This was billed as an epic tale, a Chinese LOTR, and I was excited to get an opportunity to read it. My excitement quickly turned to disappointment. Not only was it nothing like LOTR but the prose was awkward at best. I fear that a lot of its luster was lost in the translation process. Despite three separate attempts, this is a DNF for me at 27% complete.
The other main flaw for me was the lack of character development. There is plenty of action which was the best part of the story. However, the action scenes where not written well enough to overcome the flaws. I never was invested in this story and it become more and more laborious the further along I read.
I received a free copy form the publisher in exchange for my honest review. For more of my reviews, and author interviews, see my blog at www.thespineview.com.
Normally I would write a short synapsis. Since I did not finish, I am leaving you with the blurb for the book below.
The Song Empire has been invaded by its warlike Jurchen neighbours from the north. Half its territory and its historic capital lie in enemy hands; the peasants toil under the burden of the annual tribute demanded by the victors. Meanwhile, on the Mongolian steppe, a disparate nation of great warriors is about to be united by a warlord whose name will endure for eternity: Genghis Khan.
Guo Jing, son of a murdered Song patriot, grew up with Genghis Khan’s army. He is humble, loyal, perhaps not altogether wise, and is fated from birth to one day confront an opponent who is the opposite of him in every way: privileged, cunning and flawlessly trained in the martial arts.
Guided by his faithful shifus, The Seven Heroes of the South, Guo Jing must return to China – to the Garden of the Drunken Immortals in Jiaxing – to fulfil his destiny. But in a divided land riven by war and betrayal, his courage and his loyalties will be tested at every turn.
Contagion by Teri Terry is a dystopian YA Sci-Fi story set in the near future. The story totally took me by surprise. I loved every minute of it. A deadly virus grown in a lab that escapes, people who have special abilities after being infected, a ghost set on revenge, it all worked so well.
The story begins in an underground research facility in
Shetland, UK. Where a group of researchers are working on a cure for cancer.
Callie, subject 369X, is being “cured” which results in her death. Instead of
moving on to the afterlife she becomes a ghost. Shortly after her death an
explosion occurs in the underground facility and the facility is destroyed in
the fire that follows. This allows a deadly virus, later named the Aberdeen
Flu, to be released.
Meanwhile, Shay, a typical teen except for her photograph
memory, has her eye caught by a flyer of a missing girl. Turns out she saw the
girl on the day she went missing. Shay calls the number on the flyer and later
meets Kai the missing girl’s older brother. This missing girl in none other
than Callie. Unfortunately, Shay is not able to provide must assistance to Kai
since she only saw Callie briefly. However, they do form a bond.
By now the virus is wreaking havoc all over Scotland. Ever
containment line the government sets seems useless and the virus is spreading
like wildfire. This “flu” is so deadly it kills 95% of those infected within 24
hours. There are a lucky few who are immune. Those that do survive are changed
and either kill themselves or are hunted down by the government.
While Kai is one of the lucky immune, Shay is infected and becomes
a survivor. Shortly after her recovery Shay discovers that she can talk to the dead,
including Callie. Together the three set out to discover what really happened
in Shetland.
Fantastic story! Usually the characters are my favorite part
of a story. Not so this time, I was pulled into the story from the start. I
especially liked that it was not far-fetched and I feel something like this is plausible.
The execution of the plot was spot on, fast paced but not rushed so there was a
slow buildup of tension as the story progressed. There were a couple of twists
to the plot I was not expecting and some hints about what is to come… I think.
Then there is the cliff hanger, of course.
The characters are good too. There was a fair amount of
character development which never fails to surprise me in an action novel. I
crave a story that lets me understand and connect to the characters. Each of
the three main characters has a distinct voice and yet the story is told
through the eyes of the female characters only. It was an interesting way of
seeing things. The author did a good job of connecting it all together so it
flowed seamlessly. The only negative, I have to wait to read the next book!
I highly recommend this book to fans of near future Sci-Fi
and YA Sci-Fi stories. There are a few scenes that maybe disturbing to the
younger readers. Nothing overly graphic but the story does contain mild
violence and the subject matter some may find unsettling.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Malamander by Thomas Taylor is a magical middle grade fantasy story that will sweep you up. The author has created an imaginative world with interesting and endearing characters that is sure to please any age reader. Hands down the best middle grade book I read this year.
Herbert Lemon, aka Herbie, is the Lost-and-Founder at the Grand
Nautilus Hotel that is part of the small community of Eerie-on-the-Sea. When an
item is left or lost at the hotel it comes to Herbie and it is his job to reunite
the lost item with the owner. He sees all kinds of lost items including one
Violet Parma who one winter’s day slips in through the hotel’s cellar window. Violet
may just be the most unusual thing in Herbie’s collection of unusual things.
Violet has come in search of her parents that went missing when
she was a baby, while guests at the hotel. She tells Herbie that she has come
hundreds of miles to enlist his help finding her parents. When Herbie insists,
he is a finder of lost things not lost people, she rebuffs him saying he is a “detective”
and the only one she knows who can help her.
Of course, with Violet comes a lot of things not the least
of which is the mystery of her parents’ disappearance. There is the man with
the hook that is after her for unknown reasons and the monster, called
Malamander, that appears on the beach at night in winter. These are just two
more of the mysteries surrounding her. Herbie will have to be a very good
detective to figure out this puzzle.
Love this story! It has an interesting plot with enough twists
to hold any readers’ attention. The magical elements that abound in the book
are many and include a mermonkey who tells you what book to read at the local
book store and there is Lady Kraken’s, the hotel owner, cameraluna that she
uses to see what is happening in town and a host of interesting people to round
out the plot.
The characters were very well done, especially so for the
intended audience. Herbie and Violet are just the type of characters that will
have you cheering for them. The supporting ones, such as Mrs. Hanniver owner of
the Eerie Book Dispensary, lend the story more mystery and allure and enhance
the plot to perfection.
This is the perfect story for middle graders and adults alike.
So entertaining and the magical astrosphere in the book along with the
characters make for an outstanding book. It is age appropriate for all readers
and I highly recommend to all lovers of magical adventure tales.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Buried for over 300 years and now brought triumphantly
to light by Dr Livesay, this is, at last, the true story of what happened on
the fateful Treasure Island…
The truth about Captain Flint and his fabled death.
The truth about Long John Silver and his coveted wife.
And the truth about Jim Hawkins, that double-dealing
turncoat of the first order: The traitor of Treasure Island.
John Drake
AUTHOR BIO
John Drake trained as a biochemist to
post-doctorate research level before realizing he was no good at science. His
working career was in the television department of ICI until 1999 when he
became a full-time writer. John’s hobby is muzzle-loading shooting, and his
interests are British history and British politics (as a spectator), plus
newspapers, TV news, and current affairs. He is married with a son and two
grandchildren.
If you are looking for an adventure story involving pirates and treasure, The Traitor of Treasure Island by John Drake, is that and more. A grand retelling of Stevenson’s Treasure Island that includes a fair portion of the original cast of characters. I found it to be a swash buckling good read!
At the opening of the story the reader is told of a seaman’s
chest, that was purchased by the author. It contained the journals of Dr.
Livesey, the ship’s physician aboard Hispaniola, the ship from the Treasure
Island expedition. The journals reveal the “true” story of what happened. Therefore,
it is no surprise that much of the story is told from the POV of Dr. Livesey.
Dr. Livesey gets involved with the expedition by being at
the wrong place at the right time. He has been frequenting the Admiral Benbow
inn because he is smitten by the wife of the owner. One evening a blind man
comes to the inn to find Billy Bones, a regular patron of the inn, and bring
him a dire warning. If seems that the infamous Captain Flint is not dead, as
what was previously thought, and is coming for Billy and the treasure map he is
hiding.
Dr. Livesey takes charge and sends for Squire Trelawney who
arrives at the inn, with a group of armed men, just as a fire fight with
Flint’s men is ending. Though Flint manages to slip away unharmed, the cat is
now out of the bag about the treasure and the Squire sets about purchasing a
ship and finding a crew to man her in order to recover the treasure. The Doctor
tries to discourage the expedition. However, the Squire insists on it saying he
is doing “for the thrill of it”. So ensues the adventure!
This is truly an action and adventure novel. It is totally
plot driven, and for those that read my reviews regularly know that I prefer
books that are character driven. Not surprising, the plot moves very quickly
and the character development is somewhat lacking. I am actually a little
surprised how much I enjoyed this book even without the character development I
crave. Just goes to show a well written story can overcome other short comings.
As I mentioned above, the character development is lacking.
The only character that got the attention deserved was Dr. Livesey. I
understood him and his motives well. I saw his devotion to Charlotte and his
distaste for her son Jim. I can’t say that for the rest of the characters. It
is important to me to understand why a character does something in a story. I
hate to be left scratching my head wondering why the heck did he/she do that?
While this was not my favorite style of writing, the story
is really good. Don’t let my comments on character development deter you from reading
this one. If you love action and adventure stories this is a must read for you.
In addition, the quality of the story and the obvious research that went into
getting the historical and nautical history correct will also appeal to readers
of historical novels.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange
for my honest review.
I knew L. Ron Hubbard was a prolific writer of Science
Fiction when he was younger, this being before he founded Scientology. I also
knew he was writing around the same time as some of the masters and founders of
modern Sci-Fi (such as Asimov) where just coming into their own. Being a lover
of Sci-Fi, I was curious to read some of his works. Therefore, it should be no
surprise that I came home form BookExpo this year with two of his novels.
This might be the time to remind my readers that even though
I receive free books from publishers in exchange for my reviews, all of my opinions
are my own. I do not endorse any author’s, publisher’s, agent’s, etc. personal
views on politics and/or religion. I read for the sole purpose of entertainment.
Either I like a story or I don’t and I
always tell my readers what I found to be good and bad about a story. As
always, you are welcome to disagree with me.
Now that the house keeping is done, let’s talk about this
novella. By definition it is a novella and it is also a dystopian alternative
history story. In this story WWII never ended and the conflict continues to
drag on decades despite the lack of planes, tanks and other implements of
modern warfare. The main character, known only as The Lieutenant, has never
known anything but war having been born during the conflict. He is part of what
remains of the Fourth Brigade of the British Expeditionary Forces operating in
France somewhere. It is a ragtag force at best. They scavenge for food and
clothing as they fight and try to out maneuver the Russians.
Communications have been cut with headquarters for four
years and he has been operating on his own until one day, out of the blue, a
Captain shows up and orders him to return to GHQ to be “reorganized”. He knows
this is not a good thing because he failed to appoint a soldier’s council as
ordered and is expecting some kind of reprisal. The Caption also tells him that
things are not the best in London since the British Communist Party is now the
governing body.
As The Lieutenant proceeds to make his way to GHQ he comes
to realizes that the war is, for all intents and purposes, over and that, “England
and his people were barred to him, had rejected him, perhaps forever.” When he
reaches GHQ he is relieved of his command. It seems he is to be replaced by
someone that is malleable. In other words, GHQ wants someone to follow them
blindly and not question their orders or motivates. This does not sit well with
his men and they mutiny. Upon victory The Lieutenant is reinstated and he takes
charge of GHQ. He immediate gathers a group of soldiers together to return to England,
a place soldiers have been banned from because of the soldier’s disease. What
he finds once he returns is nothing that he could have imagined and is not
good.
I have mixed feelings on this one. First, this is not my type
of book. Too many political overtones and I am sick to death of anything political.
Secondly, I did not get enough charter development to suit me. Not surprising since
this is an action novel and I have no doubt the author used this as a
literature tool. For me it fell a little flat.
I liked the premise of the story but I felt it was a
somewhat simplistic look at very complex problems. Yet, at the same time I liked
that this book did touch on a lot of philological questions that mankind has
been struggling with for a long time. I think Hubbard was still developing as a
writer when this was written and it also showed he was a product of his time.
As mentioned above, the plot moved quickly and there was plenty of action. Though there were not a lot of twists to the story and it felt a little predictable. It is a quick read and I read this in one afternoon.
While this is not my cup of tea the book is not without merit. I think it would make a good book for a book club that focuses on political and philological issues as presented in books like Orwell’s 1984 and Atwood’s The Handmaids Tale. There is a lot of fodder here for a lively discussion. Also, if you like dystopian alternate histories this might make a good fit for you, especially if you ignore the political undercurrent.
A truly heart-breaking and enthralling story is the only way to describe The Tiger Catcher by Paullina Simons. It is a gratifying romance story and it explores the lengths to which a person will go to be with the one they love.
Julian is living a happy and successful life in Los Angeles.
He is surround by family and friends that love him and has a long-standing
girlfriend that everyone expects him to marry. Then a chance encounter, at a
New York City theatre, with a young girl named Josephine changes everything.
When Julian returns to L. A. he can’t stop thinking about
Josephine. Then one day she waltzes right into his life and his heart. As far
as Julian is concerned the world has not only stopped but melted away. He is so
absorbed with Josephine that he forgets to go to work or write his daily Mr.
Know-It-All newsletter. Yet, the fates have other plans and when Josephine is
lost to Julian, he falls into a stupor and nothing is able to bring him back to
reality.
Julian dreams frequently of Josephine. In his dreams, he is
always at a café and she sees him and is walking towards him but is never able
to reach him. He believes that the café is in London. Therefore, he moves to
London in search of her. After a year and a half, and many miles of walking
London’s streets for the café in his dream, he is no closer to answers than he
was in L. A. That is until he meets a shaman who gives Julian the means to find
Josephine. There is a catch, the trip is dangerous and he will have to give up
everything and everyone he knows and loves.
I loved the characters in this book. Julian was especially
well done. I liked how the author showed us the depth of his love and then the
pain and sorrow of his loss. It was raw and very real to me. In addition, the
story had just enough fantasy and realism to suit my tastes.
The only negative I found was the plot. It dragged a little
in the middle. Ms. Simons’s writing is always a little on the verbose side; however,
here it was a bit heavy handed. Despite this, I was already so invested in the
story that I had to know what happened. Therefore, I rushed to get to the end
and then I had to noodle on the book for a bit before I picked up another one. It
is always a good sign when a book makes me ponder for a bit after I finish it.
I enjoyed this book a lot. I also feel it is not in the same
league as The Bronze Horseman, which is one of my all-time favorites. Tough
I still found the story compelling and entertaining. I am looking forward to
the next installment in the series and I hope the wait is not too long.
The Tiger Catcher is the perfect book for fans of The
Time Traveler’s Wife, Paullina Simons and/or romance with a touch of magic.
I received a free copy from the publisher, via Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program, in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Nobody People by Bob Proehl is an X-Men like story about people who have special abilities that have been in hiding for decades or more. The story highlights how people are scared of anyone or anything that is different and they do not understand; and how this leads to prejudices then quickly turns to persecution.
The first portion of the story is told from the POV of Avi,
a reporter, who is asked by a friend to look into a strange occurrence. What he
stumbles onto is a new race of humans, they call themselves Resonants, who have
special abilities. These abilities manifest around early adolescence. At about the same time, he learns his daughter
has a special ability.
Avi is introduced to the group of people who run a school in
New York City for Resonants and he is the one tasked with telling their story
and introducing them to the world. Of course, this “coming out” does not go entirely
as planned. Imagine that!
The story switches gears here and the author, for the most
part, leaves Avi behind and tells the story through the eyes of the Resonants
as Homeland Security starts rounding them up and putting them in camps. The
Resonants must decide if they will continue to hide, submit, or fight.
This is an imaginative take on super heroes. I loved how the
author betrayed what would happen when the Resonants came out, so to speak. It
was spot on. Control anything you can’t understand and because they are
different you can disregard the fact they are human. I also liked where the story
went. If something like this were to happen, I can easily see the events occurring.
I liked the characters a lot. However, there was so much
going on I did not get as much character development as I would have liked,
with the exception of Avi. The pace of the plot was excellent and there were
enough twists to keep me reading well past my bedtime.
One last comment I wish to make. I struggled with the rating
because while it is not a five for me, it is better than a 4. I will make it as
4 but in reality I feel it is closer to 4.5.
This is a fresh look at super heroes and I enjoyed reading
it. There is a lot left hanging so I am lookly forward to the next installment.
I just hope I don’t have to wait too long. I recommend this book to anyone that
likes science fiction stories. Especially those readers who are into super heroes.
I received a free copy from the publisher
through NetGalley.
Buzz Books 2019: Fall/Winter by Publishers Launch is
a compilation of the upcoming new titles from various publishers. It covers
both fiction and nonfiction works. This reference book is the best all in one
source for new titles and includes previews for a few upcoming ones.
Here are a few that caught my eye:
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (sequel
to The Handmaid’s Tale); Nan A. Talese – Pub. Date: 9/10
Dead Astronauts by Jeff VenderMerr; MCD –
Pub. Date: 12/3
The Book of Science and Antiquities by
Thomas Keneally; Atria – Pub. Date: 12/10
The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste; Norton
– Pub. Date: 9/24
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo; Flatiron –
Pub. Date: 10/1
Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay;
William Morrow – 9/17
The Deserter by Nelson DeMille and Alex
DeMille; Simon and Schuster – Pub. Date: 10/22
The Warehouse by Rob Hart; Crown – 8/20
The Nobody People by Bob Proehl; Del Ray –
Pub. Date: 9/3
The Rise of Magicks: Chronicles of The One
by Nora Roberts; St. Martin’s – Pub. Date: 11/26
This is a short list of what has interested me. There are
just too many others to mention and they cover every genre from YA to Thriller including
debut novels of note. Several of these titles I have already received ARCs from
the publisher. In addition, I have already read and reviewed The Warehouse and
The Nobody People with more reviews to come.
If you love previews and are interested in keeping up to
date on what and when new titles are being published, this is the book for you.
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy. As always, my
opinions are my own.
Coming Back by K. L. Denman is a novella about a young woman,
Julie, who has been in a horrific car accident. She has no memory of the
accident and has been in therapy for over a year. Julie has been diagnosed with
PTSD. Her therapist suggests that she get an emotional support animal to help
her.
Her therapist was thinking a dog or cat would be the ideal
animal; but Julie decides she wants a horse. She had ridden some when she was a
young girl and loved the connection she felt with a horse. She is hoping that
she will have that again. Also, a horse will force her to leave her home and
interact with people.
Julie lays out her plan to her therapist and after some
consideration she agrees. She does her research and purchases a lovely young
mare she names Scarlett. Julie finds a dressage show barn that she is able to
board Scarlett at. She can even take lessons there. Unfortunately, it turns out
a show barn is not the right fit for her. She looks for another barn and finds
one that does “natural horsemanship”. Yet it turns out to be not as advertised and
she soon realizes she has moved from the frying pan to fire.
This book had everything going for it. I especially love
stories centered around horses since I have ridden my entire life. The plot was
good and the horse related stuff was correct. I know the pace was good because I
flew through this book in under a day. Yet, there was something missing for me.
I am struggling to put my feelings into words here. That in itself says something. I think it is because the story did not match the prose. Let me explain further. I felt the writing was too simplistic for an adult or young adult reader. The writing style was best suited for a middle grade reader yet the story, which billed as young adult, had a decided adult theme to it. Therefore, it left me wanting more.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the publisher, via Library Thing’s Early Reviewer’s program, in exchange for my honest opinion.
