Omega Rising (Omega Force #1)

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.com by  Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.
Title: Omega Rising
Series: Omega Force
Author: Joshua Dalzelle
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 205
Format: Kindle digital edition

Synopsis:

Jason Burke, former Special Forces, is hiding away in the mountains after being disilllusioned by those in power. One night he sees an aircraft go down and he runs over to see if he can give aid.
It's a spaceship and before he knows it, Jason is gallivanting around the galaxy. Being betrayed by robots, crossing the galaxy mob, freeing slaves and gathering a group of heroes to make Space a better Place.

My Thoughts:

The origins of the A-Team in Space! Seriously, that is what this is. And it was a boat load of fun.

The writing started out a little rough and if I hadn't already read Dalzelle's Black Fleet trilogy, I probably would have consigned this to the DNF/Indie pile but after the first chapter things evened out.

Don't expect deep characterization or philosophical points hidden below the surface. You'll get guys shooting things and blowing the crap out of stuff, In Space!  Of course, since this is the Origin Story, we find out how everyone comes together instead of a Do Gooder Story. But I'm sure our Intrepid Team, the Omega Force, will be on the look out for Evil, in all its forms and race to the rescue at a moments notice.

Definitely wouldn't recommend this as a first intro to Dalzelle due to the rough writing but as a second series, I foresee a lot of fun ahead. As long as it doesn't devolve like some of those other mindless action series [I'm looking at you The Warlord].
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The Endless Knot (Song of Albion #3) (Audio)

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.com by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.
Title: The Endless Knot
Series: Song of Albion
Author: Stephen Lawhead
Narrator: Robert Whitfield
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Minutes: 740
Format: Audio Book edition

Synopsis: Spoilers

Lhew Silverhand reigns in Albion. But his and Cynan's wives are abducted and against the wishes of his Bard, Lhew and Crew head to the cursed land to mount a rescue.
Lots of bad things happen in the Cursed Land and eventually Lhew comes face to face with Simon, who surprise, surprise, didn't die. Instead, Simon is now looting the Other World and sending it all back to our world, which puts both worlds at risk of dissolution.
Simon kills Lhew, takes the Stones of Albion for himself and then the stones kill all the badguys and remake the Cursed Land back into what it was supposed to be.
Lewis wakes up in our world and with the help of Susanna, begins to record his memories.

My Thoughts:

I remembered the beginning of this book and the end, but absolutely NOTHING in the middle. So the whole journey/adventure in the Cursed Land was akin to reading a whole new story.

The narrator was different from the previous 2 books and I didn't particularly care for his pronunciation of certain words. Biggest one was the henchmen Palladyr. In the previous book, and in my head, it was pronounced "Palla Deer". This new narrator pronounced it "Pa Ladder".  A change of emphasis on syllables, but it is still annoying.

Listening to this, Lewis comes across as a whiny, selfish man. I really want to read the books again to see if that comes through in the writing or if it just the take I get from the audio because I don't remember him being that way at all when I read this 16 years ago.

Overall, I liked the story but I did not like the narrator having his way with the words I was listening to.  I am going to try another trilogy of audio books because I really like filling in that 20min gap to and from work, but if the next audio experiment falls flat, I'm just going to give up on the format.
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Thraxas at the Races (Thraxas #3)

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.anobii.com by  Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.
Title: Thraxas at the Races
Series: Thraxas
Author: Martin Scott
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 256
Format: Kindle digital edition

Synopsis:

This time Thraxas is hired by a Senator to find his missing artwork, that his dwa addicted wife has stolen to fuel her habit. Of course, just as Thraxas finds the loot, he also finds the Senators dead body and is charged with the crime.
He is rescued only to find he is now expected to guard an Orc chariot driver.
From the frying pan into the fire!

My Thoughts:

I am very glad to be using the half star rating system, that is for sure. These books are pure fun but not solid enough for a re-read. Plus, with the mystery being solved, I'm not sure that I'd enjoy slogging through the same territory again. But that in no way diminishes just how awesome these books are.

My only real complaint, again, is the lousy new covers. I suspect it has something to do with legal rights and what not. I also suppose that it is supposed to be Makri, the half human, quarter Elf, quarter Orc, woman who guards Thraxas' back and has the potential to be a love interest at the end of the series. But she's described as having slightly red skin, her hair is not dyed and while she does wear a chain mail bikini [for tips at the bar], she fills it out. I've seen the old covers and I have to say, they really appeal to me.

Thankfully, the author stays away from "character development" and over arching story arcs. Just the type of story I'm looking to read for 20'ish minutes a day while on lunch break.
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Dune (Dune Chronicles #1) (Project Reread #8)

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.anobii.com by  Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.
Title: Dune
Series: Dune Chronicles
Author: Frank Herbert
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 894
Format: Kindle digital edition

Project Reread:

I am attempting to reread 10+ books in 2016 that I have rated highly in the past. I am not attempting to second guess or denigrate my younger self in any way but am wanting to compare how my tastes have changed and possibly matured. I am certainly much more widely read now [both in the good and bad quality sadly] than then.
I will hopefully be going into the reasons for any differences of opinions between then and now. If there is no difference of opinion, then it was a hellfire'd fine book!
Links may link to either Booklikes or Blogspot, depending on when the original review was.

Synopsis:

Paul Atreides, born of rebellion and love, has the potential to be the next step in Humanity. A man who can look into the past and into the future. But becoming a superman is not easy, nor is it guaranteed.
With a space operatic House feud, the Bene Gesserit bent on creating and controlling him, a Galactic King bent upon his House's destruction and a prophecy that was seeded by the Bene Gesserit hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago, Paul will succeed or die.

My Thoughts:

What do I say? This is just as good as ever.

Having read more of Herbert's works since my last read of Dune back in '11, it is very apparent that Dune was an aberration in Herbert's style. It is easy to understand, light on the psychosexual tones that Herbert seems to revel in and keeps the monologuing on philosophical themes to a minimum. None of those things are gone, but they aren't in the foreground.

While the Dune Chronicles continue for another 5 books and then has its final sequence penned by the execrable Kevin Anderson & Brian Herbert, Dune can stand on its own and in many respects, it should. It tells a complete story arc. If you LOVE Dune, then I recommend reading the rest of the Chronicles. If you aren't sure, then read another book by Herbert, perhaps The White Plague, and see if you like THAT style. If you can enjoy that one, then you'll probably enjoy the rest of the Chronicles.

I was also reminded of Red Rising by Pierce Brown, in that the main character was young [Paul is 15 at the start of the book and it covers no more than 5 years] but this is in  no way Young Adult. I think part of that is because Herbert has his main character becoming an adult at an accelerated pace due to circumstances. In fact, the more I think of it, Darrow from Red Rising reminds me more and more of Paul. Young, but having gone through a crucible, emerges from the other side with all adolescence burned out of him and maturity, responsibility and ability coating him like an armored suit. An adult with a purpose and the will to accomplish that purpose.

This Project Reread was a complete success and I got to read a 5star book that STAYED a 5star book. It just doesn't get much better than that.
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August '16 Roundup & Ramblings

This is a couple of days early, but I know I won't be finishing anymore books by months end so I figured I'd better write this while I still had some oomph in me.

This month has been something else. I knew going into August that there would be some disruption, but I wasn't expecting to have a full month of bleh. After moving my parents, things just never picked up. Life just kept throwing little curve balls.

Don't get me wrong, it hasn't been a bad month. I've had no DNF's, only one 1Star and one 2 1/2Star, so that qualifies as a good month. No 5 Stars, but those are rare enough that I don't expect them. This was just a solid read month. Nothing really bad, nothing really good.

My weirdest read was definitely Taboogasm by Gregor Xane. When I say weird, I mean alien clone baby, living dolls in space and alien butt holes kind of weird :-D

I'm hoping I get my reading mojo back for September.

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Terrorist Summit (The Executioner #44)

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.anobii.com by  Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.
Title: Terrorist Summit
Series: The Executioner
Author: Don Pendleton & Steven Krauzer
Rating: 2.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Action/Adventure
Pages: 184
Format: Kindle digital scan

Synopsis:

A maniacal American kidnaps the daughter of a Tech Contractor, who has figured out how to make suitcase nukes. He uses her to get a prototype which he then plans on selling to a disparate group of worldwide terrorists.
Everyone is in one place and it is up to Mack Bolan to rescue the girl, kill the terrorists and put the fear of God into the organizations which they are all from.
If there is one man who can do this, it is The Executioner!

My Thoughts:

My final Mack Bolan book.

In some ways it was a good book. Tons of action and bullets and splatterings of scumbags. I really like seeing Final Justice dispensed to those who deserve it. In other ways it was very disappointing. The descriptions of the kidnapped girl were simply lascivious and not appropriate at all.

That made this an uncomfortable read for me. However, I'm sure this type of thing continues so it makes even more sense for me to stop now. I do think that next year I will pick up the latest Mack Bolan just to see how the series has progressed over the years. To put this in perspective, this book was written in 1982 and the series is still ongoing.
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Thraxas and the Warrior Monks (Thraxas #2)

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.anobii.com by  Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.
Title: Thraxas and the Warrior Monks
Series: Braxas
Author: Martin Scott
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 256
Format: Kindle digital edition

Synopsis:

Thraxas is hired to defend an apprentice who is accused of murdering his master. At the same time, some dolphins want him to find their magic healing stone, 2 rival groups of monks are trying to kill him to recover a 2 ton statue AND a shipment of the king's gold goes missing. And if that isn't enough, thugs are after Thraxas as are some of the leaders of the Guards.

In fact, it seems everybody wants Thraxas dead.

My Thoughts:

This was complicated, convoluted and fun; in fact, it was just as fun as the previous book. Sometimes, humor across books can change but this keeps the same tenor.

I tried to keep things straight in my head while reading so I could write about it, but half way through I just gave up. I just let the story roll me along like a pebble in the ocean.

When I'm done these Thraxas book, I'll have to go see if Scott wrote any more.
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Dead Man's Ransom (Brother Cadfael #9)

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.anobii.com by  Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.
Title: Dead Man's Ransom
Series: Brother Cadfael
Author: Ellis Peters
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Mystery
Pages: 273
Format: Kindle digital edition

Synopsis:

King Stephen has been captured, as has Sheriff Prestcote. The Welsh make a move against the inhabitants that Beringar must now look after [as his lord was Prestcote, who's lord was Stephen]. In the process, they capture a young man who they think they can exchange for Prestcote.
During the exchange, Prestcoste is murdered and it is up to Cadfael to find the murderer and determine if Justice, or Mercy, are truly due.

My Thoughts:

For some reason, this just hit the spot.

Part of it was last weekend where I drove almost 1K miles and moved my parents in 90degree weather with 90% humidity. Then once home and finding booklikes glacial and staff actively unresponsive [not sure what else you call changing your facebook page so people can't comment/ask questions], I was just stressed.

So a little murder mystery where things would get worked out in the end was pleasant, very pleasant. The young people involved were all idiots, all of them, but thankfully they were balanced out by Cadfael, Sister Magdalena and Beringar. Which is much like real life.
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Myth-Told Tales (Myth Adventures #13)

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.anobii.com by  Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.
Title: Myth-Told Tales
Series: Myth Adventures
Author: Robert Asprin & Jody Nye
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 254
Format: Kindle digital scan

Synopsis:

Several short stories featuring various members of the Myth Inc. Gang. Most of them seem to be "Bridge" stories for Skeeve having left and what Myth Inc. will be like once the series starts up again.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this more than the previous Myth Adventures book, but I'm not upping my rating because this really was just So-so.

It is pretty obvious that Nye is the driving force behind this series taking off again so we'll see how her humor blends with Asprin's. I didn't notice any problems with the stories where I was thinking "Hmmm, THAT doesn't sound like Asprin" which does bode well for the rest of this.

Light and humorous, not laugh out loud funny.
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This Green Hell (Alex Hunter #3)

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.com & Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.
Title: This Green Hell
Series: Alex Hunter
Author: Greig Beck
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Action/Adventure
Pages: 308
Format: Kindle digital edition

Synopsis: Spoilers

An inimical alien lifeform has come to Earth, 400 years ago. Now it waits to be set free and to take over.
Aimee is still on the search for the perfect fuel. She thinks she might have found it in a new natural gas reserve that has old microbrial thingamajigs that do "Science". So of course it is the inimical Life Form and Green Berets are wiped out so Alex Hunter and Crew are sent in. The Life Form has grown, using a human host, into what is pretty much a vampire and more than a match for Alex.
A CDC scientist tags along because everyone thinks the Lifeform is just a new disease. And she has a nuke, just in case.

My Thoughts:

I had to downgrade this half a star from the previous book because there were several instances of things not being logical and simply not making sense. I can't remember what those instances were, but they made an impression.

Aimee's inclusion into the story wasn't something that I particularly enjoyed either. And then at the end to have her think that Hunter was killed by the virus was just wrong. The Israeli Special Forces lady who ends up taking charge of Hunter's frozen body is not nice and I'm not sure what her future in these stories are. I hope it is a small role.

Ton of fighting and stuff, which redeems most of the issues I had.
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