Marc Aplin's Blog, page 47
April 24, 2020
The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence
When I first saw the cover of the US edition of Mark Lawrence’s new book, The Girl and the Stars, I had to read it. I promptly contacted Mr. Lawrence, who was generous enough to provide me contacts for getting myself a copy of his newest novel. The front cover is truly beautiful, with undertones of mystery and wonder, and I was fortunate to be added onto the reviewer list. Lucky me.
April 23, 2020
Beggar’s Rebellion by Levi Jacobs – SPFBO #5 Finals Review
Tai Kulga lost the rebellion and his best friend on the same day, stripping him of his will to live even as a strange power flooded his bones. When the friend returns as a spirit guide, it feels like a second chance—but his friend is not who he was, and the Councilate is not done oppressing his people. When trouble with lawkeepers lands Tai’s surviving friends in a prison camp, he must go underground to find the last of the rebels and convince them to break his friends free.
SPFBO: Beggar’s Rebellion by Levi Jacobs
Tai Kulga lost the rebellion and his best friend on the same day, stripping him of his will to live even as a strange power flooded his bones. When the friend returns as a spirit guide, it feels like a second chance—but his friend is not who he was, and the Councilate is not done oppressing his people. When trouble with lawkeepers lands Tai’s surviving friends in a prison camp, he must go underground to find the last of the rebels and convince them to break his friends free.
Kalanon’s Rising by Darian Smith – SPFBO #5 Finals Review
Solve the murder. Stop the war. Save the world.
Sir Brannon Kesh spent years building a new life as a physician, leaving the name Bloodhawk and the war that spawned it behind. But when the King's cousin is murdered, duty calls him back. The crime scene suggests dark magic and the evidence points to the ambassador of Nilar, an alluring woman with secrets of her own, who sees Bloodhawk as little more than a war criminal.
Sir Brannon Kesh spent years building a new life as a physician, leaving the name Bloodhawk and the war that spawned it behind. But when the King's cousin is murdered, duty calls him back. The crime scene suggests dark magic and the evidence points to the ambassador of Nilar, an alluring woman with secrets of her own, who sees Bloodhawk as little more than a war criminal.
SPFBO: Kalanon’s Rising by Darian Smith
Solve the murder. Stop the war. Save the world.
Sir Brannon Kesh spent years building a new life as a physician, leaving the name Bloodhawk and the war that spawned it behind. But when the King's cousin is murdered, duty calls him back. The crime scene suggests dark magic and the evidence points to the ambassador of Nilar, an alluring woman with secrets of her own, who sees Bloodhawk as little more than a war criminal.
Sir Brannon Kesh spent years building a new life as a physician, leaving the name Bloodhawk and the war that spawned it behind. But when the King's cousin is murdered, duty calls him back. The crime scene suggests dark magic and the evidence points to the ambassador of Nilar, an alluring woman with secrets of her own, who sees Bloodhawk as little more than a war criminal.
April 22, 2020
Spark City by Robert J. Power – SPFBO #5 Finals Review
SPFBO review of Spark City by Robert J Power
SPFBO: Spark City by Robert J Power
SPFBO review of Spark City by Robert J Power
April 15, 2020
Spire – Role-playing Game Review Part Two: Expansions, Supplements and Adventures
All products created and owned by Rowan, Rook and Decard. This is the second half of my review of Spire and describes a number of supplements and adventure modules that can be used to expand the main game. For an explanation of the setting and rules of this RPG please check out Part One, which […]
April 12, 2020
Blades Edge by Virginia McClain – SPFBO #5 Finals Review
*Disclaimer* Writing and reading are subjective arts. What some folks will absolutely love, others will dislike. It is a bit like Marmite in the UK—normal people dislike it intensely, but some weird folks actually enjoy the taste of warm road surface and fresh roadkill on their tongue. To each their own, I suppose. These are […]
April 7, 2020
The Shadow Saint by Gareth Hanrahan
The hype surrounding a debut novel can be anxious for positive and negative reasons. This is because the author is waiting to find out what readers and critics thought of the book. The success of the book can put the author on a spectrum ranging from bad to cult fandom to excellent to classic. Yet, […]
