Bookstooge's Reviews On the Road

Saturday, September 02, 2017

The Last of the Deimon Devilbats (Eyeshield 21 #34) ★★★★ ½

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Title: The Last of the Deimon Devilbats

Series: Eyeshield 21 #34

Author: Riichiro Inagaki

Artist: Yusuke Murata

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Sports Manga

Pages: 216

Format: Digital Scan

Synopsis:

The Christmas Bowl is completed.

The Devilbats pull off miracle after miracle. Sena outruns Yamata. Monta outcatches his opponent. They catch up 34-42. Then the Alexanders score 2 points and make it 44-34. 10 Point difference. Impossible to overcome. Fans leave the stadium.

And Hiruma, who has finally believed in each player this game, lies his ass off about a grand plan he has and everyone believes right back at him, even while knowing it is a lie. Only thing is, he wasn't lying. They make another touchdown, then grab the ball from a short kick off and now, everything rests of Musashi's shoulders, or really, his foot. Can he do the Magnum Kick, 60 yard kick, something no one in a highschool league has done? Of course!

And the Devilbats WIN!!!

And then things rush through the post-game celebration and suddenly there is an All-Star Game on the horizon versus some American players. Well, at least I know what the final books will be about.

My Thoughts:

Holy smokes!!!!! What a volume!!!!! [please notice all the exclamation points. I mean every single one]

This was a seat of your pants will they/won't they kind of storyline. Right to the last second everything was in doubt. I mean, even when Musashi kicked, the manga-ka drew things out so you weren't sure, with the ball hitting the goal posts. Whooooo!

I think my favorite part was when the most useless player, the school nerd, who only ran pass formations, was ignored. He had never caught a pass before. He only stayed in the formation, distracting other players. But this time? He was ignored. And he got a touch down!!! It was great.

This was the perfect volume of the series so far. It had tension, it had great plays. It had players overcoming their natural weaknesses. It had the emotions.

So I had to ding a half star when the volume ends with an All-Star game coming up. I don't like All-Star games. An All-Star game is where the best players get together, form 2 teams and then play each other. I was in this for the Devilbats, not the other star players from other highschools. Throw in that their opponents seem to be Americans and well, it just isn't appealing. I am suddenly not looking forward to the final volumes.

I wish the series had ended here. It was perfect.

★★★★ ½

Hand of Mars (Starship's Mage #2) (★★★★☆)

Series: Starship's Mage #2

Author: Glynn Stewart

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Genre: SFF

Pages: 279

Format: Digital Edition

Synopsis:

Damien is sent to a planet, as an Envoy under the tutelage of a full Hand. They are ostensibly looking into terrorist activity but in reality are on planet to arrest the governor who is corrupt as they come. What the Hand nor Damien realize is that the Martian Navy personnel have been co-opted by the governor as well.

This all leads to the death of the Hand, the destruction of her ship and crew and Damien on the run in a hostile world where his only allies are the “terrorists” he was publicly investigating. He has to survive the governer and his forces, the Martian navy and it's corrupt Captain and the rebels.

Making an alliance with the rebels, Damien gets off a message to the King, who sends out a force of sufficient size to handle the rogue Navy. Damien must take care of the governer and his forces so that the arriving Navy, with its marines, don't have to invade the planet. Things get complicated when one of the governer's loyal generals has nukes planted under 7 of the major cities and threatens to blow them all up if the Martian Navy doesn't leave.

Damien “does magic” and things get all straightened out.

Dang. I was hoping to “play a game of Thermonuclear War”. That Broderick was a pansy and I would have shown him up by WINNING the game I played!

My Thoughts:

I actually enjoyed this more than the first book, mainly because this was one single novel instead of 4-6 “episodes”. However, I kept it at the same rating because Damien has power jumped so high, so fast that the suspense wasn't really there.

I am really enjoying this mix of magic and technology. Stewart has combined them in a way that doesn't annoy me or set my teeth on edge. It is also just fun. The story is full of fighting and trials and battles.

There really isn't much else to say. I enjoyed this, it was fun and Damien is a bit too powerful.

And speaking of too powerful, now I'm off to read some Eyeshield 21 manga, ha!

I could have totally won that game!

★★★★☆

Starship's Mage (Book 1)

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Bloodwalk (Forgotten Realms: The Wizards #2) ★☆☆☆☆

Series: Forgotten Realms: The Wizards #2

Author: James Davis

Rating: 1 of 5 Stars

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 320

Format: Digital Edition

Synopsis:

A blood witch is planning on taking over a forest and then some towns, or something. She fools the local oracles who have foiled past plots by pretending to be their god. She raises necromantic forces to take over.

Concurrently, a man with angelic blood in him, a devotee to Hoar, the god of justice [you have NO idea how much I laughed at that] is a wandering justice dispensor. He wanders into the situation and is attempting to stop the blood witch.

Finally, you have 2 sisters, one an oracle, one a hunter who are both fighting to protect their town from complete and utter devastation. Enemies within and without make the job that much harder. Plus dead parents and all the baggage that means.

My Thoughts:

This was trash. It was a poor storyline, poorly executed and poorly written. Davis knows his grammar rules, thankfully, so there were no aggregious misuses of your/you're, etc. But telling the story? My goodness. The motivation for everyone was clear as mud.

I completely skimmed the last 25% and STILL had a tough time finishing. It didn't help that I was coming off a book that I also didn't like, so this was like rubbing salt in the wound.

It did force me to decide if I wanted to continue this Wizards sub-series and the answer was a resounding “NO!”. Sometimes Forgotten Realms books are just junk and you have to chuck them out the window to keep your sanity.

★☆☆☆☆

Blackstaff (Book 1)

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

The Last Good Man ★☆☆☆☆

Series: ----------

Author: Linda Nagata

Rating: 1 of 5 Stars

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 464

Format: Digital Edition

Synopsis:

True Brighton, former military, has started up a mercenary group. They rescue kidnap victims, etc, etc. A couple of years ago True's oldest son, Diego, was captured while on a special forces mission. He was tortured on tape, and that video went viral. He became a worldwide phenomenon. His whole group was wiped out and True has never gotten the answers she wants about the whole situation.

In a pro-bono rescue mission, it becomes apparent that the leader of Diego's group might not have died with his men. Thus begins True's hunt for answers.

And be damned to the consequences of her actions, even if it means her friends die, her coworkers die and she leaves her husband and 2 adult children in the dust.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed the story and the writing. Mrs Nagata is talented and this book shows that her The Red trilogy was not a fluke.

However, my problem with this book was how True acts and what motivates her. She is obsessed with her dead son and the facts surrounding his death. She allows that obsession to take over everything. She leaves her husband, wondering if he'll ever see her again. She makes decisions that directly lead to her coworkers dying. She saves a man, time after time, who has kidnapped, tortured and killed American civilians.

Depending on how you feel about those issues will directly affect how much you enjoy this book. I will continue reading Nagata's stuff due to how great the Red books were. But if she writes another one like this, well...

★☆☆☆☆

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Talking to Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles #4) ★★★★☆

Series: Enchanted Forest Chronicles #4

Author: Patricia Wrede

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Genre: SFF

Pages: 272

Format: Digital Edition

Synopsis:

Daystar discovers a wizard spying on his mom. His mom promptly melts the wizard, heads off into the Enchanted Forest and comes back with a sword. She hands the sword to Daystar and tells him to seek his fortune in the Enchanted Forest.

So, being a good son, Daystar does. He meets Shiara, a flame witch who can't control her powers and a young dragon who is out proving just how grown up it actually is. All the while all of them are being chased by wizards for various reasons.

They have adventures, meet the dragons, rescue Daystar's dad, have a battle with the wizards and then settle down to live happily ever after.

Sometimes it is good to find out you are the Prince of the Enchanted Forest.

My Thoughts:

What a cute book. I was wondering, near the beginning, WHY Cimorene wouldn't tell Daystar anything, but that gets explained.

Daystar is very polite to everyone he meets and that nets him more than he loses over the course of the book. I also liked how the adults in the book are competent adults and not stupid idiots. Well, except for the wizards but since they are the badguys, that is expected.

The first time I read these Chronicles I read an omnibus edition with all 4 books together. I think that was a bit too much. The childish nature of the humor, while wonderful, would wear rather thin right in a row for an adult. So I think I enjoyed my reading of these more this time around. I was able to enjoy each story on its own without rushing through them all and getting overloaded on cuteness and middle grade humor.

These books just cement the idea in my mind that Wrede is another wonderful author who has talent and discretion and that I am lucky to have found her books. I am also thankful that she's never gone into the PNR direction or love triangle, angsty YA direction. Because, she's a real author.

★★★★☆

Saturday, August 26, 2017

God Emperor of Dune (Dune Chronicles #4) ★★★★ ½

Series: Dune Chronicles #4

Author: Frank Herbert

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: SF

Pages: 436

Format: Digital Edition

Synopsis:

Dune is transformed. The worms are gone. The Spice is a dwindling product handed out each decade by the God Emperor from his private stores. Leto is now a pre-worm and 3500 years old. Mentats are outlawed and gone. The Fremen no longer really exist. The Tleilaxu grow Duncan Idahoes for Leto. Leto has taken control of Bene Geserit breeding program. The Ixians supply Leto with technology while experimenting on their own.

There is peace. The Great Houses are gone. Populations reside on their own planets and enjoy a level of living that has been unheard of before. Leto's Fish Speakers, an all female army, provide whatever force is needed should a situation arise.

Leto is fermenting humanity. Trying to change it from the inside out. He sees the glimmer of this in Siona Atreides, who is currently leading the rebellion against him. She can fade from his pre-sight, which means that her descendants will free humanity from the curse of prescience and prophecy.

Of course, Leto has enemies. The Tleilaxu plot his overthrow with their face dancers. The Ixians are breeding a human who is the perfect fit for Leto, and who they will control. Siona co-opts the current Duncan and they are figuring out how to kill Leto.

Leto knows.

Leto also knows that when he dies, his body will release sand trout that will begin the desertification of Dune once again and bring back the worms and the spice in a couple of hundred years.

My Thoughts:

This version that I read had an introduction by Frank's son, Brian. While I normally hold my nose at the travesty he and that son of a goat Anderson created with the Dune prequels, I did find this introduction extremely enlightening and helpful. It prepared me for the kind of book this would be.

This felt like a play, with Leto II being front and center and soloquizing for most of the book. A lot of action happens, a lot of information is told, but it is all off stage, as it were. Leto talks. A lot. With his Major Domo, Moneo Atriedes [Siona's father], with The Duncan, with Siona, with the love of his life Hwi.

Hwi. Now there is pathos. To have someone built to love you and to have them built so as to attract you. It is redeemed from pablum by Hwi knowing all of this and still choosing Leto over her Ixian masters. She does love Leto, willingly and unwillingly.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read, yet again.

However. If someone were to read this book and call it boring, dialogue heavy or unenjoyable, I would not try to correct them. Leto constantly tries to push other characters into understanding by asking them questions instead of answering their questions. Leto does that a lot and it can be frustrating. There were a couple of times that I wanted to shake him and shout “Just answer his question, you gigantic jerk!”. This was an idea book but those ideas were not all nicely queued up like bowling pins in an alley. They were disguised, hidden, scattered. It was frustrating and I will not deny that. I don't think it is a weakness of the book or the writing though. It was deliberate. Herbert wanted his readers to think and thinking can be hard work at times.

This was a re-read book, like all the other Dune Chronicles books I'm reading. My first recorded instance of reading it was only back in '12. However, I know I read it in highschool and in Bibleschool at least 3 times. So this is my fifth time? The fact that I'm still frustrated with it and yet enjoying it so much says a lot about the quality of the writing.

★★★★ ½

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Kraken Rising (Alex Hunter #6) ★★★☆ ½

Series: Alex Hunter #6

Author: Greig Beck

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: SF

Pages: 449

Format: Digital Edition

Synopsis:

The Chinese try to kidnap Alex's son. They fail. The Chinese are “secretly” mining in Antarctica and come across a signal from a long lost sub that was an American stealth prototype. They send in their version of Elite Special Forces and also send warships. The Americans aren't going to let them steal even more technology and send in Alex Hunter and then another HAWC's team AND warships.

World War 3, with nukes, is about to happen.

Aimee Weir knows what's under the ice and she is supposed to guide the HAWC's team. Alex is on his own and the Chinese Special Forces have NO idea what they are in for. The mimic from Under the Dark Ice isn't dead, isn't stupid and it wants to play with its food. Eventually, all the survivors band together and flee in the missing sub. The kraken follows and fights the chinese fleet. They destroy it but are so hurt that they can't stand up to the American fleet. Everyone goes home. Just like that. Really.

Alex and Aimee and their son are all reunited and the glimmer of a family life for all 3 is possible.

The End of the Series.

My Thoughts:

This series comes full circle. In the first book Alex Hunter meets Aimee Weir and the monster under the ice and they barely escape with their lives. This time around they have something to live for, namely, their son.

My biggest complaint was how stupid 2 of the characters acted. The leader of the Chinese Special Forces was such a fanatic that everything was an American plot meant to trick him, somehow. He was almost a caricature instead of a viable human threat. The other problem character was one of the HAWC's who won't take orders from Casey and constantly questions her and undermines her. The HAWC's are supposed to be the Special Forces of the Special Forces and this guy comes across as a green marine just out of boot camp with a huge chip on his soldier. I can't see Jack Hammerson allowing someone like that into his elite unit.

Really good fights and some “old favorites” of the monster variety. The black worms that eat you from the inside out make a dramatic visit and were probably more memorable to me this time around than the kraken.

The overall plot wasn't as lean or taut as some of the others and while nothing felt like padding per se, there were times that some movements/actions/descriptions felt unnecessary.

This book ends on such a note that it could be considered the end of the series. While there might be future Alex Hunter or Son books, this was a good place for me to end. Beck hasn't written any new Alex Hunter books since this and has written other books in other series, so I suspect his interest in this character is done. It is always better to wrap things up while they're still fresh than to let them sit and stink like a week old fish.

★★★☆ ½

Monday, August 21, 2017

The Devil's Mistake (Eyeshield 21 #33) ★★★★☆

Series: Eyeshield 21 #33

Author: Riichiro Inagaki

Artist: Yusuke Murata

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Genre: Sports Manga

Pages: 200

Format: Digital Scan

Synopsis:

The Alexanders predict that they will conquer the Devil Bats 42-0. By the second half it is 35-0 and things seem impossible for the Devil Bats. Everything they do, the Alexanders can do better. But suddenly the Devil Bats make 2 consecutive touchdowns and accomplish what no other team has done: score against the Alexanders.

But while that is good, it's not good enough to win and the Alexanders don't lie down and die. They push back and score a touchdown. With only 5 minutes left in the game the score is 42-16.

My Thoughts:

For the first time in this series, I am in doubt whether the Devil Bats will win or not. That is a rather delicious sensation. It is also a bit unsettling.

After all my belly-aching last time about Karin the girl quarterback, this time I'm going to complain because she was a total non-entity in the game.If you're going to try to completely switch things up, then make use of the change. Her being a girl quarterback had zero impact on the game so far and for all the trumpeting and fanfare that she was introduced with, I was expecting more.

Monta continues his fight to become the #1 Receiver, even while being pummeled. He does make one catch and completely throws his opponent. It was a thing of beauty to watch. Sena keeps on running. The Devil Bats keep on being the Devil Bats. It is really nice to see the team work. And when I think back to how these guys started out, seeing them now, it is great.

I like how the manga-ka's walk the line between great feeling and sappy sentimentality. I have never felt that this series was a sloppy sappy feelz fest. But neither has it been a cold, emotionless stating of the facts. Inagaki and Murata have created something serious yet funny, emotional yet not sappy that is good. Both teams up through the tournament have had goals and dreams and no team is evil incarnate. Everyone is striving FOR something and I like that a lot.

I am seriously thinking of taking next week and reading the successive volumes one a day until I finish. I want to see how this resolves and not stretch things out. I am enjoying these final volumes and it seems fitting to read them quickly.

★★★★☆

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Indomitable (The Chronicles of Promise Paen #2) ★★★☆ ½

^{This
review is written with a GPL 4.0 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 WordPress, Blogspot, Librarything & Tumblr by Bookstooge’s
Exalted Permission}
Title: Indomitable

Series: The Chronicles of Promise Paen #2

Author: W.C. Bauers

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: SF

Pages: 367

Format: Digital Edition

Synopsis:

Promise Paen has survived her jaunt on Montana. However, certain political elements with the Republic have painted her as rogue warhead, just waiting to go off.

In a training exercise with some green recruits, Promise continues the training mission even with 90% casualties. She wins the unwinnable scenario, due to some help from a highly placed General who is against the training mission on principle. Things go wrong right at the end and one of her subordinates is killed.

Promise and the General are both benched. The General takes the flak and Promise's career survives, but she is removed from commanding her platoon to being second in command. Her platoon heads to a hell world to relieve other soldiers guarding against in-system terrorists. But their codes have been compromised and as soon as Promise's forces land, their own mechanical weapons turn against them.

They barely survive and her platoon is folded into various other 'toons. The aforementioned General has been “demoted” but given command of the Special Forces and said General asks Promise to join. And that is how the book ends, with galactic war looming and Promise getting ready to go into a high action unit.

My Thoughts:

It has been two and half years since I read Unbreakable. Thankfully, I was able to slide right back into the universe. It helps that beyond Promise Paen, almost no one survived from the previous book to clutter up the storyline here. Everyone gets introduced.

This was some good writing and some good storytelling. If you like space military stories with some thoughts from the main character, then this is the series for you.

I, however, will be ending my time with this (ongoing I assume) series.

I do not like Promise Paen. She cannot read the most simplified political situation and shoots her mouth off. She does not accept orders from her superiors without whining and trying to go around said orders. She sees and talks with her dead mother and in this book, allows that to become such a distraction that she doesn't pay attention to her commanding officer. She allows her emotions to drive her decision making and as a leader of a military unit, that gets others involved.

I still gave this 3.5 stars because of the storyline and the writing but the above things about Promise Paen drive me crazy. Since she's the main character, I know it will continue. I'll not roll around in a bed of poison ivy.

★★★☆ ½

Unbreakable (Book 1)

Saturday, August 19, 2017

The Book of Atrix Wolfe ★★★★ ½

^{This
review is written with a GPL 4.0 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 WordPress, Blogspot & Librarything by Bookstooge’s
Exalted Permission}
Title: The Book of Atrix Wolfe

Series: ------

Author: Patricia McKillip

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 254

Format: Digital Edition

Synopsis:

Atrix Wolfe, a powerful mage, is drawn into a conflict between 2 Kingdoms. One fateful night he uses his magic to put an end to the conflict and things go horribly wrong. He conjures The Hunter, a living nightmare of pain, terror and death. One king dies, the other flees, broken completely.

Many years later, the 2^nd son of the dead king, is attending the Wizards School. He is recalled home and takes a book with him. His elder brother, unable to have heirs, makes him the heir and wants him to settle down and begin stabilizing the royal line, ie, get married and start making babies. Prince Talus agrees but still wants to study the magic book he brought home, little realizing it is the Book of Atrix Wolfe and the words contained are twisted by Wolfe's despair at what he had done all those years ago.

In his mucking about, Talus calls the attention of the Hunter again, gets kidnapped by the Queen of the Faeries and is the fulcrum upon which turns the fates of many. The Hunter's nightmare must end, the Faerie Queen's daughter returned, Atrix Wolfe atoning for his misdeeds and Talus saving his brother's life.

Just like a fairytale, there is a satisfying ending, even if not a happy ending, for everyone's storyline.

My Thoughts:

The Book of Atrix Wolfe was my first McKillip book. I read it back in '05 and over the next 2 years gobbled up her back list of books. I had never come across an author who wrote like this and it blew my mind. I became a fan of hers with this book and it holds one of those special places in my mind.

So it was with trepidation that I began my re-read. Things change in 12 years. My “little cousin” was in first grade and a bossy little boy when I first read this. Now he's 6'4” and graduated highschool. I am now married, bald [well, shaved. Receding hairline isn't fun for anyone] and about 25lbs more muscular [hahaha]. Of course, most of the changes are inside and not always easy to see or for me to even know. * insert Zen aphorism about mirrors and the back of one's head *

My concerns were well founded, unfortunately. The story was just as good, the writing even better. But I could not accept the lack of communication between the various characters. The Faerie Queen's lover and her daughter have disappeared on the fateful night and she has been looking for them ever since. She knows that Atrix Wolfe is responsible, but instead of asking for his help, she kidnaps Talus, uses him as a go between and even then STILL doesn't actually tell him what is wrong. Atrix Wolfe won't tell anyone about the Hunter, even while it is active again. Talus won't tell his brother about the Faerie Queen and just goes off and does his own thing.

It was all extremely fairy tale like, so that type of thing is expected. But it really bothered me this time around and I couldn't get past it. I knocked off half a star for that. It didn't help that I'd been dealing with a sore back, lack of work and issues at church. I didn't have the patience or reserves to accept the foibles of fictional characters.

Other than that issue, this WAS just as good as before. McKillip is a master wordsmith and her use of the english language is enchanting. She doesn't just use words and sentences “correctly”, she knows them and the rules well enough so that she can “weave” them. It is the difference between a paint by numbers picture of the Mona Lisa and the actual Mona Lisa.

★★★★ ½

The Book of Atrix Wolfe (2005 Review)