Utopia
One Piece #21
Eiichiro Oda
Manga
Tag: 2009
DYNASTY OF EVIL
DYNASTY OF EVIL
Star Wars: Darth Bane #3
Drew Karpyshyn
3 Stars
296 pages, paperbook
the conclusion of the Darth Bane Trilogy.
Bane discovers the secret of essence transfer and takes over Zanna while getting a new apprentice.
Not as interesting as the preceding books.
THE FORLORN
THE FORLORN
Dave Freer
SF
1 Star
260 pages, epub
you know those books that you think “well, maybe it will get better by the next chapter” only you think that for the whole book and it doesn’t? This was one of those.
Blatant sexuality, scumbags and betrayal upon betrayal. I certainly won’t be reading anymore by this author. Very disappointed.
REIFFEN’S CHOICE
REIFFEN’S CHOICE
The Stoneways #1
S.C. Butler
YA Fantasy
3 Stars
463 pages, paperbook
a young man, heir to 2 kingdoms, is kidnapped by wizards so they can control him and sow chaos in the world, thus strengthening their rule. Several of the boy’s friends attempt to rescue him: a dwarf, a shapechanger, and 2 childhood friends. They get him back, only to have him go back to the wizards right at the end of the book. Is Reiffen under their spell, or attempting to fool the wizards and overthrow them?
I would almost classify this as YA, because the characters are young teens, and the writing seems geared toward a younger, simpler audience. Looking forward to the next in this trilogy.
THE MAGE-GUARD OF HAMOR
THE MAGE-GUARD OF HAMOR
Saga of Recluce #15
L.E. Modesitt Jr
Fantasy
3 Stars
716 pages, paperbook
the final [for me] Recluce book. It was really more of the exact same. I’ve had enough for at least a year I think, if not longer.
After Worlds Collide
After Worlds Collide
Bronson Beta #2
Philip Wylie
Edwin Balmer
SF
4 Stars
190 pages, paperbook
the group from earth makes to to Bronson Beta, only to find they are not alone. Other groups from earth have also made the crossing, and some of them are inimically opposed to Henderson’s group. After a time of figuring stuff out, the bad guys are taken out and the good guys have the planet to themselves, for their children.
Deadhouse Gates (Malazan Book of the Fallen #2)
Deadhouse Gates
Malazan Book of the Fallen #2
Steven Erikson
4 Stars
I just realized, the Sha’ik rebellion ISN’T the Pannion Domin. I kind of skimmed over that fact last time. The question I have, is Icarium, a Jahg, the same thing as a Jaghut? Or are those different things? So many details just not explained. Hopefully more explanations in the later books.
MIDAS WORLD
MIDAS WORLD
Frederik Pohl
SF
4 Stars
276 pages, paperbook
several short stories chronicling mankind once unlimited energy is discovered. The push to the stars, the takeover [albiet peacefully and by our letting it go] of the earth by robots.
An interesting little tale.
Hawkmoon
Hawkmoon
The Eternal Champion
Michael Moorcock
Dark Fantasy
3 Stars
502 pages, paperbook
Consisting of:
The Jewel in the Skull
The Mad God’s Amulet
The Sword of Dawn
The Runestaff.
This was blase, really. Nothing Hawkmoon faced seemed overwhelming, nor was he really likable like Corum, nor ultra-tragic like Elric. And then he doesn’t die in the end. It felt like a thin vegetable soup.
THE LIGHT OF BURNING SHADOWS
THE LIGHT OF BURNING SHADOWS
The Iron Elves #2
Chris Evans
Fantasy
2 Stars
360 pages, Pbook
I actually liked this better than the first book.
Another Star comes down to yet another land wanting its independence. Only this time there are things capable of destroying the shadow stuff, the Iron Elves included.
Everybody was a jerk though, not a single character was really likable. If this doesn’t change in the next book, whenever it comes out, that will be it for me. A semi-interesting story isn’t worth a bunch of people you’d like to punch.
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