Book Review: "The Doctrines of Fire" by C.L. Jarvis

 

An academic rivalry turns deadly.

Edinburgh, 1779. George Stephens was a decent soldier, but he's a lousy medical student. Lacking the social and financial resources to succeed in Edinburgh’s elite medical school, his dream of becoming a physician appears over before it began.

Then George comes to the attention of two famous professors, William Cullen and Joseph Black. Medical students are dying mysteriously - the professors suspect a disgraced former student is to blame - and they need George’s help uncovering the truth. Believing the partnership will bolster his academic standing, George agrees.

Their investigation pulls them into the murkiest, most dangerous corners of Enlightenment Edinburgh. The professors are secret wielders of fire magic, but their foes are courting even darker forces. With violence threatening to erupt, and George struggling to navigate this confusing city, getting justice for the dead will be harder than he imagined. - from Booksirens.com

This ARC was given to me by Booksirens.com and I am providing an unbiased review.

The story description and basic cover art brought my interest to bear when I requested this book. As I started it, I was immediately pulled into the story, and remained there most of the day as I pretty much read this in one sitting. Usually I am not one for historical fiction, but the author's telling of this tale, and the story itself were very well written.

The use of magic in this historical setting of the medical college in Edinburgh, is quite complicated, and just .... weird. I forget the term they used to describe it, but, as with much of the story, the word used fit in with all the other miscellaneous Latin jargon one would expect at a medical college in the past. Add in a mystery, an old rivalry, and some jealousy, you get this story.

I loved the plot twists, the wording specifically that fit with what I would guess Scots would pronounce words, and the 'high-bred' speech of professors of the time period in a medical college. Add in that our main character, George, was a "late" student, having served in the military prior to being accepted to the college. Plus, he, like many of us in this day and age, struggled financially to stay in school. Yeah. Just a great story. I see it is listed as a 'book one' so looking forward to more from this author.

Book Review: "The Quartz Night: Reign of Justice" by J. I. A. Thompson

Geoff Smith has always dreamed of becoming a knight, being the son of a blacksmith he has grown up with swords and armour but never had the chance to use them. On Princess Ramona’s seventeenth birthday Geoff entangles himself and his family in an assassination plot, in order to protect his family he must leave his home in the city and set out on a quest. Little does he realise his dreams will change the course of his life. - from Booksirens.com

This ARC was given to me by Booksirens.com and I am providing an unbiased review.

The cover art, and a short story description left me curious as I requested this book. However, I was just a bit let-down. This is definitely a young adult read, and I felt the story was just too "get lucky". It seemed every situation the main character found himself, there was always a perfect way out, that landed him into a better situation, or one that provided 'just what he needed'. I know many stories are written this way, but this one just felt it was being hammered into me instead of me finding out on my own.

Overall I found the plot line to be interesting to read, though the style left me wanting more. I would recommend for younger readers, or those that prefer more direct action of characters versus world-building and character background.

Multi-Book Review: The Andrew Rufus series by M. M. Crumley

The world isn’t what it seems...
Ripped through time and thrust into a world of supernatural myths and legends, young Andrew Rufus must do the impossible to survive.
A twisted magic has merged Andrew’s mind with the body of Pecos Bill, the most powerful man alive, leaving Pecos powerless to act as countless lives hang in the balance.
Against all hope, Andrew must find a way to harness Pecos’s unfathomable strength or watch as more innocents die in the onslaught of Septimis, the god-snake.
Fighting as one man, Andrew and Pecos will be pushed to their limits to hold back the tides of death; but even with all the strength in the world, will Andrew be strong enough to Embrace the Power and Become the Legend...

If you’re willing to follow a boy down the bloody road to manhood, fighting shoulder to shoulder with legends, then start reading today. You won’t regret it.

Start reading the complete Legend of Andrew Rufus series today!
(All seven books are available now—so you won’t have to do any of that annoying waiting we all hate...) - from Goodreads.com

This is just the plot and book picture of the first book of seven in this series, to give you an idea of what it is about. Take a modern-day young teen, and throw him back into the body of a tall tale hero around 163 years prior, and you get this book. The author, Crumley, also has out the Immortal Doc Holliday series, of which I believe I have posted reviews on a few of the books. Both I highly recommend.

This is definitely a young adult series, and is written as such. The events that happen, well, that is why it is fiction, and being how it includes a tall-tale hero, that would be about right. I enjoyed the character backgrounds and the world building, especially as the series drew closer to the end. Not trying to ruin any story, but having read this second to most of the Doc Holliday novels, I felt a little let down. I say this in the aspect that the DH novels share a history with Andrew Rufus, and after reading the series, I figured out when they take place (but can say or I ruin the end for you). Still, a good starter series for any young reader!
 

2022 Wrapped Up

 I just finished posting the last book review I have for the 2022 year. The book reviews I have posted have, unfortunately, only been ARCs provided to me, as I just don't feel I have the time to poist a review for EVERY book I have read this last year (266 of them). This next year, 2023, I will be doing my best to try to get more reviews on more of the books I have been able to get read, not just for the publishers/authors, but for anyone that stumbles across this obscure corner of the internet.

My yearly goal for books to read for 2022 was a mere 150 books. I expected to spend more time working the real-life job, but within the first few months, I raised the goal to 200. I hit that mark around the first of August, if I remember correctly. For 2023, I applied the same thought regarding time to read and employment, and again set my goal for a total of 200 books.

If you are new to my site, well, think what you want - after all, that's what you should do anyways. I have some sites tot he right side that I actively use for book requests, movie trailers, etc. Feel free to leave comments or drop me email.

Thanks for stopping by.

PeacE

Book Review: "Angel Assassin" by Paul Sating

 

I just want to die. Too bad I’m immortal.

Assassin. Demon hunter. Grim Reaper. That’s me. Revelation Carver is my name, being Heaven’s Mr. Fix-It is my game.

Overworked and underpaid, I was busy staking out a demon slated to become the next Lucifer, Ruler of Hell, when yet another job came down from on high.

My challenge to take down the next great Satan is put on hold. The new task? Eliminate a runaway demon stalking Seattle. A minimum-wage task, yet my bosses think it's one for the Grim Reaper. God knows—literally—I don’t have enough on my plate.

What should have been a simple snag-and-kill operation turns my investigation upside-down. Nephilim are involved in the theft of a Bowl of Wrath. Seven wraths to spread suffering and pain across the world. Under impenetrable protection, they should have been sealed away for all eternity.

Now, Earth’s population will pay the price while angels stink of subversion. It all comes down to me. My mystery to solve.

With the impossible now a frightening reality, I’ve got the biggest job of my long life. All I have to do? Stop Armageddon.

Heaven has yet another job for its Grim Reaper. A job I must finish for the sake of all humanity. Failure is not an option, even if it kills me. - from Booksirens.com

This book was provided at no cost from Booksirens.com and I am providing an unbiased review.

This is titled as a 'book one' so the obvious conclusion is there will be more books in this series, that makes me glad. Rev Carter is one tired angel, having spent thousands of years being a Reaper and escorting the dead, he also has become not only the most senior of Reapers, but also the 'special projects' guy, meaning, when a bad guy needs taken out, he is ordered for the job. With one of the seven bowls of the Armeggadon being stolen from the Safe in the Upperworld, Rev's biggest task is to find the Nephilim and stop them at ... at any cost, before the world is lost.

After thousands of years of doing the same type of job, one would think a person would be immune, and jaded, to be able to have any care for humanity, yet this character seems to still have it. Rev is sarcastic and witty, yet at times his anger at injustices, and yes, even at his job, comes through quite a bit. The story is fairly fast paced, and action is spaced evenly with background information - shared by explaining to his 300th (or so) assistant - of how things came to be for this story. 

Fans of the Nate Temple series will surely enjoy this read. I find I like dthe snark and sarcasm quite a bit. Story flowed well, with enough world-building I could easily picture the settings. The story itself was planned well, and progressed at a good steady pace. Defintely would recommend to a friend.