Author: HCNewton Page 589 of 625

Dusted Off: False Covenant by Ari Marmell

By

On December 3, 2013

In Fiction

False Covenant (Widdershins Adventures, #2)False Covenant

by Ari Marmell
Series: Widdershins Adventures, #2

Hardcover, 281 pg.
Pyr, 2012

It doesn’t matter what Ari Marmell writes — whether the fantasy is YA or not — it’s gripping and intense. The only difference is the swearing and amount of blood.

Still reeling from the events of the first volume — the death of a close friend, a showdown with a demon, a burgeoning friendship with an up and coming star in the Guard (not a good move for a professional thief)– this adventure will push Widdershins even further and harder and will keep the pages turning ’til the jaw-dropping end.

Marmell has created a rich and elaborate world for Widdershins — the magic/mythology system, the thieves’ guild, it’s a soil that many volumes could be grown in, I certainly hope they do.

—–

4 Stars

Dusted Off: Thief’s Covenant by Ari Marmell

By

On December 2, 2013

In Fiction

Thief's Covenant (Widdershins Adventures, #1)Thief’s Covenant

by Ari Marmell
Series: Widdershins Adventures, #1

Hardcover, 273 pg.
Pyr, 2012

Marmell’s first foray into YA is exactly what it should be–his kind of story, without the adult-y material, which he managed to do without feeling like he watered anything down. There’s some light moments–and some flat-out clever writing–but on a dime, Marmell can turn things dark and gruesome

Adrienne/Widdershins/insert-alias-here is a heckuva character — tough, but vulnerable; wise, yet naive; reckless, yet skilled–a good YA character. She’s good at what she does–maybe even great–but not perfect, which I really appreciated.

A good, solid fantasy in a package that’s smaller than a doorstop. I’ll be back for more.

—–

3.5 Stars

Saturday Miscellany – 11/30

By

On November 30, 2013

In Books, News/Misc.

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

    I didn’t see any new releases this week that grabbed my attention — hardly any that didn’t, either. Which is fine — am sure December will be full of them — and I have a lot to catch up on from earlier in the month/year anyway.

Shaken by J. A. Konrath

By

On November 29, 2013

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Shaken
Shaken

by J.A. Konrath
Paperback, 262 pages
AmazonEncore, 2011

There are three stories told in the penultimate Jack Daniels novel: one told shortly after the events in Cherry Bomb, one that takes place three years earlier, and the last that takes place 18 years before that. Now, given that I knew Jack would survive all three stories between that timeline (not being a time traveler, she obviously couldn’t die 21 years before current events) and the fact that I read this a year after the followup novel were written — you’d think I’d be able to kick back and let the novel play out.

Nope, not even close — I was on the edge of my seat from the get-go. How Konrath pulled that off, I don’t know — don’t really care, either.

In the oldest storyline — Jack’s still sporting her maiden name and is a fairly new cop working prostitution stings — with her partner, Harry McGlade — which lead to her being enlisted in a undercover operation for Homicide — and almost getting killed by a real psycho.

A bit more current, Jack and Herb are trying to prevent the murder of a child by a legendary serial killer, who they think they’re about to catch after years of people all over the country hunting him down.

The most recent story starts off with Jack kidnapped — she fell asleep in her bed next to Phin, and awakens in a dark room, bound, with no one around. But there’s a clock counting down how long she has left to live — and it ain’t long.

Last week, I talked a little bit about my problems with prequels. The storyline 20+ years old really serves as a prequel to the series — and has all the shortcomings of them — inside jokes, heavy haded bits about how no one will need a mobile phone in the future, how Jack plans to upgrade her car (she’s still driving it currently), Herb’s legendary metabolism, etc. Some of these jokes I did enjoy — the more subtle ones, mostly. Still, as always, Konrath knows when to lighten up on the humor and apply the suspense — and he does it very successfully in each story.

I’ve seen some reader reviews here and there complaining that the ending’s a bit too deus ex machina — and I think you can make that case. Still, I disagree sequel ex machina? Sure, I’ll buy that — it was all about setting up the next installment of the series. And given how effective the rest of the novel really was — I’ll give Konrath a pass on that.

A lot of laughs, some good twists, many nails bitten — a great read. This, in so many ways, is not the place to start with this series, go back to the beginning, with Whiskey Sour and jump on there. But if you’ve been sticking with Jack, this is a great addition.

—–

4 Stars

Opening lines – Blades of Winter by G.T. Almasi

By

On November 26, 2013

In Blog Series, Currently Reading, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Opening Lines, Quotations, Science Fiction

We all know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover (yet, publishing companies spend big bucks on cover design/art). But, the opening sentence(s)/paragraph(s) are fair game. So, when I stumble on a good opening (or remember one and pull it off the shelves), I’ll throw it up here. Dare you not to read the rest of the book

—–

Nothing pisses me off more than being shot at while I’m eating. It’s the midday rush here in my new favorite restaurant, a cozy Hungarian joint on East 82nd Street. I’m jammed into a small table by the kitchen, with a Redskins cap pulled low over my face. The charming old dining room is packed, and the paneled walls echo the Eastern European barks of the broad, buxom waitresses as they dominate the good-humored customers. The food here is spectacular, but right now I’m kind of distracted by that bullet hurtling straight at my left eye.

from Blades of Winter by G.T. Almasi

Dusted Off: The Conqueror’s Shadow by Ari Marmell

By

On November 25, 2013

In Fiction

The Conqueror's ShadowThe Conqueror’s Shadow

by Ari Marmell
Hardcover, 448 pg.
Spectra, 2010

What a rollicking good read! This book has it all…great battle scenes; the fate of the world in the balance; wise crackin’ tough guys; wicked witches; ugly, brutish trolls; snarky demons…

Sure, it’s a story we’ve read/seen before–baddest of the bad guys retires, reforms (at least sorta), and has to come out of retirement to stop a new bad guy.

This telling of that familiar tale is done with panache and a clever trick or three to shake things up. Well done, and more than primes the pump for reading more in this world.

—–

4 Stars

Dusted-Off: Lunatics by Dave Barry, Alan Zweibel

By

On November 25, 2013

In Dave Barry, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature

LunaticsLunatics

by Dave Barry
Hardcover, 320 pg.
Putnam Adult,2012

How does one write a book like this? First, you take a couple of characters, that while not exactly people you can meet each day, are close enough that you can buy them as characters in a novel. Then you put them in a relatable, if exaggerated, bad situation. Then you let that situation spin wildly, and hilariously, out of control and right into a worse situation–and let that one spin wildly, and hilariously, out of control and right into another–and repeat. Several times.

If you do that juuuust right, you might come close to capturing the brilliantly wacky madness that is Lunatics.

More than once, I laughed, guffawed, choked, chuckled, cracked-up, cackled, and did a spit-take. I’m sure my wife was as glad I was done with the book as I was disappointed it was over–a day and a half of my very loud reactions to this book were little more than she could tolerate.

Find yourself a nice, secluded little spot and read this. Soon. Sooner, even.

—–

4 Stars

Saturday Miscellany — 11/23

By

On November 23, 2013

In Books, Janet Evanovich, News/Misc., Stephanie Plum

Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:

    Just one New Releases this week on any of my lists:

  • Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich — I’m still 2 behind, plan on catching up on the paperbacks by the end of this year, will probably wait ’til this is out in paperback to read it, but it’s notable the series made it this far.

Gone Readin’

By

On November 22, 2013

In Currently Reading, News/Misc.

Nothing new here today, had to choose between reading and blogging — which isn’t that much of a choice, really. Back tomorrow, at least once.

a few pages

Rock On by Denise Vega

By

On November 21, 2013

In Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, YA/MG/Children's Books

Rock On
Rock On

by Denise Vega
Hardcover, 296 pg.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2012

I can’t remember what it was that made goodreads suggest this book to me, but I put it on my To Read list over a year and a half ago, and really only picked it up because it was front-faced on a library shelf I walked by last week, and my stack was pretty light. Glad I did pick it up though.

I’ve got a soft-spot for rock band novels — ever since The Buffalo Nickel Blues Band, which I read about 400 times in junior high. The Commitments (one of my all-time favorites), Eddie and the Cruisers, Juliet, Naked and a handful of others I can’t recall at the moment. There’s something about the raw emotion that the music taps into that just grabs you, makes a solid connection between the characters and the reader.

This is more than that (as the subtitle informs). Primarily, we’ve got the story of a high school band on their way to the High School Battle of the Bands. But that’s not the emotional core of the novel, it’s just the framework to hang the rest of the stories on.

Sure, Ori’s a great guitarist — practically too good to believe (but hey, it’s fiction, relax). But when it comes to girls? Fuhgeddaboudit‎. Nervous, anxious, trembling, not-at-all-confident — pick your synonym, and that’s him. As he and his band start gaining a little notoriety in the area, he’s finding himself receiving a bit more female attention (which is both great and mortifying for him). There’s one girl in particular . . . well, read it yourself. It’s a sweet story, well told. Nothing that’ll rock your world, but it’s nice.

But even that’s not the core of the novel — the fractured relationship between Ori and his older brother/former idol Del is where this book lives (or at least wants to). It takes time to get the full story, but Del goes from being the Top Dog in high school to a former jock/college drop-out during his first semester, he moves home and things between the brothers deteriorate quickly. Without this the rest of the book would barely be worth reading (as much as I liked it), watching Ori struggle to find the brother he worshiped in this current version, Del struggle with his current reality, and the brothers struggle to be civil — that’s the ultimate story being told here. And as well-done as it is — the emotions are right (on both sides), it’s utterly believable and relatable — but there’s something missing. I wish I knew what it was, but it’s just not as good as it wants to be.

I don’t want to overlook some of the other supporting characters — Ori’s little sister, his next-door neighbor/friend/band webmistress, and the eventual bass player are well-drawn, and I’ve been glad to spend more time with one/all of them — the bassist in particular.

A nice touch to this is in between some chapters, Vega provides logs from the band’s blog on a local music site — the blog posts themselves, mostly reiterate what we already know, but the comment threads? A lot of fun to read — and nice way to get a different perspective on events than Vega’s characters or the readers have.

A fun, quick read, emotionally satisfying, and almost as good as it tries to be — a pleasant way to while away a couple of hours.

—–

3 Stars

Page 589 of 625

Previous

Next

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén