Required Reading

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Thursday, December 31, 2020

Alpha & Omega by Patricia Briggs



This is a novella that precedes the Alpha and Omega series.   Anna thinks she is a submissive and abused werewolf.  She is 50% correct.  Charles comes the Marrok to find out what is going on in the Chicago packs.

Charles is a very dominant werewolf and Anna has been abused.   Anna’s expectations are not met in any way she imagined.   There is action tension and sexual tension.  

Briggs does a masterful job in making you believe in her world. 


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Saturday, December 26, 2020

Domesticating Dragons by Dan Koboldt

Well crafted and engaging!

Being a dragon lover for as long as I can remember, I expected to love this book and I DID!

Kolboldt postulates a not too distant future where genetic engineering allows engineers to create dragons.  The dragons have issues which is where Noah Parker finds his niche.

Anthropomorphism figures into my own writing and I always enjoy seeing it used.  The dragons are a reflection of the designer.   The customer support call logs were hysterical.

I recommend the book to anyone interested in genetic engineering to get a picture of a possible future.  For dragon lovers, this is a must-read!

I highly recommend it. 


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Monday, December 21, 2020

Vettius and His Friends By David Drake



I appreciate the fact that Drake enjoys Roman history.  I struggled with Latin one but excelled in Latin two because we got to read Cesar’s Galic Chronicles.   War stories grabbed my interest and gave me the best grades I ever go in languages.   This book is a series of short stories with a Roman theme.   Roman times provide the setting and Drake’s imagination adds the magic or science fiction to the setting.

I am not fond of short stories but I enjoyed thisl 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey



The author takes long loved fables and gently turns them into the plot of her book.  Elena is Cinderella but not really.   She is similar but different as are the characters in the book.   The Fairy Godmother is a guardian against evil.  The original Fairy Godmothers were Fae but now humans with magical potential end up as wizards, witches, sorcerers, sorceress and Fairy Godmothers.

Lackey does a great job blending the stories of childhood and turning them into a novel of acceptance and redemption.   The story is entertaining and uplifting.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Friday, December 11, 2020

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

In the distant future, there are humans, augmented humans and, for want of a better term, cyborgs co-exist.   A group of humans is exploring an uncharted world with the protection of a murderbot.  Things go awry.

Murderbots are guard dog type of beings. They have internal weapons, power cells, and limited freedom.   This murderbot has circumvented his governor and discovered a love of public entertainment to the point of even having a favorite show.   The socialization of watching mass-market media has changed the murderbot.

The author does a good job depicting a future where corporate entities are dominant and still haven’t mastered ethics.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Starstrike by W. Michael Gear



Gear has the tendency to tackle big issues, like the fate of humanity.   Wide, an Ahimsa, has decided to use humans as strawmen to address what he perceives as a threat to his species.  

Wide collects a incredible variety of earth warriors and shows that elite fighting forces are multitalented diplomats as well as warriors.  Gear’s depiction of Earth as a cesspool of warring entities is not far off.  Putting out that the US government can simultaneous help prop up a dictator while providing arms for an insurrection in another area is really stating the obvious.  Our world is a mess, let alone our country.  Our planet is interdicted as being insane by the alien race of Ahimsa, sadly for good reason.

No doubt I read more social implications than Gear intended but that is the beauty of a well written book, it provides many paths of focus for the reader.

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. 


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned



Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Corporate Gunslinger by Doug Engstrom



 In a future dominated by corporations, common people are given the opportunity to address their grievances by dueling with corporate gunslingers.   If unsatisfied with a judicial decision a citizen can challenge the system by requesting a duel.  

Kira extended her self for education to the point where her student loans were going to lead to life long indenturing.  Gunslinging was the only way out for her.

Engstrom writes an entertaining story.   Pointing out the fact that student loans can be debilitating makes a social statement.   Sadly, those loans can ruin a life.   Engstrom also addresses gender equality and shows that strength is not gender specific.

This was a good book and I recommend it.    



This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned