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.

Book Review: The Silverblood Promise by James Logan

 I had won an ARC of this book on Goodreads. I'm glad I entered.

Bloody hells that was a great book. 

This book had a good pace to it. It didn't slow down at all. The characters were well thought out and developed. It had great world building. 

 The story had it all. A mystery, adventure, magic, friendships, as well as hardships. It was a great mystery, which was solved at the end. The ending also led to another mystery and adventure for our three friends. 

I look forward to reading the next/continuing mystery with Lukan Gardova, Ashra and Flea as they go on their new adventure.

Isn't this a great cover? 

 

If you enjoy epic fantasy with a bit of mystery and adventure, read this book.

Apologize

 Apologize

For the mess that's going on right now in the USA. 

Apologize

To every single soldier who fought in WWII. These men and women fought for you, so that you could be free today. You let them down.

Apologize

For letting history repeat itself by electing a fascist back into power.

Apologize

For threatening your closest allies with annexation. The ones who came to your aid, during your times of need. 

Apologize

For damaging a decades long friendship between the two nations. We will always be neighbours, but may never be friends again.

Apologize

To every man, woman and child that had their rights taken away from them. 

Apologize

For all the upcoming dark times. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, but right now, it's very far away.

Apologize

 

 

 

Book Review: Planetside by Michael Mammay

 Excellent book. Fast paced. Great characters and character development. Great world building too. Great mystery set in a science fiction setting. The story kept me reading. It never slowed down. The mystery part solved in the end. 

This was the first time reading anything from this author. It was a great decision to read this book. I will keep reading the series. It's worth it to see where these characters will go from here. 

The cover is really good too. 

A shorter review of this book is also posted on Goodreads.

 

Book Review - Darkblade: Assassin by Andy Peloquin

Where to start with this review....First off, it took me way too long to read, my bad. This book is definitely a 5 star book. 

This book starts off with a bang. There is a lot of action right at the beginning. You'd think that it would slow down, right? Wrong! It continued throughout the entire book. This was a bloody book. It started off bloody, got bloody in the middle and continued to be bloody until the end. 

Let's talk about the character and the world building. The main character is known as The Hunter. That's all. Is he a good guy? Is he bad? I'm not saying. Let's just say that he does a lot that leads it to being so bloody. The other characters are all well thought out. You also have the ones that you can't stand and tend to hate hate by the end. 

The world building is equally well done. Here, it's known as Einan. Taking place in a city called Voramis. The way the world build has been done, you feel like you're actually in the city with The Hunter, doing the things he does. You can almost see the city's sites and smell its smells. This to me, is well done. 

So much happens throughout the story, that when climax happens, you almost tend to forget to take a breath. Will our main character be ok? Will he be a hero? Does he get his vengeance or redemption? Well, I won't say if he does or doesn't. Read the book. 

So, what else is there to say? Am I looking forward to reading more about The Hunter? Yes. Definitely, yes. I hope that all the rest of the books in the series are like this. 

One final thought...the cover is great too.