Review: The Swords of the Sultan!

The Swords of the Sultan! by J. Eric Booker

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



Ok, I made it through the first chapter, but that is it. This appears to be a world of medieval tech level, as the main character's father was a metalsmith who mainly dealt with horseshoes.

So, why do words like "warp speed" and "refrigerated" appear? In the first chapter?

Then the plot. A young man's family is killed. They seem to be a slightly lower middle class. And nobody investigates? No other family exists? Our hero is left on his own to starve on the streets. When suddenly! A BUSTY BLONDE follows him, tells him he is cute, shows off her cleavage, reveals she is a master thief AND she thinks he has the talent to be a master thief as well. And all this because he stole a sausage.

Methinks the author is thinking with their own little sausage.

Writing style. In the beginning, the author shows me 7 ways that he doesn't appear comfortable with words. After showing me those 7 ways, he goes on to show me 3 other ways he could have been comfortable with words, but wasn't.

Ok, the above is an exaggeration, but that is what the author does. He literally shows me the world by the numbers. Almost like a connect the dots.

Thankfully, this was free. So while I was expecting a decent tale, at least I didn't pay for those expectations. If you can get past the above, maybe you'll enjoy this book? But I don't want to waste my time finding out. warp speed & refrigerate were enough for me.



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Review: Terminator Salvation: From the Ashes

Terminator Salvation: From the Ashes by Timothy Zahn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The prequel to Terminator: Salvation. I truly enjoyed this. Zahn does a masterful job of introducing us to the characters. Reese, Star, their protector Orzohc [or something like that], John and Kate Connor and their tight knit group of Resistance fighters.

Skynet prepares to cleanse a particular region of L.A. and the Connors prepare to pull of a coup to secure their place in the Resistance. And the group Reese and Star are living with are caught squarely in the middle.

This was written well, engagingly, with flashes of humor and sadness.



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Review: Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervections

Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervections by Robert Lynn Asprin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Apparently, I skipped the book before this one, [b:M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link|148205|M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link (Myth Adventures, #7)|Robert Lynn Asprin|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1172193946s/148205.jpg|655619], and you know what? It didn't even seem to matter.

That is one thing I do enjoy about these Myth books. They are a series, but a very loose series where each book can 'almost' stand alone. It makes for a fun, enjoyable, no pressure kind of read.

So Skeeve grows up.



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Review: No Return

No Return by Zachary Jernigan

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



This novel started very much akin to one of [a:Steven Erikson|31232|Steven Erikson|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1219169436p2/31232.jpg]'s, with lots of whining and bitching about self and power and despair and blah, blah, blah.

So I settled in, prepared for whatever.

Then it got all sexualized and "careless god". Some gruesome violence/fights.

finally, we get some of the characters deciding that they will kill the god and the god is bored that he decides to let them start the process to see if they are "strong enough".

Overall, this was a prologue to a series.

Between the uncaring god/ascendant [not much of a god. Just a jumped up human], graphic sex, homosexuality, unhero's [not hero's, nor even anti-hero's, but plain ugly, unlikable filthy dirty characters] and lack of resolution, this just didn't work for me.



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Review: The Big Four

The Big Four by Agatha Christie

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Poirot takes on the world's greatest criminals and wins. Whoopee.

This was just too ridiculous. I don't think I'll be reading any more Poirot novels.



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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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