The Sky Lords (Sky Lords #1) DNF@20%

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: The Sky Lords

Series: Sky Lords

Author: John Brosnan

Rating:  of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: Abandoned

 

 

 

My Thoughts:

A sick twisted power hungry man plays with words with a lesbian amazonian slave woman about just what "rape" is.

 

No thank you.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1260189/the-sky-lords-sky-lords-1-dnf-20

A Quest of Heroes (The Sorcerer's Ring #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: A Quest of Heroes

Series: The Sorcerer's Ring

Author: Morgan Rice

Rating:   of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 234

 

 

 

Synopsis:

I am going to let part of the book's official synopsis stand in here.

 

A Quest of Heroes revolves around the epic coming of age story of one special boy, a 14 year old from a small village on the outskirts of the Kingdom of the Ring. The youngest of four, the least favorite of his father, hated by his brothers, Thorgrin senses he is different from the others.

 

My Thoughts:

Sadly, this book was utterly and completely Amateur Hour. 

 

The plot lifts heavily from David's childhood (King David from the Bible) including sheep, sling, killing a big creature on his own, older brothers who join the army and getting the King's attention in a very dramatic way. There is also the best friends for life with the King's son and the romantic interest by the King's daughter. Folks, trust me, this was David in an alternate world.

If that wasn't enough, we have shades of King Arthur. There is a lone magician who advises the King and is Merlin pretty much in all but name. The King's Daughter is name Gwen and there is a magic sword that only the Chosen One (I did not make up that capitalization this time) may lift and lead the Kingdom into glorious and eternal peace and prosperity.

 

I LIKE fantasy tropes. But I don't like poor writing and lazy idea creating.

 

The writing itself was clunky at best and downright childish at worst. I felt like I was reading a highschool play written by an earnest but incompetent english student.  The presentation of ideas and the movement of the plot from beginning to end was not even YA, more middle grade, as things happen simply because the author writes them that way, not because it is in any way feasible.

 

Finally, the version I read had over 300 pages and the official page count for the versions here is 234. So I'm guessing Rice did an edit job? If so, I'm not interested in reading a proofed version.

 

This was a waste of my time and I'm rather disappointed.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1259666/a-quest-of-heroes-the-sorcerer-s-ring-1

The Godborn (The Sundering #2) (Erevis Cale) (Forgotten Realms)

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: The Godborn

Series: The Sundering

Author: Paul Kemp

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 336

 

 

 

Synopsis:

100 years after the previous Erevis Cale book, his son is being raised by monks of the god of light. Cale is still frozen in hell and the dark goddess Shar is still trying to end the world. Riven is taking Mask's place and Rivalen is still trying to free Shar.

 

The end of the world is in Vasen's hands [Cale's son] but can he do it?

 

My Thoughts:

This was a good wrap up to Erevis Cale's story. While he is less than a 2d character, at least he is present and things get wrapped up.

 

Vasen isn't a bad character, but he just doesn't get time to grow on us. Erevis had 6+ books, Vasen not even one.  This is not a good standalone book, as it won't make much sense without those 6 Erevis Cale books to lay the foundation. I don't think you need to have read the previous Sundering book however.

 

So a pretty good book if you're an Erevis Cale fan but otherwise, just a blase Forgotten Realms book.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1259169/the-godborn-the-sundering-2-erevis-cale-forgotten-realms

Aincrad (Sword Art Online #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: Aincrad

Series: Sword Art Online

Author: Reki Kawahara

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 256

 

 

 

Synopsis:

The Light Novel that spawned the popular anime. 10,000 people get trapped inside a new virtual reality game by the insane creator of said game.

The players must clear a one hundred level tower to get free.

 

My Thoughts:

First off, I think SAO in nothing but a ripoff off the vastly superior Hack//Slash. So I'm not exactly unbiased.

Second, even for a Light Novel, this was singularly blase.

 

I didn't like it but I suspect hardcore fans of the anime would like it.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1258555/aincrad-sword-art-online-1

Verily, A New Hope (William Shakespeare's Star Wars #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: Verily, A New Hope

Series: William Shakespeare's Star Wars

Author: Ian Doescher

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 174

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Star Wars, done in iambec pentameter. If you don't know Star Wars, don't read this.

 

My Thoughts:

The first time I read this, I rather hated it. This time, I bravely made my way through. I found myself reading it aloud and it made it much better.

 

I suspect hearing this read aloud would be the best choice. I might try that for the next two. I need an audible version.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1258099/verily-a-new-hope-william-shakespeare-s-star-wars-1

Jinx on a Terran Inheritance (The Terran Inheritance #2)

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: Jinx on a Terran Inheritance

Series: The Terran Inheritance

Author: Brian Daley

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 416

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Alacrity and Hobart (I just love saying those names. Daley did a grand job of picking them) continue their quest to find "their" starship and return it to Earth as they are both still under compulsion from the conditioning they received in the first book.

However, things happen. Things like becoming slaves. Things like discovering that there IS a vast conspiracy of control by a secret Group. Things like trying to survive said Secret Group.

 

My Thoughts:

Once again, Brian Daley spins a fanciful, adventurous yarn that is just plain fun to read. This was a romp, a lark, a joy to read.

 

I simply had fun reading this. I wasn't worried about grammar and spelling mistakes. I wasn't worried about stupid characters or the such. I wasn't worried about Hobart and Floyd giving page long soliloquys about how tortured their hearts were and how much they hated themselves and Existence itself. Quite the opposite in fact.

 

I enjoyed this as much as the first book and have high hopes that I'll enjoy the final book in this trilogy as well.

 

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1257194/jinx-on-a-terran-inheritance-the-terran-inheritance-2