Books and travelling with Lynn

My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius

Posted On 4 November 2015

Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Fantasy Review Barn, Military Genius, Tough Travelling

This week, over at the Fantasy Review Barn, Nathan is taking us travelling once again through the tropes of fantasy. This week the topic for discussion is:

MILITARY GENIUS

Let’s face it. Fantasy life is often a life of war. One can only hope to serve under a commander who has some clue what they are doing.

So my choices this week:

Kaladin from Brandon Sanderson’s Way of Kings and Words of Radiance – I did think about going for Dalinar but I think Kaladin showed his skill when he joined the bridge crew and managed to not just train them into the ways of staying alive but also to make them feel more positive. Gone from strength to strength.

Rig Black from Erin Lindsey’s Bloodforged. Wow, can this guy form a good battle plan or what – risky, but good! The Bloodforged is the second book (the first being Bloodbound and they’re both very readable.

Colonel Janus bet Vhalnich from the Thousand Names by Django Wexler. This character really is a military genius – but maybe he’s not all he seems. Or maybe he’s more than he seems!

Merros from James A Moore’s Seven Forges and Blasted Lands. Merros starts out as a soldier but pretty quickly rises through the ranks to become General. He becomes responsible for training up the gone soft Fellein army. Year’s of peace have left the army in poor shape and with an army marching on their doorstep they need a good leader.

Reva from Anthony Ryan’s Tower Lord – really comes into her own in this story and helps to form a plan to defend the city.

General Anhalt from The Vampire Empire series by Susan and Clay Griffiths. Cool headed and incredibly correct – a great character to have on your side when the vampires are swarming!

That’s it for me this week

My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.

Waiting on Wednesday: Soulfinders

Posted On 4 November 2015

Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Breaking the Spine, Maria V Snyder, Night Study, Soulfinders, Waiting on Wednesday

Comments Dropped 13 responses

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. Every Wednesday we get to highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. My book this week is No.2 in the Soulfinders series by Maria V Snyder:

Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana’s has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia are safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear.

Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he’s quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he’s been keeping secrets from Valek…secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander’s mysterious plans, they realize it’s far more sinister that they could have ever imagined.

Due for publication January 2016 – so not a long wait for more Yelena and Valek.

We can rebuild him…it….(#RRSciFiMonth)

Posted On 3 November 2015

Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Over the Effing Rainbow, Rinn Reads, Sci-fi Month 2015

Comments Dropped 16 responses

People, we can rebuild it. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world’s third bionic sci fi month. Rinn Reads and Over the Effing Rainbow will be your hosts, better, than they were before (is that even possible?), better…. stronger…faster…. (Okay, I’ll stop now)

This is a very quick post (mainly because, like the White Rabbit) I’m late about this month’s Sci-Fi Month 2015 event being hosted by Rinn Reads and Over the Effing Rainbow. Okay, late it may be, but because this is a sci fi event – I’ll just hop into my tardis and take a spin back in time – so actually, if you’re reading this post now – it’s really earlier than you think!!!! It could work! Yeah, my head hurts too.

Anyway, details here – go and sign up, only if you wish of course. Who am I kidding, everybody signed up a month ago right?, But, don’t forget that I have a tardis handy…which means, technically speaking, I will be first! Went there again..

So, to my plans, (wrings hands with glee):

I’m joining in the readalong hosted by the Lovely Lisa at OtER: The Long Way to a Small and Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, details here. I am so looking forward to this book!

I’m hoping to read:

Lock-in by John Scalzi
The Machinery by Gerrard Cowan

I won’t add more because November is already a bit pushed! And, if I do find a way of making time slow down, well, I can read more.

But – I think films are very possible too. Fancying rewatches of Blade Runner, Star Wars and Aliens – bring on the popcorn!

Tweet all about it here:;#RRSciFiMonth

That is all.

Join us.

“Live long and prosper.”

Made to Kill by Adam Christopher

Posted On 2 November 2015

Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Adam Christopher, Made to Kill

Comments Dropped 8 responses

I loved Made to Kill – it’s so completely different than anything I’ve read recently – I didn’t know what to expect and almost went into it negatively so it was a great surprise to enjoy it so much. Witty, well written and just downright good reading that made me laugh out loud. I’ve not read Adam Christopher before but I’ll certainly be taking a look back at his other work after this. My original review appears at The Speculative Herald.

Set in an alternative 60s universe Made to Kill revolves around one central character, who just so happens to be a robot. In this version of 60s Los Angeles the technology was slightly more advanced than our own of that period and the Government created a programme to roll out robots across the country to take up dangerous or menial tasks. Unfortunately it was not a success and people railed against their jobs being taken over by robots. As a result the programme was scrapped and all the robots destroyed. All but one. Raymond. Part of a slightly different programme, Raymond and his super computer Ada survived the destruction and as part of an alternative exercise set up their own PI agency. The Electromatic Detective Agency. Well, it was a detective agency, until Ada discovered there was more money in the assassin business.

I’m actually not going to talk about the plot at all. It starts out simple but pretty soon becomes anything but. It’s just a wonderful mash up that gets more bizarre as the story continues. A blend of noir detective, spies, sparkling Hollywood actors and actresses and twisted plots to take over the world.

So what did I enjoy about this? Well, I started reading and just couldn’t help having that voice in my head – the voice over that comes with your basic private detective film. The jaded PI, sarcastic and gritty. Put basically, Ray is a funny guy and a great character to read. He made the book for me personally and everything else was just icing and cherries, of which there was no shortage. I mean, you can’t help wondering how you’re going to feel about a robot character – how can you become attached. Well, Ray isn’t perfect. Given the technological capabilities of the time he has certain restrictions – like a short memory. Ray’s memory is stored on tape and he only has a 24 hour storage. On top of that, well, never forget that Ray is a robot and sometimes his actions can be very calculated. And yet, I did like him. It started off just enjoying his phrases or the way he describes his laugh and the feeling grew from there.

Ada is Ray’s computer and is a bit of a smart ass. She’s the constant voice in his head and to Ray she’s a wise cracking, chain smoking, feet on the desk reading a magazine type of gal! It’s funny to read Ray’s version of Ada. She’s sharp, and, let’s not forget, she’s running the show really.

Now, add to all this a crazy mixed up plot, a strange mash up of Marlowe meets Bond, glamorous extras, car chases and spies with nefarious plans. I don’t know what’s not to like really.

I really enjoyed this, the era, the play on that era, the slight difference in terms of technology, the different play on the old fashioned PI and the writing. All together, thoroughly enjoyable. Please go and give it a go.

I received a copy from the publisher courtesy of Netgalley for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

“Y’all come back now, ya hear?”

Posted On 2 November 2015

Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Debut Authors, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday

Comments Dropped 23 responses

This week over at the Broke and Bookish the topic for Top Ten Tuesday is :

‘Top Ten Debut Authors’

To be honest I struggled with this a little because I don’t always realise I’m reading a debut. Here goes (some of these may have 2nd or third books already released but I’ve only read the first):

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams – it was his debut and it’s the only one I’ve read of his!
The Falconer by Elizabeth May
The Martian by Andy Weir
Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho
Updraft by Fran Wild
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Scourge of the Betrayer by Jeff Salyards – bit of a cheat as I haven’t read it yet – but I have it lined up!
Darkhaven by A F E Smith
The Grim Company by Luke Scull
Wake by Anna Hope