Cheap at twice the price..
30 January 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Control Point, Fortress Frontier, Myke Cole
It has to be done. You walk down the high street, you pretend you don’t notice the bookshop and yet, your feet walk you right in through the door, belligerent feet – you’ll be sorry when I stop putting shoes on you! Look at this though (‘Black Hawk Down Meets the X-Men’):
Both books less than £5 at The Works – get on it!! I may be a Took – but I’m not a ‘fool of a Took’.
The World According to Ellie Quin by Alex Scarrow
30 January 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Alex Scarrow, The World According to Ellie Quin
The World According to Ellie Quinn is the second in a series that got off to an excellent start with The Legend of Ellie Quin. Again, this is a very engaging read that picks up immediately where the last novel left off (and I would recommend reading these in order as they’re telling a story in linear fashion). If you’ve not read these books then beware of spoilers below. If you haven’t read them and want to do so then my review of No.1 is here!
Again, a very engaging read that picks up almost immediately where the last story left off. Ellie is now living in a little apartment or pod – to be honest it’s more of a shoebox but that’s not a problem. She’s with her new friend and saviour from book No.1 Jez. Fortunately the two seem to have formed a fairly close relationship already which gives the close quarters in which they now live a more bearable feel. Ellie seems a little more secure, she has a job and the two girls seem to be doing well enough to at least enjoy a bit of night life and occasionally buy a few things other than basic necessities. They’re both having a fun girly time basically. Of course, getting too comfortable will undoubtedly lead to complacency and Ellie didn’t leave behind one home just to form another so soon – she wanted more. She wanted to travel. She certainly didn’t just want to make ends meet and eke out a living.
She still continues to meet with Aaron – which is just as well as he seems to be her anchor to reality at the moment – reminding her of her own ambitions and worrying about her fairly quick conversion to all out city chick!
At the same time we have the storyline of the Corporate suits who are trying to find Ellie – with none too friendly objectives in mind. They’ve put their best man in the case. He’s ruthless and unsympathetic and he’s narrowing the search area quite systematically and rapidly!
This is another short story but it manages to cram plenty in. There are a number of adventures with the girls as they seem to go from one drama to the next, fuelled by Jez’s love of life and big schemes until eventually their good luck runs out and they seem to hit a bit of a low.
It’s at this point that Ellie has her ‘bright idea’ – and, I’m going to leave that there.
The historical, ‘wiki’ style entries used in the previous story are used again to good effect – I really like the way these dovetail with the story and give this demonstration of how truth becomes distorted into myth – and yet somehow manages to retain a ‘little’ of what actually happened.
I’m really enjoying this series and from what I’ve read so far I think this is only going to get better. I like the mystery that is posed about Ellie. I like the adventures and the pacing and basically I’m fairly intrigued.
Again, I guess you would call this ‘soft’ sci fi but for me that feels perfect. It’s quirky, engaging and fun and I definitely recommend picking it up.
Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, readalong week 5
29 January 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Brandon Sanderson, Readalong week 5, Tethyan Books, The Way of Kings
Banner courtesy of Anya at On Starships And Dragonwings!Banner courtesy of Anya at On Starships And Dragonwings!
Today is week 5 of our readalong of Way of Kings and I have to chuck out there that I love this book (and found it difficult not to just read on this week) – but I’ve held firm! This week’s host and provider of questions is Tethyan Books. The schedule is here and it’s still not too late to join if you want to get in on the blogging fun. Beware of spoilers below (as Dab of Darkness likes to say) they’re having a party below!
1.Dalinar made a very dramatic decision at the beginning of this section. Do you think it was the right one? What do you think will happen to him, Adolin and (and the not-united Alethi) if he follows through?
To an extent I’m not surprised by his decision, only because if everyone keeps telling you there’s something wrong or different about you then eventually you may start to believe it. Also, his endeavours to get the other High Princes all failed and on top of that he’s starting to compare himself to Gavilar. I wonder if he stays whether his house will fall into shame – or at least I think he believes that. Also, if he stays might he eventually have the same realisation as Gavilar and end up falling foul of an assassination. Speaking of which I wonder who is on Szeth’s list? I think he’s coming to the conclusion that the battles and glory they seek is wrong and using the shardblades for this reason is wrong. It was very interesting to read the thoughts he was having inbetween pounding rocks. He could almost have been describing Kaladin – ‘never fight other men except when forced to in war, let your actions defend you not your words, expect honour from those you meet, and give them the chance to live up to it. Whether it’s the right decision or not I don’t really know although I suspect his visions of a peaceful life at the homestead with his slippers and pipe will be far from the reality.
2.We’ve gotten to see a little more of Shinovar with Rysn the apprentice merchant. In terms of plants and animals, it seems to be pretty much like our world. How do you think it happened that there’s such an ‘ordinary’ place, or what do you think might have happened to turn the rest of the world so unusual? Given this and the chapter on Szeth, do you have any more ideas on what the meaning of his “Truthless” title might be?
No, I’m confounded by this. I suppose if you take our own natural world you could choose a place with a blazing hot desert or thick ice and glaciers and then almost anything in between the two. Things evolve and adapt to their climate after all. Still, for a moment there I was scratching my head – it was like one minute I was walking through Middle Earth and the next I was walking through Middlesbrough (well not quite, but,). Quite bizarre. As to the ‘Truthless’ title I’ve been scratching my head over that. It does seem like Szeth is being punished, and he also seems incredibly talented, but then, the scratching of the head continues (quite furiously) and… nothing further comes to mind!
3. Shallan and Jasnah’s story has returned! Based on Jasnah’s words to Dalinar, and the clues Shallan is picking up, what do you think Jasnah’s project is about? What do you think she hopes to accomplish?
I think she’s trying to find out more about the motive behind Gavilar’s assassination and more about what he seemed to have discovered. Without this knowledge they’re all just warring against each other with no real meaning to it. I think that somebody has to try and find out more about the Parshendi and what they feared enough from Gavilar to have him killed.
4. Concerning Shallan, it’s starting to seem that her drawing ability is a supernatural gift. Do you have any theories on the bizarre figures Shallan accidentally drew behind the king?
That was a bit freaky wasn’t it. I have no idea what the figures were. Except they seemed to be standing almost like bodyguards – a bit like guardian angels. I really don’t know. Perhaps she should try that same tactic when she’s drawing others, for example, Jasnah, to see what it reveals in her picture – maybe it somehow pertains to the character and their own behaviour – so, Sadeas, for example – could have a huge rat with big sharp teeth stood behind him – skulking in the shadows LOL.
5. Back to the bridge crews, now that we’ve seen a bit more into Gaz’s perspective, does he seem any more sympathetic? Why do you think he owes Lamaril money?
No, I still don’t like Gaz, even with his perspective. He was torn between just wanting Kaladin dead and wanting his spheres! As to Lamaril – he said it was blackmail so I assume Gaz was caught somewhere he shouldn’t have been or was doing something he shouldn’t. Unless that was just a slip up – perhaps Gaz has to pay Lamaril money in a sort of protection deal??
6. Kaladin has won over his bridge crew, and enacted a brilliant plan to protect them—which utterly ruined the military strategy. Do you think his plan was a good one, or should he have seen the chaos coming? What do you think will happen to him next? Also, what do you think he’ll do if he figures out the real reason why bridgemen aren’t allowed shields?
What a disaster! I’m not surprised he didn’t see what would happen – he was so intent on his own crew he was no longer looking at the bigger military picture. When you think back to the beginning when we were first introduced he also worked similarly, in an almost lonesome way to protect his men. Of course, he immediately realised what was happening and what he’d done. It’s not going to be pretty for him after that – obviously a lot of men died and the battle was lost so there’s going to be one hell of a grumpy Sadeas wanting retribution – he doesn’t care a fig for the bridgemen in the first place and now this has happened, well, eek. I presume he’s going to realise why they’re not allowed shields after this – sitting ducks and all. On the flip side maybe this will turn things around, after all, there aren’t many bridgemen left after this affair so perhaps there’ll have to be a rethink!
That’s it for this week.
Don’t go there..
28 January 2014
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesdays
Top Ten Tuesdays (hosted by the Broke and the Bookish this week is all about where or who you don’t want to be!
‘Top Ten Worlds I’d Never Want To Live In OR Top Ten Characters I’d NEVER Want To Trade Places With’. I’ve done five of each:
Worlds in which I don’t want to live:
- The silos created by Hugh Howey in Wool/Shift/Dust – Claustrophobia, lies and deceit – plus all those bloody stairs and you definitely don’t want to be put on window cleaning duty!
- Ashes by Ilsa J Bick – this is a scary world where you have to keep your wits in order to stay alive. (Unfortunately my wits sometimes go on walk about)
- Sunshine – vampires live, they’re brutal, they definitely don’t eat tofu and you really do have to stay indoors after the dark
- The Forest of Hands and Teeth – zombies!!!! And some of them can run – really fast. Be afraid (especially if YOU don’t run really fast!)
- All the Truth in Me by Julie Berry is set in New England during puritanical times. Definitely don’t want to live there. Apart from the fact that you’re put in the stocks for not attending church meetings, you’re a wanton hussy if you don’t wear your hair covered and it’s damned hard work – there are very few books!!
Characters I don’t want to be:
- Gollum from Lord of The Rings/The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien – we all know how that ends after all and it looks a bit too toasty for my liking plus he eats raw fish and I’m not talking sushi!
- Arthur Kips – the young guy from The Woman in Black by Susan Hill – no way am I spending a night in that house like he did!
- Miriam from Blackbird/Mockingbird/Cormorant by Chuck Wendig – I love her character but I certainly wouldn’t want to be in her shoes – it probably seems like a great gift that she has but I wouldn’t be thankful to have it.
- The Falconer from Scott Lynch’s Gentlemen Bastard series – what a horrible character brrrr!
- Conor – from A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness – a brilliant story but so sad and I definitely wouldn’t trade places with him and what he has to go through
So, who who’s shoes would you rather not be in and what world do you not want to wake up in tomorrow!
All the Truth That’s In Me by Julie Berry
I’ve just finished reading All the Truth That’s in Me by Julie Berry. I may not have read this in one sitting but it was riveting enough that I read it in less than 24 hours. This is such an intensely riveting book that I quite literally want to pick it up again right now and start again from the beginning, take my time to savour it properly without the headlong rush to find out what’s actually happening. If I was at the stage of the year when I was making ‘best of’ lists this book would be on it. In fact I doubt I can do this book justice to be honest as it totally held me spellbound. I loved it. I hope if you read this review you’ll give it a go!
The basic story is set around the disappearance of two young girls from a village in historical New England. (I’m not sure exactly when as it isn’t made clear – Puritan times, put me in mind a bit of the way of life in Witch Child or the Heretic’s Daughter). The main character, Judith, and her friend Lottie mysteriously disappear. Lottie’s unfortunate body is found dead in the stream and Judith returns approximately two years later – with her tongue cut out. There’s little sympathy for her however. Her mother, still grieving over the loss of her husband blames Judith for his demise. Believing Judith to be tainted and ashamed of the way in which she has returns she forbids her to try and speak and the rest of the village eventually come to think of Judith as not only mute but dumb. They have no time for her and it’s almost as if what happened to her reflects on them somehow. They all hate what happened to their little village and yet they have no sympathy for the surviving victim.
The one, the only, remaining light in Judith’s light that makes her friendless and hardworking days bearable is the boy she has loved for as long as she can remember. Lucas. Unfortunately it was Lucas’s father (the Colonel) who is believed to be responsible for the death of one girl and the captivity and mutilation of the other when he ran away from the village, distraught and driven half mad by the betrayal of his wife. That doesn’t really bode very well for a happily ever after for the two. Judith spends her time mooning over Lucas. Remembering better days and, well, basically following him around and spying on him a bit (stalkerish at all!)
Anyway, as though times weren’t harsh enough, war is coming to the small town of Roswell Station and desperate times call for desperate measures. In order to protect the village Judith takes action that sets a whole can of worms on it’s head and brings the story to a really compelling climax.
Sometimes jumping back and forth between timelines the story is almost told as though Judith were writing a memoir of events. Using lots of ‘you’ and ‘your’. Actually, as though she’s writing to Lucas. The writing is simple and yet totally effective. The result is an easily conjured place with characters that spring to life off the page. I really felt for Judith. In fact I really liked her, and Lucas. It’s amazing how the author manages to achieve so much and yet with such a relatively simple style of writing. Skillfully done.
On top of this JB manages to provoke such strong emotions. From the first page I was gripped. There’s a mystery here and certainly one that I couldn’t fathom, although there are hints along the way. Then you almost feel a bit, well actually a lot, of outrage for the way Judith is treated. And she puts up with such a lot, she works really hard, as did most people in these times, and yet she’s constantly judged and found wanting – I wanted to shake her and slap everyone else all at the same time. Friendless and loveless you can’t help feeling sad for her, not to mention outrage at the actions of some of the other characters. And, and this is no small achievement, I actually came incredibly close to losing my control and shedding a tear – the last few pages were blurry! That’s all I’m saying. Now, don’t judge me.
But, let me not paint too unhappy a picture here. This isn’t a depressing book – not at all. It’s compelling and you simply have to find out what really happened to Judith. There are moments of simple pleasure and there are times when you’re practically on pins hoping that nothing bad will happen.
Did I have any criticisms. No. I guess some people might not like this writing style. It’s not used very often and I would struggle to give an example of another book that uses this (although I’m sure that as soon as this is posted my memory bulb will ping on!). I didn’t have any such problems. And, there is the harshness and brutality of the times depicted – but that’s just history!
Anyway, I loved it. I absolutely, definitely without hesitation or shadow of doubt recommend you read it.
