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: 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,
Release Date: 02/07/15 Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books SYNOPSIS:
Reunited, Audun and Ulfar have a new sense of purpose: to ensure that the North remains in the hands of those who hold with the old gods. To do this, they must defeat the people who seek to destroy all they have ever known with the new White Christ. But these are powerful enemies and if they have any chance of victory, they must find equally powerful allies.
In Trondheim, King Olav, self-appointed champion of the White Christ, finds that keeping the peace is a much harder test of his faith than winning the war. With his garrison halved and local chieftains at his table who wish him nothing but ill, the king must decide how and where to spread the word of his god.
And in the North, touched by the trickster god, something old, malevolent and very, very angry stirs . . .
REVIEW:
I’ve had a ton of fun with Snorri’s writing over the previous two titles in the series so knowing that it was all set to climax in this volume, I couldn’t wait to see what the author would do and how he’d manage the gods as well as men within. Its well written, the prose is sharp and if you love good action sequences, the author delivers. The principle characters feel rounded, the way that the action interplays into lulls works wonderfully well allowing recovery time and finally when you add dialogue that just fits them down to a T makes this a series that has been immense fun to enjoy.
Truly a saga for Historical Fantasy fans to enjoy and may the shades continue “flyting” in the hall of heroes. Cracking.
Release Date: 02/07/15 Publisher: Bloomsbury SYNOPSIS:
Under the heartless vault of the Greenland's arctic sky the body of a girl is discovered. Half-naked and tied up, buried hundreds of miles from any signs of life, she has lain alone, hidden in the ice cap, for twenty-five years. Now an ice melt has revealed her.
When Detective Chief Superintendent Konrad Simonsen is flown in to investigate this horrific murder and he sees how she was attacked, it triggers a dark memory and he realises this was not the killer's only victim. As Simonsen's team work to discover evidence that has long since been buried, they unearth truths that certain people would rather stayed forgotten. But the pressure is on as it becomes clear that the killer chooses victims who all look unsettlingly similar, a similarity that may be used to the investigators' advantage, just so long as they can keep the suspect in their sights…
REVIEW:
I love my Scandinavian Crime and to be honest I had high hopes for this book. Sadly it failed to deliver right from the get go. The characters were sadly 2d, the plot was easy to see and whilst it might have had something going for it early on, it soon fell into farcical proportions with sheer lack of sense as well as complete ineptitude of the investigating officers.
Sadly whilst I would like to blame it all on the writers, I do wonder if a lot of the problems was due to translation going more for the literal rather than helping it flow into the English language. All round a book that I’d suggest you skip completely and await the next Scandinavian Thriller to emerge.
Release Date: 21/05/15 Publisher: Pan Macmillan SYNOPSIS:
Our Dragon doesn't eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travellers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that's not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he's still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we're grateful, but not that grateful.
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.
Her people rely on the cold, ambitious wizard, known only as the Dragon, to keep the wood's powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman must be handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as being lost to the wood.
The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows - everyone knows - that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia - all the things Agnieszka isn't - and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.
But no one can predict how or why the Dragon chooses a girl. And when he comes, it is not Kasia he will take with him.
REVIEW:
Naomi is well known for her Temeraire series and whilst this one keeps with Dragons to a certain degree, it’s a completely different type of tale going more into the world of faerie tales but still keeping the authors magical storytelling style with top notch characters.
Each cast member brings something to the fore within this title and when you add solid action sequences, great prose and dialogue that helps embody the characters within the readers mind, all round makes this a new title that will be a pure joy to read. Magic.
Release Date: 08/09/15 Publisher: Pan Macmillan/Tor SYNOPSIS:
Dees has won a Golden Heart Award, two RITAs for Category Suspense and Adventure and has also twice snared RT's Series Romantic Suspense of the Year. She is a great storyteller and the adventures in her more than fifty novels are often inspired by her own life. Dees is an Air Force vet, the youngest female pilot in Air Force history and fought in the first Gulf War. She's had amazing adventures and she's used her experiences to tell some kickass stories. But as much as she love romances, Cindy's other passion has been fantasy gaming. For almost twenty years she's been involved with Dragon Crest, one of the original live action role-playing games. She's the story content creator on the game and wanted to do an epic fantasy based on it, with the blessing and input of Dragon Crest founder Bill Flippin. The Sleeping King is the first in an epic fantasy series, featuring the best of the genre - near immortal imperial overlords, a prophecy of a sleeping elven king who's said to be the saviour of the races and two young people who are set on a path to save the day.
REVIEW:
This was a bit of a strange read to be honest as my original thoughts were about how terrible the writing was with the initial set up, but the more I read, the more the principle characters grew upon me. The world was very well developed, the dialogue between the key characters really helped develop them and overall allowed me to form a bond.
My key problem is that the original beginning was very clunky, it felt like it was trying to put way to much in and rather than giving the reader a whole host of detail, they over stuffed it when really, in my opinion it should have been quickly glossed over or skipped until a book concentrated mainly upon the Imperial Court. It could have kept it smoother, had it flowing easier on the reader and all round would have worked better for me on the whole.
That said, it is a book I enjoyed and I think that Cindy and Bill will have learned a lot from the writing of this. I can’t wait to see what else the world has in store for the reader as their epic quest continues.
Hail Mighty Readers, Well with it being a Satur Caturday, I was trawling through certain websites and found one that had beautiful photography. The group "Wildenigma Photography" are a group of amateur photographers who like to go out and about and take pictures on their travels. Each has something different that they specialise in and when you start looking through their images, there's something for everyone. To see their work for yourself, visit their site here: Wildenigma Photography
Release Date: 04/06/15 Publisher: Bodley Head SYNOPSIS:
The first book in the exhilarating new fantasy sequence from Joseph Delaney, the multi-million-selling author of The Spook's Apprentice - the inspiration for the movie SEVENTH SON.
Welcome to Arena 13. Here warriors fight. Death is never far away . . .
Leif has one ambition: to become the best fighter in the notorious Arena 13. Here, punters place wagers on which fighter will draw first blood. And in grudge matches, they bet on which fighter will die.
But the country is terrorized by the creature Hob, an evil being who delights in torturing its people, displaying his devasting power by challenging an Arena 13 combatant in a fight to the death whenever he chooses. And this is exactly what Leif wants . . .
For he knows Hob's crimes well. and at the heart of his ambition burns the desire for vengeance. Leif is going to take on the monster who destroyed his family. Even if it kills him.
REVIEW:
I’m a huge fan of Joseph’s Spooks series so when I found out he had a new one out I couldn’t wait to see what he would bring to the fore. Here within this book is a title that works on Joseph’s strengths as his new principle character has strength, smarts and of course a goal within the pages.
The action is wonderful, the dialogue works well and when you throw into the mix prose that keeps you glued from the first page to the last and all round, this new series will delight fantasy fans as much as Joseph’s own. Cracking.
Release Date: 03/09/15 Publisher: Gollancz SYNOPSIS:
In the cramped west end of Sharakhai, the Amber Jewel of the Desert, Çeda fights in the pits to scrape a living. She, like so many in the city, pray for the downfall of the cruel, immortal Kings of Sharakhai, but she's never been able to do anything about it. This all changes when she goes out on the night of Beht Zha'ir, the holy night when all are forbidden from walking the streets. It's the night that the asirim, the powerful yet wretched creatures that protect the Kings from all who would stand against them, wander the city and take tribute. It is then that one of the asirim, a pitiful creature who wears a golden crown, stops Çeda and whispers long forgotten words into her ear. Çeda has heard those words before, in a book left to her by her mother, and it is through that one peculiar link that she begins to find hidden riddles left by her mother.
As Çeda begins to unlock the mysteries of that fateful night, she realizes that the very origin of the asirim and the dark bargain the Kings made with the gods of the desert to secure them may be the very key she needs to throw off the iron grip the Kings have had over Sharakhai. And yet the Kings are no fools-they've ruled the Shangazi for four hundred years for good reason, and they have not been idle. As Çeda digs into their past, and the Kings come closer and closer to unmasking her, Çeda must decide if she's ready to face them once and for all.
REVIEW:
If you want fantasy with a more eastern flavour then you may well want to give this book by Bradley Beaulieu a go, as it not only brings a cracking fantasy female principle character to the fore but also starts out a series with one hell of a bang we see events from the past as they shape the person and future of what is to come.
It’s well written, I love the supporting cast and when you throw into this an overall arc that demonstrates quite clearly why the countries cultures are at war with each other, leaves the reader in no doubt about the bloodbath they’re about to embark upon. Magic.
