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J.M. McDermott is to be commended for delivering on his rather ambitious concept. This is, first and foremost, the story of a maze . . . but it's also a tale of interwoven lives inside that maze. There is that of Maia, who remembers life aboard a space station, even if her daughter knows nothing but blood. There's Joseph, who returned home from his high school reunion to find something in the darkness. There is Wang, who sees a future that could have been. There's Julie, who knows nothing but a life inside the maze, and Lucius, the Neanderthal who loves her. And then there's Jenny, the ghost, who just may be much more than that. There is some very weird, very visceral horror surrounding these stories - the bug-like, plant-like, and beast-like monsters just scratch the surface. More than that, though, there's a palatable sense of hopelessness and dread to the maze and those who exist within it. It is neither a safe nor a happy place to be. For that matter, it's not a healthy place to be either, with the hopeless denizens surviving on blood, maggots, and even cannibalism. One character describes it as a sort of Bermuda Triangle that people stumble into it, but which is indifferent to them. What is it really? Why is there? What is its purpose? Well, we never really find out any of that, but that's not really the point. To get back to that idea of being literate, this is a very well-written, carefully-crafted tale. It's structured just so, with a mother and daughter bookending not just the pages, but the ideas and lives within. The language is short and abrupt, taking unexpected turns on a regular basis, and often doubles back on itself to repeat words, phrases, and more. It reads like a maze, but that's not to say it's futile or frustrating. Reading is itself an experience, with the stories a part of that experience. To be honest, I'm not sure if there's a great purpose or deeper message to the work, or whether this is just a story of survival against all odds. What I do know is that Maze makes for a fascinating read that may try a bit too hard, at times, to be literate, but which never forgets that it's higher purpose is to entertain.
If you enjoyed Under a Graveyard Sky, the first in the Black Tide Rising series, or are a fan of John Ringo's unique brand of military-driven science fiction, then odds are pretty good you're going to enjoy To Sail a Darkling Sea. The zombies take something of a back seat in this second volume, which is probably a good thing, since zombies can wear a bit thin after a while. Instead, the focus is turned to the survivors, with some really interesting exploration of the conflicts that arise when civilians and military personnel are forced into close quarters, especially in a world where power and authority is very much in question. I was pleased to see that the book at least addressed, even if it didn't outright resolve, some of my concerns from the first book. The stress and weight placed upon 13 year-old Faith's shoulders is touched upon, avoiding the breakdown I thought was imminent, and resolving it instead with a transition to military discipline. She is largely the star of this second volume, which is no less implausible than it was on the first book, but she's given room to grow and to earn the reader's respect. She's simultaneously set up as a teenage sex symbol, and defended against characters who see her that way. What ultimately made that contrast work for me was the emphasis on the nightmares she experiences on the Alpha, with all the women who’d been raped and murdered trying to warn her of something, and how the spectre of those rapes continues to haunt her actions. As for the promise of multinational intrigue, it's still just that - a promise - but we do learn a bit more about the three governments who still retain a measure of power. More interestingly, we get to explore the potential for a cure, and the power that brings with it in a world without borders. It's a valuable bargaining chip, and one that nations would quite literally go to war over. At the same time, Ringo makes us think long and hard about the logistics of post-apocalyptic survival - how you keep the equipment of war running, how you keep survivors fed, and how you manage all the little things like cleaning, cooking, laundry, and the rest. Overall, this was a slower book than the first, and one I found got a bit repetitive by the end. It lacked some of the storytelling power of the first book, and got a little too involved in the military-driven elements for my tastes, but I recognize that's Ringo's niche within the genre, so I can hardly complain. It's still a well-written story, with some good, snappy dialogue, and a real flair for imbuing characters with distinct personalities. I liked the way Ringo brought the military and civilian worlds together, and thought the whole conflict between Faith, the Hollywood big shot who accosts her, and the Captain who would rather suck up to a celebrity than defend one of his soldiers, was exceptionally well played out. Like the first volume, To Sail a Darkling Sea just stops, without the benefit of a climax to provide a sense of even temporary conclusion. There's a small resolution in the epilogue, but it's almost after-the-fact. The literary critic in me cringes at that betrayal of the traditional story arc, but the realist in me appreciates that Ringo didn't set up an arbitrary 'big' ending, just for the sake of ending on a bang.
This review is for the Kindle edition ebook. Disclosure: I was given my copy of this book by the author as a review copy. Riveting. Three stories in one book, all connected, yet individual. This is a book of stories. It contains three stories of magic and demons. It will grab the readers attention, and hold it through each story. When read as three separate books, separated by heading of Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, this is an excellent introduction to this authors' works. I like the fact that there are three separate stories in this book. while those stories are connected by a common thread, they can be read as individual stories. I would prefer the author explain that there are three separate stories. The stories in this book exemplify the battle of good verses evil. The author does an excellent job of defining each and letting reader decide which characters are good and which are evil. There are several surprises as you read, allowing the reader to decide if good or evil wins each time. I would recommend this book to all readers of horror stories. It has enough fantasy to interest those readers who enjoy magic and the battle of demons. I apologize to the author. I read this once, and did not realize it was actually three different stories. This caused me to lose my place reading as I tried to connect each book as I read. I will be reading the next book by this author, which also contains three stories.
Long as it is MoL filled me with longing when it ended. Never again I'll be able to read it for the "First Time" again. Wheel of Time has been an adventure, a long one...It made me laugh, and maybe cry a bit, it crushed my heart, left me bleed and brought me back to life, but kept a piece of my soul with it when the final page turned. 13 years of waiting on my behalf, so sorry for being bit sentimental.;) MoL is a fitting end to the saga and a long goodbye letter to the small gang of Two Rivers.
Absolutely charming, delightful stories if you like Victorian (and earlier) settings in England. In one story you'll recognise a retold fairy tale in others you'll think you are plunged in a Jane Austen novel - all of them with such an amazing subtle touch of magic. It's really wonderful, I loved all stories.
I read the Finnish translation. This is part of the Fallen Angel -series and I thought this was better than the second book. The couple that came together in this book were likable characters and the annoying baddie demon was in a smaller role, I think. I guess I'm going to continue with the series, because these are so easy to read.
After this, I decided always to read only the short stories from the authors I care about. So after I had read like half of the book and really didn't want to continue with it, but there still was this Toby Daye story, once I just got past a few others... Finally I just read that and let the rest be. Charlaine Harris - Sookie story, it was meh, a bit boring even. Victor Gischler - the story was funny. Patricia Briggs - this was from the Mercy universe and I liked it, but have forgotten most of it already. Rochelle Krich - way too scary for me! Graham & Grady - forgotten already. Melissa Marr - interesting story, scary ending. Seanan McGuire - Toby tries to get Wintergreen accept her. Interesting short, liked it.
For me the third volume in the series is the best so far. It has got more of a story line, it doesn't seem to be so hectic like the first two. Perhaps Mr Aaronovitch didn't have to explain so much and could concentrate on the narration itself. I'll definitely continue with the fourth volume as I HAVE to know what happens next.
personaly another huge hit that follows one perfectly from book one. the humor and seriousness that PRATCHETT can express though his characters is still sum of the best
i like my books to an escape so anything thats close to real life isnt my normal cup of tea HOWEVER..... this book is beyond my expectations and im a huge PRACHETT fan. the concept is fresh and (in my limited experiance) unique yet sum how within close reach of being possible/real the standard of writing is exactly the same quailtiy and humor id expect from PRACHETT but is relms apart from disc world
a great follow on book that expands on the great start of book one
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK.....Until book 3 comes out.
Its amazing from the characters to the scene to the back stories the closets ive read to a perfect story.
However ive been a LONG LONG LONG time victim of Mr Rothfuss having to wait for book 3 having read the first 2 as thay came out
ill admit i struggled to get into this book. the first chapters seemed long and the transition between characters and events was confusing but was i was able to get into the story the chapters and transitions made more sence. the battles and events were well planned out and a joy to read with none of the normal predictible battle evenets. the newish trend of anti heroes was well used and loved for main character for it. my 7month wait for the 2nd book is close to over and i cant wait! sorry for spelling but you get the point
Leviathan was a good book to read. There where certain parts of the book that I didn't get or understand. There were machines and creatures in the book that I have never heard of before, so I was like "What....." There was one part in the book where I was thinking "How can he do that! Aleksandar is just a young prince and he tried to kill him." I think it is just right for young adults to read. I personally like the book in general.
While we may only be a month into 2014, I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that Brian Staveley may just have the debut of the year with The Emperor's Blades. This was a book that reminded me, in different ways, of my first encounters with the likes of Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss. It managed to feel fresh and original, yet familiar at the same time. I knew, before the first chapter was over, that I'd be reading this one cover to cover. Why? Well, for me, a really great fantasy novel must possess 4 things in order to succeed, and I'm pleased to say this covered them all. First, it has to have a strong narrative voice, one that's both intriguing and entertaining. I don't want to be educated, talked-down to, or dazzled with unnecessarily embellished language. When I read a fantasy novel I want to feel as if the author is sitting in the chair across from me, spinning a story that he or she is enjoying just as much as me - and that's exactly how I felt with Staveley. That's not to say this is a casual or conversational sort of novel, just that it flows well and naturally, driven by a man who loves the telling as much as the tale. Second, it must have compelling characters with either a slowly unveiled back story, or who grow and evolve through the story. With The Emperor's Blade we get a bit of both. Kaden, Valyn, and Adare, provide our entry into the story, with each chapter focusing on one of the Emperor's three children. Even though they are on the cusp of adulthood, there's still something of a coming-of-age story here, with the siblings growing significantly by the time the final page is turned. They're all strong characters, as admirable as they are likable. Each has been placed into a difficult situation, trapped there by duty and obligation, but even if there's some longing and resentment, there's no whining or endless complaining about their plight. Adare gets the least amount of page time here, and I'm sure some readers may frown at her role, I quite liked the way she was able to command a situation in which she's powerless to do more than watch and wait. As for the slowly unveiled back story, that belongs to their leaders and their teachers, to their friends and their foes. Staveley doesn't weight the story down with too many characters, but he invests his time in making each of them complex and well-rounded. You may hate some of them with a passion - particularly some of Valyn's fellow cadets- but you'll still find yourself anxious to learn their secrets. Third, a really great fantasy novel has to imbue me with that sense of awe or wonder. In some cases that's done with dragons or other mythical beasts, and in others it's done with acts magic or faith. There's a fine line between imbuing and overwhelming, however, and that's where so many authors miss their mark. Rather than putting the wondrous at the forefront, Staveley weaves it carefully into his story, keeping it secondary to the characters. There's the soaring birds that the Kettral ride into battle, and the ferocious slarn that live deep underground; there are leaches who can drawn on elemental and emotional elements for their power, and the monks who seem to have a very different power of their own; and then there's the old gods and the new gods, embracing different aspects of the realm in a really interesting dual mythology. Finally, above all else, I need a story that's as deeply layered as it is compelling. If there's anywhere Staveley stumbles a bit, it's here, but only because I suspect so much of the story is yet to be revealed. We see the world through the eyes of Kaden, Valyn, and Adare, so we don't have the opportunity to ferret out plots and conspiracies of which they're not aware. Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed what Staveley did here, particularly with the plots and counter-plots revolving around all three characters. The plotting and backstabbing amongst the Kettral was exceptionally well-played, and it's been a while since I've cheered quite as strongly as I did for Adare against Uinian IV, Chief Priest of Intarra. As if it weren't enough that the Emperor has been assassinated, there are some very personal vendettas to be survived here, in addition to the royal ones, and the way in which they all cross in the end is as rewarding as it is surprising. Like I said, if this isn't the debut of 2014, then I'd really be surprised. This is epic fantasy for a new generation, gritty and grim at times, but never losing sight of the awe and the wonder. I'm honestly not sure where Staveley intends to take the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne next, but The Emperor's Blades has guaranteed a space on my shelf for subsequent volumes. Take a chance, pick it up, and read a few chapters - enough to meet all three offspring - and I guarantee you'll find yourself putting off other things to read 'just one more chapter' well into the night.
With Zamonia Walter Moers invented a world like Terry Pratchett did with his Discworld and populated it with different people and characters. Now we are introduced to a new character - Optimus Yarnspinner - who is going to investigate the mystery of a short story and his unknown author. His quest leads him to the City of Dreaming Books and that's where the adventure begins to start in earnest. It's absolutely amazing and wonderful how the author uses language to describe every event and scene. The newspaper "Die Welt" has called it a love declaration for literature, and in that, the critic was quite correct. If you love books and adventures, you should read this book by all means.
I could be wrong but Tim Is not the house of Hades is the fourth part of the Heroes of Olympus and just had not come to correct that error. (Seriously, I'm Finnish) So I signed up here and I wanted to fix that horrible of error :) and here we are. Finnish this has not yet translated, but now, in general, the Olympian heroes are all diffrent and a separate version of the Percy Jackson and still pretty similar. So, Percy remained and all the Greek side, and remained a couple Even where the amended but the novelty came to those of the Romans and bring the same prediction as the seven Percy Jackson, so this is a bit like a continuation of the series, just a different name. :) a wonderful series of books, and I'm looking forward to this too soon translate them. And just for asking did percy died or did he hurt seriousli? Because i saw a photograft were percy has blood on his stamek and nico cried next to him. Messages please.
Intriguing story of Elizabethan England spiced up with shakespearean theatre, magic and swordfighting heroes added up with alien race of Skraylings. Fast paced & catchy plot. Left me crave for sequal! :)
amazing book had me desperate to get my hands on the next
slowly and if im honest if i wasnt already 2books in i would of given up on it and after completing it i wish i had. very disappointing and confusing final chapters
loved this book and great set up of things to come
