After having Robert McCammon on my TBR list for almost 25 years, I FINALLY decided to give him a shot. I decided to start with what is his best reviewAfter having Robert McCammon on my TBR list for almost 25 years, I FINALLY decided to give him a shot. I decided to start with what is his best reviewed book on Goodreads, and I'm not sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
The story revolves around an 11-year-old boy named Cory in the small town of Zephyr, Alabama. It starts off interestingly enough with Cory and his dad witnessing a car drive into a seemingly bottomless lake with a dead person behind the wheel. After that, the book becomes primary a coming-of-age story with the murder mystery in the background but always looming. While I really enjoy the richness of small town life that is on every page, I will say that the first half of the book drags on a little too long. The entire murder mystery is almost completely forgotten about during that time, which is a little jarring. Luckily, the second half picks up quite a bit, and everything ends on a high note.
There are elements of horror and magic sprinkled throughout here, and the magic parts are never really explained. It's like they are just a part of the town itself. At first, that aspect bothered me, but I started to appreciate it more after seeing it through Cory's eyes, since the eyes of a pre-teen are often filled with magic and wonder.
Speaking of which, Cory is obviously the central figure, and the entire book is told from him POV. He's likeable enough and comes off as a genuine 11-year-old kid. However, there are plenty of other memorable characters as well with my favorite probably being Mr. Lightfoot. I always enjoy reading about elderly characters whose wisdom and experience are borderline their own magic. He's a very entertaining character, and I smiled every time he appeared.
I had this book around 3.5 stars until the very end. When a now adult Cory takes his family back to Zephyr, I had to fight back tears. I lost my dad 16 years ago, and it still hurts thinking about it. Cory's conversation with his dad brings back those memories.
Overall, this is a very good book that I would recommend to anyone, but it didn't blow me away like I had hoped. I'll still read more McCammon books in the future, so we'll see how those go....more
We are at the penultimate book in the series, and unfortunately, I think it has run out of steam. While not bad, this book is definitely among the botWe are at the penultimate book in the series, and unfortunately, I think it has run out of steam. While not bad, this book is definitely among the bottom of the series if not the bottom. There's nothing really to hate here, but everything just feels bland or lukewarm.
After a completely life-altering and kind of a reset for Stark at the end of the last book, this one is about him trying to find his new place in the world. This had the potential to be a really deep and introspective story, but then it introduces 3 different mysteries that need to be solved, and all that goes out the window. Because of that, events that happen in the book that should have been emotional and heartfelt are kept at surface-level, which is very disappointing.
There are some good things here, like Samael appearing again, which is always fun. I enjoy his banter with Stark. However, I think the good tries too hard to fit all of its previous characters in, which doesn't always feel organic. To top it all off, Janet plays one of the central characters in the story. She was fine in the few previous books she showed up in, but she's absolutely terrible in this one. She starts off decent enough but then quickly turns into an annoying moron. I would be ok never seeing her again, but I'm sure she'll be in the last book.
With that being said, I don't have high hopes for the final book, but I will read it, because you don't read 11 books in a series and leave out the last one. We'll see if it's any better than this....more
There's not really much I can say about this book that hasn't already been said. There have been a couple of movies made about it, a TV show, as well There's not really much I can say about this book that hasn't already been said. There have been a couple of movies made about it, a TV show, as well as an upcoming prequel show, so the story is very familiar to most people. I will say that one thing I didn't expect going into it is that both the kids' stories and the adults' stories are told concurrently rather than one after the other as has been portrayed. It's a little jarring at first simply because it's not what I was looking for, but it plays out just fine.
The book does have some issues. It's a little too long in certain parts, spending too much time on the back stories of a few side characters, and of course, the infamous sex scene. While I could do without either one of those, this is still one of the greatest coming-of-age books I've ever read.
Last thing I'll say is while this story was terrifying when I was a child, it's not that scary now that I'm an adult. However, since I'm an adult and a parent, some of the non-horror parts hit harder now. For instance, the last phone call between Mike and Ritchie hit me way harder than I expected and made my eyes water.
Overall, this is a fantastic book and easily one of King's best. I'm glad I finally got around to reading it after all these years....more
I am actually very surprised by this book. Starting around book 5 of the series, I got the sense that things were starting to slow down and quality waI am actually very surprised by this book. Starting around book 5 of the series, I got the sense that things were starting to slow down and quality was dropping. However, things picked back up in book 8, and here in book 10, the momentum continues with this book being among the best in the series.
For the most part, the story is nothing new. Stark is back from Hell and has to help some people kill some other people. Where this one differs, though, is Stark does a lot of self-reflecting here. He looks at the life he's led, sees what the people who mean the most to him have been doing, and questions whether they are actually better off without him. It's a difficult headspace to be in, and Kadrey does a good job with it.
Most of the cast from the series is back in this one, with the exception of a couple that are missing. We don't get too much in the way of development from them with the exception of Carlos. Everyone's involvement in the story definitely gives things a feeling of finality while still leaving it open for more books.
I wonder if this was meant to be the end of the series, and the last two books were tacked on afterwards. I hope not, but I will read them and find out....more
The last of the original Bachman books is finally finished, and while I will say that I enjoyed this book overall, it's just ok.
I saw the movie when iThe last of the original Bachman books is finally finished, and while I will say that I enjoyed this book overall, it's just ok.
I saw the movie when it was released back in late '90s, so I was already familiar with the story. Besides a few minor changes, it is essentially the same thing. The first half of the book is really good. Seeing Billy Halleck's mindset about his condition/curse go from surprise to worry to fear to desperation is truly a fascinating read, but in the journey through King's bibliography, I'm learning that descents into madness is something he specializes in.
Unfortunately, the second half of the book is incredibly slow. I found myself skimming over parts that just dragged on for far longer than they should have. Also, much like the movie, the only likeable character in the entire book is Ginelli. He has an infectious energy and a fierce loyalty to those he considers friends, and I enjoy it every time he appears on the page. I just wish there were more characters like that here.
Like I said, it's a solid book but not a great one and probably not one I have any desire to revisit anytime soon....more
Kingdoms of Death is definitely the darkest book of the series so far. And while this one isn't as good as Demon in White, it's still the second best Kingdoms of Death is definitely the darkest book of the series so far. And while this one isn't as good as Demon in White, it's still the second best in the series so far.
The story here can basically be broken up into two sections. The first deals with Hadrian and his mission from the Emperor to negotiate with the Lothrian Commonwealth, and the second deals with Hadrian's time with the Cielcin. The tone in the first part is very much in line with the rest of the series. However, the second part is absolutely brutal and devastating. Hadrian endures almost as much as any one person can, and although some of it is tough to read, it's good to see he's not invincible.
The only criticism I really have here is that even though what happens to Hadrian and his company is horrible, I can't say that I really feel the emotional weight of it. No, that's wrong. I feel the toll it takes on Hadrian, but I never feel anything for the fates of the characters, because I just haven't connected with them (aside from Valka). I wish that weren't the case, because some of the scenes are very well-written and should be heartbreaking.
One thing I did notice is that towards the end, there is a scene that reminds me a lot of the Suicide Mission in the game Mass Effect 2. It has very similar beats and cadence to it. That's not a knock on the scene, as Mass Effect 2 is one of my favorite games of all-time. I just thought it was an interesting tidbit.
Overall, this book is a fantastic edition to the series and is keeping my interest alive. I might take a small break here to get closer to the final book's release date, and if I do, it won't be for long....more
I don't know if this series just isn't for me or if maybe I need to read it instead of listening to the audiobook, but I didn't like this book at all.I don't know if this series just isn't for me or if maybe I need to read it instead of listening to the audiobook, but I didn't like this book at all. It is so painfully slow, and there is a lot of info dumping here. To top it off, this book does a lot of time traveling, which is not a trope that I enjoy at all.
Things do get slightly more interesting about 15-20% near the end, but by then, I just didn't care what was going on or what happened to anyone.
Sad to say, but this might be the first Mark Lawrence series that I fail to finish. I've enjoyed his other series, but this one is a big miss for me....more
I'm still trying to process this book. I love dark academia books, which this one certainly is, and while I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Blood OveI'm still trying to process this book. I love dark academia books, which this one certainly is, and while I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Blood Over Bright Haven, which I read earlier this year, the series has the potential to be greater by the end.
The premise starts off simple enough. We follow Vis, the prince of a fallen kingdom overthrown by the powerful Catenan Republic. All he wants to do is get out of reach of the Republic, but circumstances give him the opportunity to join the Hierarchy and fight against it from the inside. While nothing about this feels new or groundbreaking, the Roman-style setting does give it a slightly different feel, which is refreshing. There's also a unique magic system here built around will, where people in higher ranks of the Hierarchy are imbued with more will than those below them, giving them extraordinary powers. It's an interesting concept but one that isn't explored very much in this book. Hopefully, we get to see more displays of power in future novels.
The characters introduced here are serviceable but nothing too memorable, with the exception of a few. Vis is the main character and the only POV we follow. He's a strong and likeable enough person while being a little too good at everything and getting out of seemingly impossible situations. Aside from him, the only other characters that stick with me are Callidus and Eidhin, both for different reasons. I don't know if we will get POVs of them in the future, but I wouldn't mind reading more from them.
The first two-thirds of the book are pretty much what you would expect to find from any other academia novel with the exception of a truly creepy scene in the ruins, which is absolutely amazing in audiobook form. However, the last third is absolutely intense, brutal, and nail-biting. I honestly didn't know how it was going to end or who would make it out. To top it off, the ending cranks the insanity all the way up to 11 and rips the knob off. And this is where I'm confused. Unfortunately, I won't know if I like or hate the ending until I read the rest of the series, which I definitely will be doing.
Overall, this is a very good start to a series that has the potential to be one of the best out there. I just really hope Islington can stay the course and not get lost in what's to come....more
I really struggled with this book. I want to like it, because I love the Vlad Taltos series, but even though this is a relatively short one, it still I really struggled with this book. I want to like it, because I love the Vlad Taltos series, but even though this is a relatively short one, it still took me way too long to finish, mainly because I just didn't have much desire to continue.
The entire book takes place inside a theater house with Vlad hiding from the Left Hand of the Jhereg. There are a few sub plots thrown in, but nothing that affects the overarching story, and by the time everything is over, no real progress has been made. Even the titular Lyorn character isn't really a central figure here.
The only reason I'm giving this two stars instead of one is due to the characters. There's something about them that I've always loved, especially Vlad, Krager, Sethra, Cawti, Morrolan, Loiosh, and even the Necromancer. There aren't too many series out there that have so many of my favorite characters in it. I just wish they are used better here.
There are only 2 more Vlad Taltos books left, and then this 40+ year journey will be over. I just hope the next ones are more along the lines of Issola (my favorite of the series) instead of this one....more
This entry into the Murderbot Diaries is pretty fun, but it's probably the weakest of the bunch so far. It didn't feel like there was any real progresThis entry into the Murderbot Diaries is pretty fun, but it's probably the weakest of the bunch so far. It didn't feel like there was any real progress made to the overall story. In fact, a lot of hit felt like it was hitting the same beats as the first book.
I still plan on continuing with the series, but I'm hoping things will move along better than they did here. I don't really have much else to say about it than that....more
I wasn't planning on reading this novella, but it came with The Kill Society, so I decided to give it a shot. Plus, it's super short, so why not?
UnforI wasn't planning on reading this novella, but it came with The Kill Society, so I decided to give it a shot. Plus, it's super short, so why not?
Unfortunately, this novella doesn't really do much. It takes place during the time Stark was still Lucifer and fills in a blank spot that was mentioned in The Kill Society. While I appreciate knowing what happened during that time, it could have easily just been a short 4-5 page flashback in The Kill Society instead of a 50-page novella.
I know this came out years before book 9, and maybe I wouldn't be so hard on it if I read it right after reading book 3. But at this stage of the series, it just feels like a story that was interesting wrapped inside a book we didn't necessarily need....more
Alright, now it's all starting to make sense. I haven't been the biggest fan of the Sun Eater series so far, and I was beginning to get worried that IAlright, now it's all starting to make sense. I haven't been the biggest fan of the Sun Eater series so far, and I was beginning to get worried that I was missing something that others were getting. However, with Demon in White, I'm finally starting to see why this series is getting so much praise.
It's hard to summarize what is going on in this book (and really each one in the series), because it spans such a large amount of time and touches on so many plot points. The story continues the Empire's war against the Cielcin, and the main objective this time is for Hadrian to learn more about the Quiet, but there's a lot more than just that going on.
The main part where this book succeeds over the previous ones is with pacing. There is never a dull or boring moment here, whether it's during ridiculously long and brutal battles or having conversations at the library. Each page feels important to the story, which makes the book more engrossing.
I'm also starting to finally connect with the characters. Up until now, I haven't really cared what happens to any of them. Now, I'm getting concerned about them and what happens next. Hadrian, while still pretty arrogant, is growing on me and becoming more sympathetic. However, the one that really grabbed my attention is Valka. I enjoy pretty much every scene that she's in, and her interactions with everyone, especially Hadrian, are just a delight to read.
Overall, this is an excellent book, and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next. Although, from what I've heard, the next book is the darkest of the series, so maybe I shouldn't be....more
After the previous book, I was worried that this one might be a kind of soft reboot of the series over with Stark escaping from Hell again, but that iAfter the previous book, I was worried that this one might be a kind of soft reboot of the series over with Stark escaping from Hell again, but that isn't the case. This book has a very Mad Max feel to it, and I appreciate the change of pace and the willingness to do something different.
The story starts right where the last one ended, with Stark waking up in Hell after being murdered. Once there, he is almost immediately discovered by a large group of the damned led by the mysterious Magistrate. He's forced to join the group on their mysterious crusade, and discovers that his friend Father Traven is with them.
The story itself is slower than the typical Sandman Slim novels, but it left more time for character interactions, which I really enjoy. We meet a good amount of new characters (some well written, others not) and even one or two old ones. But ultimately, the Magistrate is the big new character, and the story is mostly a battle of wits between him and Stark. I don't think this story works nearly as well if the Magistrate isn't a compelling character, but luckily he is. Even the "act first, think later" attitude Stark usually employees is held in check when around him, and it's entertaining to read.
As for the ending, I'm glad with the result, but I'm not entirely satisfied with how we get there. I'm hoping the next book answers it more effectively instead of leaving it as "big bad can do anything because they are big bad." Still, this book is one of the stronger entries in the series, which is very appreciated considering it's almost over....more
We have reached the conclusion of the war between the invading Everlorn empire and the forces of Thanet. Although the book is good, I still can't helpWe have reached the conclusion of the war between the invading Everlorn empire and the forces of Thanet. Although the book is good, I still can't help but feel a little underwhelmed with it, especially compared to the previous two.
Like the previous books, the action itself is written very well. Fights are fast-paced, vivid, and brutal. However, unlike in The Sapphire Altar, I never get the feeling of fear from these. Whenever there's a fight, it feels like we already know who is going to win, which makes them less exciting. Plus, the big fights at the end have an almost manga/anime feel to them, where all someone has to do to win is power up to a new level, and the fight is one-sided. While that works for manga/anime because of the awesome visuals, here we don't have that luxury, and it leaves fights feeling lackluster.
Speaking of lackluster, the God-Incarnate Lucavi is nowhere near the excellent villain that Galvanis or even Magus was. I am very surprised by just how little he does here. I wish there was more of a demonstration of how powerful he is.
As far as characters go, everyone is still great. Even Cyrus is a little better written than he was before, but the standout for me is Stasia. She goes through great character growth and even has an epic, jaw-dropping moment. She is easily the best character in the series for me.
One thing I absolutely hate is the final battle. I can't say much about it without getting into spoilers, but it just feels wrong and thrown in just to give the series a more positive ending. I could have done without it.
In the end, this is a very good series that starts off strong but ends a little lukewarm. It's still worth a read as it doesn't take too much time to get through it all, and some of the characters make the experience well worth it....more
After reading the first book, I was worried that this new series might just be an angsty retelling of the original series. However, this book is much After reading the first book, I was worried that this new series might just be an angsty retelling of the original series. However, this book is much better and sets the series on a good path.
The story picks up right where the first book left off. Virtually all of the original characters are missing, so it's up to these new ones to figure out what's going on and to save everyone. Olive and Darin are still the only two POVs, and while I found them a little annoying in the first book, here they experience quite a bit of character growth and are more relatable. Olive, in particular, is starting to grow on me, much more than Darin is.
The pacing here is also much better. While the first third or so is pretty slow, it does pick up rather quickly the closer it gets to the end. My major complaint with the last book was spending very long stretches with just a single POV before going back to the other one. That problem is resolved here, and we get equal time with both POVs.
I am pleasantly surprised with this book. While it's still not on the level of the Demon Cycle, it's still much better than the first one. I'm looking forward to seeing how it ends....more
I love dark academia books, so I was really looking forward to reading this. Luckily, it does not disappoint at all.
The book seemingly has a basic preI love dark academia books, so I was really looking forward to reading this. Luckily, it does not disappoint at all.
The book seemingly has a basic premise. Our main character Sciona wants to become the first female highmage ever and make her mark in the world. Along the way, she meets extreme resistance from her fellow mages who believe a woman has no place in a male-dominated field. Along the way, she meets an unlikely assistant, a janitor named Thomil who came from the land outside of the city of Tiran, where they all now live. However, that's where the basic part ends, and what follows is a dark, disturbing, and emotionally gut-wrenching story about the price of magic.
Sciona and Thomil are the two main characters that we follow. Most of the POVs are told from Sciona's perspective, but Thomil is involved in almost every chapter, so he gets equal time. Both characters are complex and go through tremendous growth, especially Sciona. She starts off as extremely selfish and single-minded but her experiences and discoveries force her to change. Her growth is actually one of my favorite parts of the story. I absolutely love it when books cover the mental toll that an event has on its characters instead of just the physical, and Sciona's mental struggle is devastating and heart-breaking. I genuinely feel bad for what she has to endure.
My biggest gripe with M.L. Wang's previous book The Sword of Kaigen is that even though it's great, I didn't like the ending. It opened up a pretty big plot point but then did nothing with it, which left me with a slightly empty feeling. Luckily, this isn't the case here. The ending is powerful, sad, and hopeful all at the same time. It leaves the story open for a sequel if need be, but it's still a satisfying ending if not.
When it comes to fantasy, I'm not a big standalone reader, but both of Wang's books have been fantastic and may just change my mind on that....more
I don't know if too many people have seen the mid-80s film Silver Bullet, but that movie is based on this book. I've seen the movie, but this is my fiI don't know if too many people have seen the mid-80s film Silver Bullet, but that movie is based on this book. I've seen the movie, but this is my first time reading the book, and I have to say I'm a little torn on it.
The story itself is super short. I'm a slow reader, and I think I finished it in just over 2 hours. The chapters are divided into different months, which each dealing with a different werewolf attack. While I really like this idea, the chapters go by so fast that there isn't enough character development given to anyone including the werewolf. So I didn't really care what happened to anyone. That being said, the scenes were the werewolf attacks are so visceral and horrific that they remind me of old 80s horror movies. I loved it.
This book is more around 2.5 stars instead of 3, but it didn't feel right rounding down in this case. While not nearly King's best work, it's still worth an afternoon read.
I enjoyed this book more than the first one. I was a little surprised that we are introduced to all new characters (besides Murderbot) instead of contI enjoyed this book more than the first one. I was a little surprised that we are introduced to all new characters (besides Murderbot) instead of continuing on with the previous ones, but it still works with the story that's being told. The new cast is nothing special or memorable with the exception of a new bot ART, who is highly entertaining as well.
Besides ART, I really enjoyed seeing Murderbot's character development. It's slowly becoming more and more human and wants to learn more about its past and how it ended up the way it is. Despite it learning to be human, we still get to see what it can do as a SecBot, and it's pretty brutal.
I'm enjoying these stories enough to keep going. They are quick reads and very accessible. Hopefully they keep changing things up just enough to keep things interesting....more
More around 3.5 stars for me, but I don't feel good about rounding down to 3, so I'll round up.
This series is starting to frustrate me a little. ThereMore around 3.5 stars for me, but I don't feel good about rounding down to 3, so I'll round up.
This series is starting to frustrate me a little. There are some good things here that I really like, but I'm having a hard time connecting with anyone. The only one I am with is Hadrian, and even that is the bare minimum, just enough to be shocked when something happens to him but feel nothing for him afterwards. The rest of the characters could all die or not, and I wouldn't care either way.
That being said, there are some genuinely great moments here throughout the story. The action is done really well, and the scene in the "nursery" is very much my kind of horror. I absolutely love it and want more of that style. The battle near the end is also excellent. Seeing Hadrian that much out of his depth, knowing he is out of his depth, and somehow still pulling through is quite exciting even if a tiny bit convoluted. To top it off, the haunting foreshadowing at the end definitely makes me want to continue on with the next book.
After all the hype surrounding this series, and this book in particular, I was really hoping this would be the one to make me a full-blown sci-fi fan, but so far that's not happening. However, it's good enough for me to keep going. I just hope things get better....more
Just when I was worried that Sandman Slim was going downhill, I get to what is probably my favorite of the series so far. While it does still have itsJust when I was worried that Sandman Slim was going downhill, I get to what is probably my favorite of the series so far. While it does still have its flaws, this book is slightly more than just a fun ride like the previous ones.
There are a couple of mysteries in this book. Stark is investigating who might be part of Wormwood while also trying to find out what a mysterious black liquid is that a dying angel gave him and how it's contributing to the war in Heaven. The more he investigates, the more he finds that the two may be related. Like most of the other books, this will involve Stark travelling to lots of different places, including re-visiting Hell.
Stark is still a bit whiny in this one but not as bad as the previous book. He's still trying to figure out who he is instead of just a killer, but his whining this time is mainly restricted to losing the Room of Thirteen Doors.. One interesting angle that I really like is the series finally decides to touch on the psychological effects that someone with Stark's experience would go through. He's severely damaged mentally, tries to self-medicate in his own messed up way, and finally accepts that he needs help. It's a very good evolution of the character, and I hope to see more of it.
Speaking of characters, many of them are back, but I am starting to like Thomas Abbott more and more. It's refreshing to see a character in a position of power who is not constantly scheming or backstabbing. I also really enjoy the angel Hesediel. Her appearance is brief but powerful and has a massive effect on Stark going forward.
I really like the direction the overall series is starting to take. I'm a little worried that the cliff-hanger ending might pull the story back to where it was in the beginning, which may start to get stale. But I'm willing to see where this ride takes me....more
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