This was a great read. I generally avoid fantasy set in the modern (or sorta) world, and never considered myself a military-anything buff. So Control ...moreThis was a great read. I generally avoid fantasy set in the modern (or sorta) world, and never considered myself a military-anything buff. So Control Point was a very-pleasant surprise. I devoured the book in two days.
Cole does a great job of building an alternative reality that’s believable and authentic. He sprinkles in fantastic nuggets of how the world we know and live in now would react to a subset of the population suddenly popping up with magical powers. He examines the political and social impact without ever moralizing or making a judgment. It would be easy to draw a clear good/evil line in a story like this and get preachy but Cole did none of that.
All of this in the middle of taking us into a fully-realized alien world full of its own creatures and cultures and believable magic system.
This is a great debut and I’m thrilled to have found it.
But because every book has its faults, I do have the following complaints:
I couldn’t give Control Point five stars because Cole used one of my pet peeve writing techniques, internal monologue. I’ve gone on record before about how much I hate IM, but I know it doesn’t bother most readers so that’s probably neither here nor there to the majority reading this.
I also agree with another reviewer who wondered when Britton would “man up.” At some point it began to feel like he debated a point with himself, only to forget the next day what he’d decided the day before.
That said, neither of those annoyances were enough to override the imaginative plot and worldbuilding and the realistic action scenes. Definitely a recommended read. Enjoy! (less)
So many things to list that were wonderful about this book. Beautiful prose, fascinating world, compelling characters, heartbreaking dilemma.
...moreSo many things to list that were wonderful about this book. Beautiful prose, fascinating world, compelling characters, heartbreaking dilemma.
BUT, my complaint is that this novella is a novel that wasn't made to live up to its promise and allowed to be a novella instead. (Notice I said "made" not "allowed" 'cause I know it ain't rainbows and wishes that come up with those other 50k words.)
I have absolutely no problem with novellas simply for being novellas. In fact, I love that the e-pub age has allowed so many of them to be out there that would have been turned aside otherwise. I have read and enjoyed many. There are so many good stories that are in essence only 30k pages and that's that.
This wasn't one of those. This was a 80k word story shoved into 30k words. This could have grabbed me by the throat and held on, broken my heart and made me sing with happiness if the world had been deepened and we didn't simply skim over everything that built to the climax so that we could get to the good stuff. As it is, it was simply fascinating and made me a bit weepy at one point. If that's the worst you can say about any book, I'd count that a win.
OK, rant over. It's totally worth reading. But I'm putting in my request now for the rest of the story. (less)
The premise of this one so intrigued me that I picked it up, even though I've been feeling a bit glutted with YA books lately. I'm glad I didn't pass ...moreThe premise of this one so intrigued me that I picked it up, even though I've been feeling a bit glutted with YA books lately. I'm glad I didn't pass it up. YA heroines often leave me feeling empty, as if they're a bit shallow (some of that just being the effect of youth rather than bad writing.) But Nolan did a great job of giving us a scarred and complex heroine paired with a similarly scarred and complex hero and making their struggles and developing relationship utterly realistic (for werewolves.)
I was drawn right in and couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.(less)
This was a great read. Hot and steamy without being so focused on the erotic elements that it neglected the plot. I was pleasantly surprised at the de...moreThis was a great read. Hot and steamy without being so focused on the erotic elements that it neglected the plot. I was pleasantly surprised at the depth and intricacy of the conflict that is so often missing in erotic romance, where hook-ups are often the whole point of the anemic storyline. Nice bit of mystery and suspense here to make the relationship that much more important and satisfying.
I'm not the first one to point out that making an anti-hero work is really difficult; it's a fine line between being disgusted by the actions and hati...moreI'm not the first one to point out that making an anti-hero work is really difficult; it's a fine line between being disgusted by the actions and hating the character. Lawrence hit on the balance. I still walked away disturbed, perhaps more so at the end than I'd been all along. But Lawrence created all the right circumstances and a world that made Jorg what he is without justifying it, without apologizing for it, and making you think about the potential for the monster in all of us.
Chillingly wonderful character development.
Combined with an inventive storyline, a fascinating world, and a great pace and cast of supporting characters and you've got a book I read in one day. Just couldn't stop.
This book was such a treat. The emotion Rossi evokes is real and universal. His hero is flawed and both mourns those flaws and accepts their inevitabi...moreThis book was such a treat. The emotion Rossi evokes is real and universal. His hero is flawed and both mourns those flaws and accepts their inevitability. He doesn't let the problems, inside or out, keep him from solving this fascinating mystery. The action here is subtle and suspenseful, inside a world that feels both mind-boggling impossible and painfully real.
I expected to be disappointed in this book. In part from the lukewarm reviews, and in part because I often have a hard time with re-telling of books I...moreI expected to be disappointed in this book. In part from the lukewarm reviews, and in part because I often have a hard time with re-telling of books I enjoyed. But when I finally came to this one it sucked me in and I finished it that night.
I think Jordan built a fascinating setting. Yes, there are only so many ways you can go with a fundamentalist Christian society, so if you want, that part was "predictable" but if it hadn't been it would have been ridiculous. And sticking within the Scarlet Letter story required certain features that I think she pulled off very well with her future interpretations.
The abortion issue was handled in a very balanced way for a book that was clearly never going to say abortion was wrong in and of itself. While the scientific and medical reasoning was presented, Hannah herself never rationalized her decision by retreating behind it.
I won't give away the spoiler though I know some others have, but I'll say that was the thing that kept me from giving this five stars. The book's not brilliant but was completely enjoyable and well paced. But when it got to the scene with Simone, I was thrown out of the world. That just came out of nowhere and I didn't believe it would happen that quickly. Jordan came close to executing it well enough to be believable, because, I believed that Hannah could eventually go there, but not at that point.
But, honestly, it was a great read and that certainly wasn't enough to ruin it. I'd recommend the book to anyone interested in a thought-provoking, satisfying read.
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The Prodigal's Foole is the sort of read I'm always looking for but can be so hard to find. Doesn't every girl want more action-movie-excitement-with-...moreThe Prodigal's Foole is the sort of read I'm always looking for but can be so hard to find. Doesn't every girl want more action-movie-excitement-with-an-actual-smart-engaging-plot in her life? It's easy to find the smash-em-up, continuous-stunt-scene type of fiction, and not hard to find a smart, funny read. But it's really hard to find them together in one book.
R.B. Wood weaves together an imaginative, unique plot with a great feel for pace and real characters. The main character, Symon Bryson has a great, dry wit; he's such a smartass I was snorting with amusement or full-out laughter every other page. Wood brings in the cast of characters without drowning us in names and details, and makes them fascinating, distinct pieces of the puzzle. And he does what I consider absolutely necessary in any good book: he makes the characters real and vivid so that you grieve, bleed, and rejoice along with every one of them.
The religion angle was awesome, specifically because it wasn't religious at all. There's nothing to offend here, no matter which side of the faith spectrum you fall on. Religious institutions are major players in this conflict that spans continents and centuries because religious institutions are the only other constant over that much time and distance. This book doesn't preach or proselytize one way or the other. It features believers and disillusioned alike with no prejudice. It would be so easy for someone to shy away from this book because of the presence of the Catholic Church in the plot, and that would be a huge mistake.
I've said before that I don't trust reviews that don't have anything negative at all to point out, so here goes: There isn't much sex. Specifically hot sex, with maybe some of the... I mean, more than one... ahem. Yeah.
This is simply a marvelous read, don't pass it up. (less)
There was something so fascinating about this story and the cast of characters he put together. It started out with a bang (well, more of a crash) and...moreThere was something so fascinating about this story and the cast of characters he put together. It started out with a bang (well, more of a crash) and kept up a very satisfying pace. Kevin didn't skimp on the science without lapsing into physics-class mode. There was even a hint of steampunk in this one which was a really neat twist.
I loved the main characters, especially the Esool captain, with his unexpected abilities and the two who ended up being the main characters of the big reveal at the end. (No spoilers!) There was such a compelling vulnerability and mystery around them.
The author in me couldn't help but notice--and comment on now--some weaknesses in the writing, but I got caught up enough in the story that I didn't care. And when I came to consider them more in depth once the story was finished, I realized that it's the sort of things that most readers won't notice or care about if set within a good story, thus I'm not going to enumerate them here. So there's me being petty, I suppose, for even bringing it up. But I'd rather be honest and mention it than not.
Thoroughly readable, enjoyable, and super-cool book. I recommend it highly. (less)
Since this is a sequel to Gabriel's Redemption, I already knew Steve was a great writer with imagination and spunk and a killer grip of the tech-geeky...moreSince this is a sequel to Gabriel's Redemption, I already knew Steve was a great writer with imagination and spunk and a killer grip of the tech-geeky-cool stuff that makes sci-fi like this so much fun.
There was no let-down with Gabriel's Return. In fact, it's better in my opinion. Wow, did he deliver pace, plot, and intrigue. One of the best parts is that Return takes us back, not only physically to the planet that started Gabriel's fall into disgrace and haunting nightmares, but it brings it to an exciting and very satisfying resolution of that life-changing event in his life. (At least until the bad guys raise the stakes just in time for the final book.)
The action in this book rocks, complete with super-cool weapons and technology. (I want a set of neuretics, please.) Steve takes a complex cast and gives them each a distinct personality that makes the team dynamic just great. It propels you right along with them, and you feel it with the team when something happens to one of their own. And even the bad guys are likable in their twisted ways.
I'm being purposely vague; I hate spoilers. (Sometimes I won't even read the back cover copy, just in case it gives away more than I want to know.) But trust me when I say, this one pays off in a big way. You'll love it.(less)
It took me a while to get around to reading this book. It sat on my Kindle for longer than normal and I kept getting to it "soon."
...moreIt took me a while to get around to reading this book. It sat on my Kindle for longer than normal and I kept getting to it "soon."
What a stupid thing to do, in retrospect, because I loved this book. The techno aspect was just fascinating. It was like the best of near future sci-fi, which I love, combined with the thrill of knowing that this could really be happening right now and wondering if maybe it is…
There’s a great voice to this one. Really sharp and smart and a bit smartassed. The main character’s a tech geek with some real balls and an attitude, but it’s the kind that makes you like him and root for him from the beginning.
The characters are diverse alright, from several different cultures which plays beautifully into the unfolding action and intrigue. The tech detail is there but not in infodumps or dry monologues. Honestly, if you have a smartphone and you like it, you’ll probably get and really enjoy this book.
The writer reading this did want to object to a few of his choices, mostly being downright ballsy with POV in a way I think honestly worked but probably wouldn’t have gotten past most trad-pub editors. But that’s the beauty of self-pub, isn’t it? A very nice thing to find is that it was beautifully proofread. Oh, it wasn’t perfect, but there were no more occasional typos than you would find in any book put out by a traditional publisher.
It was a great read, really. I hear there’s another one coming from Jerry before too awfully long. I’ll be looking forward to it.(less)
What really worked for me in this book was the characters. Characters are the heart and soul of any story and, to me, more important than plot. This b...moreWhat really worked for me in this book was the characters. Characters are the heart and soul of any story and, to me, more important than plot. This book delivered both. It’s an interesting and imaginative setting, with just enough sci-fi to make it fun, and not so much that non-sci-fi readers would get freaked out.
The characters are easy to get into. Charlie’s got spunk, but she’s not overdone. Lysander’s sensitive but not a wimp. The supporting cast is varied and believable. It’s a great story and I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Bravo.(less)
This is an example of the best sort of high fantasy. The worldbuilding and detail that went into it reminds me of Tad Williams, an author I adore. The...moreThis is an example of the best sort of high fantasy. The worldbuilding and detail that went into it reminds me of Tad Williams, an author I adore. The detail of the opposing peoples and belief systems, as well as the role of the gods, was fascinating and well-realized. The many characters required for a story of this magnitude were varied and complex. As the story and the world goes, it’s what every high fantasy reader is looking for.
It’s also a great example of the detail and care every self-published writer needs to take with his product in order to be taken seriously. The cover is breathtaking, the formatting flawless, it was properly proofread. There are none of the punctuation and grammar distractions that self-published novels are often riddled with.
I love it in almost every way. That said, I had reservations about the actual prose. The style of writing is sometimes distracting, and detrimental to the characters and the conflict. Typically, this sort of thing is a real problem for me, but it’s a huge statement about the quality of the storyline, the pacing and development, that I hung in there to see how it all ended. Every beginning writer (me) has his weaknesses, and I think this is a good one to have. It’s a skill that can be learned in the way the imagination and creativity necessary to build this type of story cannot be.
In any case, The Black God’s War is definitely worth the read for the places it will take you. It’s a great ride.(less)
In Leah's Wake is a timeless look at teenagers, families, marriages, and what happens when you put them all together in a cage and let them have at ea...moreIn Leah's Wake is a timeless look at teenagers, families, marriages, and what happens when you put them all together in a cage and let them have at each other. (OK, maybe not exactly that...)
Now I've never known of a Leah who was a know-it-all, rebellious teen, but I suppose it could happen. (*ahem*) But where this book really hits home is the truth in it. It takes the timeless story of growing up and loving and being loved, and it looks at it from four different angles: Will, the father and breadwinner; Zoe, the mother and wife; Leah, the rebellious teen; and Justine, the younger sister.
The story takes you through not just the things that happen to all of them during Leah's unexpected and dramatic rebellion, but also looks at what brought each one of them to that point, the baggage they're bringing with them, and how all of this makes up the unique drama that is this family's struggles, tragedy, and triumph.
Terri Giuliano Long's debut in In Leah's Wake is a story of love and loss, and of what endures. (less)
It’s not what you usually think of, is it? What happens to the hero after it’s all over. But that’s the subject of the utterly fantastic anthology Whe...moreIt’s not what you usually think of, is it? What happens to the hero after it’s all over. But that’s the subject of the utterly fantastic anthology When the Hero Comes Home, edited by Gabrielle Harbowy and Ed Greenwood. I came to this knowing I’d like at least some of it, because Gabrielle is an incredible editor and I already love JM Frey’s writing. What I didn’t expect is that I would like--that I would love--all of it. (OK, total honesty, I have no stomach for zombies, so the little bit of that in a couple of stories, I didn’t like, but I’m clearly in the minority with the zombie-ickies, so don’t mind me.)
There’s such a wonderful diversity in these stories. Sci-fi, fantasy, urban fantasy, it’s definitely a new experience with every story. And there are some real flashes of brilliance in here.
Keeping Time by Gabrielle Harbowy I read first, because she’s my editor and I idolize her but I’d never read anything by her. I was so pleasantly surprised, both by the compelling storytelling and by the ending. The Once and Now-ish King by JM Frey I jumped to next, since I already love her debut novel, Triptych. That. One. Rocks. So insanely clever and funny.
There’s such raw, real humanity—and inhumanity—in The Evil that Remains by Erik Buchanan. Brine Magic by Tony Pi was unique, fascinating, and moving. One and Twenty Summers by Brian Cortijo left me gasping for more—and those were not tears, really they weren’t. But, Brian, when you write more of this one, I want first dibs.
The imagery and emotion of Ashes of the Bonfire Queen by Rosemary Jones was so real that I find myself still thinking of it, feeling it, more than a week later. Mirror Mirror by Phil Rossi was such a creepy-realistic look at the human psyche and the things we do and are capable of. And if I’m ever capable of writing the rich prose Erik Scott de Bie does in Oathbreaker, a Tale of the World of Ruin, I’ll die a happy writer. The best part of that one wasn’t just the beautiful drapery, but the way it revealed a fascinating story set in a world far more well-imagined than you usually expect in a short.
Full Circle, by Steve Bornstein, may well be my secret favorite. I’m a sucker for a well-told second person POV and this one is pitch perfect. Steve also builds an great story from very little real info to start on, letting the surprise unfurl with the story, without leaving you scratching your head wondering what’s going on. Just the delicious thrill of I-know-I’m-going-to-love-this-as-soon-as-I-figure-it-out.
Those aren’t all the great things about this anthology, or even the best, simply the ones that stick out to me over a week later when I finally had a chance to write this review. Don’t do yourself the disservice of missing this one. It’s an amazing experience.
Triptych(less)
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