Rob Donovan's Blog, page 10
January 20, 2014
Book Review - The River ofFire (JS)
The River of Fire (Tom Pascoe 2) by Patrick Easter
Having read book 1 so recently, I was going to wait before moving on to the next in the series, well that was the plan anyway. However, anyone who has read my reviews before, knows that I am terrible at waiting when I have the next book in the series burning a hole in my book shelf.
This is the description:
River Surveyor Tom Pascoe of the Marine Police finds the bodies of two men entombed in the crew cabin of a sunken lugger. Suspicion falls on a third member of the crew seen fleeing the scene. He had a known motive for murder. Against the background of a nation at war with Napoleon, Tom Pascoe finds his own life under threat as he digs deeper into the case. He uncovers the existence of French agents whose task is to undermine England's ability to continue the war. Tom's job is further complicated by the presence of a new member of the police crew with a shocking secret of his own...
This book starts a few months after the end of Book 1 and sees Tom Pascoe now a well known figure in London, comfortable in his role as a River surveyor with Sam Hart now his confirmed right hand man.
He is called to the scene of a sunken ship, holed deliberately and left to sink with two crew members locked in their cabin. A rumour soon spreads that a third injured man was seen leaving the scene, and the hunt is on to find him. Talk of two men seen trying to find this crewman also surface and Tom realises that these are the bigger threat not only to this crewman but to London and it’s commerce as a whole.
My main complaint about the first book was that the characters were wooden and that at some points, the writing turned quite factual which did spoil the story slightly.
These faults were corrected as I hoped they would be, although Pascoe is still being built as character, he is much stronger in this tale, more rounded with a history of his own. The characters around him are more two-dimensional as well; Sam Hart seems much more real, and stands out as someone in his own right rather than just a name. Along with the sub plot of Pascoe’s relationship with the nurse at the hospital, you have the added story line of his crewmember Ruxley.
The men that Pascoe meets in the course of the investigation are described well and again they add detail and depth to the story. I really liked the description of Pascoe’s journey to Hastings and the surrounding area, knowing that area quite well, it is interesting to read how it was then and how complicated and uncomfortable the journey must have been.There is much violence in this story, the main culprit of which is one of the French agents Dubois, who is an old enemy of Pascoe. The story line is well thought out and you are hooked from chapter to chapter waiting to see what happens next as the pace of the writing is fast and full of chases so is exciting to read.
As you can by this positive review, this book is a vast improvement on the last, and promises excellent things for the next, which yes is also sitting on my shelf.
9 out of 10
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Having read book 1 so recently, I was going to wait before moving on to the next in the series, well that was the plan anyway. However, anyone who has read my reviews before, knows that I am terrible at waiting when I have the next book in the series burning a hole in my book shelf.
This is the description:
River Surveyor Tom Pascoe of the Marine Police finds the bodies of two men entombed in the crew cabin of a sunken lugger. Suspicion falls on a third member of the crew seen fleeing the scene. He had a known motive for murder. Against the background of a nation at war with Napoleon, Tom Pascoe finds his own life under threat as he digs deeper into the case. He uncovers the existence of French agents whose task is to undermine England's ability to continue the war. Tom's job is further complicated by the presence of a new member of the police crew with a shocking secret of his own...
This book starts a few months after the end of Book 1 and sees Tom Pascoe now a well known figure in London, comfortable in his role as a River surveyor with Sam Hart now his confirmed right hand man.
He is called to the scene of a sunken ship, holed deliberately and left to sink with two crew members locked in their cabin. A rumour soon spreads that a third injured man was seen leaving the scene, and the hunt is on to find him. Talk of two men seen trying to find this crewman also surface and Tom realises that these are the bigger threat not only to this crewman but to London and it’s commerce as a whole.
My main complaint about the first book was that the characters were wooden and that at some points, the writing turned quite factual which did spoil the story slightly.
These faults were corrected as I hoped they would be, although Pascoe is still being built as character, he is much stronger in this tale, more rounded with a history of his own. The characters around him are more two-dimensional as well; Sam Hart seems much more real, and stands out as someone in his own right rather than just a name. Along with the sub plot of Pascoe’s relationship with the nurse at the hospital, you have the added story line of his crewmember Ruxley.
The men that Pascoe meets in the course of the investigation are described well and again they add detail and depth to the story. I really liked the description of Pascoe’s journey to Hastings and the surrounding area, knowing that area quite well, it is interesting to read how it was then and how complicated and uncomfortable the journey must have been.There is much violence in this story, the main culprit of which is one of the French agents Dubois, who is an old enemy of Pascoe. The story line is well thought out and you are hooked from chapter to chapter waiting to see what happens next as the pace of the writing is fast and full of chases so is exciting to read.
As you can by this positive review, this book is a vast improvement on the last, and promises excellent things for the next, which yes is also sitting on my shelf.
9 out of 10
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January 15, 2014
Book Review - Dangerous Women
Dangerous Women – Various
I usually read a compilation over the Christmas period. Picking up and reading a short story in between the multitude of guest, days out and eating and drinking is a darn sight easier than trying to read a book. This year I was extremely excited to read Dangerous Women for a couple of reasons.
Firstly it contained a story by GRRM set in Westeros, anything set in this world is a massive must for me. Secondly, there were a couple of authors who have contributed stories, who I have wanted to read for a long time i.e Brandon Sanderson and Sam Sykes. Finally Joe Abercrombie... need I say more?
The blurb:
"Here you'll find no hapless victims who stand by whimpering in dread while the male hero fights the monster or clashes swords with the villain, and if you want to tie these women to the railroad tracks, you'll find you have a real fight on your hands. Instead, you will find sword-wielding women warriors, intrepid women fighter pilots and far-ranging spacewomen, deadly female serial killers, formidable female superheroes, sly and seductive femmes fatale, female wizards, hard-living Bad Girls, female bandits and rebels, embattled survivors in Post-Apocalyptic futures, female Private Investigators, stern female hanging judges, haughty queens who rule nations and whose jealousies and ambitions send thousands to grisly deaths, daring dragonriders, and many more."
It is very rare for a compilation to contain a collection of excellent stories and Dangerous Women is no exception. The quality of stories here tend to range for the very good to the reasonable. It is by no means the strongest collection I have read, but there is the odd little gem. After a strong start the quality definitely takes a dip in the second half of the book.
The Excellent:
Jim Butcher - Bombshells
Despite the massive spoiler contained in the story for those of us that have not read all of the Dresden Files. This is a very good story containing a character I had not yet encountered. Molly is naive but competent, she is witty and the situation she is involved in is great. 9/10
Joe Lansdale - Wrestling Jesus
It is criminal I have not read Joe R Lansdale. Every short story I've read of his has been brilliant. This one is based on an old wrestler who mentors a victim of bullying. The old man had a tradition of wrestling an old foe every 5 years to win the favour of a woman. Great stuff and touching. 10/10
Brandon Sanderson - Shadows for silence in the forests of hell.
Great life story about the legend of Grey Fox. Who is really the patron of a homestead. She tries to collect a bounty but is betrayed and attacked by shades (ghosts). Good backstory of a hard-ass grandma. The most important thing here was that I loved Brandon’s writing. 9/10.
The following books I rated all 8 out of 10:
Some Desperado - Joe Abercrombie.My heart is either broken - Megan Abbot. Melinda Snodgrass - The hands that was not there.Sharon Kay Penman - A queen in exile.
The above were all very good, the last three authors in particular I will be looking out for in future. All the other stories in the collection scored 6 or 7 with only. Only Sherrylin Kenyon’s story and S M Stirling scored lower than that. Sherrylin writes young adult fiction and her short ghost story really reads like one. It is a standard idea but needed to be fleshed out massively. It also seemed contrived just to deliver the last line. S M Stirling on the other hand just bored me to tears unfortunately.
It is worth mentioning Caroline Spector’s story here. I expected to hate her Wildcard story from the opening page, but ended up actually really enjoying it. I am not a fan of the wildcard stuff, or more it has never really captured my imagination. Caroline’s story has made me reconsider.
And that brings us on to the main event – George R R Martin’s “the princess and the queen.”
I loved GRRM's work. In my eyes the man can do little work. Whilst I would do anything to read the next instalment in his ASOIAF series the Dunk and Egg novellas have been worthy replacements. To say I was looking forward to this was an understatement.
Boy was I disappointed. Let me start of by saying that this has nothing to do with the quality of George's writing and everything with my expectations. I was expecting a novella like the aforementioned Dunk and Egg series. This is certainly not that. Instead this is an historical account of the war of the dragons. X kills Y which leads to Z joining the war who betrays A, B and C.
It is not that this isn't good material it is just that there are so many names and no emotional attachment to any of them that after a while it becomes boring. Dare I say it that the story struggled to retain my attention and was a bit of a chore. Instead I spent more time lamenting the fact that GRRM had not completed his series and started a new prequel series using this material.
It would be too harsh to say that the novel is not any good (I do struggle to see how those unfamiliar with George's world would understand what is going on though) but I was definitely looking for something different. 6/10
Overall, Dangerous Women is a mixture of quality: Some very good stories and others that it would not have harmed the novel if they weren’t included. The disappointment in the GRRM story does mar the book somewhat which is a shame.
My rating: 7/10
I usually read a compilation over the Christmas period. Picking up and reading a short story in between the multitude of guest, days out and eating and drinking is a darn sight easier than trying to read a book. This year I was extremely excited to read Dangerous Women for a couple of reasons.
Firstly it contained a story by GRRM set in Westeros, anything set in this world is a massive must for me. Secondly, there were a couple of authors who have contributed stories, who I have wanted to read for a long time i.e Brandon Sanderson and Sam Sykes. Finally Joe Abercrombie... need I say more?
The blurb:
"Here you'll find no hapless victims who stand by whimpering in dread while the male hero fights the monster or clashes swords with the villain, and if you want to tie these women to the railroad tracks, you'll find you have a real fight on your hands. Instead, you will find sword-wielding women warriors, intrepid women fighter pilots and far-ranging spacewomen, deadly female serial killers, formidable female superheroes, sly and seductive femmes fatale, female wizards, hard-living Bad Girls, female bandits and rebels, embattled survivors in Post-Apocalyptic futures, female Private Investigators, stern female hanging judges, haughty queens who rule nations and whose jealousies and ambitions send thousands to grisly deaths, daring dragonriders, and many more."
It is very rare for a compilation to contain a collection of excellent stories and Dangerous Women is no exception. The quality of stories here tend to range for the very good to the reasonable. It is by no means the strongest collection I have read, but there is the odd little gem. After a strong start the quality definitely takes a dip in the second half of the book.
The Excellent:
Jim Butcher - Bombshells
Despite the massive spoiler contained in the story for those of us that have not read all of the Dresden Files. This is a very good story containing a character I had not yet encountered. Molly is naive but competent, she is witty and the situation she is involved in is great. 9/10
Joe Lansdale - Wrestling Jesus
It is criminal I have not read Joe R Lansdale. Every short story I've read of his has been brilliant. This one is based on an old wrestler who mentors a victim of bullying. The old man had a tradition of wrestling an old foe every 5 years to win the favour of a woman. Great stuff and touching. 10/10
Brandon Sanderson - Shadows for silence in the forests of hell.
Great life story about the legend of Grey Fox. Who is really the patron of a homestead. She tries to collect a bounty but is betrayed and attacked by shades (ghosts). Good backstory of a hard-ass grandma. The most important thing here was that I loved Brandon’s writing. 9/10.
The following books I rated all 8 out of 10:
Some Desperado - Joe Abercrombie.My heart is either broken - Megan Abbot. Melinda Snodgrass - The hands that was not there.Sharon Kay Penman - A queen in exile.
The above were all very good, the last three authors in particular I will be looking out for in future. All the other stories in the collection scored 6 or 7 with only. Only Sherrylin Kenyon’s story and S M Stirling scored lower than that. Sherrylin writes young adult fiction and her short ghost story really reads like one. It is a standard idea but needed to be fleshed out massively. It also seemed contrived just to deliver the last line. S M Stirling on the other hand just bored me to tears unfortunately.
It is worth mentioning Caroline Spector’s story here. I expected to hate her Wildcard story from the opening page, but ended up actually really enjoying it. I am not a fan of the wildcard stuff, or more it has never really captured my imagination. Caroline’s story has made me reconsider.
And that brings us on to the main event – George R R Martin’s “the princess and the queen.”
I loved GRRM's work. In my eyes the man can do little work. Whilst I would do anything to read the next instalment in his ASOIAF series the Dunk and Egg novellas have been worthy replacements. To say I was looking forward to this was an understatement.
Boy was I disappointed. Let me start of by saying that this has nothing to do with the quality of George's writing and everything with my expectations. I was expecting a novella like the aforementioned Dunk and Egg series. This is certainly not that. Instead this is an historical account of the war of the dragons. X kills Y which leads to Z joining the war who betrays A, B and C.
It is not that this isn't good material it is just that there are so many names and no emotional attachment to any of them that after a while it becomes boring. Dare I say it that the story struggled to retain my attention and was a bit of a chore. Instead I spent more time lamenting the fact that GRRM had not completed his series and started a new prequel series using this material.
It would be too harsh to say that the novel is not any good (I do struggle to see how those unfamiliar with George's world would understand what is going on though) but I was definitely looking for something different. 6/10
Overall, Dangerous Women is a mixture of quality: Some very good stories and others that it would not have harmed the novel if they weren’t included. The disappointment in the GRRM story does mar the book somewhat which is a shame.
My rating: 7/10
January 11, 2014
Book Review - The Watermen (JS)
The Watermen - Patrick Easter
Review by Jacqui Slaney
Having enjoyed ‘The Ratcatcher’ series by James McGee and ‘The Last Days of Newgate’ series by Andrew Pepper, when I saw this novel in the bookshop I was browsing, I thought it sounded interesting enough to buy,
This is the description:
In the dark and slimy streets of Wapping a prostitute is beaten half to death, a not uncommon fate in late 18th century London. So begins this gripping tale set in 1798 in the Port of London: a cruel villain holds sway over the underworld. His name is Boylin. His face is scarred by lime and his back by the two hundred lashes he received following a naval court martial. He holds Captain Tom Pascoe responsible for his suffering. They meet again when Pascoe becomes River Surveyor for the newly formed marine police. They have had orders to investigate a sudden fall in government revenue that is affecting the nation's ability to fight the war against Napoleon and stem the rising tide of Irish rebellion. Pascoe knows that Boylin is behind it, but he cannot prove anything, yet. THE WATERMEN follows these two adversaries across London as they try to outwit one another. Working alongside Pascoe is Sam Hart, a Jewish immigrant with his own agenda; Pascoe throws the rulebook out the window, scouring East London and the docklands in search of information. However, fate takes a cruel twist when the two men find themselves involved with the same woman - there is much more at stake than the fate of the nation.
This is the writer’s first novel, which at times is obvious, especially at the beginning. The characters started with being wooden and a bit stilted in their actions and speech and some of the descriptions are slightly overlong.
Tom Pascoe loses his ships command through no fault of his own and ends up being employed by the new marine police branch, he forces his employer to take on Sam Hart as well, a man who helped him, and the pair of them becomes a good team, patrolling the River Thames. The new patrol are soon tasked to find why so much cargo is going missing, and they are lead into a dark world full of violence, which is linked to both of their pasts.
The main character Pascoe is a little too good to be true, but I soon warmed to him as a character, he is interesting and has a good back story. I liked Sam as well; the hints about his mysterious past are good, although I must admit to working out what this was quite early on. Too be fair though this does not detract much from the story as there is plenty of action from the off, and the story is fast paced. The villain of the piece is Boylin, a real nasty bully, but who also comes across as some what as a coward at times, which is a bit odd.
The description of London sets the scene well, as you can almost smell the waterside areas and imagine the hospital. There are complaints if you read some reviews that some parts of the novel are not historically accurate. Well speaking as someone who enjoyed the book, I did not find that this distracted from the story at all, and if I had wanted to read an accurate account of the time, I would have chosen a factual book rather than one that is fiction.
Overall I did enjoy the story and will be definitely reading book 2, yes the writing was at times a little naive, but this is a first book and things can only get better.
7 out of 10
Review by Jacqui Slaney
Having enjoyed ‘The Ratcatcher’ series by James McGee and ‘The Last Days of Newgate’ series by Andrew Pepper, when I saw this novel in the bookshop I was browsing, I thought it sounded interesting enough to buy,
This is the description:
In the dark and slimy streets of Wapping a prostitute is beaten half to death, a not uncommon fate in late 18th century London. So begins this gripping tale set in 1798 in the Port of London: a cruel villain holds sway over the underworld. His name is Boylin. His face is scarred by lime and his back by the two hundred lashes he received following a naval court martial. He holds Captain Tom Pascoe responsible for his suffering. They meet again when Pascoe becomes River Surveyor for the newly formed marine police. They have had orders to investigate a sudden fall in government revenue that is affecting the nation's ability to fight the war against Napoleon and stem the rising tide of Irish rebellion. Pascoe knows that Boylin is behind it, but he cannot prove anything, yet. THE WATERMEN follows these two adversaries across London as they try to outwit one another. Working alongside Pascoe is Sam Hart, a Jewish immigrant with his own agenda; Pascoe throws the rulebook out the window, scouring East London and the docklands in search of information. However, fate takes a cruel twist when the two men find themselves involved with the same woman - there is much more at stake than the fate of the nation.
This is the writer’s first novel, which at times is obvious, especially at the beginning. The characters started with being wooden and a bit stilted in their actions and speech and some of the descriptions are slightly overlong.
Tom Pascoe loses his ships command through no fault of his own and ends up being employed by the new marine police branch, he forces his employer to take on Sam Hart as well, a man who helped him, and the pair of them becomes a good team, patrolling the River Thames. The new patrol are soon tasked to find why so much cargo is going missing, and they are lead into a dark world full of violence, which is linked to both of their pasts.
The main character Pascoe is a little too good to be true, but I soon warmed to him as a character, he is interesting and has a good back story. I liked Sam as well; the hints about his mysterious past are good, although I must admit to working out what this was quite early on. Too be fair though this does not detract much from the story as there is plenty of action from the off, and the story is fast paced. The villain of the piece is Boylin, a real nasty bully, but who also comes across as some what as a coward at times, which is a bit odd.
The description of London sets the scene well, as you can almost smell the waterside areas and imagine the hospital. There are complaints if you read some reviews that some parts of the novel are not historically accurate. Well speaking as someone who enjoyed the book, I did not find that this distracted from the story at all, and if I had wanted to read an accurate account of the time, I would have chosen a factual book rather than one that is fiction.
Overall I did enjoy the story and will be definitely reading book 2, yes the writing was at times a little naive, but this is a first book and things can only get better.
7 out of 10
January 8, 2014
Book Review - The Snow Child
The Snow Child – Eowyn Ivey
I discovered this book by randomly browsing through the Kindle bestsellers. Every now and then, I fancy a different ride and this seemed to fit the bill nicely. The premise was intriguing and any book based on an accent fairy tale always grabs my interest.
The blurb:
Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart--he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone--but they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees.
This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and somehow survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in this beautiful, violent place things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform all of them.
I am firmly a “character” man. I need my books to have great characters to retain my interest, but sometimes I do appreciate expert descriptions. In the Snow Child, Eowyn Ivey has managed to convey the harsh Alaska setting perfectly. The sense of isolation and danger that the elements possess are really brought to life in colourful form. It may sound cliché but you can almost feel the cold, the frost and the silence.
Yet at the same time the book does not feel overly bleak. Ivey is careful to portray the beauty of the location and all it has to offer. Yes, there is the serious consequence of not having enough food stock piled for winter but there are also the breath taking scenery and the comfort of being cut off from everyone and being as one with nature.
Returning to the characters then, the story focuses on two protagonists: Mabel and Jack.When we meet Mabel she is contemplating ending her life. Her and Jack have moved to Alaska to isolate themselves after they are unable to have children. The loss has struck them both hard and Alaska is their way to escape everything that reminds them of their former life.
Mabel is a good character. She is quite old fashioned in her conduct and appears fairly flakey as a character. However, she possesses an inner strength that becomes more evident as the story progresses.
Jack too is old fashioned. He is stoic and unable to express his emotions. This leads to difficulty in his relationship as Mabel often feels unsupported. For the first part of the novel nothing much happens in regards of the plot. The introduction of the Snow Child then is most welcome. It changes the dynamic of the married couple and adds an intriguing mystery to the narrative.
The pacing of the mystery is handled perfectly. Ivey shows just enough of the Snow Child (Faina) to rouse suspicion but never confirms or denies who she really is until it is absolutely necessary. Alongside this, Ivey makes reference to the fairy tale the book is based on. It is a clever move as it leads the reader into thinking they know the direction of the plot.
The supporting cast is good but well realised with perhaps Ester being the strongest character in the book, think Kathy Bates in “Titantic” crossed with “Calamity Jane” and you are half way there. The other characters are solid although I would like to have seen the dynamic between Jack and Garrett explored further.
The ending is satisfying if a little disappointing. It was not so much a crescendo as more of a summary of what went on. I’d have preferred a more definitive ending that seemed inevitable.
Overall then, “The Snow Child” is a very good read. The prose is excellent and the characters are good. The plot could have been a little bit more intriguing. I am not a believer that action is essential in books but this novel could have certainly done with a bit more.
My rating: 7.4
I discovered this book by randomly browsing through the Kindle bestsellers. Every now and then, I fancy a different ride and this seemed to fit the bill nicely. The premise was intriguing and any book based on an accent fairy tale always grabs my interest.
The blurb:
Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart--he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone--but they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees.
This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and somehow survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in this beautiful, violent place things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform all of them.
I am firmly a “character” man. I need my books to have great characters to retain my interest, but sometimes I do appreciate expert descriptions. In the Snow Child, Eowyn Ivey has managed to convey the harsh Alaska setting perfectly. The sense of isolation and danger that the elements possess are really brought to life in colourful form. It may sound cliché but you can almost feel the cold, the frost and the silence.
Yet at the same time the book does not feel overly bleak. Ivey is careful to portray the beauty of the location and all it has to offer. Yes, there is the serious consequence of not having enough food stock piled for winter but there are also the breath taking scenery and the comfort of being cut off from everyone and being as one with nature.
Returning to the characters then, the story focuses on two protagonists: Mabel and Jack.When we meet Mabel she is contemplating ending her life. Her and Jack have moved to Alaska to isolate themselves after they are unable to have children. The loss has struck them both hard and Alaska is their way to escape everything that reminds them of their former life.
Mabel is a good character. She is quite old fashioned in her conduct and appears fairly flakey as a character. However, she possesses an inner strength that becomes more evident as the story progresses.
Jack too is old fashioned. He is stoic and unable to express his emotions. This leads to difficulty in his relationship as Mabel often feels unsupported. For the first part of the novel nothing much happens in regards of the plot. The introduction of the Snow Child then is most welcome. It changes the dynamic of the married couple and adds an intriguing mystery to the narrative.
The pacing of the mystery is handled perfectly. Ivey shows just enough of the Snow Child (Faina) to rouse suspicion but never confirms or denies who she really is until it is absolutely necessary. Alongside this, Ivey makes reference to the fairy tale the book is based on. It is a clever move as it leads the reader into thinking they know the direction of the plot.
The supporting cast is good but well realised with perhaps Ester being the strongest character in the book, think Kathy Bates in “Titantic” crossed with “Calamity Jane” and you are half way there. The other characters are solid although I would like to have seen the dynamic between Jack and Garrett explored further.
The ending is satisfying if a little disappointing. It was not so much a crescendo as more of a summary of what went on. I’d have preferred a more definitive ending that seemed inevitable.
Overall then, “The Snow Child” is a very good read. The prose is excellent and the characters are good. The plot could have been a little bit more intriguing. I am not a believer that action is essential in books but this novel could have certainly done with a bit more.
My rating: 7.4
January 3, 2014
A year in review 2014
A year in review 2013:
This is the 4th year of doing this post and I love it each year. 2013 has been quite a year for me. In the summer I finally realised my dream and became a published author. The whole process was daunting and bloody hard work but well worth it. Ritual of the Stones performed better than I expected it too for a first book by an unknown author and has encouraged me stick with this writing lark. On Amazon I have received a couple of cracking reviews and even the three star review (the lowest so far), was highly praised the book. The year also saw me commit to releasing Pewtory the Lesser Bard on a weekly basis, which was an added pressure I did not need. This was snapped up by www.SFFworld.com after the first week. I originally intended for this to only run for around 6-8 weeks but it is not on week 21 and going strong. I know I have been slack posting it on here, so I will look to make amends for that in future. Speaking of this site, it continues to grow in readership which is amazing and Jacqui and I would like to thank you all for your support. Lately, I have made the decision to put my writing first before the reviews, which is how it should be, but I am still managing to keep on top of it all – somehow! In regards to my writing: I had a small break over the Christmas period but I am back to writing each day. NaNoWriMo was a fantastic achievement and I am looking to do something similar to get the first draft of the second book completed by the end of February (162,000 words so far if you are interested). The aim is to release both Pewtory the Lesser Bard and the sequel to Ritual of the Stones this year (it has a name now but I am not willing to divulge it just yet). So enough rambling. Let’s get on with what you really came here for the awards!!! Actually before I hand out any awards some brief stats for you on my reading habits in 2013. Total books read = 53 Most read genre = Fantasy (15 books not including re-reads). Most read authors: Stephen King = 3 booksScott Lynch = 3 books (including re-reads)Mark Billingham = 2 booksLinwood Barclay = 2 booksJoe Hill = 2 books. 53 books is quite impressive considering I devoted so much more of my time to writing this year. Stephen King once again tops the most read author chart, but I am surprised that I have read only one book from my other favourite authors: Robert McCammon, Bernard Cornwell and John Connolly. Even more surprising is that last year I raved about David Gemmell’s “Legend,” stating that I would be reading much more of him and yet I have not read a single book. Considering one reviewer compared my own work to Gemmell’s (completely flattered by the way), it is something I intend to rectify. I am pleased that I have caught up a bit with Mark Billingham though. Anyway on to the ceremony. We start with the biggest prize. The countdown of my top 5 books from last year in order. And in 5th place.... 5. Outlaw – Angus Donald.
Jacqui put me on to this one. I love Robin Hood and this book was a fantastic start to a new series about him. They feel very much like Cornwell’s warlord Chronicles, which is one of my favourites trilogies ever. Enough said really. 4. Wolf’s Hour – Robert McCammon.
The only book by Rick I have read this year and of course it made the list. Once again, Robert McCammon displays his diversity by writing an action / adventure novel and doing it in style. 3. Joyland – Stephen King
I read three novels from King this year. The two he released and the Shining. To be honest, they could have all made the list. King is on fire right now, but Joyland was the perfect demonstration of how to write a dam good story. It is one of his shortest novels but still quite brilliant. 2. The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss I finally got round to reading it! To be honest, I read Anthony Ryan’s, “Bloodsong” at the start of the year and loved it. Ryan’s work was compared so much to Rothfuss that I had to give this book a whirl. Of course I loved it and will soon read the sequel and join the masses in waiting for the third. A special mention to Ryan’s debut though, as it could easily have been on this list as well. And the winner is.... 1. The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
I was aware of this book when it was first realised but put off by the women in the office saying it was a political story. It sounded drool to me. Years later, I apologise and confess I am the fool. This book should have been described as “to kill a mocking bird set in Afghanistan.” It is a triumph and one of my all time favourite stories. Those were the top 5 books I enjoyed last year. You can click on the links on the right hand side to see my proper reviews of them. However, an awards ceremony would not be a ceremony with only one award and so... Best new Series discovered: The Painted Man – Peter V Brett.
Obviously I could have gone for a few of the books above that made my top 5 but I thought I would spread the awards around a bit. The Painted Man had a great concept and offered something different.. Best continuation of a series: D I Thorne – Mark Billingham
I neglected this series for too long. This year I reminded myself why I loved Mark’s books. Favourite scene from a book: The description of Christmas Land in N0S4R2.
There were so many scenes I enjoyed this year: Stephen King’s reference to his son’s work in “Doctor Sleep”, the final fight scenes in Trudi Canavan’s, “The High Lord,” and the scenes in the shack in Adam Nevill’s, “The Ritual,” are a few that spring to mind. Joe Hill’s “Christmas Land,” though was just chilling. Hill took something so innocent and pure and turned it into something that was as creepy as hell. In Charlie Manx he created one of the all time best villains. Biggest surprise: Ann Cleeves – Raven Black
I brought this book on a whim and it really impressed me. So much so that I immediately went out and brought the other books in the series. Biggest disappointment: Disturbia – Christopher Fowler
This book has been on my shelf for years. Every now and then I hear someone say how good it is and I grow tempted to read it. This year I succumbed. It is undeniably well written, but is flawed to pieces and too high brow for its own good. Most anticipated book of 2014 River of Souls – Robert McCammon
Matthew Corbett is back this year. I can hardly wait. Well that is it for the review of 2013. Look forward to doing the whole thing with you next year. 
Jacqui put me on to this one. I love Robin Hood and this book was a fantastic start to a new series about him. They feel very much like Cornwell’s warlord Chronicles, which is one of my favourites trilogies ever. Enough said really. 4. Wolf’s Hour – Robert McCammon.
The only book by Rick I have read this year and of course it made the list. Once again, Robert McCammon displays his diversity by writing an action / adventure novel and doing it in style. 3. Joyland – Stephen King
I read three novels from King this year. The two he released and the Shining. To be honest, they could have all made the list. King is on fire right now, but Joyland was the perfect demonstration of how to write a dam good story. It is one of his shortest novels but still quite brilliant. 2. The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss I finally got round to reading it! To be honest, I read Anthony Ryan’s, “Bloodsong” at the start of the year and loved it. Ryan’s work was compared so much to Rothfuss that I had to give this book a whirl. Of course I loved it and will soon read the sequel and join the masses in waiting for the third. A special mention to Ryan’s debut though, as it could easily have been on this list as well. And the winner is.... 1. The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
I was aware of this book when it was first realised but put off by the women in the office saying it was a political story. It sounded drool to me. Years later, I apologise and confess I am the fool. This book should have been described as “to kill a mocking bird set in Afghanistan.” It is a triumph and one of my all time favourite stories. Those were the top 5 books I enjoyed last year. You can click on the links on the right hand side to see my proper reviews of them. However, an awards ceremony would not be a ceremony with only one award and so... Best new Series discovered: The Painted Man – Peter V Brett.
Obviously I could have gone for a few of the books above that made my top 5 but I thought I would spread the awards around a bit. The Painted Man had a great concept and offered something different.. Best continuation of a series: D I Thorne – Mark Billingham
I neglected this series for too long. This year I reminded myself why I loved Mark’s books. Favourite scene from a book: The description of Christmas Land in N0S4R2.
There were so many scenes I enjoyed this year: Stephen King’s reference to his son’s work in “Doctor Sleep”, the final fight scenes in Trudi Canavan’s, “The High Lord,” and the scenes in the shack in Adam Nevill’s, “The Ritual,” are a few that spring to mind. Joe Hill’s “Christmas Land,” though was just chilling. Hill took something so innocent and pure and turned it into something that was as creepy as hell. In Charlie Manx he created one of the all time best villains. Biggest surprise: Ann Cleeves – Raven Black
I brought this book on a whim and it really impressed me. So much so that I immediately went out and brought the other books in the series. Biggest disappointment: Disturbia – Christopher Fowler
This book has been on my shelf for years. Every now and then I hear someone say how good it is and I grow tempted to read it. This year I succumbed. It is undeniably well written, but is flawed to pieces and too high brow for its own good. Most anticipated book of 2014 River of Souls – Robert McCammon
Matthew Corbett is back this year. I can hardly wait. Well that is it for the review of 2013. Look forward to doing the whole thing with you next year.
Book Review - Arthur Britannicus (JS)
Arthur Britannicus by Paul Bannister
Review by Jacqui Slaney
I have always had an interest in stories about the Arthur legend, and have read countless versions, one of my favourites being the Warlord series by Bernard Cornwall. So when I saw this book and read that it was a tale of a Briton fighting for the Romans and calling himself Arthur, I could not resist.
This is the description:
Carausius is born into a savage life.
His father was a respected warrior chief, a leader of men.
But as a boy, Carausius witnesses his violent death.
As the boy grows into a man and then a soldier, he dedicates himself to the cause of Rome.
As a centurion in the Empire's mighty Army, he earns the respect of his men: soldiers who will fight, and die if necessary, at his command.
But, just like his father before him, he is surrounded by enemies - both within and without.
He must manoeuvre his way through battle, knowing who to trust and who to put to death; not easy when paranoia among the ruling elite is so rife.
Will Carausius emerge victorious where so many before him failed and earn the great title of all?
Augustus.
Or will he meet an early, violent death, as his father did before him.
The story starts with Carausius as a young boy as marauders attack his village, enslaving some and killing others including his father. Carausius escapes and with the help of a friend leaves Britain. When he is grown he enlists in the Roman army, as it seems the best chance of a life for him, he quickly becomes a good fighter and thanks to his skills quickly moves through the ranks.At this stage, you would be forgiven for thinking this is just a book about a soldier in the Roman army, and to a certain extent, you would be right. There are hints though of a destiny hanging over this character, talk of a mysterious man who spoke to Carausius’s father who name is a version of Merlin, and he himself has ambition to be an emperor, and later gives himself the name Arthur.
Carausius is an interesting character, he is bloodthirsty and quite violent, but makes the story, which is good as many of the other characters are very one dimensional. You do have quite an entertaining bad guy in Maximian a Roman general, who hates Carausius and wants to see him dead.
The writing style itself is a little hard to get into at first, with some occurrences being quite factual. These are detailed historically speaking, but lessens a readers enjoyment in a fictional story.
Once you get used to the style though, you do find yourself drawn into the story, the book is not too long, so it is not tedious and the pace is set to keep the readers interest, with enough action to make you read to the end.
Overall I enjoyed the book, and will be looking at book two, where hopefully, some of the minor complaints will have been smoothed out.
7 out of 10
December 27, 2013
Book Review - Disturbia
Disturbia – Christopher Fowler
Christopher Fowler is an author that I have always heard mentioned on forums etc and vowed to check out. Disturbia it seems is one of his better books so when I saw it cheap in a book store I took the plunge and purchased it. The premise sounded good but for some reason it has languished on my book shelf for a number of years.
The Blurb:
An assignment brings Vincent - permanent student and budding young writer - into the world of Sebastian Wells and the Prometheus League. Under the guise of a Victorian gaming society it operates extremist and covert activities. Threatening exposure, Vincent is thrown into a game of life or death.Show More Show Less
First off, the prose took me by surprise. I am not sure what I was expecting, but Christopher Fowler’s vocabulary is certainly accomplished and his observations of the class segregation in society and the decline of London as a thriving enterprise are depicted well with a good grounding in the subject matter.
I will admit openly, that politics does very little for me. Cynical observations of the various political stances are wasted on my mind. Call it ignorance, stupidity whatever you want, but I have an inability to engage on the subject matter, so unfortunately large portions of the commentary passed me by.
Still if a novel has a good plot and good characters then in my mind that is all that matters.
As the blurb highlights, the novel follows Vincent as he becomes embroiled in a world he knows little of but is keen to expose. It essentially exists of two parts. Part one concerns itself with Vincent meeting and interviewing Sebastian Wells. Whilst part 2 deals with the deadly game that Vincent finds himself an unwilling participant off as he struggles to survive.
If you asked me before hand which of the two parts I would have been most interested in, I would have said part two. However, it is the first part that is by far the strongest.
Vincent is a decent character. He is disillusioned with life and has no real career path, despite showing plenty of potential as a promising writer. He is told to create an assignment that will make a name for himself and on a whim, he selects Sebastian Wells as his subject matter.
Sebastian Wells is a “well to do” toff with a shady past. He has never worked a day in his life but despite engaging in many extra-curricular activities, always seems to have controversy follow him. He is the member of Prometheus League which is shrouded in mystery itself.
And so a series of interviews begins where Vincent tries to extract the juicy details from Vincent’s life without pushing too far and upsetting the man. It makes for intriguing reading as a certain cat and mouse routine is played out.
Vincent wrestles with his conscience as he is torn between liking the affable Sebastian and enjoying the wealthy lifestyle he is afforded as a result, and uncovering dribs and drabs about the man’s past that are scandalous.
Sebastian Wells is a charming character. Unapologetically arrogant, yet at the same time, intrigued by Vincent - it is a good study of both characters.
The second part however fails to match the first. The game that is set up for Vincent to play consists of 10 challenges. All of these have strict time limits and involve Vincent solving cryptic clues and going to the appointed location for the next clue.
It is a good premise, but fails to deliver on multi fronts. First of all, the clues are so complex that the reader does not have a hope of solving any of them. This spoils the fun a little, but even when Vincent does figure out the solution, it is rarely satisfying. The clues rely on knowledge and tenuous links that only specialist will know.
Secondly, some of the clues are solved by completely unbelievable coincidences. For example one of them is solved by a random tramp passing by, who Vincent happens to bump into when he lands on an elder lady after jumping out of the window. That said tramp happens to be an expert on the subject matter makes the book completely implausible.
Thirdly, the game is deadly, people die. Unfortunately, those that die are barely introduced and so when they are killed, the reader has no emotional attachment to them. What is worse, with the strict time limit in between each clue Vincent still manages to stop and have sex for 40 minutes with a complete random – come on!
The ending is merely satisfying. There are no real revelations and it is all pretty predictable.
Overall, I think disappointed sums up how I felt about Disturbia. It is not a bad novel by any stretch of the imagination. The first half is quite good, whilst not necessarily being my cup of tea. The second half also has some genuinely good and tense moments but the implausibility of half of it completely spoilt the novel for me.
My rating: 6.7
Christopher Fowler is an author that I have always heard mentioned on forums etc and vowed to check out. Disturbia it seems is one of his better books so when I saw it cheap in a book store I took the plunge and purchased it. The premise sounded good but for some reason it has languished on my book shelf for a number of years.
The Blurb:
An assignment brings Vincent - permanent student and budding young writer - into the world of Sebastian Wells and the Prometheus League. Under the guise of a Victorian gaming society it operates extremist and covert activities. Threatening exposure, Vincent is thrown into a game of life or death.Show More Show Less
First off, the prose took me by surprise. I am not sure what I was expecting, but Christopher Fowler’s vocabulary is certainly accomplished and his observations of the class segregation in society and the decline of London as a thriving enterprise are depicted well with a good grounding in the subject matter.
I will admit openly, that politics does very little for me. Cynical observations of the various political stances are wasted on my mind. Call it ignorance, stupidity whatever you want, but I have an inability to engage on the subject matter, so unfortunately large portions of the commentary passed me by.
Still if a novel has a good plot and good characters then in my mind that is all that matters.
As the blurb highlights, the novel follows Vincent as he becomes embroiled in a world he knows little of but is keen to expose. It essentially exists of two parts. Part one concerns itself with Vincent meeting and interviewing Sebastian Wells. Whilst part 2 deals with the deadly game that Vincent finds himself an unwilling participant off as he struggles to survive.
If you asked me before hand which of the two parts I would have been most interested in, I would have said part two. However, it is the first part that is by far the strongest.
Vincent is a decent character. He is disillusioned with life and has no real career path, despite showing plenty of potential as a promising writer. He is told to create an assignment that will make a name for himself and on a whim, he selects Sebastian Wells as his subject matter.
Sebastian Wells is a “well to do” toff with a shady past. He has never worked a day in his life but despite engaging in many extra-curricular activities, always seems to have controversy follow him. He is the member of Prometheus League which is shrouded in mystery itself.
And so a series of interviews begins where Vincent tries to extract the juicy details from Vincent’s life without pushing too far and upsetting the man. It makes for intriguing reading as a certain cat and mouse routine is played out.
Vincent wrestles with his conscience as he is torn between liking the affable Sebastian and enjoying the wealthy lifestyle he is afforded as a result, and uncovering dribs and drabs about the man’s past that are scandalous.
Sebastian Wells is a charming character. Unapologetically arrogant, yet at the same time, intrigued by Vincent - it is a good study of both characters.
The second part however fails to match the first. The game that is set up for Vincent to play consists of 10 challenges. All of these have strict time limits and involve Vincent solving cryptic clues and going to the appointed location for the next clue.
It is a good premise, but fails to deliver on multi fronts. First of all, the clues are so complex that the reader does not have a hope of solving any of them. This spoils the fun a little, but even when Vincent does figure out the solution, it is rarely satisfying. The clues rely on knowledge and tenuous links that only specialist will know.
Secondly, some of the clues are solved by completely unbelievable coincidences. For example one of them is solved by a random tramp passing by, who Vincent happens to bump into when he lands on an elder lady after jumping out of the window. That said tramp happens to be an expert on the subject matter makes the book completely implausible.
Thirdly, the game is deadly, people die. Unfortunately, those that die are barely introduced and so when they are killed, the reader has no emotional attachment to them. What is worse, with the strict time limit in between each clue Vincent still manages to stop and have sex for 40 minutes with a complete random – come on!
The ending is merely satisfying. There are no real revelations and it is all pretty predictable.
Overall, I think disappointed sums up how I felt about Disturbia. It is not a bad novel by any stretch of the imagination. The first half is quite good, whilst not necessarily being my cup of tea. The second half also has some genuinely good and tense moments but the implausibility of half of it completely spoilt the novel for me.
My rating: 6.7
December 22, 2013
Book Review - The Night Circus
The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern
Fictional books on the circus are fast becoming a favourite of mine. There is something about the mystique of the subject matter, the unknown. Everyone wants to believe there is more going on behind the scenes of the colourful tents and the spectacular performances. I’ve previously loved, Ray Bradbury’s “Something Wicked this Way comes” and Robert Jackson Bennett’s “the Troupe.” I hoped I would enjoy “the Night Circus” just as much.
The blurb:
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. The black sign, painted in white letters that hangs upon the gates, reads:
Opens at Nightfall
Closes at Dawn
As the sun disappears beyond the horizon, all over the tents small lights begin to flicker, as though the entirety of the circus is covered in particularly bright fireflies. When the tents are all aglow, sparkling against the night sky, the sign appears.
Le Cirque des Rêves
The Circus of Dreams.
Now the circus is open.
Now you may enter.
This book is nothing like I thought it would be. That is not meant as a negative, but sometimes you get it in your head as what a book is going to be like and then it completely surprises you.”The Night Circus,” does just that.
The circus in this book is more of a stage for a grander game to be played out. Celia and Marco are two children that have been mentored since childhood to participate in a contest they do not truly understand. They are both brought up very differently, but their objectives are the same: one day they will enter the contest and they are under enormous pressure to win.
The rules of the game are never truly clear, which works in the books favour. As Celia and Marco try to figure out what is going on, so does the reader. It seems that the game is to outdo the opponent with true magic and illusions until one is unable to compete anymore. That is all there is to the main plot really, which is a shame, as something with a bit more depth would have elevated the book in my eyes. So are the characters memorable?
Celia is the more prominent character of the book. She is easy to root for as she is forced into the game by her father, Hector. Her childhood years are perhaps the most intriguing, but as a character she is pretty one dimensional.
Likewise the same could be said about Marco. Marco takes more of a backstage role in the circus but it is a role of great importance.
There are a host of other characters such as the founders of the circus who meet at their midnight feasts at regular intervals. The scenes involving this company of oddballs comprise the more interesting aspects of the novel as none of them can escape the lure of what they have created.
The other characters worth mentioning are Bailey, who is a young boy whose fate becomes entwined with that of the circus, a contortionist and a clock maker who becomes the founder of the reveurs – a devoted following of the circus.
Based on the plot and characters above, this would just be an average read. However, it is the circus that really shines. As seen through Bailey’s eyes the circus is truly a place of wonder. The tents created by the Marco and Celia are astounding, from the Ice garden to the cloud maze. The basic plot and characters are irrelevant when one is reading about such a beautifully described place.
The ending of the book is satisfactory if nothing special. When there the plot is light and a little confusing, you can’t expect much else.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. As a story it did not grab me in the way other circus tales have, but the description of the circus itself and just reading about it, is fascinating.
My rating: 8.1
December 19, 2013
Book Review: The Persuader
The Persuader – Lee Child
The Persuader is the seventh outing for Lee Child’s wildly popular Jack Reacher series. The books are easy reads and always fun if a little formulaic. They start with the same basic premise Jack witnesses something he doesn’t like, gets involved and the problem always turns out to be more convoluted then he first believed. It is a simple formula and it works, if taken in small doses. The blurb: Never forgive, never forget. That's Jack Reacher's standard operating procedure. And Francis Xavier Quinn was the worst guy he had ever met. He had done truly unforgivable things. So Reacher was glad to know he was dead. Until the day he saw him, alive and well, riding in a limousine outside Boston's Symphony Hall.
Never apologize. Never explain. When Reacher witnesses a brutal attempt to kidnap a terrified young student on a New England campus, he takes the law into his own hands. That's his way, after all. Only this time, a cop dies, and Reacher doesn't stick around to explain. Has he lost his sense of right and wrong? Just because this time, it's personal? Having harped on about being formulaic above, “the Persuader” opens with an original concept where Jack is automatically involved in an action sequence. He prevents an abduction of a rich boy and shoots a cop in the process. All is not what it seems of course and the next few chapters cleverly unveil the real plot that drives the narrative. Reacher is his classic self: assured, calculating and applying his military background to every situation. I have mentioned in previous reviews, that the stories involving Reacher that work best are when he is vulnerable. In this outing, Lee Child strikes the balance between Reacher being untouchable and then being at risk perfectly. As he is working deep undercover, he is constantly susceptible to being discovered. He has to be cautious at all times and Lee Child plays on his paranoia well. It also helps that the colleagues Reacher is forced to work with are not stupid as well. They may not suspect him immediately but they realise that something is not right and take an instant dislike to him. The constant one-upmanship Reacher shares with Paulie is particularly entertaining. Paulie might not be anything but a jerk but he is a worthy nemesis for Jack. Especially as Jack realises his own limitations against the man. However, the Reacher’s main adversary, Francis Xavier Quinn is woefully underdeveloped and considering he is the main reason Reacher involves himself in the undercover operation we see very little of him. Instead, we are treated to several flashbacks where Jack meets a young soldier who investigates Francis’ actions. These are interesting, as the woman officer (Dominique Cole), allows the reader to explore Reacher’s more maudlin and reserved side. His memories are filled with regret, not only due to professional decisions he made, but also personal ones. Dominique herself is a good character and one that it would also have been nice to see more of. The other characters are useful plot devices. Reacher works relatively closely with Duffy, a DEA agent who runs the operation and although Lee Child fleshes out Duffy’s character a little, she only ever pops in and out of the novel to progress the plot or manufacture a twist. As always the novel is fast paced and interesting. There were some very repetitive phrases for example, the amount of time a character spoke and Jack Reacher “said nothing,” began to grate a little. The action however, was top notch. There is a great slobber knocker in there, and Child creates a lot of tension towards the end of the novel where Reacher finds himself in a particularly perilous position.The ending is somewhat disappointing. The showdown at the end looks promising but then stutters before being resolved quickly. It leaves a sense of anti-climax which is unusual for a Child novel. Overall, this is a worthy addition to the series. Fans will know exactly what to expect and will not be disappointed. My rating: 8.3
The Persuader is the seventh outing for Lee Child’s wildly popular Jack Reacher series. The books are easy reads and always fun if a little formulaic. They start with the same basic premise Jack witnesses something he doesn’t like, gets involved and the problem always turns out to be more convoluted then he first believed. It is a simple formula and it works, if taken in small doses. The blurb: Never forgive, never forget. That's Jack Reacher's standard operating procedure. And Francis Xavier Quinn was the worst guy he had ever met. He had done truly unforgivable things. So Reacher was glad to know he was dead. Until the day he saw him, alive and well, riding in a limousine outside Boston's Symphony Hall. Never apologize. Never explain. When Reacher witnesses a brutal attempt to kidnap a terrified young student on a New England campus, he takes the law into his own hands. That's his way, after all. Only this time, a cop dies, and Reacher doesn't stick around to explain. Has he lost his sense of right and wrong? Just because this time, it's personal? Having harped on about being formulaic above, “the Persuader” opens with an original concept where Jack is automatically involved in an action sequence. He prevents an abduction of a rich boy and shoots a cop in the process. All is not what it seems of course and the next few chapters cleverly unveil the real plot that drives the narrative. Reacher is his classic self: assured, calculating and applying his military background to every situation. I have mentioned in previous reviews, that the stories involving Reacher that work best are when he is vulnerable. In this outing, Lee Child strikes the balance between Reacher being untouchable and then being at risk perfectly. As he is working deep undercover, he is constantly susceptible to being discovered. He has to be cautious at all times and Lee Child plays on his paranoia well. It also helps that the colleagues Reacher is forced to work with are not stupid as well. They may not suspect him immediately but they realise that something is not right and take an instant dislike to him. The constant one-upmanship Reacher shares with Paulie is particularly entertaining. Paulie might not be anything but a jerk but he is a worthy nemesis for Jack. Especially as Jack realises his own limitations against the man. However, the Reacher’s main adversary, Francis Xavier Quinn is woefully underdeveloped and considering he is the main reason Reacher involves himself in the undercover operation we see very little of him. Instead, we are treated to several flashbacks where Jack meets a young soldier who investigates Francis’ actions. These are interesting, as the woman officer (Dominique Cole), allows the reader to explore Reacher’s more maudlin and reserved side. His memories are filled with regret, not only due to professional decisions he made, but also personal ones. Dominique herself is a good character and one that it would also have been nice to see more of. The other characters are useful plot devices. Reacher works relatively closely with Duffy, a DEA agent who runs the operation and although Lee Child fleshes out Duffy’s character a little, she only ever pops in and out of the novel to progress the plot or manufacture a twist. As always the novel is fast paced and interesting. There were some very repetitive phrases for example, the amount of time a character spoke and Jack Reacher “said nothing,” began to grate a little. The action however, was top notch. There is a great slobber knocker in there, and Child creates a lot of tension towards the end of the novel where Reacher finds himself in a particularly perilous position.The ending is somewhat disappointing. The showdown at the end looks promising but then stutters before being resolved quickly. It leaves a sense of anti-climax which is unusual for a Child novel. Overall, this is a worthy addition to the series. Fans will know exactly what to expect and will not be disappointed. My rating: 8.3
December 12, 2013
Book Review - Unnatural Creatures (JS)
Unnatural Creatures by Neil Gaiman
Review by Jacqui Slaney
This book was suggested to me as an offer on Amazon, now I get loads of these daily and generally ignore, but saw the name of the author of this one and thought I would indulge.
This is the description:
Chosen and introduced by Neil Gaiman, this thoroughly beguiling collection of short stories is inhabited by an amazing menagerie of creatures from myth, legend and dark imagination.
Now anyone that has previously read some of my reviews knows that I have a soft spot for tales of dragons, and by extension all other mythical creatures as well, so I was very interested to see what these short stories would be like.
These stories are of varied quality, which I have often found in such collections even when there is just one writer involved. However, the good thing is, even though you may not be very keen on one story, you can always jump onto the next.
I must admit I stuck with each tale, even if I found the story not completely to my taste, I cannot actually say that I disliked any of them enough to stop reading. They were also short, so it was no real hardship to read to the end.
I knew some of the authors, for instance Larry Niven, E Nesbit, Peter Beagle, Saki and obviously Neil Gaiman, but the others were new to me, most of which I really enjoyed.
To give you some ideas of the stories, here are a few snippets. You have a story about a time traveller sent back in time to capture a horse, but finds instead something that looks like the picture he has, except for one difference. There is a very entertaining story about a sunbird, this I will admit was one of my favourites, and shows the dangers of eating very hot food. There is also an old story about a little girl’s journey to see a relative, sounds quite straightforward you would think, but no, and a brilliant story about the exhibits in the natural history museum.
Before each story there is also a foreword by Neil Gaiman, in which you can read a little about the author and it gives you a taster of the story to come, he also wrote the main introduction to the book that is great.
All in all this is a fun collection of stories to read and being a collection you can jump in and out of the book, so you do not have to read it solidly, would recommend the book to anyone, especially if you like Neil Gaiman.
8 out of 10
Review by Jacqui Slaney
This book was suggested to me as an offer on Amazon, now I get loads of these daily and generally ignore, but saw the name of the author of this one and thought I would indulge.
This is the description:
Chosen and introduced by Neil Gaiman, this thoroughly beguiling collection of short stories is inhabited by an amazing menagerie of creatures from myth, legend and dark imagination.
Now anyone that has previously read some of my reviews knows that I have a soft spot for tales of dragons, and by extension all other mythical creatures as well, so I was very interested to see what these short stories would be like.
These stories are of varied quality, which I have often found in such collections even when there is just one writer involved. However, the good thing is, even though you may not be very keen on one story, you can always jump onto the next.
I must admit I stuck with each tale, even if I found the story not completely to my taste, I cannot actually say that I disliked any of them enough to stop reading. They were also short, so it was no real hardship to read to the end.
I knew some of the authors, for instance Larry Niven, E Nesbit, Peter Beagle, Saki and obviously Neil Gaiman, but the others were new to me, most of which I really enjoyed.
To give you some ideas of the stories, here are a few snippets. You have a story about a time traveller sent back in time to capture a horse, but finds instead something that looks like the picture he has, except for one difference. There is a very entertaining story about a sunbird, this I will admit was one of my favourites, and shows the dangers of eating very hot food. There is also an old story about a little girl’s journey to see a relative, sounds quite straightforward you would think, but no, and a brilliant story about the exhibits in the natural history museum.
Before each story there is also a foreword by Neil Gaiman, in which you can read a little about the author and it gives you a taster of the story to come, he also wrote the main introduction to the book that is great.
All in all this is a fun collection of stories to read and being a collection you can jump in and out of the book, so you do not have to read it solidly, would recommend the book to anyone, especially if you like Neil Gaiman.
8 out of 10
