Bookstooge's Reviews On the Road

Wednesday, July 08, 2015

Warlord (Warlord #1)

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: Warlord

Series: Warlord

Author: Jason Frost

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Action/Adventure

Pages: 398

Synopsis:

Former super special secret sauce Vietnam vet now has a normal life in California, except he has to testify against his former commander for super dee duper evil crimes committed in Vietnam.

Bad guy goes free and vows vengeance on Awesome Sauce.

Then California breaks off the United States because of a Super Quake. Not only that, but the Bad, Evil Government was hiding Super Secret Evil Weapons and those somehow formed a cloud that caused the United States Government to declare California under quarantine.

So the Bad Guy decides to wreak his revenge on Awesome Sauce now. Because NOW is the time. And Awesome Sauce takes HIS revenge. And thus ends the book.

My Thoughts:

Gregor Xane recommended this series when I was reading the End World series. Thankfully, this was leagues above that series.

I know my synopsis was a bit heavy handed, but it adequately describes the tone of this book.

I wasn't expecting the brutalness of this though. This was a no-holds barred violence fest. There were several times where I just cringed and went "oh..." inside. The Bad Guy was BAD!!! I like my bad guys to be really bad. I'm just not real cool with seeing what makes them so bad.

The sensual/sex scenes were gratuitous while not being completely erotical level. It wasn't necessary and just made me shake my head. I really hate it when an author does that.

This was a fun read though. I have the next 2 available and am looking forward to them. Part of that is that I'm a big fan of California falling off the West Coast. I don't make jokes about it anymore though, as my wife doesn't find it funny ;-)

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1198147/warlord-warlord-1

Tuesday, July 07, 2015

Shadows Linger (The Chronicles of the Black Company #2)

Review:

Title: Shadows Linger

Series: The Chronicles of the Black Company

Author: Glenn Cook

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 320

Synopsis:

The Black Company must hump it to the back end of the world where the Dominator sleeps and is trying to rise again.

And guess where Raven and the little deaf girl have gone? To the end of the world, because who would look for them there?

So Croaker and the others must stop the Dominator from arising, keep Raven safe and keep the Lady from knowing they are actively working against her in this regards.

That is a lot of knives to juggle. And the Black Company gets cut, badly.

My Thoughts:

Not quite as interesting as the former book, but it deals with a smaller cast of crew for the larger part of the book, so that was nice.

A small town occupation with its own issues that simply bleed over and cause problems for the Black company. Raven trying to survive.

Lots of bloody action from from one on one action to a large magical battle with the whole town involved. And it all ends with the Black Company being almost destroyed and on the run from servants of the Dominator AND the Lady herself. Not a good place to be in.

I think I enjoyed this just as much as the previous book though.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1197623/shadows-linger-the-chronicles-of-the-black-company-2

Sunday, July 05, 2015

Gabriel's Horn (Rogue Angel #13)

Review:

Title: Gabriel's Horn

Series: Rogue Angel

Author: Alex Archer

Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 314

Synopsis:

Roux, Annja's erstwhile mentor, is hunting down a painting that might lead him to Gabriel's Horn. An artifact of power that will end the world, and end Roux's guilt over the death of Joan of Arc.

Garin, Roux's other apprentice, wants the artifact for himself.

Annja is caught in the middle of her "family's" squabble and is pretty much blown to and fro.

My Thoughts:

This time around, the author doesn't make Annja doubt the supernatural side of what she has inherited with the sword. She plunges into the adventure without all the inner whining and self-doubt we've run across before. Thank goodness!

The "romantic" under current between Garin and Annja was a bit ridiculous. In many ways, they are like step-siblings with a rascally, unruly father. The tension between them is more animalistic than real. Two powerful people coming to terms with the other while jealously guarding the relationship they have with their father figure. The "family" aspect was really played up in this book and it should have been, it is a great plot device.

The overall layout of the story is the exact same. I think there is a template that all the authors must use. Something, something, something, wrap it up in the last 10% of the book. Things just get solved in all the books in the last 10%, without fail. It is good to keep that in mind.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1196389/gabriel-s-horn-rogue-angel-13

Saturday, July 04, 2015

Requiem for a Ruler of Worlds (The Terran Inheritance #1)

Review:

Title: Requiem for a Ruler of Worlds

Series: The Terran Inheritance

Author: Brian Daley

Rating: 4of 5 Stars

Genre: SFF

Pages: 304

Synopsis:

Humanity has gone through 2 Diaspora, Enlightenments and Dark Ages. The 3rd Enlightenment is upon Humanity.

Earth has turned its back and become Insular.

A ruler of 19 worlds has died. Among his inheritors is one minor bureaucrat, Hobart by name. Earth's Alpha Bureaucrats plan to use Hobart to gain the riches of said ruler and make Earth great again. But Hobart needs a guardian. Enter Alacrity, young space man and all around bounder. Alacrity is trapped into babysitting Hobart while Hobart is saddled with Alacrity. Neither man is happy.

These are their adventures.

My Thoughts:

This was a LOT of fun to read. It wasn't necessarily humorous, but the chemistry of Hobart and Alacrity, moving from unwilling guardian and client to unwilling accomplices to, just maybe, friends, was great. It was also masterfully written.

There was also a ton of adventure. Space stations, war ships, hunts on alien worlds. Romance, hatred between Alacrity and said Romance's father. Good stuff.

I've only read Daley's Star War's stuff, so it was good to see his own imagination at play here. I thoroughly enjoyed this and am looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1195901/requiem-for-a-ruler-of-worlds-the-terran-inheritance-1

Friday, July 03, 2015

Satan's Gambit (The Barrier War #3)

Review:

Title: Satan's Gambit

Series: The Barrier War

Author: Brian J. Moses

Rating: 2 of 5 Stars

Genre: SFF

Pages: 640

Synopsis:

The demons attack on Earth was only a ruse towards their real goal: Heaven. If Mephistopheles can take Heaven and unite Heaven, Earth and Hell, he will be the ruler of all creation.

Satan himself, however, has planned for all of this and has set in motions plans of his own, most involving the angels and the paladins.

And where is God you might ask? Good question.

My Thoughts:

This went from Dualism, 2 equal and opposite forces, ie God and Satan, to some ying-yang all encompassing, all powerful, force that reeked of cheap cologne, errr, eastern mysticism.

This also went the way of the tv show Supernatural. Bad angels, good demons, an impotent, absent father God and a powerful, active Satan. Really made me wonder if Moses had binged on that show before or during the writing of this book.

An Absent Father/God theology always gets a rise out of me, so that really broke this down for me.

Then the theology dumps. Bad theology mixed with sophistry. I HATE sophistry. It is the mental equivalent to beating up someone unable to defend themselves. Being a Christian, I read stuff all the time where I don't agree with the author's worldview put forth in their books, but I just usually shrug it off. Every once in a while though, something like this comes along and I can't ignore it. It ends up ruining the whole book, and in this case, the whole trilogy, for me. I was so disappointed.

So if you're interested in what I thought of the story, well, I don't have anything to say about it. It was beside the point to me and didn't even enter into consideration for this review.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1195428/satan-s-gambit-the-barrier-war-3

Thursday, July 02, 2015

Friday's Feast (The Executioner #37)

Review:

Title: Friday's Feast

Series: The Executioner

Author: Don Pendleton

Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Genre: Action/Adventure

Pages: 150

Synopsis:

The remaining Mafioso bosses are trying to carve up their own kingdoms and not be centralized.

One such group appears to be on the verge of success and Mack can't allow that or everything he's worked for will just start over all over again.

So while the vultures circle, it is they who will be doing the dying instead of feasting on the dead.

My Thoughts:

Eh, by this time you're all in or you've taken your balls and gone home crying to mommy.

To be honest, I'm getting a bit tired of Mack killing the mafia, mainly because the author, Pendleton, is running out of good scenarios and that makes these stories. Mack hasn't changed one iota from the 1st book, the bad guys are always new ones because they're busy being killed off by Bolan so what changes is the scenarios and those make or break the story.

One more to go in the original series.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1194940/friday-s-feast-the-executioner-37

Wednesday, July 01, 2015

June '15 Roundup

This month was pretty good. 11 books and some of those were pretty big. No books less than 3 Stars and several were a bit higher. I am satisfied.

1) Visitors by Orson Scott Card - 4.5 Stars

2) Dark Intelligence by Neal Asher - 4.5 Stars

3) The New Annotated H.P. Lovecraft by H.P. Lovecraft - 3 Stars

4) The Zenda Vendetta by Simon Hawke - 3 Stars

5) The Yellow Silk by Don Bassingthwait - 3 Stars

6) Deathstalker by Simon Green - 4 Stars

7) Fireblood by Jeff Wheeler - 3 Stars

8) Homeworld by Evan Currie - 4 Stars

9) King Solomon's Mines by Henry Haggard - 3 Stars

10) Battle of Loum by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko - 5 stars

11) Odd Interlude by Dean Koontz - 3.5 Stars

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1194302/june-15-roundup

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Odd Interlude (Odd Thomas #5)

Review:

Title: Odd Interlude

Series: Odd Thomas

Author: Dean Koontz

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Pages: 289

Synopsis:

Odd Thomas, on his way to stop something or other, stops into a small town. And for goodness sake, discovers phracking E.T.

And E.T. would rather EAT you than make your stupid bike fly.

My Thoughts:

This was loads and loads more enjoyable than the previous book. Hijackings, crashes, explosions, gun battles. This was Odd Thomas at his quirkiest and his best.

Odd was in fine voice and his asides and whatnot were exactly what I was expecting and hoping for. The parts of the story written by the little girl [well, 12'ish I believe] were pretty good too. It made me laugh when she assumes Odd is "old", like maybe 30, or EVEN 35. Got to love time.

My only quibble was with how the dna thing worked. I know recently that "dna" is the big thing and "You Too Can Gain Superpowers, by Just Injecting This 'Stuff' Into You" is what is presented. I can usually ignore it, but this time it had me rolling my eyes.

So folks, DON'T WORRY! If some bugger sticks you with a syringe full of alien goop, you will simply DIE! You WILL NOT turn into an ALIEN. I hope that sets your minds at ease. I know I'll sleep better with that very important reminder. Because come on, admit it, doesn't everyone secretly worry about being turned into a hideous, cannibalistic alien/human hybrid?

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1193886/odd-interlude-odd-thomas-5

Monday, June 29, 2015

Battle of Loum (Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin #7) (Manga)

Review:

Title: Battle of Loum

Series: Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin

Author & Artist: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Manga

Pages: 420

Synopsis:

The War between Zeon and the Federation erupts! What has been 2 page flashbacks in previous books takes on horrifying proportions as we see the destruction of a whole colony and its catastrophic plunge onto Earth.

We see the War almost sputter to a stop and then inflamed into an inferno by people on both sides.

My Thoughts:

Oh man! This volume blew my mind.

It was horrifying. It showed "War" exactly how many people view it.

The story was terrifically good however. So much awesomeness packed into 1 volume. And once again, the art was the best part, but this time it was matched by the story. That is why this got 5 Stars.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1192310/battle-of-loum-mobile-suit-gundam-the-origin-7-manga

Sunday, June 28, 2015

King Solomon's Mines (Allan Quatermain #1) (Classic)

Review:

Title: King Solomon's Mines

Series: Allan Quatermain

Author: Henry Haggard

Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Genre: Classic

Pages: 228

Synopsis:

An "old" elephant hunter leads out 2 other englishmen and one Zulu in search of the fabled diamond mines of Solomon.

One of the englishman is in search of his brother who has been lost these several years and the Zulu has his own secrets.

Fighting Nature, fighting Man, fighting for survival. It all happens in this book.

My Thoughts:

With my reading mainly taking place in the realms of SFF, action and adventure are a given. So this historical novel had to live up to those modern expectations.

Also, the cultural attitudes were very much of the times and hence the Europeans were simply better. In everything. I would call it negligent racism, as opposed to hostile racism.

Overall, glad I read this but I won't be reading any more in this series. I need at least dinosaurs eating people in my classic adventures these days, something more than just exploring the world.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1191698/king-solomon-s-mines-allan-quatermain-1-classic