Sela by Jackie Gamber

This is the sequel to Redheart, Jackie’s first book in the Leland Dragon Series. 

I first posted my review on Redheart at  Book Review: Redheart by Jackie Gamber on Blogcritics which will theoretically get me more traffic on my posts.  I still don’t know if that is true.   Sela is every bit as good as Redheart and deals with the coming of age of some young dragons.  

The cast of characters and location are familiar in this book.  Leland is the province where Kallon Redheart, a red dragon, resides.  The province is in a drought and tensions between dragons and humans are at an all time high.  Fordon Blackclaw, the Dragon Council Leader, is using the tensions to further his personal ambitions.   Riza Diantus epitomizes or perhaps symbolizes the plight of the woman in un-enlightened cultures.  That is making the assumption that we live in an enlightened culture which isn’t always guaranteed.   Equal opportunity often seems to be a cliché not realized in our tumultuous economic environment of today let alone in a rural agriculture set in a medieval style setting.  

Jastin, the dragon hunter, returns as merciless as ever and the wizard, Orman is here again.  

There are new characters as well.   Drell and Sela are second generation characters who bring new viewpoints to a tumultuous story.

There are dragons of all colors.  Desert dragons and mountain dragons, good dragons and bad dragons, the book are infested with dragons.   That is one of the reasons I loved it.  

Gamber has created loveable and despicable characters.   She imbues them with real feelings, emotions and frustrations.   Jackie Gamber brings alive dragons and adventure with colorful, involved storytelling.   Once again, the warm characters and very believable emotions produce a book that will be remembered and cherished.

I highly recommend the book, it was an excellent sequel and I look fervently for  the next chapter in the tale.

Body of work of <a type="amzn"> Jackie Gamber </a>

Web site:  http://www.jackiegamber.com/

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

Antiquitas Lost: The Last of the Shamalans by Robert Louis Smith

This is a fantasy taking place in an alternative world where magic works, a bit reminiscent of Lion, Wardrobe, Lord of the Rings but still unique.

Elliot is bullied due to his perceived physical differences and his diffident behavior. He finds himself swirled into a different place forced to stand up for both himself and others.

Dr. Smith does a nice job portraying a rather normal kid thrust into some terrifying situations. He doesn’t portray a cardboard hero stepping up and making an instantaneous transformation into a stalwart swashbuckler. Both Elliot and his Gimlet pals meet some terrifying and colorful characters in their journeys. None of the characters are omnipotent, even the bad guys, mistakes are made by all. This provides a smidgen of realism that often is lacking in fantasies.

In some ways this is a fantastical coming of age story and in others just an entertaining read.

I enjoyed it.

Body of work of Robert Louis Smith

Web site: http://www.antiquitaslost.com/robert-louis-smith.php

The Profession by Steven Pressfield

In a not too far distant future America has gotten fed up with wasting their young.   Mercenaries have become the popular method of dealing with international crisis.  A charismatic general has become the hope of millions.  Is he the hope for the nation or a despot in the wings?

The most frightening something about this book is its believability.  The weapons technology is an obvious extension of of current technology.  The crises faced in the book are also an obvious extension of current world disorder.  Sadly it is easy to see how a charismatic leader could be both a savior and a disaster.

There were good characterizations and enough action for practically anyone.  Don't get discouraged with the overly verbose details and descriptions early in the book.  All the advanced technology and weapons simply come down to the relationship between men.  

This book is certainly worth reading and is a sobering appraisal of a possible path for OUR nation. 

I highly recommend it.

Body of work of Steven Pressfield

Web Site: http://www.stevenpressfield.com/

The Service of the Sword by David Weber

 This is Worlds of Honor number 4. It is a series of short stories by David Weber, John Ringo, Eric Flint, Jane Lindskold and Timothy Zahn. With the exception of Ms. Linkskold, I have multiple books from each of the other authors listed. The story takes place in David Weber’s Honor Harrington universe.

You would not need to have read all of David Weber’s books to enjoy this series of short stories. Of course having read all of David Weber's work, I was able to enjoy all of the nuances that might be missed, if you are not a fan, that were in the stories.

It is always a treat to revisit the Honor Harrington universe where courage loyalty and honor our hallmarks of the stories.

I highly recommend the book and the series.

Body of work of David Weber

Web site http://davidweber.net/

Redheart by Jackie Gamber

Article first published as Book Review: Redheart by Jackie Gamber on Blogcritics which will theoretically get me more traffic on my posts.

Redheart is book one of the Leland Dragon Series.   Leland is the province where Kallon Redheart, a red dragon, resides.  The province is in a drought and tensions between dragons and humans are at an all time high.  Fordon Blackclaw, the Dragon Council Leader, is using the tensions to further his personal ambitions.   This is the cauldron that a young woman named Riza finds herself embroiled in when she flees a life of mundane existence. 

Riza Diantus epitomizes or perhaps symbolizes the plight of the woman in un-enlightened cultures.  That is making the assumption that we live in an enlightened culture which isn’t always guaranteed.   Equal opportunity often seems to be a cliché not realized in our tumultuous economic environment of today let alone in a rural agriculture set in a medieval style setting.  

Riza questions all, not just those in authority, she questions everyone.   Her lust for answers and her refusal to be bound by a rigid role proscribed by her agrarian life makes her a heroine in my estimation.   She refuses to accept the role of victim and fights for what she wants and what she feels is right.  

Jastin, the dragon hunter, is on a quest of vengeance.   He is conflicted regarding his feelings for Riza.   He perceives himself as a merciless mercenary but is surprised when Riza touches feelings he thought long abandoned.

Kallon, too,  is far more than a cardboard cutout of a dragon.   He deals with feelings of alienation and inadequacy.   Kallon’s struggles with his fears and his relationship with Riza, Jastin and the wizard, Orman, become entwined with Blackclaw the Dragon Council leader.

Gamber has created loveable and despicable characters.   She imbues them with real feelings, emotions and frustrations.   Jackie Gamber brings alive dragons and adventure with colorful, involved storytelling.   The intricate details of a Stephen Zimmer or Tolkien are not there but the warm characters and very believable emotions produce a book that will be remembered and cherished.

I highly recommend the book and look fervently for a sequel.

Body of work of Jackie Gamber

Web site:  http://www.jackiegamber.com/

 To celebrate the launch week of Jackie Gamber's Redheart, Seventh Star Press is announcing

a very special sale.  The good news is that they've got a title in multiple areas of fantasy, so that you can try Seventh Star Press eBooks out in this special sale that will be running through Mid-June.  Only $1.99 for Redheart, Thrall, Crown of Vengeance, and The Exodus Gate.

What are you waiting for?  Just two bucks and you'll be on a grand adventure.  Find out what readers around the world are discovering...there's a growing constellation of quality titles at SeventhStar Press!

All eBook titles include the Matthew Perry illustrations that are in the print editions.

Visit this page for further information and direct links to eBook  titles.

The Shiva Option by David Weber

This is book number four in the Starfire series and may be the conclusion. The Shiva Option saves countless lives but is honor besmirched or are ethics compromised?  The inhumane bugs are finally exterminated by the alliance of dissimilar beings or are they. A smidgen of doubt provides the opening for a 5th book.

This book could be read as a standalone but it wouldn’t be as nearly enjoyable. Reoccurring characters provide the bulk of the heroics. Weber writes extraordinary military science fiction. You find your self near tear with the loyalty, courage and fortitude that personify his characters. The willingness of individuals to sacrifice their personal well being for the benefit of society is mirrored in the current conflicts in which our young people are laying down their own lives.

Weber pointedly depicts the self-serving political aspects that detract from the actions of the people who put their lives on the line to protect society.


Admittedly, I am a David Weber fan. I love his characterizations, his depictions of honor and courage. His books are inspiring.


I highly recommend the book and the series.


Body of work of David Weber


Web site http://davidweber.net/

Hell’s Gate by David Weber and Linda Evans

Book one of the Multiverse series is a most engrossing 1200 pages. Evan’s and Weber portray two unique civilizations on a road to conflict. Arcana bases their technology on magic. Sharona has psychic talents but bases their technology on science. The multi-universal aspect is that both civilizations have discovered portal to alternate earths that have no populations until they confront each other.

David Weber and Linda Evans do a superb job in describing two dissimilar cultures and those cultures’ idiosyncrasies. As they alternate back and forth from culture to culture you find your sympathies vacillating as well. The beauty of their work is that you truly find things that are both laudable and stimulating for each culture. They are being drawn into conflict by serendipitous contacts and malicious behavior in spite of their root similarities. I can not wait to read the next volume, “Hell Hath No Fury”.

I highly recommend it and all of David Weber’s Work.

Body of work of David Weber

Body of work of Linda Evans


Review:

Web site http://davidweber.net/
Linda Evans keeps a very low profile. I could find no website, no info or no photos.

Hell Hath No Fury by David Weber and Linda Evans

Book two of the Multiverse series is also most engrossing. Evan’s and Weber’s portrayal of two unique civilizations on a road to conflict progress to the actual conflict itself. Arcana base magic technology challenges Sharona’s psychic talents and their science based technology. The multi-universal aspect is that both civilizations have discovered portal to alternate earths that have no populations until they confront each other.

David Weber and Linda Evans do a superb job in describing two dissimilar cultures and those cultures’ idiosyncrasies. As they alternate back and forth from culture to culture you find your sympathies vacillating as well. The beauty of their work is that you truly find things that are both laudable and stimulating for each culture. They are being drawn into conflict by serendipitous contacts and malicious behavior in spite of their root similarities.

The contrast of opposing technologies is interesting. What makes the book great is the emotional undertones. The ability to evoke strong emotions regarding the characters is rare. I cared for Emperor on Sharona and his family and loathed the Arcana villains.

My biggest disappointment with this book was the cliff hanger ending. Normally I don’t mind cliff hanger endings if there is a proposed forthcoming book to get you off the damn cliff. Sadly according to what I can see on the web there is no forthcoming volume let alone a conclusion in process. I wish the authors would have done a better wrap of the work if they weren’t planning on proceeding with the series in a timely manner.

I highly recommend the book with the caveat that I can almost guarantee that you will be strongly annoyed at the ending and the fact there is no foreseeable conclusion.

Body of work of David Weber
Body of work of Linda Evans

Web site http://davidweber.net/
Linda Evans keeps a very low profile. I could find no website, no info or no photos.

Book one of the Multiverse series is a most engrossing 1200 pages. Evan’s and Weber portray two unique civilizations on a road to conflict. Arcana bases their technology on magic. Sharona has psychic talents but bases their technology on science. The multi-universal aspect is that both civilizations have discovered portal to alternate earths that have no populations until they confront each other.

David Weber and Linda Evans do a superb job in describing two dissimilar cultures and those cultures’ idiosyncrasies. As they alternate back and forth from culture to culture you find your sympathies vacillating as well. The beauty of their work is that you truly find things that are both laudable and stimulating for each culture. They are being drawn into conflict by serendipitous contacts and malicious behavior in spite of their root similarities. I can not wait to read the next volume, “Hell Hath No Fury”.

I highly recommend it and all of David Weber’s Work.

Body of work of David Weber
Body of work of Linda Evans


Review:

Web site http://davidweber.net/
Linda Evans keeps a very low profile. I could find no website, no info or no photos.