Review: A Morbid Taste for Bones

A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Having seen several of the tv series, and really liking them, I went into this series with a bit of trepidation.

This book more than met my expectations. Especially for a mystery.



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Review: The Crimson Crown

The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This is classified as ya, and while I concur, it does seem to push the envelope a little.

I was hoping for an ending to the series, but it is obvious at the end that the story could go multi-national, as opposed to the internal we'd been having.

Lots of young love and doubt with some flashy magic'y stuff. If there is another book, I highly doubt I'll be interested enough to read it.



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Review: God Stalk

God Stalk by P.C. Hodgell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I had just finished reading The Last Jedi by [a:Michael Reaves|12537|Michael Reaves|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1272842062p2/12537.jpg] and while I had enjoyed it as much as the previous books in that Star Wars sub-series, it was a kind of slog.

Then I read this [recommended by my friend Robert]. Whoo! This was a fast paced, action packed thrill a minute.

I tore through this like a starving man tears through a loaf of bread. There is something for almost every sub-type of fantasy fan. Galactic theology, world theology, romance, hatreds, family issues, master/student interaction, larger than life characters, thievery, drama, politics, intrigue, and the list goes on.

I highly recommend this to anyone who likes their fantasy to be multi-book but not epic. Fun, fast and furious. Just what you need sometimes!

Basic story is about a young woman, with limited memory, coming from the wastelands and living in a city. Is taken in by an innkeeper and helps out around the place. She is apprenticed to a legendary master thief and has to decide how she wants to live.



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Review: The Last Jedi: Star Wars

The Last Jedi: Star Wars by Michael Reaves

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



When this book came out, I had just finished [b:Shadow Games|9993620|Shadow Games (Star Wars)|Michael Reaves|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320464709s/9993620.jpg|14888432] and wasn't really impressed. So I asked on the book page why I should read this book.
One of the authors, [a:Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff|247692|Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1226025599p2/247692.jpg], responded very nicely and encouraged me to read the book. I thought that was great.

So I read the book. It was ok. On par with the other Coruscant Night books. If you enjoyed the other Jax Pavan books, you'll like this. I certainly enjoyed I5 the most, just like the other books.



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Review: Galactic Odyssey

Galactic Odyssey by Keith Laumer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Absolutely love this book. Not a great tome, not some epic quest. Just a rousing adventure story of a man saving the woman he loves.

I had forgotten just how short this was. But that allows Laumer to give us the quick details and then move on. He allows us, the reader, to fill in the gaps. Instead of being a blowhard, Laumer trusts his audience enough that he doesn't have to write out every single detail of the entire adventure.

And that kind of attitude and writing, they are refreshing every once in a while. Clear the synapses, let the old noggin' rest from cogitating on the latest foundation stone by [a:Brandon Sanderson|38550|Brandon Sanderson|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1201547425p2/38550.jpg] or [a:Steven Erikson|31232|Steven Erikson|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1219169436p2/31232.jpg] or some such. It is quick, neat and precise writing.

Definitely a good once a decade book!



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Review: Arms-Commander

Arms-Commander by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Another half decent book by Modesitt. I've enjoyed the Recluse books, and this one is as good as any of them.
A bit of man-hating, but considering that Modesitt has created a world of nothing but evil 'men', not surprising.
And thank goodness, we don't get bloviated descriptions of every meal :)



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Review: The Scourge of Muirwood

The Scourge of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Absolutely loved this. I'm a sucker for happy endings and this delivered in spades.

Lia had to overcome many trials and tribulations and yet she continued on. Not whining. Not complaining. Not cursing. Not apathetic. Not with an attitude of futile resistance.
It was a real joy to read about a character that you wanted to emulate. Haven't had that in a while.

The story does wrap up nice and neat. As it should. This is the world after ours and our world's issues are over.



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Review: A Plague of Demons & Other Stories

A Plague of Demons & Other Stories by Keith Laumer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Even though I put this on my "Short Story Collection" shelf, the first story, Plague of Demons is a novel unto itself.

Stories about space and man as either the mental underdog who overcomes all or the mental tyrant.
Not quite dystopia, but a bleak outlook even in the encouraging stories.



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Review: Forge of Darkness

Forge of Darkness by Steven Erikson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Well, I've put up with Erikson long enough. I'm done.

A whole world awash in hopelessness and despair.

I long for a power to wash away the worst that is in us,

War is a shout against futility, hostage, but its echo never last long

I no longer desire to immerse myself in this type of philosophy. There is Goodness. There is Hope. There is Love. There IS Meaning and Reason to Existence. Men can be Changed from their brokenness. There is a God who Cares and Who has taken Responsibility. There is Joy and Happiness and Greatness in Life.

And now I bow out.



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Review: Firestorm: Destroyermen

Firestorm: Destroyermen by Taylor Anderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The war gets bigger. More characters. More technology. More tactics.

Lots MORE blah, blah, blah. One whole page described a plane taking off. Telling me every single boat's name in a fleet. Describing how the gun/bullet combo of THIS gun is different/better/worse than THAT gun/bullet combo. It wore thin.

But those who love mil/sff probably ate it up.

I enjoyed the story. Lots of fighting with new twists to screw things up. At the end lots of things happen that open up this world even more. I do feel that Anderson is moving ahead a little too fast. I just hope he doesn't let the story snowball out of control. Because I am really liking this overall storyline.



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