Ricky Pine's Blog, page 132
March 1, 2016
Review: The Great Zoo of China
The Great Zoo of China by Matthew ReillyMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
And here's the unstoppable high-octane thrills I've been missing from Matthew Reilly. Ever since I got into his books a few years ago, I've been dying for the next one, and discovering firsthand just how long he can go between new releases. And then it took me a long time to even realize this book existed - which I wasn't aware of until after I'd finally read The Tournament.
This book is much more in the vein of the Schofield o...
February 29, 2016
Review: Stars Above
Stars Above by Marissa MeyerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I've been taking looks at various printings, etc. of the stories in this collection for a while - like, in paperback releases of Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, as well as on Marissa Meyer's Wattpad page. However, to finally get these stories and more in print, all together...well, it's about time!
Most of these stories are some very useful looks into the lives of characters who aren't our four heroines, or Levana. Others flesh out further det...
February 28, 2016
Review: Blood and Water
Blood and Water by Briana MorganMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Post-apocalypse + disgusting disease + trust NO ONE + all the feels = this book.
Seriously. Thank God this book was available on Wattpad, but the real question is, why isn't it on sale in major bookstores everywhere? I know this book is bound to kill everyone who reads it. Like this:
And then, we're left all like this:
There needs to be a sequel, too. But I'm not sure if I can handle it...
Oh, and one more thing. The main character's name...
Review: Malus Domestica
Malus Domestica by S.A. HuntMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Easily comparable to the work of Stephen King, this sizable chunk of urban-fantasy goodness boasts some downright horrifying literary set pieces. However, the best by far comes in the prologue. I remember once hearing on the radio about a little thing Netflix did to calculate how long it takes to get hooked on most shows (like, two episodes for Breaking Bad, three for The 100, that sort of thing.) With this book, if it were to be made int...
February 27, 2016
Review: Stormdancer
Stormdancer by Jay KristoffMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Like Amie Kaufman's These Broken Stars, this book from one of the co-authors of Illuminae doesn't quite live up to that lofty standard for me, but this book has no problem delivering a most unique adventure. I don't think I've seen Japanese culture and steampunk dystopian blended quite so smoothly, except maybe in Howl's Moving Castle, which, while murder on the feels at times, is a walk in the park compared to the high stakes and action K...
February 26, 2016
Review: These Broken Stars
These Broken Stars by Amie KaufmanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Inspired by the awesomeness that was Illuminae, and also by the glowing recommendation from Brett Michael Orr, I decided to get my hands on this other book of Amie Kaufman's the first chance I got. While These Broken Stars doesn't quite hold a candle to Illuminae, it's still a pretty damn good read.
The premise starts out as basically Titanic in space, with an old-fashioned, class-distinction-laden atmosphere on the starship Icarus....
February 23, 2016
Review: Front Lines
Front Lines by Michael GrantMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I've been waiting for this new Michael Grant series for a good long time - maybe since the Gone series ended, it feels like. Now that this hybrid of Agent Carter and Pearl Harbor is here, and I've read it, I can safely say that Grant's very much still got it.
For some reason, Goodreads seems to think this book is sci-fi, when it's not - because alternate history doesn't equal sci-fi, let's face it. And what an alternate history this is, wh...
February 21, 2016
Review: Morning Star
Morning Star by Pierce BrownMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Bloodydamn goryhell.
Red Rising mashed up all the games: Ender's Game, The Hunger Games, Game of Thrones.
Golden Son went for more all-out Thrones.
And finally, the trilogy reaches its conclusion in Morning Star, best described as the unholy and freakishly, outrageously awesome love child of Star Wars and Thor. No, seriously. The Roman inspiration for the first two books takes a backseat throughout much of this one to make room for some seri...
February 19, 2016
Review: The Absolution
The Absolution by Jonathan HoltMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
And so endeth the Carnivia Trilogy...but you know what?
Seriously, how can we be done with this Gothic hacker's world already? And after such a stylish and high-intensity thriller too. While not as harrowing as its predecessor, it deals with the threat of a terrorist attack in Venice, with a combination of hacking and bombing being planned as part of a greater anti-American campaign. And as for the ultimate reveal of the plot - it's not...
February 18, 2016
Why I Write: Freedom Of Love
"We know that we're young
And no shit, we're confusedBut will you watch us drown?What are you so afraid to lose?"-Arcade Fire, "We Exist"
"What's your problem with religion?"..."It's not religion itself, it's what people use it for - against other people."-J.L. Pawley, Generation Icarus: First Flight
When piecing together the histories and personalities of my Red Rain characters Alex and Gabe, it's pretty much an open secret that they're other, better versions of me - and especially other,...
And no shit, we're confusedBut will you watch us drown?What are you so afraid to lose?"-Arcade Fire, "We Exist"
"What's your problem with religion?"..."It's not religion itself, it's what people use it for - against other people."-J.L. Pawley, Generation Icarus: First Flight
When piecing together the histories and personalities of my Red Rain characters Alex and Gabe, it's pretty much an open secret that they're other, better versions of me - and especially other,...
