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Required Reading
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Sunday, April 14, 2024
The First Binding by R.R. Virdi
Ari is a storyteller. The book is his story. It is well-written and captivating and frustrating. Virdi jumps all over the place in his tale-telling. Back story is good, side stories and future stories and what the heck is that in here for stories aren’t as good to me. I really enjoyed the book but admittedly I’m fond of a more linear approach.
The book is set in a feudalistic world with some Fagan components. Implacable supernatural enemies and powerful political
forces are abundant in the book. Ari is
a complex child and an adult with a self-created complex identity.
Despite my frustrations, I will be reading the next
volume. I enjoyed it but am just not
fond of the story structure.
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, April 9, 2024
WICKED PROBLEMS byMax Gladstone
This may or may not be a dystopian story, I never could
tell. There is a wealth of gods,
characters, and monsters. It really
needed a backstory. I vaguely remembered
the plot but the complexity of the book made my recollection quite foggy.
The likeability of characters is a major criterion of how much I enjoy a book. I liked Mal but was a bit indifferent about Dawn and Tera. Frankly, the number of characters was a bit overwhelming. The book has aspects I enjoyed but it will never land on my most liked books 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned
Friday, March 8, 2024
A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci
The book forcefully makes you look at how you look at people
of another color. Race is the plot's
focus, but the situations posed are not just plot devices. Baldacci weaves a mystery around social
commentary. I’m not privy to Baldacci’s
thoughts but from my perspective, the book abounds with similes that apply to
current events.
I always enjoy David Baldacci’s writing but this book may
have provided more fodder for introspection than any of his other many books I’ve
read.
I applaud his courage to tackle a controversial topic.
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
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Forge of the High Mage by Ian C. Esslemont
After finishing the
fourth book of this series I must reiterate that the author is fond of
complexity and that forces you to pay attention. On that note, Dorin from earlier
books is now Dancer. Wu is now Kellanved. Luckily Esslemont who is still Esslemont the
author, provides a list of characters in the preface. Succinctly the plot is
that Kellanved wants to conquer the known world.
Esslemont will introduce a character, provide significant details to their portrait, and then abandon them for a hundred pages.
There are oddities and characters to appeal to any appetite. Giants, shape-shifters, semi-sentient cyborg monsters, gods, demi-gods, mages, warriors, soldiers, frankly if you have read any fantasy, you will probably find a character to identify with in this book.
Again a strong admonishment that due to Esslemont’s attention to detail and the complexity of the plot, I would recommend reading the books in order and pay strict attention to what you read.
I recommend 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett NOW AVAILABLE
NOW AVAILABLE
First kudos to Bennet for the creative use of botany, which
underpins the entire storyline. The empire
is threatened by seaborn (e) titans.
Concentric semicircle walls protect the population with the gentry occupying
the safest section. Din and Engraver is
paired as an assistant to Ana an investigator in a tiny backwater of the
empire. They are drawn into an
insidious plot to possibly destroy the empire.
Din, with secrets, serves Ana who
has greater secrets, the two end up with the daunting task of discovering who
is threatening the empire.
Bennet’s creativity is captivating. The plot is important but I found myself
looking forward to seeing what new graft or contagion might shift the storyline. The types of characters let alone the
mystery of the titans made this difficult to put down.
Other books by Bennett I’ve enjoyed and reviewed are below,
click on the links to see the review.
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, January 22, 2024
Kellanved's Reach by Ian C. Esslemont
Esslemont is the master of complexity. His books demand you pay attention to what you are reading. This volume has Kellanved mastering more exotic arts. An enigma to the other mages, demigods, gods, demons, and assorted supernatural beings, Kellanved continues to quest. Dancer, an assassin, professional assassin if you please, accompanies him against his considerable reservations as to Kellanved’s sanity.
Reviewing this series is difficult, not for the normal fear of spoilers, but due to the often overwhelming complexity of the plot. Frankly, I’m not sure I could do a spoiler, that anyone not reading the series would understand.
This is not negative! I am enjoying the series and marveling at Esslemont’s mind. This is an author capable of juggling chainsaws while spinning plates.
If you are a fantasy fan willing to sort through allegiances and characters to get to the multi-layered plot, this series is for you.
I’m loving 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
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu
Note: I never give 6 stars to any book!
Mataru is a new Rock Star! I loved the book! I read a great deal. I normally read three or four books at the same time, not simultaneously but at the same time. I don’t normally struggle with not moving to the other book, it is usually whichever book is at hand, Kindle, phone, or actual physical book. This time I didn’t want to put Dragon Rider down. It captivated me. This is the part of the review which normally goes at the end, sorry.
Dragon Rider is a tale of a third son, held as the least of
three hostages, by the Sabine Empire.
The old emperor needed assisted living and with him living in a fantasy
world that didn’t exist so Jai, the third son of the dead nomad leader, was his
“arse” wipe.
Leonid was brutal but not cruel. His son was cruel and brutal. His grandson was ruthless, cruel, brutal, and
treacherous. This delightful family
interplay leads to Jai being on the run while harboring an alleged poisoner.
The two of them run into unlikely allies, vociferous and
despicable enemies.
The path is fraught with danger and non-human companions,
one of which is obvious from the title of the book.
I insist, no I demand that you treat yourself to this outstanding
read, you deserve to revel in the wonderous nature of this extraordinary story.
I can’t wait for the sequel.
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, January 3, 2024
From the Forest by L.E Modesitt
Happy to be back to Recluce, I really enjoyed the book. It is like visiting a friend you haven’t seen for a while. A new character, Alayiakal, is a Mirror Lancer with many secrets. Faced with a strictly stratified society, he must hide his strengths or be forced into unwanted roles or even condemned to death.
Alayiakal shares the same humble bragging characteristics as many of Modesitt’s characters. He dissuades fame and downplays his successes with aplomb. Modesitt’s main protagonists always seem likable and have a strong ethical core. The likable description has resulted in negative commentary in previous reviews. Criticism be damned, I want to have likable characters. I invest in my reading and I don’t want to be invested in a despicable personality.
The storyline is not predictable and yet seems familiar. That too, is something I enjoy. Once again, it feels like visiting an old friend and I like doing that.
I enjoyed the book and look forward to the ensuing volumes.
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, January 1, 2024
Deadhouse Landing by Ian C. Esslemont
This is book two of the Path to Ascendancy series. Esslemont is overly fond of complexity. This is not a book or a series you want to take to the beach for light reading. His plot and characters are Byzantine.
Dancer and Kellanved, the mage formerly known as Wu, are
once again surrounded by extraordinary events and characters.
The secretive Surly and her shipwrecked crew are ensconced
in a dump of a taproom. Her interaction with Dancer and Kellanved is nothing
short of hysterical. She is mystified by
their behavior but discovers associating with them may be beneficial and deadly.
There are mages, monsters, battle royals, elite troops, and haunted
houses and ships. There is a wealth of
action and there are so many characters you are grateful for the list in the
front of the book.
I am enjoying the series with intense glee, the complexity
is challenging but well worthwhile. I
recommend 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned