Book Review: "The Cold Dish" by Craig Johnson

Introducing Wyoming’s Sheriff Walt Longmire in this riveting novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Hell Is Empty and As the Crow Flies, the first in the Walt Longmire Mystery Series, the basis for LONGMIRE, the hit A&E original drama series 
  
Fans of Ace Atkins, Nevada Barr and Robert B. Parker will love this outstanding first novel, in which New York Times bestselling author Craig Johnson introduces Sheriff Walt Longmire of Wyoming’s Absaroka County. Johnson draws on his deep attachment to the American West to produce a literary mystery of stunning authenticity, and full of memorable characters. After twenty-five years as sheriff of Absaroka County, Walt Longmire’s hopes of finishing out his tenure in peace are dashed when Cody Pritchard is found dead near the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Two years earlier, Cody has been one of four high school boys given suspended sentences for raping a local Cheyenne girl. Somebody, it would seem, is seeking vengeance, and Longmire might be the only thing standing between the three remaining boys and a Sharps .45-70 rifle. 
  
With lifelong friend Henry Standing Bear, Deputy Victoria Moretti, and a cast of characters both tragic and humorous enough to fill in the vast emptiness of the high plains, Walt Longmire attempts to see that revenge, a dish best served cold, is never served at all. - from Amazon.com

I had come across this TV series title several times on Netflix before actually taking the time to watch it. Needless to say, I found it hard not to like Robert Taylor's portrayal of Walt Longmire. After having watched a season-plus of episodes, I decided I needed to read the books, to see what was missing. I was not disappointed.

As a big fan of Robert B. Parker's series of Spenser, this quickly jumped into a series I wanted to read. Though it does, obviously, start with book one mirroring one of the episodes from the television series, there are enough differences I feel like I am not reading a novelization. Johnson does well in bringing what would normally appear mundane for a small-time sheriff into the a mystery that requires interaction with other characters as eccentric as the sheriff in order to solve this crime of murder. With a nice twist I was not expecting at the end, Johnson has shown he has the feel of a great western-mystery writer.

Book Review: "Sleeping Beauty" by Mark Lawrence

Unfortunately, there is no cover for this short tale, or a description. Mark Lawrence provided the story free of charge through his website, and so of course, I snagged a copy. Per his words:

"Because I love you, and all that stuff, I've written a Jorg-based short story and you can read it on the Voyager site totally free, for nothing, without charge.

http://harpervoyagerbooks.com/wp-cont...

It's really a bit of fun, prompted by a challenge from a reader to warp the tale of Sleeping Beauty around that of young Jorg Ancrath. I may have thrown another fairy tale or two into the mix...

The story can be fitted in between the two threads in Emperor of Thorns (or indeed King of Thorns)... if you like."

Yes, this is a short tale that is in Jorg Ancrath's world, which Lawrence wonderfully wrote about in PRINCE OF THORNS, and KING OF THORNS, both of which I really enjoyed. This was not much different, just that it was so short. I liked the way Jorg has come across some of the old world places/items/mechanicals in the previous tales, and this was just one event that involved them as well. It makes me wonder more and more just how advanced the race of people were before the "Hundred Suns" war (I believe that is what it is called in the book).

Nice little tale to help promote the marketing for EMPEROR OF THORNS due out this August, too!

Book Review: "The Girl of Hrusch Avenue" by Brian McClellan

Vlora is an orphan living at a boarding school as a ward of the state. Even at her young age, she already has enemies: the Bulldog Twins, Baron Fendamere, and her own headmistress. When a strange man offers to buy her, Vlora runs away and takes to the roofs above the gunsmithies of Hrusch Avenue. It is there that she meets a boy named Taniel and begins a friendship that will change her life forever. - from Amazon.com

McClellan has given us another chance to visit the world of his Powder Mage series with this short story. Set before the events of "Promise of Blood", this story is just a short excursion back to the time when Taniel and Vlora were younger. For any reader of McClellan's debut novel out earlier this year (2013) you should enjoy this foray into a bit of the background for a couple of the characters.

Book Review: "Blockade Billy" by Stephen King

"I love old-school baseball,and I also love the way people who've spent a lifetime in the game talk about the game. I tried to combine those things in a story of suspense. People have asked me for years when I was going to write a baseball story. Ask no more; this is it." -- Stephen King

Even the most diehard baseball fans don't know the true story of William "Blockade Billy" Blakely.

He may have been the greatest player the game has ever seen, but today no one remembers his name. He was the first -- and only -- player to have his existence completely removed from the record books. Even his team is long forgotten, barely a footnote in the game's history.

Every effort was made to erase any evidence that William Blakely played professional baseball, and with good reason. Blockade Billy had a secret darker than any pill or injection that might cause a scandal in sports today. His secret was much, much worse...and only Stephen King, the most gifted storyteller of our age, can reveal the truth to the world, once and for all.

This Kindle edition features both the cover illustration by Glen Orbik and the interior artwork of Alex McVey from the limited hardcover edition published by Cemetery Dance Publications. - from Amazon.com

Stephen King has taken the short amount of time, and penned down this short story about a catcher back in the earlier years of baseball. With the usual twist King throws in his stories, the 'too good to be true' guy has a side of him that some people sensed, but never thought could be. Was sort enough would be a great read while waiting at the doctor's office.

Book Review: "The Whirlwind in the Thorn Tree" by S. A. Hunt

Genre: "Weird Western" / Fantasy. The legendary gunslingers of late author Ed Brigham's fantasy novels were supposed to be the stuff of fiction, but when his son Ross and two of Ed's fans stumble into the desolate parallel world of Destin, they discover a war for the very soul of the universe, waged by the immortal muses that once pledged to enrich it -- and a strange secret that might bring America itself into the mystery. - from Amazon.com

I found this one through Amazon.com when it was listed for free. The story description sounded interesting enough, especially considering the price. I felt just a bit let-down however. The idea of the parallel universe travel has been done several times over, and the author does doe a fine job of it, but I just felt like I was reading a copy of Stephen King's 'Dark Tower' series. In this alternate world there are 'gunslingers' with a special skill in being able to shoot. There's a 'dark man' that they are 'chasing'. Three main characters, plus the King, whom the author in the story had written about. It is all just a bit too much for me. This is the first book of this series, but I don't think I will be revisiting it anytime soon.

Book Review: "What We Saw" by Ryan Casey

If you stumbled upon a shocking mystery as a child, how would you react?

What We Saw tells the story of a young boy, Liam O'Donnell, his cousin, Adam, and their experiences at their grandparents' caravan site one summer. When the disappearance of their dog leads to a terrifying discovery deep in the nearby woods, Liam and Adam are plunged into a very adult world of morals and decisions, and find themselves trapped in the dark clutches of secrecy and suspicion, far transcending mere mystery.

What We Saw is a touching and thrilling British mystery novel that will have you hooked as the plot hurtles towards a shocking conclusion. - from Amazon.com

This is listed as a thriller novel, but I just didn't feel it. In fact, I would add that I felt it was more of a Young Adult book. The story starts off wonderfully introducing the main characters and location. From that point, I felt bogged down with extra daily routine, that didn't seem to have anything to do with any one thing in particular. I found myself skipping pages at a time to see if anything interesting happened. I was not a bit surprised about the ending, and felt more let down than thrilled. The writing itself was well done and easily read, with descriptive passages where needed, just a bit mundane and boring with what I felt were unnecessary details.

Book Review: "London Falling" by Paul Cornell

Police officers Quill, Costain, Sefton, and Ross know the worst of London—or they think they do. While investigating a mobster's mysterious death, they come into contact with a strange artifact and accidentally develop the Sight. Suddenly they can see the true evil haunting London’s streets.

Armed with police instincts and procedures, the four officers take on the otherworldly creatures secretly prowling London. Football lore and the tragic history of a Tudor queen become entwined in their pursuit of an age-old witch with a penchant for child sacrifice. But when London’s monsters become aware of their meddling, the officers must decide what they are willing to sacrifice to clean up their city. - from Amazon.com

If I remember correctly, I came across this book from a 'Books Similar to What You Have Picked' category, and after reading the story description, went ahead and picked it up. Being a bit of the urban fantasy reader, I thought it would be a bit interesting, and maybe even be a bit about London's darker, 'hidden' side, similar to Gaiman's "Neverwhere". I was a bit let down. After about one-fourth of the book, I was just disinterested in the story. I could not get into the characters, and having just gained some kind of paranormal sight from one person touching and object - it kind of lost me. I mean, one person touches, and three others (in the same room) gain this sight, too. Also, I felt the story dragged in getting started. Maybe this was early background story for character/story development, but it just wasn't grabbing my attention. Unfortunately, I did not finish the book, so the rating is low.

Book Review: "Broken Quill (The Reminiscent Exile Vol. 2)" by Joe Ducie

"Broken Quill, the second volume of 'The Reminiscent Exile', is considered Outstanding in Genre (Urban Fantasy)." ~ Red Adept Select *~*~*~* Morpheus Renegade has fallen and Declan Hale, the Shadowless Arbiter, has returned from the dead. But scores are still to be settled. A creature from Forget stalks Perth, taunting Declan, drawing him out of his bookshop and forcing him across worlds once again. The last time Declan broke his exile, it cost him his life. Worse, the Knights Infernal have done the unthinkable and withdrawn from True Earth—leaving humanity unprotected against the Void. Among demonic serial killers, malevolent gods, old girlfriends, and pressure from the local cops, Declan stands at the heart of a conflict ten thousand years in the making. The Knights may have abandoned Earth to enemies as old and as cruel as time, but Declan won’t let his world—or his favorite pub—fall without a fight. *~*~*~* - from Amazon.com

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, and was a bit excited to see where Joe Ducie was going to take us in this second book. I was not let down. Declan Hale is back, and now he is on a mission to save both Earth and the land of Forget. Is it for riches and fame? Not a chance. This takes place about 3 months after the first book, and Declan Hale is fighting something that he has no clue how to defeat. In the process, he finds old friends, loses his "magical powers", and remembers how to love. The ending closes everything up here in this book, but leaves the opening for future books, which I hope Ducie does work on, as I would like to see how Declan solves some of these other 'problems'.

Book Review: "The Thousand Names" by Django Wexler

Enter an epic fantasy world that echoes with the thunder of muskets and the clang of steel—but where the real battle is against a subtle and sinister magic....

Captain Marcus d’Ivoire, commander of one of the Vordanai empire’s colonial garrisons, was resigned to serving out his days in a sleepy, remote outpost. But that was before a rebellion upended his life. And once the powder smoke settled, he was left in charge of a demoralized force clinging tenuously to a small fortress at the edge of the desert.

To flee from her past, Winter Ihernglass masqueraded as a man and enlisted as a ranker in the Vordanai Colonials, hoping only to avoid notice. But when chance sees her promoted to command, she must win the hearts of her men and lead them into battle against impossible odds.

The fates of both these soldiers and all the men they lead depend on the newly arrived Colonel Janus bet Vhalnich, who has been sent by the ailing king to restore order. His military genius seems to know no bounds, and under his command, Marcus and Winter can feel the tide turning. But their allegiance will be tested as they begin to suspect that the enigmatic Janus’s ambitions extend beyond the battlefield and into the realm of the supernatural—a realm with the power to ignite a meteoric rise, reshape the known world, and change the lives of everyone in its path. - from Amazon.com

I received an ARC copy of this book through a giveaway on Goodreads.com

What a great book! If you are into military, flintlock fantasy, this is for you! I myself was a bit skeptical once the story started involving strategies, military formations, etc, but I just couldn't stop reading it. Everytime I thought I had had enough of the military strategies, something would happen with a character, or a new event would occur that I had not expected. Definitely wanting to read the next book in this series.

Wexler did a wonderful job in descriptions of battles, that he seems to be pretty knowledgeable about military strategies. His characters were well developed, the writing style easy to read.

Book Review: "Fireblood" by Jeff Wheeler

Tyrus of Kenatos has made it his life’s work to banish the plagues that ravage the kingdoms. He believes the answer to ending the devastation lies in the Scourgelands. Yet, Tyrus’s first expedition into the cursed woods failed after being defeated by mysterious minions who stalked and killed most of his band.

Now a prisoner in his own tower, Tyrus has summoned his nephew Annon—a Druidecht possessing innate magic called the fireblood—on the guise of finding a hidden treasure with which to purchase his twin sister Hettie’s freedom. But in reality, Tyrus is using his niece and nephew, and their magic, as an opportunity to escape and resume his desperate mission. And to aid them, he has enlisted the warrior-monk Paedrin—who is almost as green as the siblings when it comes to traveling these troubled lands. The trio is determined, and along the way they grow to trust each other—and new additions to the group—in order to accomplish their missions…whether or not those missions are one and the same.

But the Arch-Rike—ruthless ruler of Kenatos—has learned of these plans, and has sent the fearsome Kishion to destroy all those that oppose him. Now Tyrus and his unwitting allies must face down not only the plague, but this new enemy—and fulfill their quest before a fresh horror is unleashed on the world… - from Amazon.com

I was anxious when I saw that Jeff Wheeler had this book published, as I had just read the three books of Muirwood within the past few months. The story description sounded good, and I looked forward to diving into his world(s) again. I was a bit surprised once I started reading though.

The first few chapters are fine, they feel like it moves along sort of slow, yet it is setting the background of some of our main characters, the world around them, et cetera. But I felt it dragged on quite a bit, probably a good two-thirds of the book. Character descriptions were vague. I mean, a Finder is like a hunter in a RPG game, so we have to imagine one as how they would dress, weapons they must carry, etc. as there is never a good description. Same with the druid-types, monk-types, and of course the Kishion. Other than maybe a color of clothing being mentioned, no other note of style, etc. Either way, for most of the book, I just couldn't get into the characters, or the story. 

After getting two-thirds through, then I felt pulled into the book. The final chapters left me wanting more, and looking forward to the next installment when it does come out.

Book Review: "Hunted" by Kevin Hearne

For a two-thousand-year-old Druid, Atticus O’Sullivan is a pretty fast runner. Good thing, because he’s being chased by not one but two goddesses of the hunt—Artemis and Diana—for messing with one of their own. Dodging their slings and arrows, Atticus, Granuaile, and his wolfhound Oberon are making a mad dash across modern-day Europe to seek help from a friend of the Tuatha Dé Danann. His usual magical option of shifting planes is blocked, so instead of playing hide-and-seek, the game plan is . . . run like hell.

Crashing the pantheon marathon is the Norse god Loki. Killing Atticus is the only loose end he needs to tie up before unleashing Ragnarok—AKA the Apocalypse. Atticus and Granuaile have to outfox the Olympians and contain the god of mischief if they want to go on living—and still have a world to live in. - from Amazon.com

This is the continuation in the Iron Druid Chronicles with the further adventures of Atticus, Oberon, and Granuaile. At this installment, Granuaile has completed her druidic training, and they find themselves being hunted across Europe by the two huntresses of Greek & Roman mythology. Along the way, readers get to enjoy some druidic humor, and a different way to look at the gods of mythology of several cultures.

I dread the "wanting more" feeling I get every time I finish one of Hearne's books in this Iron Druid series, but love knowing that there is going to be another one! Super Shaka nar nar.

Book Review: "The Corpse-Rat King" by Lee Battersby

Marius dos Hellespont and his apprentice, Gerd, are professional looters of battlefields. When they stumble upon the corpse of the King of Scorby and Gerd is killed, Marius is mistaken for the monarch by one of the dead soldiers, is transported down to the Kingdom of the Dead. The dead need a King--the King is God's representative, and someone needs to remind God where they are. 

Marius is banished to the surface with one message: if he wants to recover his life he must find the dead a King. Which he fully intends to do. Just as soon as he stops running.  - from Amazon.com

I wasn't too sure about this story when I picked it up. The plot sounds interesting enough, and the book took off quickly. Around the middle though, I felt it slowed down, and in my original thought, had started events that I saw no connection to what was happening/needed to happen for the story. Once near the end, it all came together, and though it felt sluggish in the middle, it picked back up. Not a bad read for a slow day.

Book Review: "Distant Star" by Joe Ducie

For Declan Hale, the Shadowless Arbiter, life has been simple since he ended the Tome Wars and forced a cruel peace in the mythical realms of Forget. Exiled to Earth for his crimes, Declan spends his days managing a small bookshop. 

So when a familiar looking corpse appears in the dead of night, spilling his scotch, Declan is less than amused. Especially because the body is his own. Someone--or something--has sent a calling card from the future. 

Daring him to confront his monstrous past.

The last time Declan went to war, Ascension City burned and eight million people lost their lives. The Knights and Renegades should have left him alone...

*~*~*~*

An urban fantasy story, the first in a series, that spans worlds, universes, and time. Join Declan as he battles friends, enemies, kings, and the gods themselves in his struggle for redemption. - from Amazon.com

The first book I read by Joe Ducie was a short story that I found on Amazon for free months ago. At least, I think that was where I found it. It was called The Forgetful Library, and was just a short story. I liked the Declan Hale character, and saw Ducie had this novel out, I was excited, yet it took me awhile to get around to actually getting it.

That being said, this novel, for my return to this realm, was awesome! Declan Hale has been exiled from his world, a world within the nether called Forget. I won't go into the details of why, but this story is of events that cause him to return to the event that created his exile. 

As I mentioned before, I loved the Declan character, and the supporting ones, though they are not really developed in the story aside from what is needed, they help provide the main character support. Plot and build-up were great, and the pace moved quickly throughout. In fact, things moved fast enough, there were times I would have liked a bit more detail/rumination. Knowing that there is a sequel, I won't expand about wanting to know more about the background of everything, as some may be revealed in the second book. Great read!