Book Review: "Jack and Kill" by Diane Capri

Jack Reacher: Friend or Enemy? 

FBI Agents Kim Otto and Carlos Gaspar get a lead on Jack Reacher. New Hope, Virginia, welcomed him yesterday. Is he there now? Will Otto and Gaspar stand face-to-face with Reacher? Is Reacher a wanted man? - from Amazon.com (minus other accolades)

Kim Otto and Carlos Gaspar are back in a second short story in the Hunt For Reacher series. Operatinf under the radar to complete their assigned task of getting information on Jack Reacher, Otto and Gaspar are headed to the town of New Hope. Once there, what appears to be a basic traffic accident turns into more than what they expected.

Diane Capri has done a wonderful job creating a secondary storyline to Lee Childs' Jack Reacher series. Look forward to another full length novel in this series.

Book Review: "The Last Dark" by Stephen R. Donaldson

Compelled step by step to actions whose consequences they could neither see nor prevent, Thomas Covenant and Linden Avery have fought for what they love in the magical reality known only as "the Land." Now they face their final crisis. Reunited after their separate struggles, they discover in each other their true power--and yet they cannot imagine how to stop the Worm of the World’s End from unmaking Time. Nevertheless they must resist the ruin of all things, giving their last strength in the service of the world's continuance. - from Amazon.com

Where do I go with this? I started the first Chronicles of Thomas Convenant probably over 20 years ago, and fell in love. I read through the three books, anxiously picking up the three of the second chronicles. What seemed many years later, Donaldson released the start of the third and final chronicles, and each time I have waited anxiously for the next book. That all ends with the release of this one. A great series has come to a close. 

This is book four of the Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. It starts off right where book three had ended, though it has been quite some time since I read it, I thought I would be able to just pick up right where book four starts, but easily within the first few chapters, I realized I was having issues. I didn't remember characters doing/being certain things/places, and felt lost for quite a bit of the beginning here. Probably would have been good to go back and re-read the first three books, so everything would be clearer for me.

Either way, once I got started, and knew what was going on with whom,  it became a bit easier. It seemed so much of this book dealt with internal personal issues for the main characters. I found myself getting a bit bored with what felt like lengthy descriptions of inner turmoils, that, quite frankly, made me skip/skim pages at a time. I understand that much of this inner turmoil is necessary to the story, but just seemed repetitive throughout the book. The ending I felt was a bit of a let-down, but honestly couldn't see a clearer way to end such a life-long series. Overall, even with some boring passages, it was a finish to some great characters.

Book Review: "The Uncrowned King" by Rowena Cory Daniells

Thirteen year old Piro watches powerless as her father's enemies march on the castle, while a traitor whispers poison in the King's ear, undermining his trust in her brother, Byren. Determined to prove his loyalty, Byren races to the Abbey; somehow, he must convince the Abbot to send his warriors to defend the castle. And Fyn, the youngest of King Rolen's sons, has barely begun his training as a mystic, but wakes in a cold sweat, haunted by dreams of betrayal... - from Amazon.com

This is the second book of the King Rolen's Kin series by Daniells, and continues from where THE KING'S BASTARD ended. The saga continues as betrayal, war and suffering thrive in Rolencia. Byren, now the heir to the throne, continues trying to warn his father of the invasion of Merofynia. Fyn tries to do the same, and Piro watches as her 'cousin' betrays her father.

I read through this one pretty fast. Same as the first one, that I felt it was written as if intended for a younger audience, but still felt drawn into the story. I should start the next one book soon, so I can find out how everything gets resolved.

Book Review: "Knight Fall" by Joe Ducie

“The Knights of Atlantis created the Infernal Clock, the Roseblades, and other weapons of celestial illusion. Yet today the Knights are less than a pale shadow of their former glory. A bonfire diminished to dying embers. None of the Order could wield Origin with enough conviction to even blemish the Everlasting.” Emily grinned and gave me a wink. “Well, save perhaps one shadowless fool.” 

The peace forged by Declan Hale at the end of the Tome Wars was meant to last a hundred generations. Yet barely six years have passed and the drums of war echo once more across the thousands of worlds of the Story Thread. 

With shadowed enemies loosed from the Void, the Knights Infernal again after his head, and the Everlasting wrapping him in their dark schemes, Declan will have to take the fight across worlds further than he’s ever gone before—or risk True Earth getting swept away in the maelstrom.  - from Amazon.com

What do I say about a book that has me torn in different directions? Declan Hale returns in the third installment of this ongoing saga. After being reinstated as a Knight Infernal, Declan is forced into play against the Everlasting, in an effort to not only save Forget, but to save True Earth. Along the way he allies up with some of his enemies,  fights long-forgotten gods, and all while wearing a waistcoat.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the continuing adventure of Declan Hale, and at the same time I a bit miffed. As with any good on-going adventure, waiting the next installment is not the most pleasurable thing I imagine. Knowing that there is more to come, I wait anxiously for Ducie to produce.