Book Review: "Platinum Tinted Darkness" by Timothy Wolff

 

The Kingdom of Boulom has been lost.

The realms have already seen what happens when the Gods and their Harbingers are left unchecked.

Destruction. Chaos.

Death.

The Gods cannot be trusted. No one knows that better than David Williams, the leader of the Guardians tasked to protect the realm from the gods and their powerful Harbingers ever since the fall of Boulom.

Six Guardians take their pledge to leave the squabbles of kingdoms behind and live only to stop the Harbingers and protect the realm from the gods.

Serenna Morgan, a famed Crystal Mage and Guardian, struggles with the Guardian Pact when the Kingdom of Terrangus invades her home.

She's supposed to stay out of it.

But she can't.

When she breaks her Oath and joins in the skirmish, she earns the favor of the God of Death when the conflict escalates to an all-out war.

And he makes her an offer, one that'll make sure she'll never fail in her goals again.

To become his Harbinger. To partake in the ecstasy of destruction. - from Goodreads.com

I was provided an eARC from Netgalley.com and am providing an unbiased review.

This is the type of book I always dread to come along. The artwork is nice, and the story blurb is interesting enough that I anxiously wanted to read it. But it could not grab my attention from the start. I tried to set it aside, and restart a couple days later, but did not make it much further than the first attempt. After a week of tries, my attention just would not hold. For as far as I was able to read, the world building was good, though some of the characters were hard to remember their status, or relationship to others. As long as I have it available to me, I may go back and try after a short time again, and if so, will amend my review.

Book Review: "Robert B. Parker's Bad Influence" by Alison Gaylin

 

Boston PI Sunny Randall investigates the dark side of social media in this exciting new thriller in the bestselling series.

Sunny Randall’s newest client, Blake, seems to have it all: he is an Instagram influencer, with all the perks the lifestyle entails—a beautiful girlfriend, wealth, and adoring fans. But one of those fans has turned ugly, and Sunny is brought on board by Blake’s manager, Bethany, to protect him and to uncover who is out to kill him. In doing so, she investigates a glamorous world rife with lies and schemes…and ties to a dangerous criminal scene.

When Bethany goes missing and the threats against Blake escalate, Sunny realizes that in order to solve this case, she has to find out exactly who Blake and Bethany are, behind the Instagram filters. While digging into their pasts, she is also forced to confront her own, as old friends—and ex-husbands—reappear. With a combination of old-school crime-solving skills and modern internet savvy, Sunny will stop at nothing to catch a killer. - from Netgalley.com

I received this eARC from Netgalley.com and am providing an unbiased review.

Having been a fan of Robert B. Parker's writings for many years, I requested this 11th book in the Sunny Randall series. For those of you not familiar, Parker wrote the original series of 'Spenser', that lead into a television show called 'Spenser For Hire' featuring Robert Urich and Avery Brooks. I became a fan of the show, which led me to reading the books. Parker has created the Jesse Stone (made into several movies starring Tom Selleck) and Sunny Randall series. He has several stand-alone novels and another series based in the old west.

So being a big fan, when Parker passed away around 2010, I was very happy several authors took up the reins on these series of books. This is the first one I have seen from Alison Gaylin, and she has copied Parker's writing and story style very well. In fact, I believe she has improved it, as she seems to write with more detail than Parker did, which helps add more color to the world we are reading about.

Overall, finding a storyline in a detective series that is fresh and new can be daunting, but Graylin has done a very good job with this novel. I was kept guessing throughout most of the story to determine the 'whodunit', and once discovered, she wrapped it up well. I definitely would look forward to more from this author, even if it not following a series by Parker.

Book Review: "The Hammer of Fate" by G. N. Gudgion

 

“No surrender. No retreat.” With twenty enemy swords at their backs and a broken bridge ahead, the last knights of an outlaw order turn to fight. A young woman with forbidden magic joins their final stand. And as blade meets blade, she starts to sing…

Adelais was raised in the far north, learning stories of the old gods and the skill of weaving runes into magic. Now, she is locked in a convent far from home, forced to kneel to a foreign god.

When inquisitors arrive with plans to torture an innocent man, Adelais cannot stand by. She aids an attack to free the prisoner and joins the raiders as they flee into the night.

Her new companions are the last of the Guardians—once a powerful holy order, now ragged fugitives, hunted almost to extinction.

The knights carry a secret treasure, precious and powerful enough to shape kingdoms. Their pursuers, desperate to possess it, will crush any who stand in their way.

Nowhere is safe—in city or chateau, on the road or in the wilds. And even disguised as a boy, Adelais draws attention wherever she goes. Is she angel or demon, priestess or witch?

Adelais must summon all her courage and all her memories of the old gods’ magic as the noose tightens around her and a thunderous final reckoning approaches.

Discover a thrilling new series, with a rich world and action that will leave you breathless. Hammer of Fate is inspired by Viking magic, medieval combat and the fall of the Templar knights—perfect for fans of Mark Lawrence, Andrzej Sapkowski and Robin Hobb. - from Netgalley.com

I received an eARC from Netgalley.com and am providing an unbiased review.

I was a bit hesitant on requesting to read this story, based solely on the synopsis. Not so much what the story is about, but the last bit, where "... perfect for fans of ..." then lists a few authors that I consider fairly well-known for their works. This time I decided to take the risk, requested the novel, and am glad I did.

I already said I was hesitant about starting this one, and the beginning of the novel had me wondering if maybe I had been right. The story felt a little slow at the start, but soon started to make some sense. This portion of the tale is told by three of the more principal characters: Adelais, Malory, and Guy. Not one of my favorite ways of reading a story from three viewpoints, but for the most part, it works well for this tale. Much of it is because each character is not telling the same event(s) from their point of view, but the events around their self, which adds to the overall story.

Truly a very well written work that does remind me stories of the Templars, Vikings, and other mythological beliefs. Throw in a bit of Robin Hood type theatrics, and it turns out to be a really good story. I look forward to the next installment, and plan to check out other works from this author.

Book Review: "The Sword Defiant" by Gareth Hanrahan

 

Set in a world of dark myth and dangerous prophecy, The Sword Defiant launches an epic tale of daring warriors, living weapons, and bloodthirsty vengeance.

The sword cares not who it cuts.

Many years ago, Sir Aelfric and his nine companions saved the world, seizing the Dark Lord's cursed weapons, along with his dread city of Necrad. That was the easy part.

Now, when Aelfric - keeper of the cursed sword Spellbreaker - learns of a new and terrifying threat, he seeks the nine heroes once again. But they are wandering adventurers no longer. Yesterday's eager heroes are today's weary leaders - and some have turned to the darkness, becoming monsters themselves.

If there's one thing Aelfric knows, it's slaying monsters. Even if they used to be his friends. - from Netgalley.com

This eARC was given to me through Netgalley.com and I am providing an unbiased review.

This is definitely one of the best novels I was NOT expecting this year! Having read Hanrahan's previous trilogy (the Black Iron Legacy) he has been an author I check on for future works to be coming out. Somehow I missed this one on my regular radar, and found it through Netgalley. It doesn't state it  clearly, but this is probably going to be at least a two, possibly three, book series, and is certainly what I would consider an epic fantasy story.

In many ways, this makes me think of the LOTR series by Tolkien. I would liken it in the way that thirty years have passed since the completion of the Fellowship's mission, and one of the group is trying to get the group together to fight a new threat because they are the champions of the realm. It's definitely a good D&D type feel ... magical weapons, sorcerers, vampiric elves, wood elves, humans, dwarves, and a slew of histories and cultures spread out amongst them all. Hanrahan has done a wonderful job creating this world, including some maps, with multiple cultures, backgrounds, languages, and history. The MC being a human, shows signs of aging, indifference, regret - so many different feelings, as I could only imagine one would feel having 'lived the life' the author told. I felt drawn to the humanness of this character. Typically, the attitudes of some of the other races in the story were similar to how I picture them (ie. elves haughty, dwarves being loud, and demanding, etc).

Overall this is a well-written novel and I am anxious for a follow-up(s) though I am sure I may be waiting quite some time if it is to match the quality of this first book.

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!