Book Review: "Paper & Blood" by Kevin Hearne

 

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles comes book two of an “action-packed, enchantingly fun” (Booklist) spin-off series, as an eccentric master of rare magic solves a supernatural mystery Down Under!

There’s only one Al MacBharrais: Though other Scotsmen may have dramatic mustaches and a taste for fancy cocktails, Al also has a unique talent. He’s a master of ink and sigil magic. In his gifted hands, paper and pen can work wondrous spells. 

But Al isn’t quite alone: He is part of a global network of sigil agents who use their powers to protect the world from mischievous gods and strange monsters. So when a fellow agent disappears under sinister circumstances in Australia, Al leaves behind the cozy pubs and cafes of Glasgow and travels to the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria to solve the mystery.

The trail to his colleague begins to pile up with bodies at alarming speed, so Al is grateful his friends have come to help—especially Nadia, his accountant who moonlights as a pit fighter. Together with a whisky-loving hobgoblin known as Buck Foi and the ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan, along with his dogs, Oberon and Starbuck, Al and Nadia will face down the wildest wonders Australia—and the supernatural world—can throw at them, and confront a legendary monster not seen in centuries. - from NetGalley.com

Thanks go out to NetGalley.com and the author for a free copy of this work in exchange for a review!

I have read The Iron Druid series and completely loved them! Actually book one of this new(er) series by Hearne had me from before I even got my hands on a copy, as it is related to the Iron Druid world. And to have Atticus be in this book, too? SQUEE! Anyways, I cannot share more of the story than above, as it would spoil it for you. I did enjoy reading through the story, and even kept it in my library for a possible second read-through before the protected-date is up.

Hearne does a good job of writing a story based in the same world as his popular Iron Druid tales. The style is easy to read, and pretty fit for older teens and adults. I enjoyed some of the stories that were told by the characters, reminding me of a couple other Oberon stories Hearne had put out. Definitely would suggest for friends to read! Anxiously awaiting possibly more books for this series to come out!

#PaperBlood #NetGalley

Book Review: "A Deadly Influence" by Mike Omer

 From bestselling author Mike Omer comes the first in a new series full of the psychological twists and police procedural turns that his fans have come to know and love.

Lieutenant Abby Mullen is no stranger to crisis. As the hostage negotiation instructor for the NYPD, she deals with worst-case scenarios every day. Nothing fazes her anymore.

That all changes when she gets a call from Eden Fletcher, a fellow survivor of the infamous Wilcox cult. The two haven’t spoken since the night of a tragic, fiery massacre, when their paths diverged. But now Eden needs Abby’s help: someone has kidnapped her son and is demanding a $5 million ransom. As Abby throws herself into the case, she can’t help but wonder why the kidnapper has targeted Eden. But Eden refuses to talk. She’s silent about the relics of their shared past hanging on her walls. About the kidnapper’s possible motives. About what’s happened in the years since she and Abby parted ways.

As the truth closes in, Abby realizes that her past may not be as far behind as she thought…and it’s come home to collect. - from NetGalley.com

I have never read one of Omer's books before, and picked this at random due to the description, and that it was the first book of a new series he is working on. As far as mystery/thrillers go, this was a very enjoyable read. From my perspective, even realistic and plausible. I was somewhat impressed that the main character had real-life issues going on as the same time the crisis is happening. Like most of us in real life! Overall, I truly did enjoy the story, and would be interested in reading further books in this series, and possibly check out some of the author's other works.

Thanks to NetGalley.com and the author/publishers for this copy for free in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley #ADeadlyInfluence

Book Review: "Relentless" by Jonathan Mayberry

 

In New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry's thrilling Relentless, Rogue Team International joins Joe Ledger in a new hunt that spans the globe and journeys deep into the terrifying landscape of the human heart.

JOE LEDGER’s world has been torn apart. The people closest to him have been savagely murdered and Ledger is on the hunt for the killers. His already fragile psyche has cracked apart, allowing a dangerous darkness to overwhelm him.

His hunt takes him deep into the world of the deadly black market weapons sales, and standing in his way are a new generation of private military contractors. These mercenaries have been enhanced with cutting-edge cybernetics and chemical enhancements, transforming them into real-world super soldiers. Stronger, faster, harder to hurt, and fitted with built-in weapons. They are beyond anything Joe has ever faced.

But he is not the Joe Ledger they expected to fight. He is defined by the Darkness now. The attempt to destroy him—to break him—has backfired. Instead his enemies have turned him into a far more fearsome weapon.

Everyone is out for blood. - from Netgalley.com

Thanks to the author and publisher for a free ARC of this book through Netgalley.com.

This is book two of the Rogue Team International series, and kind of like book 10 of the Joe Ledger series - one of those 'cross-over' books. The reasoning behind this 'cross-over' I think is somewhat apparent in this story, and  may or may not get revealed in any part of this review.

Many years ago, I had picked up the first Joe Ledger book as I was in post-apocalytic mood, and the title "Patient Zero" looked like it fit that view. Boy, was I wrong! In picking up this book through Netgalley.com, I knew what I as getting and there was no remorse. There is a bit of backflashes as the story starts, lining up the events of the big ending. Joe has gone rogue, and is untrackable to RTI, creating bloodshed and havoc where ever he winds up. But is it truly himself causing all this? And if it isn't, who, or what, is controlling him?

As usual, I enjoy a good action novel, and 'Relentless' did not fail me. I like how Mayberry included some information from past Ledger novels to help cover some of the character background, and world background, in regards to not only Joe, but the team, and sort of how it came about. The events happening to Joe, the mental changes, were a bit of a twist for me. I suppose I may need to go back and actually read the series (in my near future for sure) to get the slow build-up of it all, but just based on the past information provided, the effects of PTSD (of war or personal trauma) is openly discussed - and I like that. It shouldn't be something no one should NOT discuss, especially in this type of story. I think the only part of the writing I did not like, was I felt the descriptions of guns and ammo were over-detailed. Half the detail just went straight over my head and turned me glassy-eyed.

So, will Joe be back for another story? I think Mayberry may have gotten to Joe's end story, without having to kill him. Though he might still show up in the future in minor ways. Again, enjoyed the book immensely!

#Relentless #NetGalley

Book Review: "Echoes of Germania" by H. B. Ashman

 

A bloody massacre. An ancient curse. One young German holds the course of history in her hands.

Engineering student Amalia Weber is only training in Olympic judo to please her overbearing father. Caught in a storm on her daily run, the screams of a drowning woman draw her to a lake deep within the mystic Teutoburg forest. But when she jumps in to attempt a rescue, she’s pulled under herself… and somehow awakens alive two thousand years in the past.

Now, enslaved by Roman soldiers—including the legendary Germanic-prince-turned-Roman-officer Arminius—Amalia struggles to survive in a world where her life means nothing. And when her twenty-first-century knowledge is discovered, returning to her own time becomes the least of her worries.

Caught between the merciless forces of Rome and the wild Germanic tribes who dare to defy them, can a modern woman forge history as we know it?

Echoes of Germania is the first book in the riveting Tales of Ancient Worlds series. A mix between Vikings, Rome, A Games of Thrones, and Outlander, H.B. Ashman’s new novel is a stay-up-all-night nail-biter. -from Netgalley.com

I received this book for free through Netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

I am not a fan of historical fiction. I never felt comfortable trying to grasp the idea that a person would get transported through time to somewhere in the past (it never seems to be the future). Most instances, the character ends up trying to not mess up the 'time line continuum' or does, and just doesn't care. But mostly I don't care for these types of stories is it dwells on a time period that I obviously know nothing about, so the absurdity of somethings to me, might be a possibility then, and it distracts me from the story. That being said, I really enjoyed this book. Weird, right? I requested it (and received it) just on the description, even though it was describing something I normally do not like. I actually thought on it a couple days before even requesting.

Though the story seems to start off slow, you have to understand the main character. I felt it was pretty vague, and overboard in the abilities, but not unbelievable. The story quickly gets into the whole time displacement and how she gets transported back in time, to the Roman conquering days in the Germanic region of Europe, which is parallel to where she lived in modern-day Germany. Obviously the German of 2000 is different than that of the early A.D. period, and amazingly, our main character has taken Latin in school, though she is a bit rusty in speaking it, AND it happens to be 'High Latin' that usually only high ranking soldiers and politicians use, versus the common Latin used by the masses. Our main character is captured, and through strokes of luck, is able to impress enough of the senior officers that she is worth keeping alive, and off the slave market.

The romance part does enter into play, and there is a romance of a few years. This wasn't all sex scenes and 'oh what a hunk' type of writing, and covered a good four years. Our main character is now being escorted to Rome, from Germania, under the thumb of the death of her romantic interest and their son (though, we don't know they are dead yet, the story likes to make us think so). There she is imprisoned. I'm going to leave out the rest of the spoilers there.

The mix of the possible mystic use of 'magic' by the people in the Germanic region is played throughout this story. The use of Norse mythology is mixed in as well. Our character has at least a couple interactions with a 'witch-woman' that are beneficial to the story, and the choices made/taken by said character. The politics - oh! The politics! I hate them - with passion in a story. But here the author did a well done job of making them part of the story, and yet not so overbearing and controlling in the story, it feels like you are reading a modern-day law book. From my history classes, and a few books, I have always understood the basics of Roman politics, and the machinations of the Senate, and the family/families related to the current Caesar. It is all very slick and nasty.

I am definitely looking forward to the next book, as I would like to find out what happens next. I do not know for sure if this is the first work the author has done, but will be looking for him and possible other works as well. Though there is not much world-building in this story, because we know how the Earth is, and can relate to an early history Germany, I would like to see this author make a foray into a more fantasy world than one history based.

I'm only giving 4.5 stars, only because the start of the story was pretty vague, and the skills given to the main character were obviously in place to make some of the story possible, therefore, making it even harder for me to believe. Expert Judo? Okay... possible. Learned three languages, including not only written, but spoken Latin? Possible, but highly unlikely. And that it would be 'High Latin'? I don't know, but I think 2000 years difference would affect the speech there as well. But I am not a linguistic professor.

Book Review: "Small Magic" by Terry Brooks

 

Escape to worlds full of adventure and magic in the first-ever Terry Brooks short-story collection, featuring both new and fan-favorite stories from all three of his major literary worlds: Shannara, Magic Kingdom, and The Word and the Void.

Here are heroes fighting new battles and struggling to conquer the ghosts of the past. Here are quests both small and far reaching; heroism both intimate and vast. Here we learn of Garet Jax’s childhood, see how Allanon first located Shea Ohmsford, and follow an old wing-rider at the end of his life. Here we see Knights of the Word fighting demons within and without, and witness Ben Holiday and his daughter each trying to overcome the unique challenges that Landover offers.

This collection of eleven tales is a must-have addition to the Terry Brooks canon, and a wonderful reminder of what makes a Brooks story such a timeless classic. - from Netgalley.com

I received a free ebook ARC through Netgalley.com for exchange of a review.

I have been an avid fan of Brooks' Shannara and The Word and the Void series for many years, so having this become available through Netgalley.com was a very happy moment for me! Unfortunately, those series have come to an end (per the author) and Brooks has moved on to another story to share with readers. But that will be talked about another time...

Small Magic is a collection of short stories written 'through the years' by the author, and as the description says, encompasses the worlds of his popular series. As I read through these snippets of time in-between the books themselves, I had realized there were at least a couple I knew I had read before, but it was still a pleasure to return to that time and place as well. Brooks has placed a short introduction to each story, giving the reader a chance to understand where in the series time-line it would fall, and sometimes includes snippets of what he was thinking when writing them. Most did not interfere with any of the storyline in the books, but would help add some background character development, or interaction, and some more world-building. 

I found it to be very entertaining, as well as in the same writing style Brooks has shared with his tales. Some I found to be a tad long, but I believe mostly because it related to a story, or series, that I was not familiar with, such as the The Magic Kingdom series, and I believe the first story, written early in his years, based off of a Poul Anderson story. A tad disappointed I read through them so quickly, but am excited to have had a chance to enjoy the stories!

Book Review: "Ink & Sigil" by Kevin Hearne

 

Al MacBharrais is both blessed and cursed. He is blessed with an extraordinary white moustache, an appreciation for craft cocktails – and a most unique magical talent. He can cast spells with magically enchanted ink and he uses his gifts to protect our world from rogue minions of various pantheons, especially the Fae.

But he is also cursed. Anyone who hears his voice will begin to feel an inexplicable hatred for Al, so he can only communicate through the written word or speech apps. And his apprentices keep dying in peculiar freak accidents. As his personal life crumbles around him, he devotes his life to his work, all the while trying to crack the secret of his curse.

But when his latest apprentice, Gordie, turns up dead in his Glasgow flat, Al discovers evidence that Gordie was living a secret life of crime. Now Al is forced to play detective – while avoiding actual detectives who are wondering why death seems to always follow Al. Investigating his apprentice’s death will take him through Scotland’s magical underworld, and he’ll need the help of a mischievous hobgoblin if he’s to survive. - from Goodreads.com

I am at a loss as to where to start with this book, so bear with me through this....

This is a novel from the 'Iron Druid' world that author Hearne created ( and that I just LOVED). I have read that series and part of his other works, so of course grabbed this one up when it became available.

I honestly do not want to say much about this book, except that I really enjoyed visiting the Iron Druid world again, and loved the small reference to the main character of that series. Hearne use of characters from the Iron Druid world, in what ever capacity, makes this story link into those very well. Definitely would recommend to any that enjoy urban fantasy.

Book Review: "The Bar at the End of the World" by Tom Abrahams

 

A starving city. A renegade bootlegger. A battle for the future of mankind.

Zeke is a bad guy. He didn’t choose to be. It’s just who he is. It’s who has to be to survive in a post-apocalyptic world where trust is as scarce as water.

He's got nobody. No family. No friends. And a woman he left behind for her own good.

But it's time to change. After a brush with death far out in the wasteland, he decides he's done risking his life to help his greedy bosses control who gets to drink water and when.

Now, he's stranded in a bar in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by the perfect kind of ruffians who can help him go back and make things right. Armed with renewed purpose and a one-of-a-kind muscle car, Zeke hunts for redemption, seeks retribution and, maybe, just maybe, he can get his girl back while he’s at it.

Take a ride across the wasteland in Tom Abrahams' newest post-apocalyptic, dystopian series, but with a fantasy twist. It will leave you wondering just what it means to be human. 0 from Goodreads.com

I have read books by this author previously, and enjoyed them. So seeing a new series out kind of made me grab this one, though the story description was pretty "eh" in my opinion. The cover art did catch my eye though!

In a nutshell, the story isn't a bad one. Like the description, it is post-apocalyptic setting, where water is a scarcity. There are "districts", like cities, across the wastelands, and the particular setting for this story is just one of those. There are two factions fighting for control of the water, and the city. Zeke finds himself on the run, being chased across the desert. He happens across a single building in the middle of nowhere, just as his captors sort of catch up to him. He is wounded, and feels like he is dying as he falls on the doorstep of this building.

Waking up, Zeke finds himself in a bar full of odd-looking ruffians, and a barkeep that is elusive in his answers to questions. To not give out many spoilers, Zeke heads back to the city, with a handful of said ruffians, to save the girl he has fallen in love with from the clutches of either bad party of people. Along the way, he discovers more about those that are with him, and about himself.

Overall the action rode well, like most of Abrahams' books, and the character building was fine. The slight twist in the story I had guessed at pretty early on (won't say how) and kind of ruined the part were the character(s) discovered this fact. I did love the idea of the bar in the middle of nowhere, though some of the "magical" properties of things didn't quite match the background of the story (worldbuilding history) in my opinion. 

Overall the book was written well, and as expected from this author. I would recommend for any fantasy reader if they like post-apocalyptic stories. There are two more books in this series, but I'm not real big on the type of characters, and some of the other attributes of the world, so will not be reading them.