James Hockley's Blog, page 7

Book Review: The Way of Shadows

Book One of the Night Angel Series By Brent Weeks

“Kylar is an urchin; the lowest of the low. But that doesn’t mean he can’t dream. When his friends are threatened, he seeks a way to vengeance, and he finds it. It comes with a name: ‘Durzo Blint’.

Something of a legend, Durzo is a ‘wet boy’. More than an assassin, Durzo does not operate with targets and goals. He operates only with outcomes – dead ones. He has nothing to be afraid of, and Kylar envies the man. But Durzo is not one to take an...

Book Review: Bridgebreaker

Book 2 of the Echo Worlds Series By Joshua Cook

“The threat of Earth’s magical enemy has been averted, but far from being safe, the world must remain alert. The world needs the Bridgefinders as much as it ever did. But there is a problem, and the Bridgefinders don’t know how to fix it. Even the newly recruited and mercurial Cendan Key doesn’t have the answer.

Perhaps they will need to consort with others in the world with abilities, those that the Bridgefinders have shunned for generations?...

Author Newsletter October 2016

Happy October! And if you’re thinking about Christmas already, then stop! Too early (although, try telling that to the supermarkets).

So, what’s been going on? Well, believe it or not, it’s not all about books. Is it? In fact, I have many strings to my bow. I can also cook meat. And just to prove it, here’s a picture of a brisket I cooked in September.

It took nine hours to smoke, but it was worth every minute! Tasty.And next month I’m going to brew a triple strength IPA. Varied.

So, if you w...

Beagle’s Blot 9 | Mallis

My goodness. My goodness. Oh my.

Rather naively, I believed that Callij was irreparable in this mortal realm of ours. In one sense this is true – nowhere else can the pure excess of Callij be matched. But I believed more than that too. I believed that Callij was an architectural beacon. I believed it was a jewel.

But if Callij is a diamond, then Mallis is a sapphire. And which is more beautiful? It depends on your perspective, surely. This truly is a remarkable place.

A plea to creative rea...

Book Review: The Departed

Book 1 of the Departed Series By Kristy Cooper

“The world wakes up to find that three hundred thousand people have simply vanished overnight. Where did they go? Speculation is rife, but no-one can explain it; the scientists are scratching their heads.

That is, until an evangelist reveals the answer.

Gwen’s friend is one of those to go missing, and Gwen is desperately worried for her lost companion. Is she dead? If not, where is she? She is left to wallow in the unknown, until an email pings...

Do I need deep POV?

Last month I promised to talk about the reviews I’ve had so far, and to share my thoughts on where I’m going next. Well, apologies for this, but I changed my mind! That’s the self-published author’s right, I suppose…

But instead, I am going to talk about deep POV. It’s interesting – honest. But where’s this come from? Well,I’ve been doing a bit of writing research – trying to tighten up my craft following feedback I’ve had so far – and the first step I’ve taken is to buy this little beauty he...

Book Review: Sullen Falls

By Frank Julius Palumbo

“The town of Sullen Falls will be home to the Second Coming; but it is not the Second Coming of Christ’s light. No indeed; darkness has come to town.

Seth is a man with his own dark past, but he has trodden a path to the light. He arrives at Sullen Falls on the cusp of the Second Coming, but will it be enough? And Sullen Falls holds more than just danger for Seth. His love still lives in town, but when he left, he left suddenly. Will she be able to forgive him?

And wi...

Book Review: Genesis (the Battle Within)

Book 1 of the Pillars of Creation Series By David Tucker

“A thousand years in the future, mankind has been saved by the inception of a powerful religion. Genesis, an anomalous, immortal and sacred warrior, is sent to crush a band of rebels who oppose this religious authority.

But things go wrong, and a portal is opened, awakening an ancient alien power. Genesis is battled hard, but even as he faces death, he is unexpectedly liberated. A prophecy that his master once told him surfaces, and Ge...

Author Newsletter September 2016

It’s been another busy month, but I feel like I’ve reached some sort of plateau, which is nice. This is what I’ve been up to:

Sorting out free goodies for newsletter subscribers; Getting Fear’s Union published in other retailers; Getting Mandestroy priced for free on Amazon; Reading and reviewing more books in exchange for reviews of Mandestroy; Blogging book reviews and writing experiences; and Thinking about where to go next.

So, where does this all leave us? Well, I’m quite proud of wher...

Beagle’s Blot 8 | Essol Ranella

I’m moving once more! Yes; yes – I’m back on the move. Two seasons I have been holed up in the home of the merchant, but I find myself in a much stronger position. I am ready this time.

And I am sated. Certainly that.

The female hospitality on offer truly was delicious, and my living wage was enough to keep me in flesh for a long time to come. But that is my old life – that is the mark of Callij – and I am trying to break free of that mould. Yes indeed; I have grown my friends. Grown!

That be...