Book Review: "Stealer of Flesh (Kormak)" by William King

WHO IS KORMAK?

To the world at large, he is a mercenary and assassin, a brutal killer with a deadly blade. In reality Kormak is a Guardian, one of an ancient order sworn to protect humanity from the servants of the gathering darkness.

Kormak is a sword and sorcery hero in the tradition of Conan, Solomon Kane and Druss the Legend, a driven man with a mission to hunt down the ancient demons who slaughtered his family. His fast-paced, action-packed adventures take him from one end of his richly detailed fantasy world to the other.

STEALER OF FLESH

The Ghul are the Stealers of Flesh, an ancient race of demons who possess the bodies of humans to work great evil. Now one of them has been freed from its ancient prison using Kormak's own dwarf-forged sword and the Guardian must pursue it to a haunted city on the edge of the world to end its reign of terror.

Stealer of Flesh contains four-linked novelettes that tell the epic tale of Kormak's hunt for a prince of demons. In it he encounters a conspiracy of demented mages, an army of werewolves, Orcish blademasters and a beautiful alchemist and her insane poet brother.

Not a bad start to a series that looks like it has about three books to it. At first I thought it was going to be about vampires, but it was much better! I enjoyed reading about how Kormak has to hunt down a demon that can travel from body to body; a demon that was released by his own sword. Look forward to reading other books in this series.

Book Review: "The Good, The Bad and the Infernal" by Guy Adams

One day every hundred years, a town appears, its location and character different every time. It is home to the greatest miracle a man could imagine: a doorway to Heaven itself. The town’s name is Wormwood, and it is due to appear on the 21st September 1889, somewhere in the American Midwest.
There are many who hope to be there: travelling preacher Obeisance Hicks and his simple messiah, Soldier Joe; Henry and Harmonium Jones and their freak show pack of outlaws; the Brothers of the Order of Ruth and their sponsor Lord Forset (inventor of the Forset Thunderpack and other incendiary modes of personal transport); and finally, an aging gunslinger with a dark history.
They will face dangers both strange and terrible: monstrous animals, predatory towns, armies of mechanical natives, and other things besides. Wormwood defends its secrets, and only the brave and resourceful will survive... - from Amazon.com


I had received the sequel to this novel from NetGalley.com and the publisher for free to review. however, not having read this first book, I picked it up as well. 

The story description I read piqued my interest, so at the start I was a bit intrigued to see where it would take me. About a third of the way through, I was finding my attention being lost. The story had split into three groups, all heading to the same goal, but I could not find a likable, or one that I could relate to, or cheer for. My interest waned. I set it aside for a few days, thinking maybe I just needed to come back with a clear head. After several days, I was disinterested after just a few pages. I am not much into the steam-punk sort of western this appears to be, and Guy Adams definitely introduced some pretty weird characters. Though I have enjoyed a coupe of other books by this author, this one was just not for me.

Book Review: "The Prodigal's Foole" by R. B. Wood

A man can run from his past ... but not his future. 

Symon Bryson lives in self-imposed exile until Monsignor DuBarry goes missing and not even the most adept of the magic practitioners can determine the reason for the abduction. The clues lie buried in the past amidst epic battles and horrific losses but reliving that failed mission uncovers fresh challenges and fearsome threats that reunite his old team. Symon must deal with his own hidden demons and confront the menace that threatens the delicate balance of power. When the darkest of all evils lures Symon into springing a long-planned trap, an unsuspecting world will confront the unthinkable. 

When all that stands between Heaven and Hell is magic, more than faith will be tested. - from Amazon.com

I picked this one up from Amazon.com back when it was listed as free, and finally got the time to read it. From the start I had a hard time putting it down! From the opening sequence, of a dead lady talking to Symon on a plane, to the end of this novel, I was displaced from my settings and pulled into the story. 

I enjoyed how the author was able to combine magic into the regular world, plus add the Good versus Evil fight of God and Lucifer. Some of the traits of the characters were a bit hard for me to just accept. One example is of Symon, who is mouthy and sarcastic to all in any given situation. Maybe I just have not known people like that. Also, he seems pretty apathetic about anything that doesn't affect him personally. How they find out they have magic is unclear - whether it is a born trait, or some special natural talent (I am guessing it is this one). Each character has a different magical skill set, but the extent of their usage, or how many 'spells' is not covered. Perhaps this will be more explained in future stories, as well as more background on characters.

Overall it was enjoyable and I will be watching for other books by this author.

Book Review: "Known Devil" by Justin Gustainis

“My name’s Markowski. I carry a badge. Also, a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets.

“A new supernatural gang is intent on invading Scranton and it looks like I’m going to have to work with the current mob to prevent a demonic gang war.

“If there’s one thing I hate more than living with supernatural scumbags, it’s working with them! But you know that they say, better the devil you know…” - from Goodreads.com

I received an ebook copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review.

That being said, this was a great continuation as the third novel in the Occult Crimes Unit series by J. Gustainis, and I find myself wanting more. The world he has created filled with supernaturals of many types, and how it runs seemingly parallel to ours is amazing. I always picture Det. Markowski as a 'Sam Spade' type, with so much dry wit and sarcasm, I find myself chuckling quite a bit throughout the story. If you like urban fantasy and crime stories, you will love this series! I hope to see more in the future!!

Book Review: "The Tree-Shepherd's Daughter" by Gillian Summers

When her mother dies, fifteen-year-old Keelie Heartwood is forced to leave her beloved California to live with her nomadic father at a renaissance festival in Colorado. After arriving, Keelie finds men in tights and women in trailer trash-tight bodices roaming half-drunk, calling each other lady and lord even after closing time! Playacting the Dark Ages is an L.A. girl’s worst nightmare.

Keelie has a plan to ditch this medieval geekland ASAP, but while she plots, strange things start happening—eerie, yet familiar. When Keelie starts seeing fairies and communicating with trees, she uncovers a secret that links her to a community of elves. As Keelie tries to come to grips with her elfin roots, disaster strikes, and Keelie’s identity isn’t the only thing that’s threatened.

One part human determination and one part elfin magic, Keelie Heartwood is a witty new heroine in a world where fantasy and reality mix with extraordinary results. - from Amazon.com

The synopsis of this one sounded somewhat interesting to me, even if it more Young Adult themed, so I picked it up to read. Right from the start I was introduced to the main character, who to me seemed nothing but a spoiled, whiny brat. From there, I did enjoy the story, as far as how magic is introduced, the different kinds of magic and types of people ... all at a Ren Fair of all places. I just couldn't get away from this whiny brat though. IT began to get a bit irritating.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and when I have the chance, I will be checking out possible other books in this series (I have not looked yet to see if there are more). I thought the author's creativity in putting a fantasy/magic story in a modern day setting was done very well.

Book Review: "Shard of Time" by Lynn Flewelling

Acclaimed author Lynn Flewelling brings her beloved Nightrunners series to a close—at least for now—with a thrilling novel of murder, mystery, and magic.

The governor of the sacred island of Korous and his mistress have been killed inside a locked and guarded room. The sole witnesses to the crime—guards who broke down the doors, hearing the screams from within—have gone mad with terror, babbling about ghosts . . . and things worse than ghosts. 

Dispatched to Korous by the queen, master spies Alec and Seregil find all the excitement and danger they could want—and more. For an ancient evil has been awakened there, a great power that will not rest until it has escaped its otherworldly prison and taken revenge on all that lives. And only those like Alec—who have died and returned to life—can step between the worlds and confront the killer . . . even if it means a second and all too permanent death. - from Amazon.com

I received this ARC from NetGalley for review.

This is the seventh book in the Nightrunner series, and unfortunately seems to be the last. That being said, it was still great to read. Alec and Seregil continue on with yet another adventure that includes danger, as well as the "special skills" that they both have. I don't want to say too much so I don't spoil the plot.

I have enjoyed each of the books in this series, and am sad to know that this may be the final book in the series. The afterword Flewelling left did contain a hint that there may be future short stories, or possibly more, but at this time, this should be the final story. I don't know if I should feel teased or upset. 

Book Review: "Noah Primeval" by Brian Godawa

Nephilim Giants, Watchers, Archangels. This is Not Your Sunday School Noah's Ark.

Noah Primeval is a speculative retelling of the Genesis Bible story of Noah for a new generation. 

In an ancient world submerged in darkness, fallen angels called Watchers rule as gods and breed giants called Nephilim. Mankind is enslaved to evil. Noah, a tribal leader, has been prophesied by his ancestor Enoch to save humanity from coming destruction. To rise against this supernatural evil and rescue his family Noah will need an equally supernatural army. But he also has to finish building his big boat.

Noah Primeval is the first book in the exciting Biblical Fantasy series, Chronicles of the Nephilim. - from Amazon.com

I was a bit hesitant about picking up this series and reading them. To me, it sounded a bit more geared towards a Young Adult crowd, or those more into religious stories, than I am. But I found my self a bit intrigued.

Godawa has made a well-known story from the bible into a sensational action story. Based on facts and strong deductions about biblical history, the story of Noah and how he completed God's Will to build the Ark at the time of the Great Flood. Based on what I remember from Sunday School, this story was so much more interesting than our learnings. I also see that there are a couple other books out, and I think I shall have to read them as well. Any action/thriller reader would love to sit down with this one.