Patricia Hamill's Blog: I read too much!

Armada by Ernest Cline

Armada by Ernest Cline

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As with others who've read this one after absolutely loving Ready Player One, I must say this one is a step down. It feels rushed or under edited in places (not full of errors, but not as polished as I was hoping).

I did like the premise of Armada. The main character sees a spaceship from a game he's been playing, then finds out the game is based on real life. And then, in a nod to The Last Starfighter, he's recruited to battle against the unstoppable enemy. As with Ready Player One, there are a lot of these nods, but they don't as easily fit into this story as they did in that one.

I also thought some of the connections between the characters and the ease of some of the reunions were a bit too easy to be believable. I read the bit from the author at the end and it seems to imply this might become a movie. I think it might translate well to the screen, and perhaps that intent is why the book doesn't dive as deep as it could, only enough to prove the concept for the movie makers.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it isn't the amaze-fest I experienced upon reading Ready Player One for the first time. Fans of the 80s, and of video gamers using their skills to save humanity in particular, might enjoy this, but they shouldn't try to measure it with the same stick they used for Ready Player One lest they be disappointed.

I borrowed the audiobook from the library.



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Area X Review

Area X: The Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff VanderMeer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Ultra-creepy.

This is not a book you would want to read if you want to feel good or encounter a happy ending. It is the book for you if you want to be left thinking, to experience the ultra-weirdness of an invader that may destroy the world, but heal it in the process, or to unravel a mystery through the eyes of those who may or may not solve it.

I very much enjoyed this, perhaps even loved it, but I feel this book is probably easier to take as an audiobook. I might have had trouble getting through it in print, especially at first. Still, fans of hard science fiction, thrillers, and mysteries might find this a fascinating but terrifying read. The build is slow, but the dread it brews by the end is almost palpable.

If you're wondering, the movie Annihilation is based on this trilogy and takes its name from the first of the books. That movie, however, took some liberties to deliver a happy-ish ending, though those glowing eyes as the Biologist and her hubby embrace certainly promise something dire.



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Victoria Marmot and the Meddling Goddess by Virginia McClain

Victoria Marmot and the Meddling Goddess by Virginia McClain

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is the first in a series of books featuring Vic (aka Victoria Marmot).

One of the things I most enjoyed about this story was how Vic reacts to the weird stuff that is happening to her. I think best of these were her reactions to the Twilight-esque vampire/werewolf love interests. Then you add in the nods to the Harry Potter universe. Honestly, it’s a toss-up between which of the two worlds this story seems to be poking fun at the most. Obviously Twilight. But then again, when the headmaster Albert says, “Didn’t they tell you? Surely you’ve wondered how they learned it all!” you can’t quite keep from picturing Hagrid introducing magic to Harry for the first time.

I also enjoyed the way the narrator is introduced. Quite entertaining, though I did have to go back and re-read it once I began to understand what was happening. Clever.

On the other hand, the core plot of this story is a bit straightforward, despite its best efforts to tangle itself up in elements from the two series aforementioned. Without those entanglements, I am not sure I’d have enjoyed this too much on its own merits. Still, my impression is that these nods and references are in fact the main point of the story.

So yeah, Vic’s no-nonsense denial of the “stupid” and her unwillingness to fall into the standard paranormal romance female heroine role totally make this book worth reading. Having read Harry Potter, Twilight, and other shifter-type PNR books made this one all the more fun. I got the jokes. I saw the contradictions. All the things that bug folks about those worlds are embraced and then denied in this one.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story for what it is. I think fans of fantasy and the paranormal who are looking for a huge dose of sassy heroine are in for a treat. No trope is safe!

I received the review copy of this book via NetGalley.



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ARC Review of City of Broken Magic by Mirah Bolender

City of Broken Magic by Mirah Bolender

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This one caught my eye because I love stories with interesting magic systems. It didn’t disappoint.

I enjoyed Laura, the main character, who is rather all in with regard to her chosen profession. She’s been in awe of sweepers since childhood, even though her own town has been downplaying their need and importance for years. Despite this, she lands an apprenticeship with the rather moody and unpleasant Clae, the head sweeper, and earns her chops on the job. I kept looking for a romance to pop up. There were some hints in certain scenes where perhaps an interest was sparked, but the book ended up being all about the magic and the team of sweepers protecting the city from the infestations. It never went anywhere romantic, not really.

The battle scenes in this story are fantastic. The infestations are amorphous, flowing and solid, adaptable, voracious. Each encounter with them highlights just how horrifying they are. Hiding in plain sight in broken amulets. Biding their time until strong enough to feed, on everything. Even the small ones are daunting. There are just enough encounters to really give you a feel for how the sweepers and their gear work against them.

One thing I thought missed the mark were the pronunciation hints. The first was for Clae and the second was for Amicae. In the first case, Clae, the correct pronunciation was explained too late for it to stick for me, even though it wasn’t all that far into the book. I kept self-correcting after that point, and it was distracting. For the second, Amicae, a person’s technically correct pronunciation was called out, but it was revealed at the same time that none of the citizens of the city said it that way. That left me in a bind since I had been using the “correct” pronunciation to that point, and the citizens’ pronunciation wasn’t explained. At that point, it was too late to adjust, even had I figured out how Laura would have pronounced it.

Finally, the story seems to resolve in a way that might indicate future installments, which I think might be good, but I was left unsure whether this actually would be a first in a series or a straight up standalone. Still, the finale was absolutely gripping, heartbreaking, and eye-widening. It came to life for me. I had a little trouble sleeping that night, and that is a good thing. Fantastic.

Overall, I loved this book. I think fans of fantasy and magic will dig it. There are some glimmers of romantic interest, but they flutter away without a second thought.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.



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Review: Heroes for Hire: Discount Prices

Heroes for Hire: Discount Prices by C.S. Feldman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


They are literally heroes for hire, and when you meet the team, you understand why discount prices are necessary.

First off, I love the heroes. Every single one of the heroes has something seriously wrong with them. For example, the very best hero is a dog. That in itself is funny, but the author doesn't just leave it at the surface. This used to be a person, a real hero, and he's dealing with this every day, trying to be what he once was and trying to make something of the ridiculous team he's been given. That's one of the things I enjoyed, that these characters have depth, even when they are funny.

I'm not going into all of the characters, though, because meeting them in the book is preferred. I will say that the adventure they go on is rather exciting, especially through the eyes of the heroine, who is new to the whole adventuring thing and would rather be anywhere else doing anything else.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I'd recommend it to folks who enjoy fantasy and sci-fi. This one sort of blends the two, though it is heavier on the fantasy.

I purchased my copy of this book.



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Review: Destiny's Gambit by R.J. Wood

Destiny's Gambit by R.J. Wood

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Destiny’s Gambit is an exciting tale featuring an eclectic blend of old fashioned pirate ships, space travel and magic. In it, a young boy struggles to find his lost parents all the while learning of a fate he’d never expected.

I thought this was a rather well done and unique story. The idea of space ships being literal seafaring ships encased in bubbles of air caught my imagination. Jake’s abilities and that of his new companions were equally intriguing. I particularly enjoyed the riddles and puzzles he and his new friends had to solve to track down Jake’s father and the hints at a greater destiny that leave plenty to the imagination and future installments.

The author took great pains to ensure the nautical terms and activities were accurate. And Jake himself is often called to explain them to others in the story. His knowledge is explained as a result of a long-standing fascination with seagoing vessels, which comes in handy throughout the story. It seemed a bit much for an average 12-year-old, but I grant that if a kid had an obsession with a topic, such a degree of knowledge would be possible.

Overall, I really liked this story. There’s a cool blend of exotic locations, historical seafaring, and science fiction. Added to that, the characters are interesting and diverse, and the puzzles they face draw you in. I think younger readers, in particular, will really dig this story.

I received a review copy of this ebook from the author via Lola’s Blog Tours.




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Off to See the Wizard by Clay Johnson

Off to See the Wizard by Clay Johnson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Off to see the Wizard has nothing to do with the Wizard of Oz, though that’s the first thing that came to mind when I saw the title. Nope, nothing at all. But it does have a lot to do with the typical quest found in table top games and fantasy books. Evil demon lord sparking the end of the world and brave, oh so heroic wizard leading a group of heroes to save the day, and that’s where it’s also different.

The story is hilarious, poking fun at everything normally accepted in a fantasy story and, at the same time, spoofing crime stories you might find on TV. You know, those ones that feature the recordings of witnesses giving their testimony, cutting over to reenactments, and then to another witness who either tells it from a different perspective or reacts to the prior witness. That is this story, only awesome and off-color to the extreme. I alternated between giggling, mouth agape at the lack of propriety, to outright laughing, to grimacing at the rather vivid images the story brought to mind.

And those images start off pretty strong and disturbing, both funny and stomach turning at the same time. It may be too much for some readers, but I say if you can handle the High Lord of Toth’s initial testimony, then I think you’ll enjoy the rest. I’d like to say it gets better from there, but it only gets delightfully worse, so yeah. Be prepared.

I was worried at first that it would downplay everything I like in fantasy because that what the description implied. But, I think having read tons of fantasies makes this even funnier because you can see the parallels, where things might have gone if the heroes weren’t so heroic or the villains weren’t so villainous, and particularly, where the amazing feats were nothing short of accidental. It’s a train wreck, and I couldn’t put it down.

Overall, I loved his story. It’s hilarious and shocking, definitely for adults. I’d highly recommend this to folks who want a good laugh at the expense of two popular genres, fantasy and crime story, all told without a single regard for propriety.

I received a copy of this book from the author so that I could write this review for the blog at Pure Textuality.com.




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The Fated Sky by E.M. Swift-Hook

The Fated Sky: Transgressor Trilogy Book One by E.M. Swift-Hook

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Fated Sky is the first installment of the Transgressor Trilogy. I’m not exactly sure why it claims to be part of yet another series, Fortunes Fools. It’s all a bit confusing to me.

But the story itself is gripping and exciting. Lots of action and intrigue and plenty of interesting characters, not all of whom are likeable. When told from their perspective, the story provides a glimpse of personal history, inner struggles, and overarching goals. But the perspectives shift, so interesting details emerge from a variety of sources: a casual observation, a personal encounter, or even an offhand rumor. It was one of my favorite aspects of the story.

And here’s another thing I liked. Temsevar feels like a fantasy world, but it’s set in a science fiction backdrop. Unsophisticated and driven by slave labor and warlike tendencies, Temsevar is just one of the worlds humans have settled and is of little note in the grander scheme of things, nothing more than a trade stop. But there’s a threat that simmers behind the scenes, a threat that the Coalition will take a greater interest in the world, and I think it hinges on whether Avilon makes it off world.

The story is complex, particularly at first, but everything makes sense, and once it settles onto a few main characters, it’s much easier to follow, though not too easy. It does leave off on quite a steep cliffhanger, definitely not a standalone, so you can expect to want to read the rest of the books.

Anyhow, I loved the book. Folks who love immersive fantasy and science fiction on an epic scale will likely enjoy this book. It’s meaty and complex, full of action and intrigue.

I picked up my copy of this book on Amazon while it was on a free promotion.




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SciFi Review: The Lethal Agent (The Extraction Files #2) by R.S. McCoy

The Lethal Agent by R.S. McCoy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Science fiction that blends humanity and science into a thrilling, emotion-tugging package...

The Lethal Agent continues the story right where it left off in The Killing Jar. The bugs are upping their game even as the new CPI recruits up their efforts to figure them out.

Mable still seems to be the highlighted character in the description, but all of the storylines are given equal weight as the story progresses. In particular, I enjoyed the complex relationships, well-handled and realistic, but sometimes unique and surprising. There are some tough situations, though, and some heartbreaking ones. A real rollercoaster of emotions, and yet realistic, even in the realm of science fiction.

As for that science fiction, it and the world building around it are solid. I think folks who want a deep escape will find it here. The science is amazing, but not so farfetched as to be impossible, and the enemy bugs, well, they are terrifying, but also plausible. Nothing feels like an afterthought. It’s all purposeful and woven in with a finesse I’d expect from the sci-fi greats.

This is book 2 in The Extraction Files, but it seems to conclude the story. That being said, I hope there is another one. I want more.

Overall, I loved this book and really can’t think of anything that I didn’t like about it. Fans of science fiction that blends humanity and science into a thrilling, emotion-tugging package will likely love this story.

I received the review copy of this book from the author.



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It looks like the paperback is available now and the Kindle edition is set to release on August 30, 2016.

Review: The Water Road by JD Byrne

The Water Road by J.D. Byrne

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Water Road is an epic in the making. Antrey’s story is all about righteous indignation and a quest for justice and vengeance. Strefer’s story is about revealing the truth to a people who don’t want to hear it.

I thought this was a rather well put together read. Both stories and heroines are fully developed and engaging. In both cases, their chosen path is something they feel is right, but is it? That’s a question that can only be answered in later volumes. This story sets the stage for what promises to be an epic-scale struggle both between two civilizations and within each of the two women that spark it in the first place.

As a fantasy, this one isn’t concerned with any magic systems or peoples. However, the world building is flawless and the history is intriguing and rich. I love the details sprinkled into the story, but also how they don’t take over. The focus is on the people and the struggles they face: past, present and future. And the characters are relatable, and the pacing is steady, but good for this sort of book. There’s a balance between information and action with no unnecessary romance clouding things up.

Overall, I loved this story, and I’d strongly recommend it to fans of fantasy, intrigue and politics, and other worlds. You won’t find dwarves or elves in these pages, but you won’t miss them either.

I received a copy of this book from the author so that I could write this review.




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