The One-Eyed Man by L.E. Modesitt, jr

Modesitt is a philosopher.  His books are entertainment, for sure, but are also philosophic guides for behavior.   This book is not in the Imager Portfolio, it is a stand alone that does a fine job on standing alone.  

Paulo Verano, the main protagonist, is facing a dismal future dealing with an emotional mistake.   His salvation comes through a exceedingly long distance contract that will put his current situation behind him in both time and space. 

Modesitt provides a new environment for this book.  He suggests good behavior and responsibility should be rewarded and the converse punished.   His omnipotent character is elusive and mysterious.   The human behavior is typical and profit driven in many cases.  

Love is found in the most unlikely situations. 

I highly recommend all his books.  

Body of  work of <a type="amzn" >L.E. Modesitt</a>

Site:  http://www.lemodesittjr.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.

Vicious Grace by M.L.N. Hanover.

This is book three of the series The Black Sun’s Daughter. This is urban fantasy at its best. Jayne Heller discovers that her favorite uncle may not be the man she thought he was.

I read the fourth book, Killing Rites, in the series first. I am now caught up as I have read Unclean Spirits and Darker Angels . I am enjoying the series and hope to read the fifth book when it comes out.

Realizing I may be repetitious but nevertheless this is a violent coming of age story. Jayne discovers a lot about her Uncle Eric, her relationships and her self through the action and violence of the story.

The careful crafting to show good and evil as shades of gray deserves praise. The ambivalent nature shown by Jayne provides her with a reality persona far better than other urban fantasy heroines. The cast of characters demonstrates extraordinary courage in the sacrifices they make to thwart evil. Hanover, once again, has produced a action laden story that holds your interest to the very last page.

I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend.

Body of work of Body of work of M.L.N. Hanover

Web Site: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/abrahamdaniel.html

The Universal Mirror by Gwen Perkins

Gwen Perkins has created a universe pregnant with potential sequels. This book introduces some memorable characters as well as an environment where magicians are curtailed in their art by a corpulent led bureaucracy and love is being thwarted.
This is as much a love story as a magical fantasy. Quentin is obsessed with finding a way for his wife to love him. His actions place both his friend and his enemy in dire straits. I enjoyed the characterizations. Ms. Perkins does a nice job painting characters that have the depth of reality surrounding them. They are real people with ordinary personalities engulfed in extraordinary circumstances. The characters show the pettiness of human nature and the extent that perseverance and love can overcome daunting odds and personality shortcomings.
I also enjoyed the eponymous nature of the book title and how it was clarified in the story line. It appears that the end sets up a wealth of potential sequels, one can only hope.
I highly recommend this book!

Body of work of Gwen Perkins

Web Site: http://gwen.ironangel.net/

Chasing Dragons:Vengeance by Barbara Farquharson Scott

The hope of Dragon protectors are gone from the works along with the dragons. A dismal future of capricious tyranny shackles the known world. Only the dragons and their riders have the courage and fortitude to challenge the evil that abounds but they are all dead, or are they?

Jenabel and her family dominate the story that starts with Deagon dealing with his legacy. Deagon’s only companion is an amusing ghost who with a magic book makes Deagon question his own sanity. I particularly enjoyed Jenabel’s interaction with her brothers, Oliver and Seth. Ms. Scott either closely researched sibling interaction or has an extended family as the family interaction oozed authenticity.

I think the story line and plot could be a bit more polished but as the first book in the series, it is quite good. It wraps up in a logical and satisfying manner and yet teases you with future books to complete the quest.

I recommend it.

Body of work of Barbara Farquharson Scott

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

Fezariu’s Epiphany by David M. Brown

This is a tale of sadness, sacrifice and misunderstanding.

Fezariu bases his life on incorrect assumptions.  His misery and withdrawn behavior may be a metaphor for life’s misunderstandings.   I found myself wanting to point in the direction of his redemption.   He and his 3 Merelax Mercenaries’ companions discover truths about themselves as the fulfill the duties and obligations thrust upon them.

The settings of a declining metropolis, a prominent brothel, demoralizing battlefields and a loving warm bakery are crafted and described well.  The only complaint I had with the book was the letters that Fezariu sent to Alycea taxed my 20/20 corrected vision to the limits.  I found the font size and the script made the letters very difficult to read.

Jessamine is the saddest character in the book and her self sacrificing behavior is as misguided as it is laudable.   You can almost smell the filth and corruption that permeates Clarendon, a true cesspool of a city.   This is a story of how a boy grows into being a man and accepting his faults and redeeming his failures. 

I recommend it.

Body of work of David M. Brown

Web site:  http://elenchera.com/fezariusepiphany.html

Rogue Oracle by Alayna Williams

A story plucked out of today’s disasters and leavened with a touch of mysticism. 

The recent tsunami and resultant nuclear meltdowns were particularly poignant as I read this book.   News commentator’s comparisons to Chernobyl were particularly frightening.   Stories with a grain of truth often ring more clearly to a reader.  

Tara Sheridan’s oracle skills were brand new to me as her use of a Tarot deck.   I haven’t read any of Alayna Williams books before but I intend to remedy that oversight.   The plot was intricate with out unnecessary nuances.  

I think a chapter to fill in the back story would have been helpful to understand who Tara was and what was involved wither relationships with Harry and Carrie.

The two Steves added some humor and lightened up what was otherwise a pretty scary semi-occult book. 

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Alayna Williams

Web site:

Thrall by Steven Shrewsbury

The press release suggested this book was in the vein of Conan but Thrall would kick Conan’s butt. A dark heroic fantasy with an aging protagonist.

While not an aging warrior, I am aging and feel some of the aches that plagued Thrall throughout the book. I thought Shrewsbury did an excellent job of portraying an aging warrior. He shows that treachery, deceit and experience can thwart youth and bravado. Thrall isn’t exactly likeable but he is admirable. He soldiers on when lesser men have curled up and died. I liked his perseverance and attitude.

The family interaction was certainly eye opening. The characters were well portrayed and the action and violence certainly fit the genre. I liked the book and hope to see a sequel.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of Steven Shrewsbury

Web site: None found

See my interview with the author.