Review: Imperfect Weapon

Imperfect Weapon by A.B. Potts

My rating: 0 of 5 stars



I only read the free sample. Which is why I'm not rating this.

From what I did read [prologue and first 4 or 5 chapters], it was grammatically correct and no glaring errors. However, I did feel like I was at a piano recital of a highschooler playing a difficult piece by Mozart. It was technically correctly done, but it was dry and by the numbers.

Nothing I read made me want to buy the whole book.



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Review: Second Chance: An Allons-y Adventure

Second Chance: An Allons-y Adventure by Shawn Kass

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



This author spam promoted his book in a group I am a member of, against the very easy to read rules about spamming and self-promotion.

So that ended my reading of this book. Hence the "abandoned" and "authors to avoid" tag...



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Review: Free Stories 2011

Free Stories 2011 by Patrick Lundrigan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This collection of short stories runs the gamut from the absolutely awesome to the unbearably dull.

Most of these stories appear to take place in each of the authors' own universe. So if you are not familiar with that universe, you're going to feel like an interloper at a party.

Honestly though, the worst I can say is that some of these stories were just boring.

And the good stuff really makes up for it. I liked the following stories.

Zahn's story took place in his Cobra War trilogy. It was a typical Zahn. I wasn't blown away, but I did enjoy it and I enjoyed the extra "boost" to the overall trilogy that this story added.

Second was a story called "Intelligent Design" that dealt with a young boy who discovers some sort of sentient computer. I really liked the idea.

Third, last and Best, was Larry C's short MHI story "Tanya: Princess of the Elves". Edward the urk is just awesome. And it was pretty amusing to see a little more into the elve's world, of ho-ho's and ranch dressing :)

I got this for free from Baen [Baenebooks.com]. Not sure I would have paid for this.



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Review: Dark of the Moon

Dark of the Moon by P.C. Hodgell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Gone is the light funny tone of the first book.

The story is split between Jame and her brother Tori. And between the viewpoint switching, the on purpose positively opaque writing, there were times that I felt as drugged and confused as Jame and Tori were. I didn't really enjoy that feeling.

There is a lot of deeper backstory that exists that we the readers aren't privy too. This makes for mystery, suspense and a sense of "keep reading to find out the ineffable mysteries!" Sometimes this works for me. This time, not so much.

There is a good bit of action, politic'ing, etc. I enjoyed this book overall, but not quite as much as the first book. I think part of that stems from suddenly having a second main character/viewpoint thrust upon me unawares.



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Review: Intrepid

Intrepid by Mike Shepherd

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Really enjoyed the ground based battle that comprised the first 2/3rds of the book then the space based battle was "meh".

I think I enjoyed this more because Kris wasn't whining every 3 seconds about either her lack of boobs, her "hatred" of all things political or her lack of romance.

This was more action and less emotion. I liked it.



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Review: The Rithmatist

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The first couple of chapters left me feeling "meh", as the main character was not that likable. Then it gelled and became a standard Sanderson book, which being translated, means it was AWESOME!

This is steampunk. I hate steampunk. And Sanderson made me like this book.

Age of reading is definitely a step above the Alcatraz books, but not the full on adult world of say [b:Mistborn: The Final Empire|68428|Mistborn The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)|Brandon Sanderson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1312038619s/68428.jpg|66322] or even [b:Elantris|68427|Elantris|Brandon Sanderson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1316637512s/68427.jpg|2908871].

Really cool ideas that are well thought out. Characters were interesting, engaging, true to life [ie, even complete dicks have their good points] and fun.

The plot was twisty, turny with just the right amount of sentiment, hints of young love, pathos and courageous determinism.

The main reason I didn't give this a 5star is because it is the first of a series. Maybe the series will suck later and affect my thoughts on this book. Maybe Sanderson will die partway through book 2. Who knows. So I reserve judgement for that final star...



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Review: The Last Battle: The Chronicles of Narnia

The Last Battle: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This started out a bit depressing, so I stopped for a day. Then I finished it quick.

Absolutely loved it. And while Lewis and I don't see eye to eye on every theological point in the Book, this was as good of a simple picture of Heaven as I think I'll ever read. Enough so that it just made me ache to "go home"...



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Review: The Hunters

The Hunters by John Flanagan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



A good close to the series. The expected fight with with Mista Z is predictable but still just as fun and satisfying as if the outcome was truly in doubt.

The Herons return as hero's and the grumpy boy from the first book is set up to the future villain if there are any more books. Miss Tan and Lithe is placed front and center as the romance girl who must eventually choose between Hal and Stig. I would hope that Hal would learn the lessons of his father and mother and marry a Skandian instead.

However, I think this trilogy is as far as this series should go. The characters simply have not been given the "oomph" to go 10 books like in Ranger's Apprentice. I'd definitely like to see more from Mr. Flanagan, but maybe some more trilogies about other regions/peoples. Give me some more Nihon-ja. Whooooo young ninjas!!



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Review: Six Heirs

Six Heirs by Pierre Grimbert

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Take a classic David Eddings and make all the characters unlikable in a variety of ways and you get the group brought together.

I was expecting a lot more from this, as what I'd read about Grimbert painted him as THE voice in French fantasy. Well, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to be disappointed then.

It wasn't that this was bad, it was just mediocre. And I was not led to believe this was going to be mediocre. I feel kind of cheated actually.



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Review: Endless Night

Endless Night by Agatha Christie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The whole time I was reading this I felt edgy, like something was off. I kept waiting for that nasty surprise to pop out of the closet and make me wet my pants.

It didn't pop out of the closet. It crept up, unawares, until the last chapter, where it proceeded to throttle me.

I don't like books where the main character is the badguy. Especially this bad guy. He was lazy, ego-centric, selfish and the image presented by himself to the readers just didn't quite add up, until the end, where suddenly it all made sense.

Of course, his complete collapse didn't fit in with his personality and how he'd reacted earlier in life. Oh well, Christie can make her characters act how she wants them to. :)



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