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. 

 

 

Book Review: Protector, Darkblade book 2

 Here's the customary plot of the book that was copy/pasted from Amazon: 

The Hunter’s legend conceals cold, dark truths.
Half-demon bastard. A butcher with the blade, assassin, monster.

For millennia he has stalked the world, conquering all in his path and wading through rivers of his enemies' blood.

But he remembers none of it.

Now, an oath made in bitterness and regret thrusts him into a new role to which he is entirely unsuited: guardian of a young boy touched by gods and hunted by demons.

The Hunter sets off into desolate wastelands and deserts to seek out answers with blade and brutal skills honed by centuries of violence. At his side rides the boy, an ever-growing inconvenience and testament to his past failures.

But as the legions of his enemies close in around him, the child he protects may not only hold the key to his past, but become his very hope for salvation.

"Epic, as enthralling and thrilling as it is heartbreaking." – Christopher Russell, author of Divinity’s Twilight

Now, what can I say about this book? 

This book starts off with a kick. Ooof! Holy crap!

After that initial shocking first chapter, the book goes back to how it ended up at that point. It then continues with the Hunter and Hailen on the road and everything that they encounter along their way. 

A lot happens while they're on the road. Lots of blood gets spilled. Changes happen that you have to read about and not be told of what they are. 

The first half of the book, I found to be a bit slower than book 1 was. It was still very good, just slower. After awhile, it picks up the pace. Just before the end of part 1, it really gets fast paced.

In part 2, the pace quickens. You can feel the urgency that The Hunter has, while you are reading. It gets quite bloody and stabby. A lot of blood get shed. A lot happens in the second part. 

The Hunter fulfills what's needed to be done in this book and he and Hailen continue on their quest. 

The one thing that never changes is the discussions that go on between The Hunter and his inner demon. It's a constant and a necessary part of the story. 

This was a very enjoyable book. I give it 4.5 stars, only because of the slower pace of the first half of the book. 

 Again, it has an excellent cover.

 

 

Book Review: The Winter Man: Resort to Violence by Robert Firlotte

 Copy/paste of the plot: 

Riley Wright was a ghost long before he ever set foot in Dusty. A former soldier with a past so classified even his third tour in the Middle East barely exists on paper, he was the man sent to handle impossible situations—the kind where survival was never guaranteed. But one mission changed everything. A single shot, a moment of hesitation, and an explosion that left nothing but ash and regret.

After the war, he became something else. A name whispered in the dark. An enforcer known only as Mr. Right—because when he arrived, there was no second chance to get it wrong. But a decade ago, he walked away from that life, disappearing into the shadow of the Two Sisters mountains, where the town of Dusty spun its own myths about the stranger in their midst. A ghost story for misbehaving children. A legend built around a man with blood on his hands and a code in his bones.

Now, the past has come knocking. Natalie Embers thought she was leaving trouble behind when she ran to Dusty, but trouble followed—and it doesn’t knock, it kicks the door in. Dirty cops, death squads, and old enemies are circling, and the only thing standing between them and the innocent is the man they call The Winter Man.

Riley has spent years trying to bury who he was, but some ghosts don’t stay dead. And some men? They were never meant to be saved.

Now that that is done, onto what I think.

This book is well written. The plot, characters. The story is well paced and really doesn't slow down at all. All of the characters are well written. This helps to make them likeable or not. 

This is an action packed story. Bloody at times. A lot of the time. The climax has the anticipation of something exciting that is going to happen. And, boy did it happen. It was a bloody good ending. It was left that there could be a book 2 or not. It wouldn't matter.

Now, some of the few minor nitpicks. There was a few formatting issues. It didn't make it less able to read, just a bit annoying. That happens when it's an ARC. Not a biggie. The one thing that I do dislike, is point of view changes in mid chapter. Drives me batty. Again, it doesn't make it unable to read. That's just me and one of my pet peeves. 

All in all this was a very good book. I quite enjoyed reading it. I do recommend it for those who are looking for a good thriller to read.

It also has a great cover. 

 

Book Review: The Case of the Careless Kitten by Erle Stanley Gardner

 The Case of the Careless Kitten is Perry Mason 21. It's your basic Perry Mason story. Something happens, Perry Mason is sought out, he does his thing. Goes to court and eventually wins the case. 

This story is no different. However, this time it starts with a kitten. 

The story is fast paced, like usual. It has the usual characters: Perry Mason, Della Street, Paul Drake, Lt. Tragg. 

The longest part of the book, is usually the first time in court. Perry Mason does his thing. 

I give the book a 4 star rating. A good reliable book. I enjoy reading the Perry Mason books.