Oh lookie....a collection of The Black Company short stories is coming out in May 2027. Exciting, even though I'm not a fan of short stories. This is extra with at least 4 total new books of The Black Company. I want all the books that have to deal with The Black Company.
And, another great cover too.
The customary plot:
*Garrett is a human detective in the fantastical city of TunFaire. And now he’s getting tangled up in the worst sort of laws...
In-laws.*
Garrett is set to stow his wandering heart with his fiancĂ©e, Strafa Algarda. But for Garrett, even true love comes with its share of headaches—namely, the Algarda family.
Strafa’s family needs Garrett’s unique skills in the worst way. Rumors are spreading that someone is organizing a Tournament of Swords—a brutal contest that magically compels the children of sorcerers to battle until only one is left alive. The winner will absorb the power from those he has killed and thus become a demigod.
Strafa and her family want to protect her daughter, Kevans, from being forced to take part in the lethal contest...and they’ve asked Garrett to find out who is organizing the tournament and nip it in the bud. The only problem is that finding the culprit is most likely impossible. But the Algardas are used to getting what they want....
My review:
This is the final book in the Garrett PI series. We've been through a lot with Garrett.
I'm just past 33% of the book. Garrett is definitely not himself in this book. Walking around in a daze most of the time. It's very uncharacteristic of him.
Garrett spends a lot of the book in a daze. Thinking a lot. This is so unlike the Garrett that readers know.
The ending was odd. Sad. And, really weird. To think that we went through all of that just for the book to end that way. Nothing else explained. Just that weird ending.
I give this book 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐. It didn't get less b/c it kept me reading on. It didn't gain the 5th star b/c it had a weird ending with nothing else to follow.
I did enjoy my run of reading all 14, so far, books of the Garrett PI Files. Some were better than others.
First off, the customary plot.
The shark-versus-man classic that inspired
the blockbuster Steven Spielberg movie—now in a fiftieth anniversary
edition with an exclusive foreword from the author’s wife, renowned
ocean conservation advocate Wendy Benchley.
A great white
shark terrorizes the beautiful summer getaway of Amity Island, and a
motley group of men take to the water to do battle with the beast. A
heart-pounding novel of suspense and a brilliant meditation on the
nature of humanity, Jaws is one of the most iconic thrillers ever written.
In
addition to Wendy Benchley’s foreword, this edition features bonus
content from Peter Benchley’s archives, including the manuscript’s
original typed title page, a brainstorming list of possible titles, a
letter from Benchley to film producer David Brown with candid feedback
on the movie adaptation, and excerpts from Benchley’s book Shark Trouble, highlighting his firsthand account of writing Jaws, selling it to Universal Studios, and working with Steven Spielberg.
After writing Jaws
in the early 1970s, Peter Benchley was actively engaged with scientists
and filmmakers, and over the ensuing decades, joined many expeditions
around the world as they expanded their knowledge of sharks and shark
behavior. He encouraged each new generation of Jaws fans to enjoy
his riveting tale and to channel their excitement into support and
protection of these magnificent prehistoric apex predators.
My Review:
I recall trying to read this a long time ago, like when I was in Junior High, around grade 7 or so. I never did finish it. I think it was b/c it was in mass market paperback. After all, it was from the school library. So, here I am now, reading it.
First off, it's quite different than the movie. That's fine. Normal in most adaptations.
The characters. Wow are they different than the movie. I really dislike them more in the book. Their attitudes, where they came from, who they know/knew. So, so different. The worst one is Ellen Brody. She's just not a very nice person at all.
The book spends way too many pages/chapters on Ellen Brody. She's not an exciting person at all. I find her neurotic, depressed and trying to regain her youth. Not really a very good wife or person.
Hooper is so so different too. He's not as knowledgeable about sharks in the book, as he is in the movie. He's more at odds with Chief Martin Brody. Defensive, argumentative.
The most exciting part of the book was the last 2-3 chapters when they were actually going after the shark. You were wondering if they ever were going to find it and once they did, if they were going to catch it.
In the final chapter, they caught it. How, I will not say. Did anybody else die? Nope. Not saying that either. Like I mentioned earlier in my review, the book is so so different from the movie.
This is one time that I can honestly say that I liked the movie better. I think it's the way that the characters were portrayed in the book.
The book was ok. I give it 3.5 ⭐⭐⭐⯨ stars. It was good, but not great. I did enjoy it, but didn't like some of the characters.
