Book Review: "Sierra Six" by Mark Greaney

 

It’s been years since the Gray Man’s first mission, but the trouble’s just getting started in the latest entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

Before he was the Gray Man, Court Gentry was Sierra Six, the junior member of a CIA action team.

In their first mission they took out a terrorist leader, at a terrible price. Years have passed. The Gray Man is on a simple mission when he sees a ghost: the long-dead terrorist, but he’s remarkably energetic for a dead man. 

A decade of time hasn’t changed the Gray Man. He isn’t one to leave a job unfinished or a blood debt unpaid. -from Edelweiss.com

This is the 11th book in the Gray Man series by this author, and having read all the prior novels, I think this is one of my favorite ones from the series. I'll try not to drop any type of spoiler in my short review, but be prepared there may be one, or two.

So the Gray Man, Court Gentry, we have seen for several stories, has been an independent hire, but he had to get his start from somewhere and this is s decent part of that background story, as well as a current job he is on. It was said earlier how he and Hightower had met, through the Sierra Team (Six was Gentry's call-sign) and this story takes us back to how that came to be: twelve years in the past. The tale is unravelled as is moves forward, with a current day job presents a face from Gentry's past. A face that wants to kill millions, that Gentry, once again, needs to attempt to stop.

As I mentioned above, this has got to be the best story of Gray Man I have read, mainly because there is so much more background "fleshed out" on the main character. We learn how he and Hightower met, the whole call-sign thing, why he works alone, and maybe, a glimpse of a first love. His childhood story, I don't think there is much more there, than the few casual comments the author uses, and makes me wonder if this may be one of the last books in this series. We finally have answers about the past of the Gray Man.

The language of the book was easy enough to read. Character development was big for the main character, but there wasn't much on any of the others. Most of the events seemed realistic, though you always have your hero near misses and exact timing opportunities. Would love to see another book or two in this series, but I don't so any decent reason to send this aging merc back out into the world.

Thanks to Edelweiss, the author, and publisher for allowing me to read this early copy, and provide my badly worded opinion on it.

#SierraSix #Edelweiss

Book Reviews: Rogue Angel Series by Alex Archer (and others) (up to book 30)

 

An ancient order tied to the Vatican…A blood fortune buried in the caves of France…A conspiracy of power, greed and darkest evil…

Archaeologist and explorer Annja Creed’s fascination with the myths and mysteries of the past leads her to a crypt in the caves of France, where the terrifying legend of the Beast of Gevaudin hints at the unimaginable. What she discovers is shattering: an artifact that will seal her destiny; a brotherhood of monks willing to murder to protect their secret; and a powerful black-market occultist desperate to put his own claim to centuries-old blood money. Annja embarks on a high-tension race across Europe and history itself, intent on linking the unholy treachery of the ages with the staggering revelations of the present. But she must survive the shadow figures determined to silence her threat to their existence. - from Goodreads.com

This series has been keeping me busy much of the past few weeks. A little background on this series: Alex Archer is a 'house name', and the books are actually written by several authors over the course of the 61 books currently in the series. Currently I am on book #30, so this review is covering more of the series overall, than each book (too much writing for me). I did include the cover, and ploy outline for book #1 above, to see if you are interested in reading.

A young, educated, beautiful woman finds a missing piece to an infamous sword and becomes Joan of Arc re-incarnated in the current day and age. Well, not re-incarnated, but able to mystically carry an old British style broad sword and make it appear/disappear at will, this sword that was supposedly Joan's. Also she meets Roux and Garin, who claim to have lived since Joan's time, over 500 years prior.

Annja is an archeologist at heart, but was offered a job on a television show called Chasing History's Monsters which help in some of these books by providing her a place to search out a fabled monster, which usually leads into a new escapade. Not all of the stories have ruthless bad men trying to thwart Annja's every move, but it happens. The treasures and stories she does seek out, also don't always end up like we think they would.

Each of this books are able to be read as a stand-alone, but by reading them in order, you get a better feel for how Annja 'becomes one' with the magic of the sword, and learns it powers and capabilities. Also, the relationships between Roux, Garin and Annja as it develops over time. Each book does focus on an artifact, or treasure, or fable, from history or mythology.

I really enjoy most of these stories. There is usually some good action, be it fighting or just daring the traps of the location they are in. Sort of like a James bond spy-type and Indiana Jones movies bashed into each other. In a few there are some brief romance scenes, but for Annja, most of her time is spent dealing with what comes her way, rather than settling down - if the sword would let her. Reading the books through in order, you can see a different writing style, as the authors switch back and forth throughout. But each is still a fairly fast read, and easily understood. Young Adults would be able to enjoy without worries of sexual scenes, or explicit foul language throughout.

Overall I recommend if you like action stories with a bit of history/mythology and lots of guessing as to if it is true or not. I was able to finish usually one book in about a three hour period, so maybe plan an afternoon for a book!

Posting Variables - or Why the Gaps?

 I know I have had some gaps in my reviews, and the main reason is I don't have to the time to sit and wrote one for every book I read. Counter-productive to what I want to enter in this blog, I know, but it is what it is. I DO make entries for all books I receive an ARC for, or any copy of, from the author, publisher, or other source. Yes I should take the time and at least use the practice, by including all the books I read ... We will see....

Presently, I will try my best to at least once a week, get in some of the books I have read (usually around 2 a week, sometimes more). It will probably be Saturdays, unless the Doodad (my granddaughter) needs a visit from her Papaw, in which case, it may be two weeks.

Thanks for stopping by to read my very bad opinions.

Ralphd00d

Book Review: "Cold As Hell" by Rhett C. Bruno and Jaime Castle

 

In the West, there are worse things to fear than bandits and outlaws.

Demons. Monsters. Witches. James Crowley’s sacred duty as a Black Badge is to hunt them down and send them packing, banish them from the mortal realm for good.

He didn’t choose this life. No. He didn’t choose life at all.

Shot dead in a gunfight many years ago, now he’s stuck in purgatory, serving the whims of the White Throne to avoid falling to Hell. Not quite undead, though not alive either, the best he can hope for is to work off his penance and fade away.

This time, the White Throne has sent him to investigate a strange bank robbery in Lonely Hill. An outlaw with the ability to conjure ice has frozen and shattered open the bank vault and is now on a spree, robbing the region for all it’s worth.

In his quest to track down the ice-wielder and suss out which demon is behind granting a mortal such power, Crowley finds himself face-to-face with hellish beasts, shapeshifters, and, worse … temptation. But the truth behind the attacks is worse than he ever imagined …

The Witcher meets The Dresden Files in this weird Western series by the Audible number-one bestselling duo behind Dead Acre. - from Netgalley.com

So, This is book one in the Black Badge series. The Dead Acre mentioned in the plot description above, seems to be in the same story line as this book, but I have no idea where in the series it would go, and I had not read it. Either way, let's get down to the thoughts as I picked this one up.

I didn't really like it. Within the first few pages, it reminded me very much like another book I had read previously called Blood Oath, in that the main character has a superpower that helps him reclaim justice/vengeance on the bad, all directed by a higher power authority. This was just in the first handful of pages. I set this one aside for a week, and tried to pick it back up. Each time, I might make it a few pages further, but just could not stay interested. I admit. I did not finish it.

Overall, I did like the idea of a fantasy western. Over the last few years, I have come across a couple that were good reads, but it is a genre not written in often. I truly believe if there had been more time between my reading the other book and this one, I would have been able to offer a different opinion. I guess I felt that there were just too many similar things, in my memory, of these stories, and I felt that jaded this one a bit.

Thanks to the authors, publisher and NetGalley.com for allowing me to read this ARC and to share my opinion about the story.

#NetGalley #ColdAsHell