ROLEPLAY REVIEW: Life's Lottery - Kim Newman

Release Date: 25/04/14
Publisher:  Titan

SYNOPSIS:

This is a role-playing novel that reveals how small decisions can have monumental consequences. If you choose the right possibilities you may live a long happy life, or be immensely rich, or powerful, or win the lottery. If you make other choices you may become a murderer, die young, make every mistake possible, or make no impression on life at all. The choice is yours.


REVIEW:

This is something completely different to any other book out there and whilst the idea is relatively simple, the reader gets to explore a world of choices (that they make like the old fashioned roleplay book) to see how simple things can affect the outcome of the “players” life. Its definitely something that’s unique and whilst it didn’t quite work for me, it was something that is not only a brave attempt but something that was more than worth the time I spent with it. All round a solid enough book and one that gets a higher rating because of the novelty within.

THRILLER REVIEW: The Cairo Affair - Olen Steinhauer

Release Date: 13/05/14
Publisher: Corvus

SYNOPSIS:

"Sophie Kohl is living her worst nightmare. Minutes after she confesses to her husband Emmett, a mid-level diplomat at the American embassy in Hungary, that she had an affair while they were in Cairo, he is shot in the head and killed. Stan Bertolli, a Cairo-based CIA agent, has fielded his share of midnight calls. But his heart skips a beat when he hears the voice of the only woman he ever truly loved, calling to ask why her husband has been assassinated. Jibril Aziz, an American analyst, knows more about Stumbler, a covert operation rejected by the CIA years ago, than anyone. So when it appears someone else has obtained a copy of the blueprints, Jibril knows the danger it represents...As these players converge on the city of Cairo, Olen Steinhauer's masterful manipulations slowly craft a portrait of a marriage, a jigsaw puzzle of loyalty and betrayal, against a dangerous world of political games where allegiances are never clear and outcomes are never guaranteed."


REVIEW:

I normally love a good thriller and whilst I’ve tried Olen’s work before this one felt sub parr as a number of the concepts didn’t ring quite right with a lead character that really didn’t have me wanting to spend time with them. Its an OK book but when you expect something special from a known name, and it just doesn’t deliver then as a reader you feel that you’ve been not only short changed but cheated.

Don’t get me wrong for most readers, if they haven’t read Olen before they will probably enjoy it but for me, sadly this lacked a lot of the skills that have come to the froe for me in previous outings. All round a great disappointment but it was a book I was pleased that I stayed around for the ending purely to discover that it hadn’t improved.

FANTASY REVIEW: Millenium Rule 1: Thief's Magic - Trudi Canavan

Release Date: 15/05/14
Publisher:  Orbit

SYNOPSIS:

International No.1 bestselling author Trudi Canavan returns with her most powerful and thrilling adventure yet. In a world where an industrial revolution is powered by magic, Tyen, a student of archaeology, unearths a sentient book called Vella. Once a young sorcerer-bookbinder, Vella was transformed into a useful tool by one of the greatest sorcerers of history. Since then she has been collecting information, including a vital clue to the disaster Tyen's world faces. Elsewhere, in a land ruled by the priests, Rielle the dyer's daughter has been taught that to use magic is to steal from the Angels. Yet she knows she has a talent for it, and that there is a corrupter in the city willing to teach her how to use it - should she dare to risk the Angels' wrath. But not everything is as Tyen and Rielle have been raised to believe. Not the nature of magic, nor the laws of their lands. Not even the people they trust.


REVIEW:

Trudi is an author who always presents a well thought out imaginative world to the reader and having been a fan for way too many years o count, I really was looking forward to starting the first of a new series.

What unfurls within is a story that is not only rich in magic and concept but one that presents the reader with a whole list of questions that they will have to wait to discover the answers for. Back this up with great prose, wonderful pace and a lead characters that will not only endear themselves but create genuine feelings for the reader all round gives you something that is not only hard to put down but nigh impossible. Simply wonderful.

STEAMPUNK REVIEW: In Dark Service - Stephen Hunt

Release Date: 15/05/14
Publisher:  Gollancz

SYNOPSIS:

Jacob Carnehan has settled down. He's living a comfortable, quiet life, obeying the law and minding his own business while raising his son Carter ...on those occasions when he isn't having to bail him out of one scrape or another. His days of adventure are - thankfully - long behind him. Carter Carnehan is going out of his mind with boredom. He's bored by his humdrum life, frustrated that his father won't live a little, and longs for the bright lights and excitement of anywhere-but-here. He's longing for an opportunity to escape, and test himself against whatever the world has to offer. Carter is going to get his opportunity. He's caught up in a village fight, kidnapped by slavers and, before he knows it, is swept to another land. A lowly slave, surrounded by technology he doesn't understand, his wish has come true: it's him vs. the world. He can try to escape, he can try to lead his fellow slaves, or he can accept the inevitable and try to make the most of the short, brutal existence remaining to him...unless Jacob gets to him first and, no matter the odds, he intends to. No one kidnaps his son and gets away with it - and if it come to it, he'll force Kings to help him on his way, he'll fight, steal, blackmail and betray his friends in the name of bringing Carter home. Wars will be started. Empires will fall. And the Carnehan family will be reunited, one way or another...


REVIEW:

Stephen Hunt has been one of those authors that I’ve enjoyed since I read his original “The Dragon and the Crown” (which won him the WHSmith prize) and whilst I’m still waiting for that series to continue, I’ve really enjoyed his Steampunk cross titles as they always bring something that I can’t get enough of to the fore. Principle players that I want to spend time around.

Here within the latest outing is a story of heroism, of action and as usual nigh impossible odds for the people to not only battle against but where survival is the key. Its wonderfully inventive, has great pace and all round made me feel like a very happy reader.

VIDEO GAME NEWS: The Evil Within Player Reactions - Bethesda

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,
Our contact at Bethesda has contacted us to let us know about the latest trailer showing those who've managed to have a sneaky play on the the forthcoming "The Evil Within."

The Trailer is quite eerie, gruesome and of course bloody and lets be honest here, with it being released around Halloween around the world (North America on August 26, 2014, and throughout Europe on August 29, 2014.) we are looking forward to locking the doors, shutting the curtains and getting our fright on in this survival horror.)

So now without further ado, the trailer:

But thats not all, Bethesda also had this to announce:

"We’ve also announced The Evil Within’s pre-order incentive – The Fighting Chance Pack. The Fighting Chance Pack provides players with a handful of additional items that may help them stave off death for a moment longer.

The Fighting Chance Pack includes:

• Medical Kit – A vital health enhancement to enable Sebastian to fight on.   
• Green Gel – Used to upgrade Sebastian’s attributes.
• Double Barrel Shotgun and Three Shells - A larger and more formidable shotgun than the regular shotgun, it’s useful for tight situations with multiple encroaching enemies.
• An Incendiary Agony Bolt – Capable of showering nearby enemies with damaging fire sparks.
• A Poison Agony Bolt – Will draw enemies towards it and poison them, allowing Sebastian time for a quick escape."

Developed by Shinji Mikami and the talented team at Tango Gameworks, The Evil Within embodies the meaning of pure survival horror.Highly-crafted environments, horrifying anxiety, and an intricate story are combined to create an immersive world that will bring you to the height of tension. With limited resources at your disposal, you’ll fight for survival and experience profound fear in this perfect blend of horror and action.

While investigating the scene of a gruesome mass murder, Detective Sebastian Castellanos and his partners encounter a mysterious and powerful force. After seeing the slaughter of fellow officers, Sebastian is ambushed and knocked unconscious. When he awakens, he finds himself in a deranged world where hideous creatures wander among the dead. Facing unimaginable terror, and fighting for survival, Sebastian embarks on a frightening journey to unravel what’s behind this evil force.

For more information on The Evil Within, visit or recently updated site at www.theevilwithin.com."  

We hope you're getting as excited about this as we are.  

All the best,  



Gareth and Lady Eleanor.

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Announcement - Warner Brothers Interactive

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,
Our friends at Warner Brothers Interactive, have let us know that this Autumn see's the release of Batman 3: Beyond Gotham.

And to help launch this, we've got a cracking trailer.  With the huge success of Lego: Marvel Superheroes  (and thier Lego: The Hobbit title) we can't wait to see what the latest developments do for DC.  We've got high hopes for this (and of course with them setting it in Space, so to do they.  LOL)

And now for your viewing pleasure, the trailer:

Lego: Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, is set for release on the following formats:
PSV
PS3
PS4
3DS
Wii U
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PC

We hope you too will look forward to grabbing those bricks and earning those heroes with the super studs.  LOL


Gareth and Lady Eleanor

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: The Dresden Files 16: Skin Game - Jim Butcher

Release Date: 27/05/14
Publisher:  Orbit

SYNOPSIS:

Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, is about to have a very bad day. As Winter Knight to the Queen of Air and Darkness, Harry never knows what the scheming Mab might want him to do. Usually, it's something awful. This time, it's worse than that. Mab's involved Harry in a smash-and-grab heist run by one of his most despised enemies, to recover the literal Holy Grail from the vaults of the greatest treasure horde in the world - which belongs to the one and only Hades, Lord of the Underworld. Dresden's always been tricky, but he's going to have to up his backstabbing game to survive this mess - assuming his own allies don't end up killing him before his enemies get the chance ...


REVIEW:

The latest Harry Dresden book and whilst its been one I’ve waited a little time to think about my review its one that left the reader puzzling right the way through as to how he was going to survive against the greatest odds he’s yet to face. I love the way that Harry is, I love the witty asides, the double dealing, the political machinations and how what you thought was right can easily be twisted for a separate point of view.

Add to the mix some new friends as well as some old ones and a real kickass tale, all round gives the reader another superb book to sit back and savour. I’m definitely going to go back for a reread soon and I hope that Orbit will release the earlier books in Hardback format as my current ones are wearing out.

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Night Terrors - Tim Waggoner

Release Date: 27/05/14
Publisher: Angry Robot

SYNOPSIS:

It's Supernatural meets Men in Black in a darkly humorous urban fantasy from the author of Nekropolis. When you dream, that have discovered, you visit the Maelstrom. Dream long enough and hard enough, and your dreams can break through into the living world. So, alas, can your nightmares. And who's there to catch the dreams and nightmares as they fall into reality? Meet the Nightwatch, the police who catch escaped nightmares. Pray you never need them -


REVIEW:

Urban Fantasy takes a new twist as Tim brings his own version of the Incubi to the reader in a cracking crime thriller that readers will really get behind. It has great prose, some wonderful concepts and when added to principle players dialogue all round generates something that was a pure joy to sit back and read, so much so that I wouldn’t think that you’ll be getting much sleep that night.

Its definitely going to be a book where you feel naught with your “one more chapter” thought and when added to the fact that the world is so open for future exploits as well as the chance for truly evil villains all round makes this a book that I really can’t recommend enough to UF fans looking for something new.

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Murdered: Soul Suspect New Trailer - Square Enix

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,
Our friends at Square Enix have sent the latest trailer for the forthcoming Murdered: Soul Suspect, which has been on our radar since the first trailer earlier in the year.

This Video shows not only in game action but also tempts the gamer with some of your powers available within.  We can't wait to get our hands on it:

In addition to this, please remember that there is a Limited Edition coming out that will include a copy of the journal used by Ronan and Joy to hunt down the killer and features written and visual clues about the murders terrorising Salem. It will also include free access to an Interactive Digital Strategy Map. With the aid of the map, you will be able to seek out hundreds of collectibles, detect side quests and find all of Salem’s haunting landmarks. 

The map will be accessible via computer or tablet. The Limited Edition will be available while stocks last. Please check with your local retailer to see if they're participating.   

Murdered: Soul Suspect will be released on the following formats on 6th June 2014:    
PC    
Xbox One    
Xbox 360    
PS4  
PS3    

We hope you'll uncover the truth as we do,  



 Gareth and Lady Eleanor

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor "Make Them Your Own Trailer plus game talent - Warner Brothers Interactive

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,
Our friends at Warner Brothers Interactive have sent us the latest Trailer "Make Them Your Own" for the forthcoming Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor.

The title will be released on the 7th October 2014 for the following formats:
PC
PS3
PS4
Xbox 360
Xbox One

In other news:
"WBIE announced the acclaimed game talent and musical composer behind Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Bringing to life an original story written by Christian Cantamessa (Red Dead Redemption) in the expansive Middle-earth universe set between the events of The Hobbit™ and The Lord of the Rings™ are many of gaming’s best actors, led by Troy Baker and Nolan North.

Joining them is acclaimed video game musical composer Garry Schyman with an original score that sets the tone for this next saga in Mordor. Lending his talent to some of the most celebrated musical compositions in gaming, Schyman is responsible for the soundtrack behind BioShock Infinite, earning him the 2014 British Academy of Film and Television award for Best Original Music as well as the D.I.C.E. award for “Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition” from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences.

The game talent cast in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor includes:

•   Troy Baker - Talion (The Last of Us, Batman: Arkham Origins, BioShock Infinite, Batman: Arkham City)
•   Nolan North – Black Hand (Uncharted series, Batman: Arkham Origins)
•   Alastair Duncan - Wraith (Mass Effect series, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception)
•   Laura Bailey – Ioreth (Halo 4, Batman: Arkham Origins, The Last of Us)
•   Liam O’Brien – Gollum (Infamous: Second Son, Grand Theft Auto V, The Last of Us)"
 

Also remember that fans who pre-order  Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor will get access at the game’s launch to  The Dark Ranger exclusive bonus pack. Available at all participating retailers, the pack will provide exclusive content and challenges for players including:  

• Dark Ranger Character Skin
  • Begin your own quest for vengeance with a new Dark Ranger character skin that embodies Talion's darker side
• "Test of Power" Challenge Mode
• Face Sauron's Captains and defeat them to earn powerful Runes and gain a head start in the game
• Test your speed, skill and strategy and measure yourself against your friends on the leaderboards 
• Access to Exclusive Leaderboards for "Test of Power" Challenge Mode
  • Test your speed, skill and strategy and measure yourself against your friends on the leaderboards in this challenge mode
  
  
  
  Hopefully this will have whetted your appetite so remember to keep your blades sharp and your wits sharper.
  
  Gareth and Lady Eleanor

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Batman: Arkham Knight Debut Gameplay Trailer - DC and Warner Brothers Interactive

Hail Might Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,
Our friends at Warner Brothers, DC and Rock Steady Games have sent us the latest trailer for the forthcoming Batman: Arkham Knight, the debut gameplay trailer. 

We can't wait to hear what you think of this cracking trailer and the chance to drive the new Batmobile, we can't wait.  So, for your viewing pleasure we present the new trailer:

 
Please remember that if you preorder you'll also get to play Harley Quinn. as well as the fact that this title is next gen and will only be released on the following formats:  
PC's 
PS4
Xbox One

All the best,  



Gareth and Lady Eleanor

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Space Hulk: Deathwing - Focus

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,
Our friends at Focus have let us see the first screenshots of its forthcoming Space Hulk®: Deathwing™, the first-person shooter set in Games Workshop’s famous Warhammer 40,000 universe!

Developed by StreumOn Studio (E.Y.E. Divine Cybermancy) on Unreal Engine 4, Space Hulk: Deathwing puts players at the head of a squad of Space Marine Terminators, as they venture within the claustrophobic, and Genestealer-infested, entrails of a Space Hulk. Today’s pictures show the hero of the game, a Deathwing Librarian, delving deeper and deeper into the Space Hulk, and confronting the awakening hordes of Genestealers. 

The Genestealers represent a serious threat even for a squad of Terminators, but they are just the vanguard of the forces players will fight inside the Space Hulk. From Genestealer Hybrids equipped with heavy weapons, through many sub-species of Genestealers, to huge Bloodlords, the enemies of the Deathwing are varied, versatile, and terrifying.

Finally hope you enjoy the trailer:

All the best and may the Emperor be with you:


Gareth and Lady Eleanor

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Transformers Universe Under the Hood Part One Feature and Q&A with David Nicholson - Jagex

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,

Our friends at Jagex Game Studio have sent us a cracking couple of updates for lTransformers Universe MMORPG.

The first is the Under the Hood Part One feature:  

And Secondly a Transformers Universe Q & A session with David Nicholson, Vice President of Transformers Universe:
"•    How have you found the fan response to the Transformers you’ve created for the game?

Well, being able to design and implement our own Transformers could have been a double edged sword, especially when it comes to the fans and their respect and love for the Transformers brand. We’re really pleased, the fan response has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s obviously a huge honour, privilege and responsibility to introduce new characters into the Transformers universe. Throughout development we’ve worked very closely with Hasbro, sharing our initial thoughts and ideas, taking on board their feedback and working within the existing Transformers canon.


•    Can you talk about the process of creating new Transformers, and why you felt it was important to generate new ones for the game?

The actual task of introducing new characters starts with research. Hundreds of Transformers already exist across movies, TV shows and books, so we want to make sure we’re not overlapping with something that’s already in place. After that, it becomes a collaborative process between the creative team and the concept team as they start working up concepts, and develop initial thoughts on names biographies and backstories for the characters. It’s an exhilarating process! We’re really excited about the characters that we’ve created, and can’t wait for players to get their hands on them.


•    Where did you take inspiration for the type of game Transformers Universe is?

MMOs have been a growing genre for many years now and it’s been interesting to watch the transition from traditional MMORPGs through to MOBAs and on to war games like World of Tanks. We don’t like being pigeon-holed and feel that Transformers Universe, as a blend of strategic, tactical and collaborative game play is best described as a multiplayer online tactical action (MOTA) game. There’s huge competition out there for people’s attention, from games, films, TV, books and more, and we think Transformers Universe can really stand out because not only is it Transformers, and millions of people around the world have grown up with this brand for 30 years, but we’ve got a game that, irrelevant of the brand attached to it, stands on its own merits. The game plays to many strengths. It offers players the chance to collect these great Transformers warriors and lead them into battle; it lets you go head to head against players from around the world; and it features game modes that suit your style of play. Ultimately, who doesn’t like huge robot warriors that can kick ass and who also have fantastic and growing back stories. It’s the perfect mechanical storm!


•    Can you talk a bit about the background of the story and how that was created?

We’ve been able to build on established lore and really take Transformers Universe off in a unique direction. Narrative will be an important part of Transformers Universe and the way gamers play it will impact on how the story develops. We’ve worked very hard with Hasbro on building out the storyline for Transformers Universe, and as part of that we’ve added award-winning music video and feature film director, Alex De Rakoff, to the team to help establish tone and narrative for the game too.


•    What are your future plans for rolling out content?

Obviously our current focus is on delivering a great product for launch. We are using the beta period to get feedback from real players and understand what’s working for people and what isn’t.

After that we’ll be more open about our future plans. We’ve got plans for content updates, significant narrative events that are really going to steer the story and a pipeline of numerous bots that players are going to meet post-launch. But, at the moment, the focus is all about the here and the now, and that means releasing a product that is worthy of the TRANSFORMERS brand as well as being worthy of the fans loyalty and patience.


•    How does the pricing structure work for the game?

Transformers Universe will be free-to-play and content will not be gated by a subscription. If you’ve got the time then you’ll be able to get everything you want without spending a penny. We want players to experience the best of what we’re offering, while allowing those that are a little more time constrained the option of getting into the experience a little quicker.


•    Are you hoping to pick up fans of the movies with the release coming this summer?

Firstly, and I say this from the perspective of being a TRANSFOMERS fan, it’s going to be a bumper summer for people like me! It’s completely serendipitous that the film and Transformers Universe are released within the same time frame. There is very little content or story overlap between the film and the game. That said, the fact that there is another movie hitting the screens at a similar time as Transformers Universe is being played, can only bode well for both the hard core fans and the more casual observers. You can enjoy the movie experience and then come home, log on and continue the adventure in the comfort of your own home."

Beta Testing is still open (which you can sign up for it here.) For more information visit their website and remember Transformers Universe launches in June.

Let the Oil and Energon flow,


 

Gareth and Lady Eleanor

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor New Trailer - Warner Brothers Interactive

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,
Our friends at Warner Brothers Interactive have sent us the latest V-Blog featuring the use of Runes for the forthcoming Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor.

The title will be released on the 7th October 2014 for the following formats:
PC
PS3
PS4
Xbox 360
Xbox One

Lady Eleanor and I are both looking forward to getting stuck in and whilst I'll probably be a little sneaky, the footage seems to suit her style of play down to the ground.  But we'll let you decide when you see the footage:
 

Also remember that fans who pre-order  Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor will get access at the game’s launch to  The Dark Ranger exclusive bonus pack. Available at all participating retailers, the pack will provide exclusive content and challenges for players including:  

• Dark Ranger Character Skin
  • Begin your own quest for vengeance with a new Dark Ranger character skin that embodies Talion's darker side
• "Test of Power" Challenge Mode
• Face Sauron's Captains and defeat them to earn powerful Runes and gain a head start in the game
• Test your speed, skill and strategy and measure yourself against your friends on the leaderboards 
• Access to Exclusive Leaderboards for "Test of Power" Challenge Mode
  • Test your speed, skill and strategy and measure yourself against your friends on the leaderboards in this challenge mode
  
  
  
  Hopefully this will have whetted your appetite so remember to keep your blades sharp and your wits sharper.
  
  
  Gareth and Lady Eleanor

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Elder Scroll Online Problems for Console Release - Bethesda

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,
Lady Eleanor and I have been getting ready for the Xbox One release of this title and getting pretty excited to take on the challenges as a double team (to start with until someone wanted us in their guild.  So we've been gaming away on previous incarnations getting the maximum out of it in time for the June release.

Whilst the PC and Mac versions have been doing well, we were getting a little worried about not having heard anything about the console versions so have been chatting to our contacts to find out more.  Here is a statement issued this morning:

"We’ve been grateful to our fans for the wonderful response to our recent launch of The Elder Scrolls Online for PC/Mac, but we know many of you are eagerly waiting to play the game on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

We continue to work on the console versions of ESO, and game development has been progressing steadily, but we are still working to solve a series of unique problems specific to those platforms. Integrating our systems with each console manufacturer’s networks -- which are both different from the PC/Mac system as well as different from each other — has been a challenging process. It has become clear that our planned June release of the console versions isn’t going to be possible.  Though we have made great progress, we have concluded that we’ll need about six months to ensure we deliver the experience our fans expect and deserve.

We know that the news of an ESO console delay is as disappointing to many of you as it is to us. We want to do what we can to make it up to our fans who want to start playing now, so we have worked out the following arrangement with Sony and Microsoft:

Via a special offer, anyone who purchases and plays the PC/Mac version of The Elder Scrolls Online by the end of June will have the opportunity to transfer their character(s) to either console version when they are released. The offer will allow you to begin playing immediately on the PC/Mac, and then add the PS4 or Xbox One version and transfer the character(s) you have created and developed. And, you don’t have to pay full price for the game twice. For $20/€14.99/£12.99/AU$20, eligible PC and Mac players will have the option to add a full, digital version of ESO on either the PS4 or the Xbox One with your character transfer(s), and another 30 days of included game time. 

Whether you decide to take advantage of this offer or not, we promise to do everything we can to get the game released on both consoles as quickly as we can. We will keep everyone updated with additional details regarding character transfers, specific offer dates, when you can expect console beta to start, and of course, when ESO on consoles will launch.

Thank you for your patience and loyal support."

Currently we're not sure what this is going to mean to a June release but at the moment we get the feeling that its going to be pushed back to more of a Christmas release.  (Although we hope we're wrong on that.)  Sorry we haven't got anything else on the title at the moment and if you are going to be picking it up for someone else or yourself please remember that it will have a monthly running cost of £8.99. 
Anyway, hope this helps and if you have any more Elder Scrolls Online queries please feel free to ask and we’ll do our best to answer,


Gareth and Lady Eleanor

FANTASY REVIEW: Talus and the Frozen King - Graham Edwards

Release Date: 10/04/14
Publisher:  Solaris

SYNOPSIS:

Heroes must rise ...The King is dead. His daughter, untested and alone, now wears the Steel Crown. And a vast horde is steadily carving a bloody road south, hell-bent on razing Steelhaven to the ground ...or the city will fall Before the city faces the terror that approaches, it must crush the danger already lurking within its walls. But will the cost of victory be as devastating as that of defeat?


REVIEW:

Solaris likes to bring something different to readers so to get a detective novel set in the stone age was something that was not only a surprise but a wonderful turn of events. With the principle character Talus acting as Holmes alongside his sidekick Bran taking up the Watson role, the world is not only vivid but believable.

Add to this a tale of what seems like a senseless murder alongside a whole host of potential murderers and all round I was more than glued to the tale as it unveiled each piece of the solution a little at a time. Back this up with cracking dialogue accompanied by a hidden Moriarty and all round readers will not only lap this up but demand more. All round a great book and the start to what I hope will be a cracking series.

FANTASY REVIEW: The Shattered Crown - Richard Ford

Release Date: 13/03/14
Publisher:  Headline

SYNOPSIS:

Heroes must rise ...The King is dead. His daughter, untested and alone, now wears the Steel Crown. And a vast horde is steadily carving a bloody road south, hell-bent on razing Steelhaven to the ground ...or the city will fall Before the city faces the terror that approaches, it must crush the danger already lurking within its walls. But will the cost of victory be as devastating as that of defeat?


REVIEW:

The second Steelhaven title from Richard and one that continues to expand upon the wonderful world building of its predecessor as the reader is thrown in to hard-boiled fantasy with nothing but their wits to guide them. It has some cracking pace, a dark grim reality about it and when added to the combat sequences that show the deadliness of choices all round gives you something to hang on for.

YOUNG ADULT REVIEW: The Raven Queen - Che Golden

Release Date: 06/03/14
Publisher:  Quercus

SYNOPSIS:

Maddy and her cousins are ready for battle. War in the faerie realm threatens to spill into the human world. The three cousins are determined to protect all they love from the Tuatha, the fearsome faerie leaders. As the Morrighan, the supreme monarch of the Tuatha, awakes, Maddy realises she's going to need more than just physical strength and luck to survive. The Tuath are notorious tricksters, and Maddy will have to outsmart them for good - or else plunge two whole worlds into the darkest chaos.


REVIEW:

There are times as a reader when you just can’t help but want to delve into the young adult world for a tale that gets back to the good old firelight story telling tradition of yesteryear. What Che does extremely well is bring the Tuatha to life for the younger reader bringing ancient tales to a modern audience as the young protagonists are placed on opposite sides of the board to the fae.

The storytelling is rich, the characters within bringing something for every young reader and of course are associable for them so that they can easily get to the heart of the matter. Back this up with some cracking plot twists as well as some sleight of hand that will leave them amazed and all round it’s a cracking experience.

HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: Hannibal: Clouds of War - Ben Kane

Release Date: 06/03/14
Publisher:  Preface Publishing

SYNOPSIS:

As Rome's war with Carthage continues, two friends -- now on opposing sides -- confront each other in one of the most brutal sieges of all time. A new Hannibal novel by the "Sunday Times" bestselling author of The Forgotten Legion series. 213 BC. Syracuse. Under the merciless Sicilian sun, a city is under siege. Outside the walls, a vast Roman army waits. Yet the city's incredible defences -- designed by Archimedes -- mean that the city will not be easily taken. A veteran of the bitter war since its beginning, Quintus is ready to give his life in the service of the Republic. But dangers face him from within his own ranks as well as from the enemy -- who include his former friend, the Carthaginian, Hanno. Hanno has been sent by his general Hannibal to aid Syracuse in its fight against Rome. Pledged to bring death to all Romans, he is diverted from his mission by the discovery of Quintus' sister Aurelia, a captive within the city. Two friends on opposing sides. A woman caught between them. They are about to meet in one of the most brutal sieges of all time. Who will survive?


REVIEW:

The latest excerpt from the Second Punic War time period where friends are placed on opposite sides of the battlefield. What Ben does extremely well is bring the past to life in such a way that modern readers can associate with it. It has great characterisation, solid cast members for both sides and of course prose that is sharper than the blades upon which thousands are to be thrown.

Add to this dialogue that really keeps you glued, pace that won’t let go and all round the reader really is in for something unique within this series. You really can’t put it down.

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Transformers Universe Launches Founders Programme - Jagex

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,

Our friends at Jagex Game Studio have let us know that fans of the Transformers Universe MMORPG that they have the chance to be immortalised in the Founders Honour Role, where they can reap in game rewards and relics as well as the chance for a strictly limited Transformers Universe Figurine amongst other things.  

Here's what they had to say:
"There are four available packs on offer to players – bronze, silver, gold and cybernite – and all Founders will be immortalized in the Founders Honor Roll. The packs themselves are competitively priced, with full details now available at http://www.transformersuniverse.com/founders-pack, and offer players scalable value-added extras.

The extras are fully dependent on the pack purchased, but will range from equipment bundles, warrior upgrades and in-game tools, through to exclusive warriors and body kits. Founders will also be awarded in-game currency; season passes; free access to timed-exclusive warriors at launch and other in-game bonuses. For those Founders taking advantage of the top level cybernite pack they will receive a 50cm tall TRANSFORMERS Universe figurine that has been specially commissioned for the game, with a very limited worldwide run.

All Founders packs, of varying levels of value and content, are priced accordingly and are available for purchase immediately, guaranteeing all Founders a place on the Founders Honor Roll along with an exclusive Founders forum avatar immediately on purchase. Full details, including pricing, can be found at www.transformersuniverse.com/founders-pack." 

Beta Testing is still open (which you can sign up for it here.) For more information visit their website and remember Transformers Universe launches in June.

Let the Oil and Energon flow,


 

Gareth and Lady Eleanor