Midnight Over Sanctaphrax (Twig #3) (The Edge Chronicles #3)

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: Midnight Over Sanctaphrax
Series: The Edge Chronicles
Author: Chris Riddell & Paul Stewart
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Children's SFF
Pages: 370
Format: Kindle






Synopsis:
Twig is over the Edge, looking for his father. He finds him, and finds out that a great storm of renewal is coming to the Edge and he must release the floating city of Sanctaphrax out of its way.
But Twig, along with his crew, are all blown hither and yon across the Edge, without their memories. Now Twig must mount a rescue expedition for them and try to figure out just what he forgot.

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this as much as the previous book. With childrens/middlegrade books it seems that things can go from one extreme to the other in terms of what I like, so I never know how I'm going to come out of these books.

Twig does a lot of growing [ha] in terms of becoming the kind of ship captain that will inspire loyalty from his crew. He never gives up in his search for them, even while providing us with some really fun adventures. Fun to read about, not necessarily fun to experience.

I am wondering if at some point the adventures will move away from Twig and onto some other character? Mainly because I've seen this [and have catalogued as such] as the Edge Chronicles while concurrently being the Twig series. With 10 books in the series, I can imagine at some point Twig becoming a minor, but famous, character. I haven't cared enough to look ahead and part of me doesn't want to know. I just want to experience the things as they come along to me.

Angles of Attack (Frontlines #3)

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's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.
Title: Angles of Attack
Series: Frontlines
Author: Marko Kloos
Rating: Unrated
Genre: SFF
Pages: 350
Format: Kindle



My Thoughts:
Due to some of the subject matter, I will not be continuing with this series.

And once again, an author's desire to be politically correct and include homosexuality so that their writing is "inclusive" forces me to abandon this author.  Given how my statements like this have been taken at social booksites, I am slowly being squeezed to saying what I think only on my blog here because otherwise a shitstorm gets raised and I just don't have the oomph to deal with it.

The Scorched Earth (The Chaos Born #2)

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 Scorched Earth
Series: The Chaos Born
Author: Drew Karpyshyn
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 384
Format: Kindle







Synopsis:
The forest people are going to war, under the direction of one of the Minions, who has wormed his way into the Queen's confidence. They are going after the plains people, because the Minion can sense the Ring and the Sword, 2 of the 3 Talismans.
It is now up to the 4 Children to stave off the army, survive and gather all 3 talismans together.
But with the Order going on the rampage against any with chaos abilities, and the forest mages on the warpath, can they succeed?

My Thoughts:
I actually enjoyed this more than the previous book, mainly because the 4 chosen ones were all together and we didn't have to follow 3 or 4 storylines. This time around we followed the Chosen and the Minions.

The war between the forest mages and the plains warriors was good. Nothing like battles to move the story along. Not much else to say really. It is just "good but mediocre" kind of fantasy that fills the mind, much like iceberg lettuce fills the stomach.

World without a Superman (The Death and Return of Superman #2)

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: World without a Superman
Series: The Death and Return of Superman
Author/Artist: Dan Jurgens, et al.
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: Comics
Pages: 240
Format: Graphic Novel








Synopsis:
In the aftermath of Superman's death, hell breaks loose. A shady government agency steals his body, which Lex Luthor buried in a very public funeral attended by the JLA and the rest of the heroes in the DC universe.
At the same time, Lois has to deal with Clark supposedly having gone missing, while she knows he is dead. Ma and Pa Kent are being torn apart with their private grief and Jonathan ends up in the hospital with a heart attack.
And then things get weird with some sort of afterlife scenario where Pa Kent has to bring back Superman from a potential hell.
And then right at the end, it appears that 4 Supermen have come back.

My Thoughts:
This was fun and as bright, splashy and soap opera'y as one could wish for. This was everything a comic should be. Larger than life characters and scenarios.

Of course, I was rolling my eyes almost the whole time. I mean, super guns being sold to gangsters is the big problem in Metropolis? And Lex Luthor being mad because HE didn't kill Superman? Ay yi yi.

I enjoyed every page though. And it brings me once book closer to Doomed, where it looks like Superman is infected by Doomsday. I am looking forward to that!

Saltation (Liaden) DNF@5%

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. Posted at Bookstooge.blogspot.com & Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.
Title: Saltation
Series: Liaden
Author: Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Rating: Unrated
Genre: SFF
Pages: DNF
Format: Kindle





 My Thoughts:
Due to some of the subject matter, I will not be continuing with this series.

And that really stinks. I have been enjoying this series immensely and was seriously considering buying these in hardcover. So to have homosexuality just casually brought in like it was was a kick in the guts.

This has been happening more and more though and I am beginning to wonder if I am going to have to curtail my SFF reading. Will I have to cut down on my overall reading or replace the SFF with something completely different, like non-fiction? Either way, it will entail changes in my habits based on the changes in society today.

Don't I already do enough things that make me different? I tithe. I go to church on Saturday. I watch almost no tv/movies. I don't drink alcohol. I believe and act like, the Bible is true. And it is wearing me out. 

The Assassins of Altis (Pillars of Reality #3)

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 Assassins of Altis
Series: Pillars of Reality
Author: Jack Campbell
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 329
Format: Kindle






Synopsis:
Mari and Alain have escaped Marandur. But they are constantly on the run from the Guilds. They must make their way to the Tower of Altis, where there are records that can help Mari, who has now accepted her role as the Daughter of Jules, decide how she will proceed to stop the Storm and save Dematr.
And she and Alain get married.

My Thoughts:
Each time I start these books, I wonder if I'm going to like it and that maybe THIS is the time that Jack Campbell lets me down. I don't know why. I suspect some of it has to do with it being young adult and I'm just naturally suspicious of that label.

However, THIS book was not THAT book. It did not disappoint.

In fact, I would describe this as a madcap flurry of fights and "barely made it" escapes. It also showcases Mari coming into her own as the Daughter of Jules and how she actually IS bringing Mechanics, Mages and Commons together.

With the political situation here in the US, I realized that this book is about Hope. Not about someone who will promise you what you want or even say they agree with what you believe. I think that spoke to me more than anything because I am fast losing hope that humanity can keep on muddling on without catastrophic consequences.

On a completely different note. With the revelations about the origins of the Mechanics, it was made evident that this whole series is based on one of Campbell's short stories in his book Ad Astra. In that story, a spaceship emergency lands on a planet, where the crew turn the ship rules into a religion and force the passengers to be their servants. It was one of those "ah ha!" moments that I do enjoy so much.

Return of the Dragon (Yu-Gi-Oh! R #4) (Manga)

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: Return of the Dragon
Series: Yu-Gi-Oh! R
Author/Artist: Akira Ito
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Manga
Pages: 200
Format: Kindle








Synopsis:
Gekko goes up against the Number 1 Card Professor, and loses. Hence, Yugi is shutout from rescuing Anzu.
Kaiba goes up against Yako and even with his Ultimate Blue Eyes, he loses spectacularly.
Things really don't look good for Anzu.

My Thoughts:
Gekko's battle was a bit underwhelming but at some point the Good Guys needed to lose. To bad Yugi was paired up with Gekko so one's loss was the others as well. I know Anzu will be fine in the end, but I'm excited to see how Ito brings the story to its conclusion.

Yako and Seto's fight was awesome! The dark god cards just radiate menace and it was fun to see Seto overwhelmed.

Looking forward to the conclusion of this series in the next volume.

Twilight Watch (Night Watch #3)

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: Twilight Watch
Series: Night Watch
Author: Sergei Lukyanenko
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 432
Format: Kindle







 Synopsis:
Anton is now a mature family man with a little 3 year old daughter. His wife has left the Night Watch and while he is still in it, his heart isn't.
Throughout the 3 stories presented, Anton must wrestle what it means to be an "Other". He must decide if the Light and Dark ones are different after all and if the Inquisition is what he wants, or if it too is an empty body politic.

My Thoughts:
The idea of a book or spell that can turn people into Others was interesting. The complications, the effects and the ripples from even the Idea of such a thing are shown in each of these stories.

The writing was much more polished, less chaotic and random, than the first book. The downside was that the morose and melancholy nature that I so enjoyed from the previous books was also tamped down.  Kind of like a campfire after the first 30min. It is now warmer and much more able to fulfill your needs [ie, roasting those horrible 'smores] but it doesn't LOOK like a wild raging fire any more.
Tamed.

Lukyanenko's philosophical musings, given voice by Anton's thoughts, while running in the same vein as before, are much more "Others" versus "People" instead of "Light" versus "Dark". Anton ends up thinking that ALL "Others" are like magical vampires, as they live off of the magic of people and the world. Which of course, is utter and complete bollocks. That is on the same level as saying that I am a grass vampire because I breathe in the oxygen it produces. In all honesty, Anton has matured and now has a family to be worried about, he doesn't need to sit around and mentally masturbate to such puerile philosophy.

I also liked how the Inquisition was shown to be the place for those who had given up hope instead of the last Bastion of Hope for Others.

Originally, I believe this was the last book. At least, I know I've seen "The Night Watch Trilogy" on a bunch of older editions of this and earlier books. I do know that there is a fourth book, called The Final Watch, and I'm wondering what Lukyanenko will write about to wrap things up. Aaaaand I just looked and there is a fifth book entitled New Watch, so it looks like I've got a bit more reading a head of me than I thought. I'm ok with that.

Demon Hunter (Yamada Monogatari #1)

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: Demon Hunter
Series: Yamada Monogatari
Author: Richard Parks
Rating: 2 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 288
Format: Kindle







Synopsis:
Yamata is a generalized demon hunter. Spirits, changlings, ogres, etc, he can deal with them all.
Set in historic Japan, this is a book of short stories about Yamata and his adventures.

My Thoughts:
Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she had to walk into mine.

I was expecting this read to be very anime'y. What I got was 1920's crime noir transposed over a historic Japan. I kept waiting for the main character, Yamata, to puff on a stogey and shoot someone with a .45. And I kept imagining Humphrey Bogart in a kimono.

And then near the end the author crossed one of the lines I've drawn for myself in regards to what I will and will not read and that crossed him off of any future reads.  Even without that, I kept looking at the percentage on my kindle to see if I was almost done yet. Never a good sign.

February '16 Roundup & Rambles

18 Books for the month. Only 1 DNF and quite a few graphic novels, comics and manga. This month just flew by, so having the lightness of the GN's and mangas was nice. Kind of like a no pressure read.

The only book that really stood out to me this month was the graphic novel Death of Superman. The DNF, Atlantis Endgame, was only 5% in, so I didn't feel like I'd wasted any time whatsoever on it.

My Project Reread book, Way-farer, was a success and I enjoyed it this time around just as much as all the previous times. So it fared much better than last month's Jurassic Park.

I've also started to map out a reading plan for the manga I want to read/reread this year. It will take probably most of this month to get it really together, but since I still have a couple of Yu-Gi-Oh! R volumes to read, that shouldn't be an issue.  Probably going after Eyeshield 21 and then either W Juliet or Kare Kano.

I have started Madame Bovary, but it is my "phone" book, so I just read a page or two here and there when I'm waiting in line, or something like that. I've only read about 10%, which is why I haven't listed it yet. I really like the writing and am wondering about powering through it this month to see if I enjoy the plot or not.

Every month I think I'm going to type out the books I've read. And each month as I start to do it, I realize what a chore it is and my will to do so evaporates like the morning dew on a summer's day. I am thinking I might start a Roundup & Rambles post at the BEGINNING of the month and simply add each book as I review it. That way at the end of the month I can simply add the Rambles part of the post, along with the pic, and voila, Instant Post. We'll see.

I've enjoyed reading everyone elses wrap ups, roundups, end of months, etc posts. Thanks to everyone who made my feed a fun time yesterday and today. I do appreciate your hard work and ask humbly that you keep at it.

Kanpai!