Paddy samurai maybe 50 books in a year

Paddy Samurai

Part 3 of a well researched historical trilogy IMO ,following the Templar Knights ,their secret and their demise. Huge range of historical characters , Amir Baybars , King Philip IV of France , King Edward (longshanks) of England , William Wallace, Pope Clement etc. If you have an interest in the Knights Templar ,the end of the Crusades or like historical fiction , give this one a try

1295 AD. The Christian empire in the Holy Land lies in ruins. Returning to Paris, Templar Knight Will Campbell is at a crossroads. He has sworn to uphold the principles of the Anima Templi, a secret brotherhood within the Order whose aim is peace - but peace seems ever more impossible. The Temple has forged an alliance with Will's enemy, King Edward of England, vowing to help him wage war on Scotland. This Will now faces a bitter choice: to stay with the Temple and fight another war he doesn't believe in, or to break his vows and forge his own path to peace - even if that too means fighting - for the Scots. Soon caught up in bloody conflict, Will is unaware that an even more ominous threat is rising, for there is a warrior king on the throne of France whose desire for supremacy knows no bounds and who will stop at nothing to fulfil his twisted ambitions. The fight for the Holy Land has ended. The Temple's last battle has just begun.

'Young writes with remarkable accuracy, action-packed efficiency and gut-wrenching violence' (The Times 20060627)

'An outstanding contemporary writer' (Kate Mosse 20060627)

'A sweeping historical adventure as well as a cracking sequel' (Financial Times on CRUSADE 20060627)

'Swords clash in the first sentence of Young's latest and go on clashing throughout...plenty of action...attention to historical detail...pacey dialogue' (The Times on CRUSADE )

'El Cid meets The Da Vinci Code! Exciting, page-turning fiction' (Simon Mayo's book panel, BBC Radio Five Live on BRETHREN )

Paddy Samurai

I liked this book alot and read it over three nights.I have now read all of Wallace Breems books.Eagle in the snow is still my favourite .This book gives a good insight into the mindset of the tribes that lived and still live in that area of the world.As has been noted by other reviewers this is not a feel good book, i myself was saddened by the way it ended.

It is based loosely on a real incident from the nearly-forgotten Third Afghan War, which lasted for only 26 days in 1919

In 1919 war broke out between Britain and Afghanistan which severely destabilised the tribal areas. In the Waziristan area the Frontier Corps units became highly unreliable. The novel deals with the effects of this on one particular unit, its officers and other ranks - both tribal and British.

The book gives a very thorough exposition of tribal culture, the Frontier Corps and its operations as well as the employment of the Vickers Medium Machine Gun. As the other reviewer said it is useful in throwing light on the complex motivations of the Moslem soldier when his loyalties are strained, the difficulties of cross cultural relations in a military context and the problems of commanding para-military units in remote under-developed areas.

That aside, however, it is an extremely depressing book which makes "All Quiet on the Western Front" look quite jolly. This is why I have given it four stars. Expect to be educated, expect good, gripping writing - BUT do not expect to be uplifted.

Paddy Samurai

Great little novella ,I read it in one sitting.If you enjoyed The warded man or The Desert Spear then try this out.Nice illustrations and an interesting little tale about Arlen as an apprentice messenger.
Still unable to find a copy of The Great Bazaar.

Brett spins another side story (after The Great Bazaar and Other Stories) off the deliberately harsh fantasy world first developed in 2009's The Warded Man. This novella is a slight but enjoyable tale with a light, almost YA feel. Newcomers will get an easy introduction as Arlen, still an apprentice Messenger, takes on his first solo excursion into the demon-haunted night. When Sandar breaks his leg, Curk, Arlan's mentor, is assigned to take his place hauling explosives to a far-off mining town. Brigands attack and Curk flees, but the ever-brave Arlan stands his ground, making himself new enemies and allies in what will become his long fight against the demons. The lack of female characters--other than one who needs Arlen's help to dodge her father's wrath over her unexpected pregnancy--will give some readers pause, but many will find Arlen's courage inspiring. (Jan.)

Paddy Samurai

The Wise Man's Fear continues the mesmerizing slow reveal of the story of Kvothe the Bloodless, an orphaned actor who became a fearsome hero before banishing himself to a tiny town in the middle of Newarre. The readers of Patrick Rothfuss's outstanding first book, The Name of the Wind, which has gathered both a cult following and a wide readership in the four years since it came out, will remember that Kvothe promised to tell his tale of wonder and woe to Chronicler, the king's scribe, in three days. The Wise Man's Fear makes up day two, and uncovers enough to satisfy readers and make them desperate for the full tale, from Kvothe's rapidly escalating feud with Ambrose to the shockingly brutal events that mark his transformation into a true warrior, and to his encounters with Felurian and the Adem. Rothfuss remains a remarkably adept and inventive storyteller, and Kvothe's is a riveting tale about a boy who becomes a man who becomes a hero and a killer, spinning his own mythology out of the ether until he traps himself within it. Drop everything and read these books. --Daphne Durham

Stories within stories,within stories.Maybe too many stories.
Name of The Wind was top notch ,and I have recommended it to everyone that I know.
I was a bit dissapointed with this sequel as I found this one a bit of a mixed bag .Brilliant in parts ,and not so billiant in others.
The bandit hunt dragged on IMO and I found the whole Felurian thing tedious ,and for me did not gel with the rest of the story............A personal thing I know,but enough to throw me off some.
Kvothe is a fantastic character and I loved his adventures at University and with the Adem.Overall I would have preferred if the main story had progressed a lot more.Mr Rothfuss is leaving himself a lot to do in the final part.
Still love Name of the Wind and I still love Rothfuss ,so I am looking forward to Patricks next installment.

Paddy Samurai

The conclusion of the bestselling Demon War series, which began with Rides a Dread Legion. Recent events have devastated the Conclave of Shadows; the discovery of the Demon horde on the heels of the taredhel invasion of Midkemia, the threat of the star elves themselves, and the terrible personal cost paid by Pug and his family. But grieving must wait. At a deserted fortress in the Valley of Lost Men, the Conclave's agents witness horror beyond their imagination, orchestrated by a familiar enemy. But Belasco's motives are as yet unclear. The Conclave must regroup and discover the true meaning behind the chaos seeded by the evil magician if they are ever to find a way to stop the destruction of Triagia before the demon horde even arrives

More of the same,...............predictable ending.As a long time feist fan I bought this and read it over a couple of days.Its an easy read with the old familar characters.As nothing special happens you end up reading this just to stay in touch with whats happening on Midkemia. Midkemia is a great world that Mr Feist has developed, but I think it is time for him to introduce some new main characters /storylines ,maybe show us a different region /a different era of Midkemia.
Does the indestructable Pug need to be in every book?.

Paddy Samurai

£5 new from 22 sellers

Originally started as an online fiction journal, ‘Day by Day Armageddon’ is written in a diary form from the perspective of a lone survivor in a post-apocalyptic world that is overrun by the living dead. The author, John Bourne has been writing this ongoing zombie saga in between serving as a U.S. Naval officer. His knowledge of tactical survival and weaponry is reflected perfectly within the pages of the novel. Sometimes quite clumsily written, the book gives off a realistic viewpoint of this harrowing and desperate situation.

Not my usual reading material,Came across this online,and ending up reading the free sample chapters available. Did'nt expect to like it ,but I did, so ordered the book...............now Part 2 is in the post.:)

If your a fan of The Walking Dead ,then give this try.


http://www.tacticalunderground.us/



http://www.amazon.com/Day-Armageddon-J-L-Bourne/dp/1439176671/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Paddy Samurai

From the raw clay of historical fact, James Carlos Blake has sculpted powerful novel of both a man and an America at war with themselves. It is the poignant and brutally honest story of William Anderson—a lover of music, poetry, and horse-thievery—who was drawn into a savage conflict of state against state. As Kansas "bushwackers" fly the black flag of no quarter, Bill and his brother Jim take up with the infamous Quantrill's raiders, the most notorious of the bushwacker bands. When a catastrophic loss unleashes a fury in his anguished soul, Anderson becomes the most fearsome guerilla captain of them all and earns a name some whisper in fear, some in reverence, some in terror: "Bloody Bill."

I loved this book big time,Historical fiction at its best IMO. This is the type of book that encourages you to find out more about the characters and the times they lived in.
Although Bill Anderson had a brutal reputation Anderson does succeed in humanising "Bloody Bill" and making you wonder what you would be capable of doing in similar circumstances.Quantrill,Frank and Jesse James also feature in this book.It details the Lawerence and Centralia raids ,showing the viciousness of civil wars.One particular Poignant scene

is the fiddle player tryng to save his life by mesmerising the Guerillas with his fiddle playing

.

While "In the Rogue Blood " is still my favourite book by Blake ,this is a top notch read.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_T._Anderson

Paddy Samurai

Matsuoka continues the chronicle of Japanese nobleman Lord Genji he began in Cloud of Sparrows (2002).
East collides with West in this complex, epic tale by Matsuoka (Cloud of Sparrows), in which the ability to see the future is transferred from generation to generation in a Japanese clan. The mid-19th-century inheritor of the clan's visionary powers is Lord Genji, a powerful samurai warlord who favors western style modernization for Japan but faces fierce opposition from the antiforeigner element. Compounding his political troubles is his peculiar love affair . Emily Gibson has been in Japan for six years, doing her missionary work, trying to hide her feelings for Genji and translating a series of mysterious scrolls recounting the history of the clan. As she reads the scrolls, she discovers inexplicable references to her own life and her association with Genji's family. Meanwhile, flashbacks describe centuries of tangled relationships and events that result in Genji's rise to power, focusing particularly on beautiful Shizuka, Genji's 14th-century forebear, who has the sharpest vision of the clan's future. The convoluted tale is bursting with too many characters and jumps around in time too much to be a smooth read—a 13th-century Mongol invasion, assassination, clan warfare, romantic rivalries and an estranged son and heir to Genji's rule round out the packed narrative—but Matsuoka's rich, authoritative storytelling makes this an engrossing read.

While not as good as part one "Cloud of Sparrows" , Autumn Bridge is still
a good read.This could be considered a difficult read because of the books layout.The author jumps from different time periods back and forth throughout the book ,which can lead to confusion unless you pay close attention.
I read online that the Author toned down the violence in this book because of complaints about part one. This book has great characters and is set in the period of the last samurai.If you are interested in Japan and its transition to modernity give this one a try.

Takashi Matsuoka

Inspired by stories told to him as a child of his ancestors in Japan, Takashi Matsuoka transports readers into a majestic realm of samurai and geisha, ninjas and Zen masters in his debut novel, 'Cloud of Sparrows.'"

You have to love this kind of breathless introduction from publishers. In Matsuoka's case, those inspirational stories, instead of coming from some wise and wizened relative, probably came from his regular visits to the Kokusai and Nippon Gekijo theaters near Aala Park, where Matsuoka's father would take the impressionable Takashi to see the latest samurai movie, and his imagination was stimulated by archetypes of gruff samurai and refined geisha.

Who knows, in several years' time, "Tash" will attend a swanky Hollywood red-carpet premiere of the movie adaptation of his first published novel. In this world of snapping up "intellectual properties" as quickly as one can, the film rights to "Cloud of Sparrows" were purchased by Universal - specifically by the prestigious production team of Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, whose work has been most associated with some director named Steven Spielberg - a month after Random House bought the book.

Paddy Samurai

Although a top notch read , this is not Robert McCammons usual fare.In the past he became famous for his horror stories,competing with and IMO surpassing King.The subject matter of this book ,would not normally be something that would interest me.But given McCammons previous books I decided to give it a try.
This book is whats called a "Page turner",when you leave it down you can't wait till you pick it up again.You have to find out whats going to happen next.It was a pleasure to read.If you like fiction give this a try.Go on ,treat yourself.

I liked this book so much ,that half way through I ordered "Queen of Bedlam" and "Mr Slaughter".

A trial for witchcraft proves the tip of an iceberg of intrigues in this absorbing historical mystery, the first newly published novel in 10 years from McCammon (the book was written in the mid-'90s), a bestseller in the 1980s with such supernatural novels in the Stephen King tradition as Usher's Passing and Baal. Set in 1699 in Fount Royal, a coastal settlement in the colonial Carolinas, this latest unfolds the adventures of magistrate Isaac Woodward and his assistant, Matthew Corbett, who have been summoned to the struggling town to adjudicate in the trial of Rachel Howarth, a young widow accused of deviltry that is blamed for murders, wretched weather and other calamities driving settlers away. Though town leaders press for swift execution, Matthew is persuaded by Rachel's dignity and fortitude that she's innocent. Using skills honed living by his wits as an orphaned child, he pursues inconsistencies in testimony and throwaway clues and uncovers an elaborate plot involving pirate booty, animal magnetism and deadly deceit at the highest levels of town organization. This robust tale is as historically detailed as it is long, and its recreation of an era where superstition held its own with enlightenment is among its strongest achievements. Anachronisms, improbably fortuitous coincidences and private dramas that make Fount Royal seem a pre-Revolutionary Peyton Place lard the plot, but Matthew's race against time to save Rachel with the rudimentary tools to hand makes a compulsively readable yarn. McCammon's loyal fans will find his resurfacing reason to rejoice. (Sept.) Forecast: Those who enjoyed the author's last three novels (Mine; Boy's Life; Gone South), studies of the human condition that transcended genre labeling, will snap this one up, too. But McCammon also lost readers with these novels because in them he turned away from the horror themes that made his reputation. This latest could well gain him new fans, but it won't win back any horror readers.

http://www.amazon.com/Speaks-Nightbird-Robert-McCammon/dp/1880216620

Paddy Samurai

Its a long time since I first read this book...15+yrs.It has always been remembered as one of my favourite reads ,so decided to revisit it.This is a great read ,top notch IMO.If you like fantasy give this a read.Don't let the film put you off ,as it bears little if no resemblance to this brillant book..Jack Shandy rules!.
Tim Powers did not win 2 "World fantasy Awards" for nothing.

Starred Review. World Fantasy Award–winner Powers (Three Days to Never) demonstrates a precise control of complex narratives in this reprint of his rollicking and enchanting 1987 novel. Puppeteer John Chandagnac, bound for Jamaica to recover stolen money from his uncle, becomes Jack Shandy after pirates attack his ship and force him to join their crew. Shandy's struggle to accept his new life grounds the story for readers, even as Blackbeard and vodun magicians whisk everyone away to dreamlike lands where the Fountain of Youth itself awaits. The chaotic sea battles sing, though at times key events happen so quickly that they get lost in the shuffle as Jack tries to comprehend where he's going and what's at stake. This dark fantasy tale will appeal not just to pirate fans but also to anyone who appreciates Powers's talent for blending the most unlikely elements into a brilliantly cohesive whole.

“One of the most original and innovative writers of fantasy currently working….The quality of Powers’s prose never falters….His writing defies characterization and he never repeats himself.” (Washington Post )

Paddy Samurai

A Robin Hood Novel (part 2)
Robin Hood,but not as you know him.
Enjoyable tale about Robin Hood on Crusade told from the POV of Alan Dale. Worth a read if your a Robin Hood Fan.

Arrows will fly. Swords will swing. Heroes will fall. Legends will survive. And the Holy Land will never be the same.
1190 AD: Richard the Lionheart has launched his epic crusade to seize Jerusalem from the cruel Saracens. Marching with the vast royal army is Britain’s most famous, most feared, most ferocious warrior: the Outlaw of Nottingham, the Earl of Locksley – Robin Hood himself.
With his band of loyal men at his side, Robin cuts a bloody swathe on the brutal journey east. Daring and dangerous, he can outwit and outlast any foe — but the crimson battlefields of the Holy Land are the ultimate proving ground. And within Robin’s camp lurks a traitor — a stealthy enemy determined to slay Christendom’s greatest outlaw before the trumpets fade.
Blazingly paced and richly imagined, featuring a cast of unforgettable characters and packed with fast, furious action, Holy Warrior is adventure at its thrilling, white-knuckle best.”

If you want to read an extract:
http://www.angus-donald.com/book/holy-warrior/

Paddy Samurai

Wolfsangel stands alone just fine as a straightforward, mythology-laden quest narrative set against a fascinating world, but what sets it apart as great, rather than merely good, is its ambition. Intermingled with the earthly concerns of Vali and Feilig are disturbing, otherworldly encounters with Gods and monsters alike which truly elevate the scope and imaginative prowess of Lachlan's outstanding first fantasy. In a genre which so often hopes to cater to all comers, and so rarely succeeds, Wolfsangel does the impossible: it is both the beginning of a saga that positively begs to be told and an accomplished and satisfying tale in its own right. Only time will tell what vulpine wonders await the lovelorn beast at the heart of this powerful narrative, but this much I can say for sure: Lachlan makes a fantastic first impression. http://scotspec.blogspot.com/2010/05/book-review-wolfsangel-by-m-d-lachlan.html

For a first fantasy attempt,this is pretty damn good.I enjoyed this book alot ,and I am curious to see how the story will develop.The witches reminded me a bit of those in the 13th Warrior,but don't let that put you off.Considered by some reviewers to be a bit gory in parts,but overall a top notch read.Part two is in the post.
Vikings,werewolves,Norse mythology and dark magic,whats not to like.

"Savage, dark, strange and unpredictable." (Joe Abercrombie )

"There are red herrings and twists all over the place, Lachlan creates a growing sense of insanity that makes the mind-blowing final confrontations completely logical in their denouement." (British Fantasy Society )

"Genuinely strange, eerie, evocative. A classic." (Adam Roberts )

"A unique take on the werewolf mythos, on the Norse pantheon and on magic itself. An enthralling, mesmerising book." (Mike Carey )

Paddy Samurai

The latest in the bestselling Alfred series from number one historical novelist, Bernard Cornwell. In the last years of the ninth century, King Alfred of Wessex is in failing health, and his heir is an untested youth. The Danes, who have failed so many times to conquer Wessex, smell opportunity! First comes Harald Bloodhair, a savage warrior leading a Viking horde, who is encouraged to cruelty by his woman, Skade. But Alfred still has the services of Uhtred, his unwilling warlord, who leads Harald into a trap and, at Farnham in Surrey, inflicts one of the greatest defeats the Vikings were ever to suffer. This novel, the fifth in the magnificent series of England's history tells of the final assaults on Alfred's Wessex, that Wessex survived to become England is because men like Uhtred defeated an enemy feared throughout Christendom.

A very easy and enjoyable read.Bernard Cornwell is brillant at what he does,and that is writing british historical fiction.A lot of people give out about his writing style been too simple etc,but I love his characters and the past histories that he brings to life. His research is top notch and you become immersed in another era ,another way of life.Uhtred of Bebbenburg is one of my favourite characters.On the first page he had me laughing at his cutting observations about the early church.A pagan fighting for one of Christendom's most pious Kings Alfred.If I could live the life of a fictional character ,it would be that of Uhtred of Bebbanburg.
Roll on...part 6.


Great review in the Wall Street Journal:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704586504574654820985883120.html

Paddy Samurai

Set in Manhattan in 1703, this spellbinding sequel to Speaks the Nightbird (2002) from bestseller McCammon finds Matthew Corbett, a 23-year-old magistrate's clerk, on the trail of the Masker, a killer who stalks prominent businessmen. Matthew stumbles on the bodies of two of the Masker's victims, including pederast Eben Ausley, the headmaster of the orphanage Matthew once reluctantly called home. Plucky Matthew, who becomes a junior associate of the New York branch of a London problem-solving firm called the Herrald Agency, discovers a possible link to the crimes in the person of an elderly amnesiac patient in a mental asylum who's known as the Queen of Bedlam. Matthew and his cohorts later make a dangerous foray to the headquarters that the villainous Professor Fell maintains . McCammon brilliantly captures colonial New York and closes with a tantalizing cliffhanger that suggests more exciting sleuthing to come.

Not as good as Speaks the Nightbird ,but still worth reading.It reminded me of a young Sherlock Holmes taking on the evil Prof.Moriarty and his minions. I found Mathew's judgement of the Masker totally at odds with his views in the previous book,were he seemed to think Justice was more important than the Law.Also for me the ending seemed a bit rushed,all tied up with a neat bow.Some of the evil villains were almost James Bond types.

The Dypso Nympho , the Prussian sadistic Swordmaster ,the half blind albino kid who likes to torture people with a knitting needle, the paedo orphanage master...etc.

Mathew Corbett is a great character and despite a few minor faults I have with this book,it was an enjoyable read..........it would make a great film/series.

Roll on Mr Slaughter...........

http://www.robertmccammon.com/novels/the_queen_of_bedlam.html

Paddy Samurai

I read this book because I was previously impressed by James Carlos Blake. His book “In the rogue blood” is one of my favourites.
But TBH I am not a big fan of crime novels ,and while I liked this book and its characters, I just was’nt mad about the setting…......prohibition era 1920’s Texas.

If you like crime novels , then this is worth a read.
You could see the Coen brothers making a film out of this.

Blake revisits familiar territory with another story of an outlaw, this time set in Prohibition-era Louisiana and Texas. Sonny LaSalle, the tragic hero, is orphaned at age 18 and decides to take up with his two beloved uncles, lifelong criminals. After a bank robbery gone wrong, he lands in jail, where he accidentally kills a policeman who is the son of a very influential, very frightening man. Sonny is sentenced to 30 years at the Angola penitentiary but soon escapes with his uncles' help. They head to the oil boomtowns of west Texas, accompanied by long-suffering girlfriends and pursued by the revenge-hungry father, whose activities are described in superviolent chapters interspersed with the main story line. This is a fast-moving story with plenty of action and graphic detail but not really the "thriller" it claims to be. The outcome is all too predictable--the love of danger leads the trio straight past any chance at happiness and headlong into disaster. Still, the journey downward will appeal to noir fans.

Paddy Samurai

The first book of Day by Day Armageddon took us deep into the mind of a military officer and survivor as he made a New Year's resolution to start keeping a journal. The man kept his resolution and brought to us the fall of humanity, day by day. We see the man transition from the life that you and I live to the prospect of fighting for his very survival against the overwhelming hordes of the dead. We see him bleed, we see him make mistakes, we witness him evolve. The highly anticipated sequel to the bestselling underground cult classic, Day by Day Armageddon begins where the first novel left off.

Day by day Armageddon-beyond exile J L Bourne

As I have said previously my preferred reading genres are fantasy , historic fiction and some horror. Zombie books are not the type of book I would usually read. Came across a sample chapter for part one of this on line and got hooked. This sequel started off more of the same and I was becoming a little bored Tbh ,when BOOM ,out of nowhere the story kicked off again big time. Some great Twists on the usual zombie, Armageddon routine in this book.
Bourne is in the US military, and this really shows in the book, with his in depth knowledge of weapons, flying, military tech etc.

The scenes with the automatic Gatling guns is great and is like something from the film aliens

Finished off on a real cliff hanger , so part 3 will be ordered as soon as it is available.

A couple of minor hiccups where J L forgets it’s supposed to be a diary written in real time, but the story is good enough that you can overlook it.
If you like Armageddon, Zombies / Walking dead etc. give this one a try.

http://jlbourne.com/

Paddy Samurai

"Sons of Thunder" takes off where "Blood Eye" ended and follows the band of adventurers led by Jarl Sigurd and containing our narrator, Odin-marked Raven, as well as several unlikely companions including an English girl, a priest who has made his life-mission to convert Sigurd and Raven (and through them the fellowship), as well as a Christian English warrior. This time they make their way to the land of the Franks and to Charlemagne's court, visiting a muddy and still village-like Paris of 803 AD and the glittering Aix la Chapelle aka Aachen, capital of the new "Holy Roman Empire".

On the way they have the usual adventures, great duels, cunning tricks, great banter and blood curling happenings, while the book keeps the "no putting down" breakneck pace of the first volume. Charlemagne makes a very impressive cameo appearance and the meeting between the emperor whose life mission is to convert "the pagans" by fire and sword if needed and the famous "heathen" Jarl is among the many high points of the novel. Skulking in the background, the real "wheelers and dealers" of the court, of whom the famous Alcuin is one of the highest placed, try and manage the things for the "public eye".

"Sons of Thunders" has three main strengths and I talked a bit about the impressive "world-building" - or "recreation, if you prefer - above, but I cannot overemphasize how well that is done. Many period historical novels tend to gloss over the unpleasant experiences of life in the respective era, but here the descriptions are unflinching, sometimes very graphical, but they never feel exploitative.

The characters and their constant banter are also well done and we have very distinct personalities emerging. Sigurd is impressive as the battle hardened warrior with a fearsome reputation, but even he has to "manage" his people, so he fights a dangerous duel on fair terms when he could easily have rigged the situation, while later he consults the "fellowship" in each major decision. From his humble beginnings, Raven is emerging too as an incipient "second in command", while the weight of being "Odin's favored" hangs on his shoulders, so he is the one who needs to devise the "impossible trick" when the situation looks desperate.

The pace of the novel is unrelenting and you literally cannot put it down since you want to see what happens next and while the ending is at a reasonable point, I so wanted more... A strong A and the series is among the best adventure historical fiction today regardless of period.

http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2010/03/raven-sons-of-thunder-by-giles-kristian.html

Part 2 of a top notch rip-roaring saga.Historical fiction at its best IMO.You become immersed in their world,you become part of their band of heathen rampagers.
Great characters ,great banter and well researched material make this worth reading.If you like historical fiction,wild Norsemen attacking the early church,both verbally and with the sword then give this a try.

Paddy Samurai

Part 3 in the series.

If you like Roman Historical fiction,give this series a try. Sidebottom (unfortunate surname) knows his history and gives a well researched account of lesser known aspects of the Roman empire.Top notch characters with lots of action,part 4 is waiting on the shelf. My only gripe ,does'nt anyone do trilogies any more Don't get me wrong this is entertaining stuff,but I am reading so many book series now and they never seem to end.Also have some new authors I want to try.

Mesopotamia, AD 260 Betrayed by his most trusted adviser, the Roman Emperor Valerian has been captured by the Sassanid barbarians. The shame of the vanquished beats down mercilessly like the white sun, as the frail old emperor prostrates himself before Shapur, King of Kings. Ballista looks on helplessly, but vows under his breath to avenge those who have brought the empire to the brink of destruction with their treachery. One day, maybe not soon, but one day, I will kill you ...But first he must decide what price he will pay for his own freedom. Only the fearless and only those whom the gods will spare from hell can now save the empire from a catastrophic ending. Ballista, the Warrior of Rome, faces his greatest challenge yet.

Paddy Samurai

http://princeofthorns.com/

A stunning fantasy debut from a major new talent!

When he was nine, he watched his mother and brother killed before him. By the time he was thirteen, he was the leader of a band of bloodthirsty thugs. By fifteen, he intends to be king...

It's time for Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath to return to the castle he turned his back on, to take what's rightfully his. Since the day he was hung on the thorns of a briar patch and forced to watch Count Renar's men slaughter his mother and young brother, Jorg has been driven to vent his rage. Life and death are no more than a game to him-and he has nothing left to lose.

But treachery awaits him in his father's castle. Treachery and dark magic. No matter how fierce, can the will of one young man conquer enemies with power beyond his imagining?

Great stuff,lots of LOL moments for me...my type of humour.
Prince Jorg is a murderous,wise cracking, sociopath ,who kills people at a whim and hears voices in his head.He has massacred innocents,gutted peasents , raped their daughters and burned their villages.

Hope the ending where he rids himself of the dark influences in his head,does'nt lead too many changes in his personality

A refreshing change from the usual fantasy . I enjoyed this book big time and look forward to part two.A great first attempt overall,but I would like to see more characters developed futher in future books.

"Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence is the best fantasy read I’ve had since Alan Campbell’s Scar Night. ."
Neal Asher

"Dark and relentless, the Prince of Thorns will pull you under and drown you in story. A two in the morning page turner."
Robin Hobb

"Excellent and dark. A Great new talent."
Conn Iggulden

"Prince of Thorns is the best book I’ve read all year."
Peter V Brett

[FONT=Roman[/B]"This is a lean, cold knife-thrust of a novel."[/FONT]
Robert V.S Redick

Paddy Samurai

"I loved the Revolution," says Rodolfo Fierro, the main character of Blake's new historical novel. "It set free the man I truly am. It let me do what I do best as well as it can be done." With these noble sentiments out of the way, Fierro gets down to what it is he does best: slaughtering?rich and poor, male and female. The ex-convict and train robber certainly was in the right place at the right time. During the roughly 10 years the Mexican Revolution tore across the land, it unleashed a human catastrophe unparalleled in that country since the Conquest. Fierro teams up early on in the action with Pancho Villa the bandit/revolutionary, one of the few who seem to revel in love as much as in death. He, for example, dislikes torturing prisoners, because it takes too long. "The time you spend torturing a man is time you could spend dancing and making love," he tells Fierro, who has just witnessed fellow revolutionary Emiliano Zapata's followers roasting an old man to death. Blake (The Pistoleer) blends fact and fiction into one of the few novels that risk political incorrectness by frankly describing the murder, betrayal and deceit that turned a revolution against dictatorship into a civil war that cost the country nearly a third of its population and left psychological scars that last to this day. He deftly follows the political twists and turns that prod Villa to continue as a leader even after his beloved Francisco Madero?Mexico's first president after the dictator Porfirio Diaz?is brutally betrayed and killed by vying revolutionary factions. This is not for the faint of heart, but then, neither is revolution.

.

A Book well worth reading if you have an interest in good historical fiction . Blake recreates the life of Pancho and the Mexican revolution brilliantly. Shows Pancho ,warts and all,the atrocities ,the battles and the politics.

Paddy Samurai

They say Black Dow's killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbor, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud. Thousands of men are converging on a forgotten ring of stones, on a worthless hill, in an unimportant valley, and they've brought a lot of sharpened metal with them.
Bremer dan Gorst, disgraced master swordsman, has sworn to reclaim his stolen honor on the battlefield. Obsessed with redemption and addicted to violence, he's far past caring how much blood gets spilled in the attempt. Even if it's his own.
Prince Calder isn't interested in honor, and still less in getting himself killed. All he wants is power, and he'll tell any lie, use any trick, and betray any friend to get it. Just as long as he doesn't have to fight for it himself.
Curnden Craw, the last honest man in the North, has gained nothing from a life of warfare but swollen knees and frayed nerves. He hardly even cares who wins any more, he just wants to do the right thing. But can he even tell what that is with the world burning down around him?
Over three bloody days of battle, the fate of the North will be decided. But with both sides riddled by intrigues, follies, feuds and petty jealousies, it is unlikely to be the noblest hearts, or even the strongest arms that prevail…
Three men. One battle. No Heroes.

Top notch read IMO. Abercrombie’s main characters are brilliantly portrayed, and even though this is a fantasy world , you can relate to it and events surrounding these heroes, cowards, villains and ordinary folk caught up in this epic 3 day battle. A lot of the main characters are shades of grey, rather than the usual black/white (good or bad) types, which makes it all the more believable. I found myself thinking “what would I do in similar circumstances”. Also the battle scenes are so well written that you will find yourself cheering for both sides at different points in the battle.The Cinematic gore splattered battles convey the chaos, carnage and futility of war, and make you feel as if you are caught up in the midst of the filth, gore and terror.
Great banter between the characters , thought provoking and witty dialogue with some great insights into the human condition all add up to a cracking read.

Paddy Samurai

"Powers' first new collection since 2005 assembles five stories and a novella, where he exhibits his extraordinary talent as a fantasist and his uncommon imaginative power." —www.SFSite.com (September 20, 2011)

"During a 25-year career that includes several highly praised novels and many awards, Powers has earned a reputation as a reigning master of adult contemporary fantasy.... Whether the subject is disillusioned priests or vengeful spirits, Powers is always ready with a surprise around the next narrative corner. A delight for fans and nonfans alike." —Booklist STAR on Strange Itineraries

"Most fantasy authors aim at persuading you of the reality of their invented worlds. Mr. Powers makes you doubt the reality of your own. . . . That's what creates a true frisson." —Wall Street Journal (October 8, 2011)

"Powers writes action and adventure that Indiana Jones could only dream of. And, just when it threatens to get out of hand, there's a dash of humor and irony that keeps you reading for the joy of it." —Washington Post

"Powers knows the ways we get haunted - by ambition, loss, greed, and heartbreak - and you finish reading this handful of beautifully crafted tales wishing he'd tell us more." —Locus (August 2011)

As a long time Tim Powers fan I found this book a bit of a hit and miss affair. A collection of 6 short stories , most of which I found to be just ok. Two that I really enjoyed were “A journey of only two places “.This is a cracking little tale full of athmosphere , and a nice twist at the end. My favourite was “A time to cast away Stones”, this for me was Tim at his best , top notch IMO. Although a stand alone story , this is following on from his book “The Stress of her regard”. A book that I have not read yet, but is sitting on my shelf. Following this taster I have bumped it up my list and hope to read it after my current book. Overall I found the book to be an expensive read (I bought the limited edition) given the content. But it’s an easy read so I will read it again in the future to see if I change my opinion on the other stories.

Paddy Samurai

'A chilling masterpiece that weaves fact and fable. Bedtime reading? Only if you don't need much sleep...' BEST 'Humphreys' elegant prose and command of his obscure subject matter creates an uncompromising, extraordinary journey into the brutal times and tortured soul of an oft-misunderstood ruler whose reign became synonymous with terror'

Vlad Tepes AKA Dracula,has long been a figure of fascination for me.His ruthless single mindedness turned Wallachia from a corrupt and lawless state ,into a prosperous and ordered land. He then took on the mighty Ottoman Empire,bringing to them chaos and terror,hugely out of proportion to the size of his resources. A controversial figure, revered and reviled in equal measure by the opposing sides,I have always wondered at the mindset of Vlad and how he reconciled the horrific acts he carried out with his conscience. I know it was a different era and cruetly was rife,but Vlad seems to have brought it to a whole new level. The graphic descriptions of impalement bring home the horrific deaths suffered by his victims.Was he using impalement as type of psychogical warfare to mitigate his enemies superior forces?.
Humphreys suceeds in humanising him,and gives us a plausable explaination on Vlad and his actions. Loved the twist at the end.This is a great read,well researched and well written...............a real page turner.
Expect plenty of gore and blood,after all it is .........Dracula.

http://www.cchumphreys.com/Site_2/Vlad_-_The_Last_Confession.html

Paddy Samurai

This is a complex adult fantasy and will not suit those looking for a light read. Powers weaves a wonderfully unique tale of historical fiction, incorporating fantasy and horror with historical fact . The story revolves around the real life characters Lord Byron and Percy Shelley . Powers gives us a fantasy explanation of the events/decisions in their lives, including the controversial circumstances of Shelley’s death. What I like most about powers is that with his unique historical fantasy , he makes the most outlandish imaginations seem reasonable and factual. Some of the elements he includes are the Romantic Poets and their muses (The Nephilim). The Austrian invasion of Venice, The Graiae( the Gorgons 3 blind sisters) and their mythical eye, The Italian Carbonari ,etc, etc. Diverse historical and mythical elements that powers crafts into a believable tale.
This is a well researched book , after reading it I went online to find out more about Byron, Shelley , Trelawney etc and could find no major errors in the facts/events around which he wove his story
While not my favourite Tim Powers book this is a rewarding read .

This is a literary novel in the classic sense: long, leisurely, meticulously crafted, and full of allusions to literature and cultural motifs. The plot spans six years and multiple countries, although the story, altogether, forms a sweeping epic beginning at the dawn of time. Powers never drops big expository boulders on his readers’ heads, though — the complicated mystery of the lamia, or Nephelim, whose “regard” for their beloved victims is so destructive, unwinds bit by bit as the tale progresses. Readers will need to pay attention and keep a good memory for small details, because even the tiniest may be an important clue.

Full indepth review to be found here.


http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-the-stress-of-her/

Paddy Samurai

“As expected, the warfare is ferociously bloody, the sacrilege pointedly barbed, and the story expertly paced. Heck, we’d even extol Uhtred’s budding spells of sober reflection about life and love—if we weren’t certain he’d slice an ear off for saying so.” (Entertainment Weekly for Sword Song )

“Compelling.” (Publishers Weekly )

“Gripping. . . . Mr. Cornwell’s ‘Saxon Stories’ subvert myths of national origin as few would dare. They are ‘unofficial histories’—and all the more realistic for that.” (Tom Shippey, Wall Street Journal )

“Cornwell…writes morally complicated and intricate stories, and he’s won a following not just among readers but also among fellow writers.” (Gregory Cowles, New York Times Book Review )

“[M]asterful. . . . The surprise is that Cornwell’s love scenes are as deft as his action scenes, though far fewer, of course—all driven by a hard-shelled, sporadically soft-hearted, always charismatic protagonist.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review) )

“Bernard Cornwell does the best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present.” (George R. R. Martin )

“There are bloody battles and political machinations and plenty of meticulously researched historical nuggets to keep readers interested. The story is likely to appeal to anyone who has enjoyed George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series.” (Christian DuChateau, CNN

Top notch historical fiction IMO. Gritty, action packed,while at the same time being informative and humorous.Also has some great battle scenes ,great characters ,and lots of intrigue . I love this series about Alfred the Great and the foundation of England. Uhtred , the main character around whom the series revolves, is one of my favourite characters ever. A Pagan who fights for Alfred , with a irreverent yet insightfull attitude to the early church. Cornwell does a ton of historical research ,and this shows throughout the book.
Overall an easy read that is highly entertaining and educational at the same time.

Bernard Cornwell interviewed by RR Martin see editorial reviews at below link.
http://www.amazon.com/Death-Kings-Novel-Saxon-Tales/dp/0061969656

Paddy Samurai

This is a short novel which I read over three nights. Set in a post nuclear world 150 years after the bombs fell. Lack of resources forces a clan of human survivors to leave their subterranean refuge. Following a radio message offering them hope they take on the arduous trek to safety through the nuclear badlands, while been hunted by the mutated vampires.
I love Armageddon stories and this is an interesting take on the usual fare , but IMO this needed to be fleshed out a lot more. While no where as good as the Necroscope series , this is still an ok read.

Paddy Samurai

This is my first book by Parker and overall I found it to be an good read. Although classed as fantasy, I could see this book appealing to a lot of readers of different genres.
It is basically the story of a powerful dysfunctional family , banished from their homeland and at odds with the locals in the colony where they live. The main character Gignomai mec’Oc I found highly entertaining , although it was Luso his brother that was my favourite. Theres some great dialogue in this book ,the meeting between Luso and the Mayor in his store reminded me a bit ,of the opening scene in the film”The Inglourious Basterds”.

Gignomai ‘s punishment of his family did’t gel for me ,his father maybe. His brothers I felt were no more guilty than him. He does admit this in the book ,but for me his murderous actions did’nt gel with the rest of the story.

Not my usual type of read but overall well worth reading imo.


Full review here.
http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2010/12/hammer-by-kj-parker-reviewed-by-liviu.html

Paddy Samurai

Brilliant!.This is turning into a fantastic series.This one IMO is the best so far.A real page turner,even when I was'nt reading it,I was thinking about reading it and counting the minutes till I could pick it up again.
Think Hannibal Lector meets the Last of the Mohicans meets a young Sherlock Holmes and you get a rough idea what it is about.These books are begging to be made into films.My favourite book ,so far this year.
Part 4 The Providence Rider is already ordered.:D

The world of Colonial America comes vibrantly to life in this masterful new historical thriller by Robert McCammon. The latest entry in the popular Matthew Corbett series, which began with Speaks the Nightbird and continued in The Queen of Bedlam, Mister Slaughter opens in the emerging metropolis of New York City in 1702, and proceeds to take both Matthew and the reader on an unforgettable journey of horror, violence, and personal discovery.

The journey begins when Matthew, now an apprentice problem solver for the London-based Herrald Agency, accepts an unusual and hazardous commission. Together with his colleague, Hudson Greathouse, he agrees to escort the notorious mass murderer Tyranthus Slaughter from an asylum outside Philadelphia to the docks of New York. Along the way, Slaughter makes his captors a surprising--and extremely tempting--offer. Their response to this offer will alter the course of the novel, setting in motion a series of astonishing, ultimately catastrophic events.

Mister Slaughter is at once a classic portrait of an archetypal serial killer and an exquisitely detailed account of a fledgling nation still in the process of inventing itself. Suspenseful, illuminating, never less than compulsively readable, it is, by any measure, an extraordinary achievement, the largest accomplishment to date from one of our most gifted--and necessary--writers.

As soon as he found the glasshouse with the peppers , I knew the old folks were kebabed:D

Paddy Samurai

This is a historical novel featuring Cesare Borgia,Leonardo Da Vinci ,Niccolo Machiavelli and a lady that inspires Leonardo's Mona Lisa.Overall it is a very easy read and revolves around about six main characters.

Leonardo and more particularly Cesare, are two characters that I have always had a keen interest in,so I was looking forward to this book.While this is an ok read and has a good feel for the period involved it did not live up to my expectations.

It sounds like a Renaissance replay of Stoppard's drama Travesties: Leonardo, Machiavelli and Cesare Borgia, all testily holed up in the besieged castle of Imola in 1502. But it happened. Paul Strathern wrote a book about the weird conjunction of these giant planets.
Black converts their encounters into high-spirited, zestfully crafted fiction. His novel switches between soliloquies: the artist, the politician, the warlord, along with the mercenary Vitellozzo and Dorotea, the mistress of Borgia who knits the strands of plot and personality.
With a few wobbles, Black gives each a credible voice while conveying the true stories of their blood-soaked, vision-driven epoch. His swaggering patchwork of creative and destructive egos snares the spirit of the age.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/the-ground-is-burning-by-samuel-black-6699560.html

Paddy Samurai

This book features three short stories and a few brief encounters based on the character Michael Gallatin from McCammons book The Wolfs Hour (1989).The short story "The Room at the Bottom of the Stairs " was my favourite overall.I bought the limited edition copy from SP and while I enjoyed the book overall I would view this as an aperitif,and was left hungry for a more substantial meal.
The book ending leads me to believe that there will be more Gallatin adventures in the future.I for one can't wait,bring it on.

Its a long time since I read Wolfs Hour and it seemed to me that there was a lot more werewolf action in the original story.While I was slightly dissapointed on one level by Michaels reduced bloodletting the stories included were good enough for me to overlook this

For In-depth review,see below..........
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/the-hunter-from-the-woods-by-robert-mccammon/

Paddy Samurai

"Creepers" is the slang term for urban explorers: history and architecture enthusiasts who share a keen fascination with exploring abandoned buildings and tunnels. The Internet reveals hundreds of thousands of urban-explorer contacts throughout the world. But for every group that decides to publicize itself, there are many who don't – because urban exploration is illegal and so unsafe it can be deadly. Authorities impose serious jail terms and/or fines to discourage it. Creepers liken their adventures to the covert-ops military expression for invading hostile territory: infiltration. As http://www.infiltration.org/"]www.infiltration.org[/URL] indicates, the objective is "places you're not supposed to go".

A change of pace for me. I was in the mood for a quick easy read so I picked up this Thriller by Morrell. Although I have never read Morrell’s most famous book I have over the years read about 6/7 of his books and found them to be enjoyable/entertaining reads. If I was to rate this book in terms of other thriller writers I would say this is a few steps up from Cussler but not on par with Ludlum, with a little bit of horror added in.
If your in the mood for a “switch off your brain” thriller give this a try.

Frank Balenger is a New York Times reporter doing a Sunday magazine profile on urban explorers, better known as creepers. It's an illegal activity but a very popular one, in which adventure seekers invade crumbling old structures in search of thrills and perhaps a glimpse of the past. Frank joins a team of four as they prepare to enter the long-shuttered and mysterious Paragon Hotel. They surreptitiously enter as darkness envelops the city, planning to emerge before dawn none the worse for wear. At least that's the plan. Initially they encounter the expected assortment of crumbling furniture, magazines, and rats, but soon they realize they are not alone, and their counterparts are not friendly people…………………….

PS: one of the reasons I read is I love reading is learning something new. Aside from fantasy I usually pick up new and interesting facts from most books.If true, I look forward to checking out the info about Orson Wells “Citizen Kane” even if it does ruin future viewings for me .

Paddy Samurai

Part 3 of the Outlaw Chronicles and my favourite so far.An entertaining read revolving around Robin Hood and Richard the Lionheart ,but told from the POV of Alan Dale.As said in previous review it's Robin Hood but not as you know him.

Angus Donald leads you into the familiar forests of Medieval England...and then all hell breaks loose! Far from the figure of popular legend, Donald's Robin Hood is a brutal, cunning warlord who will let nothing stand in his way. A fresh, lively and welcome take on one of the world's most famous outlaws. And yet, it stirred in me a nostalgia for all the great stories of my childhood; those that thrilled me, inspired me and shaped who I am today. Complex heroes, craven villains, brutal fights...King's Man is a boy's own romp that flies like an arrow from a yew bow .Giles Kristian

Paddy Samurai

I liked this book.But as someone else said previously in a review "This is a good history lesson but not a good Novel".
I have read lots of books about Rome and its enemies, about Hannibal,Atilla,Vercingetorix etc. While I had heard previously about Pontus ,I did not know a lot about Mithridates.This is a highly informative book and brings to life the amazing killing machine that was a roman legion,while at the same time humanising the so called barbarians. Cutis explains the internal politics of Rome while showing us the tactics/diplomacy used in expanding their empire.He also explains how as little as 3 legions could wipe out 100,000+ or 200,000+ enemies.
If you like books about Roman history,and are interested in the "barbarians" POV , give this one a try.

To the Romans, the greatest enemy the Republic ever faced was not the Goths or Huns, nor even Hannibal, but rather a ferocious and brilliant king on the distant Black Sea: Mithridates Eupator VI, the last king of Pontus, known to history as Mithridates the Great. At age eleven, he inherited a small mountain kingdom of wild tribesmen whom his wicked mother governed in his place. Sweeping to power at twenty-one-years-old, he proved to be a military genius and a man intent on ousting the Romans from the Black Sea coast territories. For over forty years, Rome sent its greatest generals to contain Mithridates, but time and again he embarrassed the Romans with devastating defeats. Each time Rome declared victory, Mithridates considered it merely a strategic retreat and soon came roaring back with a more powerful army than before.

Paddy Samurai

A high-tech adventure thriller about a life-or-death search for a 100-year-old time capsule. Sometimes the past is buried for a reason.
David Morrell's Creepers was a publishing event in 2005, a powerful, edgy, dark thriller by a master of the genre. A New York Times best-seller, it won the prestigious Bram Stoker Award and earned numerous critical raves. Scavenger, Morrell's latest novel, takes us in a harrowing new direction: a desperate high-tech scavenger hunt for a 100-year-old time capsule. Frank Balenger, the resolute but damaged hero of Creepers, now finds himself trapped in a nightmarish game of fear and death. To save himself and the woman he loves, he must play by the rules of a god-like Game Master with an obsession for unearthing the past. But sometimes the past is buried for a reason.
Scavenger is a brilliant, frightening hunter-hunted tale that layers modern technology over the dusty artifacts of earlier times. The result is a surreal palimpsest, one that contains the secret of survival for Balenger and a handful of unwilling players who race against the game's clock to solve the puzzle of the time capsule, only to discover that time is the true scavenger. Morrell's trademark action sequences are embedded with fascinating historical clues that make Scavenger a thrill-a-minute page-turner as well as a mesmerizing literary experience.

The follow up to Creepers ,and an quick easy read. While not as good as Creepers IMO ,overall it was still an ok thriller. It was the details that Morrell researched for the book that I found to be of interest. Ended up online finding out more about the “Doomsday vault” in Norway, ”letterboxing” and “Geocaching”. .
Apart from the main story the author also makes some interesting and thought provoking observations about God ,Video gaming, virtual time versus real time. etc, along with explaining the history and nature of time capsules. One reviewer said that they could see Video gamers been well satisfied by this book, as a gamer myself I cannot say that I agree. I enjoyed the story up to a point, but felt there was something missing.
On the positive side , you will end up been educated despite yourself, and it is an enjoyable way to learn about new things.

While checking it out online I came across this site for Geocaching in Ireland http://www.geocachingireland.com/

Paddy Samurai

Discover the fate of the original black Magician, Pug, and his motley crew of agents who safeguard the world of Trigia, as prophecy becomes truth in the first book of the last ever Midkemian trilogy. THE KINGDOM BESIEGED The Darkness is coming! The Kingdom is plagued by rumour and instability. Kingdom spies in Kesh have been disappearing - either murdered, or turned to the enemy side. Information has become scant and unreliable; but one thing appears clear. Dark forces are on the move!....

Before reading this, I had decided that this would probably be my last Feist book. As a long time fan ,apart from an odd spark of the old Feist I have been disappointed by his last few books ,which IMO were not up to his earlier standards.I would have an even lesser opinion of most of his later collaborations with other authors. This one is better than his previous book and shows a glimmer of the old Feist , but I am not sure if it is enough to convince me to continue reading him in the hope that things will improve. Midkemia needs a change IMO. The indestructible Pug and Thomas need to bow out and new characters, locations need to be introduced, maybe a change of timeline would help ,how about a few centuries before Pug was born?. IMO Pug is done to death , and has nothing more to contribute apart from a grand exit. How about writing from a different POV, the dark elves maybe?, Kesh?. Whatever Feist decides I would hate for this series to end with a wimper,or overstay its welcome .


Edit:Magician's End ?.Just found this online,so maybe Pugs days are numbered after all?.

A Crown Imperiled (2012)The book was released in the United Kingdom on January 30, 2012 and in Australia on February 1, 2012.

It was released in the United States on March 15, 2012.

First editions in all three countries have an error in the later parts of the book. Pug, a pivotol in all of Feist's Riftwar novels, appears in two places at once due to an editing error.

[edit] Magician's End (TBA)No announced release date, Not yet published

Paddy Samurai

Part 4 of 10.The Matthew Corbett series.

RR Martin, Gemmell , Feist , Abercrombie, Rothfuss , Cornwell are among my favourite authors that have produced some fantastic series ,but McCammon’s Matthew Corbett series is fast becoming my favourite .I am not saying it is better than the others ,only that it is the perfect series for me at this moment in my reading life. A refreshing change from what I have read previously while at the same time been highly entertaining and a very easy read. While adult in content , it kind of reminds me of the excitement I felt when I first started reading as a teenager. The “whats gonna happen next” stay up all night book.
McCammon has introduced a huge range of diverse and interesting characters in the various books , the villains are James Bondish, being suitably unique ,evil and excentric, yet at the same time they fit perfectly into McCammon’s brilliant world weave that is colonial America. The supporting characters are well developed and you empathise with them and cheer them on in the trials and adventures. In this book we learn more about Prof Fell , and I for one like the way McCammon is developing this emperor of crime. The clues to his identity

and the tragic circumstances of his family life

are humanising this faceless crime lord and making him a more interesting and complex character than first thought.
As said previously,you could see this book series been made into Film or a HBO series, and actors/actresses falling over themselves to play these fantastic characters.
My only minor criticism is that sometimes I feel that McCammon tries to fit too much into each book , leaving you with the feeling that the endings are a bit rushed. Just add another few more chapters Robert .
As you can tell I like this series a lot, and I am looking forward to the future instalments. Hopefully McCammon won’t run out of steam ,and the main character Matthew Corbett will continue to develop.
Roll on part 5.

The Providence Rider is the fourth installment in the extraordinary series of historical thrillers featuring Matthew Corbett, professional problem solver. The narrative begins in the winter of 1703, with Matthew still haunted by his lethal encounter with notorious mass murderer Tyranthus Slaughter. When an unexplained series of explosions rocks his Manhattan neighborhood, Matthew finds himself forced to confront a new and unexpected problem. Someone is trying--and trying very hard--to get his attention. That someone is a shadowy figure from out of Matthew's past: the elusive Dr. Fell. The doctor, it turns out, has a problem of his own, one that requires the exclusive services of Matthew Corbett.
The ensuing narrative moves swiftly and gracefully from the emerging metropolis of New York City to Pendulum Island in the remote Bermudas. In the course of his journey, Matthew encounters a truly Dickensian assortment of memorable, often grotesque, antagonists. These include Sirki, the giant, deceptively soft-spoken East Indian killer, Dr. Jonathan Gentry, an expert in exotic potions with a substance abuse problem of his own, the beautiful but murderous Aria Chillany, and, of course, the master manipulator and 'Emperor of Crime' on two continents, Dr. Fell himself. The result is both an exquisitely constructed novel of suspense and a meticulous recreation of a bygone era. Filled with danger, narrative surprises, and an almost tangible sense of place, The Providence Rider is historical fiction at its finest and most developed. It is the novel that McCammon's many devoted readers have been waiting for. They will not be disappointed.

ixoy

Paddy Samurai wrote: »

Edit:Magician's End ?.Just found this online,so maybe Pugs days are numbered after all?.

As is Midkemia's days - it's the final Midkemia book that Feist is going to write. The end! And you have to stick with it now after decades and 20+ books...

Paddy Samurai

Leodan Akaran, ruler of the Known World, has inherited generations of apparent peace and prosperity, won ages ago by his ancestors. A widower of high intelligence, he presides over an empire called Acacia, after the idyllic island from which he rules. He dotes on his four children and hides from them the dark realities of traffic in drugs and human lives on which their prosperity depends. He hopes that he might change this, but powerful forces stand in his way. And then a deadly assassin sent from a race called the Mein, exiled long ago to an ice-locked stronghold in the frozen north, strikes at Leodan in the heart of Acacia while they unleash surprise attacks across the empire. On his deathbed, Leodan puts into play a plan to allow his children to escape, each to their separate destiny. And so his children begin a quest to avenge their father's death and restore the Acacian empire–this time on the basis of universal freedom.

ACACIA is a thrilling work of literary imagination that creates an all-enveloping and mythic world that will carry readers away. It is a timeless tale of heroism and betrayal, of treachery and revenge, of primal wrongs and ultimate redemption. David Durham has reimagined the epic narrative for our time in a book that will surely mark his breakthrough to a wide audience.

Acacia is a captivating and entertaining epic fantasy read Imo. This was a gold nugget for me, as I had heard nothing about this series prior to discovering it on line. Overall the story reminds me a bit of the RR Martin’s A song of Fire and Ice series. This is not as deep as Martin’s epic series, and does not have as many story lines or characters . I would not see this as a negative ,as Durham weaves a great tale of intrigue, war, magic, betrayal all set in a well developed fantasy world. While some of the characters are the standard fantasy characters, Durham does more than enough to make them his own .The cliffhanger ending along with the numerous hints about future encounters with the unknown enemy, make reading the rest of the series a foregone conclusion for me.
This is a top notch read, and a bonus for me is the series is available complete.

If you like fantasy ,I would recommend that you give this a try.

Part 2 & 3 arrived in the post this morning

Paddy Samurai

While not perfect,this is still a top notch read.Lawrence's humour is my type of humour,so I enjoyed this book big time.Not as LOL as part 1,but it does not disappoint.
A minor gripe was Jorgs

continuously outsmarting his enemies with his last minute plans which always seemed to work out

A major plus is that I love Lawerence's writing style,some of his writing is almost poetic.

In the long ago,in the gentle days,Brother Grumlow carved wood,worked with saw and chisel.When hard times come carpenters are apt to get nailed to crosses.Grumlow took up the knife and learned to carve men.He looks soft,my brother of the blade,slight of build,light of colour,weak chin,sad eyes,all of him drooping like the moustache that hangs off his lip.Yet he has fast hands and no fear of a sharp edge.Come against him with just a dagger for company and he will cut you a new opinion

IM0 ,overall this is great fantasy,and I for one, can't wait for part 3.:D:D:D

If you have any interest in Fantasy,make sure to give this series a try.

Essentially, King of Thorns is a novel that solidifies Mark Lawrence’s place as one of fantasy’s most talented authors. Rather than follow a proven formula, Mark Lawrence has taken a risk by introducing new concepts, new characters, evolving the protagonist’s abilities and throwing a dash of empathy into his profoundly evil character. And you know what? He pulled it of and then some. Best of all; it’s all told through prose that flow with such poetic beauty that there are times you find yourself shaking your head, mouth agape whilst mumbling ‘wow’.

If you want to find out more check out this review.

http://fantasy-faction.com/2012/king-of-thorns-by-mark-lawrence

Paddy Samurai

A western of the old style. If someone had said to me prior to getting this book, would you like to read a western from the POV of a young adolescent girl and her widowed mother ,I would have said thanks, but no thanks.
The reason I picked this up because I had previously read Legion by Altimari and enjoyed it big time. This is a gentler read that grows on you , and draws you in. It may even tug the odd heart string, if you let it. Closer in style to Louis L’amour, rather than McCormack, James Carlos Blake or George G Gilman.
The hero is a clean cut straight forward good guy , who does the right thing, and stands up for those who cannot defend themselves. But for all that ,still a believable character from a bygone age.
Despite it’s “western” setting, it is a book that because of its content/writing style, will appeal to all genders and age groups.
Apart from the bit of flag waving at the end , it was still overall ,an enjoyable , short, and easy read.

Manolete, last of the great Apache chiefs, has broken out of the reservation, and terror sweeps southern Arizona. Ranchers scramble for their weapons in the certainty that Manolete and his braves will now seek a terrible revenge. In a small town in the path of the Apaches, eleven-year-old Katy Malone and her widowed mother are living a quiet life when a cavalry officer rides into their world. On the eve of retirement, Colonel Red McGregor pauses for a moment to water his horse…………………..

As previous reviewers have said, you could see this been a film.

Paddy Samurai

No need to comment on the books storyline/setting, if you live on planet earth you will know about this series

An Epic series with a vast array of fantastic characters with multiple story lines.This part 5 ,is epic in itself and a top notch read.

The only problem was that I read the last book in the series over 6 years ago.With no time to re read the series I had to google characters and plot lines.Could'nt remember who the feck reek was,along with a lot of other details.
Bought this book when it first came out and read about 25%,before all the on-line checking tired me out.Second time got up to 30%.This time I determined to follow it through ,and was glad I did.Although I could't remember every detail from the previous books I immersed myself fully in the story this time and enjoyed it big time.I hope someday to be in a position to reread the full series at my leisure.:D
Hopefully I won't have to wait so long till the next in the series.I understand Martin has already written a lot of the next one ,as he wrote them in tandem.
Roll on part 6 ................................................................................................and 7.;)

Paddy Samurai

Giles Kristian's Raven Series is a tale of battle, blood and treachery, set at a time when any conflict was a ferocious fight to the death and only the strongest survived.
The Raven trilogy has fast become a publishing sensation since the first instalment, Blood Eye, was published three years ago.
Now, the eagerly awaited third episode, Odin’s Wolves, is out in paperback, bringing the coming-of-age story of a young man thrust into a violent world to a stunning climax.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/entertainment/giles-kristian-raven-series/9041693/Viking-book-trilogy-Giles-Kristian-Raven.html

This was a great ending to a very enjoyable trilogy.

Top notch historical fiction IMO.
A well written, highly entaining saga featuring great characters ,lots of gore splatted battles and wild adventures.For a first book/series Giles has done a great job and gone straight to the top.If you like historical fiction or just a good story ,make sure to give this one a try.

A great tale which held me spellbound (Bernard Cornwell )

A masterly achievement, full of blood-drenched battle scenes, yet with tender moments too. Kristian evokes the warriors' stubborn camaraderie and their own strange code (DAILY EXPRESS 20110708)

This is a storming, magnificent end to what has been one of the best Viking series of all time. Authentic, bloody, visceral... this is tale-telling at its rip-roaring best (Manda Scott )

Kristian can really write... his battle scenes are bone crunchingly good, his descriptions of the Viking world bright and evocative... a great storyteller (Ben Kane, Author Of The Forgotten Legion )

An all-action adventure... beautifully told (SUNDAY EXPRESS )

Paddy Samurai

AD262 – the Imperium is in turmoil after the struggle for the throne. Furthermore, Ephesus, Asia’s metropolis, lies in ruins, shattered by a mighty earthquake. Its citizens live in fear as the mob overwhelms the city, baying for blood to avenge the gods who have punished them.
Yet an even greater threat to the Empire advances from the North. The barbaric Goth tribes sail towards Ephesus, determined to pillage the city. Only Ballista, Warrior of Rome, knows the ways of the barbarians, and only he can defeat them.
The Goths’ appetite for brutality and destruction is limitless and before long Ballista is locked into a deadly blood feud, with an enemy that has sworn to destroy him – and the Imperium – at all costs.

Good historical fiction, this is an enjoyable series revolving around a great character.
I am enjoying sidebottoms books more, with each new novel . Sidebottom really knows his stuff regarding Rome and its empire.
With each book I am learning more about Rome that I never knew. At the back of this one there is a list of latin translations/ explanations/historical characters, recommended reading on ancient rome along with description of the geographical locations involved. Also he explains the merging of his fictional character with real historical events and people.
In this one the story revolves around how envoys were just as important as the legions ,in protecting their borders. But if you like a bit of action there’s still lots of battles , blood and gore.
In the past I have read tons of fiction about Rome ,and while he has’nt written my favourite book in this genre ,IMO he is the most knowledgeable fiction author on the subject ,that I read so far.

'Sidebottom captures perfectly the corruption, betrayals, and enmities of the Roman Empire ... I don't think I've ever experienced antiquity so directly: the brutality, the directness of expression and feeling, the deep bonds formed amid unmitigated violence'
Professor David Konstan, Chair of Classics, Brown University


'A gripping yarn interwoven with superb knowledge of the ancient world'
Professor Bryan Ward-Perkins, Fellow in History, University of Oxford


'A vivid, racy, and gripping novel from a major scholar who also happens to be a brilliant master of fiction'
Dr Jas Elsner, University Fellow in Classical Art, University of Oxford

Paddy Samurai

Classed as american gothic horror ,I liked this one,a short easy read.
Reminded me a bit of McCarthy's "The Road" with its bleak setting ,also of Stephen Kings early books. Although the ending became a bit predictable about two/thirds through this is well worth trying out.For a debut novel this is a good one ,with room for improvement.I have already ordered "The Troupe" by the same Author.

With his debut novel, Mr. Shivers, Southern writer Robert Jackson Bennett presents a pulpy, Great Depression horror story where a mysterious killer "trails death behind him." After his daughter is brutally murdered, a revenge-seeking Marcus Connelly leaves Memphis on a hunt across America's hobo camps and ghost towns for the grotesquely scarred, ghostly figure known as "Mr. Shivers." On his quest Connelly teams up with a scrappy band of hobos recovering from their own brushes with "the gray man," and the body count increases as they ride the rails tracking their target. Connelly's spiraling bloodlust begins to rival Shivers's, threatening to take more than just his family and friends away from him. Sprinkled with hobo folklore, Bennett's supernatural dust storm of a debut offers a killer premise and may remind readers of vintage Stephen King

Paddy Samurai

Decided to give this a go after I picked this one up for €4 in the local charity shop. For me this was a hard book to get into , probably because the American Revolutionary War was not a subject that interested me greatly . Overall I found it to be an ok read, but highly informative about the period and setting. Although IMO , the ending did seem a bit rushed.
The fact it was based on true events made it more interesting than it would have been otherwise. I found the details about Paul Revere to be a revelation ,as like others I had always thought him to be a major hero of the revolution. Just goes to show how important PR was , even back then.
As said previously Cornwell does a ton of research on his subject and it shows. If you are interested in the American revolutionary war this is one worth reading , if not I would give it a miss. Apart from his “Sharpe” series , I have read most of Cornwells books and loved them all, but my favourite is still the Saxon Series.

In the summer of 1779, as the major fighting of the Revolutionary War moves to the South, a British force consisting of fewer than a thousand Scottish infantry and backed by three sloops-of-war sails to the fogbound coast of New England. Establishing a garrison and naval base at Penobscot Bay, in the eastern province of Massachusetts, the Scots harry rebel privateers and shelter American loyalists. In response, the Americans send more than forty vessels and some one thousand infantrymen to “captivate, kill, or destroy” the foreign invaders. But ineptitude and irresolution lead to a mortifying defeat that will have stunning repercussions for two men on opposite sides of the conflict: an untested young Scottish lieutenant named John Moore, at the beginning of an illustrious military career . . . and a Boston silversmith and patriot named Paul Revere, who will face court-martial for disobedience and cowardice.

Full review here from The Washington Post
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/dec/31/book-review-the-fort/

Paddy Samurai

A great read .I loved this book big time .The bad guys were good and the good guys bad. Lots of LOL moments for me ,and a vast array of brilliant characters. So many to choose from , but Shivers and Costa were among my favourites. It may even be my favourite Abercrombie book ,or maybe it’s just a long time since I read the first law trilogy. .A fair few reviewers online giving out about the torture and graphic violence ,its something that does’nt bother me as Imo its intergral to the story.But be aware of it if its something that bothers you.
If you like fantasy make sure to give this a try.

Joe Abercrombie takes the grand tradition of high fantasy literature and drags it down into the gutter, in the best possible way." --- Time

Bang on IMO;).As I type A Red Country ,sits on my shelf.....beckoning.:D

Review link: http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.ie/2009/07/best-served-cold-by-joe-abercrombie.html

Paddy Samurai

The Acacia Trilogy (part 2)

David Anthony Durham’s gripping Acacia Trilogy continues with an epic novel where loyalties are tested, new worlds are discovered, and battle lines are being drawn.

A few years have passed since Queen Corinn has usurped control of the Known World—and she now rules with an iron fist. With plans to expand her empire, she sends her brother, Dariel, on an exploratory mission across the sea to The Other Lands. There, he discovers an alliance of tribes that have no interest in being ruled by Queen Corinn and the Akarans. In fact, Dariel’s arrival ignites a firestorm that once more exposes The Known World to a massive invasion, one unlike anything they have yet faced . . .

Santa really messed up my reading time ,but hope to get sorted now and make a dent in my book mountain.
To start..............I am really enjoying this fantasy trilogy. A very easy read with a great storyline and great characters ,along with some unique and interesting world building. The Akaran family story reminded me a bit of The Starks in Martins “A song of fire and ice” series , other parts like the “The League” and their “Mist” use reminded me of Herberts “Dune”. My only minor gripe is that

I would have liked the Lothun Aklun to be more involved/ fleshed out in this book, as their sudden demise leaves too many unanswered questions.When part 1 ended it was the story of the Lothun Aklun that I was most looking forward to ,in part 2. Hopefully the next book will answer some of them?.

Looking forward to Part 3 .
If you like Fantasy ,give this one a try.


“David Anthony Durham has serious chops. I can’t wait to read whatever he writes next."
—George R. R. Martin

Paddy Samurai

In a desperate bid to take back the continental United States—where hordes of undead now dominate the ravaged human population—a Navy commander leads a global mission to the heart of the pandemic. Task Force Hourglass is humanity’s final hope, and his team’s agonizing decisions could mean living one day more—or surrendering to the eternal hell that exists between life and death.

Although a bit disappointed with this one, let me say that taking the whole 3 book series in total , this is still a great Armageddon/zombie trilogy ,and IMO would make a better TV show than “The Walking Dead”(which I love.)
The Diary format is gone in this book, and while I understand the reasons behind it given the global view of the Zombie contagion. For me, it was the diary format that made the series such a tense and exciting read.

This the final instalment ,while not as good as the previous two books, still has some great set pieces and interesting ideas that still make it worth reading for what started out as a great Zombie series.

The ending of this book is not great , and like a lot of other people I was expecting there to be a part four ,while reading the last couple of chapters.
Then BOOM ,out of no where……………………………its over?................


Review here:
http://survivalpunk.com/day-by-day-armageddon-shattered-hourglass-review/
While this review is a bit over the top IMO ,it still gives a good synopsis of the series for such a brief review.

Having rechecked my last few reading logs, Imo a lot of Authors need to go on a writing course about book endings, and how to finish stories .

Paddy Samurai

Vaudeville: mad, mercenary, dreamy, and absurd, a world of clashing cultures and ferocious showmanship and wickedly delightful deceptions.

But sixteen-year-old pianist George Carole has joined vaudeville for one reason only: to find the man he suspects to be his father, the great Heironomo Silenus. Yet as he chases down his father's troupe, he begins to understand that their performances are strange even for vaudeville: for wherever they happen to tour, the very nature of the world seems to change.

Because there is a secret within Silenus's show so ancient and dangerous that it has won him many powerful enemies. And it's not until after he joins them that George realizes the troupe is not simply touring: they are running for their lives.

And soon...he is as well

The above blurb unfortunately gives you little or no idea about the great adventure you are about to embark on ,or how strange ,interesting and addictive this book is. You do get the feeling as you progress through the story that you have previously read threads from this book. But it is bennett’s unique weave of these threads in addition to his entertaining story/plot that makes it his own. Along with his great characters, plot line and

creation viewpoint

I loved the way he incorporated the myth and mythology aspects especially the Irish connection. .
His

Faries

were a great addition ,and I liked his interpretation of these mythological creatures. I would have loved to find out more about their back story. Heironomo was a fascinating character, his

past hinted at adventures along with his immortality

leave you wanting to know more.


Bennett is becoming one to watch for me. As far as I know this is only his third book and I have liked what I have read so far.
I can’t wait to see what he will write next.



Review link : http://www.sffworld.com/brevoff/854.html

Paddy Samurai

& other stories………

Harry Keogh, the first Necroscope, is arguably Brian Lumley’s greatest creation. In the Necroscope series, readers saw Harry learn to use his powers to talk with the dead and travel instantaneously to any point in space and time. They saw him take arms against the evil, twisted, alien vampires who sought to feed off humans and enslave mankind. They saw him suffer a great personal loss and later recover his humanity through a new love. And they saw Harry wage the grimmest battle of his life—against the vampire he himself was becoming!.
Even after Harry’s story was done, Brian Lumley continued to write books about Harry’s legacy—the other Necroscopes who inherited his weird talents. But Harry himself would not go quietly into that darkness that lies beyond an author’s imagination . . . and now Brian Lumley has written three new long short stories about Harry and his supernatural adventures.

Having previously read the memorable Necroscope series ,this was a welcome , nostalgic return to one of my favourite characters, Harry Keogh. And while I have heard the remark that “Harry Keogh” is the adult version of “Harry Potter” . IMO it’s not a comparison that I would use , as I think it does not do justice to the Necroscope.
This book is made up of 4 short stories ,and my overall favourite was “Harry and the Pirates”. The other stories while not spectacular were still an entertaining reminder of the great Necroscope series, along with offering an opportunity to revisit Harry and “The Great Majority”.
These short stories left me with a strong desire to reread the original series. But with all the books unread on my book shelf I don’t see that happening anytime soon.

Funny thing is, that although I love this series by Brian Lumley , I have found it hard to get into his other books.



Review Link http://www.graemesfantasybookreview.com/2009/06/necroscope-harry-and-pirates-brian.html