Patricia Hamill's Blog: I read too much!, page 8

Zompoc 101: Prepping your Weapons Cache

In previous Zompoc 101 posts, I proposed a few outbreak theories as well as a few tips to prepare yourself a stronghold for the zombie apocalypse. In this installment, I'll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various weapons and armor you might want to include in your weapons cache. Continue reading...

Time Travel Adventure Review: Children of the Morning by Shanna Lauffey

Children of the Morning by Shanna Lauffey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Fantastic sequel, lot's of action.

I read the first in this series, Time Shifters, a while back and said I'd love to find out what happens next. Imagine my surprise when the author sent me a copy of Children of the Morning on the day it was released. That was a few weeks ago, but I finally got a chance to read it. Let me tell you, it was just as good as the first.

Here's what I liked. First, this installment is true to the story set up in book one. Sometimes sequels get a little sidetracked, but not this one. I think it's a sign that the author has taken the time to plan out her story ahead of time. She's also come up with a plausible set of constraints for Akayla's abilities and sticks to them. Second, action, action and more action. This story is wrought with near misses, sinister plots and danger, even more so as those targeting the main character's people become wise to her strategies. I also think it was a good move to push Akayla's ability to its limit and to put other constraints in place. Time and space are her playground, or at least they were, but as the story progresses, the playground is shrinking. Ok, third, nostalgia. As in the first story, Akayla spends a good deal of time in the past, namely Sacramento and L.A. California. As someone who has been there, I recognized many of the locations and thought their descriptions were spot on (and there are pictures!). Some of it saddened me, time passing and beautiful things lost to all but memory, but in a good way. Last, the romance. It's still a work in progress, which makes sense for a ten-part story. With eight books left, it would take some of the fun out of it if the love interest was resolved so early.

Now for the things I didn't like. Well, that's difficult, because my overall impression was very positive. I guess all I really have is there were just a few typos. Very few. Maybe five or six, tops. On the whole, though, Children of the Morning is a well-polished tale and I feel like I'm grasping at straws to find something I don't like about it.

I loved this book. It's a fantastic time travel adventure with a lot less down time than in the first book and a good deal more danger, and the romance is just right for this stage in the story. I think those who enjoy modern historical adventures, like the twists that time travel introduces, and enjoy a little clean romance will enjoy this story. Those who have lived in or visited the places described may find that adds a certain element of nostalgia. I highly recommend this book.



View all my reviews

Zompoc 101-Prepping your Stronghold

In my last Zompoc 101 post, I talked about some of the ways a zombie outbreak might come about. This week's post is all about preparing for the coming apocalypse. There are several things to consider when preparing for the end of the world via zombies. Continue reading...

Cover Reveal: VESSEL by Lisa T. Cresswell and Giveaway #M9BFridayReveals

This week I am pleased to host a cover reveal for Lisa Cresswell, author of the Storyteller series, which I have had the pleasure of reviewing in the past. This one looks interesting, and there's a giveaway! Click here to see the new cover and sign up for the giveaway!

Zompoc 101-Outbreak Theories

There's just something about the zombie apocalypse that gets me thinking. I must admit I haven't read many zombie themed books, and up until a couple of years ago, I had trouble watching movies and TV shows about them as well. They are scary, and in many cases gross, but that's not what creeps me out. Continue reading...

Epic Fantasy Review: The Fires of Heaven (#5 The Wheel of Time) by Robert Jordan

The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book is forever taking...but I still love it.

The Fires of Heaven (Wheel of Time #5) continues the story of the build up to the end of the world. The two major story lines in this installment are Rand's pursuit of the rogue Aiel that are following Couladin and Nynaeve's ongoing conflict with Moghedian. Of course, the number of characters featured in these two divergent tales is quite overwhelming, so I won't go into details here.

So here's what I like most about this story. First off, Matt becomes awesome in this book (against his will, but awesome nonetheless). I've always loved Matt's character in these books, and this is the tipping point for him. I also enjoy Nynaeve's trials and her feud with Moghedian. She's always been so overconfident, having become Wisdom of her village at a very young age, but certain events in this story really seem to put her in her place, paving the way for her to perhaps become a better, more likable person. This is a very important book for both Matt and Nynaeve.

Now, down to what I don't like. First off, ugh, I don't like the chase after the rogue Aiel. The images it brings to mind, what they find in the towns the Aiel have passed through, are horrific. That's part of it. Another part of it is the growing arrogance of Rand. Sure, he's found himself in a leadership position he didn't want, and he's a target for the Chosen and the Dark One's other minions, but still, that's no excuse for abandoning your core values. There are glimmers of his former goodness coming through, but his dubious sanity and growing mistrust and tendency to use those closest to him are deplorable. I recognize that it is necessary for his development to descend into darkness, but that doesn't mean I have to like the trip.

Finally, this book took me forever to get through this time around. Some of it is slow going, on top of the book being massive. The first half was such, and I almost considered dropping the book and jumping to the last in the series (I've read this one almost a dozen times, so I could have gotten away with it). The second half of the book was much more interesting and fast-paced, mostly due to the growing intrigue, the battles, and of course Matt's and Nynaeve's shining moments. That makes me feel better about my decision to stick it out.

I'm ready and excited to jump into book 6, but the ultimate goal is to finally make it to the last book in the series, which my husband assures me is one hundred percent worth slogging through all the books leading up to it. So, I will continue.

As for my recommendations, I definitely do recommend this series as a whole, though this isn't one of my favorite installments. I would say if you've gotten this far and have enjoyed the story up to this point, keep going. It will keep you busy for a while, but it's the journey that's the value in a work this massive. Keep in mind that The Wheel of Time is effectively one enormous novel. It's meant to be read in order and in its entirety, and that's what I recommend doing. Fans of epic fantasy, political intrigue, battles, and good vs. evil might like this series. Of course, if you had trouble getting into the first few books, I doubt that you'll fare much better with this one.




View all my reviews

Existential YA Review: Superunknown: Of Fairytales and Grunge by G.C. Huxley

Superunknown: Of Fairytales and Grunge by G.C. Huxley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


If you're looking for something different, this might be the book for you. Superunknown is about Em, a girl who's just starting out at a new high school. She takes notice of a boy named Eido, who seems like a troublemaker. Even though she tries to keep her distance, she keeps getting caught up in stranger and stranger scenarios, and Eido seems to be oblivious to the absurdity despite being central to them.

This is an interesting book. I liked how 90s music, technology, and life is snuck into the story. For those who grew up in the 90s, it brings back memories. For younger generations, I imagine it gives them a peek into a much different world. Another thing I liked was the unfolding mystery and the unpredictability of the story melding in with the every day. The story feels original.

On the other hand, I felt some of the concepts to be a bit confusing. The ending, well, I'm not sure what really happened. I might need to read up on existentialism and try again to fully understand it. I feel like the message was that you have to enjoy life for what it is, not seek to know more than you're meant to know, and allow the meaning of life to remain a mystery. If you do these things, you'll find happiness. That's what I got out of it.

Overall, this is a good book, a bit different than what I normally read. I liked the characters and was intrigued by the concepts the story introduces, even though I was confused from time to time. People who like YA, but crave something a little more deep than the usual offerings may find this one to their liking.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.



View all my reviews

YA Review: Moonflower by E.D.C. Johnson

Moonflower by E.D.C. Johnson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Loved it, though it made me sad in places. Definitely rocks a love triangle.

Moonflower is not a typical YA shifter/werewolf love story, despite the love triangle and the fact that it features werewolf shifters. One of the things I love most about this story is the originality. Josephine is just a regular girl, but when she and her mom get in an accident, she blacks out only to awaken on another world. It just so happens that the royal family has the ability to change into wolves. The way Josephine and Lucius meet plays on her naivete and on Lucius being surprised that she doesn't realize he's really a human.

From there the story delves into the family and household dynamics. The older brother vs. the younger. The similarities between Josephine's father's illness and the Marquess (the brothers' father). I also enjoyed the way the servants and employees of the house interact. Josephine's lady's maid is so, well, normal. It's her first time in such a role and she wants to get it right, yet still she can't help but be herself. I loved how the two become friends.

The love triangle and the dynamics between the two brothers is pretty well done. Of course, I tended to like Lucius a little better, but I think the author did a great job making it a really hard decision for Josephine. And, as in real life, Josephine realizes that it isn't just a choice between the two young men, but more of a life choice. Does she really want to stay in this new world and abandon her mom? Does she want to be subject to the archaic role given to women in the feudal society she finds herself in? Is she even ready for commitment?

I suppose the only thing that left me a little down was how the story ends, and it does end in a rather final way. While the author might potentially decide to write more in this world, it seemed like this story is meant to stand alone. It's not a fairy tale, but rather a story of first love, of growth, and of making the best choices for yourself, even when they aren't the easy ones. It left me thinking and wondering. So, despite how I felt at the end, and maybe just a little bit because of that, I must say that I enjoyed it.

I would highly recommend this book to folks who enjoy books featuring a little romance, a little fantasy, and the feel of a historical fiction that just happens to feature men that can turn into wolves. I thought the book was well-written and well-edited and smoothly pulled me from chapter to chapter.

I was lucky to have found this book while it was on a free-promo day on Amazon, but I feel it's definitely worth buying even if you don't happen to come across it while it's free. I am pretty sure I'll be reading this again.



View all my reviews

Dystopian Thriller Review: Only the Cold Remains by Curran Geist

Only the Cold Remains by Curran Geist

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book doesn't hold back...

Only the Cold Remains is a complex and action packed thriller set in a dystopian future where aliens (Kuljiks) have rescued the last surviving remnants of humanity from the Earth. The company, Medtronic, that is supposed to maintain their habitat and protect them from extinction is led by a perverted, evil Kuljik who has created a secret pleasure-ship, which features human slaves as the main attraction.

This book is well written and exciting. It is told from several distinct points of view, and this was used to good effect by the author to create tension, to build emotional connection with the characters, and to draw the reader onwards through the story. I found that it was difficult to put down the story while in a certain perspective, so it's probably a good thing the author switches between them every few chapters (episodes) or so or I'd never have gotten any sleep.

Like the previous book, this one features both the good and the bad, and let me say that the bad is really bad. The author handles the themes of good vs. evil well and is particularly skilled at showing how one cannot judge someone by their heritage. Even though much of the evil and degradation is spawned by the aliens, several of the most kind-hearted and relatable characters also happen to be aliens. I think this is one of the things that makes this book such a delight to read.

And, let's not overlook the fight and chase scenes. This book is packed with them. It truly is a thrilling experience, though sometimes they might have lasted a bit too long or followed action with action in too many sequences. Still, I think this is appropriate for this genre of book.

So, with all of this, I think the only thing, other than too much action for my taste in places, was the inconsistent execution of the inner monologue. This book, being told from many perspectives, is peppered with the inner thoughts, worries and dreams of it's featured characters. For those thoughts that were identified in italics as if the character was thinking them in real time, it would have been better to word them as one would word dialog, in present tense as if the thought were spoken aloud. Many of them were in past tense, not all, but many. If you're simply describing someones thoughts, past tense is fine, but don't italicize. If you're revealing someone's thoughts, it needs to be as if you are hearing their thoughts. I know I don't think in past tense for things that are happening now.

I must also reinforce the author's 17 and up warning. He wasn't kidding. This book doesn't hold back. Love, lust, violence, death, blood, gore, perversion, all of this and more is packed into this novel. It's not for the faint of heart, but mature readers who like a good thrill will likely love this story. I highly recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest, non-reciprocal review.



View all my reviews

Middlegrade Fantasy Review: Blast of the Dragon's Fury by L.R.W. Lee

Blast of the Dragon's Fury by L.R.W. Lee

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Adventure, moral lessons, and humor.
This is a story about a regular kid who gets magically transported to the Land of Oomaldee, where he is tasked with ending a 500 year old curse that cloaks that land in perpetual fog, among other things.

There were quite a few things I enjoyed about this story, particularly the humor (much of it anyway). The method for clearing away the fog was amusing. I liked how Andy, throughout the story, discovers things about himself and begins to improve. The story was easy to read and obviously written with an eye for teaching moral and life lessons. The author even has a webpage where parents can find discussion questions to use with their kids to take advantage of the morals of the story.

As for the things that I didn't especially like, I'd have to say the Elmer Fudd accent of one of the main characters was high on the list. I think it was meant to be funny, but it didn't come off that way. I also thought the crime that sparked the curse was too much for a book aimed at middleschoolers, plus the battles were much more bloody than I expected to find in an otherwise amusing and entertaining children's book.

Overall, I liked the book but would caution parents to read it before giving it to their children. Many of the lessons and morals in the story are well executed, but some of the violence was a bit too much for the intended audience. The humor was overall well-executed, but sometimes overdone. I think middleschoolers might like this, though I don't think it would appeal to teenagers.

I found this book on Amazon while it was on a free promotion. I also enjoy following the author on Twitter. Her posts are always fun.



View all my reviews