continue their quest to find "their" starship and return it to Earth as they are both still under compulsion from the conditioning they received in the first book.

However, things happen. Things like becoming slaves. Things like discovering that there IS a vast conspiracy of control by a secret Group. Things like trying to survive said Secret Group.

 

My Thoughts:

Once again, Brian Daley spins a fanciful, adventurous yarn that is just plain fun to read. This was a romp, a lark, a joy to read.

 

I simply had fun reading this. I wasn't worried about grammar and spelling mistakes. I wasn't worried about stupid characters or the such. I wasn't worried about Hobart and Floyd giving page long soliloquys about how tortured their hearts were and how much they hated themselves and Existence itself. Quite the opposite in fact.

 

I enjoyed this as much as the first book and have high hopes that I'll enjoy the final book in this trilogy as well.

 

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1257194/jinx-on-a-terran-inheritance-the-terran-inheritance-2

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn (Thieves' World #2)

Review:

Tales From the Vulgar Unicorn - Lynn Abbey, Janet E. Morris, A.E. van Vogt, Andrew J. Offutt, Philip José Farmer, Robert Lynn Asprin, David Drake

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: Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn

Series: Thieves' World

Author: Robert Asprin, Editor

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 299

 

 

 

Synopsis:

A continuation of the Thieves' World anthology, where we get novellas to short stories about various characters and their adventures in the grubby city of Sanctuary.

 

My Thoughts:

This stuff was ok. Kind of a like a Forgotten Realms but in one city instead of multiverse and short stories instead of trilogies or series.

 

My only sticking point is that no character is really likable. You have some slightly sympathetic ones, but none that you want to cheer for. It really is a collection of scummy people. There are 10 books in this anthology series, we'll see how long I stick with it :-D

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1256930/tales-from-the-vulgar-unicorn-thieves-world-2

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Firehand (Time Traders #5)

Review:

Firehand - Andre Norton, P.M. Griffin

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: Firehand

Series: Time Traders

Author: Andre Norton, P.M. Griffin

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 282

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Ross Murdock and Co head to a world that in the future opposes the Big Brains and win. The Big Brains burn the world in the past and Ross must prevent that from happening, all the while hiding Earth's involvement.

And he gets involved with some chick.

 

My Thoughts:

This was a disappointment. Who ever P.M. Griffin is, this collaboration did not work for me, at all.

 

This was a bloody romance. I don't have a problem with those, but I do when it is completely different from the previous FOUR books in the series. I enjoyed this as a standalone story, but not as a part of the Time Traders.

 

I don't know if I want to read any more. I believe the rest of the Time Traders are collaborations as well and this one just turned me right off.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1255456/firehand-time-traders-5