A place to find out author interviews along with book reviews of thier works in the following genres:
science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, crime, horror, history, arts and crafts, hobby, true life, real life, autobiography, zombie, paranormal, demons, vampires, religion and spirituality, thriller, mystery, psychological thriller, spy tory, techno thriller, humour.
Release Date: 17/09/15 Publisher: Piatkus SYNOPSIS:
It's a new year in New York city, and two star-crossed lovers have just discovered an insatiable appetite...for murder.
Lieutenant Eve Dallas has witnessed some grisly crimes in her career and she knows just how dark things can get on the streets. But when a much-loved musician is found dead, Eve soon realises that his murder is part of a horrifying killing spree, stretching right across the country.
Now the killers have reached New York, and they've found themselves another victim. Eve knows she only has a couple of days to save a young girl's life, and to stop the killers before their sadistic games escalate. Eve's husband Roarke is ready to put his brains and his considerable resources behind the search. But even as the couple works closely together, time is running out...
REVIEW:
If you enjoy a crime story that concentrates on characters and plot rather than fully diving into the criminal aspect then JD Robb may well be the author for you as this, (her 41st book in this series) bring serial killing duo Ella-Loo and Daryll to the attention of Lieutenant Eve Dallas.
As the list of victims grows (due to the research of one of the clues), Eve has to track the duo down and when you throw her own personal partnership into the mix, it’s a tale that has high octane emotional context mixed with a cracking story. All round a great book and one that had me glued from start to finish as it concentrated more on character development which for me is the key to all books. Cracking.
Release Date: 10/09/15 Publisher: Century SYNOPSIS:
Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The second Death Star has been destroyed, the Emperor killed, and Darth Vader struck down. Devastating blows against the Empire, and major victories for the Rebel Alliance. But the battle for freedom is far from over.
As the Empire reels from its critical defeats at the Battle of Endor, the Rebel Alliance―now a fledgling New Republic―presses its advantage by hunting down the enemy’s scattered forces before they can regroup and retaliate. But above the remote planet Akiva, an ominous show of the enemy’s strength is unfolding. Out on a lone reconnaissance mission, pilot Wedge Antilles watches Imperial Star Destroyers gather like birds of prey circling for a kill, but he’s taken captive before he can report back to the New Republic leaders.
Meanwhile, on the planet’s surface, former rebel fighter Norra Wexley has returned to her native world―war weary, ready to reunite with her estranged son, and eager to build a new life in some distant place. But when Norra intercepts Wedge Antilles’s urgent distress call, she realizes her time as a freedom fighter is not yet over. What she doesn’t know is just how close the enemy is―or how decisive and dangerous her new mission will be.
Determined to preserve the Empire’s power, the surviving Imperial elite are converging on Akiva for a top-secret emergency summit―to consolidate their forces and rally for a counterstrike. But they haven’t reckoned on Norra and her newfound allies―her technical-genius son, a Zabrak bounty hunter, and a reprobate Imperial defector―who are prepared to do whatever they must to end the Empire’s oppressive reign once and for all.
REVIEW:
Chuck for me is an author that I either really get behind with a novel or one that leaves me feeling a little out in the cold and whilst I do tend to have a lot of fun reading the books that expand the universe, this one left me feeling a little cheated as it felt a little off kilter as (with it being the opener in a series) had to deal with a lot of issues of bringing the cast together alongside the greater universal effect of the fall of the Empire.
It’s a hard book to read and whilst I did make it through I did find that the overall effect of the novel was fairly muted not giving me a breakneck pace that I wanted. Yes there were moments of pulse thumping action but for me, these were few and far between leaving me trudging along a lot of the time. Here’s hoping that it picks up in the second book now that a lot of the background and hard work has been established in this one. However if there’s no real character development, I won’t be returning for the third.
Release Date: 27/08/15 Publisher: Bloomsbury Sport SYNOPSIS:
Rugby has always been a sport with as much drama off the field as on it. For every thrilling last-minute Jonny Wilkinson drop-goal to win the World Cup or Jonah Lomu rampage down the touchline for a try there has been a split, a feud, or a controversy.
The Oval World is the first full-length history of rugby on a world scale from its origins in the village-based football games of medieval times to the globalized sport of the twenty-first century, now played over a hundred countries. It tells the story of how a game played in an obscure English public school became the winter sport of the British Empire, spreading to France, Argentina, Japan, and the rest of the world, and commanding a global television audience of over four billion for the last World Cup final. It also explores how American football and other games, such as Australian, Canadian, and Gaelic football emerged from their English cousin.
Featuring the great moments in the game s history and its legendary names David Duckham, Serge Blanco, Billy Boston, and David Campese, alongside Rupert Brooke, King George V, Boris Karloff, Charles de Gaulle, and Nelson Mandela The Oval World investigates just what it is about rugby that enables it to thrive in countries with very different traditions and cultures. This is the definitive world history of a truly global rugby.
REVIEW:
As a grandson of a Rugby Fanatic I like to try my best to keep up with things and as such thought a book on the subject would not only give me snippets of factoids to throw at him but also help keep me up to speed with the sport. However whilst the book was full of information, one thing that really annoyed me was the fact that there were no images within. Yes you can describe things but as they say a picture is worth a thousand words.
Whilst it is well written and easy to follow alongside lovingly researched by the author all round I have to say that I was disappointed with the book. I wanted a bit more passion within to allow readers to really get the feel for the sport and what keeps many glued to the matches rather than just a book that didn’t exude this key sporting emotion.
Release Date: 19/08/15 Publisher: Pan Macmillan SYNOPSIS:
In this stunning series of love, loss and the need to belong, Amanda Hocking returns to the world of her bestselling Trylle trilogy with the heart-stopping Crystal Kingdom.
With help from the Trylle clan, Bryn tries to clear her name and discover who was really responsible for the Kanin King's murder.
Then, while she's still trying to make sense of it all, Ridley tracks her down while she's on the run for a crime she didn't commit. He refuses to abandon her, so she finally decides that she wants to be with him. Together, they return to the Kanin capital and rally other trackers and the King's Guard to defend their kingdom from the villain within. But in the process, Bryn learns a startling truth about her former enemy. Brynn's loyalty is still to her kingdom, but will she be rewarded with a place in the royal guard - and who will ultimately win her heart?
REVIEW:
OK, I know a lot of people like Amanda’s writing but personally I don’t see what they see when I read her books. I don’t find the characters fully formed, I can’t get a hook into them and when you finally get to the meat of the tale I feel that it’s a pretty safe standard tested type of book.
All round, it is an OK book and middle of the road but for anyone thinking of picking this up on its own, it does tie in to Amanda’s earlier series and as such I would suggest that you start there perhaps borrowing a book from the local library first to see if its your cup of tea.
Release Date: 13/08/15 Publisher: Simon and Schuster SYNOPSIS:
Television producer Laurie Moran is elated when the pilot for her reality drama Under Suspicion is a success. Even more, the program - a cold case series that revisits unsolved crimes by recreating them with those affected - is off to a fantastic start when it helps solve an infamous murder in the very first episode.
Now Laurie has the ideal case to feature in the next instalment of Under Suspicion: the Cinderella Murder. When Susan Dempsey, a beautiful and multi-talented UCLA student, was found dead, her murder left numerous questions. Why was her car parked miles from her body? Had she ever shown up for the acting audition she was due to attend at the home of an up-and-coming director? Why does Susan's boyfriend want to avoid questions about their relationship? And why was Susan missing one of her shoes when her body was discovered?
With the help of lawyer and Under Suspicion host Alex Buckley, Laurie knows the case will make a great program, especially when the former suspects include Hollywood's elite and tech billionaires. The suspense and drama are perfect for the silver screen - but is Cinderella's murderer ready for a close-up?
REVIEW:
There are times in my life when I want to break into something different and utilise my brain as I try and figure things out to use a lot of the late night bed energy and knowing Mary’s writing, its one that is challenging as well as something that has you asking questions as pieces are revealed.
Whilst this is a co-authored book I have to say that it was one that was OK and whilst not outstanding for me, it did fill the brief of what I wanted as the case is carefully unravelled before the readers eyes. The prose is OK, the pace a little slow in places and whilst there isn’t a huge amount of unnecessary information within the book felt like it was lacking something. Not necessarily the characters (as they’ve appeared in a previous title) but overall there wasn’t any growth for me which I tend to expect to help keep me interested.
As I’ve said it’s been an OK read but not anything that would make me recommend either to a specific reader leaving this as more of a middle of the road book than anything else.
Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs, Lets play Bloodbowl. The season is about to launch in a week, where you can gouge, mutilate and stomp your foes into submission.
Here at Falcata Times, Lady Eleanor and I have both been looking at our teams and figuring out who we feel we could take to the championship and whilst we know that the game has you taking the Human's (the Reikland Reivers) from bottom to top, we each have our own personal favourites. I'm looking more at the Skaven or Lizardmen and Lady Eleanor wants either the Orcs or Dark Elves.
So whilst we're getting psyched up for our rivalry our friends at Cyanide, Games Workshop and Focus, have sent us the final trailer for the series. Featuring the High Elves and Orcs:
We'll see you on the Astro-turf and remember its game on. Gareth and Lady Eleanor
Release Date: 13/08/15 Publisher: Bantam Press SYNOPSIS:
1073 – under the merciless sun of the east, a dark force has risen - a Norman adventurer who could rival the feared King William for bloody ambition. He has conquered his land, he has built his fortress and he has amassed his army. And now he has taken Constantinople's ruler as his prisoner…
It falls to Hereward to rescue this precious captive. For this great English warrior-in-exile and his spear-brothers, it will mean mounting a raid that could prove the most dangerous and deadliest of their lives. Assisting them in their task will be an elite and legendary band of fighters, the Immortals – so-called because they believe they cannot die in battle. But it will not be enough - for enemies hide within the jewelled heart of Byzantium: vipers who spread their poison, who want to see the English dead at any cost and who are to transform a mission that was at best dangerous into an adventure that is now suicidal. . .
With this rousing adventure full of brutal sword play, treachery, camaraderie and honour, James Wilde continues his bestselling account of the action-packed life and times of England's great and now, thanks to his his fiction, perhaps not-so-forgotten hero - Hereward the Wake.
REVIEW:
Hereward is for me, the epitome of a superhero from old tales and here, in this carnation, he’s brought up to date by author James Wilde. As you’d expect there plenty of action sequences, good pace and of course prose that helps you see enough of the scene to get a picture without overly detailing it.
All round a cracking read and a series that I’ve had quite a bit of fun with especially when the author throws a few twists into the plot line alongside the odd piece of sleight of hand to keep it fresh.
Release Date: 13/08/15 Publisher: Orion SYNOPSIS:
Arimnestos of Plataea has already lived through several lifetimes' worth of adventure, from being a rich man's slave in Ephesus to winning glory at the battle of Marathon against the might of the Persian Empire. But the gods - and the Persians - aren't finished with him yet. As an experienced sea captain - his enemies might say pirate - he has a part to play in the final epic confrontation of the Long War between the Greeks and Persians, the Battle of Salamis. It is a battle where many debts of blood will be repaid, ancient grudges settled, fame won and treachery exposed, where the Greeks must finally bury their differences and fight as one - for against them Xerxes, the Great King, has assembled the greatest fleet the world has ever known, his sworn purpose to brutally extinguish the flame of freedom and make every Greek his slave.
REVIEW:
Ah the joys of Christian Cameron’s writing and whilst I do tend to love all his books, I really have a soft place in my heart for his continuing saga featuring Arimnestos of Plataea. I love being wrapped up in this time period since I read David Gemmell’s Lion of Macedon and any chance to journey to ancient days wins a place on my shelf.
What you get from Christian is a story that is full of blistering high octane action, breakneck pace and of course characters that fit in well into a world we can only hazard educated guesses at. The dialogue works well and all round generates a series that is so addictive, that you can’t resist a reread when the new one lands. Superb.
Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs, Having seen the trailer at E3 for For Honor, we've been keeping a careful eye for additional information as we're fascinated with the idea of being able to defend as well as attack with using the sword positioning. Whilst its still some time off (and we're still in a quandry about which side we're taking (although we're leaning between Norse Warrior or Knight) its always helpful to watch the information about the various cultures you can play. Here is the first one, for the Samurai:
We can't wait to see what else they bring to the fore and with luck, you'll join us on the battlefield. Gareth and Lady Eleanor
Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs, Our friends at Lego and Warner Brothers Interactive, with under two weeks to go for the release of Lego Dimensions, have let us know about the first in the series of launch trailers for the game:
Launching September 29th 2015, LEGO Dimensions will be available for Xbox One, the all-in one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems and Nintendo´s Wii U™ system. We can't wait to embark on adventures with all the Doctors, Doc Brown, Batman and a whole heap of others.
Release Date: 06/08/15 Publisher: Robinson SYNOPSIS:
A captivating collection of original science fiction and fantasy stories based on the same alternate world premise: a collection of documents that have been suppressed by the Vatican and hidden away for years, in some cases centuries, are revealed when the vaults are thrown open by a reforming pope.
In this alternate reality, Pope John Paul (I) does not die a month after his accession in 1978; instead he lives on for over 30 years to become the most reforming pope of all time. In addition to relaxing the rules on birth control and priestly celibacy he also opens up the most secret parts of the Vatican Library to scholars . . .
In the Vatican's deepest vaults, documents are discovered which shed new light on world history, containing information which, if true, would cause many parts of accepted history to have to be rewritten. These include not just the undercover involvement of the Catholic Church in world affairs, but documented accounts of what really happened in historical conundrums, the real lives of saints and popes, miracles, magic, angels and even alien encounters.
REVIEW:
Compendiums are a cracking way to try authors that you may not have had the time or the money to pick up before. This title from the Mammoth series bring a whole host of top talent together such as Storm Constantine alongside Mary Gentle as well as Sarah Ash to name a few.
Each tale is solid in its worn right and when woven together as if it with scholarly notes all round makes it something unique. All round a book that I had a lot of fun with and an ideal title for that brief escape with whether it’s a lunch break or journey time, you really won’t be disappointed. Magic.
Release Date: 06/08/15 Publisher: Gollancz SYNOPSIS:
Fifteen years from now, a new virus sweeps the globe. 95% of those afflicted experience nothing worse than fever and headaches. 4% suffer acute meningitis, creating the largest medical crisis in history. And 1% find themselves 'locked in' - fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus.
1% doesn't seem like a lot. But in the US that's 1.7 million people 'locked in' ... including the President's wife and daughter.
Spurred by grief and the sheer magnitude of the suffering, America undertakes a massive scientific initiative. Nothing can fully restore the locked in. But then two new technologies emerge. One is a virtual-reality environment, 'The Agora', where the locked-in can interact with other humans, whether locked-in ornot. The other is the discovery that a few rare individuals have brains that are receptive to being controlled by others, allowing those who are locked in to occasionally 'ride' these people and use their bodies as if they were their own.
This skill is quickly regulated, licensed, bonded, and controlled. Nothing can go wrong. Certainly nobody would be tempted to misuse it, for murder, for political power, or worse ...
REVIEW:
John has always been a Science Fiction Author that I’ve had a lot of reading pleasure from with my favourite book by him being, to date, Old Man’s War. As with that title, John’s writing has great pace, cracking prose and characters that just step off the pages.
Here within this title, the reader is treated to a story that feels all too real and could be something that we fear could happen to the population within a few years. Back this up with a “What If…” scenario and all round you know its going to be high octane discovery right from the get go.
All round a book that I just couldn’t put down, demonstrating why Scalzi is an absolute must go to for me as a reader.
Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs, Our friends at Bethesda have asked us to let you know about the second Fallout 4 feature which ask's why you're SPECIAL. The trailer is a lot of fun and harks back to some of those cracking Looney Toons that you remember from years ago. But don't just take our word for it have a look yourself. Its an absolute corker. More on these features as we get them but here's Perception:
Also please remember that Fallout 4 has a special one price Season Pass that includes:
Regular Updates
We'll be doing regular free updates to the game, and like Skyrim, these will come with not just fixes, but new features. For Skyrim we added things like mounted combat, legendary mode, kill cams, visual enhancements and more. We’ll work with all of you to figure out what new things you’d love to see added to Fallout 4, whether they are small tweaks or new features.
Mods & Creation Kit
The most important thing in our games is the freedom you have to create your own experience, and modding is a big part of that. Like all our previous games, we’ve made sure to keep Fallout 4 open and moddable at every step in development. Early next year we’ll release for free the new Creation Kit for the PC. This is the same tool we use in the studio. You'll be able to create your own mods and share them with others. We’re especially excited these same mods will then be coming to Xbox One, and then PlayStation 4.
Downloadable Content We've always done a lot of DLC for our games. We love making them and you always ask us for more. To reward our most loyal fans, this time we’ll be offering a Season Pass that will get you all of the Fallout 4 DLC we ever do for just $30. Since we’re still hard at work on the game, we don’t know what the actual DLC will be yet, but it will start coming early next year. Based on what we did for Oblivion, Fallout 3, and Skyrim, we know that it will be worth at least $40, and if we do more, you'll get it all with the Season Pass. Thanks again to all of you! The support and excitement you’ve given Fallout 4 has blown us away. It’s energized us even more to do everything we can in these final months to make this our best game yet. We absolutely can't wait for you to play it, and share your adventures with us and each other."
We can't wait to see what will be coming to Fallout 4 from friends and other modders, and hopefully see you in the far future,
Release Date: 06/08/15 Publisher: Hodder SYNOPSIS:
Imagine a world where everyone is born with a 'skin' name. Without skin you cannot learn, you are not permitted to marry, and you grow up an outsider amongst your own people.
This is no future dystopia. This is Celtic Britain.
It is AD 43. For the Caer Cad, 'skin' name determines lineage and identity. Ailia does not have skin; despite this, she is a remarkable young woman, intelligent, curious and brave. As a dark threat grows on the horizon - the aggressive expansion of the Roman Empire - Ailia must embark on an unsanctioned journey to attain the knowledge that will protect her people, and their pagan way of life, from the most terrifying invaders they have ever faced... and it is this unskinned girl who will come to hold the fate of her people in her hands.
REVIEW:
I love historical fiction, especially when its set in a time period to which I’m familiar. Set in the first century this title by Australian Author Ilka Tampke, brings the plight of Iron Age Britains to the fore as the roman army (under the rule of Emperor Claudius) back to British shores just less than a century after Julius Caesar.
Written from the point of view of an outcast in the Celtic tribal system, we have a book that brings the world to life through her eyes. Its well written, the facts come across easily without seeming like an info dump and we are treated to a tale that allows the reader to see that whilst we think we’re advanced that our ancestors had a lot of the same worries that we ourselves suffer today.
Back this up with a good solid pace, lulls to catch your breath by as well as dialogue that works wonderfully and descriptive prose that really put you there all round makes this a debut I am more than pleased I caught. Cracking.
Release Date: 30/07/15 Publisher: Century SYNOPSIS:
The follow-up to last year’s acclaimed The Ways of the Dead, this gritty mystery showcases Tucker’s talent for spot-on dialogue, authentic characters, and complex narrative.
When Billy Ellison, the son of Washington, D.C.’s most influential African-American family, is found dead in the Potomac near a violent drug haven, veteran metro reporter Sully Carter knows it’s time to start asking some serious questions―no matter what the consequences.
With the police unable to find a lead and pressure mounting for Sully to abandon the investigation, he has a hunch that there is more to the case than a drug deal gone bad or a tale of family misfortune. Digging deeper, Sully finds that the real story stretches far beyond Billy and into D.C.’s most prominent social circles.
An alcoholic still haunted from his years as a war correspondent in Bosnia, Sully now must strike a dangerous balance between D.C.’s two extremes―the city’s violent, desperate back streets and its highest corridors of power―while threatened by those who will stop at nothing to keep him from discovering the shocking truth.
REVIEW:
There are times in real life when you want to turn you hand to detective in order to utilise and use up some of that nervous pent up energy that always seems to take over prior to bed. What this title from Neely does, is provide you with a police procedural title that not only allows you to delve into the murder but look at each of the clues and try and get some clear idea’s as to whom you think is responsible.
It’s a solid enough title and whilst at times there are a few pieces that are explained in greater than needed detail. All round a good read and one that I had quite a bit of fun with especially as the key character of Sully Carter feels quite real to me. Magic.
Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs, Our friends at Lego and Warner Brothers Interactive, with two weeks to go for the release of Lego Dimensions, have sent us a trailer showing how they've brought a lot of original voice cast actors back to the studio to record their character for the Lego Universe. Here's the trailer:
Launching September 29th 2015, LEGO Dimensions will be available for Xbox One, the all-in one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems and Nintendo´s Wii U™ system. We can't wait to embark on adventures with all the Doctors, Doc Brown, Batman and a whole heap of others.
Release Date: 27/08/15 Publisher: Gollancz SYNOPSIS:
Her mentor shockingly killed in front of her, Rebecca Hatfield must flee the place and time she knows. She has lost her family, her dearest love and her ability to live a normal life. All she has left is the gift - or curse - of her immortality, and the bizarre clock that allows her to travel in time.
But when she too is attacked by the mysterious black-clad figure, Rebecca finds herself stranded in Tudor England. The clock has been stolen and without it, she can never leave the past. Alone, without friends or resources, she must risk the danger of Henry VIII's court and hunt down her attacker.
But someone else is waiting for her...
REVIEW:
The second book to feature Miss Hatfield and to be honest after the debacle of the first one I thought it was a series I wouldn’t return to as I had so many problems with it. Yet as a reader I’m not prepared to give up on an author on one book.
Having picked this title up, I have to say that I wish I hadn’t. As with the first the characters development was sadly lacking, the plot as outlandish as ever and all in left me wondering why I’d bothered. Sadly I am now more than prepared to ignore this series, although if Anna writes something else entirely I’ll give her work a whirl as I do see a writing style that I could love with the right combination of character/plot.
Release Date: 15/09/15 Publisher: Tachyon Publications SYNOPSIS:
Welcome to the many worlds of New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong (Otherworld, Cainsville). As her SyFy channel series, Bitten, enters its second season, Armstrong continues to breathe new life into city-dwelling vampires, werewolves, and zombies. Now travel even further with her, to a post-apocalyptic fortress, a superstitious village, a supernatural brothel, and even feudal Japan.
In Led Astray, you’ll discover the stories of new characters from within and outside Armstrong’s popular novels. Here you will find two original tales from Cainsville, plus journeys to and beyond the worlds of Darkest Powers, Age of Legends, Otherworld, and more.
Bold and humorous, passionate and heart-stopping, here is Kelley Armstrong at her versatile best.
REVIEW:
I love compendiums and when you get the chance to sit down with a ton of short stories from a favourite author there is something of not only a treat about it but a title that is there to not only entertain but make you feel like a kid again as you know that you have a lot of fun ahead of you.
What this title offers is a book that has a lot going for it and whilst these tales have appeared in other multi author releases this is the first time that they’ve been released as a single set. As usual with Kelley’s work it was not only a joy to read but really hit the spot, was great to dip into and a wonderful way to spend snatched reading time when I needed to escape from reality. All round it was great however my only real problem with this was that I’d have preferred to have it broken down so that all the relevant releases were together ie the Cainesville, the Otherworld and the others. That said though I did have fun with the book and can’t wait to see other short tales in future instalments.
Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs, Our friends at Bethesda have asked us to let you know about the Fallout 4 feature which ask's why you're SPECIAL. The trailer is a lot of fun and harks back to some of those cracking Looney Toons that you remember from years ago. But don't just take our word for it have a look yourself. Its an absolute corker. More on these features as we get them but for your first, here's Strength:
Also please remember that Fallout 4 has a special one price Season Pass that includes:
Regular Updates
We'll be doing regular free updates to the game, and like Skyrim, these will come with not just fixes, but new features. For Skyrim we added things like mounted combat, legendary mode, kill cams, visual enhancements and more. We’ll work with all of you to figure out what new things you’d love to see added to Fallout 4, whether they are small tweaks or new features.
Mods & Creation Kit
The most important thing in our games is the freedom you have to create your own experience, and modding is a big part of that. Like all our previous games, we’ve made sure to keep Fallout 4 open and moddable at every step in development. Early next year we’ll release for free the new Creation Kit for the PC. This is the same tool we use in the studio. You'll be able to create your own mods and share them with others. We’re especially excited these same mods will then be coming to Xbox One, and then PlayStation 4.
Downloadable Content We've always done a lot of DLC for our games. We love making them and you always ask us for more. To reward our most loyal fans, this time we’ll be offering a Season Pass that will get you all of the Fallout 4 DLC we ever do for just $30. Since we’re still hard at work on the game, we don’t know what the actual DLC will be yet, but it will start coming early next year. Based on what we did for Oblivion, Fallout 3, and Skyrim, we know that it will be worth at least $40, and if we do more, you'll get it all with the Season Pass. Thanks again to all of you! The support and excitement you’ve given Fallout 4 has blown us away. It’s energized us even more to do everything we can in these final months to make this our best game yet. We absolutely can't wait for you to play it, and share your adventures with us and each other."
We can't wait to see what will be coming to Fallout 4 from friends and other modders, and hopefully see you in the far future,
Release Date: 27/08/15 Publisher: Bantam Press SYNOPSIS:
70AD. Disgraced, dishonoured and banished into exile on pain of execution if he ever returns to Rome, the former military tribune Gaius Valerius Verrens makes his way East through the death and destruction of the savage Judaean rebellion. Valerius knows his only hope of long term survival and a restoration of his family’s fortunes lie with his friend Titus, commander of the Army of Judaea and son of the newly crowned Emperor Vespasian.
But when he reaches the ring of legionary camps around the seemingly impregnable city of Jerusalem he finds Titus a changed man. Gone is the cheerful young officer he knew, replaced by a tough, ruthless soldier under pressure from his father to end the insurrection at any cost. Soon, Valerius finds himself at the centre of a web of intrigue spun by Titus’s lover, Queen Berenice of Cilicia, and her sometime ally, the general’s turncoat adviser, Flavius Josephus, who have an ulterior motive for ending the siege quickly.
Yet the laurels that will regain his honour cannot be won in the negotiations in the murky tunnels beneath Jerusalem. Only amid the fire and blood of battle will he equal the glory that brought him the title Hero of Rome.
REVIEW:
Historical Fiction is always a pure pleasure for me. I love knowing the historical time reference around the title and whilst in books events can be changed to make for a better plot, overall the reader is given the chance to look into the past and see heroism at its highest form alongside courage, principles and politics within.
Douglas has always been an author to deliver on all accounts and when you dive into this, his latest title, you’re jumping into book 6 to feature Gaius Valerius Verrens. As with the previous you’re in for high octane action, love and of course a plotline that doesn’t let up from the start until the end. However what I will advise you is to read the other books in order first. You’ll get much more of a blast from it and lets face it when you need to break from the real world on the build up to Christmas, this could well be a lifesaver for you. (Or perhaps the ideal gifts to ask for.) Cracking.
Release Date: 14/09/15 Publisher: Pocket Books SYNOPSIS:
Fan-favorite urban fantasista Ree Reyes and her crew of Geekomancers—humans that derive supernatural powers from pop culture—take on their biggest foes yet in this fourth book of the Geekomancy series.
When Ree’s long time nemesis Lucretia is finally brought to trial and found guilty for the deadly attack on Grognard’s, the Geekomancer community breathes a collective sigh of relief. But Ree and her crew soon discover that Lucretia has three very angry, very dangerous sisters who won’t rest until Eastwood—a fellow Geekomancer—is killed.
What follows is an adventure packed with epic battles, a bit of romance, and enough geeky W00t moments to fill your monthly quota of adventure and fun.
REVIEW:
To be honest a book I wasn’t sure on when I started as to be honest I thought that it felt as if it were just casing in on mixing the essence of geekiness into a lazy, hazy pot and dolloping in a percentage of story just to help fill it out. What occurred within however dissuaded me of that opinion as I found that the more I read, the more engrossed that I became.
Overall what really shines with this book is the characters, both supporting and main as they bring together an unseen world that hides within our own. It’s fun, it’s definitely quirky and when the author throws in a dark evil that seeks to overturn the world in their own way, generates a tale that I found thoroughly enjoyable.
Finally add to this a twist or two that you don’t see coming as well as growth for characters that helped make them more human (as well as identifiable,) all round makes this a series that I’m going to have to read the earlier releases for. Magic.
Release Date: 27/08/15 Publisher: Electric Monkey SYNOPSIS:
I wanted to touch the boy who was not to be touched.
The Messenger of Fear exists to punish the wicked, to restore balance in a world where evil seems to be everywhere. He offers sinners one terrible choice: play . . . or pay? If you win the game, you can go free. But if you lose, you must live out your greatest fear.
His assistant, Mara is still adjusting to her role. She must face the worst horrors of intolerance, cruelty and injustice: she, as much as any of the people Messenger pursues, is being punished. But Mara has secret feelings for Messenger, and they’re threatening to overpower her. As she learns more about his tragic past, she must make her own choice: how far will she go to gain her heart’s desire?
REVIEW:
OK, so this is the second book in the Messenger of Fear series and whilst this was a surprise when it landed, I have to say it was fairly easy to get into. What worked for me was the way that the principle character (who is now getting used to her role in society) allowing the reader to get a firm grip of whats happening.
It is a solid enough plot and whilst not explosive for the reader it’s Mara herself that keeps you glued as her personal dilemma’s as she questions herself and grows emotionally is what keeps you going. All round an OK middle of the road book.
Release Date: 14/08/15 Publisher: Titan SYNOPSIS:
A vast darkness is spreading. If left unchecked, it will engulf the world, and so Richard the Lionheart must depart England on a holy mission. In his absence, the safety of the realm is entrusted to his brother, Prince John. When the king departs, black sorcery begins to grip the land, threatening noble and peasant alike. Horrific creatures stalk the forests, yet the violence they commit pales when compared to the atrocities of men. A handful of rebels fight back, but are doomed to fail unless they can find a hero to lead them.
REVIEW:
I’m a huge fan of Historical Fantasy and when you throw in some Robin Hood with it, then I’m usually pretty well sold. That said, I do have high expectations from a book and expect it to deliver. After all when you’ve got good blurb, alongside a cracking concept it should be highly entertaining.
Whilst I’ve not always have the best relationship with Debbie Viguie, I have to say that she is not only prolific but an author who can deliver exactly what I want at times and this is one of those cases. Within the pages you get great action, solid characters and of course dialogue that helps move the tale on in its, if you’ll forgive the pun, merry way.
All round a cracking opening to a series and one I’ll look forward to seeing how each character will shape the world in which they live. Magic.
Release Date: 11/08/15 Publisher: Pan Macmillan/Tor SYNOPSIS:
In the distant future, Surplus arrives in China dressed as a Mongolian shaman, leading a yak which carries the corpse of his friend, Darger. The old high-tech world has long since collapsed, and the artificial intelligences that ran it are outlawed and destroyed. Or so it seems.
Darger and Surplus, a human and a genetically engineered dog with human intelligence who walks upright, are a pair of con men and the heroes of a series of prior Swanwick stories. They travel to what was once China and invent a scam to become rich and powerful. Pretending to have limited super-powers, they aid an ambitious local warlord who dreams of conquest and once again reuniting China under one ruler. And, against all odds, it begins to work, but it seems as if there are other forces at work behind the scenes.
REVIEW:
Every so often I love to try a book that’s a little different to my normal cup of tea and whilst previously I’ve had quite a bit of fun jumping into political intrigue within the pages of either a Sci-Fi or a Fantasy they’ve always kept the flavour true to the genre. Whilst that is the case with this book by Michael, the main problem that I have is that it seems to be full of that many twisted schemes within machinations that you’re very quick to lose track of what’s happening where or who has actually gotten the top hand over the other.
This for me is further convoluted by the fact that I really don’t like the principle character and whilst the concept within was pretty solid, for me the delivery wasn’t quite there which when added to my character dislike made it a hell of a struggle to finish. I did, but its one of those books I kept reading a few pages of here and there rather than sit with it until the end.
Release Date: 06/08/15 Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books SYNOPSIS:
The gillungs - genetically modified, waterbreathing humans - are thriving. They've pioneered new aquatic industries, and their high-efficiency quantum battery technology coupled to tidal turbines in the Thames estuary looks set to revolutionise the energy industry. But as demand grows, so does fear of what their newfound power might mean.
Then a biohazard scare at Sinkat, their London headquarters, fuels the opposition and threatens to derail the gillungs' progress. Was it an accident born of overconfidence, or was it sabotage?
DS Sharon Varsi has her suspicions, and Gabriel sees parallels in the propaganda war he's trying to manage: politicians and big business have stakes in this game too. And now there is a new threat: Zavcka Klist is out of prison. With powerful new followers and nothing to lose, she's out to reclaim everything they took from her.
REVIEW:
OK I’m new to Stephanie’s writing and whilst I’ve missed the first to books in the series, I didn’t feel that I was left out in the cold as a reader, within the pages, the author brought vibrant characters to the fore which when backed with solid dialogue helped them trip from the pages into my imagination.
The prose was sharp, the arc line wove its magic and finally when you add into it a seriously page gripping climax all round left me feeling more than happy as a reader. Yes I’ve ruined key aspects for reading the previous two titles in the series however I feel that because I’ve enjoyed this title so much I’m going to get just as much fun seeing how they’ve developed. Cracking.
Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs, Its nearly here. Yes thats right Bloodbowl season, where you can gouge, mutilate and stomp your foes into submission.
Here at Falcata Times, Lady Eleanor and I have both been looking at our teams and figuring out who we feel we could take to the championship and whilst we know that the game has you taking the Human's (the Reikland Reivers) from bottom to top, we each have our own personal favourites. I'm looking more at the Skaven or Lizardmen and Lady Eleanor wants either the Orcs or Dark Elves. So whilst we're getting psyched up for our rivalry (yes just over a week to go) our friends at Cyanide, Games Workshop and Focus, have sent us the final trailer prior to release. This time featuring the Breton's and Orcs:
We hope you'll celebrate with us as we bathe in our foes tears (be they due to defeat or the pain we inflict) and can't wait to see who triumphs in our own mini Blood Bowl tournament. Game on. Gareth and Lady Eleanor
Release Date: 30/07/15 Publisher: William Heinemann SYNOPSIS:
The compelling new Dr Temperance Brennan novel from the world-class forensic anthropologist and Number 1 bestselling author Kathy Reichs.
When forensic anthropologist Dr Tempe Brennan is approached by amateur detective Hazel ‘Lucky’ Strike, at first she is inclined to dismiss the woman’s claims that she’s matched a previously unidentified set of remains with a name.
But as the words of a terrified young woman echo round her office from an audio recorder found near where the bones were discovered, something about the story won’t let Tempe go.
As Tempe investigates further she finds herself involved in a case more complicated and horrifying than she could ever have imagined.
REVIEW:
The latest book from Kathy and to be honest I have to admit to being a bit of a Brennan addict, so much so that even after 17 other books I’m at the forefront to get my hands on this title. The reason that its not been reviewed prior to this is that I always like to keep a cracking book in my TBR pile for when I get desperate and need something to pick me up.
Like the other books in the series, the reader is in for a well written plot, with some great characters and a twist or two to get you hooked right from the get go. As usual with Kathy, it’s a one more chapter type of book and you’ll end up seeing the sun poking its head through the curtains. Great fun and as usual a wonderful read.
Release Date: 28/07/15 Publisher: Tor SYNOPSIS:
A world made by the Eight Creators on which to play out their games of passion and power, Paradise is a sprawling, diverse, often brutal place. Men and women live on Paradise as do dogs, cats, ferrets, goats, and horses. But dinosaurs predominate: wildlife, monsters, beasts of burden – and of war. Colossal planteaters like Brachiosaurus; terrifying meateaters like Allosaurus and the most feared of all, Tyrannosaurus rex. Giant lizards swim warm seas. Birds (some with teeth) share the sky with flying reptiles that range in size from batsized insectivores to majestic and deadly Dragons.
Thus we are plunged into Victor Milán's splendidly weird world of The Dinosaur Lords, a place that for all purposes mirrors 14th century Europe with its dynastic rivalries, religious wars, and byzantine politics…and the weapons of choice are dinosaurs. Where we have vast armies of dinosaur-mounted knights engaged in battle. And during the course of one of these epic battles, the enigmatic mercenary Dinosaur Lord Karyl Bogomirsky is defeated through betrayal and left for dead. He wakes, naked, wounded, partially amnesiac – and hunted. And embarks upon a journey that will shake his world.
REVIEW:
To be honest I had high hopes for this book and whilst I don’t tend to be swayed by writer endorsement I have to admit that seeing the GRRM quote upon the cover made me think I was in for a real treat.
What occurred within was sadly a mess. For me the characters were pretty two dimensional, the plot line sadly lacking and when you throw into it a small cast, as a reader I expect to get to know each one quite well so much so that I can see the reasons behind their choices as to how the plot develops. Sadly that didn’t happen here and as such I was left wondering what the hell was happening quite a lot of the time as it moved at a really dire pace.
All in a book/series I won’t be returning to in the future and whilst I found so much wrong, there were a few shining moments within as the author at least developed the various cultures within so that there were different languages and ideologies within. Sadly that wasn’t enough to save it for me, but at least I found a positive.
Release Date: 09/07/15 Publisher: Century SYNOPSIS:
When the Jedi decide to target Count Dooku-Darth Tryanus- himself, they turn to his ex-apprentice, Asajj Ventress, for help in getting close to the slippery Sith Lord. But when unexpected sparks fly between Ventress and Quinlan Vos, the unorthodox Jedi sent to work with her, the mission becomes a web of betrayal, alliances, secrets, and dark plotting that might just be the undoing of both Jedi and Sith - and everything in between!
REVIEW:
OK, the latest Star Wars book returns to the Clone Wars timezone and whilst a lot of the history is well known it does feel that its glossed over within in favour of working more on the love angle between the two principle characters. Don’t get me wrong it was a different type of book to the many other Star Wars titles out there but when the action sequences are short and some of the plotline has holes that readers not so up on their history will be left baffled by, all round leaves a book that for me was more middle of the road rather than in the upper echelon.
Release Date: 02/07/15 Publisher: Del Rey SYNOPSIS:
Beset on all sides by mortal and supernatural enemies, The Children of Fire – four mortals touched by the power of Chaos – are in search of the Talismans that can put a stop to an ancient enemy of the Gods.
But in doing so, they unleash a flood of Chaos magic on the land – leaving death, destruction and a vengeful queen in their wake...
REVIEW:
The second title in Drew’s Chaos Born series and whilst it’s the second that make a lot of readers sit up and pay attention, its often the book in any series that tends to stall as a lot of info has already been divulged in the previous and the reader is ready for solid action leading up to the culmination in the third part.
What occurs within is solid character building allowing the reader the opportunity to see how the characters develop alongside bringing new characters to the fore to allow for a fuller world view. Back this up with good action sequences and of course a plot line that keeps revealing mysterious hints all round make this a series to savour.
Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs, Our friends at Bethesda have let us know about the season pass for the forthcoming Fallout 4. Here's what they had to say: "After many long years, Fallout 4 is entering its final months of
development. We've put so much into it for so long; we can’t believe
it’s almost done. The game will soon be out of our hands and into yours.
There’s so much there that we haven’t talked about or spoiled, because
we want you to discover it, to make it your own. It's during
this stage of development that we start thinking about how we'll support
Fallout 4 after launch. We wanted to give you a taste of what we plan
on doing:
Regular Updates
We'll be
doing regular free updates to the game, and like Skyrim, these will
come with not just fixes, but new features. For Skyrim we added things
like mounted combat, legendary mode, kill cams, visual enhancements and
more. We’ll work with all of you to figure out what new things you’d
love to see added to Fallout 4, whether they are small tweaks or new
features.
Mods & Creation Kit
The most
important thing in our games is the freedom you have to create your own
experience, and modding is a big part of that. Like all our previous
games, we’ve made sure to keep Fallout 4 open and moddable at every step
in development. Early next year we’ll release for free the new Creation
Kit for the PC. This is the same tool we use in the studio. You'll be
able to create your own mods and share them with others. We’re
especially excited these same mods will then be coming to Xbox One, and
then PlayStation 4.
Downloadable Content We've always done a
lot of DLC for our games. We love making them and you always ask us for
more. To reward our most loyal fans, this time we’ll be offering a
Season Pass that will get you all of the Fallout 4 DLC we ever do for
just $30. Since we’re still hard at work on the game, we don’t know what
the actual DLC will be yet, but it will start coming early next year.
Based on what we did for Oblivion, Fallout 3, and Skyrim, we know that
it will be worth at least $40, and if we do more, you'll get it all with
the Season Pass. Thanks again to all of you! The support and
excitement you’ve given Fallout 4 has blown us away. It’s energized us
even more to do everything we can in these final months to make this our
best game yet. We absolutely can't wait for you to play it, and share
your adventures with us and each other."
We can't wait to see what will be coming to Fallout 4 from friends and other modders, and hopefully see you in the far future,
