My Year in Books

 This year, I read 16 books. My goodreads challenge/goal was 12, so I did really well. I used to read a lot more, but stuff happens, and my reading count is less. Any reading is good, right?

With this year's read books, I only had one that was DNF (did not finish). That's not too bad. Sometimes, I get more than one. It depends on what I'm reading at the time, and if I'm enjoying it or not. 

I read all genres, except romance. Can't stand that crap. My favourite genre is fantasy. Dark, epic fantasy. 

My goodreads reading challenge for 2026 will again be 12 books. I set the bar low mostly because I'm reading good meaty books that are well over 300 pages. Some as big as 800+. 

Now, you'll find some of my reviews on older blog posts, but not all. I didn't write posts on all of them, only the ones that I was doing strictly for review purposes. Now, all my reviews will be done via a blog post book review & posted to goodreads. 

Anyways, here's the link to my year in books.

 https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2025

Here's the list:

Assassin by Andy Peloquin

A Strip for Murder by Max Allan Collins

Full Moon by Jim Butcher

Planetside by Michael Mammay

The Silverblood Promise by James Logan

The Case of the Careless Kitten by Erle Stanley Gardner

The Winter Man by Robert Firlotte

Protector by Andy Peloquin

Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Blood of the Old Kings by Sung Il Kim

Blood for the Undying Throne by Sung Il Kim

Lies Weeping by Glen Cook 

Seduction of the Innocent by Max Allan Collins

The Blackfire Blade by James Logan

Johnny Mnemonic by William Gibson

Supermax: The Max and Angela Trilogy by Ken Bruen, Jason Starr 

 

What's next for my next read? I'm not sure yet. Still thinking on it.  

 Keep a watch out for all of my future reviews. 

Later  

Book Review: SUPERMAX Ken Bruen, Jason Starr

 Here's what the book is about: 

Three books in one, Supermax is a pitch-black crime comedy from two of the hottest thriller writers on either side of the Atlantic. These newly collected cult novels are a bloody, bawdy odyssey of drug dealing, adultery, and murder for fans of Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiaasen, and Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho.

THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS CRIME STORY EVER TOLD...

IN A SINGLE VOLUME FOR THE FIRST TIME!

When a small-time businessman who’s a legend in his own mind (that would be Max) hatches a plan with his sexpot secretary (that’s Angela) to murder his wife and live happily ever after, you might think everything would go smoothly – but Max and Angela are in for the ride of their lives, as an escalating series of bad decisions and worse luck plunges them into a tsunami of crime and depravity featuring IRA hitmen, an aspiring serial killer, a wheelchair-bound blackmailer, trigger-happy drug dealers, and the warring factions in one of the world’s deadliest prisons.

My review: 

Bust - Max & Angela 1

Well...apparently I've read book 1 last year in September 2024. The odd thing, for me, is I don't remember it. 

My review then: 

 This was a good book. A few twists & turns. An enjoyable read.

I will give it a more thorough review.  

It's still a good book. With quite a few twists and turns. Karma came for Max. How it reached that point, is what you have to find out by reading. 

Slide - Max & Angela 2

Max & Angela are no longer together in this book. Both are living their own lives, and making more of a mess of them. Max is still in New York, but no longer runs this Networking Company, which had folded at the end of book 1. Angela is in Ireland, where she meets up with the killer, nicknamed, Slide. 

Things don't work out very well for both Max & Angela. I guess that's what happens when you get in with the wrong crowd. Needless to say that everything catches up with Max. Not so much for Angela. Again. 

The Max - Max & Angela 3

Well...things have changed for both Max and Angela.  Again. Yet, some things stay the same. Or do they? Things aren't going so well for Max and Angela. In fact, one could say that things are going bad for both of them.  

Full three book review: 

Well...I've never read a book that had every character living in a fantasy world inside their own heads. Every character was like that. Delusional.

Do both Max and Angela get what's coming to them? Yes and no. 

The book has a lot of action. It doesn't really slow down. Once you get past the fact that they're all a bit delusional, it becomes a fun read. The ending was satisfying. Although, I do wish it ended a bit different for Max. Not going to say what happens to either of them. 

Thanks to Charles Ardai from Hard Case Crime for sending me a PDF copy to review. I did enjoy this book. I give it a solid 4 stars.

 

 

 

 

 

Yearly Posting of The Night Before Christmas

 

It's time for the yearly post of The Night Before Christmas

 

Twas the Night before Christmas Poem

 

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A naughty version 👇 

 

 

 

Book Review: Johnny Mnemonic by William Gibson

 The plot: 

 Johnny is a courier. He carries other people's memories, millions of them, downloaded into his brain... Working out of Beijing, he is hired to carry a package to the States. The hundreds of gigabytes stashed in his head are far beyond his capacity, but as long as he gets downloaded quickly they won't do him any permanent harm...

But headaches are the least of Johnny's problems. The Americans aren't the only ones who want the data. The Yakuza are after Johnny too. Not all of him, though. All they need is his cryogenically frozen head...

In Johnny Mnemonic, the science-fiction guru of our age brings his acid-drenched tale of the near future to the screen for the first time. Containing William Gibson's original short story, his full script and exclusive stills from the film, this classic of the cyberpunk era expresses the unique vision of the author who was the first to see his way into tomorrow...

My review:

This was a very quick read. Only 11 pages in my eBook reading app. It was quick. Very very different from the movie. The movie barely touched what was in the book. You still have the character of Johnny, but he changes his name, for his safety sake. I do believe that he does this in the movie too. 

The story itself was basic. There were different characters from the movie. It was enjoyable. The ending was different, also the dolphin's role. 

I enjoyed it. It gets 3.5 stars from me. 

 

Book Review: The Blackfire Blade by James Logan

 Here's the plot: 

 The hotly anticipated sequel to The Silverblood Promise continues the incredible new epic fantasy series perfect for fans of Scott Lynch.

Winter has come early to Korslakov, City of Spires, and Lukan Gardova has arrived with it. Most visitors to this famous city of artifice seek technological marvels, or alchemical ingenuity. Lukan only desires the unknown legacy his father has left for him, in the vaults of the Blackfire Bank.

But when Lukan's key to the vault is stolen by a mysterious thief known as the Rook, he and his friends race to win it back—and find themselves trapped in a web of murder and deceit. In desperation, Lukan requests the help of Lady Marni Volkova, scion to Korslakov's most powerful family.

Yet Lady Marni has secrets of her own. Worse, she has plans for Lukan and his friends. Plans that involve a journey into Korslakov's dark past, in search of a long-lost alchemical formula that could prove to be the city's greatest discovery . . . or its destruction.

"A fast-paced carnival of setbacks and skullduggery that reminds me of... me! Charming from the first twist to the last."—Scott Lynch on The Silverblood Promise

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

I got the eARC from Netgalley. 

Here's my review:  

The first thing that I liked, was the fact that it had an update on what went on in The Silverblood Promise. It was a good refresher before the start of the story. 

The story starts off basically where book 1, The Silverblood Promise left off. We see our 3 main characters, Lukan, Ashra & Flea on their way to their next adventure.  And, what an adventure they had. There was a lot of action. We got to meet some new people, which also became new friends for our trio. 

A lot has happened in this book. And, there were a few surprises along the way. A great climax was had, as well as a satisfying ending. 

Now, that ending...bloody hells! That was a surprise. The worst of it all was that it ended with a little bit of a cliffhanger. Man, I  dislike those. 

I will definitely have to read the next book in this series to see what happens next. 

It's an excellent read. I'm sure those who read it will think so too. 

It has a great cover too. Read this book, if you've read The Silverblood Promise. 

 

 

Book Review: Seduction of the Innocent (Jack & Maggie Starr Book 3) by Max Allan Collins

 Here's the usual, what the book is about.

It's 1954, and a rabble-rousing social critic has declared war on comic books - especially the scary, gory, bloody sort published by the bad boys of the industry, EF Comics. But on the way to a Senate hearing on whether these depraved publications should be banned, the would-be censor meets a violent end of his own - leaving his opponents in hot water.  

Can Jack Starr, private eye to the funny-book industry, and his beautiful boss Maggie unravel the secret of Dr. Frederick's gruesome demise?  Or will the crackdown come, falling like an executioner's axe...?

My review: 

I really enjoy the books published by Hard Case Crime. They're quite enjoyable. Some, more than others. Some, are also quite dated, as they were published in the 1950's. 

This is book 3 in the Jack & Maggie Starr series.  

This is your basic crime book. Things are great in the beginning, then after awhile, something happens and you get a murder. The main character, Jack Starr investigates. He gets the crap beaten out of him. He, along with his step mom, Maggie Starr, come up with an idea to get the murderer.  

The story is nicely paced. Not too slow. The characters are well written. It all takes place in the late 1940's to early 1950's. 

In the end, the killer is found out. Loose ends get tied up, and the story then ends. 

I enjoy these books. This one gets 4 ****. It has a good cover too. All of the Hard Case Crime books do. If you enjoy this type of story, read the three Jack & Maggie Starr books. 

 

Book Review: Lies Weeping by Glen Cook

 Here's the usual plot of the book. 

From Glen Cook, the godfather of Grimdark himself, Lies Weeping is the first book in a brand new arc of his groundbreaking Chronicles of the Black Company―an epic fantasy series, with millions of copies in print.

The Black Company has retreated across the plain of glittering stone, toward a shadow gate that would let them trade the dangers of the plain for the questionable safety of the Company’s one-time haven in Hsien, a region in the world called the Land of Unknown Shadows.

In Hsien, the company returns to their former base, An Abode of Ravens, where the Lady ages backwards in a return to force, shaking off the thrall, one breath at a time. Meanwhile, Croaker, ascended to godlike status as the Steadfast Guardian, has been left behind in the Nameless Fortress.

In their adopted father’s stead, Arkana and Shukrat have taken up the role of annalist for the Black Company. At first, life in Hsien appears quiet, even boring, but it is quickly apparent that strange goings on are more than what they seem, and it's up to them to discover the truth hidden in the shadows of this strange land.

“With the Black Company series Glen Cook single-handedly changed the face of fantasy.”―New York Times bestselling author Steven Erikson

Chronicles of The Black Company
The Black Company (The First Chronicle)
Shadows Linger (The Second Chronicle)
The White Rose (The Third Chronicle)
The Silver Spike
Shadow Games (The First Book of the South)
Dreams of Steel (The Second Book of the South)
Bleak Seasons (Book One of Glittering Stone)
She Is the Darkness (Book Two of Glittering Stone)
Water Sleeps (Book Three of Glittering Stone)
Soldiers Live (Book Four of Glittering Stone)
Port of Shadows
Lies Weeping (Book One of A Pitiless Rain)

Omnibus editions:
Chronicles of the Black Company
(comprising The Black Company, Shadows Linger, and The White Rose)
The Books of the South
(comprising Shadow Games, Dreams of Steel, and The Silver Spike)
Return of the Black Company
(comprising Bleak Seasons and She Is the Darkness)
The Many Deaths of the Black Company
(comprising Water Sleeps and Soldiers Live)

 

Here is my review.

This is one book that I have been waiting for, since I heard about it a few years ago. I'm a huge fan of The Black Company, as it was the first fantasy series that I had read. 

I got an ebook ARC from Netgalley, but am waiting for my physical hard cover book to arrive.  

This book was really interesting, even if not much really happened. It basically was an update with what The Black Company has been up to, which isn't a lot, since Soldiers Live. 

The book still uses the analyst to tell the story. This time, it is Shukrat and Arkana, taking over from Croaker. 

We meet a few new characters, along with a few of our original ones, Lady, Suvrin, Tobo, The Howler, Croaker who is now The Steadfast Guardian, as well as Sukrat and Arkana. 

The ending is a cliffhanger! Oh how I dislike those. Now, I need to wait until sometimes in 2026 to get the next part of the story. 

It was enjoyable, as there were times that I could not put it down. I may reread it, once I get my physical hard cover and before the next installment comes out. 

The cover is great too. It almost gives a YA feel, but yet it's not. Which I am grateful for. 

 

Book Review: Blood for the Undying Throne: Book Two of the Bleeding Empire Sung-Il Kim

 Here's the usual summary of what the book is about. 

The Empire scorns all invisible gods.
The Empire kills all visible ones.

The Empire continues to enforce its rule with war machines that destroy even gods and monsters, leaving the conquered with nothing to worship or fear except the might of the Empire. But desperate odds such as these can inspire resistance.

Last seen rallying under Loran's banner, Emere survives an assassination attempt that will lead him to uncover sinister plots at the very heart of the Empire.

Arienne has crossed the continent to learn more about the Star of Mersia, the famed weapon that wiped Mersia from the map. But when she arrives in the lifeless land, Arienne finds much more than ruins.

When Yuma meets an emissary from the Empire, she realizes that they might just have the power to overthrow Mersia's ruthless Grim King Eldred ― but is there a cost to aligning with the Empire?

All must decide what they are willing to sacrifice in order to fight tyranny.

Blood for the Undying Throne is the action-packed sequel to Blood of the Old Kings, an epic fantasy adventure where the corpses of sorcerers power an empire, from award-winning Korean author Sung-il Kim and translated by the world-renowned Anton Hur.

This is an ARC that I received from Netgalley for the purpose of reviewing. 

Now, here is my review. 

I'm finding this one not as good as book 1, Blood of the Old Kings. This book is a bit slower in pace, as well as it goes back & forth to past and present. I'm really not a huge fan of that. 

What this book does do, in that back story, is give you an idea of whom the Grim King Eldred, Lysandros, Tychon and who his mother was. That part got more interesting as the story went  on.

How things ended was ok. Some of the characters new and old had an ending. Some, we're not too sure of. 

The story itself was enjoyable. Even if it did move slower than Blood of the Old Kings. 

The cover is just as wonderful as book 1's cover. Love the purple. To me, it represents the sorcery that's in this book.  

 

Book review: Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-Il Kim, Anton Hur (Translator)

 First off, here's the customary summary of what the book is about. 

Blood of the Old Kings begins an epic adventure in which three strangers journey through a vast Empire that uses the power of dead wizards to conquer and subdue, from award-winning author Sung-il Kim and translated by the highly-acclaimed Anton Hur.

Powered by the corpses of sorcerers, the Empire has conquered the world. It claims to have brought peace and stability to its conquered lands, but some see that peace for what it is—a lie—and will give everything in the fight against it.

Loran is desperate for revenge after the Empire killed her family, so much so that the swordswoman climbs the volcano where the legends say an ancient dragon slumbers and leaps in. She finds that the legends are true, and Loran leaves the mountain with a sword made of dragon’s fang and a great purpose before her.

Cain arrived in the Imperial Capital lost and orphaned, and it’s only thanks to the kindness of a stranger-turned-mentor that he survived on the city’s streets. When his friend is found murdered, he will leave no stone unturned to find those responsible, even if it means starting a war.

Arienne’s future has never been in question—born a sorcerer, she’ll be a Power Generator for the Empire upon her death. But when she starts to hear the voice of a powerful necromancer in her head, she realizes the only thing more terrifying than dying for the Empire is never getting to truly live in the first place.

When peace is a lie, there is power in truth—and as Loran, Cain, and Arienne hunt for answers in their own lives, any one of their small rebellions could be the stone that brings the Empire toppling down.

Now, here's my review: 

This is an incredible book. The world building, characters and pacing of the story. I really enjoyed reading this. I haven't really read anything with dragons in it, so this is my first. 

The story really doesn't surround the dragon part, which is fine. It's more of a symbol, but yet it's not. There is a dragon in it. We do get to read about it. 

There is also magic. Sort of. And sorcerers. Sort of.  They're just different that what we've read in other books about them. 

I really enjoyed reading this book. I shall continue reading the rest in the series. 

The cover. it's stunning. 

If you enjoy books with dragons and magic. I recommend reading this book. 
 

Book Review: The Shroud by Adrian Tchiakovsky

 Here's the customary summary of what the book is about

 On a planet shrouded in darkness, a stranded crew must fight for survival. But, the darkness may have plans of its own in this wildly original story from Adrian Tchaikovsky, Hugo and Arthur C. Clarke Award–winning author of Children of Time.

They looked into the darkness and the darkness looked back . . .

New planets are fair game to asset strippers and interplanetary opportunists – and a commercial mission to a distant star system discovers a moon that is pitch black, but alive with radio activity. Its high-gravity, high-pressure, zero-oxygen environment is anathema to human life, but ripe for exploitation. They named it Shroud.

Under no circumstances should a human end up on Shroud’s inhospitable surface. Except a catastrophic accident sees Juna Ceelander and Mai Ste Etienne doing just that. Forced to stage an emergency landing, in a small, barely adequate vehicle, they are unable to contact their ship and are running out of time. What follows is a gruelling journey across land, sea and air. During this time, Juna and Mai begin to understand Shroud’s dominant species. It also begins to understand them . . .

I got an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This is my review of it. 

This book was DNF at 36%. 

The concept of the story was good. The world building was good. The main problem, for me, was that the story was extremely slow and somewhat boring. I found it hard to hold my attention to what I was reading. Often, rereading the same paragraph. I cared nothing for any of the characters. 

It's too bad, it really sounded like it was going to be a very good read. It did have great covers. Sometimes, that's what draws me in. 2 stars.