Spotlight on Balance 12 by Ania

AUTHOR WEAVES MYTHOLOGY FROM WORLD CULTURES INTO BREAKTHROUGH SCI-FI/FANTASY NOVEL

Mankind is only one of the twelve races, born of the twelve energies that created the universe. When the Balance that holds the races and the universe in harmony is threatened, two are chosen to restore it. Told through dual timelines that weave together mythologies, religions, and existential theories from all over the world, Ania’s breakthrough sci-fi/fantasy title, Balance of the 12 (Amazon, July 23, 2019), takes readers on a journey across time and space.

Billions of years ago, the Great War threatened to destroy the universe by annihilating the Balance between the twelve races. The attempt is thwarted by the Visionary Reader and human Protector at a great cost, but their sacrifice has since allowed the races to live in harmony. Until now. With another war looming on the horizon, Samuel, a human, and Jane, a Reader, are the only ones who can stop the war and restore peace. In a riveting tale both fantastical and futuristic, myth and reality collide in a fight for the greater good and the lives of all.

Ania is a translator, author of Balance of the 12, and mother of twin girls. She has spent the past decade studying philosophy and now holds a degree in the field, working especially in the philosophy of politics and existentialism. Watching her children grow up has inspired her interest in human nature, perception, and learning systems. A passionate traveler, her work is influenced by the different locations she travels to and the cultures she encounters

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Monster Hunter Vendetta by Larry Correia

This is an action junkie book.   Correia starts with his peddle to the metal and then punches it right through the firewall.   Owen Pitt, Z, accountant turned monster hunter, finds himself facing the destruction of the world, again.

The plot of the book appears to be centered around how much mayhem can be wreaked.   The forces of evil, currently led by a guy appropriately named Hood, are plotting to darken the world and cruelly subjugate the world to evil tyranny.

Correia has an imagination that is awe inspiring.  He comes up with monsters galore for the Monster Hunters and Feds to destroy and be destroyed by.

If you don’t have enough caffeine in your life, read this book and it will fire you up for your day.

I enjoyed the book.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

River of Night by John Ringo and Mike Massa

This is the eighth book in the Black Tide Rising series.  Smith, the SAS banker, needs to get to a safe haven.   He discovers a variety of obstacles.   This book details the trip.

Zombies appear to be the least of the problems in this book.   It appears that the post apocalypse world is fraught with successful sociopaths.  Smith and his crew face a ruthless leader who is cleansing an area of zombies and anyone who he sees as a threat to his dominance.   In addition, a demented bureaucrat is intent on forming a new society based on the worse values of political correctness.

As in all Ringo books there is a wealth of action.   The highlights of the book for me are the humanistic factors.  Loyalty, justice and hope are imbued throughout the book.  

I enjoyed the book although the action is best read earlier in the day as it does tend to get you fired up.

BLACK TIDE RISING SERIES:

Under a Graveyard Sky

To Sail a Darkling Sea

Islands of Rage and Hope

Strands of Sorrow

Black Tide Rising

The Valley of Shadows

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The 19th Bladesman by S.J. Hartland

This is a sword and sorcery story with vampires (ghouls).   It starts slow but progressed and ended up as a memorable book.   It involves young men with inflated egos and dismaying faults discovering their fragilities.   A very old man with a youthful appearance spends the book battling his need and desire to care.  

The characters were well done and the author didn’t portray them as one dimensional.   He showed their insecurities as well as their strengths.   I would have preferred the king and his advisor had names that were no so similar as I often mis-identified them.   Kaell and Ari were both likeable characters doomed to duty and prone to ignoring the chain of command.   Interestingly as I write this it occurred to me that all of the women in the book were treacherous.  At least I can’t think of any that weren’t.

Give this book a chance, it jumps around a bit and can be confusing, Azenor and her dead boyfriend being a prime example. 

I liked the book. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Boundless by R. A. Salvatore

This is a Drizzt Do’Urden centered book.   I’ve read some of those years ago.  This one is not captivating. I often find if there is a lengthy character list in the front it is indicative of boundless confusion.   Frankly I found this confusing.

I am a fan of fantasy but I just could not get into the book.   Before I was retired I used to give a book 50 pages before I abandoned it.  Now that I am retired I go for 100 pages and if it hasn’t grabbed me by then, alas, I quit.

I quit on this one. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The Tyranny Of the Night by Glen Cook

The Black Company by Cook was one of my all-time favorite series.   This book had similarities but was far more confusing.  A child, taken from their family and trained as a warrior is the main character.  He is tasked by his capricious ruler to infiltrate an enemy.   

The book reeks of dark magic and evil people.  Else, the slave warrior, is very pragmatic but also confused.   His infiltration is confusing because the enemy keeps changing.  Accidentally Else discovers a way to kill the sorcerous creatures of the night and this puts a target on his back.  The target seekers are demi-gods who want Else’s knowledge destroyed.   Interestingly enough, Else does not seem to extrapolate his experience into a broader threat.

The number of characters and the alliances of same are mind boggling.   I found my self glossing over sections because I wasn’t sure who was supposed to be friends and enemies.   Perhaps that was Cook’s intent.   I don’t know.

I do know that although I liked the book, I certainly didn’t like it nearly as well as ANY of the many Black Company books.

I will read the sequel as I am a glutton for punishment and I hope to discover that Cook becomes less verbose, more intent on the plot and less intent on introducing a new character or enemy on every page. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The Hound of Justice by Claire O’Dell

This is a book in the Janet Watson Chronicle, a follow up to A Study in Honor.   Janet Watson is a surgeon injured in the war.   She finds herself embroiled in politics due to her friendship with Sara Holmes, an agent so sometime from some part of the government.   Dr. Watson is drawn into the intrigue by her desire to see justice done to a corporation who caused the death of so many soldiers.

O’Dell provides an in-depth character study of Dr. Watson.   Watson suffers from PTSD as well as guilt over what more she should or could of done in the attack that took her arm.   Dr. Watson is also looking for love and struggling to find those she can trust. 

 

The idea of a new Confederacy and a return to wide spread bigotry based on color is repugnant.   Dismayingly the headlines seem to indicate that racial and religious bigotry are alive and disgustingly well in a shockingly large splinter of society.   O’Dell addresses this and foreshadows a future that could be unless our society rejects the messages of hate that have been promulgated lately.

This is an entertaining book that provides serious food for thought. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.