Tag: first

Book Review – Aching God (Iconoclasts Book 1) – Mike Schel

This was my first Mike Shel book. Aching God is the first book of the Iconoclasts Trilogy and a good introduction to his world. I struggled to continue through the first 150 pages as I felt I didn’t connect with the main character, Auric, I loved the premise of him though, as well as the personal demons he fights. The world building was good and developed well. There were also lengthy appendices at the end with definitions for everything. The plot was a wonderful zig zag and the main reason I made it to the end. This was an epic fantasy with high stakes abounding and even with my issues, I give this a 3/5. If you can make it through the slower beginning, it’s certainly worth a read.

**Spoilers Below**

This tale is told through the eyes of Auric, our main character. Living a retired life from the Syraeic League, and a former tanner’s son, his manor house is his sanctuary after having to bury his wife and son. Unfortunately, his only remaining family member, a daughter who also works for the League, calls him from retirement asking for help, but unclear on the manner of said help. When he finally reaches the Citadel, it’s to discover that his daughter has fallen ill after an ancient relic was unlocked on accident. An infection of sorts works through the League, killing many.

The lichter of the League begs him to join a group of League employees to return the relic to it’s former resting place. All who have studied it believe returning it may reprieve those afflicted in the city, including Auric’s daughter. He must return to a location know as the Barrowlands, which is also where his wife and the rest of his previous expedition were murdered. It’s a tall order, but he takes leadership and guides them true.

Set against impossible odds, from humans to gods to undead, six companions set off to save their world. The journey by boat was long and arduous. They even had to battle prates just to make it the Borrowlands island. They battle errant priests and manticores before they finally make it the temple itself. Once inside, they discover they must battle a god that was released from his cage on the previous expedition. I won’t ruin the ending for you, you will have to find it on your own.

Book Review – Rhapsodic (The Bargainer Book 1) – by Laura Thalassa

This was my first Laura Thalassa and I am so glad I tried it. It has been sitting on my TBR for the last six months, collecting dust. This was a fanciful read with great characters and a beautifully woven plot. It is split eight years apart so we watch Callie goes through school, in her teen years, and her now adult life as a PI. I gave this book a 4/5 and if you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it. I will be finishing this series as well as working through her other work.

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**Spoiler Alert Below**

We begin our intrigue after our heroine and Siren, Callypso Lillis, kills her stepfather after several years of rape. She calls upon The Bargainer to help her clean up the murder and keep her out of jail. He is not meant to deal with minors, since she is two weeks from being considered an adult, but he makes an exception for her. As she grows into herself, her and the Bargainer becomes friends. Eventually, Callie falls in love with him. During this time she racks up more than 300 beads of debt that form a bracelet along her arm. Then he mysteriously disappears from her life for 8 years. She tries to move on, falling into half relationships with many men, but cant seem to love any of them the same way Deep down she knows he will come back eventually to collect his debt.

When he finally reappears, she is working as a PI for her own firm in California. She is forced to become involved in a disturbance of his kingdoms. The Lord of Night or the Night King, Desmond, has disappearances occurring among his people. As she works to pay off her debt, they discover a disturbing plot and urges for each other. Someone is kidnaping Fae warriors and returning them under a deep sleep. They are neither alive nor dead but in an endless sleep. I won’t ruin the plot for you but it is worth seeking. 🙂

Book Review – The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld 1) – by Gena Showalter

This was my first Gena Showalter book. I know I am in the minority of this opinion, but I couldn’t handle this book. Her characters were alight with the exception of Ashlyn, who was one of the most irritating female characters for me. The plot without the interference of the romance, was actually interesting and the only reason I actually made it the end. The plot with the romance was several romance tropes in one book, that really drug this down. I gave this book a 1/5.

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**Spoilers Below**

I struggled to finish it, but since I paid for it, I felt required to just to see if magic happened, but alas, no magic! I really wanted to love the book, given the premise it is based on and the Pandora’s box aspect. The plot and characters made that impossible. Our hero, Maddox, was part of a regime of ancient god warriors that were jealous that Pandora was selected to guard a special box. This box held some of the worst monsters to walk the earth, and could not be kept, even in Hell. To punish them for not choosing them, they deceived Pandora and opened the box, freeing a wash of destruction on the earth. As punishment for their sins, they were forced to each house a demon from the box they opened in spurned pride. Then we meet Ashlyn, who (unbeknownst to her) works for a Hunter’s company and finds their fortress tucked into the hills. She plans to ask for help them for help with her ability to hear voices, and conversations from all points in time.

I struggled with both Maddox and Ashlyn instant need to bone as well as their declaration of ‘love’ after a few days of knowing each other. It seemed way to fast, even for the romance genre. With Ashlyn being a virgin as well, how would she even know what love is? Ashlynn made this very difficult to enjoy with her inability to be anything but a damsel in distress. I also had issues with the fact that Maddox fed Ashlynn Immortals version of alcohol, which obviously made her sick, and managed to fix it by giving her Tylenol? There were some other plot holes along this vein throughout.

I’m sorry I just couldn’t get into this and will not be continuing the series.

Book Review – The Blade Itself (FL #1) – Joe Abercrombie

This was my first book from Joe Abercrombie and has been on my TBR pile for quite some time. Definitely a shame since this was a beautifully told story and I can’t wait to continue through the other books of this world. I gave this book an easy 4/5. You should definitely take the plunge if you are considering it.

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**Spoilers Below**

Our main characters are Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, Nobleman Captain Jezal dan Luthar, Inquisitor Glokta, cripple turned torturer, and the wizard, Bayaz. Set forward into an epic fantasy land outfitted with swords, war and great palaces, we get to ride along with each of them as the threads of fate untwine.

Logan has decided he wants to try to be a better man after a lifetime of brutal killing but his past just wont die. In the first few pages we discover he was with a crew of other nortthmen, who had all gone rogue against the self declared King of the North, Bethod. While camped in the countryside, they are attacked by undead creatures named Flatheads. Logan is forced to jump off a cliff face to surviv, falling into an icy river and seperated form his group.

When he wakes in the river and climbs back to the hilltop, it appears his friends were all killed. Alone with his pot, he decides to keep moving on, hunting as he needs to for food. At one junction in the forest, he calls fire spirits for company and they notify him that a magi looking for him is just ahead of him. Here he meets Quia, the First of the Magi’s apprentice and summons him to Bayaz.

Bethod comes to visit them and demand the Magi kneels for him, but he refuses and means to declarer war on the Union. Bayaz leaves his fortress and takes his apprentice and Logen to Aldua, the capitol of the Union. In Aldu, their reception is one of disbelief since he hasnt made an appearance in literal ages of men. The closed council holds a ceremonial extra chair just for him, but no one believes the Magi is who he claims to be.

Gllokta works for the Inquisition office under, under Arch Lector Sult, and is tasked with finding a way to disprove that Bayaz is who he says he is. Unique to Glokta’s POV are italics that outline what he would rather say after he says the proper thing. I did enjoy his part very well as he makes the most of his life with his ruined body and missing teeth.

He delves into the library hoping for some information on the Magi and uncovers the Master Maker tower that has stood empty and sealed up for centuries has a key, and Bayaz, if he is real, should have it.

Meanwhile, Lothar, spends all of his time training to win a famous fencing competition that Aldua puts on every year. He also falls into lust with his friend and army mate, Colleum West. West suspects them and begs Lothar not to see her.

The day of the contest finds Bayaz, Quia, and Logan in the crowd watching. Lothar makes it to the end match but it badly outmatched by a outlands opponent, Georst. He is within his last mark when Bayaz bewitches him and forces out a victory instead. The evening of his celebration, Glokta arrives and notifies Bayaz that he can verify his identity by providing the key to the Maker’s Tower, which he does. He takes Glokta, Lothar, and Logen on a tour of the tower after he opens the base.

More intrigues abound within it’s pages but do keep in mind while this is an amazing read, it is not a happy book. I would call his style a cross between Tolkien and Stephan King. I still recommend it for reading!