Book Review: "Revisionary" by Jim Hines

When Isaac Vainio helped to reveal magic to the world, he dreamed of a utopian future, a new millennium of magical prosperity. One year later, things aren't going quite as he'd hoped. 

An organization known as Vanguard, made up of magical creatures and ex-Porters, wants open war with the mundane world. Isaac's own government is incarcerating "potential supernatural enemies" in prisons and internment camps. And Isaac finds himself targeted by all sides.
 
It's a war that will soon envelop the world, and the key to victory may lie with Isaac himself, as he struggles to incorporate everything he's learned into a new, more powerful form of libriomancy. Surrounded by betrayal and political intrigue, Isaac and a ragtag group of allies must evade pursuit both magical and mundane, expose a conspiracy by some of the most powerful people in the world, and find a path to a better future. 

But what will that future cost Isaac and the ones he loves? - from Amazon.com

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Berkeley Publishing Group DAW, in exchange for a review, through Netgalley.com.

This is book four of the the Magic Ex Libris series, and I have anxiously awaited it's coming. Isaac and many of the other regular characters are back, taking on 'the World' as countries try to gain military superiority using magic/magical creatures. All while trying to run New Millenium, a facility to help introduce the good aspects of magic use into the world.

Hines has done a wonderful job continuing this story line. Main character development as he gains more responsibilities, and the after-effects of his actions, are good things that the readers should learn for use in their own lives. That whole cause and effect thing.

I have no idea if there will be more to this series, but it would be nice to maybe see some small stories spun from the same line.

Book Review: "Javelin Rain" by Myke Cole

The fast-paced, adrenaline-filled sequel to Gemini Cell, set in the same magical and militaristic world of the acclaimed Shadow Ops series.
 
Javelin: A code denoting the loss of a national security asset with strategic impact.
 
Rain: A code indicating a crisis of existential proportions.
 
Javelin Rain incidents must be resolved immediately, by any and all means necessary, no matter what the cost...

Being a US Navy SEAL was Jim Schweitzer’s life right up until the day he was killed. Now, his escape from the government who raised him from the dead has been coded "Javelin Rain." Schweitzer and his family are on the run from his former unit, the Gemini Cell, and while he may be immortal, his wife and son are not.

Jim must use all of his strength to keep his family safe, while convincing his wife he’s still the same man she once loved. Only what his former allies have planned to bring him down could mean disaster not only for Jim and his family, but for the entire nation...  - from NetGalley.com

I received an ARC through NetGalley.com, from the publisher, Berkely Publishing Group - ACE, in exchange for a review.

It is good to once again immerse myself in this magical world that Cole has created with this series, and the Shadow Ops series! Here we continue from book one with Jim finding his wife and son, and beginning to run from those that want to control him. I don't want to throw out any spoilers, but there are some climatic shifts, and help from the unlikeliest people. Cole seems to pack more action in each newer part of the tale, and I enjoyed reading it.

Book Review: "Cauldron of Secrets" by Thomas K. Carpenter

Ignorance is bliss, unless the world is out to kill you... 

An investigation into a strange cauldron and a dead thief in Ben Franklin's parlor leaves Katerina Dashkova, Russian princess in exile, as the main suspect. With her memory damaged and Ben Franklin missing, Kat must navigate the treacherous waters of American politics to solve the mystery while ominous rumblings threaten to drag the country into a new war.  - from Goodreads.com

This is turning into a somewhat interesting series for me. The books are pretty quickly read, and continue (so far) the storyline without a large amount of time passing between books. In book two, sometime (I think it was close to a year I believe) has passed since Franklin disappeared. Kat has been trying to be in the printing press business and seems to have basically forgotten the recent memories, at least a period of time going back just over a year. Through the local constable, and a local banker's wife, she ends up getting pulled into an large Presidential assassination attempt on Pres. Washington, to try to force America into a war with Russia.

I enjoy how the story line has continued from the first book, without a large amount of time passing (multiple years), and is able to quickly summarize that not much has happened in that time. I am not into the steam-punk variety that much, but enjoy how inventions are brought into the story long before they were invented (in our time). There are many historical facts and characters that link throughout that make it fun to imagine this all in a parallel world's past.

Book Review: "The Mad Apprentice" by Django Wexler

When Alice's mysterious Uncle Geryon sends her to help capture a rogue apprentice--a boy who has the same ability Alice has to Read himself into stories--she knows to expect a wild and unpredictable trip. But even though Alice has visited the magical realms inside libraries before, this adventure is far more dangerous. Because Torment, the magic creature holding thislibrary together, has gone mad.

But he might also have information about Alice's missing father. - from Goodreads.com

This is book two of Wexler's "The Forbidden Library" series. It has been quite some time since I read the first, and I know I have enjoyed Wexler's "The Shadow Campaigns" series, that I grabbed this one up when I found it. Having been so long since reading the first book, I didn't remember all the details from the opening of the story. However, in good style, this tale took off leaving my doubts behind as to the exact details I need to remember from earlier.

There may be a few spoilers here ...

Alice has grown in her use of reading herself into stories. She has 'tapped' some additional powers she did not have access to before. She is sent on a combined mission with 5 other apprentices to apprehend another apprentice, that has supposedly killed his Reader (Master). Things take a large turn for the worse, when the group realizes, due to Alice's insight, that madness has gripped the situation. Needless to say, some new powers come about, some new facts that will lead to future stories, and some answers Alice herself was seeking.

Overall I felt it had an easy to read story line. Definitely written for a younger audience, though as I did enjoy it, I am sure there are other adults that will as well. I liked how the story basically continued on, not spending so much time recapturing what has happened in book one, but periodically making a reference to a previous part of the tale. In thaat sense, I practically read this as a stand-alone since I have forgotten/over-lapped most of the first book. Hopefully in future installments, Wexler will expand on the Labyrithine (sp?) and who really is in charge ....