My Badly Worded Opinion
A place for myself to opine about books I have read, and probably some movies, and other forms of entertainment.
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Book Review: "Shadows of Olympus" by Deric Wagner
Book Review: "The Cartographer's Return" by Lisa Maria Koenig
Years have passed since the cartographer Soread from Greenwood has left Snowcreek. Now he returns, driven by trust towards the Lord and the Lady of Eridris and accompanied with secrets he wishes to keep. - from Booksirens.com
This eARC was provided by Booksirens.com and I giving an unbiased review.
This is the second novella in 'The Cartographer's Travels" series, and is also a fairly quick read. The tale takes place approximately 17 years after the first tale, and starts with our traveling map-making elf returning to the neighboring lands of his home after all this time. Again, he is wounded physically, though not as bad as the first time. Makes one wonder how clumsy this elf must be.
Either way, this one was a bit slower to read than the first one, as it delves more into the elf's inner turmoil and feelings (ewww, feelings). Obviously there is loads of guilt, anger, resentment, pride... the list just goes on, and flips around each paragraph. I tried to step back from the directness of it all, and saw that this seemed more of a tale of reuniting friends, one full of angst, etc, and one that is just open and loving, that share their burdens with each other.
Not sharing the ending, but from what I read, I don't see any future novellas about Soread coming in the future, though I admit, I always could be wrong.
Book Review: "The Cartographer from Greenwood" by Lisa Maria Koenig
In a stormy night, a strange elf stumbles through the doors of Lord Aeglas' manor in Snowcreek. He is injured and it is not his love for drawing maps that has driven him out of his home for many years. Will he learn that he has to fight for what is dear to him or will he continue his travels and avoid the arguments awaiting him at home? - from Booksirens.com
This eARC was provided by Booksirens.com and I am giving an unbiased review.
I actually came across the second novella of this small series (two books) prior to this one, but saw this one was available to be read and reviewed so requested it as well. Thankfully, both came, so I did not have to read out of order. Though each could be a stand-alone (I believe enough information is given in the second one to cover any possible missing plot).
I really liked the synopsis of the storyline: a wondering elf into neighboring lands, harboring inner feelings that prevent him from returning home to family. Here in this land he finds compassion and friendship, which erodes at his inner feelings, but in the end, we find it is not enough. Let's add in that this elf draws maps, very exquisite maps, and regardless of his wounds received, thus bringing him here, takes little time to recover. It is a novella, and some parts (to me) dragged on a bit longer than needed. I did find myself occasionally wishing this could be fleshed out into a longer tale, maybe including some of his traveling background. Overall well-written, easy to read, and looking forward to the second novella.
Book Review: "The Staircase in the Woods" by Chuck Wendig
A group of friends investigates the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods in this mesmerizing horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents.
Five high school friends are bonded by an oath to protect one another no matter what.
Then, on a camping trip in the middle of the forest, they find something extraordinary: a mysterious staircase to nowhere.
One friend walks up—and never comes back down. Then the staircase disappears.
Twenty years later, the staircase has reappeared. Now the group returns to find the lost boy—and what lies beyond the staircase in the woods. - from Netgalley.com
This eARC was provided by Netgalley.com and I am giving an unbiased review.
Wendig has done a wonderful job of creating yet another thriller story! This stand-alone novel takes us on a guilt-trip for a group of friends that lasts for years. As adults, they are tricked into climbing a random staircase found int he woods that takes to a place none would have suspected, for a goal that int heir hearts, they believe they want.
What is it about random staircases showing up in weird places, yet not in cities, etc? I did not take the time to 'Google' it, but either way, Wendig has taken an unexpected element and made it a focal point of a story. The novel is a nice read, and though not quite a horror story, does bring in elements that could make it considered as such. Overall, was a good read for the day, and look forward to future stories from this author.
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Book Review: "Galaphile" The First Druids of Shannara" by Terry Brooks
New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks makes his triumphant return to the world of Shannara, delving deep into the origin story of the druid order and its enigmatic creator that will change the face of the Four Lands forever.
One of the most iconic structures in the Four Lands is Paranor, the fortress home of the Druid Order. Legend holds that it was erected by an Elven leader known as Galaphile Joss. But who was this Galaphile, and how and why did he choose to establish this center of magic and learning?
Within these pages we meet the real Galaphile, following him from a friendless teenage orphan stranded in the Human world to a powerful adult and master mage, studying under the infamous recluse, Cogline. We learn of the forces that shaped him—those he loved, and those he lost; those who aided him, and those who stood against him.
Throughout it all, Galaphile’s goal is a noble one: to bring order to a chaotic world, and to make life better for those trying to survive it. To this end, he commences building the citadel which will one day be known as Paranor with the aid of the King of the Silver River. But there is one other who seeks dominion over the Four Lands—and for far less virtuous ends.
For this foe has been corrupted by an ancient evil—one that will not only reach out and touch Galaphile’s nearest and dearest, but also echo down through the centuries, sowing the seeds for some of the darkest times the Four Lands will ever face.- from Netgalley.com
This eARC was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am supplying an unbiased review.
Brooks' Shannara series have always been a good read to me. Over the years, I have read them them all at least twice. Each time he comes out with a new trilogy installment, I wonder where it will lead....
Galaphile is no disappointment. This time we are going back to the beginning of the druids, and this book, titled after the first, starts us on the journey that lasts through many books. Well written for those of Young Adult and older are able to enjoy, the worldbuilding is great, and one is able to tell the changes the world has gone through, and yet still faces (based on the other novels).
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel, and look forward to, if not a continuation of Galaphile's story, something that leads into the lives of some of the earlier druids.
Friday, September 27, 2024
Book Review: "The Others" by Evette Davis
Beneath the fog of San Francisco lurks a hidden world that controls our fate.
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Book Review: "Robert B. Parker's Buried Secrets" by Christopher Farnsworth
Police Chief Jesse Stone investigates the mystery behind a dead body found strewn with photos of murder victims and placed on top of $2 million in cash, before a mob of hit men converge on Paradise.
Just another day in Paradise . . .
Chief of Police Jesse Stone is on his way home from a long shift when a call comes in for a welfare check on an elderly resident of the wealthy seaside town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Inside a house packed with junk and trash is a man’s dead body. It’s a sad, lonely end, but nothing criminal . . . until Jesse finds the photos of murder victims strewn around the corpse, on top of a treasure trove of $2 million in cash.
Jesse takes on the case and finds a trail leading to an aging mobster who will do whatever it takes to keep the past from coming to light. Before long, Jesse has a price on his head as hit men converge on Paradise to take back the cash and destroy any remaining evidence. But the real danger might be coming from inside his own department. Jesse Stone must unearth the truth buried under the wreckage of a dead man’s life . . . before he winds up in the ground himself. - from Netgalley.com